In Dire Straits

>Another day, another afternoon spent trying to get money.
>The strumming on the ill-maintained guitar wasn't drawing in the crowds like it used to.
>A few months back, Luna's strumming and Sam's vocals were easily able to get them a place to stay for a few days.
>People loved them.
>But no run of good luck lasts forever.
>And when it crashed, it crashed hard.
>As hard as it was to believe for the two teenagers, one simple mugging was all it took to break their idyllic life.
>Neither was willing to die over some money, so they simply let it happen.
>The problem then was they had no more nest egg.
>Sure, they could make more, but it got harder and harder as winter came.
>Less people showed up to give them money, but the funding needs didn't go down.
>What was once a summer of fun after running away from home, soon turned to a harsh struggle to survive as they had no backup cash.
>After losing out on their regular hygiene, Luna and Sam were no longer as appealing.
>Sure, they still sounded great, but that only went so far.
>Though it was hard for Luna to acknowledge, her looks played a big part in her marketability.
>When that couldn't be kept up, they began to lose more and more money.
>Eventually, they had to make a choice between eating and maintaining their equipment.
>Food won out in the end, but their choice led to them having even less earning power.
>They were lucky to make $10 in a day when they once made $600 every week.
>Strain was put on their bodies, their minds, and their hearts.
>What was once an adventure they agreed to make work together after leaving their less-than-supportive families behind turned into a train wreck.
>Debates on food, whose fault it was for not looking after their stuff and Luna's angry outbursts were threatening to tear them apart.
>But that wasn't going to happen.
>They had only come this far together.
>Leaving their partnership would mean death alone in the cold or at the hands of a junkie having a bad day.
>They both knew it.

>Looking at the watch on her wrist, Luna could tell there wasn't much hope for anyone to come today.
>The snow on the sidewalk and the chill in the air were a big part of that.
>A roar of hunger came from Sam's stomach, her keeling over in response.
>Luna herself wasn't doing so great.
>If it wasn't for the fact that she was willing to eat that dropped bagel a few days ago, she probably would be passed out.
>Luna resigned herself to going hungry for another day, and proceeded to put away her guitar.
>As she went to go pick up Sam from the ground, she bumped into a man in a suit.
>Feeling embarrassed and not wanting to get into any violent situation like she has before, she meekly nodded her head and apologized.
>Even her voice was weak.
>As she was going to walk around him, he held out his arm and stopped her cold.
>She started to tremble.
>Luna didn't have the strength to defend herself from a toddler, let alone a man who towered over her.
>”Hold on there, you and your friend don't look so good.”
>Shocked, Luna looked to the man and saw some genuine concern on his face.
>”You two seem like you could use a nice hot meal.”
>Luna couldn't believe what she had just heard.
>Was...was the man actually going to buy them food?
>Warm food, from an actual restaurant?
>He quickly went over and picked up Sam like she was nothing.
>Which in all honesty wasn't too far from the truth.
>”Come on, I'll show you the best diner in town.”
>Like an obedient puppy, Luna followed behind the man.
>Prospects of delicious food and a respite from the cold were music to her nippy ears.
>Luna could barely believe her luck when she'd reached the end of their journey.
>An actual restaurant.
>Snake Jake's Grill and Bake.

>It smelled so nice that her stomach began to cry out for the food as she was about to hit the door.
>Then, she saw the sign had gone dark.
>Had he tricked her?
>Just carried them there to make them waste time, and crush their already broken spirits into dust?
>Luna then felt Sam hang on her left shoulder as the man walked up and opened the door.
>The worn out rocker used every bit of her remaining strength to push the two of them into the waiting warmth of the closed building.
>When she finally felt it, she had the incessant need to lie down and bask in it.
>It had been weeks since she had been so warm.
>But she had to continue on.
>The man was signaling for her to sit at the counter.
>She first helped Sam up to the seat, who soon got hold of herself once more.
>Luna also set down her guitar from off of her back and onto the ground.
>The man then slammed down on a bell and took off his hat.
>”Gordy, you gotta get that sign fixed man. People are gonna start thinking you're outta business.”
>”I know, I know. You don't have to keep reminding me.”
>From out of the back, a bald man wearing a very stained smock who she assumes to be Gordy came out from the back.
>He gave her and Sam a look.
>Luna couldn't tell for sure but he looked possibly amused.
>”Picking up strays again, Mac?”
>”Don't call em strays, Gordy. They got names, you know.”
>The man who she knew now to be Mac looked over to the two starving musicians.
>”Speaking of that, I don't think I ever caught your names.”
>Not wanting to get on his bad side, Luna immediately slugged Sam in the leg and forced her to jump up, then holding her steady.
“My name is Luna, and this is Sam.”
>Sam meekly waved to the two men, not sure of what else to do.
>”Well, alright. Gordy, get Luna and Sam a couple of Snake Jakes, some of those thick flapjacks, biscuits to go and two cocoas for here.”
>Luna and Sam couldn't help but let their mouths drop.

