Heroin(e)

Chapter Nine

I was ready before my alarm clock went off. After letting loose and having a long rest, I decided today would be the day I got my act together. No more slacking off. I was a woman, damn it. And I had a job to do.

Scout took an exceptionally long time using the bathroom that morning. My breath was fog and the grass glittered with dew drops. Scout didn't seem to mind under all that fur and he sniffed around looking for the perfect place to park. He couldn't have picked a better day to take his time. I patiently waited, my hands stuffed deep in my pockets, and took him back in. 

Then immediately headed for work. 

The sun was just on the horizon by the time I got there. Hardly any girls either. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Jeanie wasn't there yet. I headed right for Celine's desk and smiled with all my teeth. "I'm here!" I said. 

Celine looked at me with approval. And a hint of surprise. "And who is this?" she asked standing up and looking me over. "Are you here for an audition? You new?" I rolled my eyes and laughed. 

"I know, I know. I haven't been an ideal employee. But I'm going to be better from now on," I said. "I'll be your best dancer, I promise."

"I'm glad to hear it," Celine said. "I've got you signed up for fourth with Dorothy. Would you like to add more?"

"How many spaces you got?"

**********

Dress on and makeup done, I was ready for a show. I picked my orange dress to wear again since it helped me so much the first time. While I danced with Scout last night I had come up with a stellar routine. It would need a faster paced song to go with it so I picked Somebody to Love by Jefferson Airplane. I requested it be played for my midnight dance. There'd be plenty of clients by then to impress and I'd earn a lot more. 

"How'd you get here before me?" Jeanie asked as she gaped at all the spots filled with my name. 

"I took your advice," I said. "I hauled ass to get here."

Jeanie managed to get in a couple spots after me. Henriette just got back from her dance holding the biggest stack of money I'd seen her with yet. "Turns out the guests tonight love blondes," she said hurrying past me to pay off her house debts early. I saw Sally beam at her words. 

Blonde or not, I would show those customers who I was. What I could do. I had to build enough confidence in myself to pull this new routine off. If I doubted for even one moment, it was all over. 

Soon enough midnight rolled around and it was my turn to get onstage. Dorothy, who was paired with me again, fixed her kinky curls in the mirror and followed me out to the stage. She didn't mind my choice of song as she was just happy to not get KISS again. "They're killing me with that band," she said. "Every night! Hottest band in the world my arse!"

I laughed and we took the stage. It was dark save a few colored lights beaming down on us. I took the pole in the front since Dorothy had it the last time. The song started and I began my routine. Using the pole as my partner, I danced for them. 

Some of them paid right away and I collected the notes with my feet like always. I kept my hair down so it would fly around when I turned my head. It looked wilder than ever. I spread my arms and sauntered across the stage, making sure to really sway my hips. Putting my hands on my knees and giving the crowd a seductive look, I held my hand out. Right as a man reached out to grab it I pulled away and kept going. 

Sometimes this job was a lot of fucking fun. 

The cheers really started now. I looked back at Dorothy who was having a great time. Men and women walked across the floor with their trays of drinks from the bar and I knew I'd be having one myself after tonight. The colored lights flashed across the club and once in a while I'd see a face. It was usually so dark I couldn't see anybody but tonight I could pick out a few people.