"Until next month, baby," said Mr. John Washington as he kissed Kitty on her cherry red lips--the juiciest lips he ever tasted. This particular spending was the one that Mr. Washington never regret making.

"Don't forget my allowance, daddy. I've got leotards and tutus to buy tomorrow," said Kitty with the sweetest tone that she knew for sure will make man grant any of her wish.

Kitty looked at Mr. John Washington as he left with his Ferrari straight to the airport, or so he said. Truthfully, Kitty didn't care at all about that man. He was just a bald man with thick wallet and abundant assets. He was an American and he was also Kitty's sugar daddy. Her sole job was to satisfy him whenever he's in town and his job was to give her allowance every month. It's a win-win situation.

Kitty packed up her designer gym bag--courtesy of the sugar daddy--and head straight to the Royal Opera House where her Ballet company base.

It never ceased to amazed Kitty how magnificent the sight of the Royal Opera house; everyday feels like a new experience, like she has step on to another dimension where the sky is gold and the grass is royal red and the people move so elegantly to the sound of music. And to think that view years ago she almost has her dream crushed by some petty financial problem.

Penelope James, that was her real name but people so gotten used to call her Kitty, Penelope James now was just a name written on ID card and driver's license.

Kitty's mother was a middle school teacher and the father was a security in an office tower in central London.

Kitty has been doing ballet since she was 4 years old. Started out as mere activity then developed to be a passion. In her parents struggle with money, they still tried to make do with Kitty's passion for ballet. Scrapped here and there to pay for the ballet course, the leotards, the tutus, and eventually the pointe shoes. Although for Kitty the first time she got to put on a pointe shoes was a proud time--she felt like she was being crown as the Queen, but for her parents it was the time where the list got longer and the money got even more scarce.

The tragedy happened when Kitty's father was diagnosed with bone cancer and after a year of medication, he passed away. Even though her father passed away didn't mean that Kitty's mother would let her baby girl give up on her dream to become a ballerina. She worked hard herself to pay for Kitty's ballet lesson that was until she was diagnosed with ovary cancer 3 years later and passed away 6 months after the diagnosed leaving Kitty, a high school graduate--ready to apply to the Royal Ballet School--with a crush dream and no money for herself.

Kitty got no other relatives, no one to turn to and certainly no one to give her any advice, especially at the time when she hastily sold her parents' home to pay for the Royal Ballet School tuition and a VW Golf 1.9 GT, a car that later she called home. One thing that her parents had taught her was that never to give up on your dream and Kitty wasn't about to give up on attending the Royal Ballet School, the only school that matters.

For view months Kitty lived in her car, sleeping among her boxes of clothes, ballet stuffs and her only pillow that comfort her at night. It was the worst life and she hated every second of it. She always hated being poor even though she never showed it to her parents.

After view months of aching bones, a restless sleep and a constant hunger, a desperate Kitty finally found employment at the Horns, a gentleman club. By that it simply means a stripper. And she was soon become the most favorite dancer as she was so flexible, so sexy and more important, she was extremely beautiful.

Kitty has the perfect arrangement with the Horns, she would dance at night and attended school in the morning. No one knows that Kitty was a ballerina and she intended to keep it that way. No one need to know that a student of The Royal Ballet School is a stripper, it would totally ruin her prospect and quite possibly will got her expelled.

"It must be hard for you, mustn't it?" said the perky, big breasted Brittania Sugarplum. A curvy dancer who danced in the pool next to Kitty's.

They were in a dressing room, taking off glitters of their skin and washing up heavy makeup from their faces. In a minute Alejandro would came with envelope for each dancer, it was their payment for tonight.

"What?" asked Kitty not quite sure she understood what Brittania was saying.

"To pay for the ballet. I know you dance ballet. It must be so hard to come up with the money, ballet is terribly expensive, isn't it?"

"How do you know? Did anyone else know?" by now Kitty was nervous, scared that her cover would be discovered.

"No! Relax, girl! I'm the only one. I accidentally looked at your gym bag yesterday and saw your ballet shoes. No wonder you're a good dancer, you do ballet!" the perky dancer giggled and then continued. "Listen, I know you didn't make much from the club. I got a way for you to make money. So listen, I have a sugar service and you're welcome to join if you want. I can tell that you'd be a hit because you're incredibly beautiful,"

"Sugar service?"

