"Wake up, queer. Rent's due and I need payment." Jessica spoke as she threw a pillow on my head to wake me up.

What a beautiful way to wake me up at the top of the morning. Throw a pillow at me just to get some money from me. There was no specific time for us to turn in the rent and it's too early in the morning. The clubhouse didn't open until like 9. It was 7:30 in the morning.

"Fuck you and I hope you get a pillow thrown upside your head. Maybe not by me but by somebody who's stronger than your ass."

There was no way in hell that I was getting revenge on this woman. She'd twist my head off and sell it to the highest bidder. I kid you not.

With her eyebrows scrunched and an envelope in her hands, she had to comment with "You really want me to beat you with a baseball bat again, don't you? Like I said, get up and pass the rent. Checks only."

This wasn't a daily conversation between us. Generally, we wake up together around 11 in the afternoon, roughly, and there's a slight talk of encouragement. Exchanges of inspiring words and a few expressions of affection here and there.

The first of the month is like she's a different person. She changes into Jack Torrance and scares all of us into giving her the rent money. Somebody appointed her over finances since the rest of us weren't trustworthy enough.

Rocking myself on the edge of the bed was the only way to wake me up. My eyes wouldn't even open and my head fell back, wanting to hit the pillows again. Soft, plush pillows waited for my head to hit them again, wanting to be drenched in my tired drool after a long night out on the town.

Not specifically to party but it's part of my job keep the hype up, to create a fun experience. Plus, joining the rest of the people in the parties and clubs gave me more publicity.

Jana, wake the hell up. All you have to do is turn in your rent and go back to sleep unless Rena keeps you up with her snoring again.

There's no way because Rena's an early bird. She goes to bed on time unlike me. With the schedule I have, there's no time for sleep.

Pressing my face into one of the pillows, I grunted in fatigue. My head could fall back at any time and go straight to sleep but Jess wouldn't let that happen.

My wearied body eventually got up from the bed and grabbed my wallet from my jean pocket, reminding me of how I came in last night. Drunk and tired, throwing my pants off and onto the floor, and plopping onto the bed. No taking off the sports bra, no changing into my pajamas, not even putting my bright strawberry red hair up in a ponytail to prepare for sleep.

That night, almost everything just flew everywhere.

Finding my wallet, I stumbled into the living room while whining about how early it was and pulled out the check in my wallet somehow. Vision was blurry slightly but I got to Jess and placed the check in her hand.

On my way back to my room, the rent alarm, that was my girlfriend, went off with a "Carmon, where's your rent, girlfriend?!"

Of course, it frightened me and I turned to give her the evil eye. It was time for me to catch up on my sleep and you're yelling at almost 8 in the morning? Chill out.

Suddenly, a bombshell beauty with short, espresso-colored hair walked out with a restless face. We won't remind ourselves about our history together.

"Hold up, woman. Tell your baby daddy to stop blowing up my phone. Somehow, he and Leo linked up and got my number. He'll wish his ass was locked up again."

Hold the hell on. Who?! There went my tiredness, just rushed away at the thought of this guy even calling her. Why in the world would they link up to get her number in the first place? Wasn't he supposed to be locked up?

"Who linked up and got your number again? I don't think I heard you correctly." I was on full alert after that.

"Girl, knuck if you buck then. Chill out, you're acting as if I fucked with him-"

"But he was supposed to be in jail, babe. Why is he not there anymore?"

The way she watched me throw a miniature tantrum, like Tiffany when she can't get the shoes she wants, was frightful as hell. As if she were about the smack the devil out of me so I stopped and cleared my throat.

"I find it very interesting that you're doing all of this over a man, that doesn't even care for me anymore, when you've bumped uglies with Carmon and you two are still friends. Miss me with that shit or I'll slap you all the way into next year. Go to bed, damn it."

Use my mistakes against me? That's how low we're going, Jess? How low can you really go?

"That's not a good point, Jess, because we don't mess around like that. You see she stays on her side of the house and I stay on ours. It's not fair that he's calling you as if you're single. You can't give your girl a warning?"

"For what, Jana? If you trusted me enough, which you should, you'd know that I don't mess with him like that. Unlike you, I don't need anyone to cover for my ass because I can fight for myself. That's all I need. You can go to bed now."

"Ladies, let's not argue over anybody's past mistakes, alright? It happens and should be forgiven. Jess, Jana hasn't shown you any reason why-"

"How you talk about somebody making mistakes when you two are like the epitome of mistakes? Jana has made more mistakes than I can count on each hair follicle. You know what? I'm walking away before my disrespectful side come out."

And that was it for Jess. Though Carmon was trying to bring the peace back into our relationship, Jess wasn't having it.

She marched towards the door, grabbed her keys, and marched out of the door. So much for trying to make things work.

