OBSESSION

Four

Billie was bent, twisted, snapped and rearranged before Zoe deemed her finally ready for her audition. The audition itself was two songs long, more or less six minutes. Zoe had prepared a routine for both. Billie was proud of herself when, after her performance, she was asked if she had any professional experience in the passed. Furthermore, they wanted her to start immediately so that she wouldn't go on to audition for other clubs.

When Friday came, Billie was so nervous that she could barely keep her legs standing. She hadn't seen Kai in ages, or what felt like ages. A part of her was afraid she might not be able to contain herself, or she would become too overwhelmed with emotion to perform. Or what if he recognizes her?

To make herself less recognizeable, Billie had dyed her hair dark and worn russet contact lenses to disguise the usual blues. The mask would hide the rest of her face, but there was a slight concern that her body might be familiar to him. Or was she way in over her head?

When she performed on Thursday night, she wore a mask that only covered her eyes and nose. She had managed to win the hearts (if they even had hearts) of her audience of thirsty men. Half of them had rings on that special finger, but they didn't seem to mind. She tried to pour her heart out to the performance, but she had only been doing this for Kai in the first place. Without him, there was barely any passion. However if she wanted to perform the next day as well, she had to make sure she made a good effort.

Backstage, Billie stared at her reflection on the mirror. Her once blonde, now dark brown hair was let lose to lie on her shoulders, scarlett lipstick painted across her lips. She went for short acrylic nails, white, to give herself a natural, innocent look. Her white full face mask had flowers going around her face, matching the lingerie costume that had a similar design.

One last look at her reflection and after putting on the mask, Billie couldn't believe how good she looked. The white right against her pale skin and the dark hair contrasting it all seemed so angelic, yet alluring. If she still remembered Kai at all, he would drop to is knees upon seeing her.

Having gotten a good last look, she took the piece of paper that would conclude her star performance and stuffed it into the space between her clothes and her breast. It was then that she heard that she was now being introduced to come onto the stage. She stepped into position prepared herself for the emotional and mental ride she was about to take herself on. Breathed in and out. She was going to see him tonight.

The whole club went dark and all lights were directed to the stage. The music fades in and Billie prepares to make her entrance. The stage lights go completely off again, and she walks into the stage and takes center. She's laying down, back arched and arms stretched up over her head. The moment the beat drops before the first verse comes, the lights go on in sync with the drop.

Cheers rise for a moment, but fall quickly to concentrate on the performance. Slowly, she brings her upper body up to sit upright, using the pole to guide her up to her feet. Billie doesn't dare look at the crowd for the first portion of her performance, concentrating on her movements. There's definitely more of a crowd than there was yesterday. Today, all couches and tables were filled with nothing but men.

She surreptitiously scans the crowd while grinding down on the pole, two feet off the ground with her leg wraps around it. Billie catches him at one of the tables in the back. He's sitting sideways to the stage, but he's not looking here. Clearly, he didn't come for the show. His uncle glances here every now and then, otherwise, they're engrossed in some conversation that needn't interruption.

A minute into the song, the second verse comes in. In that duration, Billie spins off the pole and begins her sensual catwalk towards their table. Her blood burns her skin, heart slamming into her chest, but she's not nervous. No, she's fuelled by fuming adrenalin and the sound of the music riles her on even more. The moment she approaches, he glances up at her. He's about to look back to the person he was talking to, but freezes instantaneously. Meets her eye.