>This complete stranger was going to give them a feast.
>Luna couldn't help but think about what he just said about it to go.
“Did you just say to go?”
>”Well, yeah. You can eat in the hotel room.”
>”Hotel?”
>Sam looked about ready to cry, wondering what stroke of luck had befallen the two of them.
>Luna skipped the ready part and just started crying.
>Out of her sniffling mouth fell every bit of thankfulness she could find the words for.
>Mac simply smiled back at her.
>”It's the least I could do.”
>Mac handed them both handkerchiefs from his large coat and they let their tears be soaked up into them.
>Before long, their hot chocolates were in front of them.
>It didn't matter that it burned, they both chugged down the scalding chocolate.
>The taste burned so good.
>Luna loved hearing the sounds of the whipped cream being slurped out of the mug.
>This had been a blissful experience for her and Sam.
>They both looked at each other with a smile for the first time in a long time.
>However, her attention shifted to Mac as he was exiting the diner and heading out to a very expensive looking car that Luna could only be his from how he opened it.
>Luna and Sam didn't know how to react.
>Is that what he was going to take them to that hotel in?
>Forget a nice warm bed and a shower, they were about to be thrown into the lap of luxury.
>Luna had never been quite at peace with God because she wasn't exactly following all the rules, but that's all that she could think to explain how fortunate they had been.

>Sam turned to Luna and placed her hand on the bare shoulder belonging to the dumbstruck girl.
>”Luna, is this real?”
>There was no immediate answer.
>For all she knew, the two of them could be having a complete breakdown from hunger induced hallucinations and dying at that very moment.
>Not that she wanted that to be the case.
>In that moment, Luna chose to believe the turn of events was simply good fortune that they had stumbled upon in their hour of crisis.
>Putting her arms out, she dragged her girlfriend into a clumsy hug.
>Luna simply held on tightly to her as Sam returned the hug in kind.
“We're gonna be okay, Sam. We're going to be okay.”
>For the first time in a long time, Luna and Sam felt genuine joy.
>Happiness in the other's embrace.
>Something that they had all but forgotten with the dark times the winter had brought to them.
>But it seemed like this would be their Christmas miracle this year.
>Even thought it wasn't exactly Christmas.
>As they finished hugging out their emotional reconciliation, the sound of the door opening again brought the two back to Earth.
>In the doorway stood Mac holding a couple of blankets.
>They weren't very thick, but they had been the first bit of appropriate winter gear the pair had seen in a while.
>Luna quite soon found herself in possession of one of them.
>It had been draped neatly around her shoulders, the same as Sam.
>The warmth within the fabric had burrowed straight down to her bones, leaving no room for the chill to have left in her body.
>Sam adored the impromptu gift as well.
>As they were so lost in the small gesture that meant more than it probably should have, neither was aware that their order had been made and left in a large bag full of to-go boxes.

>When it came time for them to actually leave, they had been shocked that time passed them by so quickly.
>Holding closer to each other, Luna and Sam barely felt the cold as they were ushered with their belongings to the proverbial chariot awaiting them.
>Before they knew it, the two were stowed away within the vehicle.
>Which looked like something right out of a commercial for one of those fancy cars that her family had no chance in hell of ever being able to afford.
>Luna had only been in a car that fancy for more than a few seconds once.
>Fine leather seats, soft music with crystal clear fidelity, all in a vehicle that felt like a portable heater.
>”Comfy?”
>The two runaways both frantically nodded as they basked in the grandeur before them.
>”Glad to hear it. Remember to buckle up.”
>Without another word, they did as they were told.
>Both belts buckled, Luna and Sam sank into the heated seats and fell next to each other.
>Enjoying every bit of the comfort that the luxury car provided, it didn't take long for the relaxation of the pair from progressing.
>Slowly, Luna began to lose the ability to keep her eyelids open.
>As scenery went by in the window, it took away a bit of her wakefulness every passing moment.
>Beside her, Sam had long since given into the influence of the sandman's siren call.
>Having seen her become so peaceful, Luna couldn't help but want to follow in her footsteps.
>Reality itself seemed to conspire against her staying alert and awake.
>It wasn't long before Luna fell to the point where her eyelids would no longer open.
>From there, silence followed as sleep finally took her.