"Alright, who pissed off the wicked witch of the streets?" Tiff insulted as she yawned herself into the living room.

Once again, pink satin sleepwear were her choice of pajamas. Rena also came from her room in green plaid pajamas and rubbed her eyes with a check in her hand.

"What happened? I heard a door slam and Tiff is still here so where's Jess?"

You don't want to know, Rena. You really don't want to know.

"She just needed some air. You know how she is when she's frustrated at the first of the month. Don't forget, she's our financial advisor." Carmon covered in the brightest way. And Jess wonders why we're friends still.

"Nobody asked her to do that. She insisted that she be in charge of everything in apartment 421 because she didn't trust the rest of us. Why be pissed off about that?"

Well, some people don't like to turn their rent in on time, some people just can't keep up with bills, some people just think that they don't need to pay a bill, and others...

Well, they can't keep up with anything dealing with money.

"It's a hard job, Tiff, especially since you have to keep up with four grown women who should already know what to do. Half of us are stubborn and the rest of us just don't care. It's not fair to her. I just hope she went to the clubhouse so she can meet me up there. I finally have my rent and forgot to give it to her earlier. What a struggle." Rena chuckled.

Just listen to each roommate and you make the comparisons.

"Rent isn't due until the fifth of the month, therefore, I don't understand why she's complaining and yelling for our rent every first of the month. The manager always gives us time if we need it. That's from what I've heard anyway."

That was Carmon as she rolled her eyes, twirled her hair and bit her lip. That was her 'I banged the manager and loved it' face. Gotta love it when Carmon finds ways to make life easier for the rest of us.

"It's crazy how we have to pay $750 just to stay in these tiny rooms, share bathrooms, share a living room, AND a kitchen. Rena and I are in college so I can see why the rest of you need to pay. Rena and I already have to pay tuition. Make it easier on us."

Tiffany complained as she sipped on her morning coffee. Too pretentious for the rest of us but still hasn't found a job yet. How does she still keep that attitude?

"No, you don't pay tuition, remember? Your aunt does. Anyway, all I know is she's in charge of our bills because I refuse to keep up with them. There so much going on in my life, my mind wouldn't even realize it's bill day."

That was me being honest with the rest of the girls. I am the worst when it comes to being an adult. Jess pays the car note as long as I give her the coins. She puts gas in the car, pays the phone bill, makes repairs on cars or anything dealing with the house, etc.

This is one of the main reasons why she's my girl. Smart and responsible as hell but can throw a hard punch.

But do you see which roommate is who?

"Well, even though Carmon has forced me to babysit her child, I have a party to hit up so....since you'll be the only one here, I need you to babysit the rat tonight." Tiff asked of me before sitting down on the couch.

Was that not her responsibility after Carmon finished her about her money problems a week ago? I guess she still hasn't learned her lesson.

"You have an actual rat? You hate anything that moves fast."

Now that I think about it, living with guys wouldn't be so bad. No kids, no drama, not many problems, and a live vibe. As much as I could make that happen, Jess would have to move with me too and she may be attracted to one of them. We'd have to live with some ugly nerds or something.

"No, I mean your best friend's nose picker. Since Carmon nor Rena will be here all weekend and Jess is supposedly hanging with a new friend of hers, you're the only one that'll be here. You take care of her."

First of all, Jess doesn't make new friends. She's like Drake. No new friends on her bucket list. Secondly, who said it was my turn to babysit because I did that last time. Plus, Carmon punished her so...

"You may have to cancel your plans for that party, Tiff. You promised to watch my little nose picker every time I needed you to. This weekend is one of those weekends. Sorry."

Laughter's the best medicine, right? I couldn't have laughed harder over that. Ah, Tiff is just down on her luck but her attitude doesn't make things any better.

Tiff rolled her eyes while Rena added insult to injury with "Tiff, Raina needs somebody around to care for her. Although you both don't like each other, this is your chance to spend time with your niece and show her how much you care."

"That's what Carmon is for! Why isn't Carmon doing what you just said? She's not my responsibility!"

And that's when poor little Raina came out of the room and stood there looking at all of us with tears in her eyes. That was very unexpected.

"Raina, how much of that did you hear?" Rena said as she kneeled down to Raina's level.

The poor child wrapped her arms around Rena tightly and cried into her shoulder. She had to her all of it and is emotionally tired. Nobody was willing to watch her, besides Rena, and that wasn't fair to her.

Looks like it's time to step up.

"You know what, Tiff? You all go wherever you have to go. I'll take care of her."

Turning to me with shocked eyes, all of my roommates wondered if I was serious. Just like Tiff, my experience with children is at an all-time low and not because I hate them. It's just because I have no idea how to work with them. Raina's been here for six years and I have yet to really know this child.

