literature

The Juice Joint

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Literature Text

I feel naked!

How can girls want to wear this out of the house? No, not just out of the house, at all?!

I stand in front of a floor length mirror that's mysteriously been put into my room. My legs are crossed, and my hands are behind my back holding a hat. I'm biting my lip as I continue to stare at the tiny swath of fabric my body is wrapped in.

I'm in a strapless red tiered dress the goes maybe an inch above my knees. I have the pearls around my neck and white gloves up to my elbows. I even have my charm bracelet on. My hair is irritating me because now I have locks in the front that don't fit back into the ribbon. They frame my face but I don't want hair in my face. I don't know what to do with this.

"What did I get myself into?" I groan.

What makes this even worse is that I actually think I look good. I feel so selfish and conceded, but I don't look half bad, but I hate feeling half naked. Why didn't we buy stockings? Tomorrow, we're going to that store- or any store for all I care- to buy something for my legs. Even if it is less than a millimeter thick, it's covering my legs more than they are now.

I turn around, "What do you think, Roxy?" I hold my arms out and circle once. "Do you think this is appropriate for whatever I may be doing tonight?" She merely yawns and closes her eyes to sleep. "Thanks," I say flatly, drooping my arms. "You are so helpful."

I look out the window and see it's nearly dark. The sun has already set and the sky is in deep shades of purple and pink. Any minute Oliver is going to send in the maid to say it's time to go to this mysterious place or thing he's apparently into but other girls aren't. I'm not quite sure if that scares me or makes me more curious... I'm going to have to say both.

I face the mirror again and glower at my reflection. "You look like what he hired you." I laugh at my sad attempt of a joke, then I laugh even harder because I'm laughing at a joke I told myself. "I am going crazy."

Then my stomach growls. I haven't eaten since breakfast. One piece of candy doesn't count as a meal, or even a snack. I think I might grab something from the kitchen before we leave. Maybe. I'm still uneasy with just taking food, even though I'm supposedly have free access to everything in the house but the parents' room. Like I'd want to go in there anyway.

Giving up, I pull my hair back into a loose ponytail with my ribbon, which by luck matches the dress, and make a face when the shorter hairs fall on either side of my face. I groan, and blow them up out of my face, but they find their place again. Grabbing my shoe, which are heels again- which I hate- I pet Roxy gently and wish her a goodnight before leaving for the kitchen. I tiptoe past Oliver's room for no real reason other than I don't want him seeing me. I know he will make another joke about last night in this dress. I won't be able to take it calmly on an empty stomach.

I'm nearly there when I hear a clap. "There you are! Time to get going!" says Oliver from behind me. "Put on the shoes, Annabelle, and let's get to walking." I stomp in a circle to glare at him. "What?"

"Just go ahead and say it. You know you want to."

He squints at me. "Say what?"

"This insanely short piece of cloth I have. It's the perfect set up for a crack at last night. So come on." Still, he acts like he has no idea what I'm talking about. "Oh pah-lease, Hastings. I look like a hooker in this!"

"This is the latest trend. You actually look really nice."

I'm taken aback by the compliment. "Do not."

"Someone cannot take a compliment."

I turn on my heel, but he catches me in the crook of my elbow. "I feel naked, okay?" I whine. "I miss my nice, long dresses that cover my legs and my arms."

"Well, get over it because we're leaving."

"Can't I just grab a snack before we go-"

"Nope."

"Why not? I'm hungry!"

"You'll get food when we get there."

Mumbling under my breath, I snatch my elbow from his grasp and lean against the wall to put on the heels and feel instantly taller. These are taller than the pair I had earlier. I am going to fall and break something in these death traps.

He opens the front door for me again, letting me out first, locking up behind us. I wait at the bottom of the stoop. Just as he is about to step down, he cocks an eyebrow and flips back around to the door. He then begins to feel around the door frame. Looking for that loose brick. "We can do that later. You were the one that was rushing me a minute ago." He doesn't stop. Smugly, I step up and grab the exact brick and pull it out. I wave it teasingly in my hand then place it back in. "Now you know. The mystery has been solved. But there's one other one yet to be solved. Or in other words, where on earth are we going?"

