She could still feel his hands on her. It sent more shivers down her spine than the temperature outside. Aldonza rubbed her own hands along her arms as she fought through the cold to get into the warm coffee shop. She sighed as she entered, a bell ringing in the background, and breathed out a frosted puff of smoke as the water droplets that left her mouth evaporated away. She shook her head and her long, dark, wavy hair cascaded over her big white bubble coat. Her jeans were tight but no skin-so. It was different. She certainly didn't look like a hooker, but she was one. Working for Michael definitely was better. Michael, just the thought of him made her aware of the cool air- just as cool as his touch, his cool lips moving up her body.

Al tossed her head and grumbled as she approached the counter. "Coffee. Black," she simply stated. Damn. She had to wake up from this dream. She had to force herself not to think of him. She had to force herself to stop caring. She had to stop. She had to fucking stop. She was a professional. He was her boss. They couldn't.... he couldn't. She wished he did- No. No she didn't wish anything. She felt nothing- nothing for him.

Al paid the minimum wage worker who gave her the cup of coffee and tipped generously. Why? Because she could. She took her coffee and moved to window seat, her white tennis shoes squeaking awkwardly as she walked- however there was nothing awkward about her walk. Her walk spelled C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T without the DIVA.

Her warm brown eyes turned toward the outside world. She always had enjoyed watching people, observing their behavior. It was- interesting. If she hadn't had such a shitty childhood and got into the whoring business, she'd probably have ended up a psychologist.

The night was chilly, and Atalia wasn't dressed for the weather. She was wearing one of her favorite shirts, worn down - the color faded. It had patches of color sewn on it with a tapered collar. With the words "breathing for hopes of another day," wrote beautifully across her chest. With a cigarette pressed between her lips, she sucked at the bud, and threw it on the ground, smashing it out with her foot, as she slowly exhaled the relaxing smoke from her lungs. The coffee shop across the street had a strange appeal to it, and Atalia figured if anything, she could warm herself in there.

She ran her hands through her messy, choppy hair, pulling at her t-shirt, making herself look somewhat presentable for whatever customer's might be within the shop. She pushed the door, walking through, and cast her eyes around the place: people stared with disgust at her messy appearance, others pitied her deshevled form; thin, lanky, and half-starved to death. She merely gave them a 'fuck you' stare, and made her way towards an brightly colored, inviting loveseat. She sat down, and picked up a newspaper, unfolding it carefully.

Looking up from the paper after a few minutes, she cast her eyes across the room. Was this a no-smoking area? Probably was, no one let her smoke anywhere... So she quickly folded the paper back up and loitered through the coffee shop, flipping through the mugs for sale, and returning them quickly. She spun on the balls of her feet, feeling the tension in the shop unbearable. No one wanted her there...

However, Atalia's eyes gravitated to a young, confident customer, trotting away with her steaming coffee. Atalia envied her ability to pay for such things... But her eyes were fixiated on her face. It was warm, prideful, and luscious. Atalia's eyes fell as the woman sat, her own eyes wandering. She crossed her arms, closing her eyes, and let the warmth of the coffee shop enrich her senses.

Aldonza turned from the not-so sunny scene outside and examined the newest person to walk through the door. Her dark choppy hair was a mess. Her clothes were really better described as rags sewn together. What was this girl thinking? Well, obviously she needed a makeover but probably lacked the capital.

Al examined her further. She was small, lanky, and pretty scrappy really- but Al had looked scrappy in her youth as well, until she filled out. She had good looks under all the makeup and the dark hair. She really could be beautiful, but this girl didn't seem to want to. She had the same "screw you" attitude that Aldonza had when she ran away.... and then it hit her- runaway.

She sighed and sipped her coffee; glad she could think about the other girl and forget the nagging thoughts of Michael that kept pricking her. The girl's eyes scanned Aldonza, she could almost feel it and turned to look directly at her.

She made a motion for the girl to come sit by her before verbalizing her intent.
"Come sit with me," she gestured across the table. "Whadda ya like? Let me buy you some coffee. It's pretty nippy outside today. I'm Aldonza, you can call me Al though."

She wasn't sure if the girl would come, but she should. Runaways always needed someone to pick them up- and Al was better than some of the others who could possibly influence this girl.

Atalia shifted in her seat, growing more uncomfortable as the night went on. Maybe if she had a bath... Or a nice something or another to eat... Or some new clothes... Hell, she just needed a new life. A fresh start, something else to work with other than abandonment and coping with a suicidal sister.

Then, Atalia's body tensed as the woman had noticed her looking. Atalia raised an eyebrow as the woman had not only gestured for Atalia to join, but verbally asked her as well. What was she? Desparate for company? Not like she had much to lose though... So Atalia neatly folded the newspaper she held, and sauntered over to where the new woman sat.

