One Among Us

by Paige Dearth

  “Enough of this sad stuff, Mara,” Lorraine blurted with a wave of her hand. “This is a happy time for all of us. Let’s get you settled in, and then you and I can cook dinner together. Sound good?”

  Mara’s smile lit up the entire room. “Wow. Really? That would be great.”

  Lorraine was delighted. “OK. Well, I’ll let you look around your room. We haven’t changed anything since Maggie was here. I was thinking you and I could give it new paint. You can pick the color, of course, and then we can buy some cool posters to decorate it—you know, make it more suitable for a cool thirteen-year-old like yourself,” she said with enthusiasm.

  “I would love that,” Mara said, excited.

  Lorraine walked to the bedroom door. Just before she left, Mara called out her name.

  “Yes?”

  “If Maggie comes home, will I still be able to stay here with you?” Mara asked, fearful of losing the only good thing she’d ever had in her life.

  “Are you kidding? Absolutely, you’d stay. Maggie would have loved you,” Lorraine stated, realizing with a stab of guilt that she had just spoken about her daughter in the past tense.

  After Lorraine went downstairs, Mara sprawled out on the bed. She looked up at the ceiling and smiled, happy about her good fortune. Mara’s thoughts drifted to Maggie, a girl she’d never met, and she wondered if Maggie had been tormented the way she had been for so long. But Mara could never imagine how much worse Maggie’s life had been, compared with her own.

  Chapter One Hundred Sixteen

  By Halloween that year, Maggie and Colby had worked out a routine that allowed them more time together. Two nights a week, Colby would go to Doubles and pay for a lap dance with her. Inside the semiprivate stall, Maggie would reveal secrets of the many girls working for Rock.

  Although their attraction to each other continued to grow, neither of them pursued intimacy. In Rock’s apartment, it seemed inappropriate to Colby to show his affection for Maggie. At Doubles, Maggie kept a cool space between them, since Jay, the bar manager, didn’t tolerate any kind of sexual contact with the clients, not even kissing. She’d never make the first move anyway. Even though Maggie was experienced in having sex, she’d never kissed anyone passionately.

  After almost two months of meeting in the lap dance room, Colby did what she had hoped he’d do. “Um, I was wondering. When you’re done with your shift here on Wednesday, could I take you for that spaghetti dinner I promised you? You get done at seven on Wednesday night, right?”

  “Yeah, seven. I’m working the early shift,” she answered awkwardly.

  “Well?” he asked.

  “Well, what?” she responded.

  “What about dinner?”

  “Oh! Right. Yeah, I’d like to go out to dinner,” Maggie answered, hoping he was asking her for a real date.

  “Good. Then I’ll pick you up at your apartment around eight o’clock?” Colby asked.

  “That’s probably not a good idea. I’ll take the bus to the Melrose Diner, and you can pick me up there. Do you know where it is?”

  “Sure, I do. I love the Melrose. Everyone who knows, goes to the Melrose,” he recited, like a total geek.

  “So I’ve heard…from the waitress who works there, who is, oh, I don’t know, about a hundred years old,” Maggie teased.

  “Are you calling me old?”

  “No, I’m just saying that if anyone else heard what you just said, they might think you’re a nerd—you know, a dweeb, dork, dink, wonk…pick whichever one you like best,” she joked, pushing her fingers through his hair.

  Whenever Maggie and Colby had any type of physical contact, they shared a sensation that was as addictive as a needle full of heroin to a street junkie.

  “I’m none of those things. I’m the coolest dude you’ve ever met. Don’t try to pretend like you don’t know it, either. That’s exactly why you hang with me. You’re cool by association,” he sang.

  “Oh, right. I’m cool by association? That’s a joke,” Maggie teased.

  “Well, Ms. Cool, I need to head out. Your doorman over there,” Colby said, gesturing to the man who sat by the door of the lap dance room collecting payment and keeping an eye out for the girls’ safety, “just gave me the ‘time’s up’ sign.”

  Maggie stood and walked back into the bar with Colby.

  “So I’ll see you on Wednesday night,” Colby confirmed, as if Maggie could possibly forget.

