It was a quarter to eight as Sage stood on a street corner smoking a cigarette. She took the smoke slowly in her mouth but didn’t inhale it all the way, slowly releasing it in circles. She liked how they got bigger the farther away they got. She’d been practicing a lot lately and thought she was getting pretty good at it.

She looked a ways down the street and saw a mother and her children coming out of their house. They were running a bit late this morning but none of them seemed phased. The mom looked like a cut out from a magazine with perfect blonde hair.

She held the hand of a little girl and helped her into the family’s minnie van as a teenage girl came out talking on her cellphone. She was pretty to maybe three years younger then Sage. Two rowdy twin boys came rushing out of the house and they all pilled into the van. Sage watched as they slowly pulled out of the driveway and made their way to school no doubt.

She waited a few minutes as requested finishing off her cigarette before putting it out on the ground. As she approached the house, she couldn’t help but think what a sick fuck he was but money was money. She moved to ring the doorbell but before she could the father of the family opened the door. Freshly shaven he was still in his pajamas. His blonde hair messy.

She stepped into the house without a word and as soon as the door was shut, he had his hands all over her. Touching and clawing at her clothes and hair. He pulled at her jean skirt lifting it to her waste and then began to rip at her nylons. Frustrated she slapped him away and shouted, “DAMN IT TUCKER!” HOW MANY TIMES DO I GOTTA TELL YOU...MONEY FIRST!”

He pulled back and looked upset but he got his wallet. He pulled out a wad of cash and shoved it at her. She felt torn, she was happy to see so much money but at the same time, knew he was probably going to want to fuck her all morning and possibly most the afternoon, at least until the family came home...

She bit her lip and attempted to count it but his hands were back on her. His lips crushed against her neck and he began to suck on her skin like a fucking vampire. She just barely managed to put the money into her purse before he ripped her nylons open at the crotch and began to finger her roughly.

She struggled again and said, “Shouldn’t we go to the basement,” It was where they normally did it when he requested her to come to his house. It had a lot of places she could hide just in case someone came home unexpectedly.

“I can’t wait that long,” he growled. He lifted her up like she was nothing carrying her into the kitchen. He placed her to sit on the clean black marble top counter. Then he got between her legs and pulled himself out within seconds he entered her roughly. She let out a painful whimper, that only seemed to excite him more.

His thrust started off ragged and a bit slow as he found his place inside her. She always made sure to lube up before they met but the angle was a bit off and felt awkward. She adjusted herself against him and when they finally found the right rhythm, he became like a jack hammer, slamming into her.

It hurt but she took it...gritting her teeth. She told herself soon...soon this would be over. Soon she’d have enough money to get out of this backwards, shithole of a town and then she wouldn’t see it or him ever again.

**********

It had been nearly six months since they’d met, at a funeral, well outside it. She was giving two guys blow jobs in the alleyway at twenty bucks a pop. One guy really wanted to fuck her but he didn’t have a fifty. She supposed she could bend the rules some after all he was kind of cute and money was money. At nineteen, she needed all she could get.

She wanted out of this town. Wanted to get as far away as she could and stay away. She’d been saving up for a bit. Since she was sixteen. She had enough for bus tickets, motel rooms, maybe a few months rent but she wanted more. She wanted enough so that when she left, she’d never have to come back. She’d heard too many stories about people leaving and having to come back. She wasn’t going to be one of them. Not if she could help it.

She saved and counted, saved and counted and for the most part she was getting closer and closer to her goal...Save for the fact that her father kept burrowing/stealing from her every now and then. She no longer left her money unguarded and even had a few hiding spots, stashed around so he couldn’t get to it all. With her job at the dip and lick ice cream palace on Roster Street and giving a few blow jobs and fucks every now and then she might be able to make it out of here by next summer.

Sage smiled to herself just thinking about it. The guy she was giving a blow job to laughed thinking she was really enjoying this, “Man you are a totally slut,”

She didn’t say anything. She shoved his member across her tongue and to the back of her throat. He shut up real quick then, shivering and wincing. She was sure he was gonna come any second now and smiled to herself once again. Most people would probably take being called a slut as an insult but Sage’s mind was too filled with possibilities to care. Every lick and pucker was getting her closer to a new life...a fresh start. So let people say and think what they wanted about her...In the end she’d have the last-

“HEY YOU THERE!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!”

