Chapter Text
Chapter 1 : If I Had a Shot for Every Time
Catra figured that if she went from working at local town bars to more upscale night clubs that the number of creepy men that try hitting on her would decrease significantly. Wrong , the only difference is the amount of money in their wallets. The creepiness is still there but at least they tip better than the low life ever locals did. She hates it when they try to flirt with her, but there are perks to playing nice sometimes. Happy returning regulars mean steady tips.
“Hey hot stuff, let me get a neat bourbon.”
This guy is at least in his late 40’s, Catra can hear the grunge in his voice. Her back is turned but she can already feel he’s going to be a pain in her ass just from the way he breathes. It sounds heavy and labored like he’s just run a marathon, and she knows very well that isn’t the case.
It takes everything in her power not to gag at the pet name. If I had a shot for every time I heard that ugly pet name I’d never be able to sober up. Catra pushes down her natural reaction to want to throw up. She walks closer to the bar with her signature cheerful smile. It’s fake of course, but as long as he can’t tell she’s sure she’ll secure a good tip from him. He’s absolutely horrid in looks, and with that voice Catra would be surprised if anyone could love him for his personality. Being a rich snob was probably the only quality he had really going for himself, but not even that can save him. It’s pathetic honestly.
“One neat bourbon ?”
The rasp in her voice enamors more people than she’d like it to now that she’s working here.
“Yep.”
The man smirks as he eyes her up and down like a piece of meat. Biting down on her tongue she refrains from letting her facial expressions slip up. Breathe in and breathe out, remember why you’re here. All Catra has to do is make it night by night so she can pay for college. Nice bar tender equals nice tips. The words repeat in her head like a mantra. This isn’t forever. Soon you’ll be in a shop tattooing people and you won’t have to worry about creeps there. The words serve as a distraction from her actual task at hand.
“Coming right up.”
She’s sure to keep up that façade of a cheerful tone when she speaks.
There are two things that people find attractive about Catra : her voice, and then her eyes. Heterochromia is rare, yes, but damn to be starred in the eye every time she meets someone new is weird. She’s used to it, well actually she isn’t but she should be. People have been doing this same thing for as long as she can remember. She’s 23 and even now it's still weird to her that at no point does the other person look away.
I may have heterochromia, but it doesn’t make me heterosexual.
Catra has a lot of self-talk with herself. Just in her head of course, it would be a disaster if she slipped up and said something out loud. Losing a good paying job as a broke college student is definitely not the plan.
She continues to pour the man his requested drink in which she gets a wink that barely passes as a one because his other eye nearly shuts in the attempt to do so.
If I could, I would throw up on this bastard right now.
In the back of Catra’s mind she’s done the most dramatic gag; just like in those cartoons when they hear, see, taste, or look at something disgusting. Just like that; face turning a sickly green and just barfing up any food they thought they had eaten beforehand.
However, not everyone that comes into the club looks like rich snobs with their heads too far up their asses to see the sunshine.
No, occasionally, Catra gets to glance at someone who is considerably good looking. Like right now, when she looks away from the man thing in front of her she catches a glance of a blonde woman walking through the front door. She's tall, very pristine looking, and from the distance in which she sees her, she looks like she works out. An ultimate gold mine. Catra’s unable to look away from her, that is until she feels a light tap on the bar counter top.
Looking down she sees a crisp fifty dollar bill slide across the counter. Did I miss something ? Catra looks up from the money to the man who’s still grinning at her like all the creeps do.
“Oh, you know it’s more common to tip once you’ve paid your tab.”
Catra tries to smile and doesn’t touch the money quite yet.
“Oh, I know, take that one sweetheart.”
“Sir, you do not have to-”
“I’m not very good at taking no for an answer dear.”
“Well…”
She pauses for a moment dragging her eyes up from the money to the man. There is nothing more she wants than to insist he tips after but she knows it will only go downhill if she pushes. When in doubt going with the flow is always the best option.
“ I appreciate it.”
Catra smiles awkwardly as she slides the money into her pocket and walks away from the bar when another tender walks up.
Letting out a sigh she feels a heavy weight lift off her chest. There’s only so much of that she can take at once before she needs a smoke break. Going out back where no one really ever takes their smokes is great, because it helps her clear her mind. This time however, something compels her to go outside on the balcony where all of the customers usually smoke.
Catra isn’t fancy like the big muscular men that usually pass through; she doesn’t smoke those unusually fat cigars, but she doesn’t smoke cigarettes either. But alas she doesn’t want to risk her job so she’s brought a Swisher Sweet from a local gas station she lives near as her smoke for tonight.
“Need a light ?”
Catra hears a more feminine voice ask as she opens the two pack of swishers.
Turning to the entrance of the balcony her eyes lock with a pair of slated blue eyes. Oh great gods above she’s hot. Catra’s item of smoke slips from between her fingers, but this goddess has quick hands and catches it before it can hit the ground.