"Follow me and you'll see." I'm going to kill him if I don't find out soon. I thought about reaching over to force to talk, but he steps off the stoop as I considered this. He's halfway down the path, and I'm left standing there. "Come on."

I know for a fact, I looked like a fool walking over to Oliver. I looked down at the ground the whole time, trying not to trip. When I finally made it over to the solid sidewalk, I smile with triumph. But then I see its dark. How long did I take?

"Can we go now?" he asks impatiently. I motion with my hands for him to lead. He takes a single step but stops and holds out his arm. "Grab on." And eagerly, I do. I need something to hold onto with these things on my feet. I hold on tight, not caring for our proximity, as I normally would.

But then I think about something. We're going to have to be this in public aren't we? Well isn't that just lovely? If he's a jerk to me when we're alone, who knows how he is in front of his friends. An even bigger jerk? Or the opposite, whatever that may be? And how much of a couple are we suppose to act as? Simple dates? Or madly in love? Some in between thing? Will his friends know I'm hired? Hired as an escort? He said it was more impressive to walk into the place with a girl on your arm, but what type of girl? A normal one or a what I thought he hird me for?

What have I gotten myself into?

Oliver seems to be getting more and more excited the farther away from his house we get. He's also more relaxed. I'm totally lost when we leave the wealthier side of town. Rich, snarky boy is willingly slumming it. I turn my face and smirk to myself. But I just want to know the secret. "Where are we going?" I probably sound like a child asking again.

He merely shrugs, half smiling. I stop in place, making him stop. "Annabelle. Stop being stubborn. We're going to be late." I don't move from my spot. "I swear we're nearly there. You'll love it. I'm sure of it. It's fun and worth the pain I'm obviously causing you." He's enjoying the last part.

"As much as those other girls?" I retort. "The girls who didn't like the 'lack of class'."

"I promise, you'll see in a minute. We're less than a block away." Reluctantly, I let him escort me further. But I only become even more puzzled. He takes me down a dirty and smelly back alley. My skin crawls as the horrid odors filled my nose. What are we doing here? He walks over to a door I barely saw, and knocks with a rhythm.

A tiny slot on the door opens with eyes looking out at us. "What's eating you?"

"Nothing. Everything's Jake," replies Oliver smoothly, like this isn't bizarre.

"And her?"

"She's with me. She's my tomato." I'm his what? I look at him incredulously. "It's almost like a password." But with that, the door opens for us to step in and quickly shut. "What do you think?"

"What... is... this?" My head whips around the room. From the makeshift stage with the live music, to the tables crowded with people, and to the people moving to the music. He sets me in a stool at the bar and orders a drink for both of us. "Wait, they sell alcohol here? That's illegal. What if we get caught here? We cannot go to jail. I don't want to go back to jail."

"We're not going to get caught. I've been coming to this place for a year now. And it has yet to be shut down. So I have to disagree." The bartender slides down our drinks and Oliver catches both, and hands me one. "Lighten up. Have a good time." I take mine and look at the gold liquid in my glass.

"Hastings, did you invite another wet blanket deb?" guffaws a man. He walks over to us and shakes Oliver's hand and extends to shake mine. Something about him just screams... mob. I hesitantly take his hand. "My, my, she's really keen. Is this the latest dame you're stuck on?"

He chuckles. "Annabelle, this is Harry. He owns the place and runs it." I smile at him politely.

He smiles back, but speaks to Oliver again. "Are you going to join the game tonight?"

"Umm," His eyes flicker from me to his friend. "I don't think so. It's her first time here."

"Oliver!" sings a woman's voice. The clothing store woman extracts herself from a crowded table. "You made it! And you brought your little doll too." She eyes me. "Attagirl, I approve of the ensemble. But did I hear that you weren't joining the game, Hastings? You? You always play on poker nights. It wouldn't be the same without you."

He shrugs, "Sorry, Camille. Not tonight. Annabelle wouldn't want to sit all night long watching me play poker."

