"Leave me alone, just give me 5 more minutes to sleep!"
"Luna you have to wake up please, you have school and you can't miss anymore days," I sighed.
"Calista please just give me 5 minutes," my little sister begged.
"Fine, but you better get ready fast, I have class earlier than usual," I mumbled and got off her bed before heading to the kitchen to make some breakfast for each other.
After contemplating for 2 minutes I decided to make traditional pancakes, for that's the only thing I found in the cupboards.
The 5 minutes Luna begged me for came to an end as she walked in wearing baggy clothes and her hair in a pony tail.
"Good morning," I mumbled.
"Morning," she rolled her eyes.
Luna is going through her sassy teen years, she just turned 15 and thinks that she can talk back to me, of course I'm going to be upset but I was her age 7 years ago. I understand her brain is scrambled with many thoughts, hell I'm 22 and I still feel like that, plus she's not a bad kid and a few backtalks don't really change her.
"Want a pancake before we head out?," I asked.
"Yes please, also I need lunch money."
"Grab 15 bucks from my wallet."
"Thanks," Luna runs to my purse and grabs the money before sitting down at the table.
"What time will you be getting home tonight?," she mumbled.
"I'm going to the interview to work at the bar near the apartment, so I think I'll be a bit late, I'll leave you money for food okay?," I asked.
"The bar where you dress up as these characters?," she looked at me strangely.
"Yup," I sighed.
"But it's the only job that can possibly work with my school hours," I laughed lightly.
"I hope you get it," Luna sighed.
"Me to we need the money."
As you haven't been able to tell by now but it's just Luna and I, our mom is an alcoholic who dumped us at our grandmas house when I was just 11 and Luna was 4, by that age I was already a parent to my younger sister. During the time we spent with our grandmother we became more dependent with one another, after all no one cared for us but each other.
—
It was now the afternoon and I just ended the call with Luna when she walked inside our apartment, I was at front of the bar I was interviewing at. I walked in breathing in the air of cigarettes and vodka, I scrunch up my nose and take off my sweater as I feel the warmth hug my body. I see the girls walking around the bar rushing to get everything set up as it was almost time to open up, I walk to the bar seeing my friend Ashton, who mentioned this job, cleaning cups.
"Ash," I mumbled.
"Oh hey, let me go get the boss she's in right now," Ashton smiled and walked away.
I looked around and realized this bar was old fashion with a hint of techno, I turn to the female workers runny around in pantyhose and a tight body suit, the male workers with tight jeans and an open vest.
"Hey Calista come on the boss is ready for you," Ash called, I quickly try to calm myself as he leads me to I presume is her officer. Before I walk in Ash gives me a thumbs up for good luck.
"Come in," I hear the lady mumble from the other side of the door.
"Hello," I smiled lightly as I sat down in one of the chairs that was in front of her desk.
"Well aren't you a beauty," the lady smiled brightly, I mumble a quick thank you.
"So your here for the job as a?"
"Singer," I mumbled looking straight into her eyes.
"Hm? Well can you dance to?," she laughed.
"Very well," I nod.
"Well of course I have to see you after all not many people have that talent, you better be as good as those looks you got on yah," she laughed.
"Yes ma'am."
"Ugh don't call me ma'am, the names Betty and yours, sorry forgot to ask."
"Calista Muniz," I smiled.
"Can you dance for me now, the stage is clear, I'm a busy woman," Betty mumbled.
"Sure I brought my shoes," I nod.
I came to the Betty's bar since Ashton informed me there was a spot open for a singer slash dancer, my voice is quite nice and I dance really good since I was a kid. I'm not perfect due to the fact that I couldn't pay for dance and singing lessons, but I taught myself as best as could. I would sing my grandma and Luna to sleep every time either of them had a rough day, I never complained since it was good practice and I made them feel at ease.
Betty led me to the employee room for me to get changed into something comfortable so I can perform. As I put on my shoes I start to wonder what song I should sing for Betty, she's a very out going woman for what I've seen, maybe something classic, sexy, also where I can show the power of my voice.
"That's it!," I smiled and got up as I run out the room and head to Ashton asking him to play the song that I chose.
"Perfect," Ash smiled and walked away.
I get on the stage and see everyone busting their asses off not paying me a single thought, yet there sat Betty with a whiskey in her hand waiting for my performance.
Soon Guy What Takes his Time starts to play.
