Out

The shower was beating down on my face.  I had slept until the last possible minute, forcing me to halfsies rush to get ready.  I felt awful.  I was emotionally hungover and dehydrated.  My head was pounding, and I was hungry.  I was in a conundrum because I couldn't eat much so I wouldn't bloat, but I knew I'd be drinking, so I needed to eat something.


I turned off the water, got out, and dried off.  I went out and checked the mini-fridge to remind myself of what food I'd bought and stuffed in there.  I grabbed some grapes and a clementine and decided that would have to do with how little time I had.


I pulled on some leggings and an oversized tshirt and tied it in a knot in the back.  I slipped on some hightops, grabbed my purse and left, popping grapes in my mouth as I walked to the club.  The club had lockers to keep our stuff in, so I'd already taken everything I'd need for the 2 weeks and left it there.  I didn't want to have to carry stuff with me back and forth.


I yawned as I pulled the club's door open. 


"You need to cut that shit out," I heard from behind me.  I turned and Megan was coming towards the door, too.


I half-laughed.  "I think it might be a long night."


She grinned at me.  "Not if I can help it."  Then her expression turned serious.  "So, last night..."


"I am so sorry," I began.  "If he comes in again I'll let the bouncer..."


Megan cut me off.  "Stop.  All I want to know is if you're okay.  That's all."


"I am," I said.  Mostly sincerely.  I gave my best attempt at a smile as a thank you. 


She nodded and slapped my butt.  "Now let's get you put together.  You look terrible."


I laughed, for real this time.  "That's the sweetest thing anyone has said to me all day!"


She studied my face, and gave me a weird look.  "Honestly, I believe that.  However, let me guess.  I'm the only person you've spoken to today?"


"Guilty!"  It wasn't often that anyone saw me without makeup on and with my hair still wet and hanging there.


Megan asked to do my makeup and hair, so I let her.  It gave me another moment to rest my eyes.  She was doing my hair first, and before she got started she frowned and dabbed some stuff under my eyes.  "This will help with the puffiness."  Then she got to work.

XXXXXXX

The night was usual.  Stage rotations, extra long dances for me since I was the headliner, and working the floor.  Private dances here and there, no one grabby or out of control.
It was about an hour and a half before close and Megan grabbed my elbow while I was chatting up a group of guys and whispered in my ear, "Let's get out of here."
I cocked an eyebrow at her, said adieu to the guys and followed her to the back.  "Where we going?"
"Out," she grinned.
I checked the clock on the wall.  "By the time we get ready, all the clubs are going to be closed."
She tsk'ed at me and walked to a back closet.  She pulled out a couple of tiny sparkly dresses and handed me one.  "Of course you'd keep a stash here."
She laughed and started changing.  I followed suit.
Shortly after we were walking out the door saying goodbyes.  Before we walked out, the group of guys I had been talking to came up behind us.  "Where you two going?" one of them asked.
I looked at Megan.  She gave me a look, silently asking how I felt about clients tagging along.  I shrugged.  She gave them a seductive look and just nodded for them to follow.
There were five of them.  I noticed a couple of them had wedding bands on, and they were mostly staying out of our conversations.  There was a guy, Toby, who was paying a lot of attention to me.  He had a surfer look going.  He appeared young with blonde hair that just curled on the ends and piercing blue eyes.  He was in a polo with dark jeans, and I could tell he had the body to match that surfer vibe.  Megan had a clean cut guy with black rimmed glasses and skinny jeans right beside her.  His name was Jeremiah.
We walked a few blocks and entered a club, going straight to the bar.  We all got drinks, the guys bought.  Drinks in tow, we made our way out to the dance floor.  Of course.
Between the drinks, the lack of sleep, the emotional hangover, and minimal food, I was soon buzzed and laughing a lot.  Toby's hands on my hips, our bodies felt like they belonged pressed up against each other.
Then the room was spinning.  And that was the last thing I remember.

