The next day I head to the gym and do a quick work out before I come home and am surprised to find Lucy home. She's eating cookies, with a glass of milk at the counter.

"Lucy, what are you doing home, so soon? I thought you didn't get off until 4."

"I got fired..." She says quietly, not meeting my eyes.

"What? Why? Was it because of that Chelsea girl?" 

"What about that Chelsea girl?" Miles asks as he and Kai come down the stairs from the loft.

"Ugh, nothing, forget it." Lucy says.

"No, we are talking about this right now. Did she get you fired?" I ask her.

"What?" Kai and Miles ask in unison.

"Sort of, but not really." Lucy lays her head on her arm on the counter. "I punched her." 

"Wait, did you say you punched her?" I ask in disbelief.

She nods her head, still on her arm. I her pull her back to look at me. Tears falling down her face.

"I snapped, I'm sorry." She cries. "She was just there, smiling, acting like she didn't do anything wrong! I made Kai and Miles promise not to tell you, but she totally made me look like an idiot. She didn't really want me to go to her party, there never was a party. It wasn't even her birthday. She gave me some made up address and they filmed me going to a house, standing there like an idiot. The homeowner answered and they said they didn't know a Chelsea."

"She played the video on the TV at the shop and everyone started laughing so I just lost it. I'm sorry!" She cries hugging me. "I'm sorry!" I hug her and tell her I'm not mad, but I think it's time I pay Chelsea a visit.

<><><><>

I greet a few of the staff members as I make my way in the club. I'm here early to help with auditions after Eva called me. "Ay mija, I'm so sorry to have to bug you but Rio had some business lunch he couldn't get out of and so I called you." Eva hugs me when she sees me. 

"He's stubborn, that son of mine, but he's got a good head on his shoulders when he isn't thinking about the one in between his legs!" I found out recently that Eva is Rio's mom. 

I laugh, "No problem, I'm happy to help, though I don't know what you're looking for, exactly."

"Oh, nothing crazy, mija. Look for personality, musicality, sex appeal, tu sabes. Let's just hope we don't end up with another Ginger, dios mio." She tells me.

Three girls are scheduled to come in. The first girl is really confident and moves fluidly. She has some great, strong moves on the pole. She doesn't seem as confident when we asked her to do a lap dance on Roman, though. But we can work with that, not all the girls do lap dances anyway.

The second girl let her nerves get the best of her. Eva stopped her audition after she fell for the third time. Eva was kind though and encouraged her to keep practicing.

"Well, that was a disaster, probecita." Eva states as she sits down. She pulls her glasses on as she looks at the next resume. "Okay Roman, will you send in the next one, her name is...Tori" Roman heads to the door and my mouth drops in shock. I slip my glasses back on over my face as the last audition moves to take her place.

Eva notices and side glances me before welcoming her.

"Hello, Tori. My name is Eva, the house mom. And this is our lead dancer, Raven. I nod at her and smile." Eva extends her hand, gesturing for Tori to take her place.

"First, we'd like to see a dance where you may need to remove some of your clothing." Tori's eyes widen a little, so Eva reassures her, "We are not strippers, of course, but sometimes our performances require us to take something off.

"Second, we will have you do a performance using the pole and last, you'll perform a lap dance. Sound good?"

Tori smiles at her, "Yes, can I use my own music?"

"Of course, mija." Eva takes the CD from Tori and hands it to me. I stand and head towards the CD/radio player and pop in the CD.

I select the song choice she requests and then head back. I sit down next to Eva and take off my glasses. The song begins, but she keeps looking at me with wide eyes.

"Are you okay, Tori?" Eva asks her. "Tori, are you alright?"

Tori shakes her head, focusing on Eva. "Yes, I'm sorry. Can we start the song again?" This time Roman, starts the song over and Victoria starts her dance. She avoids my gaze while she dances, but she moves well and does a good job at keeping pace with the music, even while taking off her top and skirt, leaving her in a sequined bikini top and thong.

During her pole dance routine, she stumbles and loses her grip but she does a good enough job recovering and finishes the song. Roman sighs when he brings a chair in the center of the room and sits. I smile and wink at him but he scowls back at me, which makes me laugh.

