Wow this story has been a long time in the making! Major life events, writers block, broken laptop, new laptop, repeatedly sending new (and faulty) laptop away to be fixed! Having no internet, not to mention general life getting in the way, the list goes on! I'm so pleased to finally be posting it, and hope you all enjoy it. As a warning this story does contain adult terms, such as prostitution, however I am never explicit (so while I do NOT describe the sexual side, reference will be made from time to time). Please just bear this in mind before you start reading! Some of the chapters have turned out rather short, I just wanted to let you know as a pre-warning! It is, however, a long story!

Lady of the Evening

Chapter 1: War Paint

May 2015

Twenty-three-year-old Ashley Spinelli stood in front of her full-length mirror as she applied her crimson red lipstick, the final touch to her heavy makeup. This was her mask; the war paint she donned every night. Spinelli almost considered it armour. She examined herself in the mirror, evaluating uniform: knee high boots, fish net stockings, an obscenely short shirt, and a tight low cut top, that showed off her vast amount of cleavage. Her look was complete: the required look, a look that hid the young feisty girl that was buried deep inside. The look that had masked the real her, the girl that she had yet to realise she'd forgotten. She was ready to leave for another night on the cold street, working as a prostitute. This was normal for Spinelli now, her daily routine; back when she was at Third Street, she never would have pictured this for herself. Who would? What girl thinks 'when I grow up, I'm going to be a hooker?' Not many, that's for sure; but here she was, twenty-three years old and this was her life now.

"Hey Kel? Are you ready?" called Spinelli, leaving her bedroom, and waiting for her best friend, flat mate, and fellow prostitute, Kelly to respond.

"Just a moment chick" called Kelly, "just gotta shave my pits and bits"

Spinelli chuckled and made her way into the lounge, turning on the TV and putting her feet up on the coffee table. She and Kelly had only been friends for about two and a half years, but they got on well, neither particularly girly, both having slightly crude senses of humour.

"...and the LA Lakers continue their winning streak again thanks to LaSalle, who just seems unbeatable-" Spinelli quickly turned over from the sports news that had been on, not really caring to hear about the success of her former school friend. It was just a hint of the harsh reality check she didn't care to face.

"Right, let's make some punters happy, shall we?" asked Kelly, walking into the room, her platinum blonde hair, sleek as ever. She smiled as Spinelli turned to her "I swear your make up is getting heavier"

"That's how I want it. With my war paint I'm Bambi, every man's dream; without it, I'm Spinelli" said Spinelli, linking her arm through Kelly's.

"Yeah, yeah, I know" nodded Kelly, as they headed out to their hall. She nudged Spinelli gently and indicated their older neighbour was stood watching them through the crack of her door. This was a usual occurrence, almost every night, she would stand and glare at the two girls with disapproving eyes.

"Oh Mrs Robinson, are you sure you don't want to join us tonight?" asked Spinelli with a giggle "You know you want too, it must have been ages since you've had any action, and you already have the perfect name! We can find you some nice young boys"

"Vulgar!" snapped Mrs Robinson, slamming her door. The two friends knew she remained the other side, watching them through the peep hole in her door. Despite disapproving, she seemed unable repress her nosy side.

"Oh come on!" said Kelly loudly walking up to her door "You don't want to be drying up down there! The Sahara Desert comes to mind!"

The two girls squealed with laughter, and ran away. At first, Spinelli had disapproved on the negative treatment of their elderly neighbour, but she soon learned Mrs Robinson gave as good as she got. Usually she'd make a point to bash loudly on their door at the crack of dawn, shortly after they'd gotten to sleep from a night of work, screaming all the insults she could think of.

Ten minutes later, and the two girls were at their usual spot of business, stood by the edge of the road, trying to look appealing as they waited for perspective punters to pull up their cars. It wasn't long before a car pulled up in front of Spinelli, she waited for the driver to wind down his window, and she bent over, leaning into the car slightly.

"Hey sugar, what can I do for you? You lookin' for a good time?"

"How long will $20 get me?"

"$20 won't get you nothin' hunny. You're looking at quality here" replied Spinelli "$75 for a-"

"Ah come on, why don't you give me a discount?"

"Sorry, babe, I only give discount to my regulars. If you want bargain basement you've gotta check out the girls on Fifth Avenue"

"Fine. You're all trash, sex is sex" he replied before flicking her cigarette end at Spinelli, and speeding off.

"Time waster" muttered Kelly rolling her eyes "The girls on Fifth are welcome to him!"

Seven hours, and a combined $750 later, the girls headed back to their apartment, each ready for a long shower, some food, and a good sleep. With tomorrow being the first Saturday of the month, they'd head to the sexual health clinic like they did every month, to get themselves checked out. They'd agreed a set day each month, to make it a habit, and easier to keep up with. This was something both the girls agreed on: being safe, being clean. The clinic was on the costly side, but aside from the free clinic, which regularly broke out in bitch fights, and left the girls waiting for hours on end to be seen, it was the best option open to them. They got treated with respect, offered a drink as they waited, and could buy discounted condoms, in order to continue working safely. Following visiting the clinic they would then spend a few hours relaxing, before getting ready to repeat everything again that night.

"Not a bad night tonight, it seemed to pick up after the slow start. Let's hope to make a killing tomorrow night, I could do with a night off" said Spinelli, counting her share of money, and tucking it away safely in her bra.

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Well that was Chapter one! I really hope you liked it! If so, please review, it would make my day! If not, and you can offer me some constructive criticism, please do! I will just ask for "no flames" please? I am dyslexic, and have worked hard to make sure this is perfect, but if you see any, please highlight any spelling/grammar errors that I've missed in proof reading, please highlight them, so I can correct!

I will update as soon as possible, but can't update every day.

Big Cliffy Meanie