XXXXXX

"Mmmm," I moaned.  I put my hands over my eyes, the light too bright through my eyelids.  That was already a bad sign. 


I reached for my pillow to bury my head and hit someone else's head instead.

Realization

I grabbed Brett's wrist after I'd followed him off the stage and pulled him back to a private room.  "What are you doing here?" I hissed at him.  A strip club was literally the last place I would have ever expected to see Brett.


He laughed humorously.  "Well, isn't that rich coming from you," he snipped back at me.


I sighed, but toned down my 'tude.  "I just never expected to see you in a place like this... let alone in Key West," I emphasized.


He raised his eyebrows at me.  "And I never expected to see you... all of you... in a place like this."  Sadness tinged his voice.


Realization dawned on me, as I saw Brett's eyes cautiously skim over my body.


Brett had never seen me naked.


I blushed furiously, and crossed my arms over my exposed breasts, self-conscious for the first time in years.  My eyes dropped to the floor.  I couldn't even look at him.


He didn't say anything for what felt like forever.  "Lex," he began gently.  I looked up at him and his eyes were sad, and on the edge of spilling tears.  "You're beautiful," he whispered.


I could feel emotions coming up on me like a volcano threatening to erupt.  Brett and I hadn't ended on the best of terms, but we didn't end because we didn't love each other.  After Brett, I had shut down feeling anything towards almost anyone.  There was a lot of unresolved feelings that I never dealt with.


I swallowed hard, stomaching the bubbling volcano.  I shook my head no at him.  "No, Brett.  Don't say that."


"Lexy, what happened to you?"  He didn't sound accusatory, he just sounded hollow.


I was unwilling to open up to him.  Not here.  Not now.  I didn't know if ever.  I closed my eyes, pushed out the air in my lungs also releasing any thoughts of what was happening to me.  I gave him my dazzling work smile and asked, "So, what brought you to Key West?"


He rolled his eyes.  He saw right through me.  He opened his mouth when there was a knock on the wall.  The curtain cracked open, and it was a bouncer.  "This room is needed."


I nodded.


We walked out.  We exchanged a look and Brett headed back to his friends.  I started towards the back when Megan accosted me.  "Who was that?" she questioned, wide eyed. 


"No one," I flatly replied.


"Liar."  Then she grinned and walked away.


What was with these people being able to read me tonight?


I needed to work the floor again, for final rounds before close, but I needed a moment to just breath.  I went to the back and sat in a chair, looking in a mirror.  Somewhere deep in my eyes I could see the old me.  But, she needed to stay buried.

XXXXXXX About 4 1/2 Years Ago XXXXXXX

We were studying for finals.


"I don't like Regan."  This was probably the most honest Brett had been with me in months.  Our relationship had become distant.  Empty.


"She's my best friend, Brett.  And you've never had a problem with her before," I shot back defiantly.


"I don't understand why you have to go out with her every fucking weekend and you never ask me to go with, and you don't even ever tell me where you're going."


I winced.  Brett had never cussed at me before.  "You never ask where we're going, either."


"Well, where are you going, then?"


My breath caught in my throat.  I wasn't prepared to answer that.  So I did what I had become best at over the past 6 months.  I diverted.  "Why are you being so controlling, Brett?"


I saw something I had never seen in the past 3 years flash in Brett's eyes.  Rage.  But that wasn't what scared me.  It was his voice: cool, calm, and uncaring.  "And pray tell, Alexandria.  Why are you being such a bitch?"


My eyes widened.  "What is wrong with you?  You have changed so much since coming to Miami.  I wish you wouldn't have come here," I flippantly spat back at him.


He stood up, his rage now showing through his stony exterior.  "I've changed?  You're telling me you think that I have changed?"  He laughed a deep, chilling laugh.  He pointed a finger at me.  "You... I just can't even handle you anymore."


He started walking towards the door, to leave me in my dorm room.  He paused before he walked out the door.  He turned to look at me, devastation now encasing his face.  "Lexy, I love you.  But this isn't you."