"Jana, are you sure? Tiff won't learn unless she lives out her punishment," Carmon asked.

"This is the one and only time I'm letting you slide. Call me names again and I'm not covering you like a blanket anymore. Got me?"

Tiff just ran off on me after clapping for joy and smiling. No 'thank you'? No 'I appreciate you'? No 'you aren't even worthy of licking my asshole, much less dropping out of watching a kid?'

Well, there goes my evening but, hopefully, it'll be entertaining to say the least. Raina's a pretty good kid so there's not too much to worry about.

A tight hug from a small being rested on my leg and I look down to see it's Raina smiling against it. Is this how kids say 'thank you'?

"Jana, you're doing a great thing. Raina's not a bad kid; she's just super active and very nosey. That means no personal phone calls or things you should keep in your bedroom. Other than that, she's great."

Rena informed me as Carmon came out from her room with a not-so pleasant look on her face. "Raina, where's Mommy's long toys that vibrate?"

And that was all I needed to hear to realize how this night was going to go for me. This was one nasty little kid.

****

"Give me one night to change and blow your mind. I know you don't normally hire female DJs but let me prove a very true statement to you."

"And what's that?"

"That females do it better, Cam."

Talk about being sexist. The gender topic in the world of mixing music didn't become a factor until Cam stood by his opinion of male DJs mixing at his club only. In his mind, men mix and women strip so he wouldn't give me the time of day.

Now, you're probably thinking that it's not worth working with this misogynistic blowhard but think again. It's all about the Benjamins, baby. This club stacks itself to the roof with hundred-dollar bills every night without even trying.

Top-notch strippers bring in most of that money and do you know how much I could make in tips alone? I could make enough to get my own spot and a high-end car here. That wouldn't even take up all my bucks. See why women do it better?

That's just in one night. Making thousands in only one night? Sign me up for that gig because I surely need that.

"Sweetheart, do you realize what kind of world you're living in? When people see you in that booth, they'll wonder why the hell you aren't down there shaking some ass for them. They don't want to see a woman playing their music for them. I'm sorry but that's just how my customers have this place ran, Jana. I can't let you do it."

Oh, so it's the customers fault now, right? How the hell do you have your customers run the spot for you? Not to mention, they would barely be paying attention to me because they just want to have fun and move their bodies.

He must still be living back in the days where women were just housewives. Because that's the American way, right? Does he not realize what women are doing in this world nowadays? We're going to the moon, fighting in wars, selling and building their own houses, and eating out the cat better than any man would.

Or is that just me?

"Look here, Cam. You can't guilt trip me into believing that bullshit excuse because you make the club what it is. Unless you're not the owner. If that's the case, I'm talking to the wrong person here. You're talking to someone who fights for what she wants when she sees something she wants. You can't stop me from getting this job no matter how much you scare me."

He folded his arms and sat back in his office chair as I continued with my plea. "Your regular DJ is out sick, and from what I've heard, you have nobody else lined up. And you want to risk your club not having music all because you won't hire a female DJ?"

Yeah, nobody else was lined up because they found out about a different club paying way more than Cam was through a very eager female DJ. Hope they figure out where that club is. I had to do my research before coming down here and get rid of competition.

"You're too young with not much experience, Jana. What happens if you messed up during a set?"

"If that just so happen, you'd have enough trust in me to fix that little mistake with a bomb ass song to get the party going, Cam. I've been mixing music for three years now. I've played at kids' birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, teen clubs, weddings, and retirement homes. What more do you need? Grown people with thousands of bucks in their pockets come to this club just to throw it on fat ass and buy drinks. You get your money and I play what the grown people want to hear while getting a few tips before they leave."

He still didn't sound interested. I just wanted to shake him until...

"Plus, the two DJs you interviewed before me barely had experience and only use vinyl disks. One of them is underage anyhow. I got it all and I'm 21. Give me a chance."

This is what happens when you know everybody in your hometown. You get the information you need and use it to your advantage the best way you know how. Cam's just so desperate that he won't hire a qualified, over-age, female DJ.

"I just can't do it, Jana. I'm sorry if you don't like that but that's the way things have been ran around here. That's just how it is and that's how it'll stay. Now, you can leave."

Cam has a chance to change things around here and he's still sticking with this lame ass policy of women not mixing music for him? Clubs are evolving and constantly making changes which keeps their customers entertained and keeps money in their pockets. If he keeps this up, he's going to lose business.

There has to be something that can combat this. It's sexist and manipulating. Standing for this would be like standing for when Tiff debates about lesbians bringing sin to the world. There's not enough money in the world that'd make me agree with that nor clean her room for her.

I wanted to give up hope but something just wouldn't let me. My plan was to come back, after a while, and show off my skills so I could prove him wrong. That's what I was going to do tomorrow.

