Saving The Devil

11. New Friend Cools the Heat

It was the middle of our third performance and I was beat! The theme was Guns N Roses -no, not like the band- it was in honour of the Mafia women and all they did for their men.

Personally, I couldn't ever be like them, standing behind a man who takes life as easy as a blink of an eye. What kind of woman could do that?

As we approached the end, all I could do was pray to get through. Unfortunately my growing popularity had taught me, not only that I was capable of leading but also that I was as unfit as a fat guy on a trolley!

My feet burned and my face muscles mourned to give up. Dancing and lip syncing was gruesome work! It's times like this that I had to admire Britney.

I've watched her perform shows after show, nights after night and never once did she look the least bit fazed. Every performance was like her first, so was Natasha's! They truly deserve all the praises they got.

Something 'bout you! Makes me feel like a dangerous woman!
Something 'bout you! Makes me wanna do things that I shouldn't!
S

omething. Bout. You!
(Dangerous Woman - Ariana Grande )

Oh thank God! The lights went out and I flew off the stage. I had to get off my feet! Fleeing to the bathroom was my only chance of escape without alarming the girls.

I couldn't keep up with the laughter and the chatter without showing just hold fatigued I felt.

"These damn dreams!" I breathe out "My freaking legs!" kicking off these damn heels took more time than I had hoped. So after a few angry kicks and more mutterings, I just flopped down to the bench!

"That" she gestured to me "Was pathetic!"

I almost lost my shit "I thought I was alone ok, so back off!"

"Hey easy there melanin, I didn't offend you did I?" but it was quite clear from her tone that, that was exactly her aim and she was quite glad she had succeeded.

"You lying tramp!"

"You gold digging, show stealing whore!"

"Excuse me?!"

"Suddenly gone deaf have we?!"

We were shoulder to shoulder, face to face, fist balled and ready to claw at each other's throat.

"Atleast I didn't have to suck dick to be up front! Atleast I don't go spreading my legs EVERYTIME I WANT A FAVOUR! ATLEAST MEN RESPECT ME ENOUGH NOT TO GRAB MY PUSSY WHEN I WALK BY! I might have gotten the lead position Britney, but I didn't lose my pride or my dignity to get it."

With every word I said I took a step forward and Britney a step back. We went on like this until she was pressed against the bathroom door, with my right arm positioned beside her head. "Can you say the same?!"

But she didn't answer, she just stood there staring. It's not like I was really angry at Britney, tired of her stupid remarks sure, but I know I was only letting out my anger.

I was edgy, between studying and rehearsing I hadn't been sleeping well and Tia's been gone most nights so I hadn't gotten the chance to speak to her about it.

Shak had to get back to his lessons on campus and I couldn't drive 2 hours just to talk. Even if I did, we'd argue about sex and that'd just make me feel worse, so here I was, talking it out on Britney.

"I didn't ask for your spot Britney! I didn't ask for any of this!" I finished in a whisper my head hanging low.

"There it is, I was wondering when it would hit you!"

"What?" My head flew up and I backed away. "What did you say?!"

"We call it the dancer's heat. The fatigue, the pain, it passes." She smiled. Not those plastic things she usually threw my way but a genuine smile. "You lasted what, one month and two weeks?" she shrugged.

Walking pass me she sat on the bench and I joined her.

"How long did you last, before your dancer's heat?" I mimicked her voice.

"6 months" she said, like it was the most usual thing in the world.

I guess I really am a lazy bum!

"See it's not that I think I'm better than all of you, well I AM better than all of you" she rolled her eyes. "It's just that I've been doing this so long I know what to do, when to do, how to do and WHO to do!"

If she caught my stare it didn't bother her because she kept on going.

"I started ballet since I could walk, belly dancing and contemporary since 13 and every other type since then. I used to dance for Disney as a kid then when I turned 19, I started dancing for the GDH."

"From Disney to the Mafia, isn't that a twist!" I chuckled to myself. "So how long were you a waitress?"

Sipping from a flask that she pulled out of God knows where, she stared at me like I grew 2 extra heads.

"Oh God no! A wait-no no no!" catching my expression she quickly threw her hands up and added. "Not that there's anything wrong with being a waitress that is, but I was paid to dance not audition and hired."

"So that's your secret then? That's why you usually get lead."

"Between us girls" she leaned in and lowered her voice "I just suck good!"

We both let out an earsplitting laugh!

"Now stop sulking, get changed and go get some sleep, you've earned it!" she gave me a nudge with her shoulder and another one of those genuine smiles.

As she was about to close the bathroom door she looked over her shoulders, squinting her eyes at me as she spoke. "This doesn't mean we're friends though, you're still a show stealing whore!" and with that she smiled and left.