I didn't see him again.  He had tried calling me a few times a couple days after the fight, but I ignored him. We were both way too young and way too stubborn. I didn't go back to Ohio for the summer. He didn't come back to Miami the following year, either.


Out of all the poor decisions I made that year, that was by far the worst one of my whole life.

XXXXXXX Current Day XXXXXXX

I was chatting up some guy who was content receiving a chair dance out on the floor, as he was tucking ones and fives into my G-string.  I could tell he was a rich, lonely guy who was there to just blow money, and then later a load.


I felt a hand light on my lower back.  "I'd like a dance, please?"  Brett sounded so awkward.


I laughed and took him back to a different room than we had been in earlier.  "Is this going to be weird for you?"


He gave me his killer half smile.  "Probably."  He looked at me curiously.  "So, confession, this is my first time at one of these places," he gestured around.  "What am I supposed to do now?"


I wasn't surprised at all by his little confession.  Brett really was a good guy.  "Well, luckily for you, this isn't my first time."  I winked at him.  "You just sit right there, and I'll take care of the rest."


He looked apprehensive, but I found it endearing.  I started over again, dancing around and over him, gliding my body against his.  As I lowered my self down on to him, my back against his chest, I could feel how hard he was through his shorts.  I untied my top and pulled it off, tossing it on the floor.


I turned to face him and he hungrily eyed my breasts before making eye contact with me.  I grabbed his hands and moved them to my breasts.  He closed his eyes and squeezed lightly.  I put his hands back down and pressed my breasts against his face, lightly trailing my hardened nipple against his lips.  His mouth slightly parted, eyes still closed.  I could feel my body start reacting to him. 


Shit, I thought.  I never allowed any of my dances to be more than an act.  Ever.  It was why I was good at what I did, and why I never crossed a line with anyone.  I pulled away from him and jumped off of him, his touch burning me.


Brett's eyes popped open, questioning.  He stood up and started walking towards me and I backed away, slowly.  I made sure not to look at the camera, because I didn't want anyone busting in here.  This was a moment more intimate than any I had experienced in my life.


"Brett, no," I whispered, holding my palm up towards him. 


He grabbed my hand and pulled it to his chest, pulling my body along with it.  He held my hand against his heart, which was pounding, and tangled his other hand in my hair.  "Lexy, I'm sorry for how things ended.  I'm really sorry for everything."


Tears prickled the corners of my eyes.  "I am, too.  You deserved better..."


But before I could finish he pressed his lips lightly to mine.  He tasted like home.


He pulled away, gently and too soon, but rested his forehead against mine.  "Brett, why are you here?"


He paused.  "I'm getting married, Lex."

XXXXXXX

I woke up in the early afternoon tired, red-eyed, and hung over.  After Brett's second confession, I had slapped him and walked out of the room.


I told Megan I had to go, and she didn't question me.  She just said leave, and I saw her step behind me to intersect Brett, as he was trying to chase me down.  I got back to my hotel and drank myself into an oblivion. 


I saw it was about 2 p.m., and I had to be at the club at 7 p.m.  The pain that broke through my cracks during the night was still lingering today, causing me to be more miserable than anywhere near how my hang over would make me feel.


I buried my head in my pillow, not looking forward to the next one week and six days in this now tainted town.

Cloak of Shame

I had danced with other girls before.  But this: dancing with Megan, was different.  There was no awkwardness.  It was natural. 


Smooth.

XXXXXXX About 5 Years Ago XXXXXXX

"Let's goooooooo, Lex!" Regan encouraged. 


"Um, I'm really not comfortable with this," I hesitantly spoke.  "I don't think this is really the way for me to get more confident.  Plus, this kinda goes against everything I stand for..."


Regan rolled her eyes at me.  "Ok, Lexy," Regan sarcastically began.  "You've tried the past several months to get it together, and nothing has worked.  Just try this.  If it's really bad, or you start crying, I'll rescue you and never force you against what you stand for again.  Promise."  Regan gave me puppy dog eyes.


