Chapter 3:

Scarlett:

The moment I reach home, I smell of burgers and pizza, it must be from the fast food near the subway. I unlock the door and step into our tiny two bedroom apartment. We live upstairs, so downstairs is a laundromat. Sometimes, the stench of detergent and bleach comes from the vents.

“Why is it so hot in here?” Sweat is already gathering in the base of my forehead as I kick my shoes to the side. I take a look around our cheap apartment, cardboads are sprewn around the house, it's probably my sister, Lila, working on her school project.

“The air conditioner stopped working, I think it's broken or something.” My younger sister, who's just eighteen walks into the living room, dressed in a tank top and shorts.

“Thanks, how was school?” I ask softly, dropping the to-go bag on the table. I feel like it's my duty to protect Lila, I was her age when her mother walked out on us and Tella was eight. It was suffocating to suddenly be thrust into a world where I am in charge of my sister, and sometimes, even my father. He took to drinking, and I had to be strong for Lila.

She was the reason I got out of bed most times, she was the reason I endured countless insults from rich dudes my age whenever I was working in summer camp. She is the reason why I am doing all of this. It's her last year of highschool and she's working really hard to get into Yale, so I don't want her having any part-time jobs.

“Horrible, I haven't even finished my project yet, and I am starving.” She smiles, looking the bags. Lila is wild and care-free, but she is also hella smart which is why I want Yale to work for her. I don't want her to end up like me who went to community college and if this is the price I have to pay, then so be it.

“Where's dad?” I ask Lila who's already peeling through the bag and bringing out the forks and the sheet of pie.

“I don't know,” she says, mouth full of pie. “When I came back from school, he wasn't here.”

Damn, he's probably out drinking again and finding ways to gamble all our money, I know my father means well but it has been ten years since that woman left. I refuse to acknowledge her as my mother, and since then my father just hasn't been the same anymore.

Where was that man who would make us chocolates with marshmallow, where was that man who would take us Disney land? I guess that man left the moment my mother walked out.

It's unusual for my father to not be home, usually, he's always sleeping. He got fired from his fifth job last week, and I am barely managing to keep us afloat.

“How's the food?” I ask Lila. She looks up at me and smiles.

“It's really good,” she says, the food is cold and it's just leftovers and yet she's acting like it's a three course meal. Girls her age are out having fun, and I can't even afford a simple dinner for my sister.

I just wish I can do more for her.

“You can have all the pie.” I say, walking to the kitchen.

“Really?” She yells, “have you eaten at work?”

“Yes,” the lie so easily seeps out of my lips. I open the refrigerator and pick a bottle of water, before gulping it down. We need to do something about the A.C, the heat is brutal and coupled with the smell of detergent and bleach, it feels like an hellhole in here.

My phone hurriedly starts ringing, and I swipe it off the counter in the kitchen. “Hello?” My voice is weak, I only had a sandwich this morning and asides from that, I haven't had anything.

“This number was the last number the man called.” The voice is gravelly and rough. “I don't know how he's related to you but he has refused to pay for his drinks and he's passed out cold on the floor, come and do something about it!” The person then proceeds to recite the address of the bar.

Shit, shit, shit. My father is passed out cold on the floor in a bar. This isn't the first time that it hasn't happened, I am always the one cleaning up his mess.

“Seriously dad,” I mumble under my breath as I hurriedly walk to the door. “Couldnt you have done this yesterday or something?” I pick up my coat.

“What's wrong?” Lila is standing in front of me, with her hands crossed over her chest. She has this innocent look in her eyes that almost makes me not want to tell her. She's too young for all of this and I can't drag her into it.

“It's nothing, go finish your project, I am just going out for a bit.” I hope she doesn't spot the lie in my voice.

“It's Dad again, isn't it?” She asks, a clear resentment in her voice. “Why does he have to do this every night! It's not fair, you keep on cleaning up his mess, you deserve rest too. You have been working yourself too hard, Scarlett.” Her voice breaks at the end. “And I can't even do anything about it. I feel helpless.”

“Look into my eyes, you are not helpless. You are doing the best you can by being in school. It's your last year of highschool, Lila. I don't want you in all of this. Please, just go back to your project and I will be back with dad.” She can hear the pleading in my voice because she huffs and heads back to the couch.

I take in a slow breath, before walking out of the apartment, clutching my phone tight as I make my way to the subway. Thankfully, the bar is still open, neon lights blinking in the dark. I make my way into the bar and loud music blares from all corners, waitresses are walking around with skimpy clothes.

I scan my eyes around and finally find someone slumped on the table, people are surrounded around him, yelling.

“Excuse me!” I thrust myself into the throng of people. “Sorry! That's my dad!” They start to make way and I see my father slumped on the table, bottles of alcohol around him. Normally, I would be ashamed to even be here, but the shame stopped coming a long time ago. “Dad! Wake up, we have to leave now.”