>The click of a door opening shattered her blissful dreaming in a second.
>Luna came awake with a start, cauing Sam to do the same.
>Yet nothing had happened.
>It was simply Mac there to greet them with his friendly face.
>”Hard to believe you both slept the entire way here.”
>Looking around, Luna took in the surroundings of her environment.
>They were far removed from the concrete jungle they had settled into.
>Even though Luna had no idea where she was at that moment she was more than happy to be away from the junkies, urban youths who kept throwing rocks at her and Sam, and the cold.
>Though she came to a stop as she looked at the building before her.
>It was so big.
>Like one of those log cabins that you would see at a mountain retreat, but judging from the little bit she could see in the window was far more expensive.
>That was where he was going to put them up?
>Luna couldn't believe her eyes.
>Not wanting to go another moment without a proper bed, Luna unfastened the belts around her and Sam's waists and made for their luggage.
>Mac led the way after that, and ushered the two into a sight that blew them away.
>Had it not been for the fact that they went through this earlier, Luna would have assumed she had died and gone to vagabond heaven.
>The girls began to slowly lose sight of Mac though, and had to rush quite quickly to get back near him as he made his way to what they believed was the front desk.
>By the time they caught up to him, he already had a key in his hand.
>Mac made sure they were alright before finally continuing onward.
>After going down a few hallways, Luna and Sam finally made it to the place where they would be staying that night.
>Inside it looked like everything she imagined it would.
>Luna and Sam dropped the bags they held and wandered about like two kids in a candy store.
>It was truly their paradise.

>”Sorry it's not much. Was rather short notice so I couldn't pick out a better room for you two.”
>Luna quickly turned to Mac and took to shaking her head.
“No, dude! It's totally fine!”
>”If you say so. Anyways, I'm gonna go take care of something back at my suite, so I'll let you girls get accustomed to the room.”
>Mac waved the two of them a quick goodbye before shutting the door.
>Finally, Luna and Sam were completely alone.
>Sam ventured forth onto the bed, enjoying the softness that her body sunk into.
>Luna could feel the desire to follow her lead tug at her mind.
>It looked a lot more comfortable than a pile of tarp and newspapers.
>A lot cleaner as well.
>That was also the problem.
>Luna knew she and Sam were gonna sleep there.
>What sense did it make to dirty it up with her messy clothes?
>Or Sam's?
>With how weak she was, Sam would probably fall asleep fast without any notice.
>Luna moved a little closer to Sam and gently nudged the peaceful girl out of her happy place.
>Sam looked to Luna, wondering why she'd been so unjustly disturbed.
“Hey, since we're going to probably be waiting a while for our hero to come back, what do you say we head down to the waterline and get clean?”
>Luna punctuated her last statement with a wink to Sam before turning away from her to head to the bathroom.
>She heard the footfall of her blonde lover appear behind her quickly.
>As Luna reached for the door knob, Sam's hand also found its way there.
>How warm her hand felt next to the cold glass.
>Luna turned and smiled to Sam as she proceeded to turn the knob, enjoying the sensation of Sam's warm touch returning once more.
>The two of them pushing through the doorway and into the bathroom, they found themselves in a place fancier than the rest of their room.
>Everything was pristine.
>Except Luna and Sam.