A guy what takes his time, I'll go for any time
I'm a fast movin' gal who likes them slow
Got no use for fancy driving, wanna to see a guy arriving in low
I'd be satisfied, electrified to know a guy what takes his time
I started to sing in the microphone.
A hurry-up affair, I always give the air
Wouldn't give any rushing gent a smile
I would go for any single who would condescend to linger awhile
What a lullaby would be supplied to have a guy who takes his time, ooh
I slowly start to get down the stairs and head towards Betty, I flip my hair and wink at her before turning away rather quickly and go to the pole that's on another small stage.
A guy what takes his time, I'd go for any time
A hasty job really spoils a master's touch
I don't like a big commotion, I'm a demon for slow motion or such
Why should I deny that I would die to know a guy who takes his time
I turn on the pole in an innocent way before going all the way down and back up quickly brushing my hair out of my face slowly. I start to strut down the stairs and grab a chair before heading back to the main stage setting it in the middle and sitting down.
There isn't any fun in getting something done
If you're rushed when you have to make the grade
I can spot an amateur, appreciate a connoisseur in trade
Who would qualify, no alibi, to be the guy who takes his time
I end the performance with my leg kicking the chair down and me a bit out of breathe. To focused on performing I didn't know the crowd that just gathered around Betty, they all stared and slowly started to clap.
"Where did you get those pipes at kid?!," Betty yells and runs up to the stage beside me and hits my back proudly.
"Thank you," I smiled.
"No kid thank you, now we will back in business with that voice of yours," she smiled brightly.
"You mean-"
"You got the job Calista! You start next month performing, we have to practice some songs and dance moves to use with audience, I'll teach you what to do and what not to do and what hours or days you'll be available for," Betty smiled.
"Come to my office to fill out your form," I nod quickly.
—
I walk into my apartment and see Luna sitting on the couch sketching in her notebook with her earphones on, I slowly tiptoe to her.
"Boo!," I yelled.
"Ahh," Luna screamed in fear turning to me with a cagged face, she quickly takes off her earphones and glares at me.
"That's not funny Cal," she grumbled.
"Well to me it was hilarious," I laughed.
"Whatever did you get the job?," she turned away from me.
"Yup meaning you'll be spending a few nights with Tia Becca."
"Not that Tia, she makes me watch 13 reasons why," Luna groaned.
"I'll tell her to just leave you alone in your room okay?," I walk to the kitchen taking out the shredded chicken from last night to a pan.
"You already did that," Luna mumbled.
"Just work with me Luna, if you behave I'll buy you the marker set you've been wanting," I sighed.
"Really?!," she yelled happily.
"Yes," I laughed.
"Okay fine, when will you start working?"
"Starting next week on Wednesday, get there a bit early to do my makeup and get into the outfits my boss just ordered me, so I'll leave around 4 and come back at 2 after clean up," I smiled.
"So am I going to stay at Becca's or will she be coming here?"
"Well she can stay here till 12 and you'll be left alone for the rest of the night till I come home from the bar," I mumbled.
"Good because I didn't want to sleep at her place, for some reason her top floor neighbors could never stop making noise," Luna groaned.
"Oh my god stop," I laughed loudly.
We sat on the couch for an hour as I posed for Lunas painting that she's doing for art class, Luna has always taken pictures of me and painted me for her art projects. She said I had this image that no other person had, but I told her it's probably because she knew me so well that she captures what no one else sees. Luna is a very talented little girl, I've been saving up for her to go to a nice university so she can study art, for me I'm just happy I get to sing in front of people.
Knocked out of my thought I hear Luna's voice.
"You know my art teacher has a crush on you?," Luna mumbled.
"Ew he must be like 50, not my style," Luna laughed lightly.
"He's 30, and he's really handsome," Luna smirked at me.
"No thank you I'm busy with school, work, and raising you."
"You need a boyfriend one day," she groaned.
"I don't need one, men are just a desert for me babe."
"Just find a rich dude so he can help us pay off our debts."
"That's the dream Luna," I laughed.
"You should still give my teach a chance, he's a good guy," Luna smiled.
"We'll see if I have time," I mumbled.
"Are you done?," I asked.
"Where are going?," she asked.
"I want some cigarettes," I mumbled.
"Ugh really Cal?," Luna groaned.
"Hey I don't smoke that much," I rolled my eyes.
"Whatever just let me take a picture of this pose so I can finish the details," I nod and watch as Luna jumps off the coach and grabs her camera that I bought her last year.
After her takes a few shots I walked out the house to our nearest convenient store.