"Whadda ya like? Let me buy you some coffee. It's pretty nippy outside today. I'm Aldonza, you can call me Al though."

Ata blinked, did she really look that pathetic? She took a look at her disheveled appearence... Apparently she did. She shrugged and looked over at the hanging menu board. "Caramel mocha, please. Hot." She nodded as Aldonza, her name, introduced herself. "I'm... Atalia..." Her eyes averted to the floor, as she bit her lip, unsure of what intentions this woman held.

Al got up, leaving her steaming black coffee behind, got Atalia her requested drink and brought it back- setting it in front of the girl with a smile.
"Atalia..." Al repeated. "Well, that's a pretty name...." She looked the girl over again and frowned.

She paused for a moment before speaking again, leaning forward slightly. She took a sip of her coffee first.
"What are you running away from might I ask?" she inquired, her eyes strangely empathetic- but not sympathetic. Al just knew what the girl was going through- maybe not exactly, but she had once been a runaway too.
She watched for the girl's reaction as the wheels in her head began to turn. The girl would need a job, clothes, a place to stay, maybe she should help her out? She should help her in some way.... if Atalia would let her. That was a pretty name.

"Well, that's a pretty name...."

Atalia let an airy laugh escape her lips as Al commented on her name. Ata picked up the coffee, and blew on it, before letting the heat rise up and defrost her face. She took a sip, after she'd deemed it cool enough to do so; hopefully she'd avoid burning her tongue. Ata looked back up towards Al, and noticed her frowning... which made her very uncomfortable. "What?" She barked.

"What are you running away from might I ask?"

The young girl's heart stopped for the longest moment in the history of the world. She stopped, set her coffee down, and looked into Aldonza's deep brown eyes. She opened her mouth as to explain, but no words came out. She bit her lip and looked away for a moment, coming back to Aldonza, her eyes rising and falling. "I... Nothing. I'm running from... Nothing." She looked up at Aldonza for a long time. "I had nothing... So I left." It wasn't the whole story, but Atalia wasn't about to spill her life story to some wench who bought her coffee. So she was a bit bitter towards the majority of the human population.. But could you blame her?

"Don't look so shocked Atalia," Al laughed as she stared at her. "I can smell runaways." She smirked and felt her smile fade.
"Nothing...." She sighed. "Yeah, I know how nothing feels." Aldonza smoothed her dark hair away from her face and met Atalia's eyes.

"So, you gonna find a job so you can feed yourself?" Al wasn't always so forward and blunt, but today she had to be. This girl just had to make it. Al had made it. And she just- well, she saw some of herself in this young girl.
"You got a place to stay?" she asked, thinking of another problem with the girl being a runaway. She needed food, shelter, money, a makeover....

Al eyed the other girl with a mature look in her eyes, as if she'd been there, done that... and she had. She'd been alone. And now- now where was she?

"I can smell runaways."

Atalia snorted. "It's not like its that hard... Its not like I've had the luxury of a bath in ages..." She rolled her eyes, sinking into her chair and taking a long drink of her coffee, letting the warmth of the liquid roam into her body... warming her soul.

"Yeah, I know how nothing feels."

Her eyes darted away, as she muttered an incoherent, "yeah..." She bit her inside of her cheek, before washing down her memories with a drink of coffee. "Fun shit." She rolled her eyes, staring down at the table.

Then, Al started interrogating her as to what she was gonna do with her life. Atalia set the coffee down and crossed her arms. "No... I don't know..." She rolled her head back and then lifted it back up. "Look, I just wanted out of where I was, didn't plan shit." She snorted. "Guess that's why you see the beauty sitting in front of you, eh?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. Atalia knew she wasn't pretty - not even remotely... The only reason someone would look at her is because she was so damn skinny.

Aldonza let Atalia be a sarcastic bitch. It was how she had been at that age- and what a little teenager like Atalia said- didn't really phase Al. Why? because Al had stopped caring about what people thought of her a long time ago. You can't be a prostitute and care what people think of you. It just doesn't mesh.

Al smirked and gave Atalia a dangerous glare. "Oh I don't want to hear your sob story Atalia. Self pity only gets you killed. I just want you to make ends meet. I'm sorry I bothered." Al remarked, leaning back, her smile fading. "I know you didn't plan shit but you better start unless you're intending to starve yourself."

Atalia was beautiful, if she'd ditch the rags and fix her hair. But Al wasn't going to tell her. Atalia would have to find confidence on her own. The last thing Aldonza would do for her is coddle her. Coddling never helped anyone. Tough love was required.

"Oh I don't want to hear your sob story Atalia. Self pity only gets you killed. I just want you to make ends meet. I'm sorry I bothered."

Atalia furrowed her eyebrows and tilted her head slightly. Did she seriously just say that to her? Ata snorted and shook her head, looking up onto the ceiling. "Wow, didn't know I was offering to tell you a sob story. It's none of your fucking business! And I wasn't pitying myself." Atalia didn't know what to say as Aldonza verbalized her offer to help. It was just coffee... And curiousity as Ata had seen it.