>That was evidenced by the giant mirror staring them in the face as they stood in the room.
>Glancing down to her feet, Luna saw just how filthy everything on her had become.
>She never paid it much mind outside, because there wasn't anything she could do.
>But now she felt ashamed for getting this bad.
>Ending up this way made her feel just how far she had failed Sam and herself by letting the situation spiral so far down.
>If it weren't for the kindness Mac was showing them, they'd still be on the streets and in the cold.
>”Luna, is everything alright?”
>Turning to Sam, Luna could see the worry on her face.
>It seemed so foreign.
>Yet thinking back, she'd gotten a lot of looks from her with that same feeling.
>How did she forget that look?
>Were they so broken down that she'd forgotten everything good they once shared?
>Feeling a small tear come on, Luna feigned rubbing her eyes as she broke out into a yawn.
“No worries, babe. I'm just a little tired and a lot dirty. I'll feel better once we're all cleaned up.”
>Luna's words put Sam at ease as she smiled again.
>Not wanting to worry Sam and further, Luna began to undress.
>Undoing the belt she had finally begun using for it's proper purpose, her skirt slid right off of her hips.
>She paused for a moment before she removed her shirt as well, exposing her nipples to the air.
>Luna quickly glanced at her frame as she let the shirt fall to the tiles below.
>She'd never been the curviest girl, but she'd at least had enough to keep it from falling from her.
>And she'd never seen her ribs before so prominent.
>Only when she sucked everything in to fit into her leather pants.
>It spoke volumes about just how badly she'd starved.
>Looking over to her partner, she realized just how worse Sam had it.

>She wasn't like Luna.
>She wouldn't stoop to eating scraps of food like it was natural.
>Which is why she was nothing but skin and bones, barely able to stand some days.
>As she removed her small bra, Luna took a step forward and caught Sam off-guard with a hug.
“It's been a while since we've been like this, huh?”
>Luna quickly hooked her thumbs under Sam's panties and watched them slink to the ground.
“I missed this so much.”
>Sam blushed profusely as Luna gave her a peck on the cheek.
>Not wanting to be the only one nude, Sam returned fire with her own kiss and slipped off Luna's panties as well.
>With them both down to their birthday suits, the two slipped into the shower and turned it on.
>The warmth was quick to overtake them.
>And to strip the grime from them.
>Venturing to the complimentary bodywash the hotel provided, Luna took a sizable glob and began sudsing herself up.
>It wasn't long before Sam did the same.
>Luna could smell the gentle scent of lavender and vanilla rather than the likely awful smell she'd been blinded to after being with it for months.
>As Luna began to rinse herself off, a hand on her stomach made her take pause.
>Sam clung close to her as she craned her neck and set her cheek upon Luna's.
>They stood together in silent contentment as the rest of the world washed away under the sound of the shower.
>It was a long while before Luna and Sam disentangled and turned the water off.
>Neither of them wanted to stop the tender embrace that they found themselves in after so long in the harshness of the outside and the struggles they faced in their runaway life.

>But stop they eventually did.
>As they stepped out, they found the towels and bathrobes provided were very comfortable.
>Theft briefly ran across Luna's mind as a viable thing to do with something that soft and warm.
>Yet she tossed it aside.
>That wasn't who she was.
>No matter how much she liked to skirt the rules, she was raised better than to steal.
>Even something as petty as that.
>Luna and Sam, after drying off completely, looked at themselves and actually saw a couple of decent looking young girls.
>No more grime.
>A pleasant smell.
>Even a couple of smiles.
>How warm she felt inside from it.
>Just outside of the door, Luna could hear the sounds of someone entering the room.
>Mac was back.
>They really did take their time in there if that was the case.
>Not wanting to keep the man who saved them from another night starving in the cold waiting, Luna stepped out of the bathroom to see him standing there holding onto the bag with their food.
>Luna had completely forgotten that.
>How nice he was.
>”Had a nice shower, I take it?”
“Like you wouldn't believe, dude. Everything is so nice here.”
>”Glad to hear you're enjoying it.”
>”I know we've already done it so much, but thank you so much.”
>”Please, think nothing of it. It pains me to see such lovely little ladies out on the street. Especially in this sort of weather.”
>Setting down the bag, Mac sat down in a nearby chair and clasped his hands together into his lap.
>”That said, I want to ask you a question.”
>A question?
>Luna quickly nodded in approval.
>It was the least that she could do after everything else he'd done for them.
“Sure. What's cloggin' your noggin, bro?”
>”I was just wondering if you two would like to stay here for the whole winter.”