  “Yep. I’ll see you at the Melrose.”

  Maggie headed back downstairs to change into a different outfit for her next set. As she entered the dressing room, Montana gave her venomous look.

  “Oh, girls, look…it’s Ms. Cool. At least that’s what I heard her little boyfriend call her when I was in the lap dance room,” she said sharply and began to laugh.

  “Well, Montana, it’s just a shame that you aren’t capable of actually connecting with a man,” Maggie shot back.

  “Girl, you’re a damn fool. You think that guy is actually interested in being serious with you? They all tell us what we want to hear to get what they want. You are stupider than you look,” Montana screeched.

  Maggie walked over to her own chair, sat down, and stared at herself in the mirror. Was Montana right? Was Colby playing her?

  “Earth to Maggie,” Emma said.

  Maggie turned to her and smiled.

  Emma stood with her hands on her hips. “Don’t let that fuckin’ bitch get inside your head. She doesn’t know shit about shit. Montana is a jealous, crazy whore. Does that guy you were with tonight want you to dance for him?”

  “Emma, that’s Colby, and the answer is no, he doesn’t want me to dance for him. He only wants to talk to me. I know him from Kensington,” Maggie said.

  “He must really like you if he pays you to sit there and talk to him,” Emma reasoned.

  “I guess,” Maggie said with a smile.

  “What?” Emma shot back.

  “He’s taking me to dinner on Wednesday night,” Maggie announced.

  “Aw, Mags, that’s great. Are you excited?” Emma asked.

  “More than you’ll ever know. But Emma, there’s this thing about what I do for a living that keeps nagging at me. How can a normal guy get past that?” Maggie whined.

  “You won’t believe the shit guys will get past if they’re into you. Just go with it. Is this the first real date you’ve ever had?” Emma asked.

  Maggie blushed. “Yeah.”

  “What are you gonna wear? That’s what you need to be worrying about,” Emma said.

  “I don’t know. I mean I haven’t thought about that. I don’t really have anything. I have my costumes for here, and I have my clothes for the men I entertain in Rock’s apartment…”

  Maggie’s voice trailed off as she began to think through her wardrobe. “The clothes I wear when I’m not working are crap. I don’t have anything that’s decent. Ugh. Now what?”

  “I’m sure I have something you can borrow,” Emma offered.

  “Are you kidding me? You do?” Maggie asked excitedly.

  “Yeah, I do. You know, you worry too much. It’s gonna give ya wrinkles, and then I’ll have to find another hot bitch to do my dance routine with,” Emma said.

  “Ha! I’m about the only one in this place willing to dance with the likes of you. Not to mention, kiss you with that smelly breath of yours,” Maggie poked.

  The two girls laughed as they got ready to go back onstage. Emma’s life had been full of people who hurt her, and it was nice to know a person who never expected anything from her but friendship. She was happy that she could help Maggie.

  Emma felt a surge of peace when she was with Maggie, and she wondered if the young, dark-haired, blue-eyed beauty would ever find her way out of the life she was living.

  Chapter One Hundred Seventeen

  The next evening, Emma brought Maggie a beautiful, black dress for her date with Colby. When she pulled it out of her bag, Maggie gasped. “This is incredible, Emma.”<
br />
  “It was a gift from a guy I know,” she said. “Try it on.”

  Maggie put the dress on and stared at herself in the mirror. She looked stunning. The dress was strapless, fitted through the bodice to accentuate her breasts and the skirt flared dramatically. The layers of expensive chiffon fell around Maggie’s hips and graduated to longer lengths. The hem stopped just below her thigh, showing off Maggie’s long, lean legs.

  “This is gorgeous, but I can’t wear it,” Maggie said.

  “Why can’t you wear it? The dress looks like it was made for you,” Emma said.

  “But if anything happens to it, I can never pay you for it. This must’ve cost a fortune,” Maggie said, thinking that it must have cost at least one hundred dollars.

  Emma shook her head and smiled. It was a Gucci dress, and the price was well over six thousand dollars. At the time, she’d been stunned. But Salvatore, the man who bought the dress for her, didn’t even blink when he handed the sales clerk his credit card.