She looked down at the table, and whispered out an apology. It was barely audible, and she hated saying it. Why did she have to be sorry? It was the world who should be apologizing to her! They were all bitches and assholes and Atalia hated them all... they deserved to burn in hell for all she cared.

"I know you didn't plan shit but you better start unless you're intending to starve yourself."

Ata bit her lip and shook her head softly. "It just never really seemed to matter..." She wasn't exactly talking to Al, not trying to make her pity her, it was just simple fact. Her thoughts retreated to the cuts along her arms, hidden under sleeves.

Aldonza didn't flinch as Atalia tried to cut her with words. Did she really think she could get to Al? She supposed the girl was just stupid and didn't know what Al was. Well, she wasn't wearing her hooker clothes so she supposed it was understandable.

Her apology was barely heard by Al but it was a start. This girl had to learn some manners. This attitude just wouldn't do. She'd be dead in a weak or raped and killed by some psycho. Al frowned and sighed as she exhaled.

"Well, eating should matter to you. You need a job; you need a place to stay. I can hook you up with one or the other if you're willing to cooperate with me." Why was she even bothering to help this little street rat? Because she had ran away just like Al did, or did Al actually have maternal instincts deep down inside and couldn't bear to see a child so dirty. Or maybe she just couldn’t take the oppressive smell that the other gave off.

"Well, eating should matter to you. You need a job; you need a place to stay. I can hook you up with one or the other if you're willing to cooperate with me."

Atalia looked up at the woman and raised an eyebrow. Cooperate? Sure... She supposed, if that would get her a meal, and a bath. She drank the rest of her coffee, and pulled at her sleeves, her body slowly defrosting from the continual weeks out on the street. Atalia tapped her fingers on the cup, idly, trying to figure out what this woman was offering.

"Okay..." She murmured. It was like she was signing her life off to his stranger of a woman... A simple offer of coffee and a brief bantering and it was all over: she'd accepted the woman's proposal, and whatever she had to offer. Was it a sign of despairity? She figured it couldn't be any worse of a position than she was already in...

Al smiled. "See? It's not so hard." Whew.... The girl had some sense. Aldonza was so much better than the others on the street who would pick the girl up. Unlike them, Al did have a compassionate side to her. She did care. She did have some sort of a heart.

"You don't really know me- Ummm so.... I should probably give you a heads up. I'm a prostitute." Al flashed the girl a shiny smile and laughed. "So umm.... just so you know. And I ran away from home once. But anyways- you need a job. What are you good at? Any ideas for an occupation? And do you have any- er- family or possesions?"

"See? It's not so hard."

Atalia raised an eyebrow. What wasn't hard? Accepting help from strangers... Sure it wasn't hard... You had no idea who they were, or their intentions, or how reliable they were. It was all a leap of faith.

"You don't really know me- Ummm so.... I should probably give you a heads up. I'm a prostitute."

Her eyes grew a bit, as Atalia sat back and laughed. It wasn't moreso at her profession, but the sheer luck of being picked up by a prostitute. "What?! Oh God... I'm sorry for laughing... Shit!" She looked around the room, trying to really comprehend this. "It's just my luck I'd be picked up by a prostitute... Nothing against you... really. Yeah. Okay. You wanna turn me into one?" She didn't mind. Really. It's not like she cared what happened to her body anyways... Naturally.

Aldonza asked her about family and possessions, and Atalia's laugh instantly diminished. "I ran away from nothing... remember?"

Aldonza smiled. "It's fine. People laugh all the time." Aldonza smirked. "I'm not 'picking you up' necessarily. I certainly don't want to screw you for my own devices. I can't pimp you out because I'm not a pimp. I'm just an employee. I know the business though. If you wanted to do that sort of thing- you could."

Al mused for a moment, looking the girl over. "Though if you were going to hook you'd have to change your look. Certainly fashion design is not your forte.... Well, we can go to my friend Jenna's pad and you can shower there. Jenna has her own salon so we could fix you up too...." Al frowned. "And you'd never fit into my clothes so we might have to buy you some or see if Jenna has any she doesn't wear anymore. How's that sound Atalia? You really should trust me you know...."

Atalia rolled the thought around in her head... Becoming a prostitute... Selling her body, money for pleasure. There were always STD's and shit... But hey, life was short, and if she could infect every damnable asshole who thought of cheating on their wife with a prostitute - then let hell come upon them! She was even tempted to go find the nastiest one out there, do a bit of grinding, and with her malice infect every man that paid for her. Though, Atalia's temper boiled down, and she took a deep breath. This bitter temper needed to go... a.s.a.p.