Get it together, Catra. She’s probably just like the rest of them; rich assholes.
“Thanks, but I have my own lighter.”
Catra takes the swisher from the woman's hand and flips a lighter from her pocket.
Click, click. The lighter fails to light as she rolls her thumb over it. Click, click, click. The lighter fails to light again. Click, click, click, click… Perhaps a rapid fire of trying to get the lighter to work will do the trick. Wrong.
“Damnit, I just bought this cheap thing the other day.”
Catra mumbles to herself, irritation rolling off her body as she holds the swisher between her lips smacking the body of the lighter in the palm of her hand hoping that moving the fluids around will get it to work .
Click, click, click, cli- fwoosh . Catra perks up at the sound of the lighter working, but the flame isn’t present in her lighter. Looking over Catra sees the flame in the hand of the blonde who caught her attention when she first entered the establishment.
“Sure you don’t want that light ?”
The woman smiles, it’s similar to the smile Catra gets from every customer when they don't have a thought behind their eyes, other than the fact that they like the way she looks. However, something about this woman’s smile is oddly different, it actually seems warm and not that of a facade.
“Uh…”
Do I really want to be bothered right now? She doesn’t really have much of a choice. Her lighter isn’t working and really can’t go back inside without a smoke or else she’s going to lose her damn mind.
“ Sure. Thanks.”
Catra’s voice cracks over the words and it forces her to clear her throat and try the sentence again.
“Sure. Thanks.”
That’s better . She can’t pin-point where the fluctuation in her voice came from, but she’ll just blame it on the fact that she didn’t expect all of this to be happening during her smoke break. Pushing the tip of the swisher in the flame Catra can hear the woman mutter something that she didn’t quite catch.
“I’m sorry ?”
Catra’s eyes widen a bit as she tries to hone in on what she said.
“ Oh, I said no problem.”
The woman flips the top of the lighter closed and slips it in her pocket as she turns to leave.
“Y- you’re not gonna smoke ?”
Catra asks as she brings the smoke to her lips.
“Oh me ? No, I don’t smoke… not often at least. I thought I’d come out here and get a good look at the night sky for a moment.”
The woman chuckles as she continues back inside the club.
Catra can’t tell if that statement is genuine or just an excuse for the woman to get that close to her, but she doesn’t quite regret not taking her smoke out back like usual. Something about that woman is something else, and that’s in a good way that makes her chest and stomach tingle.
That’s a funny feeling, to have just met someone. Catra finds herself thinking as she turns her eyes to the night sky puffing the smoke out into the air. Maybe she’s just being horny. It has been a while since Catra’s been in the company of an attractive woman. With school and work taking up most of her time her sex life was basically nonexistent. Still, she doesn’t even know her and on top of that she isn’t the type to just go around hooking up with random women. Get to know her better and she won’t be random. Catra makes herself laugh a bit, because only she can think something like that just to get off. She tries not to ponder on the thought for too long because a smoke break is supposed to help clear the mind, not make it think more.
When Catra does return from her break the old guy from earlier is gone, and she’s glad, because she absolutely couldn’t stand to put up with another weird smirk from him. Nevertheless, the gods from above never fail to one right after the other.
“Hey beautiful. Let me see those neat tricks of yours.”
This guy is fairly younger than the last, probably about ten years from what Catra can hear in his voice. It isn’t as gruffy as the last guy, sounds like he could have been raised with some manners. It’s hard to tell when Catra hasn’t analyzed the way he looks at her with her back turned, but from the way that last sentence comes off she has her doubts. And per usual her doubts are usually right.
“I’m sorry ?”
Catra turns around as she finishes polishing a glass. She looks the guy up and down for a moment. Perhaps she’s taking the question the wrong way. For his sake let’s hope she’s taking it the wrong way.
“Come on dear, let me see those neat tricks of yours. I know you’ve got some up your sleeve.”
The guy bites his lip as he looks Catra up and down.
Narrowing her eyes, Catra clenches her jaw trying so hard not to say anything. I am so sick of playing this shit off I swear to god.
“I’m going to assume you’re talking about a bartender trick, like flipping the mixer and shit like that, but let me tell you something… You need to order before going off trying to say slick stupid shi-”
“Sorry to interrupt, but could I get a fruity vodka?”
That familiar feminine voice chimes in cutting Catra off mid sentence and it’s like some spell is cast when Catra looks at her. Because that seething, fuming, white hot anger, is just gone within an instant. Maybe it’s the way she’s twirling a toothpick between her fingers near her lips that distracts her from original anger. Or maybe it’s the obvious tailor made black suit that hugs around what must be well defined muscles she’s wearing that does the trick. The shoulder pads in them look a bit funky, but nevertheless she still looks attractive.
“Aye, can’t you see I was in the middle of getting a drink ?”
He turns to the blonde woman Catra encountered earlier with irritation as if he’s been insulted.
