Chapter 11: One night stands

Celine’s POV

The alarm rang frantically as I sprang up from my bed. I was late for the fourth time this week and today is Thursday.

“Dude, wake up!” I shouted as I hit the man sleeping beside me on the bed. “Are you still drunk?” I said and shook my head in disappointment.

“What am I doing here?” He asked me as he looked around my small apartment. He gasped as he realized that he was naked, making me chuckle a bit. Of course, just like the others, he doesn’t remember anything from last night. “Did something happen last night? I was at the bar.”

“You were drunk. Actually, we were drunk.” I said. I didn’t bother telling him the details, I felt like he had already figured out what happened between us. I didn’t expect him to stay or even care to know my name. These guys don’t ever care about that. As expected, the guy scurried out of my room after wearing his clothes which were on the floor.

He slammed the door which made me realize that I had somewhere to be that morning. I rushed to wrap my body in my towel before I went over to one of the bathroom stalls. The building was a two-story building with at least ten rooms. Outside, there are bathrooms lined up for the residents to use.

As soon as I was done bathing, I ran back to my room to change into some clothes. I was in a hurry so I was going to wear anything I could find. It was hard to find anything at this point because it was a messy place.

Well, I found an orange shirt and a blue jumper and quickly put it on. I wore my worn-out boots and walked out of the room with my bag in my hand.

As I left the building, I sensed that someone was watching me. But it was just Alex behind me. “Well hello, Celine.” I heard her perky voice from behind me. “I see you’re receiving new visitors every night now. I see that it must be the effect of your recent breakup.”

“Alex. Mind what you say to me. Trust me, I won’t mind beating you up right this minute. I’ll make sure you get scars so that anytime you want to mess with me again you’ll remember them. Now if you excuse me, I’m terribly late for work.” I said in an attempt to walk away but she pulled me back.

“Okay, I’m sorry.” She laughed in an attempt to mock me. “How is Freya dealing with her new job? I heard she takes care of some rich guy's grandmother now.”

“Alex, keep your nose out of our business. What do you want?”

“What? I’m just wondering why she just left you to here while she enjoys that big house. I mean, that’s very selfish of her. If I were your friend, which I would never be by the way, I would make sure that you go to that house with me.”

“Look, Alex, I don’t know why you’re doing this, but you need to stop. You don’t even know what she goes through in that house. You don’t know how the people she works for are. So stop trying to make her seem like a bad person. It’s not working. Freya is working for the both of us so that she can provide better things for us and I’ve never been prouder.”

“Whatever.” She said, “Anyways I need your help.”

“Finally, you’ve said why you’re really talking to me.”

“I need you to tell me about the other guy that came in, please. He was so hot.”

“Alex, do you think I keep records of those things? Which one of them are you talking about?” I asked.

“The dude that came about a week ago. I think he has been coming to your house more frequently than any other guy. What’s his name?”

“Alex! Leave me alone!” I wanted to walk away but she stood in front of me.

“What is your problem? Get the fuck out of my way!” I said as I pushed her away causing her to fall to the ground. I really didn’t care at that moment because I was one hour late already.

I kept thinking about the excuse I would give to my boss for being tardy. I really didn’t want to lose my job but I was drunk last night. I really don’t know how I got drunk after my shift. I only just found myself in bed with another stranger which is usually the end result of how I spend my time out at midnight.

My phone rang and I picked it up without checking who it was. I already knew who it was though. The only person that could call me on my phone is Freya. She is my only family.

“Wassup girl,” I say in a pretty high-pitched voice, making my accent sound a little thicker. I have been told I sound like I’m from Texas because I am actually from Texas. I spent twelve years in Texas then spent the next six years in an orphanage in Mexico. That’s where I met Freya. So, because of this, my accent was not really obvious anymore, as I’ve spent ten years in Mexico so far.

“Celine, what’s wrong? You even sound funny.”

“I’m fine. Just that I’m late for work. My boss is going to be so angry.”

Freya giggles from the other end, making me smile as well. “This is the fourth time this week. Is there something you aren’t telling me, Freya?”

“There isn’t anything I’m not telling you, Freya. You’re my best friend and like my sister. I'll tell you everything.” I said. I knew that it was a lie, there were a lot of things I was hiding from her. I couldn’t tell her, I didn’t want to worry her. I knew Freya, she would go to any lengths to help me. I didn’t want her in danger. She was the only one I had in my life.

“Celine, do you know what day it is?” She asked.

“Your day off?” I guessed.

