The Toy Maker
It's My Pity Party,

I've never been one to listen to gossip, ever since Hannah Kent told our entire second-grade class that I still wet the bed I learned quickly that people constantly lie their asses off. Whether their motive is fueled by anger, jealousy, or plain bitchiness, come hell or high water someone's pants would burst into flames.

It was a concept I could never let go of so when I got back from my rendezvous with Ethan I had no idea what to believe in.

"Tara," Kitty snapped me back to reality. Her light pink hair was pulled into a messy ponytail and a Queenwood University t-shirt swallowed her figure. "I've been waiting for you."

Her tone set alarm bells off in my head; The usual chipper southern accent seemed cold and distant. I approached the table where she was signing papers and waited for her to address me. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, she looked up at me, "Your shift started half an hour ago.'

I glanced around for the hidden cameras. Her sudden reprimanding was far from typical, "I'm sorry I jus-"

"Did I ask where you were?" Kitty snapped. I pulled away from the desk and tried not to wear my heart on my sleeve.

"Is this because I left you guys last night?"

"No, it's because you're late."

I shook my head in disbelief, "Sarah was two hours late last week and it didn't bother you then."

"Sarah had her reasons."

"Well then so do I."

Kitty scoffed, "Whatever. Just don't let it happen again."

"Kitty I-"

"Just go change. Rehearsals start in ten."

As I walked back to the dressing rooms I remembered why I never had female friends growing up. I debated the possibility of a toxic poison seeping into Jason, Kitty, and Ethan's brains but with no evidence, I couldn't come to a conclusion. I grabbed the skanky sorority girl outfit off my vanity and got dressed for the big number. The other cherries bustled around me as I painted my face until I was practically a different person.

"Carried away much?" Jade laughed at my glimmering cheekbones and ruby red lipstick.

"The assignment was to look like a slutty bimbo, right?"

"I resent that," Sarah smacked my ass out of nowhere, "We weren't all bimbos."

"Notice how she doesn't deny being a slut." Jade said while lining her eyes diligently.

"Fuck off," Sarah giggled. While everyone else had taken monstrous liberties with their makeup she was barely wearing any. Her cheeks were lightly blushed and dotted with light freckles; short pigtails dangled just above her shoulders. I took one last glance in the mirror. The girl in front of me was barely covered in all the most flattering places.

My ass was on display by the checkered mini-skirt and the cardigan was buttoned once beneath my breasts. They threatened to spill out of the see-through bra with every move but I figured that was part of the appeal.

"So what's it going to take for you to tell us about your surprise date?" Jade directed the conversation to the one aspect I had been avoiding.

"I hate surprises." I didn't mean for my voice to sound as grumpy as it did.

Jade rolled her eyes, "Well I think they're sexy."

"Oh please,” Sarah said, "You just think he's a fine piece of ass."

"Can you blame me?"

Sarah laughed, "One thing is certain though if a handsome millionaire came to see me I would be down on one knee."

"More like two." Jade winked at Sarah's reddening face and blew a kiss her way.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Who are we talking about?" There was no mention of him ever being a millionaire in my book.

"Ethan." They both answered together before a jinx battle began. Once I got their attention back I asked them what they meant by him being a millionaire.

"He is the CEO of his own company. Real stiff-neck career type but he makes a bundle," Sarah explained, "Didn't you already know that?"

I shook my head and tried to come up with a defense to why I never asked what he did for a living. My lack of curiosity could stem from my indulgence in all things Jason.

"Girl, he tipped you two hundred dollars on the first night you met." Jade said.

She was right and suddenly I felt foolish. How much can I trust a man that I knew nothing about? Then again, Jason was his own personal mystery as well.

My thoughts were cut short when Kitty came into the room with guns blazing. By the look on Jade and Sarah's faces, this had happened before, and it wasn't pretty.

She began barking orders and commanding Cherries to get their butts on stage. I could have sworn she was a drill sergeant in another life.

"-And you three," She pointed her sharpened finger at us, "You're leading today so be ready."

She marched out of the room and the door followed behind her.

"Don't let the door hit you where mother nature split you." Jade joked when she thought it was clear.

Kitty's voiced echoed from the other room, "I heard that, bitch!"

"What's up with her?" I kept my voice low, the last thing I needed was to be on her hit list.