Nodding slowly, Atalia accepted Aldonza. Not only accepted the make over, new clothes, new look, new... everything - she accepted Al's friendship as well. "I guess I can't get worse, eh?" She smirked. Though, as Al mentioned trust - Atalia looked to the ground. "Sorry if I'm not... All packs and trustbound..." She pursed her lips in disgust. "The one person I trusted... abandoned me..." She stopped there and a grim smile creased her face. "No pity stories though. I'll... come around eventually." She finished.

Al gave Atalia a serious look. "You need to trust me- seriously.... otherwise we will have too many problems to cope with. Al shrugged as she mentioned being abandoned by the one person she trusted.
"Welcome to the club."

Aldonza sghed and sipped ehr coffee. "Well, that's that." She looked out the window and watched a few people pass by. It looked as if Atalia was going to end up going down the same road as Aldonza so.... she figured she might was well help the girl out.

"Jenna is going to have a fun time making you over. She loves challenges. Don't get me wrong- you've got good looks. We just have to find them under all that makeup and choppy hair- that's all. I think a Natalie Woood look on you would be very sheek."

Atalia took a deep breath and nodded slowly, understanding Al's urge for trust. "Alright, I'm trying, okay?" She darted her eyes away, staring at an old couple sharing a muffin. "It's a new concept for me."

Aldonza talked about Jenna, and making her over, and Natalie Wood, and whatever else, and Atalia simply stared at her blankly. "Natalie Wood...? Doesn't she have long hair or something?" Atalia ran her hands through her own oily, messy, choppy hair. A bit disgusted by it. "Really, I'm just concerned with a shower... I normally embrace hygiene... Really." She laughed and got up to throw her empty coffee cup away.

"Shall... we get started soon?"

"No. She was an actress quite a while ago. She died in the nineteen eighties I believe...." Al embellished. "Natalie had a kind of bouncy chocolate brown hairstyle. Since your hair is already short- we'll have to work with that." Al smiled. "Your complexion is a lot like Natalie's.... and with a red lip and a tight dress you will look lovely." Al looked out the window briefly, seeing a few familiar faces in the murmur of the city outside the glass.

Aldonza finished her coffee. "I'm sure you're hygienic when you have a chance. Yeah, we can go to Jenna's now. We can actually walk from here. She's pretty close.... just let me-" Al stood up and threw her own coffee cup away in the ridiculous trashcan that had the words 'thank you' etched into it. It was sad. That trashcan was more polite than most people.

Atalia couldn't help but blush as Aldonza complimented her. Well, not her, but what she could be if Jenna was accurate enough in her makeover. Atalia nodded, and waited for Al to finish cleaning up as she quickly stood, ready to get out of this god forsaken place. It was so uncomfortable, restraining, making it difficult for her to breath. "Oh yeah... thanks for the coffee." She said.

It was funny... Being taken in by a hooker. First, she was on the streets with nothing... Now she'd be introduced to the world of physical abuse, immorality, STDs, pimps, drugs, and everything else... Though it seemed like one step up from where she currently was. "So Aldonza... How long have you been in the business?" She figured that she had experience... No novice hooker would dare take on another so willingly... It took experience to want to pass on the trade. Or so, at least Atalia figured as much.

"No problem Atalia" Aldonza replied, smiling with a glint in her eyes. "Coffee's pretty cheap for me." She laughed and rubbed her hands over her arms.
"How long? Oh- it's been awhile. I'm not really sure what my age is anymore- but I think I've been hooking for five years or more..." she wrinkled her brow in thought and pursed her lips. "I'm a piece of shit veteran. I've always been grateful I'm not pregnant and diseased. Although I've had the cold, the flu, pneumonia, chickenpox, broken bones, and measles. I've had a lot of broken bones.... but don't worry. I won't let anyone break your pretty little bones." Al added with a reassuring smile.

"Being a prostitute isn't really all that bad- you just gotta know how to do it. I'm so old darling, if you listen to me you won't have any problems." Al smirked, "And Jenna's definitely got some tricks up her sleeve as well. "You'll love her. She'd just the nicest whore you'll ever meet." Al paused for a moment and then added after that "Humor makes it a lot easier to be what I am."

And with that she turned and held the door open for Atalia.
"After you...." She followed Atalia outside and shivered slightly, pulling her crème colored coat around her frame. "It's so damn cold. I wish i could move to someplace hot ya know? Just for the winter and spring....."

Atalia was comforted by Aldonza's smile. Her frown has sent waves of disapproval coursing through her veins - more disapproval rather. And the last thing that Ata had wanted was more people telling her how much of a fuck up she was. She was the one who lived with a continuously hungry stomach, a hovering wave of stench.. She was well aware of her mistakes in life.

A small chuckle left Ata's lips, almost feeling like she needed to award Aldonza for keeping strong for so long... Avoiding diseases, and living through so much. "How did ya do it? Avoiding STD's and all...?" If anything, Ata wanted to avoid that shit above everything else.