"But what about Brett?" I whined in a last ditch effort.  Brett not only would never approve of this, but would be so angry, seeing as how HE had never seen me naked.


Regan stopped dragging me towards the door, faced me, and grabbed both of my hands in hers.  "Alexandria, I promise on my life he will never find out about this unless you tell him."


I gulped down the last of my fear and anxiety and nodded my head.


Regan was on the cheer team with me, and had become my very best friend in the few months we'd been at Miami together.  Both freshmen, both standouts.  A lot of people even thought we were sisters, if they'd never met us previously.  Both on the small side, blonde, blue eyes.  However, while I was (usually) confident, outgoing, but conservative, Regan was boisterous, the life of the party, and about as opposite of conservative as can be.  We actually made a good match.  I was more the instigator, whereas she would actually jump first, ask questions later.


I had been musing as to how to get my confidence back so I didn't lose my full-ride, or worse, get kicked off the squad, when she said she had an idea.  She hadn't told me what it was, just told me to trust her.


That's how I wound up in a town a couple hours away, at a sketch looking strip club with "Amateur Night" flashing in lights on its sign.  I knew that Regan would sometimes strip at amateur nights when she wanted extra money, and did so out of town so as not to run into anyone she knew, but I never actually thought that's what she had in mind for me.


The bouncer didn't even card us when we walked in the door.  I looked around the dank, dated inside of the club.  It was small, with ripped maroon clothed chairs sitting around tables.  The tables were sporadically sprinkled around a single small stage, with a lone gold pole in the middle of it.  There was one girl dancing on the stage wearing what appeared to be jeggings and  bikini top.  Her glasses (not the seductive library looking kind) kept falling down her nose, and her dancing appeared to be more like... jerky random movements.  At one point she laid on her back and started clapping her legs together, then wide open, then together again.  Over and over.  There were several small groups of rough looking men scattered around, not paying close attention to the lone girl.


I could feel my mouth agape and took a step backwards.  Regan grabbed my arm.  "I don't think I can do this..."


Regan put her face right in mine, "Yes you can.  And you will."


She dragged me towards the bar, but I couldn't look away from the girl on the stage.  It was like a train wreck.  I didn't know what would be worse: if the groups of guys all watched me, or if none of them did.


She had a conversation with someone behind the bar, and they clearly knew each other.  If I had to guess, I'd say that Regan had been here before, a few times. 


Regan tapped my arm and I looked to see she had slid a double shot towards me.  "Here," she grinned, "you might want this."


She clinked her shot glass to mine and we downed them.  Then she grabbed two other glasses the bartender made while we were standing there and told me to follow her. 


She took me into the back, and I barely heard what she was saying to me as I focused on downing my drink and changing into the outfit she was lending me.  It was some school girl looking outfit.  Lacy thong, with a tiny skirt that didn't cover my butt cheeks, and a white see-through tied top.  Apparently the club we were at was only topless, thankfully, so I wouldn't have to take off any part of the bottoms if I didn't want.  And I didn't want.


As she pushed me out towards the door to go to the floor, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.  I quickly studied myself.  Heavy make-up, majorly teased hair, my cold and terrified nipples visible and poking through the top.  Although I didn't recognize the reflection looking back at me, the most unrecognizable part was the cloak of shame I was draped in. 


I had never been ashamed of anything I'd done before.


Regan came up behind me and slapped my butt.  I jumped.  She was wearing some sexy dominatrix looking outfit.  She wrapped her arms around me.  "Look at you," she exclaimed.  "Fucking hot!"


Despite how incredibly awkward I felt, I laughed at the situation.  We looked like we were dressed up for a slutty Halloween party, not ready to go strip on a stage.


"Do I have to go up there alone?"


"Yes.  This wouldn't serve its purpose if you didn't," she said firmly, and she pushed me through the door into the still mostly empty hole in the wall.