"With lap dances, we don't need anything fancy, okay dear? Just slow and steady, as we like to say ride the cock not the clock." Eva instructs her. Roman's uncomfortable expression at Eva's last statement, makes me grin at him.

The song "Pony" by Ginuwine begins. Tori starts on the floor, crawling seductively towards Roman. She grips his large thighs and pushes them apart, raking her nails down the front of his thighs. It's clear he likes what she's doing as his face becomes flushed.

She stands slowly, leaning towards him just enough to graze his face with her breasts, she moves up close to him, grinding against him and his mouth parts slightly.

But being who she is, she can't help herself and she does a bold move. She stands next to him before flipping over him so her head is near his crotch and her ass in his face.

None of us were prepared for what happens next, when the unmistakable sound of her passing gas occurs. Eva's mouth drops open. I cover my mouth, to keep myself from laughing at the look of horror, on Roman's face.

He pushes her away from himself, and stands. Tori collapses in a heap in front of him. I put my head down on the table but I hear her apologize, repeatedly. Eva rushes to shut the music off. 

I try to keep myself under control but I'm literally shaking from stifling my laughter, tears are streaming down my face. After a few deep breaths, I finally feel ready to lift my head. But as soon as I see Roman in the corner, I burst out laughing.

"I'm sorry!" I gasp. "I'm sorry." I take some deep breaths. "That was...that was definitely unique." I wipe at my eyes. Eva tries to hide her smile but fails. Tori stands and pulls her top and skirt back on. She keeps her eyes down not able to look at us.

"Well, dear. Raven and I have some deliberating to do and we will be in contact with you." Eva informs her. Tori nods but doesn't say anything as she rushes out of the room.

We don't say anything, still in shock at what just happened. But then Roman speaks up, "She forgot her CD."

Eva sighs, asking me to catch her before she leaves. I groan internally, but grab the CD and hurry after her.

I run through the club and then out the front door. "Tori! Tori!" She keeps walking fast. "Victoria!" I shout. She finally stops and turns around. She has tears running down her face. 

"Um, you forgot your CD." I hold it out to her. She snatches it out my hands.

"Thanks. Don't bother calling me. I know I blew it."

I can't help it and start laughing at her poor choice of words. She glares at me before turning away from me. I run after her. "Stop, hold on a sec." I say in between my laughter. I grab her arm, but she wrenches it out of my hand.

"I guess this is Karma, right?" She tells me, angrily.

"Sure, if I was petty. But a lot worse things have happened since you and I last saw each other, Victoria. The last thing on my mind is getting you back."

She scoffs, "This is like my 10th audition so whatever. Bye."

"Victoria stop being a baby. Honestly, you were the best audition of the day except the last part..." I smile at her.

She looks up at me and gives me a small smile. "Really?"

I nod, "yes, but, I know there are a few more auditions tomorrow. We're trying to fill two spots, so you've got a good chance."

She surprises me when she grips me in a tight hug. "Thank you!"

"Well, don't thank me yet. We still have to get through tomorrow. But you'll know by tomorrow night, for sure." She nods and then heads to her car. Leaving me shaking my head.

"There's history between you two isn't there?" Eva says when I come back in the room. I tell her how we know each other.

"Well, then we don't have to hire her but she was the best one of the day, no crees?" She questions as she makes her notes on the paperwork.

"Definitely." I agree with her. "If she is the best one we see, then we should hire her. I made it nine months working with Ginger, who is a lot like her, but maybe Ginger was a tad worse..." I tell her.

"Tienes razón. Well, let's see how the auditions go tomorrow. Can you come in again, in the morning?"

"Sure, I just need to rearrange some things, but I can be here." I assure her. I tell her good bye and head home.

Life sure has a way of sneaking up on you. Victoria is the last person I would have expected to show up at an audition, but then again, I'm sure she thought the same thing, when she saw me, sitting there as well.

On my way home, I decide to stop by at the smoothie place where Lucy worked at. When I walk in, I see one of the boys from the museum. He slinks back towards the back of the shop when he sees me, lowering his head.

"Hello, welcome to Quench your thirst, what can I get for you today?" A bubbly girl with glasses greets me.

"I'd like to speak to your manager, please."