  “Stop worrying all the time. Who the fuck cares how much it cost? I got a great deal on it, and if anything happens to it…well, it’s only a dress. Seriously, Mags. You need to get a grip on yourself. You worry about small shit. So what shoes are you going to wear with it?” Emma asked, trying to change the subject.

  Maggie let out a small yelp. “OK, I’ll wear it, then. I was thinking about wearing my patent leather shoes,” she finished, as she dug through her bag for the heels.

  Maggie slipped the five-inch heels onto her feet and looked at herself in the mirror. Emma walked up behind her and peered over her shoulder. “You look like a model. You’re truly stunning, Mags. Colby’s gonna lose his shit when he gets a load of you,” she said.

  Maggie met Emma’s eyes in the mirror. “Thanks, Emma. You’re a good friend.”

  “Ugh, none of that sappy stuff,” Emma teased her. “Besides, maybe someday I’ll need a favor.”

  On Wednesday night, Maggie stood outside the Melrose, waiting for Colby to pick her up. Everyone who walked by her turned to steal a glimpse of the raving beauty. When Colby pulled up, he scooted out of the car and went to her side quickly.

  “My God, Maggie. You look beautiful,” he said.

  Maggie blushed. “Thanks.”

  There was a pregnant pause until Maggie said, “You look great, too.”

  Colby chuckled. “Well, we’d better get going. I made reservations for eight thirty.”

  “Where are we going?” Maggie asked.

  “I’m taking you to Ralph’s. It’s the oldest Italian restaurant in the United States. I promised you a good spaghetti dinner, and I never break my promises,” Colby said.

  Maggie hadn’t had a meal that divine since she was taken from her family. She loved Ralph’s.

  Colby leaned into Maggie and her body tingled all over. “I love this place,” he said. “I hope you’re glad you came.”

  “Oh my God, the spaghetti is so good. Almost as good as my mom’s,” she said mindlessly.

  The comment about her mother made them both pause for a moment. She hadn’t associated anything in her life with her family until now. It left her feeling empty, and Colby was quick to pick up the conversation.

  “So, who’s Seth staying with tonight?”

  Maggie rubbed her bloated belly. “He’s at the apartment alone, but Juju will get home around ten o’clock. He’s pretty independent for his age. Not that he has a choice. Juju and I both have to work if we want to live in that Dumpster of ours.”

  Colby leaned over and put his arm around the back of her chair. “You’re a kind person, Maggie. Not many people would’ve taken on the burden of a child that wasn’t theirs.”

  “Seth is mine. I’ve had him since he was four years old. He was just a baby. Poor little guy has been through a lot. We both have. But in the end, we have each other,” Maggie said.

  Colby kissed Maggie on the cheek. The intimate setting of the restaurant made her feel like she was someone other than herself, someone normal. For a moment, she got lost in the feeling that she was free to do as she pleased. But soon enough, the image of Rock popped into her head, bringing her back to her present circumstances, and she felt powerless. The realization that she didn’t even have the freedom to love a man shattered her mood.

  Maggie edged away from Colby to put some distance between them.

  Sensing that something was wrong, Colby shifted away from her. “I’m sorry. Did I say something that upset you?”

  “No, it’s just that this whole spaghetti dinner was great and all, but at the end of the day, I still sell my body to other men. I mean, I know you would never be with someone like me, but sometimes I get the feeling that you want to be closer…” She let the words swirl in the air.

  “You’re right. I do want to get closer to you,” Colby admitted.

  “That isn’t going to happen, Colby,” Maggie informed him.

  “Why? Why can’t it happen?” he asked sadly.

  “I just told you why. Because my life doesn’t belong to me. Just imagine seeing other men coming or going when you come to visit me at Rock’s apartment. How would you be able to handle that?”

  “I don’t know that I could,” Colby confessed.

  “Well, that’s exactly why nothing can happen between us,” she said firmly.

  “You might be right. But this can’t be your life forever, Maggie. At some point, you have to get away from all of this. You’re a beautiful, smart woman. You deserve better, and the sooner you begin to break away, the quicker you’ll have a life of your own,” Colby said.