“No, however, I could see how you were trying to hint at sex with a very beautiful woman, who clearly has no interest in you. And the more you try the more she wants to beat your ass, which I wouldn’t be upset if she did. I’d do the same if I had to deal with people like you when I’m just trying to make it through the night.”
“Consider yourself a lucky man. Now, if you don’t mind, I was actually ordering a drink.”
She turns her eyes over to Catra as she continues to twirl a toothpick between her fingers.
“Do you know who I am ? I could buy everything you own.”
He stands to his feet aggressively getting in the blonde's personal space. Catra knows that stance like she knows the back of her hand. An obvious sign that a fight is about to break out and truly it’s one of the last things she wants to happen. Having to make that call not only to the police, but also to her boss who doesn’t tolerate a lot of shit. Surely bar fights being one of the few on the list.
“I do actually, and no you couldn’t …I, however, could buy three times of what you own for fun without having to worry about the expenses.”
Her tone comes off slightly condescending, but nonchalant at the same time. A calm and coolness Catra can respect.
Catra can see the anger rolling off of him and it probably won’t be much longer before he just swings on her. Catra’s eyes dart between the blonde and the guy and then to the front of the club. Her eyes search wildly until they lock on someone. It’s security and with the look of desperation on her face and quick wave of her hand they’re on their way. Letting out a sharp exhale Catra feels a tinge of relief when the security guard marches through the crowd of people toward the bar.
“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
The security guard's voice is booming. If he were to get louder Catra’s sure with his voice alone he’d shake the room.
“Are you serious ? I am a patreon here.”
God he’s a fucking Karen ?
Catra rolls her eyes as she just sits back and watches quietly.
“You’re also threatening a guest so be a patreon some other day. Now get out before I drag you out.”
The guard crosses his arms over his chest, his demeanor becoming a bit more intimidating as he glares at him. Catra snickers softly as she covers her mouth with her hand mumbling, “Drag him.”
Karen scuffs as he looks at the blonde who has a pronounced smug look on her face. The analog clock behind the bar ticking slowly lets Catra know that at least a long ten seconds passed before anyone decides to speak again.
“ Don’t make me say it again.”
Raising her eyebrows slightly Catra looks to the security guard to see that those ten seconds of silence between them was too long for him. There’s a beat of silence amongst them again where the club music playing in the background becomes that of filler music, until someone decides to budge.
“Yeah yeah I’m going.”
Karen snatches his phone off of the countertop and storms out to which Catra grins brightly trying to hold back her laughter.
“Thanks Rogelio, I’ll have to start calling you to get these assholes more often. If only you knew how annoying these guys are.”
Catra says with a dying chuckle in the back of her throat.
“It would be funny if those guys weren’t such assholes.”
Catra deadpans as she goes to polish a glass.
“I’m always at my station, so if you need to just wave your hand.”
“I know, but I thought it was gonna break out into a fight. Trust me when I say I’ve seen way too many of those at my last job.”
Catra clenches her jaw slightly at the thought of her last job, she’s never seen so many people wheeled out on stretchers so often. Hell, she was starting to think it was fake, but she knows for a fact that the people were just relentless for no reason.
“Well, my words stand.”
Rogelio turns on his heels and returns to his place at the front of the building.
“You didn’t have to do that, I would’ve handled it.”
The woman says as she leans on the counter.
“Well consider it as returning a favor.”
Catra says as she turns to the shelves of alcohol looking for the requested vodka.
“Mmm, well, I do appreciate it.”
This mystery woman watches as Catra pours the drink and slides it across the counter to her.
“Vanilla Vodka, just like you asked.”
Catra says as she smiles genuinely for the first time since she’s clocked in.
Digging in her pocket the blonde woman pulls two bills from her wallet. One a cool one hundred and the other a crisp fifty.
“For you, I can see you deal with a lot in one night.”
The woman also slides the glass across the counter along with the money.
“I ordered that for you, you deserve it from what I’ve seen tonight.”
Catra’s jaw slacks open as she looks at the money and then to the blonde woman.
“I- you, don’t have to do that. I go through this everyday, it’s nothing special, really.”
Catra stammers, sliding the money back to the kind woman. It’s a nice offer, but Catra couldn’t possibly just take this woman's money, she hasn’t done anything to earn it.
“And you shouldn’t have to, so I insist.”
The woman stands to her feet sliding the money back toward Catra with an insistent smile, one that nobody can say no to.
“Leaving without even having a drink. What, you just came here for something to look at?”
Catra doesn’t know why she cares to ask but the words slip out before she can stop them. Now that they’re out she might as well try to stand behind them with confidence, so she crosses her arms over her chest with a smirk.
“Yeah, I’ve had quite the night. Think it’s time I go home and refresh my mind for work in the morning. Oh also, it was supposed to be a fruity vodka, but you pour what you like, hm?”
She chuckles as she taps the counter top and turns on her heels. Catra’s eyes widen a bit as she picks up the glass and tries to smell citrus in the vodka rather than vanilla, but she can’t. She should know that you can’t smell vodka, so her eyes target the back of the blonde as she slips through the crowd of mingling bodies.
