[|]I was nervous when the taxi we took stopped in front of a club with people lined up at the entrance. The name of the club had an LED outlined woman dancing and by the street were a few women in the shortest dresses I have ever seen. Some were smoking and some were talking to people in a car. Everything going on made me wonder what this place was like."Come on, Jackie."I flinched when I realized that Amelia had already left the car so I followed suit and waited for her to turn around the taxi. Once she did, she held my hand and dragged me to the entrance of the place where she said something to the bouncer who looked at me and nodded.He let us in and then Amelia dragged me with her into the bustling place. She let go of my hand to open the double doors of the place and the loud sound of music pumped in my ears. Flashing colored lights made me squint my eyes and when I walked into the place, my eyes spotted bare-chested girls dancing on some stages with people throwing money at t
[|]Here I was, sitting in front of a vanity table, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I could not believe that I had accepted what Amelia had said but I had no other choice. This was what things had turned out to be for me. I had to go with the choice I have made.I straightened my back when Amelia walked into the dressing room in red lace lingerie which was the same thing I wore underneath the silk robe I was wearing."Are you ready?" Amelia asked as she stood behind me. She placed her hands on my hair and ran her fingers through them like a makeshift comb."I'm not," I said truthfully and she sighed with a roll of her eyes."I'm losing patience with you, girl. Just forget about your precious morals and do this. Before you know it, you're done and ending the night with big stacks," Amelia said and I envisioned myself holding a lot of money to cover my debts."Are you sure?" I asked and she nodded. "You don't have anything to worry about," she said and massaged my shoulders.I
[|]Lucas' POVI had to blink hard to confirm if it was Jackie Garner, wearing a short silky red robe with her long hair framing her face. I had to look at her body up and down, taking in her long smooth legs to confirm if she was the one or just a look alike."Jackie... Jackie Garner?" I asked and she looked down, playing with her fingers.What was she doing in such a place? "Do you know her?" Amelia asked and stood closer to Jackie who refused to meet my eyes."Yeah, I do," I replied."That's nice but she's on a timer. So, she's going to be the one pleasing Jared here and—"Her words cut through my heart like a sharp knife as I glared at her. Everything started coming back to me, from Amelia revealing Jackie was a virgin and Jared sleeping with a virgin. Something in me snapped and I grabbed Jackie by her arm and tugged her close to me. I heard her gasp and wrapped my arm around her small waist."Can I talk to her for a minute?" I demanded and when Jared was about to protest, I gla
[|]Jackie's POVI went home after changing into my dress. Amelia had tried to speak to me but I didn't have the time nor strength to listen to her. All I wanted was to lay on my bed and cry. Which was what I did the moment I got to my room. I lay on my bed and started to cry in the darkroom. Thankfully, Andrea wasn't in the room so I was able to cry out the pain in my heart.I started to think of Lucas and how he offered to help me. Despite how desperate I was for a helper, I didn't want any type of help from him. I didn't want to give him a reason to step all over me in case his real side came out. "What do I do now?" I whispered and sniffed then turned on the lamp on the desk beside my bed. The first thing I saw was my timetable sitting on the desk, glaring straight at me, making me feel the reality of the exams coming up so fast.I sat up on my bed and wiped my tears. I knew I had Maddy and Axel to help but they had already helped me in my first year, I could not ask them again.
[|]When I woke up later that day from my nap, I studied for a while and happily went for a stroll around campus. I was so excited about the fact that I finally have a secured job. I had already calculated how much I would make before the new year begins and I was already thinking of working extra days to get more money if Clark would allow it.I stopped at the campus park and sat on one of the benches, taking in the few people walking around in groups or alone. I took in a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air blowing around. I was at peace for the first time in a long time and I felt hope."Jackie?"I shook a little out of fear when I heard a familiar voice call my name. I placed a hand on my chest and tilted my head to the right to look at my roommate, Andrea. She was standing with some books in her hand and her hair in a messy bun on top of her head. Her glasses were resting on her pointed nose and her eyes looked tired, probably from the stress of her studies. Their exams had not b
[|]Lucas' POVI groaned as I felt my body waking up to a new day. I yawned and opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was a mass of brown hair on my bed, which confused me for a second before I remembered I had taken a girl to a hotel. I eyed her naked back as I got memories of last night which was the same as always; boring. They always lay flat on their backs while I did the work which was becoming tiring.I rolled onto my back and sighed then stared at the window, planning how my day would go. After thinking, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and unlocked it. I idly went through the notifications on my phone and when I was done, I was about to drop the phone when I saw a surprising text.Jackie: Hi, it's Jackie. Can we talk? It's about what you said the other day and I need a place to stay.I sat up at the message and read it one too many times to understand that what I was seeing wasn't some sort of dream. I rubbed my face, still in shock that she could send such a text. Espe
[|]Jackie's POVIt was easier than I thought. I thought it would be difficult for him to help me. Moving into someone's home was a personal invasion and I thought someone like Lucas declined without letting me explain. So, it surprised me when he accepted to let me live with him.After the call, I sat down and thought over what I had done but I had no place to be. Axel lived somewhere far since he ended up leaving Redside High and Maddy, was going back to her family home which was in the same town where my parents stayed. I had sworn never to go back there no matter what happened."Well, now I have to endure living with a jerk. I just hope he isn't a nuisance," I said and rested my back against the back of my chair. "I can't believe that Lucas Hamilton will be my roommate."I could not help but laugh before stopping when Andrea walked into the room. It was then I realized that she liked Lucas and that I was going to be living with him. If they started to go out with each other, it wo
[|]Today was the last day of my first year in college and I was excited to finish the last paper. It was the easiest course for me so it didn't give me any difficulty in studying. Just before the start of the exam, I packed up the rest of my things and put them in a corner. I had even become emotional because I could not believe I survived a whole year in college. Just yesterday, I was almost giving up but now, I was standing strong waiting for what the future might bring. After I had made sure I would not forget anything, I sent a text to Lucas, to give me his address so I could take a taxi to his place but he had declined and said he'd pick me up. I was already planning on living in his house and I didn't want him to waste gas from his house to school and back to his house but when I saw he was stubborn, I gave in.Some hours later, I was done with my last paper and I ran out of class, excited. I even ignored the weird looks everyone in the hallway aimed at me, which I did not ca