"I'll keep her company," Camille reaches over and grabs my arm, pulling me out of the seat. "You don't mind him playing cards while we hang, right Annabelle?"

"Well-"

"See!" She whispers in my ear, "Plus, he's not what one would call the best player. My guy typically makes a killing off him." I can't resist laughing. "It's settled. He plays, you come. Let's go." And she yanks on my arm, leaving Harry and Oliver staring after us. She pulls me over to a table on the other side of the joint. There's a group of women of all ages smoking, drinking and chattering. "Hey ladies, I have a new gal to introduce. This is Annabelle."

Each woman just look at me skeptically. The eldest woman, maybe in her late forties, blows a ring of smoke and speaks first. "Whose girl are you?"

"Oliver's," I say timidly.

"Little Oliver, eh? Did he hire you or something?" Was it really that obvious? "Because there's no way he could land anyone like you any other way," she cackles and the others join her, including Camille. She waves me to sit down in the empty seat next to her. "You know, you're only the second girl he's ever brought here. And I didn't like her from the second I laid eyes on her. But there's something I like about you."

For a while, they all try to get me to drink. I declined many times, never finishing the first one Oliver handed me. I listened to most of the chit chat, and eventually joined in. I liked feeling included in society, even if was an illegal one.

"Look at this ladies, she keeps looking over her shoulder," suddenly laughs the woman across from me. I blush. "Annabelle, what are you looking at?" she asks sarcastically. I shrug like it's nothing big. "He keeps looking over here too." I didn't believe her so I look over my shoulder and sure enough, Oliver's looking at me. He looks curious, but smiles and waves, and I reciprocate his actions. He mouths a question, if I'm okay, and I nod subtly.

Camille slides her hands over mine and I turn back around. "I'm dying to know! How did you two meet?" Then they all chime in, claiming the same. Camille squeezes my hand and gave me a look, begging for details. I sigh, look over my shoulder again, and look back at the women. The music changes to fast beat, and she suddenly jumps from her seat. "I love this song! Come dance with me."

"I don't know how to dance," I admit. But she lifts me out of my seat and pulls me to the dance floor. She doesn't care. For the first song, I stood awkwardly next to my dancing acquaintance, making others bump into me. So she takes my hands and tries to get me to mimic her movement. At first, I'm awkward with it, but once I get a feel for the music, I go with the flow. I'm having a genuinely good time.

Eventually she tires to the dancing. "Come on, doll. Let's visit our men at the poker table and see how much yours lost and mine won." She holds out her arm like Oliver did, and I grab it, laughing. When we reach the table, Oliver does not look pleased. Camille pries her arm from me and sits in the lap of the man next to Oliver. She kisses him once on the lips. He complains that she's breaking his concentration, but she stays. Camille nudges Oliver with her foot. "Your girl is a real hoot, Hastings. I hope you keep her." She gives me a wink.

His expression lightens a little when looking up at me. "Having fun?"

"Actually, yes. And you?" He glowers. "Is that a no?" I tease. "If it's no fun, why play?"

"Gambling is addictive," points out Camille's seat. He holds out a hand. "I'm Peter. And you must be Annabelle."

"Yes, nice to meet you." We shake. And then my stomach lets out a loud gurgle. I forgot I'm hungry. I want to ask about what food is served here, but since it wasn't my money that would be spent, I act like I didn't hear my own stomach.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Oliver places his cards on the table and goes into his pocket. He pulls out some more money and hands me a bill. "I forgot you still hadn't eaten anything, go get whatever you want and bring me something too."

"Okay."

I maneuver through crowds to get back to the bar. I ask what they serve and I'm given tonight's 'specials'. It was all basically appetizers, side dishes and desserts. But I decided on deviled eggs, grilled cheese finger sandwiches, and little decorated cakes. I buy enough for both of us, because I didn't ask what he wanted, and carry the plate with me just in time for the next game. I hold out the change and he sticks it in his pocket. I look around for a chair, but see no free one's, so I just hold the plate and pick up a deviled egg.