When her eyes no longer have anything to lock on Catra looks amongst the crowd on the dance floor and to those seated at tables along the walls. She can only make out a few faces of those who are regulars. Everyone else is a blur in the distance and dim light as they all dance shoulder to shoulder to music that should be illegal to even move to.
Tilting the glass to her lips she begins to taste that very strong accent of vanilla. Setting the glass down on the bar she clutches the money in her hand, slowly bringing her hands to her chest to think about the woman, but then something strikes her mind. It’s something she said to Catra that makes her body tense up uncomfortably.
‘But you pour what you like, hm ?’
Wait… was that in terms of the drink or… her ?
“Oooh, the people really love you tonight huh, Catra ?”
A woman with locs nudges Catra’s side as she wipes down the counter.
“Pfft, whatever Lonnie, you’re just jealous.”
“ Trust me, you can continue to have them talk to you rather than me.”
Lonnie says jokingly as she rolls her eyes.
“Yeah, well this one was worthwhile.”
Catra sticks her tongue out at her as a taunt.
“Might wanna put that up, people are gonna start thinking you work at a different kind of club.”
Lonnie adds after a beat and chuckles. Catra’s jaw drops as her face contorts into one of disgust.
“I’d rather have my nerves fried and fall to my fucking death before I dance for a man..”
Catra dead pans as she folds the money in half and slips it into her pocket.
“I get it, you hate men. But don’t you think that’s a little overboard ?”
“When it comes to men… hell fucking no.”
“Alright sheesh.”
Lonnie continues to wipe down the bar and leaves Catra be. Catra shakes her head slightly as she knows she’s just trying to get under her skin. She does this all the time, though. Well ever since Lonnie took notice that the guests really like Catra not too long after she started working there, and Catra only started over four months ago
Maybe working at a hell hole like such wouldn’t be so bad if Catra meets someone like the mystery woman every night. And perhaps that’s what she wants. To just lay eyes on that mystery woman, who is remarkably hot.
Catra goes the rest of the night without being bothered too much, because all she can think about is her savior; the tall, strong looking, crystal eyed, beautiful, hot, sexy, kind, goddess…. Who’s name she didn’t even get.
“I didn’t get her name.”
Catra says as she freezes mid-pour. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I didn’t get her name ? Knowing that she’s had all of this interaction with this woman and didn’t even bother to get her name is going to eat her alive from the inside out.
How do you fuck up this bad ? I mean you’ve done some dumb shit before but this ? This is your greatest act yet. Catra shakes her head in disbelief and disappointment as she regains focus on pouring the drink in her hand.
“Pardon ?”
A woman sitting at the bar questions as she doesn’t understand where Catra’s sudden outburst has come from. A feminine voice alone brings Catra from her thoughts, because she doesn’t hear many of them around here. Let alone a new one.
“My bad, just thinking out loud.”
Catra tops off the drink before sliding it across the counter.
“Happens to the best of us, doesn’t it?”
She comments kindly as she picks up the glass to take a sip of the drink.
“Usually not…for me at least.”
Catra is brutally honest with the customer and she doesn’t mean to be. Fortunately for her this one doesn’t seem to mind much.
“Lucky you I suppose.”
She says as she raises her glass to Catra. She takes another sip, really savoring the taste of the cocktail she ordered. It’s only now does Catra really take in this woman's features that she notices that her style is unique. Pink and purple cotton-candy hair shaped into a pixie cut, a noticeable shine in her eye, and Catra’s sure that if they were to stand next to each other that she’s noticeably shorter than she is, ( and Catra’s no giant when it comes to height. ) An unmistaken amount of class, and honestly, this woman is probably giving someone a run for their money. She has to admit her sense of fashion and style is surprisingly stunning.
“If I’m lucky, I’m the unluckiest lucky person ever.”
Catra says as she shakes her head in slight disappointment.
“What makes you say that ?”
The girl laughs slightly as she tilts the glass to her lips once more.
Catra looks away for a split second, trying to stop herself from blushing and make the comment seem as casual as possible.
“Someone came in earlier and I forgot to get their name. I just don’t know when and I’ll see them again. ”
She purses her lips together at the end of her sentence to stop this unwanted smile from creeping up on her face.
“Sheesh, that’s rough buddy.”
The woman purses her lips together as she looks away from Catra.
Catra’s mouth gapes open a bit as she looks at her; one : was that a cartoon reference ? And two: she’s bold. Catra kinda digs it, but not when it’s towards her.
“What ? Never had anyone be honest with you ?”
A smirk spreads across her face as she looks Catra up and down.
Catra crosses her arms over her chest and looks the lady in her eye, because two can play this game.
“Ever had anyone bite back full force?”
Catra tilts her head to the side as she questions.
“Is that a challenge?….”
She looks to Catra’s name tag with a smirk.
