Double Life

Dollar bills

      The stench of marijuana and Cocaine wafts from the couches, business men and their mistresses sipping expensive alcohol from crystal glasses, caught up in their sweet world of sin.   Women with long legs and short dresses sway their hips, practically screaming desire, desire and seduction as sweet words fall like leaves in a storm from their full, cherry colored lips.  Low red lighting seems to swallow up the details, details like where you're from, who you left at home, the secrets you're hiding, details no one bothers with in a place like this.  The small club is exclusive to the rich, fur coats placed on the backs of chairs and Rolex watches adorning every mans wrist.  Lucrative deals are made by minds fogged with alcohol, and bad business contracts are forged by equally bad men. 

     This is where I set up a mic stand, bringing nothing but my voice to the table.  No longer the stunning blond I used to be on stage, my old jean jacket sits funny on my shoulders, black, square heeled ankle boots feel too tight as I walk up the three steps to the stage, nervous.  The cold cat like eyes of the women glance at me, ensuring I'm not a threat before returning to paw at their men.  The men on the other hand, they look at me with a more lucrative stare, or they used to.  Now with my short grey hair and pants instead of a tight skirt, I no longer attract the attention I used to.   The band strikes up a beautiful rhythm and I tap my feet, leaning back from the mic.

For the longest time I did everything people asked.

I was

The perfect performance.

I did things that were, I must say, unconventional.

But it was all planned, to be exactly what the people want.

And tonight I'm not quite sure if this is what people want.  Do people want a beautiful blond on stage, dancing and singing like her life depends on it?

Yes.

But I'm not sure how these men and women will like someone in an old jacket, no Rolex watch or fur coat to prove my wealth to them.

The only difference tonight

Is I no longer give a damn.

And I swear my voice is shaking in the beginning and so are my hands.

But it doesn't take me long,

And I've got it.

"Don't act like you FORGOT!"

Lights flash behind me, complete silence when I close my lips, I've got your attention now, don't I?

"I call the
Shots, shots, shots!"

Flash, flash, flash, Broadway like lightbulbs flare with each hit of the beat, one hand in the air the other strangling the microphone. 

"Like
Blah, Blah, Blah!"

Wrench the mic out of the stand, hand sliding down the stand fingers curling around the smooth surface.  Drop down, eyes glittering, alcohol lending me empty bravado.

Y'all should know me well enough!"

Entire club goes black, only my breathing can be heard and not even one soul dares to interrupt the silence. 

"BITCH BETTER HAVE MY MONEY!"

My hands have stopped shaking, but I was gripping the microphone stand so hard they've turned white.  The bartender passes me a water and I almost choke on a mouthful when I see Baekhyun sitting on one of the couches.

The little shits followed me here!

There's quite a few of the boys, and I think Chen notices that I've noticed them and coughs into his hand.  Baekhyun whirls around and I half heartedly raise a hand in greeting, groaning internally. 

Baekhyun's P.O.V.

"Oh shit!"

I say, instantly looking back at the stage.  Grey is leaning on the mic stand with a bottle of water and glaring at me.

"Guys, I think she sees us."

"No shit Chanyeol! UGHH!"

I flop back on the couch, our plan completely ruined.  Grey obviously isn't happy to have caught us spying on him, twice.  I peek over the back of the large sofa and see Grey's saying something to the band behind her.  Moments after, the drums start a jazzy rhythm and Grey is back at the microphone.

Insecure again, dangerous again
So bad, (why?), us, yeah
Enduring more, holding out
So hard, (hard), we can't

Even if you already knew,
We couldn't stop
No way, no way, no way, we're falling.

I'm blown away.  Grey doesn't sing like this around us, this is so much more...emotional.  It's as if the lyrics are tearing apart her heart as she sings, every lyric a dagger.  The song is about loving someone even when you know the relationship is going to fail in the end, and if I didn't know better I would assume she wrote it herself.  I'm surprised that she only sings two songs before walking off the stage and sitting at the bar. 

"She's walking over what do we do?"

Chen asks, and I whirl my head around to see he is indeed walking over, drink in hand.

"Umm..."

"Fancy seeing you guys here tonight, hmm?"

Grey leans over the back of the couch, her words spoken right next to my ear.  I shiver for some reason, trying to stutter out an answer.

"U-umm, well! We, we were, we were just, um, in the neighborhood, and, stopped here?"

"You little shits followed me right?"

"No!"

I shout, gaining the attention of a few people nearby.

"Mhmm."

Grey says, sipping on her glass of alcohol. 

"Sure...Well, I've drank a little too much to drive tonight so you might as well just take me home.  Just let me get my pay check."

"O-okay..."

I stutter, frozen on the couch while she walks away.  The rest of the members get up and shoot me sympathetic glances, making me finally shake myself out of my stupor.  As I'm putting on my jacket Grey throws her wallet at Chen.

"Get a cab guys, me and Baekhyun are driving back on our own."

"What?!"

I yell, making you think I was the slightly tipsy one.  Seek winces when a bartender comes over, reminding me that this is an exclusive club. 

"Okay, we'll be going then, let's go Baek."

And I'm pulled out of the club by a strangely confident Grey, leaving the rest of the guys slightly stunned.

(Woohoo!  Anyone who can tell me what the second song is gets a follow ✌).