Isis and Jackie were talking in the hall between classes one day when Isis noticed a dark smudge on Jackie’s arm. She went to wipe it off, asking “Did you get dirt on you or something?” but when her fingers made contact with Jackie’s arm, Jackie let out a faint “Ouch.”
Isis realized it was a bruise. How did she bruise her arm… “Oh my god. Jackie… Tell me that’s not what I think it is.”
Isis looked her friend in the eyes and saw so much pain there before Jackie put on a brilliant smile and said, “Yeah I stumbled in the shower the other day, silly me!”
Isis knew that was a lie. Her stepdad had done this. Neither of them had mentioned a word of it since that night Isis walked in on him pinning Jackie against the wall. Jackie slung her bag over her shoulder and started to say goodbye but Isis threw herself onto her friend, hugging her tightly.
She whispered in Jackie’s ear “Why didn’t you tell me?”
She expected Jackie to pull away and ignore her question, but Jackie hugged her back. “I told you I was okay before, and I mean it Isis. I can handle myself.” Jackie whispered back into Isis’s ear.
They pulled apart and Jackie held Isis’s hands, saying “I know you want to help but just leave it be. I’ve been making good money at the department store and… I also have another gig. I’m gonna get out on my own, okay? Please don’t worry.”
Isis squeezed Jackie’s hands and said “I love you Jackie, I hope you know I’m here for you and you can tell me anything. If you ever want to come stay at my-“
Jackie cut her off and said “I love you, Isis. I want to tell you about my other gig! I don’t have work today, let’s hang out after school?”
Isis agreed and reluctantly let Jackie walk away from her.
They were sitting at a table in the corner of the cafe, sipping caramel lattes. Isis asked enthusiastically “So tell me about this other gig! What do you do? When did you start?”
Jackie leaned over the table with a conspiratorial look on her face. “You can’t tell a soul, okay?”
Isis nodded, now very intrigued. Jackie stated “I do webcamming.”
Isis stared, then burst out laughing at Jackie’s twisted sense of humor. Jackie looked at her seriously, but her eyes sparkled as they always did when she was excited.
“Isis I’m serious! It’s been really fun too. You wouldn’t believe the money I make. I swear I’ll be able to rent a place by the end of the year!”
Isis went back to staring. “Isn’t that, like… porn? How are you even able to do that, you’re not even eighteen?!”
Jackie explained that Austin knew a guy who knew a guy. She said she didn’t show full nudity, only teased. She said it was more about the chatting aspect. It was a bunch of lonely old men who just wanted company. She had their city blocked so nobody here would see her. Jackie gushed on and on, but all of it was only partly registering in Isis’s brain because she was in shock.
Jackie pulled her laptop out of her bag and Isis scooted closer, with their backs against the wall. She showed Isis the website and for the next half hour Isis learned things she never thought she would.
When Jackie told her the fake name she used, Isis exclaimed “Riley Red! Because of your red hair!” She giggled and thought that was very clever.
Jackie said, “Actually yes but no. I wear a wig to hide my hair since it’s so identifiable.”
Then Isis said a thought out loud “And to think, my dad and Roman are worried about creeps and weirdos watching me!“
Together they broke out in laughter and Isis thought this wasn’t so bad. Jackie supported her streaming, so why shouldn’t she support Jackie? It seemed harmless enough, right?
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