XXXXXXX Present Day XXXXXXX

Megan's body slid around mine, as we masterfully grinded, parted, slithered around the poles, and then back to each other as if we had spent days choreographing our seductive dance.  We knew exactly when to part and work the crowd that was shoulder to shoulder around our stage, lapping up every move we made.  When the final beat of  Bruno Mars' "Gorilla" played out, we ended face to face, one of her hands on my cheek and one of mine on her hip.  She winked at me, and I laughed.  We parted ways going around the stage letting the men tuck bills into our G-strings, making it clap for extra.


We met in the middle and Megan grabbed my hand and we strutted off stage.  "That," she pointed back at the stage, "was amazing."


"You can move," I said, impressed.


"I couldn't dance like that with anyone else," she cocked an eyebrow. 


Then, another girl stuck her head in the door.  "Hey, a bachelor party just came in!" she squealed.  "They want us getting him up on stage right away."


"Let's go," Megan said while grabbing my hand once again and pulling me out on stage.


They already had the poor sap bent over on the stage with his pants pulled down.  Underwear up, of course.  Someone had given Megan a microphone. 


"Hmmm," she announced.  "It seems that someone's been naughty by leaving the bachelor market and needs disciplined."  Someone had removed his belt and Megan had a hold of it.  She cracked it together in her hand.  "We'll have our special guest do the honor tonight... let's hear it for Lexy!"  She looked at me and held out her hand with the belt in it.  There were whoops and hollers.  I actually hated doing this.  Part of me felt guilty for leaving bruises and welts on the poor guy forced up here by his pig-friends.  But, that's not the role I play.


I grinned mischievously, and took the belt from Megan.  I went over and did my due diligence, putting on a show, spanking the guy at the joy of his friends as they egged me on.  A few yelled out "me next"s, but they were ignored mostly.  It was this guy's time in the light.


After I handed him my hand to help him up, and one of the other girls started pulling up his pants from behind. As the guy stood and we were face to face for the first time, shock momentarily covered my face, as I found myself looking into the eyes of Brett.