“Kitty?”
The name comes off as a pure tease and Catra grits her teeth. What a disgusting pet name. Honestly she hopes no one else heard that, because all it takes is for one of the men; specifically, to call her Kitty and she just might lose her job and likely end up in jail.
“Oh if I wasn’t working behind this bar you are so on…. Sparkles.”
Catra laughs softly as she sucks her teeth.
“What time do you get off?”
Before Catra can open her mouth to answer, a tall dark skin man with a taper fade slides in and grabs the lady by her arm.
“Okay Glimmer, it's time to go home.”
“Oh c’mon Bow. I was just starting to have fun.”
Glimmer smirks at Catra and Bow just shakes his head.
“Leave this nice lady who was nice enough to make our drinks alone. We have to go to the studio in the morning anyway.”
Bow urges as he tries to pull at Glimmer’s arm again.
“Fiiiine. I’ll see you around Catra .”
The name is spat out with an imitation of disdain as Glimmer slides herself off of the barstool and winks at Catra.
“I doubt it… Sparkles .”
Catra chuckles as Bow swiftly apologizes and ushers Glimmer out of the club.
I bet she’s a handful. Catra thinks to herself as she picks up the glasses from the countertop and takes them to the kitchen to be washed.
Unfortunately Glimmer was Catra’s last spark of entertainment for the night before things went back to the same old boring routine. If I had a shot for every time I had a night like this. Catra would be more sober than an infant born two seconds ago. She shakes her head because she usually never gets to have this much fun at work. Usually work is… work , and boy is it boring. Perhaps how the gods like to send in the creeps everyday they can send some entertainment in every once in a while like tonight. With a hot customer and one that’s actually somewhat fun to talk to.
Four Days Later
Catra never prayed for this miracle to happen but as the next couple of work days rolled through Catra swore every time she looked up she’s looking at the beautiful mystery woman. Three nights in a row she’s caught her staring at her with a smile that could brighten up the darkest of rooms, but Catra never actually got a chance to speak to her on those nights. More of just catch a glance of her and then she’s gone. At some point Catra thought that maybe she was hallucinating out of desperation. That was until one of her co-workers asked her who the blonde was that kept staring at her. That question alone had to confirm that she wasn’t crazy, right ?
It’s night four of working and Catra sees her sitting on the other end of the bar looking down the stretch at her hovering her 8 oz shot glass above the counter swirling her drink around. Catra looks around for a split second to see if anyone else needs to be served, but from the looks of it everyone is sipping on their drinks, enjoying the music, dancing on the dance floor, eating food, etc. Now’s her chance, she can’t allow another night to go by without talking to this mystery of a woman. Catra throws her little white towel over her shoulder and walks down to the other end of the bar where the woman with the golden hair sits alone like some lone wolf.
“Alright mystery woman, I’ve seen you every day and then before I know it, you’re gone. What’s your game? ”
Catra leans forward on the counter trying to figure out what this woman could possibly want with or from her.
“Mystery woman ? Is that what you’ve been calling me in your head ?”
The woman laughs and that bright smile of hers takes up her whole face and lights up the room.
“Well yeah, I don’t know your name.”
Catra furrows her eyebrows as if it’s obvious that’s what her name was in her head. The woman laughs softly and Catra isn’t sure what’s more pleasing; her laugh or her smile.
“Adora.”
The blonde sticks her hand out for a handshake and smiles faintly.
Catra looks down at the extended hand for a moment and then back to Adora’s eyes which have this comforting warmth in them. Carefully taking her hand she shakes it as she begins to maintain this gentle eye contact.
“Catra.”
She responds while narrowing her eyes before continuing to speak.
“ So what kind of game are you playing here, Adora ?”
“Catra ?”
Adora hums the name softly as if to take it into consideration.
“ Beautiful, much more than Adora. ”
Adora continues as she places her hand back down on the bar smiling that heartwarming, planet shattering smile.
Dammit stop fucking doing that.
Catra doesn’t understand how she can be so enamored by someone she knows absolutely nothing about. It’s not like her to fall head over heels for someone. It’s got to be that stupid heart of hers taking lead. She needs it to stop. Give the brain a moment to process, truly see this Adora for what she really is.
“You’re very charming, but have yet to answer my question.”
There it is, Catra’s defensive instincts are kicking in, shutting her lustful heart up. It’s vulnerability like that that will get her hurt in the end. So it's best to just shut it down while she has the chance to.
“You have a hard time trusting, but I can understand why.”
Adora’s hand gestures to the men around the club who will all eventually take their turns at hitting on Catra.
“Oh great, we have a Dr.Phil on our hands.”
Catra rolls her eyes as she sighs and pushes off the countertop.
“ But , my game is that you have a beauty that I have struggled to find as of lately.”
Adora’s voice rises just a tad bit, just to keep her from walking away, and that’s all she needs because like a fool Catra gives her that attention she seeks in this moment.
