chapter 2

Emi

My body has been a curse and a blessing growing up. It got me a pass on many a failed paper in high school, but also attracted buckets of horrible attention from the male variety from teachers to foster parents, and bosses. Being a tall, skinny blonde bombshell does that I’m told. I’ve been told so many times it’s not their fault I’m so gorgeous as their slimy hands slide up my skinny jeans or up my shirt to my pert breasts.

I never wanted this, so I bailed at sixteen from my last foster home and hit the streets. Needless to say, homeless shelters weren’t exactly moving up or down compared to the rundown shacks I was use too. Underneath a bridge seemed better than any place.

It wasn’t until I met my friend Scarlett that things got exponentially better. She was working as a pole dancer when she spotted me walking down the sidewalk in the red light district of Portland. She got me a job and after realizing I wasn’t a crazy let me have a spot on her couch in her little studio apartment.

We’d spend our tips on beer and make fun of our male clients, but I was more than happy to be able to control how much they could touch me.

“Babe,” she says, stroking my hair one day. I look up into the dusky blue eyes beneath her long deep red hair.

“Yeah?” I say and smile shyly. We’re crammed on her couch for a proper Netflixing binge with all of goodies around us. Pizza, ice cream, chips, and candy bars galore. I never got to eat like this before. She pauses the movie during a sultry sex scene between a girl and a guy.

“You’re not here,” she says. I shake my head, popping a Milk Dud in my mouth.

“No, it’s good. I’m fine,” I promise through it and she smiles her plump lips at me. Scarlett has always been shorter and curvier than me. I’m sure her diet hasn’t helped much, but it’s what she’s known for at the club.

“You’re not into this, are you?” She asks, waving at the tv. “Be honest. I’m your best friend.” I swallow cheeks turning red as I look back at the hot guy kissing the hotter girl.

“I-I like the actress,” I say. “She’s sexy as hell.” Scarlett smiles and strokes my hair away from my eyes again.

“Have you ever kissed a girl before?”

I shake my head. My heart beats even faster.

Her lips drift over to mine as they connect and send warmth through me. Her hand guides mine to her large breast and her other pressing against my perfectly flat stomach. Her touches are hypnotic and all consuming and when she pulls away she smiles at me.

“Emi—“ she says chuckling. I open my eyes and realize I’m halfway on top of her. I scamper off of her blushing as she laughs harder. “It’s okay. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

I blush harder. Remembering the feel of her heavy breast in my hand and the soft roll of her belly, so squeezable. She’s one of the favorite bigger dancers.

“What does this mean?” I ask panicked I’m going to lose her friendship. She sits up and kisses my nose sweetly.

“Friends with benefits?” She asks, eyebrows dropping up and down. “Until you find your own girl that is. Someone has to teach my girl how to properly seduce a woman.”

“But who’ll want a pole dancer?” I ask. She smacks my ass snug in my daisy dukes.

“Are you kidding me, you’re sexy girlfriend,” she says, but then grows serious. “I know you’re not happy there. I don’t know what happened and I don’t need to know. We’ve all been through shit, but maybe you should think about being a fitness trainer. You’ve got the body for it. I mean, you don’t even work out and you’ve got muscles.”

I laugh thinking she’s joking as I brandish my beer, but she rolls her eyes.

“I’ll help you with the resume, but you’ve got this, Emi. You’re amazing,” she says and brings me over into a hug. “Let’s watch Carol instead. I know you will like that better.” She changes the movie and I gladly relish the warmth of her thick body.