Camille prods me with her foot. Her eyes flicker to Oliver. I furrow my brow, not understanding, and she points to herself and Peter, then me and Oliver. My mouth forms an O and I nod slowly understanding, but shake my head. I mouth that I can stand, it's not a problem. But then he moves over in his chair and pats the space he made. I took my seat, first angling away, but immediately catch my mistake and angle toward him.

"Want anything?" I offer, showing him the plate.

He looks at my selection and quirks a brow, "My favorites. Thanks." And he picks up a deviled egg and pops it into his mouth.

I have no clue on how to play poker, but I do know it includes bluffs and being able to call a bluff. This game, Oliver looks as he did earlier, not pleased, and not winning. I look at the cards in his hands, not knowing if it's a good to bad hand, and I didn't want to ask. So I waited, clueless to the workings of the game.

But then something no one expected to happen, happened. "I won?!" exclaims Oliver, wide eyed. "I won! Finally!" He pulls his winning over to his side.

"Looks like you got yourself a good luck charm there, Hastings," says Peter, a bit perturbed. A sore loser. "Want to test her again?"

He takes a side glance at me, and I shrug, not caring. "Okay." And the cards are dealt out again. And again, he wins. And again and again. After a couple hours of his winning streak, the joint begins to empty.

"I think I might have to get this girl bumped off if she keeps making me loose my money." He throws his card on the table. "I'm done. I give up. It's past midnight anyway. I've got work this morning." But he finally smiles, "Good game, though. Your luck won't last forever." He winks at me. "Nice meeting you Annabelle. I hope we see you again... just not at the table." And he gives a hearty laugh as he walks out with Camille on his arm.

The game finishes with Oliver's victory one last time. I'm very giddy for sleepiness, and clap, "Congratulations, Oliver. You won. Again!" I hug his arm, and snuggle into him. I lay my head on his shoulder and close my eyes. "Can we go home now?" He and I stand up, me still hooked onto his arm, head on shoulder. He says his goodbye to Harry and whoever else is left and picks up his winnings. We walk outside and I'm hit with a burst of cool air. My shiver is a spasm, waking me up, "Dear God! Why didn't I bring a coat?" I pause. "I don't even have a coat."

Oliver slips his arm out of my snuggle, but I'm still half asleep, and continue walking. I hunch my shoulders, hugging myself, rubbing my arms for warmth. I feel naked again. Naked and outside in the cold. Then I'm suddenly warm. I jump at the suddenness, and the warmth falls. Oliver groans and rants, "Ugh! Really? I give you my coat- because you are cold- and then you dump it on the dirty floor! Well that's just great. I try to be polite and-"

"Can you shut up?" I snap, crankily. "I didn't mean to drop it. It slide off when I was surprised by the coat." I continue walking, only wanting to go home to dive into my warm covers.

"Wait up," He catches up and places the coat on my shoulders again. But I slide it off my shoulders, and he groans again. "You just said-" I thrust the coat into his hands and stick my arms backward into the sleeves. I yank him forward, reattaching myself to his arm, placing my head on his shoulder.

I grimace, "You are such a cry baby."

"And you are such a pain in my ass." He sighs loudly, "But for some reason, they like you. So I can't fire you...yet. Not without hearing about for a month."

"I am oh-so sorry I'm such an inconvenience to you," I sigh, smirking like he always does. I aim to be an inconvenience for as long as I possibly can... For the Russells of course. No other reason.
Holy crap! I was having such problems trying to finish this today. My computer died on me twice, and I hadn't saved. And every few minutes, someone distracted me. So I started over twice. I changed my mind each of the times and the is the end result. I hope you like it because if you don't, I do not want to redo this.
Again, this was nothing intense, but we now know what 'things' Oliver is into. I hope it sounds as cool as it did in my head, haha.
And you know what to do when you finish reading(:

*EDIT*: Yay, more awesome art by a friend of mine. Here's the [link] Okay, its not exactly her reaction, but in a way it is:D

the Ritz gang (c) me

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Ladybug-Smile's avatar
Okay, I'm really warming up to Oliver now, but I'm afraid that I shouldn't... I really love this one!