The girls' smile crumbles. "Oh, um is there something I can help you with?" She asks meekly. She's clearly uncomfortable with confrontation but I'm sure they are told to try to handle situations as much as they can before it escalates up the chain of command.

"No, but thank you. I really need to see your manager."

The back door swings open and a middle aged man walks out, followed by the boy from the museum. The man who I assume is the manger has a stern look on his face, but I give him a hard look myself as he approaches me.

"Is there something I can help you with Ms.?"

"Yes, you can do a better job at keeping your employees in check."

He looks at me with his eyebrows furrowing. "Excuse me?"

"I'm Lucia Moreno's guardian. I'm aware of what occurred here the other day and why she was let go. While I don't condone her actions of violence, she has been dealing with racism, and mistreatment for nearly the entire seven months she's worked here.

I'm guessing you had not clue about that." He looks back at the boy who walked out with him. The boy looks away and down at his shoes.

"It's partly not your fault, in all honesty. I had told Lucy I would talk to you but she insisted on me staying out of it. She attempted to rise above it and continue working in a hostile environment.

I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting and witnessing a few of your employees in action, outside of work myself."

"I'm only here to let you know, that you need to address the serious nature of the issues at hand. The bullying and discrimination that is going on in your place of business. I'm sure if I follow through with a discrimination lawsuit and an investigation is conducted, the truth will come out." There's an audience that has built up behind me, for the lunch hour rush.

"But I'm not going to do that." I tell him and I see the relief come over his face, "Lucy is a kind hearted person and didn't deserve the treatment she received working here day in and day out, with Chelsea in particular. I just hope this doesn't happen again to another employee of color or ethnicity."

"Thank you for coming and talking to me. I appreciate your direct honesty and assure you I will address the issue." He tells me.

I turn and walk out of the shop, heading for my bike. "Wait! Miss?" The girl who was behind the counter with glasses, is running towards me.

"I just wanted to apologize. I saw and watched what happened to Lucy and I..." She looks down at her hands, wringing them over each other. "I never said anything. I'm so sorry. I should have helped her and stood up to Chelsea. Lucy is really nice and I should have helped her." She repeats, looking down.

"Sometimes doing the right thing is really hard, especially, something like standing up against your peers, or friends."

"Oh, Chelsea isn't my friend, she's not nice to me either. She calls me four eyes instead of my name, Anna." She tells me pushing up her glasses. My heart warms thinking of my own friend Annalisa. "But she was really mean to Lucy, I think she is jealous of her. Anyway, can you tell Lucy I said Hi and that I'm sorry?" She asks me quietly.

"Sure, but you know, I think she'd really like to hear it directly from you." I tell her. "Do you have her number?" She shakes her head at me and I pull out my phone and give her Lucy's number.

"Trust me, she'll love hearing from you." I tell her. She gives me a big smile and waves before heading back to the smoothie shop.

As I walk back into the apartment, Lucy throws herself at me, my face covered with her hair, she pulls away and wipes at her eyes.

"What happened? Why are you crying?" I ask concerned.

"Nothing bad. One of the girls I worked with, Anna, texted me. She told me what you did. "She hugs me again. "I know you're closer to being like an older sister, but you've taken care of me like a mom should. And I know you don't like me calling you mom, but you're just like what I always thought a mom would be like." I blink back the unexpected tears.

"And it's okay you don't say it back, but I love you." She hugs me again before pulling away. "Anna asked if I'd like to go to a movie with her tonight, can I? I'll take one of the boys with me, if that makes you feel better?"

I wipe at my eyes, chuckling. "You don't have to take the boys, you can go. Have fun. Anna seems really sweet."

"She is. She's quiet, just like Annalisa." She tells me smiling.

"Just let me know what time the movie is and how long it is. If you'd like to hang out afterwards you can, just keep me posted." I tell her as I go through the stack of mail on the counter.

"How late can I stay out?"

"Nine-thirty."

"But the boys stay out till eleven..." She counters. I remind her they are older and she's still fifteen.

"But my birthday is only four months away. Is four months really going to make a difference in all honesty?" She tries to debate.

I realize, she never goes out and decide to let her go ahead and stay out. "You know what? I trust you but if her parents have a shorter curfew you have to respect that okay?" She nods squealing and runs to her room.