"Yes, it called Sugarplum like my name. It's a sugar baby-sugar daddy kind of things, you know? You set your monthly allowance and the right sugar daddy pay for it but in turns you have to serve them, if you know what I mean,"

"Like a **********?"

"God, no! Well, kind of but this thing is more like a no string attach relationship. It's hard to explain, bottom line is, you got monthly allowance, you serve the guy, and the relationship could last for months if the guy keep paying your allowance. It's like being in a relationship but with more money and sex and less drama,"

"That's sounds interesting and I could use some extra cash,"

That was the end of Kitty's stripping and the beginning of her adventure in Sugar Service and for the last 2 years it has funded Kitty's tuition, ballet expenses and a luxury apartment in the heart of London.

The sugar daddies varies from lonely old billionaire to young millionaire--all admired Kitty and said she is the one spending that they never regret making. But as she graduated school and got internship at The Royal Ballet, her dancing schedule got more hectic which means she has to cut back on her sugar daddy and have only one and so Mr. John Washington was the lucky one who supplied her with £10,000 monthly allowance and an apartment in St. Luke Road, Noting Hill.

He was the best arrangement, since Mr. Washington lived in America and only came to London once every month that gives Kitty time to focus and practice for long hours.

As the sound of classical music playing softly in the air, Kitty started to dance along with it. At first the plié and then pirouette and then a whole elegance was shown through every moves that Kitty made up in the stage. It was her special time. Her private practice.

Dancing alone in the grand stage of the Royal Opera House when all the lights were off but one in the center of the stage. The audience seats were dark, there was only her and ballet. It was her paradise.

So she dances, the faster the spin, the more she desired ballet. She wanted to be the Prima Ballerina, she wanted to have all the important part in every play, and she wanted her name to be remembered as the Prima Ballerina Assoluta. All of her desired have driven her far but at the same time has wreck her focus and this particular night, it has tripped her. She fell with a bang.

With a rush, Brad has ran to Kitty's assistance, forgetting that he was supposed to be unseen and that his job of cleaning the hall hasn't finish yet.

"Are you okay?" Brad took Kitty's hand and helped her stand on her feet.

"I'm okay. Thank you. Where do you come from? It's like magic!" Kitty sat on the floor and massage her foot. It wasn't a serious fall, no bone was broken but still at the moment some of the pain still linger.

"I'm Brad. Bradley Carson. I...well, you'd think me creepy but I've been watching you dance every night. I'm the night janitor," Brad nervously sat beside Kitty.

"Oh? I didn't know that I have an audience. What do you think of my dancing? I'm Kitty by the way, it's actually Penelope James but people call me Kitty. I just have no idea why but they said that I remind them of a cat," Kitty and Brad shook hands.

"I think I know why they call you Kitty. It's your eyes, its green like cats'. They're beautiful," Brad looked at Kitty's big green eyes and smiled. "And don't get me started on the dancing, it was wonderful. You're a wonderful ballerina, Kitty,"

Brad has been the night janitor for 2 years at the Royal Opera House and every night for the last 6 months, he has seen Kitty dancing alone. Admiring her elegance moves and even more of her beautiful face, her big eyes that he finally discovered now were green with black voluptuous eyelashes to go with it, her small round face, small nose, rosy cheek, red cherry lips and her long, wavy golden hair made a big impression on Brad. He have seen so many beautiful girls before but none quite like Kitty.

"I like you, Brad. You said all the right things," Kitty gave Brad the sweetest smile.

Brad felt goosebumps all over him by the way his name sounded when Kitty said it. The way that girl said it made his ordinary name sounds sexier.

Since then, Brad has been Kitty's loyal audience to her night practice and they have been friends. It was the second best thing for Brad since he has fell in love with Kitty ever since he saw her the first night 6 months ago.

