No Other Choice

Chapter One

Mia, being her anxious self, bounced her knees up and down. I smiled at her anxiety. She wasn't even in the election and she was freaking out. Mr. Dog came in with a clipboard. "Okay, I've got the names for who won the election, I'll start with Historian, who is Jackie Kleve. Treasurer is Hailey Johansson. Secretary is Fernando Carillion. Vice President is George Harrison. And President is-" The windows flew open and wind gust in, causing Mr. Dog's personally made dog tie to get coffee all over it and whack him in the face. Mia squealed and jumped up. I got up and ran to close the windows. Once I was about to close the last one, I saw a dark figure in the distance. He was tall, about 6'4, with a long, black trench coat. He wore a fedora, and it seemed to be placed just right to where I couldn't see his face. But I knew he was smiling. He waved and disappeared into the woods that hovered over our school.

"Zae, please close the window and come sit down," the sound of Mr. Dog's voice startled me out of my daze. I complied and went to my seat. "As I was saying, our President will be Zae Donahue. Congratulations, Zae." He went back to his lesson like nothing ever happened. But I wasn't paying attention. I was thinking about the man in the fedora.

"Zae LeAnn Donahue, where have you been? You go on in ten!" I slung my backpack off my shoulder and onto the couch while muttering an apology. "Sorry? You better be, you should be glad that I haven't kicked you out by now. Ugh! What is that smell?" I looked at Bert, clenching my fists to contain my anger.

"I went for a run. I back now. I'll get in the shower and scrub down." He started to protest but I held up a hand. "Just have Barbra go on instead of me. That'll give me, what? Twenty more minutes?" He sighed clearly exasperated. I tried not to smile. He waved me upstairs and I ran up the stairs and closed my door before I laughed. I loved getting him upset.

But before long, my good mood diminished. I thought of the real reason why I was late. Someone had almost found out. All the staff knew, but none of the students knew. I had lost my parents in a fire, and now I had to perform at Bert's Bar to get a roof over my head, minimum wage, and food. Not that it was edible. But it was worth it. I got to do what I want to do, and people loved me for it.

I wasn't dancing around a pole or anything, well I was, but not the way you think. I don't take anyone to bed, or dance half naked. I just sing and dance and they enjoy it. And with the body I have, it's good practice turning down all the guys after the performance.

After I scrubbed down and washed, I went and got dressed. I wore a black crop top and booty shorts. I put on my knee high black heeled boots. I curled my straight brown hair and applied my dark make up. With black eyeliner on top and bottom, rogue to make my cheek bones more defined, and red lipstick that made my silver blue eyes pop, I made my way downstairs. I had two minutes.

"There you are! Okay, you remember the routine, Zae?" Bert ushered me up the spiral stairs that reached the top of the pole. I nodded and stared off while he babbled about what I needed to do. I heard the bell that indicated thirty seconds till show time and took first position. "Wait!" Bert rushed up the stairs and placed a fedora on my head. I smiled. Her slide down the stairs.

With my left hand on my hip, and my right hand on the pole, I faced the opposite of the red curtain. Victor's voice boomed through the microphone. "Now I know all you regulars remember what comes next!" The men all cheered. "I know, simmer down. Well, let's give a warm welcome to our regular performer, Zae LeAnn Donahue!" A column of light swept across my back and grew wider as the curtains opened. I went through the dance moves until I had to face the crowd.

But when I turned, I saw a familiar figure. The man in the fedora was looking right at me, and I could see his eyes. They were red.