“Hey, lady, your father owes me three hundred dollars for the alcohol he consumed tonight.” A woman wearing a scowl immediately grabs my wrist harshly, yanking me away from my father. “He has been drinking all night. Pay up right now, or else…you both aren't leaving this place.”

“Three hundred dollars?” I bite my lips, turning towards my father who is still asleep. I bet he has no idea of the ruckus he just put me in. “Right now, I don't have that kind of money, please…can I have your number? I will Venmo it to you when I have.”

“Uh huh, kid. You think I am going to fall victim of your scams? You should be lucky that I didn't add the payment of the other drinks he drank. Pay up, girl. I need to keep this place afloat.” The woman says, reminding me of Angel, my crappy restaurant manager.

“Please, that's the only money on me. Please.” My voice boils with anger at this woman who is literally inconsiderate.

“Pay up,” she stretches out her palm. “Or you can't afford to pay because you're broke as your father!”

I bring out the three hundred dollars from my pocket and unwillingly hand it over to her. She scoffs, “now get your father out of here, I don't want to see either of you here ever again.”

“I don't plan to return.” I level her up with a scowl. That was the only money on me, now I don't even know how we're going to get home. Looks like we are going to have to walk.

“Hey, dad.” I go over to him and pat his back gently. “Dad, we have to leave now. People are staring.”

“What?” He stirrs from his sleep, his body reeking of alcohol. Everyone is staring at me, wide-eyed.

I place my father's hand over my shoulder and gently lift him up to his feet.

“Scarlett? Is….that….you?” His voice is drowsy. He peels his eyes open gently. “What happened?”

‘You got drunk again and drank three hundred dollars worth of alcohol, that's what happened, dad.’ but instead I don't say that. I just say, “It's nothing, let's get you home.”

We slowly walk out of the bar, and since I am very broke to afford the subway, we end up walking home.

“I am sorry,” my father slurs, his weight crushing on me.

He looks so tired and exhausted. My mom turned him into this, sometimes I catch him looking at her frame with tears in his eyes. How can he still love her for what she did? Is it possible…..to love someone and still hate them at the same time?

He looks older now, dark circles under his eyes and it makes me weak to see him like this, what ever happened to that man that was so strong and full of life?

All I want is to give my younger sister and my father a new life, but that's not possible because I am freaking broke and dad gambles all our money. The thought of Malakai’s offer seeps into my mind. The money he would give us could change my life, it could change our whole life. We could move out of the apartment, Lila would easily get into Yale without student loans, and dad wouldn't have to gamble anymore.

How hard can it be? Being his fake girlfriend? Sure, I don't know anything about his life, but we could make it work. He said we would draw up a contract and make some ground rules. At that moment, I make up my mind. I am doing this.

I unlock the door, and help my dad inside. I take him to his bedroom where he collapses on the bed immediately.

I then dash to my bedroom. Lila is already on the lower bunk bed on her phone.

“I am going to need your help.” I tell her. “I kind of have a date and he's going to be here soon.”

“A date?” Her eyes twinkle. “You need my help for your make up and hair? Say no more, darling. Sit. Sit. Let's get started.”

I sit down on the chair facing the mirror and she immediately starts working on my hair and makeup, I don't recognize the equipment she uses, but she twirls my hair and gives my lips a smoky, dashing red color.

A doorbell rings. “Delivery!”

“I will go get it.” Lila looks at me teasingly before running out of the bedroom. She returns, holding a blue sapphire dress. “Okay, now you have to be honest, who is the lucky gentleman?”

“It's a long story, Lila.” I laugh…I will admit all of this treatment feels nice. I guess Kai does know how to take care of a woman.

“You look really beautiful!” She says.

“Thanks.” I twirl, admiring the dress.

We both walk outside and true to his words, there's a black sedan waiting. Lila looks at me with suspicion but I smile, I can't let her know about Kai, if not, she's going to freak out.

“I will see you later, okay? You can make a sandwich for dad.”

“Alright.” She nods stiffly, and I get into the car. He sent his driver, he couldn't even afford to come.

“Ready ma’am?” The driver asks and I nod, and he starts driving.

“Ma’am, we are here.” I snap my phone shut as if I had just been caught doing something bad. The driver opens the door, “this is it.”

I hold in my breath and walk into the main hall, everywhere is blaring with soft music. These aren't just ordinary people here, even their make up costs more than my salary.

“Are you just going to stand there with your mouth hung open?” I hurriedly spin to catch Malakai watching me with a lazy expression. This man. He's leaning against the table with a flute of champagne in his hands.

“Nice to meet you.” I fire back, walking towards him.

“I didn't think you'd come.” He adds, twirling his flute of champagne lazily. “You seemed hell bent in the evening.”

I hold my tongue from saying a word, I need this man's money so I have to play along.

“Can we talk about how much I am going to get paid, please?” I ask sweetly but he's no more looking at me. His eyes are fixated over my shoulder.

“They are coming.” He says tightly.

“Who's coming?” I ask, trying to look.

“Kiss me.”

“What?” I almost didn't hear that right.

“Kiss. Me. Now.”