Before The Angels Fell

Ashleys POV

I strolled into my favourite strip joint after a night of drowning my sorrows in alcohol. Sleep just wasn't coming to me tonight, or many other nights for that matter. I don't know, I couldn't figure anything out anymore. And then the news Riley gave me today... Noah was a really good friend of mine, I wish I knew sooner...
I sighed as I plopped down on one of the stools at the bar. The bartender placed a whiskey on the rocks without a word and went behind a door.
I liked this place. It was dark and looming. Perfect for the way I felt.
No one was performing at the moment, but that was because no one else was here. I sipped at whiskey when I heard voices and then footsteps.
I turned my attention to the stage and saw a women walk out in a royal blue and black Playboy lingerie set. Her hair was pulled down and swished all the way down her back.
I almost thought I recognised her, but there was no way.
I watched her as she got a feel for the stage, but then she placed her hands on the pole and her aura transformed. It was as if she had been stripping for years and only got sexier.
The way her body moved around the pole; taking it in her grasp, using her legs to hold her body weight. I was getting so hot watching her.
I still thought I knew her, she looked so familiar. I watched her closely, looking at every feature. That's when I noticed her left hand and the black dots covering the pinkie finger.
I gasped out loud. Riley...
"Oh my God" I whispered to myself.
I could not believe that was Riley up there.
I knew she had the ass of a stripper!
I stayed out of the bright stage lights and waited for her to finish. I was hoping she wouldn't see me straight away, but I wanted to make myself known.
As she slid down the pole using her legs and landing on her back, she relaxed.
I decided to announce my presence. I clapped loudly and slowly.
"Encore" I said.
She quickly got to her feet and gazed in every direction. Then her eyes landed on me.
"Ashley... W-what are you doing here?!" She stammered.
"I should be asking you that, but I am a drunken man whore, that's my explanation. Now yours" I smirked.
Riley got off the stage and came over to me.
"Ummm..."
"What's the brilliant explanation you have for this?"
Riley glanced back up at the stage and then down at her half naked body.
"Ummm, I'm gonna get dressed first" she said starting to walk away, but I grabbed her hand to stop her.
"No. You are all kinds of mysterious, but this is too big to hide! You have to tell me now!" I demanded.
"Ashley, I really don't want to..." She said quietly.
"If you don't tell me, I'll tell Andy, cause I'm assuming he doesn't know you're here" I threatened.
"He doesn't know about any of this. He doesn't know who I was..."
"Who were you?" I asked letting go of her hand.
Riley huffed a sigh and tried to relax.
"You have to promise me that you will never tell Andy this. I mean it Ash. I've tried to bury this part of my life since I moved here" her voice cracking on the last few words.
She covered her face with her hands trying to hide her tears.
"Hey, Riles, it's okay. You can trust me" I said getting off my seat and placing my hands on her arms.
"I've been a stripper since I 18" she said quietly. "I hated my life. I was poor and miserable. I had to do it, like every other cliche college student" she said hanging her head.
"Riley, it's not that big of a deal. You can tell Andy" I assured her.
"NO! IT WILL RUIN EVERYTHING! I don't want him to feel sorry for me and pretend that he cares for me, cause after I tell him, he won't. He will never look at me the same."
She was kind of right. Andy wasn't a fan of strippers or hookers. He always said that it's nothing to be proud of cause you didn't earn it.
"I won't tell him" I said resting my hand on her cheek.
She looked up at me and gave me a small smile. "Thanks."
"But I have to say, you are fucking good!"
Riley laughed. "I'd hope so. I feel so much better now though. I wish I could get one at home..."
"Get what?"
"A stripper pole. Isn't that a thing in LA? People use them to work out, right?"
"I've got one at home."
"Yeah, cause Andy would find it more suspicious me going to your house for an unknown reason, than me getting one in my apartment."
I just shrugged.
"Well, I better get going. It's nearly 5. I might just head home. Andy can live without me for a night."
"How often do you stay at his?"
"Most the time. Kimber pretty much owns my apartment" she sighed. "It was good talking to you Ash. It was nice" she said smiling again and walking off towards the stage.
I watched her walk away. And when I 'watched', I meant looked at her ass.
Fuck she was hot.
I just had a bad feeling that Andy was taking all this for granted.

Rileys POV

I dragged myself up the stairs to my apartment at whatever time it now was.
All I wanted to do was crawl into bed and die. I had had the most ridiculous day and I couldn't be happier it was over.
I jammed my key into the lock, pushing the door open. I tossed my stuff to the side and went to collapse onto my bed in the darkness.
"Oww" someone groaned.
I was instantly wide awake again.
"What the fuck!?" I said rolling and falling off the bed. I stumbled to my feet and found the lamp on my nightstand.
It literally shed light on the situation.
CC sitting up in my bed, next to a sleeping Kimber.
"What the actual fuck...? CC? What are you doing here?" I shrieked.
"I-I sleep here occasionally... I can wake Kimber..." he offered.
"No... Uhh, it's okay, I'll just go to Andy's..." I said quickly grabbing my stuff and rushing out the door again.
Like I said; a ridiculous day.

Notes

This is turning out to be a very long story...
Comment guys! :) <3
-Tina xx