"Humor makes it a lot easier to be what I am."

Nodding, Atalia couldn't help but agree. Even though her humor was dry, calloused, and sarcastic as hell - it was a great way to cope with things. If she could trivialize it, make it insignificant... Then it made everything bringing her down a little bit more bearable. "I can't wait to meet her..." She mumbled. However, despite whatever eagerness for meeting a nice whore, a shower was still on her top priority list.

Atalia walked through the door, and braced herself for the cold. She shuddered as the cold night began biting at her skin, turning it a blistered red color. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep her body heat close.

Aldonza hugged herself against the cold, the wind howling in her ears- the cold air biting against her face, the air as cool as his touch against her cheek- her face.... pressed against his chest. Al bit her lip and shook her head quickly, trying not to think of him. Michael. He had treated her- like she was.... or rather- like she wasn't.
She frowned, unable to chase his face from her mind. Although all she wanted to do was chase him away, but that was only because.... Because why?

"Protection, dumb luck, and a strange faith.... that I'd be okay-" Aldonza murmured, looking down for a moment, her confident chin dipping slightly as she sighed. "It's been so hard for so long.... and now-"

Now she was free. He had set her free- free of unwanted bondage. And now- Now? Now she was willing bound by him, bound to him.... and despite her hatred for her feelings for him- she wanted to remain with him.

Al tossed her head back, her mane dancing wildly in the brisk wind as it pressed against her body.
"Almost there...."

They approached a small salon squeezed between two adjacent buildings, the paint of the salon a rather dim blue that almost seemed to resemble teardrops.
A ridiculous candy cane icon hung outside the shop and the word Jenna's hung over the door.
Al entered, holding the door for Ata. She smiled and looked up to greet a long-legged, blonde Jenna jhello.
"Hey girl... This is Atalia. She needs the works."
Jenna smiled, her emerald eyes (false contacts of course) laughing with excitement. "Oh, I do love a challenge! Hey darling- come here.... I'll fix ya up- come- turn around. Let's asess the damage."

"It's been so hard for so long.... and now-"

Atalia raised an eyebrow, watching Al's chin sink into her fading voice. Atalia opened her mouth to speak, to question what Aldonza had stopped saying, wanting to investigate further on this whole occupation. Not only was she still a virgin, but it wasn't like this type of career was exactly the norm. But hell, what about Ata coincided with the norm? So, she remained silent. If Al felt the need to elaborate.. she'd do so.. right?

The shabby young girl looked over the salon, seemingly jammed inbetween two overpowering buildings, just barely making it through. They stepped through, instantly being greeted by the warmth of the salon, before the blonde woman of the shop: persumably Jenna. Aldonza introduced the two, and Ata sheepishly waved her hand. "Hey." Atalia walked over to the blonde girl, a bit sketchy about what she would do.. but then, she figured she couldn't look any worse.

"Do your stuff, babe." She said, completely handing herself over to the beautician. "Sorry you don't have much to work with..." She laughed, and shook her head softly, "had a bit of a fit, after... well, nevermind..." Atalia smiled, and sat in a chair, ready for a whole new look.

Jenna made a sour face as Atalia approached her.
"Whew... Atalia run upstairs and shower please." She remarked with a kind laugh. She pushed Atalia away from her and towards a staircase in the corner of the shop. The stairs led up to Jenna's apartment. "Bathroom and shower's on the left. "Feel free to use my shampoo and my robe- Uh, throw your clothes out." she added, nodding curtly as she slapped Atalia's ass.... hard.
"Go on- Git."

Jenna left the girl as she walked up the stairs and waltzed over to Al.
"Al- this is gonna be tough.... But I'm thinking a Natalie Wood look would be very hot-"
"Yeah, hey- I was just saying the same thing to Atalia," the other replied.
Jenna smiled, "Tight ass though- she'll be alright."
"I think will a little work and a little confidence- yeah.... There's no other job in this economically depressed city that will keep her fed and her bills nonexistent." Al paused, waiting a few moments.

"You know I'm not with Benny anymore.... right?"
"I heard it through the grapevine- and I heard your new man is giving you a rough time-" she teased. "Let's see the bruises babe...."

Al laughed and proudly showed Jenna the massive bruises on her hips from his hands as she pulled down her pants.
"Mmmm...." Jenna remarked. "That had to be great-"
"Yeah...." Al replied. "I think I'm having problems- I just-- can't stop thinking about him. Dammit, it's like he's following me and I can't run...
"Well," Jenna replied sweetly. "You'll figure it out- besides Al, you're too strong for any man to truly own you." She flashed her a sexy smile and they seated themselves on a nearby black, leather couch- waiting for a not so smelly Atalia to come down the stairs.

