𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟮 𝗠𝗬 𝗨𝗡𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗡 ━━━━━ 𝘁𝘂𝗽𝗮𝗰 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗿.

048.

' FRI , FEB 25TH 1996. '
little diamonds ⸻
los angeles , california !

ALANA CRYSTAL AND I STEP INTO THE STRIP CLUB a wave of sensations washes over us, engulfing our senses in a whirlwind of sights, sounds, and scents. The dimly lit interior is illuminated by the vibrant hues of neon lights, casting an ethereal glow over the space and creating an atmosphere charged with anticipation.

There's women on the stage, a few topless, others walking around the club and a few performing earning the attention of men who practically gawk at the sight of them, throwing stashes of money towards their ways, with degrading words of appreciation, a few reaching out towards them with aggression blinded by lust.

As we navigate through the crowded space, I feel the weight of their gazes like heavy chains, each glance a reminder of the days I spent working at the club. Memories of lustful eyes and objectifying stares flood my mind, and I can't help but mentally gag in disgust at the tainting of their glares.

Despite my inner turmoil, I maintain a façade of composure, my expression carefully neutral as I walk past. The tightness of my outfit only seems to attract them further, their eyes following the contours of my body with unabashed hunger, like moths drawn to a flame of desire as I walk through the club with a natural sense of allure making me shine amongst the others.

I'm captivating.

It's a familiar sensation, one that I thought I had left behind, but as the men's gazes linger, I realize that some things never change. The club may be different, but the predatory nature of its patrons remains the same, a harsh reminder of the realities of the world I once inhabited.

I catch snippets of conversation as we pass by, whispers and murmurs filled with admiration and desire. "Damn, who's that?" one man whispers to his friend, his eyes following us as we move through the club. "She fine as hell," another mutters under his breath, his gaze lingering on me as I walk past, eyes practically undressing me. "Swear I seen her before."

It's not only the men who divert their attention towards me like blind herds of animals, the women in the club notice me, some glancing at me with admiration, sweetness and respectfulness, other's complete jealousy, disgust and envy.

Despite the unsettling attention, I continue to walk with purpose, my steps steady and deliberate hells clicking against the floor. I refuse to allow their objectifying stares to diminish my sense of self-worth or undermine my confidence. With each passing moment, I remind myself that I am more than just an object of desire, I don't need to sell my body for money anymore.

"Why they looking at me as if I'm here to work?" Crystal murmurs in disgust glaring back at the men who turn towards us offering money in exchange for a lap dance, I can't help but laugh at her words. "What me and you gotta do is spend this night off without telling Big Joe anything, we want him to let us go . . remember?" Alana asks Crystal.

She nods in understanding and Alana's arm comes to link mine as we step towards the bar, sitting down on the bar stools of the small yet still comfortable bar area, the familiar mirror bricks that adorned the back wall against the neon purple sign that read 'Little Diamonds.'

It had only been a year since I'd stopped working at strip club, yet sitting at the bar made a wave of memories fill my head once more, all of the good ones and all of the bad ones, Alana's voice immediately breaks me out of my thoughts.

"What you wanna drink?" She asks me holding her card in her hand as she taps it against the dark marble finish of the counter, I notice as Crystal awaits my response as if she'd already stated what she wanted to drink while I was too busy lost in my thoughts.