17 Dialogue! How Thee Complete Me!

Britney stretched herself out like a cat, back arched and limbs all over the place.

Brittney: "We should get going now. I only booked the room for an hour. It was... nice seeing you again, Ron.."

Me: "Where are you heading after this? I'm not even sure if I should let you go alone."

Brittney: "Hardy har har, Ron. I've finished my night. Your relatives? Well they forked enough money to last me a week if I wanted. I can even afford to bid for a prime slot again thanks to them. Uhh, why are you following me?"

Me: "Simple, I'm going with you."

Brittney: "Okay, hold up Ron. While what you did -was- amazing, believe me, it was incredible. Why should I let you come with me? I am glad that you showed me that you cared, but you should go home."

She honestly think she can get rid of me? Pfft.

Me: "Have you already forgotten, Brittney? You are mine for the moment.. How long the moment is up to me. Understood?"

Alright, maybe that was a little pushy. But I needed to find out what happened. Just how the hell did she end up here of all places?!

Brittney: "... yes Sir."

But I definitely did not expect her to turn away and say that! I was going to casually joke with her when she laughed my comment off!

Well then.. Let's be on our merry way then!

I do have to be honest though. The back area, that led to these rooms, is a chaotic wreck. Chests filled with stage clothes, weird looking toys or hopefully those are stage props, and the occasional 'dancer' giggling as Brittney led me through.

Entertainer Numbah 1: "Oh my god. Brittnay! You taking someone home with you?! Damn girl, how good is he?"

Brittney: "You know it's Brittany, Sonja. And what's it to you what I do?"

Sonja: "Ha! Like these fake names matter.. And besides, you never entertain any customers past the stage. Now I'm curious.."

Woah! Well this is unexpected.

Brittney grabbed my hand and drags me away.

I could only wave bye to everyone.

We were in the car lot when I remembered something important.

I had to go back in to let my cousins know I was leaving... Ah crud.

Me: "Hold up, I need to go find - Izak?!"

Izak: "There you are little cousin! I've been looking all over for you!"

Me: "Ah, yeah, sorry cousin Izak. I got, uh, invited to a room to meet someone."

Please don't look at me like that, at least I'm not throwing money at a stripper! Though his expression changed once he got a look at Brittney.

Izak: "Oh! Well then cousin! I didn't know you had it in you. Okay, I'll tell the family you got a 'ride' out of here. But remember! Weddings' at 3, so be there early for pictures!"

I didn't even got a chance to explain myself...

Me: "Shush it, Brittney."

She wouldn't.

She just kept laughing at my as we got in her car and she drove us off... Wait a tic!!!

Me: "I have a question. If you don't mind?"

Brittney: "Sure, fire away."

Me: "How in the hell are you working at a strip club at SIXTEEN?!"

She just snorted at me before responding.

Brittney: "First of all, I'm seventeen. Most of the girls dancing are between sixteen and twenty. And I just pay the owner extra. As long as he gets his money, we can all work for ours."

Me: "But that's illegal!"

Ugh, okay, I'll be quiet now. At least the ride was pleasant with her singing. Looks like whatever happened didn't stop her from doing what she had loved.

She drove us up to the typical three story building. Rusty and rickety fire escape, garbage cans filled to the brim, even the weird cat prowling around.. Hold the phone?! That's a rat?!?! Mother of sweet bejeebus, hell no! We gotta go!

Brittney: "Oh calm down, Larry won't bite you."

Me: "You named him?!"

Brittney: "He scares off most trouble, surprisingly. Last guy who tried to cause trouble lost his pinky. Mrs. Henderson leaves him food every night she can."

Huh... smart rat.

Brittney led me up the three flights to her apartment. It was.. quaint. A few pieces of furniture and decor so it doesn't feel so empty.

Brittney: "So you thirsty? I only have water though."

Me: "That's perfect... So Brittney.."

Brittney: "Yeah, I know. I'll share."

Well dang gurl friend, at least let me ask first!

Brittney: "It's written all over your face. I encourage you to never play poker."

Me: "Ha. Ha. Ha."

Brittney: "Well have a seat."

Me: "In the one chair? I don't feel comfortable making you talk while I'm the only one sitting down."

She just raised her eyebrows at me. Okay fine.

Brittney: "Thank you.. Sir."

Oh. Oh! Heh, I might have had a smirk on my face as I patted my leg while she sauntered over and casually just straddled my one leg.

Brittney: "So you really want to know?"

Me: "As someone who cares. Yes. Just what happened?"

She sighed before taking a swig of her water. Geez, make me wonder if that's liquid courage you got there.

