Energy Depletion

I was at my desk when a ping goes off on my phone notifying me of a email. I tapped my phone and scoured my inbox for the new message. It was a an email with the contact info, biography of her manager and the time I was supposed to come in for the contract reading. My talent manager is named Anderson, she is a brown woman like me.

Anderson looked as if she had mahogany undertones like Neta, but it was not as deep and rich of a color, almost like a dull undisturbed smooth piece of leather. Her hair seems to be often straight and put up in a ponytail, paired with the front bangs.

The style made her high fashion and professional at the same time. It made me wonder what Andersons' story was. I would get my answer soon.

Anderson has been in managing for about 3 years because she found that she liked the structure a manager role provided her better than as a model. She finds she is able to connect with more people as a manager than as a model. As well as the pressure of always looking youthful and beautiful was something she was grateful she didn't have to worry about anymore.

It was around 12pm when I met Anderson meets at the company, Liquid Color studios. Who works mainly within the apparel and makeup targeted towards a younger to mid age range African American and Latin American audience. Therefore, they needed racially/ethnically relevant people to sell their products.

After the initial greeting Anderson and I went through contract as a model.

...

Netarute was waiting for me when I got home. We jogged as I told her about my day. I talked about Anderson and the three shoots I was soon going to be doing in the next coming week. She was glad that I was happy with my manager and told me that she'd make her pay if she screwed me over, flexing her arm strength. I chuckled and pushed down her bugling bicep.

"I appreciate the backup but do not need your strength there." I slid my hand down her forearm to her wrist and wrapping her right arm around my waist.

"I need it here." A sly smile formed on my lips and fluttered my eyelashes at her. In that moment I was grateful she was taller than me, it gave me a chance to act cute. We washed each other in compliments and soft caresses until we had to break apart for actual responsibilities.

...

The night was the same as the others. After we showered I sat with Netarute while she went over an assignment she was handing out the next day. We had dinner and then had extremely slow and sensual sex on the living room floor. No dildos, no vibrators, or anal plug involved, just a lot of kissing and a lot of fingers.

A little after midnight I woke up in Netarute's bed. We'd left her bedroom door open and again I could hear the TV going downstairs. It would be the weekend before I got a chance to talk to Copia, so really it was now or never. I slipped downstairs to see Copia was sitting on the couch.

The air smelled liked fried chicken, which I chalked up to Copia eating the rest of the chicken I'd put up in the fridge from dinner. Just as she turned off the tv I reached the bottom of the stairs. I wanted to catch her before she returned to her room, so I made myself visible.

Copa's eyes darted to me, taking me in like an a kid who had been caught before releasing a breathe and resuming her regular posture. She picked up the scraps of her meal and heading towards the kitchen without any further acknowledgement of me.

I walked slowly towards the kitchen where the stools were, aware of that with every inch an awkward air settled in the air around me. Copia had made quick work of the kitchen and set her now clean dripping dishes in the dish rack.

I decided it was now or never, " Hey Copia, I was wondering if we could talk." I spit out, staring at the black marble counter.

"About what?" Her words were snipped, I'm sure she was hoping that I would give in and not continue my probbing, but that was not what I came down here for.

"I- I wanted... to talk about you and me in this house." I asked. Her back was still too me and her head was inclined towards the stairs. Would she make a run for it?

"Kati. Listen, I'm really fucking tired, but I'll make things simple. There is no me and you. Whatever made up thing you think could be between us is nonexistent. Now if you'll excuse me." She started walking towards the stairs

"Wait. I think you have i–" I was so confused.

"Didn't you notice I kept my distance from you?" She looked over her shoulder to me as if she already made up her mind. I took a calming breath.

"I did, but that was what I wanted to talk about. I -" couldn't even get a word in.

"You fucked men before you came here, right?" she asked, her voice sharp and cold. I scrunched up my nose, what did that have to do with anything.

"That has nothing to do with this situation and you know it." I narrowed my eyes at her daring her to say what I knew she would say next. If I said anything my words would be wasted on her. She was not in the right headspace to listen to me.

" It has everything to do with this situation!" She growled, finally turning fully towards me. "Don't think you can fool me with your, 'I love women act.'" Her fist by her sides started to curl and uncurl as her she stepped slowly with each sentence.

" You may have Neta and Mira under your spell, but I know people like you. Your a 'fence sitter' never having to deal with the oppression 'true' lesbians have to go through to have their love. To have a moment of fucking peace!" I sucked in my lip, biting hard.

Not knowing what to say because obviously Copia has some strong feelings about bi/pan sexual people. Anger rose to my head but came out as tear instead of words. The last time I got called a fence sitter with some other words that I shall suppress, was unceremoniously in the middle of a store by some nasty boys, who were mad I didn't give them my number. I couldn't believe the same words were coming out of her mouth.

"The moment life gets hard or you get confused, you'll run off to your boy toy. Or better yet, maybe you'll decide to want a baby. We are not a normal family and if your here to just have a little experiment then you don't belong here. And now I have to be up in four hours – so ... don't bother me again." She turned and trudged up stairs as if everything she said was right.

Her words were like a thin sheet of ice that sliced through my skin. My hands clutched each of my forearms to inadvertently comfort my triggered consciousness . I stood there half seething and distraught re-running my whole entire situation in my head. All I could come up with was that she wanted me gone and there was nothing I could do to change it.

I was grateful Mira wasn't be back until later in the evening and Netarute had left again before I woke up.

I thought it over all night. I thought it over again in the morning. I got only 4 hours of sleep making me over tired for my photo shoot. I made it to my shoots, but I was hopelessly slow physically drained after it and cancelled my other meetings for the rest of that day. Anderson chastised me, but I was lucky none of those meetings were important ones I had to be at.

Not a good impression I was putting on but I had to figure out if I was safe were I was. Would Copia slander me again? Would Mira and Neta not stick up for me? Would I get kicked out if we didn't get along again?

Worse would be all three of them. I couldn't keep baring the brunt like this if I was going to live hear. I know deep in my heart I didn't deserve to be someone else punching for some else's insecurities. Worse would be all three of them. I couldn't keep baring the brunt like this if I was going to live hear. I know deep in my heart I didn't deserve to be someone else punching for some else's insecurities. I know deep in my heart I didn't deserve to be someone else punching for some else's insecurities.