"Oh, Brad, do you know what I really want in the entire world? I want to play the swan princess in Swan Lake. It's the most important role in ballet and if I got to play the swan princess then I'll get the attention, so much attention! And that my friend is how I'm going to get every leading role in a ballet and I'm well on way to be prima ballerina assoluta! But first, I have to do my best in the upcoming play of Cinderella. I have to be the Cinderella so that I have more chance to play swan princess when the time comes," said Kitty with so much passion than Brad could ever understand.

The way Kitty talked about ballet with so much gusto, Brad could even hear the determination and drive behind her.

They were sitting on the floor side by side, looking out into the darkness that was the audience seats. Kitty was on a water break in one of her night practice.

"I admire you, Kitty," began Brad. "You are driven to pursue your dream. You never give up and I admire you for it. Some people just give up their dream because it was easier,"

"Thank you, Brad. It wasn't easy I grant you that. There are some things that I did that I honestly wish I didn't but I think it all pays for where I am now," Kitty noticed that Brad has been quite and his face has hardened. "What dream did you give up, Brad?"

"Well, I was at the last year of university when mom got sick, she got stroke. I took care of her as best as I could. The money was scarce so I dropped out of college and work as a night janitor. I love counting, you know and I've been told that I'm pretty good at it. You know it sounds boring but I wanted to be an accountant, to count money. Maybe because I don't have money that's why I want to work around it," Brad let out a laugh.

"It's too bad, Brad. If you had finished university then you'd be a successful accountant by now and would've been able to care better for your mother," Kitty rest her head in Brad's shoulder and sighed. "Life is confusing, isn't it Brad?"

View weeks after, Brad noticed something strange about Kitty. She wasn't the cheerful, no-care-of-the-world anymore. She looked tired and unrested as well as disheveled. There were dark circles beneath her eyes. It started to raise concern for Brad.

"Kitty, are you okay?" asked Brad.

"I'm fine, Brad. Why do you ask?" even Kitty's smile now looked forced.

"You look tired. Are you sure you're okay? I mean, if there's something I could do to help, you know I would gladly help you, right? You have only say it,"

"I know, Brad. But I'm fine," said Kitty shortly.

2 days later Kitty was looking more haggard and the dark circle is getting darker. As it happened, Brad was cleaning the dancers' dressing room when he found a sleeping bag and a pillow in flowery pattern case.  Next to it was a gym bag so familiar; it was Kitty's. Brad put two and two together and found out that Kitty has been sleeping in the dressing room for the past view days.

"Kitty, have you been sleeping in the dressing room?" asked Brad when they were sitting side by side in the front row of the audience seat, right beneath the stage. It was the water break again.

"How did you know?" Kitty was shocked. Her big green eyes stared at Brad in disbelieved.

"I found your sleeping bag in the dressing room next to your gym bag. But why, Kitty?"

"Oh, Brad! I can't tell you without you being disgusted with me. God, I have hoped that I wouldn't have to tell you this. I'm so embarrassed," Kitty looked away from Brad, hiding her face with the palm of her hands.

For some unknown reason Kitty was reluctant to tell the truth to Brad. Somehow, she was embarrassed if Brad was to found out all about her sins. Kitty has high regards on Brad, she secretly adored this young night janitor. It was like having a crush on some cool guy and doing everything you can to hide the bad side of you to make the guy good impression long lasting.

"Just tell me," said Brad a little impatience.

"But promise me that if you will judge me you will do so in secret of your mind and never to tell it to my face. And if you wouldn't want to hang out with me after this then I will understand. Brad, promise me!"

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad..."

"Promise me!"

"Okay, I promise. Now tell me!"

"Brad, I'm a sugar baby, well, I was until two days ago. My sugar daddy is going through an ugly divorced and he is left with nothing but an apartment that he bought for me in Notting Hill and he sold that apartment. So, now I'm homeless. The worst part is, I'm trying to have a new sugar daddy but so far nothing match my schedule. Yes, I'm that kind of girl, Brad and it doesn't look like I'm going to stop anytime soon," Kitty drew a deep breath and turned to Brad, looking at him, anticipating his response.

"Kitty, why do you feel like you need to hide that from me? I could never judge you and I have no rights to. I admired you too much," Brad smiled.

"Well, in that case, I should really tell you the truth then, the whole truth and nothing but the truth," said Kitty and then began to tell Brad the whole story of her long journey to get to The Royal Ballet Company.