Before I turned to walk away, a familiar high-pitched sound came into the booth. Think Fran Drescher speaking after taking in a ton of helium. It was annoying but I was curious to prove myself right about who it was.

Turning around, my eyes caught onto the familiar honey-blonde hair and...unfamiliar boob job but it looked really good.

"Hey, honeykins! How's your search for a new-"

"Can we talk about this later, babe? I got someone to-"

"Jana Brevely? Long time...no see. What are you doing here? How have you been?"

Miranda Snider. Former high school cheerleading captain, public high-school bully, past secret high-school fling in the locker room every other Friday before a game, and now...a certain club owner's girlfriend? I sense a good idea coming.

"That it has been. A very...very long time." My eyes were driving down every curve she never had in high school and I loved what I was looking at...but I had to snap myself out of the trance.

"I'm here to sub for your sick DJ but-"

"But she has no experience and isn't qualified, babe. We have more qualified, male DJs in the area that I'm about to interview. Jana was just leaving."

Oh, why look at me with the death glare, Cam? Scared that I may smash your girl in front of you and make her leave you? Though that'd be funny as hell, I couldn't do it. There's too much at stake here.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at this lame excuse for not wanting a woman to play music at his club. Somebody's an incel, big time. Can't get it up with that fine lady he got? Something's wrong with him.

"You're really leaving without catching up, Jana? That's a shame because I remember you always making yourself known at the after parties in high school. Cam, she's been mixing music since senior year in high school and other things..."

She knows how to stroke a woman's ego. She's still as good as she was on the locker room bench. This woman knows what she's doing, making my head all big and shit.

Cam gave her a confused look as Miranda continued with "Let her play for the club, babe. Let her show you her skills because she doesn't disappoint. I would know."

Now, that lip-biting will get her somewhere. All this flirting made the booth warm so we had to slow this thing down. I got a girl back home and...uh...yeah. I just got a girl back home.

"Fine, hun. She can play for one night only but, if you fuck up at all, I promise that you and any other female DJ will NEVER see a career in music again. I'll make it a mission," Cam growled as he marched out of the booth.

Hell, while he was marching in anger, there was a party going on inside my head. Bottles were popping while some hot hits were playing in the background and strippers were shaking their ass to the exciting news.

But no, this was a good chance to advance in my music career. Being a DJ was not my first choice but it was something that could pay the bills and help me become what I really wanted to be. I got to play around with different kinds of music and instruments that I could possibly use as a famous guitar player one day. So, Cam stomping off like a toddler who just lost his ice cream cone was nothing to me.

Looking back at Miranda, I chuckled at the sight with her. Cam stomped through the neon-lit club like a mad man and it was hilarious to see. I'd be embarrassed if I were his partner. Another reason why women are amazing to me. Miranda plays her part well.

Before exiting, I was stopped by a pull of my shirt and was dragged back into the booth. What the hell? Miranda still hits the gym after high school? She must be lifting elephants if she got me roughed up in a chair. It is pretty hot though.

"Listen here, Jana. I did you a favor so, now...you need to do one for me. I want something in return. Something Cam can't give me...but you can."

A finger drag down my chest suddenly made the temp go up like the middle of July all over again. Should I start praying right now?

"What's that something? I don't have a ton of money nor-"

With a finger to my lips, her deep sea blue eyes connected with mine as she seductively let out the words "Do you still pull hair?"

That was high-school Jana. I can't pull hair anymore because Jess will slap the shit out of me. Complaining about how I pull too hard. I just get into the sex a little more than she does. Excuse me for trying to make you release, damn it.

Shit...Jess...My eyes were still connected with Miranda's? How?

"After your set, you can find me in the VIP and we'll finish the deal there. I hope you still know how to...uh...finish what's on your plate. Practice your finger exercises."

How am I just now seeing her backside? She packed some junk back in that trunk over the matter of three years. She went from toothpick to bowling pin in three years? I was going to say something so bad but I'll keep it to myself.

As hot as the words sounded, I got a girl that will twist me up into a pretzel and add me to the next bag of Cheez-it snack mix she eats. I enjoy my girl's aggressive nature but damn. She's nothing like Miranda.

Miranda was so much like Carmon except Miranda had no limits. She didn't care who you were dating, who she was dating, what neighborhood you came from, how much money you made, or your social status. She was willing to fuck in every way you could imagine. Carmon wouldn't touch me after I got with Jess which is good.

At the same time, it's fun to tease and play around a little bit. Plus, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get some exposure and, if I don't do what they tell me, my ass is grass. Career over.

So, that leaves me with a decision to make. Jess or the booth? Maybe I could talk to her about this deal and she'll approve of what I got to do. At least I'll be telling her what's going on, right?