Page 16 of H E R
I look around, my eyes bouncing from one surface to another. “Yea, but … I always thought it was due to my weak ass equipment. It’s the first time with the Pentax.”
I drop the camera and lean into the wall. My eyes burn. For the first time, I had concrete evidence. My first initial thought rushes to Piper, but she’s never even held my camera. I don’t know of anyone else close enough to erase the data, who would want to jeopardize my work.
“Fuck,” Jasmin and I both blurt in unison.
6
Justice
I’m all business, or so I think, as I stand around, ignoring the throbbing ache of my sore feet. Really, it’s like being a poster girl or something. As if my stance alone will lure people inside.Ribbonsis a massive brick building with tinted black, door-sized windows. It’s a warehouse of booze and frivolity and dancing; a mixture between alley and dark class inside, and somehow, it’s packed with more people I think exist in my district alone.
It’s unnerving.
My hands feel all clammy and fidgety,so unlike me. My job is to stand near the three security guards as they pretend to assess IDs and maintain a somewhat civil conduct of the long line rimmed around the building’s exterior. A blackened, thin, and poorly set up tent hovers above us, not nearly protecting us from the light droplets of the rain.
I’ve been out here for three hours, and my shift requires me to stay four more. It’s excruciating and fucking boring. Mainly, I walk the line and glimpse IDs with a tiny blue flashlight, smiling like a complete fool. If they’re over twenty-one, I provide their willing left wrists with a bright, canary-colored bracelet. I’ve strapped them on quite snugly, motivated to prevent underage drinking on my clock.
But since the rain started, Howard, the eldest of the guards, ushered me to the dry area of the tent and asked me, in his commanding yet polite voice, to simply stand around as if I were the club’s muse or something.
I never got a chance to explore inside. We arrived right on time and I entered through the back door and went downstairs to report. Then I went out back and was guided to the front with Howard and the rest.
“What’s your name, kid?”
I look up and smile. Howard’s black leather jacket has collected rain over his shoulders, and his drenched hair cascades over his bright gray eyes. I realize then that none of them have engaged me in conversation, just orders. In fact, I only know his name because I heard the others calling him. Seems he’s the one in charge of the security bunch.
“Justice.”
The smile he gives me doesn’t reach his eyes. “Are you cold?”
I shake my head, aware that my arms are covered with tiny goosebumps and that I’ve wrapped my arms around myself. This is strange weather for us, where it hardly rains. And I get cold easily. Always have.
“Sure? You can go inside… help your friend. I believe she’s filling in for a server today.”
I smile big. I would like nothing more than to go home, but meeting Jasmin in the somewhat comfort of the warmth inside is enticing. Better than this, at least. I nod.
“Be careful in there, kid.”
I frown but head in, puzzled by his warning. Those thoughts quickly scatter once I’m inside. A kaleidoscope of waving lights assaults me and I immediately look down. Besides the pulsing of the lasers, it’s dark, and the loudness of the music vibrates off every surface of the hall. The lights flash in sync with the music, a song I recognize, and it’s a relief it isn’t some bad techno beat that no one can move to, anyway.CloserbyNine Inch Nailsreverberates through the air.
Strange, I thought it would be filled with songs by pop artists. I shrug my music thoughts aside and approach the young and stunningly pretty girl in a booth to my right.
“Do you know where Jasmin is?”
She scrunches her face, managing to look as striking as a model, and pivots her head. She brings her hand to her ear. “What?”
“Jasmin! Where is she?” I shout back.
“Oh! Not sure, but she’s in there somewhere.”
I nod back, mouthing a simplethanks.Why couldn’t I getherjob? She gets to sit down!
With as much grace as I can manage in these killer heels, I waltz in and stand near the entrance between the end of the corridor and the beginning of the colossal dance room before me. On each side of me, a porch-like balcony circles around the club’s interior. Every fifty feet or so, four steps lead to another balcony and then fifteen steps toward the main floor.
The main floor is alive with bodies moving to the beat of the obscene, non-censored lyrics. On the second level, near each staircase, a pole dancer moves in synchronized, calculated staccatos. I swallow and brace myself. I’ve stayed away from clubs, too many people. I mentally thank Jasmin for urging me to stay outside.
The dancers are clearly in their element. I watch them, envying their sexy glares and pouting lips. It’s as if they were born to dance and entertain. I can’t imagine Jasmin takingtheir place–public nudity isn’t really her scene. She's got a seductively thin body with siren-like looks. I writhe uncomfortably. Would I fit in? No, I’m short, petite, but thick, with a condescending attitude and a face that says I-can-care-less and I’m-too-young. I know this, Jule tells me all the time. My personality is shit and clearly, you need people skills in order to work in a place like this. Which is why I work with metal scrap… it doesn’t talk back. I’ve never been the loquacious type.
“Looking for Jas?”