"It didn't make any sense, why would you sell your parents' house and buy car instead? Why didn't you use the left over money to rent a flat? Kitty, you're unbelievable!" said Brad as he tried so hard not to burst out laughing. Kitty's life story is sad but Brad found humor in the fact that Kitty's mind work mysteriously that she found buying a car is much better plan than to rent a flat.

"Well, I was a teenager! How am I supposed to know all that? All I cared was just to get into the royal ballet school," said Kitty defensively but then she burst out laughing on how silly and confused she was when she was just a teenager.

Their laughter echoed in the big, empty, dark theater.

"I'm sorry about your parents, Kitty," said Brad as their laughter ceased.

"Thank you, Brad."

"Look, Kitty, I have a small flat in Waltham Forest and I have a couch too if you want to, you can stay with me as long as you need,"

"Really? Oh, Brad! I could take the couch!"

"No, you take the bed, I'll take the couch!"

"Brad, you're an angel!" Kitty kissed Brad on the cheek, leaving him flushed.

That night Brad took Kitty to his small flat. It was indeed a very small flat that even Kitty clothes couldn't fit and have to be left on the car. Brad offered to get rid some of his stuffs to make room for hers but Kitty said no.

"The bed smells like you, Brad," Kitty laid on the bed and sniff the pillow.

"I should change the sheet,"

"No, you don't have to. I love your smell," said Kitty as she snuggled under the blanket.

"Good night, Kitty," Brad closed the door slowly.

That night nobody was able to fell asleep. Kitty tossed and turned, thinking about Brad who was sleeping on the couch in the living room. Brad couldn't closed his eyes, thinking about Kitty who was sleeping on his bed.

It was 4.30 in the morning and the door of Brad's bedroom slowly opened. Kitty tip toed outside to the couch.

"Brad," whispered Kitty.

"Kitty?" Brad got up from the couch.

"I couldn't sleep,"

"Me too," Brad walked up to the window and turned back. "I'll show you something! Come with me,"

Brad led Kitty to a long stairs and up to the roof. Brad held Kitty's hand as he slowly helped her to climb to the top of the roof and there, they sat side by side overlooking the entire landscape of Waltham Forest and on the far edge of the landscape is a pale light of the rising sun.

"It's beautiful, Brad! Is this absolutely your favorite place?" exclaimed Kitty enthusiastically.

"Yes, I come here when I couldn't sleep,"

Kitty looked hard at Brad, her eyes were searching every inch of him. Brad could feel Kitty's eyes all over him and found himself blush by the attention that the girl paid him.

Kitty just realized how handsome Brad is. His broad shoulder--perfect to cry on. His charming boyish smile--assured her that everything would be okay. His sharp nose, brown eyes, and curly brown hair, all very handsome for her except his beard, that one beard for Kitty, was like an ivy covering up a beautiful rock wall.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Brad.

"Brad, you're a very handsome guy, you know that? If you shave the beard and got a new haircut, you'd be the most handsome guy in the room!" Kitty reached to Brad's hair and play with his curl. "You have a beautiful curl,"

"Well, I'm glad you like it," Brad smiled nervously at Kitty.

"Like it? I adore it!" exclaimed Kitty with the most adorable tone.

Brad found himself unable to resist Kitty's charm anymore. He's been dreaming of kissing her lips ever since he laid eye on her the first time and he's been controlling himself, to restrain himself. But now he couldn't hold on any longer. Brad leaned in and pulled Kitty closed to him and kissed her so passionately that by the end of it they both painting, out of breath.

How they managed to climbed down the roof safely while locking lips was a mystery but view minutes later Brad and Kitty tossed each other's clothes on the floor and impatiently trying to open the bedroom door. Brad tossed Kitty on the bed and made love to her.

"So, what are we, Kitty?" asked Brad after a dozen times they pounded on each other and now they both laid side by side, exhausted but satisfy.

"Darling Brad, just because we slept together doesn't mean that you have to date me. We're **** buddy, let's leave it to that," said Kitty as she rose up to go to the bathroom.