“SHIT!!! SHIT!!” Said the guy she was blowing. Without warning he pulled himself out of Sage’s mouth and pushed her away. It had been raining the better part of a week. They’d been dry under an alley overhang but because of all the water Sage had been crouching instead of kneeling. When the guy pushed her, she fell back landing but and then back in a large puddle.

Water went everywhere as the guy and his friend raced off like their lives depended on it, leaving her behind. Sage scrambled to get out of the puddle and get away herself but before she could, a man reached out and grabbed her. He wrapped his arms around her lifting her up to her feet. She struggled with him once she had solid footing and he loosened his grip on her but didn’t let her go.

She turned wanting to see who had grabbed her. For a moment her eyes met with the man’s. He had most intense blue eyes she’d ever seen and for a moment, her heart skipped a beat and her breath caught in her chest. The man removed one of his arms from her and adjusted his glasses putting them back in place. They blocked some of the intensity and she took the rest of him in. He had styled dirty blonde hair and was wearing a black turtleneck sweater with a brown overcoat.

It took her less then a second to realize who he was, when she finally took him all in. He was Tuckler Ludd. They had never actually met before this moment but his face was all over town on billboard and benches. He was the owner of Ludd Reality and was just about involved in everything in the community. The town council, the PTA, the local church. A true model citizen. Of all the people to catch her. It might as well have been the police. Sage frown as he asked her, “What’s your name? How old are you? Do you’re parents know what you’re doing?”

Sage couldn’t help but laugh at his questions. He had no idea who she was was. Probably thought she was some underage girl messing around. As for her parents....she hadn’t seen her mother since she’d run off with her father’s best friend when she was twelve. And as for her father when she did see him he didn’t care what she did... Only if she had any money...

She tried to pull free of Mr. Ludd again but he just wouldn’t let go. She sighed and said “ I’m nineteen. I’m an adult you can move on and mind your own fucking business. “

Again he demanded, “What’s your name!”

“What’s it to you!” She snapped. He stood up taller and she wondered if he was trying to intimidate her. She was a bit nervous... considering who he was and all but fuck him for interrupting her business deal. She could have made like sixty bucks maybe seventy if he hadn’t come along. At least she’d gotten her forty ahead of time. If her father taught her one thing it was to get the money first.

“I asked you a question!” he said tightening his grip.

She didn’t feel like answering him and he didn’t seem to feel like letting go. After some struggle he pulled her over to his car and yelled at her, “You’re soaking wet, get in and dry off before you catch a cold,”

“Fuck you,” Sage snarled struggling with him.

Her struggling did little. He was a lot stronger then he looked. He just sighed and said, “Get in and dry off or I’ll call the police and report you for lewd behavior,”

She stopped struggling and scowled at him but in the end she moved to get in the car. He took a sweater from the back seat and had her sit on it. Once she was in the passenger seat, he went around to the drivers seat. He got in and started the car enough to turn on the heater. It only took a few seconds before warm air began to fill the car.

Sage pulled a cigarette out of her purse and put it in her mouth. However before she could light it, he pulled it out of her mouth. He rolled the window down just enough to toss it outside before rolling it up once more.

“Hey what the fuck...” protested Sage.

“Smoking is bad for you. You shouldn’t do it,”

“There are a lot of things you shouldn’t do but fuck it. I’m an adult and its my right,”

He sighed heavily and shook his head. She could see he was looking down on her. She looked away from him. Fuck him what did she care what he thought, what anyone in this town thought. She pulled out another cigarette defiantly. She put it in her mouth and thought he was going to take it again. She watched him but this time he only glared at her. He gave her a look that said don’t test me and it frightened her slightly. She squirmed in her seat and eventually took the cigarette out of her mouth. Nearly a minute passed in silence as he adjusted his the vents to blow warm air on her. When they were adjusted he asked.

“You go to Rampton High?”

“Uh like two years ago...”

“My daughter goes there?”

“Good for her,” Sage said crossing her arms.