Atalia blushed as Jenny commented on her stink. She nodded, and turned, running up the stairs. She gave out a small squeak as Jenny slapped her ass, and threw a perturbed glace towards her.

Finding the bathroom, Atalia stripped, and jumped into the shower, feeling the warm water pour across her face, running down her naked body, giving it relief. Her thoughts wandered... Throw out her old clothes? Was that kid crazy? Well, she understood why... but still... though were her sister's clothes too... Atalia shrugged, and guessed it was time to finally let go. The girl was dead anyways, what did she care? And Atalia might as well be dead too.

Atalia cleaned herself, shampooing three times, and shaving too. As she stepped out of the shower, feeling clean, refreshed, and renewed, Atalia took a deep breath, and wrapped a towl around her hair and body, drying herself. Once she dubbed her body dry enough to threw on Jenny's robe, and walked down stairs. "I don't know about you two... but I feel like a new woman..." She breathed, with a smile. Her clothes were matted into the trash upstairs, and Atalia was consciously leaving her past behind... Thrown away, and gone forever.

Al smiled as Atalia walked down the stairs.
"There she is- finally we can see who was under all that makeup!" She smiled and laughed a loud as Jenna stood and clapped her hands together.

"New woman- hell yeah you're right" Jenna exclaimed. "Lovely.... now- just come sit over here in my chair and we'll take good care of you." She led Atalia to a swirly salon chair and sat her down in it with firm hands gripping Ata's shoulders.

Aldonza smiled and walked up behind the two. "Atalia- we're thinking chocolate brown... short and bobbed. It'll be very cute- and will make your curves stand out. You got curves under that robe girl?" Aldonza asked, arching an eyebrow with a playful smile.

"You like that idea? Chocolate brown? We'll have to do your eyebrows too- that'll be easy.... and Jenna has got some clothes... And I even have some new clothes back at my place."

"Where do you live now Al?" Jenna asked. "You never told me- not after Benny died."

"Uh- yeah... I live with Michael- his house really is huge." She shook her head before giggling. "I get lost like everyday...." She laughed before turning back to Atalia and running her fingers through the girl's wet hair with a gentle smile. "You're just going to be so beautiful when we're done with you."

Atalia shrugged as she held the 'v' of the robe closed between her hand. She stood there for a long time, letting the two woman coo at her like she was some project they were planning on reforming. In a way it was exciting, to see what 'new you' they would come up with... But at the same time she wanted to scream at them: "What the fuck is wrong with me now!?"

But Atalia knew; there were a lot of things wrong with her now... and it wasn't just physical. She squeezed her thighs together, where pain shot through her legs... where she'd cut herself. She knew they would have seen on her wrists, so she went for her thighs... Hopefully the scars would be gone once she started "working."

The young girl obliged to Jenny's request, sitting in the chair. She looked up at her, watching her take pictures in her mind as to what she wanted to do to Ata... how she wanted to transform her. Aldonza talked about Ata having curves and she grunted, "I have hip bones, if that's what you mean." Atalia held the robe against her breasts, but revealed her waist, which practically looked as if she'd stretched elastic sheets over her bones. Ata let the robe cover herself again and shrugged. "Do whatever you two want."

Aldonza shook her head. "Mm mm... You're going to need to pack some meat on those bones- seriously--- eat like twenty krispie creams a day. You've just hit the metabolic jackpot.

"Anythign we want? Atalia- can I call you Ata?" Al asked, going on. "You're gonna have to buck up girl. You say how. You say when. You say who. You say how much..... You never say do whatever you want... now- you want chocolate hair or not?" Aldonza asked sweetly, her hands caressing through Atalia's short choppy hair as her dark brown eyes met the mirror.

Atalia looked down at her body, ashamed. It was ridiculous, really, it was. Though, at least any model who dared say that they were skinny... didn't have a thing on Atalia. She weighed clear near nothing. She nodded, and laughed slightly, a bit embarassed still.

The young girl froze as Al brought up calling her Ata - her sister's nickname for her. Atalia looked up at Al's smiling face for a long time, and then suddenly closed her eyes, shaking her head, trying to manage a smile. "Yeah, sure. You can call me Ata..." She rolled her eyes as Al talked about Atalia being the boss, but Ata didn't even know who the hell that Natalie girl was, but she shrugged and nodded. "Yeah, whatever, just do it."

Though her hostile nature was put at ease as Al started to caress her head. Atalia smiled slightly, but kept her eyes down on the while fluff her robe was made of. She closed her eyes for a moment, and then looked up at Jenny. "So are we gonna do this or is Al just gonna rub my head all night?" Her tone was a bit sarcastic, but playful as well. Two could play at this game. She wasn't going to let these two seasoned whores batter her around like the new kid on the block.