Brittney: "Alright then. Well you remember when I left, I was with the guy who was talking to my mom? He was my mother's boyfriend. Turns out he and her were having a fling together behind my dad's back when she told him about me. That's how he 'found' me."

Okay, here come the cliches again.. I can already feel it coming.

Brittney: "For the three years I was singing in church, he was always there. I had never noticed at first but he was. He told Mom that he could get me signed. That we should leave with him and be a new family. That mother fucker was conning my mother for everything!"

Ah crap. Yep. Cliches.. I wonder if she knows where he went.

Brittney: "So I left with them thinking I was going to be signing with a small time music corp. I was fine with that. But no, he tried to have me *aped by his friends! The damn building was just a front to lure in girls and make them have sex with them to 'get the contract'!"

Did I mention I was clenching my fists? Well I was.. Just hearing this is making me sick.

Brittney: "I didn't want to, but my Mom just said to get it over with? You have to make sacrifices to get anywhere in life. Can you believe that? My own mother! She watched me get pulled in another room and ignored me. I cried, Ron. I begged. But no. They got what they wanted Ronald."

I was stroking her back when she laid her head on my shoulder. Even if my shirt was getting soaked I didn't pull her back.

Brittney: "A week Ron. A whole week I was trapped and wanted to escape. I did try too. I even called my dad and begged him to come and get me. Wanna know how that turned out? Turns out my dear mommy left a letter mentioning her affair and that I was aware of everything. She even said she didn't know if he was the real father of me. He yelled that at me over the payphone before hanging up on me. So what was I to do? I ran. I hitched rides. I offered favors for a room to sleep... I did that for a year before I got here."

I don't know when but I had started rocking her while she spilled everything to me. I don't think I even touched my water...

Brittney: "It wasn't hard finding work. A man at a kiosk found me at the train station. He showed me how to get here, to mention him to Mrs. Henderson when I asked for a room, and then one of girls down a hall told me about the club. And that's what I've been doing."

I just held her.

There wasn't really anything I could say. I mean really, what can you say?! I just had distant and apathetic parents.. That were excessively neglectful.

I noticed she had fallen asleep while I was listening to the sound of her breathing.

I cupped my hands under her and lifted her gently to her bedroom. I had a hard time prying her arms off from my torso, but I succeeded! I patted her head and went in search of a payphone.. Of course I remembered to take her apartment keys with me when I locked it behind me. Safety is important after all!

i had to take a short fifteen minute walk to find a payphone. The only problem was I didn't have any change on me... Ugh, if my parents were not cheap I would have a cell phone! But alas... Jewish.

But hats off to awesome people. When I had my head titled back in frustration, I saw a note at the top of the booth. So being the nosy guy that I am... I grabbed it. What was written had me laughing.

[To anyone who needs help. Here's the the change. Make sure you pull the string just right after you hear the quarter slide down. Put note and quarter back when done.]

Geezum. I don't even know if this counts as a cliche but I'll take it.

I pulled my wallet out and grabbed an old note I saved.. Even if I swore that I wished we never met. I knew that saving it would come in handy.

Gruff Male: "This is Borris."

Me: "I'm calling for Mrs. Zheglov."

Borris: "Mrs. Zheglov is not accepting any-"

Me: " This is Ronald Stoppable."

Sorry for cutting you off big guy. I'm assuming you are. You sound like you are.

Borris: "...Please hold."

...

...

Mrs. Z: "Oh my, Ronald. It's been so long and you only now call? You know it's impolite to keep a lady waiting, don't you?"

Me: "I wish to claim a favor from you..'

Mrs. Z: "My, my, my. The dear little hero is calling for a favor. What would your friend say if she knew what I was, I wonder."

Me: "I'm a sidekick. Not a hero. So I don't need to follow those rules."

Mrs. Z: "..... Talk to me Ronald. If I like what I hear. Maybe I will help."

Even if it wasn't my story to share.. I shared it.

Mrs. Z: "So this affair. You don't mind if I handle it myself do you? As well as this organization. What do you expect me to do?"

Me: "Do what you want. I never had a hand in this."

She laughed. Oh dear goddess she laughed.

Mrs. Z: "Whatever I want you say? Then I shall.. I hope you keep a close eye on the news, my dear Ronald. You will be most pleased."

She hanged up on me. Huh, guess she wants to get a headstart... Well, not my problem. But time for some more calls. It's great to cash in some favors when you save people. At least the people I'm calling remember my name and that me and Kim both saved them.

I may be abusing this.. But I'm technically helping someone.. And I'm only the sidekick. Not a hero.. So who cares how I get things done.