Nobody Praying for Me

1. Charisma Rae Jones

CHARISMA RAE JONES

Money floated through the air, tickling my skin when it gently brushed against my arms on its descent to the stage.

I paid the sensation no mind and focused on tossing my body upside down on the pole.

My legs spread wide in an eagle position, and I tightened my core to keep myself stabilized in the air.

The music washed over my skin, giving me goosebumps as I slowly spun around in a circle.

When the song faded to an end, I gracefully danced my way to my feet before I strutted backstage, still doped up on adrenaline.

Even though I loved to dance, my body was aching tonight.

I’d done an extra set because my OG Ghost was out on maternity leave, so now, I was just ready to call it a night.

I accepted the bottle of water Ruby, our stage mom, handed to me while waiting for the clean-up girls to collect all my money.

The only reason I wasn’t complaining about having to do more work tonight was the fact that I’d racked up two additional trash bags, bringing me to a grand total of five.

“Here you go,” Jamirah said, passing the two bags stuffed with money to me.

I gulped down the last drops of my water, tossed the bottle in the trash, then accepted the money.

Gripping them tightly in my arms, I made my way down the hall to the dressing room in the back.

A hot shower and some buffalo wings were calling my name.

Oh, and a stupid-fat wood too. I picked up my pace because just thinking about that combo had me excited.

I entered the dressing room to see women scattered everywhere.

Phones were up in the air while some took pictures or recorded live videos to secure Johns to end the night with.

Sitting at my vanity mirror, I took a deep breath, feeling depleted of energy now that I’d come down off my high.

Digging into my Glamaholic duffel, I pulled out my cell phone to see that it was going on four in the morning.

“Didn’t I tell you to have your stuff moved out?” I heard someone ask from behind me. At first, I completely ignored the question until a familiar tiny, little voice responded.

“Cinnamon, why do you keep fucking with me? I don’t say or do nothing to you,” Zuri replied, sounding annoyed.

“I just don’t think it’s fair you get a big locker when you’re not bringing in as much money as me. I need more space for my floss.”

A quick glance over my shoulder, and I saw the scene unfolding. Cinnamon couldn’t go a day without trying to bully somebody. Zuri was already dressed in a pair of sweats, ready to call it a night, and Cin was starting her mess. Slowly standing, I closed the distance between them and me.

“She gets that locker because I said so.” The locker Cin was referring to used to be mine, and since Ghost was out, I took over hers and set Zuri up beside me. I’d adopted her the same way Ghost had taken a liking to me when I was first introduced to this lifestyle at sixteen years old.

After nearly ten years of dancing, I was somewhat a legend in Solaire.

Athletes, government officials, and rappers alike came to Parlay to watch me dance on a weekly basis.

I didn’t let it feed my ego, because all I wanted to do was keep myself fed in a home I could be truly comfortable in.

Since I was a teenager, roaming the streets on my own, my goals had been the same.

Having to look out for myself seared it into my mind because I hated the situations I could find myself in when I needed money.

Even though being a midnight ballerina was frowned upon, it was all I knew, and it did a good job of keeping my pockets stuffed.

For a girl left to be raised by the streets, a stable income was all I could ask for.

“Really, Rizz? Shit not fair. This little ho thinks as long as she kisses up to everybody, she can have her way, when the rest of us had to work our way up,” she retorted with a stank face.

I eyed her stiff, blonde weave and shook my head.

Cinnamon had the classic ghetto girl look, and I guess she felt it was working in her favor because she could pull in a few bands a month.

“You barely have big tippers, but you’re always poppin’ it like you’re the cream of the crop around here.

My girl brings in more bread than you with her eyes closed, so if I say she gets the locker beside mine, then that’s what the fuck it is. ”

Standing in front of Zuri, I pinned Cin in place with a glare.

Her jaw jumped, and I knew she wanted to go toe-to-toe with me, but at the end of the day, we all knew she wasn’t fucking with me on or off the streets.

I was raised in the fucking jungle, so none of these hos wanted to get in the field with me.

I didn’t go looking for trouble, but when it found me, I knew how to tame it and make it submit to me.

She finally rolled her eyes and folded her arms over her chest. “Man, whatever, Rizz. One day, you’re not going to be here to protect this little ho.”

Taking a step closer to Cin, I made my threat very loud and clear so that it couldn’t be misunderstood.

“Even if I wasn’t here, and I found out you laid a hand on her, I promise I will pull up to your one-bedroom shoebox and drag you from one end to the other.

Don’t fucking touch her or bother her again.

” Just to remind her that I wasn’t joking around, I slapped the shit out of her so quickly that she had no time to prepare herself.

With tears in her eyes, she whimpered in front of me. Turning to all the other girls in the dressing room watching, I laid down the law. “Let this be a fucking reminder to all of y’all that this one is off limits.” I pointed at Zuri for emphasis.

Cinnamon finally backed away, likely to go in the bathroom stall and cry. I felt no remorse because if she could bully Zuri the way she wanted to, she surely wouldn’t have any for her. Turning toward the pretty, brown babydoll I saw as a little sister, I asked, “You good?”

She nodded once with a sigh. “Yeah, thank you, Rizz.”

I waved her off before turning to my locker and putting in the combination for my lock.

When it snapped open, I went inside for the pink two-piece short set I’d come to work in today.

“You know I’ve got your back, boo. Don’t ever bow down to these hos, because once you do, it only gets worse from there.

” The expression on her face said she was truly digesting my words.

I hoped that was the case because I was almost to my financial goal, and I would be kissing this place goodbye for good.

She would have to learn to fend for herself. “You need a ride home tonight?”

She nodded. “Yeah, you mind dropping me off?”

I shook my head quickly. “Not at all. You know I got you.” I quickly dressed in my clothes then returned for my bags to begin my tip out.

I drowned out the world as I organized my bags then began my count.

After separating every dollar I needed for tip-out, I shouldered my bag and headed out of the dressing room.

Zuri had already finished her count and texted to let me know she was waiting by my car.

The process was quick enough for me to be on my way out of the door five minutes later.

Pulling my keys from my bag, I unlocked the doors to my gold Lexus IS 350 for Zuri.

Glancing around, I looked for my best friend, Bryaire, but he was nowhere to be found.

With a quick shrug, I made my way to the driver’s side to get out of dodge.

After tossing my bag into the back, my Lexus purred to life.

Zuri was already settled in the passenger seat, so I peeled out.

We vibed to the radio while I made the quick drive over to her apartment complex in Shady Grove.

I noticed the silver fox who always came to see her in VIP was leaning against his tricked-out Cutlass, waiting for her.

Glancing quickly toward her, I licked my dry lips and asked, “You good?”

Her eyes followed mine, and a bright smile appeared on her face. “Yeah, I am. I wasn’t even expecting to see him tonight.” She sounded excited and looking forward to whatever they were about to do once her door closed behind them.

I chuckled softly. “Alright, then. See ya, boo.” She shouldered her bag then let herself out of my car.

I watched her skip over to the man then toss her arms around his shoulders.

Even though I cared about Zuri, I knew I had to mind my business when it came to our lifestyles.

I was in no place to judge or offer advice honestly, so I left them out there fondling each other.

The drive over to my luxury apartment off Roland Dr. took me around fifteen minutes.

I was quick about gathering my duffel then scurrying toward my front door.

I lived in a two-story loft on the first floor, so I had my key ready to go.

I lifted to place it in the keyhole when I felt something press into the back of my head.

“Unlock the fucking door,” a voice deep and devoid of emotion spoke from behind me.