It was too bad that Kitty didn't look back. Because if she had, she would've saw the look of disappointment on Brad's face. Just as well that Kitty walked straight to the bathroom that Brad couldn't see the look of sadness in that girl's face.

Kitty realized how much she was attracted to Brad, after all Brad was the only man--out of a thousand man that has ever been to Kitty's life--who is kind, gentle and sincere.

Brad has a pure, angelic heart but as of right now Kitty has no used of dating, she's much too sensible for that. She has ballet that keeping her busy and even if it weren't for the ballet, Kitty was much too logical to be dating Brad. He's too poor and she's too materialistic as a girl should be.

Brad and Kitty were the kind of people who could hide their feeling well. Who could put on a smile and go on about their day without even bulging despite both has been harboring feeling for each other. But in their defense, they have the perfect arrangement; they were roommate. They were a man and a woman and need some physical touch once in a while which both could provide for each other. They go to work together and go home together. They were the perfect **** buddy.

The royal ballet company finally announced that they'd be doing Cinderella for the summer performance and Kitty would go for the big fish; the role of Cinderella.

Since the audition of Cinderella have been announced 2 week earlier, Kitty has been practicing like a maniac. She would spent hours well after midnight to practice her ballet moves and would only came home when the sun almost rise. All the while, Brad was loyally watch her, accompanied her through those long hours of practice. Brad understood and very supportive of Kitty.

"Good luck with audition," said Brad as Kitty kissed him affectionately on the cheek.

Kitty left home cheerfully and even more cheerful when she got back and told Brad that the audition had been a success. The royal ballet company will announced the casts the next day.

Kitty clutched her hand tightly in a fist, her face grew red with anger and her eyes froze to a piece of paper that have been glued to the wall. In it was the announcement and the role of Cinderella went to Clarissa Harrington, Kitty's arch enemies.

Clarissa Harrington was a brunet that came from an upper class family. She was a girl with so many advantages that money can buy except -- according to Kitty -- a beautiful, exciting face.

Clarissa was plain, ordinary looking girl but covered it all up with expensive things from head to toe. She and Kitty has been an arch enemy since the first time they attended the royal ballet school 2 years ago. Although, it suffice to say that Clarissa always wins when it comes to ballet related competition and Kitty ended up the second place.

As of this summer's performance of Cinderella, Miss Piggy--that was Kitty's nickname for Clarissa--would get to play Cinderella while dirty cat--Clarissa nickname for Kitty--got to play Drizella, the ugly step sister.

"How did it go? Are you the Cinderella?" asked Brad when Kitty opened the front door. He was watching TV in the living room.

Kitty remained silent while closing the front door and frown when she looked at Brad that was when Brad knew that things went wrong.

"Is it that bad?" asked Brad when Kitty sat beside him.

"Oh, Brad! I hate that Clarissa pig! Where is the logic here? I'm the beautiful one, I'm blonde, like Cinderella by the way and I danced perfectly at the audition. There's no way I would lose to that bitch! The audition has been rigged!" Kitty laid back, rested her head on the arm rest of the sofa and drew a deep breath. "I'm Drizella, the ugly step sister!"

Brad took Kitty's both feet and put it on his lap, massaging it. "Well, at least you got to be in the main character not just some extra who dance in group, isn't that a good thing?"

"Oh, Brad, clearly you're good thing and mine are different. How am I going to achieve my dream of playing swan princess? The director would always see Cinderella! You know, people tend to hate those who played the evil part, in this case an evil step sister!"

"I'm sorry, Kitty but I still think that you ought to be grateful at least you're part of the main character."

Kitty once again drew a deep breath and fell silent. She closed her eyes as Brad kept massaging her feet. They didn't say a word for view minutes then suddenly Kitty jerked off the couch and stood in front of Brad, blocking the view of the TV.

"Brad, I'm tired of being sad!" Kitty took Brad's hand. "Come with me, I have a special place to go whenever I feel sad,"

"You're weird," said Brad as Kitty pulled him out of the house.

The drive didn't take long. View minutes after leaving the driveway, they arrived at the shopping mall in central London. That placed filled with expensive shop and people passing by with big paper bags on their hands, some even have their assistant followed behind them with dozens of paper bags.

