Maggie wasn’t imagining things. The other girls really wanted her to go far away and never come back to Doubles.
The man she led back to the lap dance room was a high-paying customer who always got his dances from Montana, the most experienced girl at Doubles. All of the other girls knew to stay away from Montana’s regulars. She didn’t hesitate to punch another girl in the face if she got pissed off at her. Most of the girls followed Montana’s lead. If she hated a girl, then so did most of the dancers.
Montana watched Maggie closely, looking for her weakness, but there was nothing visible. Some of the girls would cover their mouths when they laughed to hide crooked teeth, or take painfully careful steps in their six-inch heels because they struggled for balance. Others put their skimpy dresses back on after they danced to hide a stomach that was poochy from giving birth or overindulging in fast food. But all Maggie showed was confidence, and she was clearly comfortable with every inch of herself. This just pissed Montana off even more. Her own areas of self-consciousness were the stretch marks on her breasts from her implants—she’d gone from an A cup to a D, and she didn’t like how they jiggled when she walked. She also tormented herself about the pockmarks from teenage acne on her face. She had to fill the marks with makeup to make her skin appear flawless.
At the end of the evening, none of the girls acknowledged Maggie when she entered the dressing room. While the dancers chatted about their good and bad tippers of the night, Maggie minded her own business and changed back into her normal clothes. She didn’t notice Montana’s hateful stare. Grabbing her things, Maggie left the dressing room, headed upstairs, and out the backdoor where Armando was waiting for her in his car.
As she walked through the parking lot, she was slammed in the side of the face. Quickly regaining her balance, she found herself face-to-face with Montana. “Listen, you fuckin’ bitch. You go near my regulars again, and I’ll put a hurting on you that you’ll never forget. You think you’re hot shit, but you ain’t nothin’. You better watch your back, girl,” Montana threatened.
Maggie listened, but was still stunned from the unexpected blow to the head. She took a step toward Montana. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, and if you ever touch me again, you’ll be sorry,” she stated in a deadly serious voice.
Montana sneered at her and began to laugh. “You think you fuckin’ scare me? Bitch, I will fuck you up so bad ain’t no man gonna wanna look at you again,” she stated evenly.
On the outside, Montana looked sure and poised, but on the inside, she was a bit intimidated that Maggie came back at her. None of the other girls had dared to stand up to her.
“Montana, I don’t want any trouble from you or anyone. I’m here to dance, earn money, and leave. If your regulars want a lap dance from me, then I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe you should use that charm of yours to keep them loyal. That is, if you have any charm. You’re just a bully and…”
Maggie’s words stuck in her throat when Armando approached the two girls. She’d forgotten he was waiting for her. He had seen her get slammed in the head. He would’ve jumped in to stop Montana if necessary; after all, Maggie wouldn’t be any good to him with her face mangled. But he was pleasantly surprised to see Maggie stand up for herself.
“Maggie! Let’s go. We need to roll out,” Armando announced.
Both girls turned toward the domineering voice that sliced through the dark silence of the night. Montana turned and walked the other way, and Maggie walked over to the car.
“I see you got yourself an enemy already,” Armando announced in an amused tone.
“Whatever. She was babbling about how I need to stay away from her regulars,” Maggie started to explain.
“Bitch! I ain’t your girlfriend, and I don’t wanna hear about your fuckin’ drama. All I know is, I don’t give a fuck who wants to give you money. If I find out ya turn anyone down, you’ll have more to worry about than that bony-ass bitch,” he yelled as he turned the radio up to a deafening volume and drove them back to Kensington.
Back at the studio apartment, Maggie told Juju all about her first night at Doubles. “You know, it’s crazy to think I’m excited about being a stripper. But compared to hooking, I feel like I’m getting a break. I know that sounds nuts. No one in their right mind would think that way; no one who was normal, anyway,” Maggie confessed.
Juju laughed at her friend. “Tell me one fucking person who we know that’s normal. I mean, I get what you’re sayin’ and all, but I guess normal just depends on what you’re used to. Anyway, how were the other dancers?”
“Ugh! There’s this nasty bitch, Montana, who sucker punched me in the parking lot on my way out to meet Armando. She was pissed ’cause one of her ‘regulars’ paid me for a lap dance. I probably gave ten lap dances tonight, so I have no idea which dude she’s even talking about,” Maggie explained.
“Did you fight back?” Juju asked with annoyance.
“Nah. I let it go, but I told her she better not ever touch me again,” Maggie said proudly.
“You can’t let any of those bitches get away with anything, Maggie. Once they know you won’t fight back, they’ll just keep riding ya. That’s why I taught ya how to fight, remember?” Juju stated aggressively.
“Yes, Juju, yes, I remember. Trust me, if I need it, I’ll use it. I’m just trying to fit in as much as I can. Besides, the last thing I need is to get fired from Doubles. I really believe Rock will kill me if I screw this up. I’ll be careful, though. Stop worrying, Mom!” Maggie teased.
“Well, apparently someone has to be the adult around here. I mean, with you out all hours of the day and night. Who would’ve ever thought I’d be the responsible one?” Juju joked.
“Oh, isn’t that a pile of crap. I’m the rational one in this house…well, apartment.” She looked around her. “OK, shit hole,” Maggie admitted.
“So, um, I have some news too,” Juju told her, snuggling closer to Maggie on the floor where they sat.
“Oh, yeah? Did you win the lottery? Please tell me that you did.”
“Not quite. But I met someone,” Juju said, blushing.
“You mean like you met someone to date?” Maggie questioned.
“No, like I met someone to paint my toenails. Of course someone to date.”
“Wow. That’s cool. What’s her name?” Maggie asked, trying to sound interested, but her stomach clamped down hard. She knew it was selfish, but she didn’t want to lose Juju. Maggie started to squirm, and she couldn’t make her eyes meet Juju’s. She had decided that jealousy and fear were two emotions that didn’t mix well.
“Her name is Rory. She’s a couple of years older than me and so beautiful. I can’t believe she’s even attracted to me,” Juju admitted.
“Seriously? Juju, you’re hot. So did you go out on a date already?” Maggie asked cautiously.
“Not yet. We’re planning on getting together late Tuesday night after I’m done selling,” Juju said with excitement in her voice.
“Oh.”
“Oh, what? Why aren’t you excited?”
“I’m excited,” Maggie explained. “It’s just that I never really thought about one of us meeting someone else. It’s just something I didn’t expect.”
Juju could sense that her news made Maggie nervous. Quickly realizing that Maggie might feel abandoned, she added, “It’s only one date, Maggie. I’m not going anywhere. You know we’ll always be family. You’re like my sister, and Seth is like the little brother I never wanted,” she declared, trying to lighten the mood.
The girls started to giggle. “I’m sorry, Juju. I’m being a jerk. It’s just that this is the first time in a long time I had a family and somewhere to live of my own. I’m afraid of losing all of it,” Maggie divulged.
Maggie and Seth were finally together in a place they called home. But things change, and life moves on…Maggie would soon find out that nothing ever stays the same.