“No?” I could sense her rolling her eyes. “The day you came to the orphanage.”

I mouthed an ‘o’ as I realized that she was actually right. A decade ago, I found out that my dad killed my mom right in front of me and killed himself too. They never had a stable relationship. They always fought and sometimes I would cry when I heard them shooting at each other. It seemed like they didn’t care about anything else once they were fighting. My dad was the problem.

He would never leave any money for us to fend for ourselves. All his money went into gambling and this posed a problem for my mom. The pay she got from her job wasn’t capable enough to take care of me.

A young woman found me wandering in the streets and brought me in after hearing my story. Well, I found out that she was a lonely pedophile. She was taken to a mental hospital when I called the police because she was trying to force myself on me.

Child services decided to take me to an orphanage in Mexico for reasons best known to them. I never really asked why I couldn’t just stay in Texas. All I really cared about was the fact that I needed food. I wanted a better life, a life away from all the ruckus and violence.

Every year, Freya and I celebrate the times we both got to and left the orphanage as it signified precious times in our lives. We don’t celebrate birthdays or anniversaries or holidays. Usually today we would have gone out to enjoy ourselves but I couldn’t. “Oh, Freya, I'm so sorry. I can’t make it, I have work.”

“Take a day off.”

“I can’t, I’ve taken too many days off, my boss isn’t even happy with me right now.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah bye. We’ll talk later.” I said as the cab parked in front of the bar I worked. I paid the cab driver and walked in. My boss was already at the counter glaring at me, his hands at Akimbo.

“Wassup Tom,” I said giggling nervously. “How you doin’?” He still didn’t answer me. “Look, I'm sorry. A car almost hit me today.”

“Oh Celine, you and your stupid excuses. Just get to work, go answer the customers at table three.” He snapped.

I quickly wore my apron around my waist and went over there to take their order. I gasped, I didn’t expect to see the person seated there. “What are you doing here?” I whispered in fear.

“What do you think I’m doing here? I’m here to have a few drinks. Get me drinks, Celine.” The man said and smirked. I didn’t even know his name but I could recognize him due to our recent encounters.

“How did you find out where I work? What do you want from me?”

“We’re out for your blood Celine. We want your head. And we’re going to get it. You are going to pay for what you did.”

“It wasn’t on purpose I already told you. Please leave me alone.” I said as my eyes were stung with tears. I blinked back the tears.

“We don’t listen to that. We don’t care. Next time, that’s if there is a next time, you be careful of who you mess with. You won’t go scot free Celine dear.”

“Don’t call me dear.” I scrunch my nose in disgust.

“Still having an attitude?”

He held my hand where I kept it on the table and squeezed them hard causing me to yelp in pain.

“Excuse me, sir? What are you trying to do?” I heard a familiar voice. It was him. He still looked the same. I looked into his strange but beautiful blue eyes as he walked closer to me. He was at least six feet tall, yes, he was very tall. He looked like someone so serious but I knew better after we met that might. “Why are you harassing this young girl over here?”

“I’m coming for you.” He said and left.

“Don’t expect me to say thank you, Ethan. I was fine on my own.” I said and tried to leave but he stopped me.

“Were you really? You definitely weren’t scared of that man.” His words were dripping with sarcasm. “What’s up with him? What does he want from you?”

“What’s your business?” “Are you owing him money?”

“Oh, you rich people and always thinking we are always owing money. Is that what you really think of me, Mr. Rich boy Ethan?” I folded my arms.

“Celine. Are you still angry about the other day?”

I laughed. “Me? Angry? You’re another one of my one-night stands Ethan, don’t you forget that. The only thing special about you is that you keep coming to me multiple times. I don’t know what you want from me.”

“I want you.”

“I already told you, I was drunk. You can’t even handle the sober Celine trust me. We don’t mix Ethan, we are nothing alike. You’re rich, you’re wealthy. But I don’t even have a family. Most of my childhood was spent alone and the rest in an orphanage.”

“The first mistake you made is thinking that money solves all problems. Rich people also have problems, you know.”

I laughed again. “Look, Ethan, I’m a hoe, and I’m proud. I can’t stick with one boring guy. That’s the purpose of the one-night stands. They’re just for one night.”

“Okay then.” He said. “But are you okay though? What does that man want from you?”

“That’s none of your business. Ethan, please leave me alone. I don’t really need you disturbing me anymore.” I said.

“Really Celine? After all that we shared these past few nights?” I walked away not waiting to hear more.