Entry tags:

author: vamphile, challenge #42: author's choice, epic series: hustler!j/whore in a hoody

Whore In A Hoody
Title: Hustler!Justin XX (Whore in a Hoody)
Author: Vamphile
Condom(s): None

|Hustler!Justin | II | III | IV| V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X | XI | XII | XIII | XIV | XV | XVI | XVII | XVIII | XIX |

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Hustler Justin XX
Whore In A Hoody

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I spend the rest of the evening sleeping fitfully. I’m not sure how I’m going to manage to keep up with my old pace. I try not to think too much about the book I’m supposed to be writing. I’ll have to hire someone to ghost write it for me. I’m trying to keep my mind on the book, because it does worry me, but not as much as Justin does. It’s no use. Every time I fall asleep I dream about him getting hurt. I don’t believe in prophetic dreams. I do believe he’s going to get hurt again.


~~~218~~~
I wake up to the doorbell. It’s the locksmith. He eyes me oddly when I tell him what I want but he does it and leaves. I shower, shave and get dressed. I have some errands to run that I just didn’t want to do with Brian. I need to get a couple of client’s booked soon. The money I have is dwindling fast. I make appointments with workmen for Monday and then buy a few items of clothing. I walk out of the store in them. I don’t eve want to look at those jeans or that hoody again.


~~~219~~~
I go to the diner for lunch and Debbie take her break across from me. “You seen Sunshine?”

“Do I look that pale, Deb?”

She snaps her gum. “The kid. You seen him? He hasn’t been in. I’m getting worried.”

“He’s fine. He found a sugar daddy to stake him. I don’t think he’s working the streets.”

She smiles and pats the side of my face. “You’re a good man.”

“What makes you think it was me?”

She gets up to deliver a customer’s order and hands me an extra plate of fries. “Eat it. You’ve lost too much weight.”


~~~220~~~
The salesman greets me coolly but when I tell him what I need he smiles and takes me to the back room.

“You’ve been here before.”

I nod. “With Isaac.”

Something flashes. “Yes, I remember. Are you two still…?”

I shake my head. “He’s gone. I’m setting up shop, so I need a few things, and you know, if you wanted to let your clients know…”

He nods and I give him my new phone number. “You were quite popular.”

I smile. “I hope to be again.”

He helps me choose the type of hooks and suspension equipment I’ll need.


~~~221~~~
I almost don’t recognize him. He’s dressed differently, and smiling broadly. “Taking a trip?”

He looks confused and then laughs when he realizes I was referring to the store he’d just exited. “They sell other leather goods in the back.”

I always wondered how a luggage and travel shop stayed in business on this street. Learn something everyday. “Get what you need?”

“Yep, instillation’s tomorrow.”

I pretend that doesn’t bother me. “Well, see ya.”

He waves and walks off in the other direction. I watch, but say nothing. He’ll be fine; he’s managed this far without me. I walk away.


~~~222~~~
Back at my own place, My own place! I curl up in the chair with a book. I can hear Isaac’s voice in my head telling me what a slob I am for leaving my own shopping bags around the chair but I work on ignoring it and make myself some tea. When I look up from my book it’s dark out. I go into the other room to start setting up. I try not to think about what each item does as I put it away. When I’m done I leave the room as quickly as I can.


~~~223~~~
The salesman was all too happy to show me the backroom and give me Justin’s information. I already have his number but watching this man write it on the back of his card makes me angry. There’s no reason for it. It just does. I look at his vast array of finely crafted leather and blanche. I turn and leave as quickly as I can. On the way home I stop by a bookstore. Brainwashing and childhood trauma is fascinating. It occurs to me that although he mentioned a duffle bag, I’d never seen it. Does he own any clothes?


~~~224~~~
Installers and contractors are here most of the day, but by four they’re all gone and I have everything I need. I heat up some ramen noodles and clean the kitchen again. I almost spill them when the phone rings. I pull out my appointment book and pretend I’m considering the offer. I’m down to my last ten dollars so there really isn’t a question. He wants to come at six. I get his particulars and confirm the appointment. I spend the time making sure everything’s perfect. At a quarter ''til, I remember the mug of noodles and dump them.


~~~225~~~
Everyone’s so happy about my triumphant return. I smile and nod and even Marty seems happy to see me. Cynthia’s thrilled but mostly because she was dealing with some low level idiot while I was gone. I forgot how draining and long a day could be. By seven I’m wondering how I did this six days a week but I push through, drinking another cup of bad coffee and staring at the mess made in my absence. I’ve barely thought about Justin in the last ten minutes. I think that’s a record since I met him. At eight I call.


~~~226~~~
He left about twenty minutes ago. There’s five hundred dollars on the nightstand and I’m taking a few more moments to recover before I shower and strip the bed. The phone rings. I consider not answering it. I don’t know if I’m up for another client tonight. I can’t turn down a gig right now so I put on the fake voice and act as my own handler. I sigh when I realize it’s Brian. “How was work?”

“I’m still there.”

“So you need to cancel for tomorrow?” I’m a little relieved. I’m not sure where we stand. It’s confusing.


~~~227~~~
He sounds weird. Not just the fake voice. “I don’t need to cancel.”

“Why’d you call?”

“To say hello, see how you’re doing.”

“I’m fine.”

That’s my first hint that he’s not. “I can stop by with dinner.”

“I made ramen noodles.”

“Nutritious.”

“I was busy.”

“You should go to the diner. Debbie’s worried about you.”

“Can’t you just tell her I’m fine?”

“She needs to see it for herself.”

“I’ll make it this week sometime.”

“You sure you don’t need anything?”

“I’m going to take a shower and do some sketching before bed.”

“You need a TV.”

“Goodnight, Brian.”


~~~228~~~
Christ, Isaac was never this protective and he had money on the line. I shake my head and decide that I’d rather take a bath. The warm water is soothing. I drain it when it turns pink and refill the tub. When I get out I check to make sure the bleeding’s stopped. It has. I take some aspirin and pull on Brian’s sweatpants and shirt. They’re really comfortable for sleeping but when I lay down I can’t seem to fall asleep. I get up and check all the locks again. Maybe I do need a TV. I read instead.

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