"She's just in a mood," Jade shrugged, "It'll pass once she works it off." I prayed she was right otherwise I was in for it.

After we reported to the stage like good slutty soldiers, Kitty seemed to be more relaxed. That was until Jason decided to watch the show.

"What do you want?" Kitty snarled at Jason's presence.

"I want to see the progress of the main event." He explained without a hitch; This man was much different than the one I had seen just a little while earlier.

"Don't you have some dildos to make?" Her words were enough to catch all the Cherries attention and make our eyes grow wide with astonishment.

He chuckled, "Don't you have a dick to choke on?"

Kitty set her jaw in a deliberate attempt not to lunge at him before turning back to us and starting the number.

Several times during the risqué dance I found my gaze wandering over to where Jason stood. It seemed that whenever I would he was always fascinated with a girl in the other direction. Until I had the first of many wardrobe malfunctions.

"Tara, please try to keep your tits in your bra until after the show?" Kitty's order sent giggles rippling through the crowd and I felt heat rush to my cheeks.

"I like it," Jason said, "It gives the show what it's been lacking."

"And what exactly is it lacking?" Kitty challenged him.

His eyes met mine, "Excitement."

There was no way to respond to Jason's sudden passion for our performance or an explanation for what Kitty said next.

"Then you get up here and dance with us."

My heart was in my throat as I watched him consider the offer and then strut onto the stage.

Kitty tried to give him the rundown of the steps but he cut her off, "I got this."

My mind raced as the intro to the music started, Jason had taken a place next to a red haired, long-legged goddess.

The song progressed and I tried to focus on anything but the steamy dance number in front of me. Within a few moments, Jason pulled the ginger queen from the group and started his very own performance.

I swallowed my feelings for what seemed like the billionth time in my sad little life. My eyes followed every fluid movement of his muscles as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

He pulled her into his chest and my heart nearly burst inside of mine. To see red is a dangerous thing, to feel your blood boiling inside your veins is worse.

I felt my brain combust and for a moment there was nothing, nothing but him. She wrapped her leg around his waist and moaned as he kissed her neck.

The seconds ticked by in slow motion. I told myself to look away but my eyes were glued to the scene of the crime. It was then that I realized that everyone had stopped to witness Jason in action.

His lips cascaded down her teardrop shaped breast and time stood still. Somehow they had ended up on the floor with Jason pinning her arms to the ground.

I heard Jade's voice next to me but everything sounded like I was underwater.

Then Jason kissed her--hard. What happened after that I couldn't say. I stopped watching his blatant act of revenge and squeeze my eyes shut.

I didn't know how much time had passed before Jade snapped me out of it, "Dude are you humming show tunes?"

I opened my eyes to see her curiously staring back at me. I looked past her and saw the girl gathering herself off the floor but Jason was nowhere to be found. "Earth to Tara?"

I couldn't tell her about my childish coping mechanism of watching cartoons. So I did something I would eventually have to put on my resume if I got any better at it, "No."

She raised her eyebrow and I knew she didn't buy it. Lucky for me she had something else on her mind.

"Can you believe what just happened?" I couldn't.

"Anyone else need to go change?" Sarah chimed in as the other Cherries gossiped.

"There was just too much chemistry there for them not to be doing it." The Cherry beside me stated.

Her friend agreed, "I've heard that he always chooses one of us to fuck. It's tradition."

I tortured myself as the girls proclaimed how lucky she was to be chosen and how they would give anything to be his toy. Finally, the truth was clear and unrelentingly cruel.

Jason never wanted to be with me, he just wanted to use me. Before I could rush off stage I made eye contact with Kitty. She was the only other Cherry that wasn't fawning over the devil.

Her expression softened as she weaved through the crowd and pulled me into her embrace. I fought back the urge to cry while she wrapped her arms around me; Was I that obvious? She let go and stared at me for a moment before giving me a light smile and squeezing my hand.

"You should go home early today."

"What's wrong?" Sarah must have noticed Kitty's sudden affection. I opened my mouth to answer but Kitty cut me off.

"She isn't feeling well and I think it's best if she rests." The girls seemed to be satisfied with that excuse and sent me on my way with a few pats on the back and a bottle of whiskey, courtesy of Jade.