Remember To Love Me

STARLIA I need a new purse. That's my one thought as I twirl around the poll, hands-free with nothing but the strength of my left leg supporting me. It's dumb, a waste of my raw talent but the crowd is eating it up. My alter ego and I merged into the same person the day I decided to take off my clothes and sell sex, literally and figuratively. The music is an echo in my head, my thoughts louder than it as I picture myself shopping for a designer bag while spinning around the pole a couple of times, in my element. I switch positions swiftly, my legs crossing at the bottom before I drop my ass to the stage before lying flat on the stage and arching my back. My eyes close, a grin curving my lips when I hear the crowd going wild, I can taste that designer bag. This is my last dance of the night, and it’s also the one that I earn more in. Before exiting the stage, I blow a kiss to the audience, a bunch of power hungry ravenous elites with nothing to do but throw stacks of money at

STARLIA I come home to another deadbeat, he's using the damn TV again, like he doesn't have that in his gaming room that I danced my leg off for. I hate men, that much I've decided. If not for the sex I wouldn't be around them. Kade is an idiot, top five on the list of men I hate, he pawned me and his girlfriend off to Rocky after gambling way too much away. “Starr, you're home late!” Kade smiles at me, if I hadn't walked in front of the TV he wouldn't have noticed me. “And I see you're in the spot I left you.” “Yes, got lost in the game.” he sighs, “What kept you at work? Is Rocky fucking you for free again?” “I had a few clients.” I groan at the word client, my last client of the night pissed me off. “I'm home.” Brooklyn sings songs, walking into the house. She's Kade's sister, and just like his girlfriend and I, she works her ass off just to make him live like the king he thinks he is. “I'm guessing you had a client too?” Kade watches Brooke and she frowns at him, her

STARLIA Alison and I walk into the bar, half drunk, giggling about how Kade fell off the table in the last bar we were in. I know I hate Kade half of the time but he's growing on me, he won't admit it either but I've grown on his selfish ass too. When I forget the fact that I'm indebted to him or the things I do to close off that debt, we get along so well. Rocky slides in front of me, flashing me his hyena teeth. “Starr, my star.” “Hi, Rocky,” Alison responds before I do, nudging me. “Hi, Rocks.” I feign excitement. Rocky grins, “You look radiant, the crowd is lucky to have you grace them with your presence.” “Wow, Rocks.” Alison cracks up, the praise is very dissimilar to him. “Um, that's not even kissing ass, you're straight up licking it.” “Right,” I laugh. “what do you want?” Rocky shrugs, “Nothing,” he tells me, proceeding to throw his arm over my shoulder. “Come with me.”. “That's not nothing,” I whine, side-eyeing him. “You caught me,” he nervously chuckles. “the

I don't answer him, I can't, I direct my attention towards some bravery, supernatural secret strength that could aid me at the moment. He roughly grabs my shoulder and whirls me around so now I'm looking at him but his mask is hidden by the dark hoodie he has on. I want to knee him in the balls but my knees nearly give out when I see the blade now pointed to my throat. It's big, and so close to my throat that if I move, it's over for me. Starlia dies tonight, except she doesn't want to die, Starr needs to live a bit longer. “You just love it, don't you? Making men fall for you and pretending you're some docile lamb.” he snarls, the anger in his voice exploding through the voice modifier. “No,” I swallow, “No.” “Oh but yes,” he chuckles, “I know it's your essence and the fucked up thing is you don't even have to try,” he groans. “You have us ready to lick the ground you walk on and you..” he trails off, adjusting the blade closer, so close if I swallow, my throat will get nicke

“I can go alone, I'll manage.” I rise, using him for balance. My legs are shaking, like they might give out beneath me. “I'm not leaving you alone, you were attacked.” “You shot him.” I gulp, the thought only now sinking in. Nobody has ever shot someone for me, not even my brother. “I'll drop you off at home.” he offers, and I shake my head. “Okay, then you're coming to my hotel with me.” What? His hotel, is he expecting sex as a thank you? I do understand he just saved my life but the sex is too far, who asks for it as a thank you? “I'm not going to touch you,” he says, as if hearing my thoughts. “I'll even book a room for you but I'm not leaving you in the street.” “Okay.” I nod. “You'll tell me your address?” “I'll go with you to the hotel,” I say, I can't put everyone else at risk, but Kade I'm okay with putting at risk. This man had a gun, he could potentially finish the job the other one left unfinished but for some reason, I trust he won't. ADRIAN Someon