Chapter 6

JUNE

June’s lips curved into a small, involuntary smile despite her best efforts to stay indifferent. God, he had a way of getting under her skin. She would be sure to completely avoid him when next she saw him.

When she got near the apartment complex she lived, the moment was soon replaced by a souring mood.

Of course, the universe couldn't let her have this one night. It would be too much.

She walked past her mother, completely ignoring her, but then her mother followed her in staggering steps.

"Those little fuckers wouldn't let me into the house." Her mother complained with think anger.

June’s jaw tightened, her hand clenched into a fist as her frustration mounted.

"I own the fucking house, yet they locked me out." She spat.

“Those little fuckers are your children,” June shot back sharply, whirling around to face her mother. “And I own the house. I’ve been paying rent for years.”

Her mother waved her off dismissively. "Common June, you are still as cranky as ever."

Taking a deep breath, June fought to keep her anger in check and continued her walk.

"Got any cash?" Her mother trailed closely behind her.

"No." June wrinkled her nose to the alcohol in her mother's breath.

"Ehhh... you always have money." She slurred.

Sbe closed her eyes briefly, feeling the harsh wind bite against her skin harder as her frustration peaked. “I don’t have for you."

“How about you lend me? I’ll pay you back.”

Her gut recoiled in disgust. “Just like you paid the one I gave you four months ago." She didn’t understand why she had always fallen for her mother’s pitiful stories before, but she was done with it.

“Don’t act like this. That was months ago.” Her mother had the guts to sound wounded.

“I don’t have a dime to lend you." She snapped at her mother, but even she knew that wouldn't stop her mother.

"I’m struggling, June. You know how bad things are” her mother whined in her most pitiful voice. “I’ve been living on scraps.”

Shocking, so had she. She barely had enough to go by.

June was scaling the small steps leading to the main entrance of her apartment complex when her mother called out. "I heard you now work at the exclusive strip club."

She froze, her body tensing as she whipped around. "What about it?"

"You finally took my advice." Her mother said with a twisted glimmer that disgusted her to her core. "See, nothing wrong with using your asset to get what you want."

The mere words sickened her and the burger she ate threatened to make a reappearance in her mouth. She clenched her hand. "And how does that work out for you huh?"

The look of hurt that flickered her mother’s face was a pang to her chest, but June didn't take it back. Instead, she turned curtly.

“You think you’re better than me?” Her mother let out a bitter scoff.

"I am."

Her mom went off on her. “You dance naked for men, give them blowjobs. I bet you fuck them even as long as the pay is right.” Her mother snorted. "Yet you think you are better than me.”

Her heart tightened with a sharp, painful sting, but she kept a neutral expression. “At least I’m not the one to abandon her children.” she spat back.

Her mother was left dumbfounded, and June walked away, leaving her standing at the bottom of the stairs. She bit down hard on her lower lip, trying to push off the tears that burned behind her eyes. She refused to shed a tear for someone who had never shown her any real care.

Each step toward her apartment felt heavier, burdened by the weight of her mother’s harsh words. The sting of her words stained her mood with frustration and disappointment.

Once inside, she rushed to her room before the twins could catch a whiff of her. She flopped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling, blinking repeatedly to stop the tears that threatened to spill. When it kept clouding her eyes, she pinched herself so hard until the only thing she could feel was the sharp, viscera sting that throbbed through her skin.

A sudden knock to the door starled her and June leaped up on instinct.

"June?" Her sister's voice filtered through the room.

“Come in.” She stood aimlessly by the worn out desk in her room, with her arms slung over her chest to appear composed.

“Hey.” Amy peeked in before she fully stepping in.

“Did I wake you up?” June asked. “I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to be loud.” She added before her sister could answer.

“No, you weren’t. That woman was.” Amy blurted out. By that woman, she meant their mother.

June stilled, unmoving.

“I heard your argument with her. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” Amy said in a rush. If she hear, it meant she also knew...

June looked at her younger sister, scared of the judgement she might catch in her eyes.

There was none.

"Just so you know, you are way better than her." Amy wrinkled her nose in distaste. "Why would she even compare herself to you?" She bent down, her hand almost touching the floor in demonstration. "She's like down here and you're up in the sky." She straightened, stretching her hand high.

A chuckle wheezed out of her mouth before she cleared her throat. "I work at the strip club now." There was use denying it anymore, she probably heard too.

"Okay." Amy shrugged. "How's working there?"

"Work's work." June nodded her, feeling at ease already. “How’s school?"

“School is school.” Amy said too. “Boring. Only Aiden and two other people like it."

June scoffed.

While Amy exceled in sport namely swimming, Aiden was a genius and dreamed of becoming a cosmetic surgeon.

Her eyes fell on the pamphlet at the foot of the bed, and she remembered finding it tucked in Amy’s jeans while doing laundry earlier. She picked it up and held it out to Amy. “Want to apply?”

Amy’s eyes lit up before she quickly reined in her waggling tail. “No, not exactly. It is just some stupid competition. I don’t get why it costs two thousand bucks to enter."

Amy was putting up an act because she didn't want to burden June with the f*e. She knew that.

Though she didn't have the money at the moment, she said. “Apply for it. I’ll cover the cost.” June passed the pamphlet to her sister.

Excitement flickered in Amy's eyes. "Really? I can?" she asked, attempting to play it cool. "Though it doesn't matter."

“Yes.” She shrugged as if she had the money stacked somewhere.

Amy practically leaped at her. "Omg. You are the best. I love you so much," she exclaimed.

She was going to come up with the money by whatever means.