“Do you know her?”

“No,” said Sage

More silence passed before he asked “What were you doing just now in the alley?”

She let out a burst of air like he didn’t fucking see, “What did it look like I was doing. Blowing two guys,”

“You’re rather vulgar aren't you,”

“So...what the fuck is it to you?”

“Why were you doing it?”

“Cause I felt like it?”

He sneered in disgust and she rolled her eyes. Who gave a shit what he thought.

“So what. You...spend your mornings blowing guys in alley ways,”

“For twenty bucks a pop I do?” she said pulling the money out of her bra. She shoved it there earlier for safe keeping. It was all wadded up and a bit damp but she straightened it out.

“Wow...stupid and cheap,”

“Excuse me,” she said a bit surprised.

“You heard me,” he said with a sigh. He rubbed his temple and continued, “So twenty bucks for a blow job... How much for sex,”

“Why you interested,” she snapped knowing full well men like him didn’t pay for sex.

He closed his eyes.”Just answer the question,”

“Fifty...I charge fifty for sex,” she said folding her money up and putting it away.

“Do you even use protection?”

“Always” she said, “I’m not dumb”

He tried to stifle a laugh but in the end let it go. “I guess that depends on you’re definition”

She didn’t like being laughed at and didn’t have to take his insults, “Fuck you! I don’t need to take this I’m dry enough.” She went to reach for the door and he automatically locked it from his side. When she tried to pull the lock up, he grabbed her arm roughly, “I’m not done with you yet. You will leave when I say you can,”

His tone was strong and commanding. She wasn’t used to much authority but she’d had a teacher once who’d been quiet stern with her. She didn’t relish the feeling. She stopped pulling on the lock and he let go of her.

“Now...Why do you need money so badly?” he asked staring at the window whippers as they swished back and forth.

“So I can get the fuck out of this piece of shit town,”

“Really,” he said slightly amused, “And where would you go? What would you do?”

“What’s it to you?”

“Answer,” he bellowed

“I don’t know but I’ll figure it out...”

“I’m sure...” he said and then sighed. They sat in silence for a moment and she wondered just how much longer was she going to have to sit here with this guy. Eventually he moved shifting in his seat. He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and then some money. Without looking at her he passed it to her, “Here,”

She took it cautiously like he was messing with her. Once she had it she counted out sixty bucks. She looked at him again. She didn’t think he was the type...You...want half a blow job and a fuck?”

“No...” he sighed deeply, “The sixty is for doing as I asked and answering my questions,”

She looked at him. “So...you’re giving me sixty because I talked with you?

“Yes...”

“You don’t expect sex,”

“No...You really aren't that bright are you,”

Offended she wanted to curse at him but he did just give her sixty. She opened and then shut her mouth.

He adjusted his glasses and then asked, “Do you know where the Melris Gas station is On I0-8.”

“Yeah,”

“Can you get there on your own?”

“I think so...Why?”

“I want to continue our conversation but I don’t have time now,” She didn’t say anything, she wasn’t exactly sure she wanted to meet with him again. He must have picked up on it because he added, “I’ll give you another sixty...All you have to do is show and talk?”

She wanted to ask why but he unlocked the door. Instinctively she opened it and got out. She walked several blocks afraid he might want his money back...or that it might have been a trick. Maybe he was with the police and they were gonna drop her at any moment. She walked briskly for several blocks but when nothing happened she slowed and counted the money again.

She couldn’t believe it, sixty fucking bucks, the easiest money she’d ever made...and yet she wondered why he’d given it away so easily. On her way home she told herself he must have felt sorry for her. Maybe she reminded him of his daughter and he thought he could help her “save her” She laughed to herself, rolling her eyes. He probably wanted to meet up again to lecture her, to change her ways...but didn't have the time.

She doubted she’d show tomorrow but then again...He could just be lonely. He didn’t look like the type but maybe he was. Either way lonely or lecturer, sixty buck was sixty bucks. She supposed she could talk to him or do whatever for an hour. After all, here she was 100 dollars closer to her goal and it was only eleven o'clock on a Friday. Who knows how much closer she might be by Monday, especially if this guy liked to talk.

Thank you for reading^^