Aldonza frowned as Atalia closed her eyes, seeing something in the girl tense.
"No.... I like Lia better. Can I call you that? By the way- my nickname's Al." She smirked, "Like Aladdin." Aldonza smirked and gave her a skeptical look as Atalia spoke, her voice a little submissive.

"Yeah, whatever, just do it."

Jenna smiled and grabbed a large cloth to drape over Atalia's front. She frowned and Aldonza pouted as Atalia snapped at them.
"C'mon Lia- don't talk to us that way...." Al teased, pinching Lia's cheeks with a smirk before stepping back.

"It's already wet Jenna- might as well start coloring now."

Jenna nodded, her blonde hair bouncing as she did so. And so- the coloring began. It did take awhile- so Aldonza brought Atalia a few magazines from the rack near the door.
"So- I suppose you won't be telling me anything more about yourself are ya?" she asked, "Just making sure...." she added, explaining herself. She did hope this girl wasn't too far gone. She hoped she could salvage some of that confidence. Of course, prostitution wasn't exactly right or moral. It was completely wrong, but it had worked out for Aldonza-- and it was one of the few options Atalia had. She hated to put the girl on the streets, but it was better than letting the girl starve or get herself killed.

"No.... I like Lia better. Can I call you that? By the way- my nickname's Al."

All this bonding shit was making Atalia sick. She looked up at Al and laughed. "Lia, huh? Yeah, I guess that's fine. Whatever. Want me to call you Al then? Or Ally?" Ata laughed and stuck out her tongue. Yay she's now becoming one of the gals, getting nicknames, makeovers, and... whatever else came with prostitution. Oh dear, here came Ata's cynical nature once again.

"C'mon Lia- don't talk to us that way...."

Atalia glared at Al as she pinched her cheeks. "Yeah, good thing I'm not twelve, right?" Ata rolled her eyes and bit her tongue, trying to get herself to shut up... She was becoming a little malicious. "Sorry - Just - Jeez, I'm not a kid, okay?" Ata crossed her arms and clenched the robe together, a bit angry.

"So- I suppose you won't be telling me anything more about yourself are ya?"

The young girl looked down at her feet for a moment, taking the magazines from Al quickly. She smiled softly and looked up at her for a long time. "What do you wanna know? That my father never acknowledged he was a father... my mother was a psychotic, going in and out of the funny farm all the time... twin sister killed herself... Ask your questions because I'm only gonna talk about this now, and today, and after that it's gone and done for." Her voice shook as she let the words fall out of her mouth.

She was ready for her nightmares to disappeare, and to completely rid herself of her old life... Perhaps she'd even take on a new name afterwards.

The sarcastic but fiery nature of the girl only made Al smile wider, but in a friendly way. It was so much like her own, but with more bitterness to it- but her bite wasn't strong enough yet. She was glad Atalia talked back. She needed to talk back- needed to challenge. Why? Because those that sat down to be abused--- Well, they died. Or worse.

"Sure...." she replied, her words drawn out as she stepped away, letting Jenna start on the coloring process. Aldonza sat back in a swivel chair beside Atalia's and watched her as she spoke.
Aldonza arched her eyebrows when the words came out of Atalia's mouth.
"Your sister- she close to you?" Aldonza asked, pausing for Lia's answer before asking another.
"Parents still alive?"

She frowned. Not much different than her story, just spiced up with a bit of suicide. Aldonza had been abandoned as a baby by her mother, left to die in the slums of Demaitre. Her idiot father saved her- brought her back to health and raised her to be an outcast- a dirty disrespected piece of vermin. And Aldonza developed an anger, a passion, a ruthless desire to be respected- to make people fall to their knees at the sight of her- to worship her. The school kids had paid when she beat the shit out of them. The men paid with their money. And those on the streets- the judgmental housewives- they paid with their husbands.

"Your sister- she close to you?"

Atalia looked at Aldonza for a long time, trying to comprehend. Did she seriously just ask that? What was she? Stupid? “She was my fucking twin – of course we were close! When you’re in a family where you and your sister are invisible to your parents… Wouldn’t you be close to whatever acknowledged your existence? She and I… We… were inseparable. The psychiatrist, always wanted me to be out of the sessions, so she could confess anything she wanted to, without having to worry about what I would think, but of course, I was always there – she wouldn’t let me leave.” Ata bit her lip, the bitterness growing thicker as she spoke. Tears attempted to form in the corner of her eye, but she looked up, washing it away, preventing it from falling. There was no use in crying for the dead now. “Yeah… we were close…” she muttered, sadness filling in her eyes.

"Parents still alive?"

Shrugging Ata scoffed. “Fuck if I know. I don’t even care. They probably forgot I even exist.” She looked into the mirror, watching what Jenny was doing. “I never saw any missing ads, or anything after I left the house though. Been gone for a year.” She rolled her eyes, shaking her head, ridding herself of the swelling emotions making a blockage in her chest. “Whatever. Wah wah wah. That’s all over now…I’m starting over.” She took a deep breath, feeling the pain dissipate as she tried to rid herself of all the anger that hovered over her.

