Aphrodite

*Six's POV*

As I sit there reading, I ponder my interaction with Axle. He definitely gives off the vibe that he’s expecting me to beg him to fuck me at any moment. I’m sure he gets it a lot. Don’t get me wrong, he’s extremely physically attractive but I can’t get over how entitled he is.

The words he said to me were pleasant enough on the surface but it’s so obvious that he’s expecting this project to lead somewhere. I don’t buy his whole “third time’s a charm” story for a second but I’ll let him think he’s got the upper hand if it means he’s actually gonna help me with this project. 

When the bell rings, I quickly stuff my things into my bag and start heading towards the door when the teacher stops me.

“Miss. Keller, may I have a word?”

I walk up to her desk and she says, “Your partner, Mr. Decker has a rather poor history with my class.”

“I’m aware,” I say, remaining neutral.

“Oh you are? Well, good. I just wanted you to know that I read your transcripts along with your application file to this school and I was very impressed and I had hoped that you might be a good influence on Mr. Decker.”

“I’ll do my best,” I say, trying to remain professional.

“That is all, you may go.”

I nod and walk to physics, while contemplating how shitty her plan was. What if I had been some shy dorky kid with no backbone who just did all the work for him? What if I was one of many girls who would do the work just for a chance at sleeping with him? She’s lucky I’m me.

Walking into physics right at the bell, I find Cleo, Nate and Luna sitting near each other and they wave me over. I sit down and say, “You will not believe who my partner is for English Lit for the whole semester.”

“Who?” Cleo asks, her eyes widening, ready for the gossip. 

“Fucking Axle Decker.”

“Ah shitty, sorry dude,” she says and pats my arm just as the teacher starts explaining the syllabus for the year. 

After class, I discover Cleo has Psych with me so we walk together and meet Lexi outside the classroom. When we walk in, I see Jameson near the back corner with his hand on some girl's leg and roll my eyes as we choose seats on the other side of the classroom.

After school, Cleo tells me they’re all going to hang out at her place and asks me if I want to join. 

“Not today, I need to go get my little brother. Maybe another time though.” I know Shaunice wouldn’t have any problems watching him for another couple hours if I asked, but I really want to see Theo and ask him about his first day at pre-school. 

“Okay, see you tomorrow!” Cleo says and they all head off towards their vehicles. I head over to my car and drive home. When I knock on the door, Shaunice opens it and tells me to come in. As I’m taking off my shoes, Theo runs up and I bend down to pick him up into a hug. “Hey kiddo! Did you have a good day?”

He nods exaggeratedly and says, “We did a craft!” 

“Wow, that sounds fun. Can I see it?” 

“It’s at school.”

“That’s okay. I’ll see it another time.” He starts to squirm so I put him down and he runs off into the apartment. I look to Shaunice and say, “I hope he didn’t cause you too much trouble today.”

“No, no, he was an angel as always. You’re doing a good job with him you know.”

“God, I hope so.”

“Alright, let’s get you a drink,” she says and I grin. We walk to her kitchen and as we pass by the kids, Kayla looks up and says, “Hi Six!” in her very adorable little voice. “Hi sweetheart, did you have a good day at school with Theo?”

“YES!” She shouts.

“Oh, wow, that good huh?”

“Apparently,” says Shaunice and we both laugh before heading into the kitchen. She hands me a beer and I take a sip.

“So how was your first day? Make any new friends?”

“It was good actually. I did make some friends and possibly also an enemy.”

“An enemy? How did you manage that?”

“I sat at the cheerleaders’ table at lunch and they didn’t like that apparently.”

She laughs at that and says, “Of course they didn’t. So Stan is working late and I was thinking of ordering chinese. You wanna stick around?”

“When have you ever known me to turn down chinese food?”

After we’ve eaten, I tell Shaunice we have to get going and take Theo upstairs. I find my mother on the couch, barely lucid watching some random reality tv show. I hang out with Theo in his room for about an hour. We colour and play cars and then I give him a bath and get him ready for bed. I read him a book and tell him Goodnight.

I the head into the kitchen and make lunches for both me and my brother for tomorrow and then make a sandwich for my mother and bring it to her. 

“Here, you need to eat something.” She looks at me and then at the plate and takes it from me. When I see that she’s eating, I head into my room and put on a bunch of makeup and my white lingerie and mask.

When I was little, my mother used to work as a stripper and would occasionally sell drugs on the side. Over the years her drug usage got worse and worse and then when she got pregnant with Theo, she lost her job at the strip club and then even after he was born, she couldn’t hold down a job. We get welfare cheques but it’s not enough. 

I got a job at a diner part time when I was 15, but shortly after, someone told me that I should consider becoming a cam girl. Basically, I get naked on camera for people on the internet and get paid to do it. 

At first I was apprehensive, but it pays a hell of a lot better than the diner which means I don’t have to work as often, I make my own hours, and I can do it from home. It's completely anonymous.

My screen name is Aphrodite and I always wear white lingerie, a lacy white mask that covers most of my face, and heavy makeup that includes red lipstick. I do have a few very high paying regulars who book private chat rooms sometimes but they always wear masks too.

Am I proud of the fact that I get naked for strangers online? No, obviously not. But you gotta do what you gotta do. Besides, it’s only temporary. The second I get a degree and a job, I plan to apply for guardianship of Theo and move us out of this shit hole.

I spend almost two hours on camera before calling it a night and showering before going to bed.