“And there it is. Congratulations, you're one of the longest ‘customers’ I’ve talked to.”
Catra rolls her eyes again, this time determined not to let Adora waste anymore of her time with these romantic smooth talk words.
“Wait, you didn’t let me finish.”
“And you’d love to have me in your bed. I’ve heard it all before, I can’t believe I didn’t see how this was going to end sooner. Your approach was smooth though, so I suppose I’ll tip my hat off to you for that much.”
Catra pulls that white towel from off of her shoulder as she wipes her hands off from a bit of sweat. She can use all her smooth words if she wants to, but if she thinks that I’m gonna be some pawn to her little sex antics she’s got another thing coming .
“Actually, I was going to say I’d love to have to stop by my studio sometime. Every model I’ve tried to hire in the past week hasn’t been what I was looking for. You however. You have an immaculate balance of beauty and dominance. You have a low tolerance for bullshit, I’ve observed that first hand. Yet, you carry yourself with much professionalism, because you have some goal in mind. I’d love to capture that, if you’d allow it.”
Adora captures Catra’s attention before she storms off in a fit with her preconceived notions.
“I- I’m sorry, you want me to be a model for you ?”
Catra can feel her face flush red, she can’t help it. She gets called beautiful everyday to the point where the words have lost their true meaning to her. So hearing them for what may be the first time genuinely sends her off the rails . What do you think you’re doing ?!
That logical, protective, and dominant side of Catra is screaming to not let this happen, but her desire to please and be pleased has never felt so strong in her entire life, it’s nearly too good to be true. Exactly ! It’s too good to be true!
That inner conflict is so loud that to a normal person who isn’t horny for someone who is way out of their league it would be deafening. But for Catra it’s just not enough to snap out of it, the smell of alcohol and the sound of Adora’s enticing words all make her want to melt away.
“Yes, that’s exactly it. That is if you want to. I don’t want to pressure you into anything you aren’t comfortable with, but your beauty is worth a thousand words and more. Whether you take the offer or not, do know that you are most likely the finest, most beautiful woman that I have laid eyes on.”
Adora offers that warm smile once again as she reaches into her pocket and pulls one hundred dollars from her wallet alongside a small, sleek, and shiny business card.
The blush that comes across Catra’s face is priceless, so much so that she can barely register that Adora is putting something on the counter. She thinks that I’m one of the finest she’s laid eyes on ? Catra vaguely remembers that she had slid something across the counter to her.
“What’s this ?”
Catra says as she looks at the money rather than the card.
“My contact information, if you decide you want to do it.”
“No, I can see that. I’m not blind… the money.”
“Oh, I’ve stolen some of your time while you’re on the clock so I thought I’d pay you back for it.”
Adora shrugs a bit in response as if money is one of the lesser things to worry about. Catra knows that the people that run through here have big money, but the way Adora drops hundreds at a time is impeccable.
“You don’t need to do that, I was just heading out for my break anyways.”
Catra says as she slides the money back towards Adora.
“Well, consider it a token. Well, I really hope to hear from you soon.”
Just like that Adora’s up and gone in a ghost like fashion. Honestly, it’s quite scary how she can disappear amongst the smallest of crowds. Almost like she’s been doing it for years, perfecting a type of craft.
It’s only now does Catra notice this warm tingling sensation, and it’s only now does she begin to calm down a bit. Wait… what did I just get myself into ?! Model ?! What do you know about modeling?! The music in the room starts to become muffled and the smell of food and alcohol start to become faint as well. What ever happened to think before you speak ?!
“I see you finally talked to your secret admirer.”
Lonnie’s voice snaps Catra from her inner meltdown and back into the bustling real world. The food, the music, the alcohol, the people, they all settle back into her senses as she looks at Lonnie.
“She’s not my admirer.”
Catra rolls her eyes as she walks around from the bar and goes to the back to grab her jacket, to which Lonnie for whatever reason follows.
“You sure ? She’s leaving you some of the biggest tips I’ve seen you get.”
“Two hundred dollars total. I make that easy with tips in two days.”
Catra shrugs a bit as she proceeds out back behind the club to take her smoke break. To which, still Lonnie follows.
“Well think again, your little woman crush left you more than that.”
Lonnie hands Catra an envelope that clearly isn’t empty but isn’t particularly thick either.
“What’s this ?”
Catra asks as she places her smoke between her lips and carefully turns the envelope over to see that it says ‘ From Adora’ .
“I don’t know, but I was standing at the front talking to Rogelio when she rushed out the door and came back a couple seconds later, looked at me and told me to make sure you got it.”
Lonnie shrugs a bit as she leans on the brick wall waiting for Catra to open the envelope, because she’s just as curious as Catra is to see what’s inside.
Carefully ripping the seal of the envelope Catra finds a small card inside. Pulling it out she opens it and out comes a couple hundred dollar bills. The card reads, ‘ Sorry for just staring at you for a couple days without a word, I know that’s probably unnerving. Lol, Adora.’ Catra looks at the card for a couple seconds and laughs lightly.