There's One in Every Club

"Vodka tonic with 3 limes," I purred in response to the patron who asked what he could buy me.  Some clubs allowed us to drink, others frowned upon it.  This one was okay with it, as long as we were still able to perform our duties.  I always drank vodka tonics.  They were non-bloating and low calories compared to everything else.  They did their job while not affecting mine.
He flagged one of the waitresses down, and ordered it for me.  Waitresses always brought our drinks directly to us after someone ordered them, so as to ensure we weren't drugged.  When she delivered it back to me, I went back to my flirty small talk, making sure the focus was on him.  I always answered questions honestly, but left a degree of mystery.  I never disclosed too much, but enough to make me interesting and to leave them wanting more.
Patron continued, "So, are you a new dancer here?  I don't recognize you, though, you don't dance like an amateur."  He was having a hard time maintaining eye contact, clearly much more interested in what my chest was doing.  I could tell he was rather drunk, as he was slightly swaying. 
"I'm just here visiting," I responded.  Simple is better.
"Well, I'd sure like to visit you in the private room," he nodded towards one of the back rooms used for lap dances. 
Just then the song switched.  I took a large gulp of my drink and handed him the glass.  "You'll have to try and catch me later, I'm up on stage again."  Then I winked, and walked away, making sure to strut, as I knew he'd be watching. 
I climbed the stairs up on the stage I was supposed to be on, the far side one.  There was only one person sitting on it.  Even though I liked working the whole stage and preferred a crowd, I knew how to make that one person feel like they were at the big stage.  I always gave my best performance, even if there wasn't anyone watching.  That's how you catch wandering eyes.
As I slid smoothly around the pole, I maintained eye contact with my loner.  I did always think it was odd when a person would come by themselves.  Male or female, it was no less weird.
Once that song was over, and I had caught a few others' eyes, I walked the edge of the stage, letting them tuck bills into my G-string. 
I went down the stairs back onto the floor and was immediately greeted by guy who wanted a lap dance.  He smelled of Jaegermeister, and it was making me gag.  That was the only alcohol I couldn't stand the smell of.  And before, while it had been faint, now it was overpowering. 
He tightly grabbed my wrist and started leading me towards one of the rooms.  We passed one of the bouncers who raised his eyebrows at me.  I rolled my eyes.  He jerked his head upwards and I nodded once, understanding his non-verbals, reminding me that I just needed to look into the cameras that were in every room and someone would be in.
As soon as he sat down in a chair and leaned back, he pulled out a hundred.  "And what all will this get me?"  as he made a blow job motion.
I couldn't help it, I laughed.  But he was serious.  I twisted my laugh into an "innocent" giggle.  "An extra-long lap dance."
Some clubs will turn a blind eye to "other activities" that may happen in the private rooms, but I never partook in those activities.  Not only that, but aside from me controlling what touching may be occurring between our bodies, I didn't play with that boundary and didn't allow it.  I also knew this club held to a higher standard and didn't allow men touching the girls unless we made it happen (i.e.: we put their hands on our breasts, or we put our breasts on their face, etc.).  It was why I had agreed to these two weeks fully nude.
He scowled at me but didn't say anything else.  I started moving around him and then was grinding against him, and he started grasping at my top to pull it off.  I lightly swatted his hands down and wagged a finger at him.  I unhooked my top and let it fall to the floor.  He immediately reached up and grabbed my breasts.  I lightly grasped his wrists and put them down at his sides, cushioning his face between them as I did.  He moaned and I felt his tongue start licking me.  I rolled my eyes, since he couldn't see.  Par for the course.
I turned away from him and started teasing with my bottoms, rolling my hips around and twerking on him.  I let them fall to the floor, and went back to dancing on him.  His hands were resting at his side on the edge of the chair, where they were supposed to be.  I was moving up and down grinding over him, but not quite touching him when I felt one of his fingers slide over my skin between my legs.  I popped up and immediately stared hard into the camera, backing away from him. 
"Where are you going?" Jaegermeister slurred.
"The dance is over," my voice was cold.
"Bitch, please.  I'm paying for you."
"No, you're paying for the fantasy and visual of me.  Window shopping only."  I stared him down.
The bouncer immediately came in.  The guy's hands flew up, palms forward.  "Hey, hey, we were just having a good time, right sweetie?"
I only looked at the bouncer.  "He touched me," I said flatly.
He knew what that meant and immediately grabbed Jaegermeister's upper arm to escort him out of the building. 
"You're a fucking tease," he spat at me before he was pushed through the door.
I rolled my eyes.  There's literally one in every club.

Into the Light

XXXXXXX About 5 Years Ago XXXXXXX

Coach closed her eyes and exhaled a deep sigh before starting.  "Lexy, we gave you a full ride because we expected you to be our star.  You're a high flyer and more flexible than anyone else on the team.  You also are the best dancer, by far."
I looked down at my hands, which were wringing each other.  I knew where she was going, and I knew she was right.
Coach continued, "We know you're in a difficult place and going through a horrible, traumatic experience.  It hasn't been long, we know that.  That's why we're not going to make decisions this fall about what to do for the rest of your college career.  We want to do what we can to support you.  However, we need to know that you want to be here, and that your heart will be in this, once it starts healing."
I nodded my head silently, and covered my eyes with my hands, beginning to silently cry into them.  Coach moved from around her desk and sat in the chair next to me, pulling me as close as the chairs would, wrapping her arm around my shoulder.  "I'm sorry, Lex.  You know we are here for you and will do whatever we can for you."
I sniffled.  "I do want to be here.  I just... I don't know how to get my... my... I don't know how to get what's missing back," I resolved.
"Well, from a personal standpoint, you probably should talk to someone.  I can get you the name of a great on-campus counselor who I think will help." I nodded.  "From a cheerleading perspective, the way you appear on the field, it's as if you've lost your confidence. It's almost like you've lost who you are.  You're hurting, but don't lose yourself in that hurt.  It's okay for you to still be confident in your abilities and who you are."  She paused, then continued tentatively, "I didn't know your parents well, but I'm sure they would have wanted that."
I again nodded my head, unable to speak.  I knew she was right.  I was lost.  I had lost my confidence, my spark.  And I wasn't sure how to get it back.