  “Are you here to rescue me?” Maggie countered. She looked at him warmly. “No, you aren’t, because we both know there’s more to it than just walking away from all of it. I’d need protection, and so would Juju, Seth, and my family. For now, it’s just too difficult. Someday, maybe, but not now.”

  Colby knew that she was right. Now was not the time. But soon, he hoped, the agency would bring Rock and his crew down, and Maggie would finally be free.

  “You’re right. Now isn’t the right time. But that’s what we’re working to fix. You and I will bring these assholes to their knees, and then you’ll have your chance to be and do whatever you want. I promise you that, and I—”

  “Never break a promise,” Maggie recited, finishing his sentence for him.

  “That’s right. I never break a promise,” Colby said with certainty.

  On the bus back to Kensington, Maggie realized that she’d fooled herself into believing that she was capable of having a relationship. Her desire to live a normal life and to be with Colby had muddied her judgment. During dinner, as Maggie observed the other “normal” couples sitting around them, she’d had a moment of clarity and knew she couldn’t put Colby in danger with Rock. It was in that fleeting moment that Maggie decided to push Colby away until the day came when her life was her own. Then she wondered if that day would ever exist.

  Chapter One Hundred Eighteen

  When Maggie walked into her apartment later that night, the scene was chaotic. Juju was crouched over Seth, who was hugging the toilet and barfing violently.

  Maggie rushed into the small bathroom. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know. When I got home, he was complaining that he felt sick to his stomach and was cold and achy. Then, all of a sudden, he got out of bed and ran in here,” Juju explained.

  Maggie took over and knelt beside Seth as he continued to throw up. She stayed with him until he felt well enough to get back into bed.

  “I’m freezin’ Aggie,” Seth told her through chattering teeth.

  Maggie knew he had a fever. She could tell by how hot he was when she helped him back to the mattress. “Does anything else bother you?” she asked as she layered shabby blankets and towels over him.

  “My whole body hurts,” he cried, “and my throat feels puffed up inside.”

  “Juju, can you get the aspirin out of the drawer?” Maggie asked.

  It wasn’t un
til two hours later that Seth finally settled down and went to sleep.

  “What do you think is wrong with him?” Juju finally asked.

  “He’s got the flu. I sure as hell hope the two of us don’t get it. That jerk-off, Rock, would probably make us work even if we were on our deathbeds,” Maggie remarked.

  Juju giggled. “Yeah, he’s such a dick. Hell, he made me work right after he cut off my fingers. I quickly became known as the eight-fingered dealer.”

  At that statement, Maggie stopped what she was doing and looked at Juju.

  “You’re so freakin’ sick,” Maggie bantered.

  The two girls fell into laughter, and eventually Maggie told Juju about her dinner with Colby.

  “So you really like him, don’t you?” Juju asked.

  “Yeah, I do. But there’s no way I can get with somebody now. Colby admitted he wouldn’t be able to handle knowing the stuff I have to do for a living. I can’t blame him,” Maggie said a bit defensively.

  “Hey,” Juju said, holding up her hands, “I’m not judging anyone. I’m a gay, eight-fingered, drug dealer. Need I say more? Judging ain’t my thing,” she teased.

  “Yeah, speaking of gay, how’s that girl you met? Are you still into her?”

  Juju’s face brightened. “Oh, I’m into her, all right. I think I’m falling in love, actually. She’s smokin’ hot. She’s knows I ain’t ever gotten with anyone yet, and she’s not pressuring me or nothing. We hook up, but I’m proud to say we haven’t done it yet,” Juju offered.

  “So, when do I get to meet her?” Maggie asked.

  “Not until I know it’s serious. Plus, it feels kind of weird, like I’m bringin’ her home to meet ‘mom’ or something,” Juju joked.

  “Whatever, you smelly brat. You’re so nasty. I would love to meet her when you’re ready. I’m not trying to rush you, and it doesn’t bother me a bit that you have another life that Seth and I know nothing about. Or that you’re out with some strange woman who could be a rapist or a serial killer. Nope, doesn’t bother me one little bit,” Maggie sang.