“She is such an idiot.”
Catra shakes her head, slipping the money into her right hand pocket.
“So, are you sure you don’t work at that type of club, because damn ! She’s dropping hundreds like it’s child's play on you.”
Lonnie says as she pushes a loc or two from her face.
“Shut the fuck up and give me a light.”
Catra growls as she carefully puts her swisher in a more comfortable spot so Lonnie can light it.
Lonnie reluctantly lights Catra’s swisher and stands awkwardly across from her as she begins to smoke with this weird smirk on her face.
“What ? You want a swisher ?”
Catra hands over her extra, turning her head to the side a bit as she speaks the inquiry.
“No, no.”
Lonnie puts her hands up defensively as she takes a step back as the smirk on her face becomes more and more smug.
“So what do you want ?”
Catra’s starting to get irritated, because she doesn’t do those guessing games, people unknowingly do all the time.
“You keep messing around with your little admirer and I’m sure you won’t have to worry about working a job or college expenses.”
Lonnie chuckles a bit as she slowly walks towards the door.
“That’s not even close to what is going on.”
Catra gets defensive, because one it’s rude to use people for their money, no matter how much you may need it. And two; does Lonnie think she’d really stoop that low to practically being someone’s sugar baby ?
“Oh so you do have something going on though ?”
Lonnie asks as she raises a brow swinging the back door open looking back at Catra.
“No, not really. I- mind your damn business Lonnie. Damn.”
She rolls her eyes as she turns to smoke her swisher.
“I don’t owe you a damn explanation.”
She puffs out her smoke with irritation.
“Oooh, sounds like I’m hitting a nerve. I must be right huh ?”
“Get back inside before I hit you.”
Catra turns over her shoulder glaring at Lonnie. And again all she does is throw her hands up defensively before walking away.
When she hears the heavy metal door slam shut behind her she lets out a breath she hadn’t quite realized she’d been holding.
“I’m not about to turn into this woman’s sugar baby, and even if I did, I wouldn’t use her for her money. Even though… I guess that’s what people become a sugar babies for ?”
She tilts her head a bit at the thought.
“What am I thinking ?! I’m just gonna be a stupid little model for her and that’s it . We won’t have to see each other after that. Strictly business. Okay ? Nothing more.”
Catra nods to herself as if this plan is the simplest of terms she could come to.
“So all of… this.”
Waving her hand to herself referring to the butterflies she gets just thinking of how astonishing Adora looks and how smoothly she talks.
“Has to stop. She said she admires your professionalism. So hold up to those standards.”
That inner conflict between heart and brain she was having earlier ? This is that outloud. Her heart ran 1000 miles before a singular step was taken, but now she has herself in check and she cannot let it happen again.
Catra pulls out the business card Adora gave her and reads it to the best of her ability, but even for an upscale club there isn’t the best lighting in the alleyway to read anything that isn’t already illuminated.
“Adora Grays-”
She tries to mumble the name to herself, but is then rudely interrupted by the back door swinging open with full force and out comes a tall buff white haired woman who just so happens to be Catra’s coworker and next door neighbor in the apartment she lives in .
“Hey Catra, do you think you could hurry your smoke break up ? We just had a party of people come in and order drinks and-”
Someone runs past the woman talking and out across the alley to throw up by a not so well lit dumpster.
“And we’ve got that going on.”
The woman continues as she rubs behind her head nervously.
“I’m coming in now Scorpia.”
She takes one last good hit of her swisher before burning out the cherry and blowing the smoke out. Scorpia’s a big softie that works in the kitchen cooking the food and serving drinks that aren’t liquor.
Catra remembers first meeting her in the stairwell of their apartment complex. Catra was nearly about to topple the stairs trying to walk past Scorpia’s big frame while carrying a load of boxes. She had offered to help and then she came over for dinner since they were going to be neighbors. Lucky enough for Catra they’re both attending the same college where she later found out that Scorpia’s a hospitality management major. She likes to call them best friends, but Catra would beg to differ. They just so happen to be friends who talk often, go to the same school, work the same job, and live right next to each other. Definitely not best friends and all coincidences. Okay the apartment and school thing is a coincidence and Scorpia may have helped Catra get this job, but this still doesn’t make them best friends, just some really good ones.
Very carefully Catra slips Adora’s business card back into her pocket so she can look at it later when she gets home. The moment she makes it back inside and to the bar she can see the sudden influx of people inside. She swears this is the worst part of the night, because usually when there’s big groups of six or more they are the real rich assholess she talks about. Always wanting top shelf liquor, but not wanting to pay top shelf liquor prices. Comparing the prices to other establishments. Catra knows the kind of establishments they talk about, and for them to be so wealthy they sure were going to low quality establishments.
However, high quality equals higher prices, everyone should know this by now. Especially at most of the guests' ages you’d think they know that by now. However, Catra still manages to run into the ones that act like pubescent middle school boys.