>”You mean, stay in this room for two whole months? With actual food and water?”
>”Unless you'd be interested in a better room, of course. And with plenty of actual food for you poor girls.”
>With the immediate promise of her needs being fulfilled, Sam had fully given up thinking rationally.
>She was ready and willing to accept her savior's proposal.
>However, even as emaciated and beaten down as she was, Luna still kept her wits about her.
>Impending frostbite and starvation had blinded her for a bit, but Luna could feel there was something not right in the back of her mind.
>Maybe a night or two here wouldn't be so bad, but for that long?
>That much money being spent on the two of them?
>While it might not be the sort of gratitude she should be showing Mac in light of all he had done, she had to step back and be realistic, if only for a moment.
“What's the catch?”
>Sam's attention switched back to her lover, with a look of confusion.
>She couldn't believe what she had just heard.
>Luna knew that Sam thought her reply was beyond rude, questioning the charity of the first person to show them kindness in weeks.
>”I didn't quite expect to talk about it this soon, but there is indeed something I need from you.”
>Hearing Mac's words sent a jolt down Luna's spine and into her stomach.
>She was right.
>Desperately she wished she wasn't, and that Sam and her could have had a slice of fantasy to break their harsh reality.
>Mac leaned himself against the back of the chair, staring directly at the two girls.
>”First, let me say that you are free to say no to what I am about to tell you, however I will ask that you strongly consider what I am about to say. I'm more than willing to pay for your lodging so long as you are willing to make yourselves sexually available in return.”

>Luna's jaw nearly dropped at the revelation.
>She felt sick.
>Was all the kindness that they were shown just a front to lure them into becoming prostitutes?
>Did they really just walk into the hands of a pimp?
>”Now, I know you don't probably like hearing this, but I am quite serious. After seeing you two beautiful girls, I knew you'd be perfect for the job. I've been doing this for a long time.”
>Luna looked over to Sam, seeing what her girlfriend had to think about their situation.
>Betrayal was probably the right word for it.
>Sam had been so willing to play along that it hit her so much harder than it had Luna.
>”I won't make you say yes, however. If you say no right now, you'll be free to stay for the time I've rented out the room and be on your way after.”
>A scrap of pride came up in Luna's chest.
>Even if she had her dreams derailed, she knew she didn't have to stoop that low.
>She'd tell him no, and she and Sam would leave as if nothing ever happened.
>”We'll stay.”
>Luna's heart skipped a beat in shock at hearing Sam's words.
>Turning her head to face Sam, Luna wasn't sure what to say.
>Or what to do.
>Sam couldn't bring herself to look at Luna.
>There was no way she didn't notice how Luna had turned her attention.
>”If we do what you asked, we'll be able to stay, right?”
“Sam, are you for real right now?”
>”...It's so cold out there, Luna. This is the first time I've felt clean and warm in so long. I don't even remember how long it's been.”
>Softly, Sam's fingers held onto Luna's hand.
>They shook as Sam tried to keep her grip true.
>It hurt Luna to know that Sam was this desperate.
>She was so ready to give in to selling herself for food and shelter.
>All because she was too afraid to head back outside.
>Luna understood.
>Given how bad it had been for so long, Sam could hardly be blamed.

>Even thinking about it herself, Sam was probably making the right choice.
>All their time trying to make it out there by themselves was a nightmare.
>And here she was about to let it go.
>Let Sam go.
>It was clear enough now that even if she left, Sam wouldn't follow.
>She didn't have the courage to try.
>Luna would be alone.
>That more than anything else had frightened her.
>There was only one option left to Luna.
>Give in.
>She couldn't say it.
>What little self-worth she still had saw to that.
>”What is happening? Are you both going to stay?”
>”...Yes.”
>Luna left the speaking to Sam.
>It felt odd after being the one to speak for them both for so long.
>”Then I hope you don't mind if I make sure both of you are actually committed.”
>The conclusion of what was going to come was obvious to Luna and Sam.
>After having just put on their robes, they were going to discard them.
>Together, they took their spot on the nearby bed.
>Luna's breath caught in her throat, her body rebelling against her as she walked towards the edge with Sam.
>Mac's clothes were shed not long after, joining them on their bed quickly.
>Luna's eyes shut as she heard sounds she hadn't heard from Sam for such a long time.
>Her hand closed on Sam, threatening to break her fragile bones.
>This didn't stop her from feeling the sensations around her.
>The shift in weight, the shadow Sam was casting over her with her bony frame, and the intensified trembling that had come from her.
>Even the kiss that had hit Luna's lips.
>It brought no warmth.
>Sam's lips felt like ice.
>Her tears, like rain.
>Luna thought for a moment how she slipped into sounding like Lucy.
>The dreary poet would have loved hearing that.
>As she began to think about her family, Luna's tears began to mix with Sam's.
>She missed her home.
>She missed her life.
>She missed happiness.