XXXXXXX Present Day XXXXXXX

I had made it in enough time to be shown the stage and the prepping area before it really got busy for the night.   The manager, Rod, was handsy, but never touched where he shouldn't.


When he took me back to the locker room, there were probably 10 to 15 girls already back there.  This was a large club, and within an hour or two, there would be closer to 30 some girls, probably.  I liked them big.  I liked when there were multiple stages.  I really liked when I drew the largest crowd, people leaving the smaller stages for mine. 


"Megan, over here,"  Rod called.  A gorgeous girl wearing a bra and thong walked over towards me, looking me up and down.  She had long black silky hair, brown almond shaped eyes, naturally creamy and smooth skin, and was a good 4 inches taller than me.  But, being taller than me wasn't hard to do, since I was only 5'2".  "Megan will show you the ropes for anything else you need."  Then he left.


"Well."  That was all she said.  Then she turned and I followed.  I liked her already.


As we made our way through and past the other girls, some were really friendly giving me half-naked hugs, and most offered me dirty looks.  I understood.  You never liked fresh meat coming in and possibly taking away your regulars and the money that could be yours.  Especially not in my case.  I only had a 2 week contract here.  These girls were all permanents to this club.


We went to a brightly lit station in the back.  She again looked me up and down.  "I was expecting someone taller.  But, your hair looks amazing.  And whoever did your tan knew what they were doing."  She ran a finger down my upper arm, as if to ensure my spray tan wasn't going to rub off.  "Plus, you're beautiful, so there's that."  She nodded approvingly.


I could tell Megan was the Queen Bee here.


"You'll go on in about an hour.  Did you give your playlist to Rod?"  I nodded.  "After your set, you'll get a brief break, then you'll make rotations on the stages and working the floor.  Once you get back to main stage, I'll be joining you and we'll see how it goes."  She shrugged.


I gave her a half smile back.  "You're really sexy," I said, simply.  Back when I'd started dancing, I used to get intimidated by other attractive girls: especially the ones I perceived as better looking than me.  I quickly gained the confidence, and to an extent cockiness, needed to not care and use it to my advantage. 


All she did was smile in return.  "So, what brings you to Key West?"


"Work."


"Sounds entertaining," she smirked.


"The name of the game, if you will. How long have you danced here?"


"Mmm," she seemed to ponder.  "Sometimes too long, other times not long enough.  Let me help you with your hair."


This time it was my turn to shrug.  She ran her fingers through my perfectly coifed hair, naturally platinum blonde on top, and dyed black underneath.  As she worked to give my hair volume, I perfected my dark smoky eye and thick eyeliner. 


Once done, I unbuttoned my large plaid shirt I had on, and pulled down my tiny shorts to put on my first outfit.  I removed my bra and Megan leaned in close to look at my breasts.  "Real?"


"Yes ma'am."


She raised her eyebrows.  "Impressive.  I wish my real ones were that nice."  She removed her bra and showed me her implants.  Her plastic surgeon had done a good job.


"If you hadn't told me, I may not have noticed!"


She laughed.  "Until I lay on my back."


I laughed with her. Then, she left me alone to finish up, and went to helping other girls with their hair, makeup and outfits, if you can call them that.  Looking around at the varying degrees of nakedness, it gave me a sense of comfort and familiarity.  Sometimes, now, it was easier to be in this setting than out in public.  I felt more naked and vulnerable outside of these windowless walls, than inside of them.