The rush wasn't as bad as she thought it was going to be, but it was still pretty bad to the point that she felt way too much relief when her shift came to an end. She couldn’t have driven to her apartment any faster. That usual forty-five minute drive was cut into twenty minutes; traffic-laws be damned. She’s tired, has classes in the morning, and can’t wait to feel her mattress beneath her. Of course she sped.
When Catra does finally get home to her comfortable mattress she finds herself staring at Adora’s business card. Adora Grayskull, it read.
That name seems familiar. Biting her lip softly as she looks away from the card and to the blank ceiling hoping that it can help her figure out where she’s seen this name before. After a minute too long of drawing blank Catra whips her phone out and decides to do the research for herself.
For all I know she could be a serial killer trying to set me up. Catra’s sure that Adora’s not a serial killer just out in public like that, but then you never know. It’s always the ones you least suspect that are the killers. That’s at least what Catra’s overthinking is telling her, plus the one too many LifeTime movies she’s seen .
“Adora Grayskull is a well renowned photographer, videographer, and business person… hmm quite the accolades… Adora Grayskull is one of the founders of Grayskull Entertainment in which some of the best movies within the past couple of years have been filmed and edited under.”
She mumbles to herself, really soaking in the information word by word.
Adora Grayskull has been noted to be very diverse in her photography and imagery, her ability to capture the audience's eye in a singular frame is what’s brought her to fame and fortune. Grayskull describes herself to be very hardworking yet easy to get along with.
Catra continues to read with her lips moving but no sound actually coming out. Whoever wrote this article about Adora must be the most generous person in the world, because there's no way this woman can seem so perfect in only a couple of paragraphs. Either that or… she really is a goddess.
‘Adora Grayskull net worth’
Catra can’t stop herself from looking this up, because if this woman is dropping money on her like she has been doing and she’s doing all of this. She has to be worth at least a million dollars.
Because Adora Grayskull is not only a photographer, but is also a film producer, and owns part of Grayskull Entertainment her net worth is roughly around $3.2 billion dollars.
Catra can’t find any words to explain how her heart just dropped, how her soul just left her body. No words to explain how her jaw could drop to hell if it were possible. Part of her is certain that she died a little bit on the inside.
“There’s no fucking way she wants me of all people to model for her. I’m just a broke ass undergrad student wanting to be a tattoo artist. This isn’t fucking real.”
Catra’s hands begin to tremor at the thought of what she’s really gotten herself into.
‘My game is that you have a beauty that I have struggled to find as of lately.’ She really meant that ? She wants me to be what she’s looking for. Smooth talk or not she’s got a keen eye I’m sure of it. She cracks a wide smile knowing that this woman who doesn’t owe her anything wants her for something this big.
“Shit, if I do this modeling shit, I’ve gotta do contracts and shit…. Then I’ll probably have to figure out what’s actually a fair payment, and clothes… I probably can’t wear just anything.”
That smile is quick to fade when the realization hits her, but she allows herself to take a moment to take a deep breath.
“Get yourself together Catra, I’m sure you can just talk this over with Adora when we’re totally not freaking out.”
Catra takes a couple more deep breaths, letting that logical and collected side of her work its magic.
“Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. Just go up there and talk to her and we can talk business.”
Catra nods to herself because it all seems so simple in her head. However, she’s never modeled before, and she doesn’t know how this is supposed to go.
Well, Catra wanted something interesting in her life, so here she is taking a leap of faith into something she knows absolutely nothing about. Closing her eyes Catra just figures she can think about it later, but the thought of walking into something blindly scratches the back of her head. Turning over in bed she tries to ignore the intrusive thoughts of doing something foolish in the midst of this whole thing.
“I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.”
Catra’s eyes shoot open and her body springs up out of bed.
“This is going to bother me all night.”
She walks over to her desk in the corner of her room and taps on the mousepad of her laptop a few times so that it’ll wake.
How to become a photoshoot model . Is the first thing she can think of to type into the search bar of her laptop. Maybe this can give her a good idea of how to even approach Adora when she goes to talk to her. There’s only a few things she honestly found useful after thirty minutes to an hour of searching for things that somewhat apply to her.
- Develop your modeling skills
- Practice posing in front of a camera
- Get a killer portfolio
- Make yourself look better at all times.
Catra walks up to the mirror that sits behind her dresser on the other side of the room and tries posing in front of it. It’s awkward, stiff, and robotic like. I’m sure this shit is supposed to look natural. She sighs as she runs her hands through her short length of hair while groaning loudly.
“I may be the beauty she’s looking for, but I’m definitely not the model she’s looking for.”
Unsure of what to do about her stiff bitch syndrome Catra walks over the bed and plops back down. This is why I just need to go up there and talk to her, because maybe this isn’t for me and I don’t want to disappoint her. Eyes turning over to the business card on her night stand she lays down staring at it until she can feel her weariness dragging her to sleep.