The girl in the gilded cage *Completed*

When girls hurt

*Josh*

"Josh, wait up! I'll walk you home." I hear Katja come running up behind me, and I almost groan in frustration.

I turn and smile, shaking my head, "No need to, I can find the way on my own."

"I was thinking we could continue what we started during dinner," she says, trying to take my hand.

This is my limit, and I pull my hand away from her. "No, Katja. We started nothing during dinner; you tried groping me, very inappropriate, I might add. That is all that happened."

She doesn't seem to get it but steps closer, placing her hand on my chest. "But we could start something then. I think you are so sexy and handsome, Josh. And don't worry, I know what I am doing; I can make you very happy." She suddenly grabs my hair, pulling me down and kissing me hard.

*Malina*

I am on my way back to my trailer after an evening stroll when I hear a girl moan. I mean, I know things are going on in the circus; all these people working and living close together tend to make things happen. But most people have the decency to keep it private.

Suddenly, I see them. f**k, it's Josh and Katja. Seriously, I hadn't thought him the kind of man who would go for a girl that young. It seems very heated; he has her pressed up the side of a trailer, his hands on her body.

For some reason, I feel sick, and I hurry off, not wanting to see this. I had thought him different. I should have been smarter; of course, he is like any other man.

*Josh*

I finally manage to get her off me. f**k, the girl is like a leech, and I didn't want to hurt her, which made it kind of hard peeling her off me. "Katja, stop right now," I tell her, sitting her on the ground.

"But why don't you want me? The boys say I am good," she says, pouting, and I rub my neck, groaning in frustration.

"Katja, you are a pretty girl and a sweet one when you don't act like this. But bottom line, you are a girl; you could literally be my daughter, and I would never touch you like that. And you shouldn't let the boys either; you are worth much more than that," I tell her. I actually feel kind of sorry for her; she is just a big kid.

She looks down, and I am pretty sure I see tears welling up in her eyes. "But they don't want to date me if I am not putting out. They expect me to. I want to find a husband, to not have to live with my family, but the boys here are not ready to settle."

"Oh, sweetie, you are still so young. Those boys, they are not worth your time. Stop letting them diminish you. Be strong and believe in your own worth; then the right boy will come along, one that will respect you and won't expect you to do anything you don't want to," I tell her softly. “One that will marry you, and stay faithful.”

She is crying now, and I pull her into a hug. "I am sorry, Josh; I acted really bad. I just wanted the other girls to think I was cool. They kind of all think you are really hot. And you are rich and famous, you would make a great husband."

"It is okay. Let's just forget what happened tonight. I would be happy to be your friend," I say as I let her go. It is sad to see a young girl grown up too fast.

She smiles at me gratefully. "Thank you, Josh; you really are a great guy. Dammit, you are not 15 years younger."

"Get back to bed," I tell her, shaking my head slightly. As I watch her walk back to her parents' trailer, I sigh and hope she really learned something tonight and that she will respect herself a lot more in the future.

As I walk back to get into bed, my mind is back on Malina. She is only 5 years older than Katja, but they seem so different. Katja is still a kid. Malina is without a doubt a woman.