Aldonza snapped, stepping away from Atalia with a look of disgust on her face.
"Well, God- I'm sorry I asked- forgive me!" she mocked sarcastically, anger boiling below her skin. How dare she talk to her like she was fucking idiot?

"Not everyone who's related is close- not everyone mourns for those who died," she spat, her father's face fresh in her mind. Aldonza stormed away- to the other side of the room. She heard the rest of what Atalia said- she heard it all and didn't give a fuck.

Aldonza raged inside- almost wishing she could burst out of her skin and fly away. She rested her forehead against the glass window at the front of the shop and sighed, her hot breath making foggy clouds on the transparent barrier that she rested on. She breathed deeply, trying to calm herself. Atalia just didn't know- just didn't get it- how similar she was- and that made Al mad, made her rage that this should happen again to someone.... but the whole thing about her sister- the bratty attitude that Atalia had towards her. She better watch it. Al was helping her. She could easily take everything back- kick her out- or do worse- she could send her to Julio. She could beat her into a pulp- she could personally destroy her- breaking her down mentally until she was nothing.....

Lia had to learn some respect.

Jenny shook her head and put a hand on Lia's shoulder.
"Girl, you shouldn't talk that way to Al- she's just tryin' to help and- Well, she's got emotional shit of her own to deal with. Never really had a loving family, did she?" Jenny whispered, so Al couldn't hear. "At least you had a sister- even if it was only for a little while.... Al's never really had anyone-- and she doesn't really talk about it. I wish she would- she'd feel better, but you- you two got a lot in common- don't push her away...."

Atalia watched Aldonza fume and bubble over. She simply slouched in the chair, taking in a great sigh, and rolling her eyes. Atalia was so bitter, and so malignant, that whoever dared to ask questions about her past didn't get a happy retaliation... she just couldn't help it. She sat silently in the chair, feeling Jenny's fingers course through her hair, putting the dye onto her scalp.

It wasn't her fault... Was it? She was still new to this whole 'coping' bullshit, and her sister had only died a couple months ago; the wounds were still fresh. She didn't like to talk about it, so the best way she found to shut peole up was to be frank, cruel, and to the point... It usually stopped them dead in their tracks pretty fast. She couldn't say she didn't mean to hurt Al's feelings... But she didn't try to be gentle with them either.

"Girl, you shouldn't talk that way to Al- she's just tryin' to help,"

Ata looked up at Jenny for a long time, remourse in her face. "Look, I'm sorry. I just... it still hurts. The best way I know how to cope with it is to be mean and nasty - people stop talking about it then..." Tears started falling down Atalia's cheeks, which she wiped away violently. "Just cause I'm strong enough to handle it doesn't mean I like being thrown out in the wind and left flapping around, grasping for stability!" She buried her face in her hands and leaned forward, ashamed of herself.

Jenny frowned.
"Lia, everyone's got their problems- but we don't get mad about it. We've learned to deal. Getting pissed and pushing those who help you away--- yeah, that's not gonna help at all...." she shook her head before arching an eyebrow at Lia's hysterics.
"Grasping for air, huh? Right...." she continued to color her hair- letting Lia cry like a baby. She was a baby- a little girl who refused to grow up. Well, that'd change. She'd realize- in time- that the world was a bitch and if you wanted to be happy.... you had to make it happen.

Jenny looked over at Aldonza. Was she happy? Jenny had stopped hooking last month- now that she was getting so much business in the shop. But Al? She still worked- and for a new guy? Did he make her happy? Whenever she mentioned him- Jenny did notice a strange light in Al's eyes. Was that what affection looked like? What desire looked like? She didn't know- like Aldonza, Jenny had never felt those things before.

Just as before, Aldonza leaned against the glass- not bothering to look back at the little girl behind her. Lia was young- didn't know just what it took to survive. She thought being strong meant snapping at everyone. Well, it was disgusting and a turnoff. She'd get no jobs, no friends, and no help with that attitude. Aldonza growled as she heard the girl sob and shook her head away from the glass.

She hadn't cried in such a long time. Well, emotionally cried. She had cried when Benny kneed her in the fucking ribs- when Michael had to wrap her ribs. God, why did her thoughts always run back to him? All she was doing was running from him- constantly trying to avoid what she knew was there- an undeniable connection, attraction. And Michael knew it too- he knew it too. The electric tension in the house was- granted- wonderful foreplay- but it'd never get anywhere.... couldn't possibly- but she wanted it to.... wanted it every time she met his eyes, heard his voice, smelled his scent on the furniture.... She couldn't escape him- even now when she was pissed at some little kid who was sad her sister died.

Aldonza might have pitied her if she hadn't been so god-damned snotty.