I put on my opening outfit.  A tiny black lacy 2 piece, that would end up on the stage.  I didn't usually strip at fully nude clubs, but did if the money was right.


It was finally my time to shine.  I stood behind the curtain of the main stage, my heart pumping in anticipation, until I heard the opening beats of my first song and slid between the part of the velvety curtain and out into the light.

Star Attraction

"Congratulations, Alexandria!" My mother cheerfully hugged me.  I smiled broadly inside of her embrace.


My dad patted me roughly on the back 3 times.  That was about as much affection as he ever showed.  But it didn't matter, I knew he loved me.  He showed it in other ways.


"We'll meet you at the Roadhouse, Lex," my dad simply stated.  Then he winked at me. 


Brett, my boyfriend of 2 years, put his arm around my shoulder and we strolled to his car, where he opened the door for me, then closed it behind me, ever the gentleman.


As we drove to Texas Roadhouse, I stared out the window, watching the small town pass by, knowing it wouldn't be long until I'd be gone.  We had just finished up senior awards, where I'd received a lot.  A lot of people thought my life was charmed, but I knew how much sacrifice and hard work my parents had put in to get me to where I was.  It was probably why I was so humble, in spite of my seeming privileges.  Perfect grades, "perfect" body, full ride scholarship to University of Miami for cheerleading, perfect boyfriend: I had it all. 


However, I knew that going to a "fancy" restaurant such as Texas Roadhouse was a huge monetary sacrifice for my parents.  With only finals left of this semester, my parents knew they had a few months left with me before I left for the big time.  I was their only child, their pride and joy.  Raised with good morals and strong convictions.  A good example was that even though Brett and I had been together for 2 years, we hadn't ever had sex.  I wanted to wait until marriage.  I wanted the love and commitment that I saw demonstrated from my parents, and I wasn't going to settle for anything less.


We had to go to the next town over to get to Texas Roadhouse.  Our town was too small.  About 45 minutes later, we arrived.  We had pulled out before my parents, so we went in to get reservations.


"Four, please," I smiled kindly at the hostess.  I worked in our small diner back home, so I understood how important it is to be nice to those who could have a say in the preparation of your food.


We were seated and Brett and I started discussing plans for the upcoming year.  Miami was a long way from our small town in Ohio.  Brett had actually applied to go to Miami so we could be together, and he had gotten in.  However, being down there wasn't his dream.  That was mine.  I had asked him to give it a year and then if he was miserable, we could consider going somewhere else.  So that was our deal.


10 minutes passed.


20 minutes passed.


I finally realized my parents should've arrived by now.  I grabbed my cell phone and called them, but it just rang with no answer.  I tried a couple more times, but there still was no answer.


We ordered an appetizer and waters, ate and then left.  I thought maybe Brett was in on this.  Maybe they had planned a surprise party back at the house, and this was the plan to have time to set up.  Brett didn't seem concerned.


We pulled back out onto the highway.  About 10 minutes into our drive is when we saw it.  The flashing lights.  The backed-up traffic on the other side of the median.  My parents car overturned.  A body laying on the road with a sheet covering it.  Another one being put into the back of an ambulance.


My heart stopped that night, and my life changed forever.


XXXXXXX 5 Years Later XXXXXXX


I shrugged my duffel bag higher on my shoulder as I walked briskly towards work.  I didn't want to be late.  Not tonight.  I checked my watch one more time.  I'd made good time so I slowed my pace a little.


I took deep breaths, trying to lower my body heat, too.  I didn't have time to take a shower when I got there, and couldn't be sweaty, but the humidity in Key West was taking it's toll.


My hotel wasn't actually that far away, it just felt like it was.  As I neared, I could see the sign with the bright flashing lights.  I took my phone out to snap a picture.  "Tonight Starring Lexxxy."


I grinned to myself.  My first time being the star attraction, the headliner.  I had made a name for myself.


I tugged the heavy door open, and stepped into the gentleman's club.