Kitty and Brad went from shop to shop. Kitty fell in love with a dress but upon seeing the price tag she was disappointed and left the dress on the floor. It's just the price that she couldn't pay. They went to the jewelry store and came out there with Kitty pouting and even got more depressed.

The more they visit shops, the more it dawn on Kitty that she was broke and not one item in this shopping mall that she could afford thus she got even more depressed.

They were sitting on the wooden bench in front of Channel store. Kitty was sitting silently, brooding on her misfortune when Brad poke her.

"I got something for you," said Brad and reach into his pocket and pulled out a small gift box.

"For me? What is it?" exclaimed Kitty, slowly opened the box. She found a green ribbon inside. "What is it?" asked Kitty confusedly.

"I googled Drizella when you were busy checking out price tags and I see that she has green ribbon on her head at all time," Brad took the green ribbon and put it on Kitty's head.

"You know, Kitty, you'll make a beautiful Drizella and I bet if the writer of the Cinderella story could see how beautiful the girl that play Drizella they would've made the prince to fall in love with her instead of that dirty face girl. And don't forget you're a wonderful dancer no matter what part you got,"

"Brad, you're a darling!" Kitty embraced Brad.

"Let's get out of here! You said this place cheer you up but you got even more depressed than you were before we came here. You should really change your happy place because this one didn't do shit to cheer you up," Brad took Kitty's hand and led her out of the mall. "I have a place that would certainly cheer you up, I promise you! I'll drive,"

Brad drove Kitty to the pier. It was the fresh air that this Ballerina needs more than any expensive clothes or jewelries. He led Kitty to one of the bench overlooking the ocean and they just sat there silently, taking all of the picturesque view and enjoying the wind.

"For you," said Brad suddenly standing in front of Kitty with strawberry ice cream on his hand.

"What is it?"

"It's ice cream. Strawberry ice cream,"

"Oh, no, Brad! I don't eat ice cream at all. I only eat green salad and sour lemon tea ever since I was seven years old," Kitty looked at the strawberry ice cream with dread.

"Goodness! Poor little Kitty," said Brad as he sat beside her. "Just this one time, try it! Just one cheat day out of fifteen years. I don't think your body could be that unforgiving," Brad looked at Kitty with an appealing eyes that Kitty finally gave in.

"If I gain weight, I'll blame you for it," Kitty took the ice cream from Brad and licked it with the tip of her tongue, so carefully at first but then when she tasted how delicious that ice cream was she ate it with gusto.

"This is delicious!" exclaimed Kitty as she kept on eating the ice cream, by now she has view tears rolled down on her cheek.

It was the first time in 15 years that she ever eat anything else beside her usual diet of green vegetable salad, boiled egg and sweet and sour lemon tea.

Brad looked at Kitty with satisfaction and they both sat side by side on the bench enjoying the ice cream together. That moment was one of the moment that Kitty cherish for the rest of her life.

It was finally proven that indeed Kitty's body wasn't at all forgiving when it comes to foreign food as she got diarrhea attack when they got back home. That would be her first and last ice cream.

"It's your fault!" said Kitty when she finished her business in the loo and now laid on the bed, exhausted from running back and forth to the toilet.

"I made you some bitter tea to stop the diarrhea," Brad took the tea cup to Kitty and made her take a sip. "I'm sorry about the ice cream,"

They looked at each other and laughed. Good thing they could find the funny part of the whole diarrhea episode. That was the thing with Brad for Kitty, she could always find the funny and the fun part out of every misfortune as long as she's with him.

That night they both laid side by side on bed. Kitty was on Brad's arm, enjoying the warmth of his embraced and taking all of his fragrance that Kitty loved so much.

"I hear the drums echoing tonight but she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation," Kitty began singing.

"Wait, I have the perfect guitar," Brad took his phone and opened a virtual guitar app. "It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you, there's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do," sang Brad.

"I bless the rains down in Africa, gonna take some time to do the things we never had,"

They sang the duet of Africa by Toto.

Only with Brad that Kitty even think of singing in bed. It was their most intimate time and it wasn't even involved sex. It was pure comfort between the two of them.