What The Heart Wants (Stereo Kicks/ James Graham)

Chapter 35

Once again, after the show was over and the boys and I were told the good news, we did some short interviews, then we were finally able to go back home. Since it's Sunday and we survived the first week, the boys and I don't have to be ready for vocals until 1pm tomorrow. Granted it was a long and exhausting week, I still need to make some fast cash, so I need to look for a job. Tonight. I hung out with the boys for a little bit before going to my room and googling the nearest club. After I found the place, I called myself a cab and quietly slipped outside to wait. A few minutes later, the cab showed up and I quickly got in and gave the driver the address. Since I made sure the building was close, the car ride only took ten minutes. I gave the driver his money and stepped out of the car. As I was walking towards the entrance I could feel a sense of shame and embarrassment. When I walked inside, there were girls in every corner dancing on poles in little to no clothing, and guys just staring, occasionally slipping the girls some money. "Can I help you?" A girl with short blonde hair and way too much make up asked me. "Uh yeah, where can I find the owner?" I shouted over the music. The girl pointed to a man in a navy blue suit standing at the bar. I nodded my head and made my way over to him. He was an older man, in his early forties with thick black hair and hazel eyes. He was incredibly attractive. "Hello, excuse me, are you the owner?" I asked. He looked me up and down before responding. "Who wants to know?" He smirked. It made me feel uncomfortable, but there's nothing I can do about it. "A girl who really needs a job." I stated. He looked at me for a second. "What makes you think I would hire you?" He asked rudely. "Well I've danced before, and I can work every night." I said. "What's your name?" He asked after a second. "My real name or my stage name?" I asked. "Both." He said and pulled a cigarette from the inside of his suit. "Aria, but my stage name is Harmony." I spat the last word out. That name brings back so many bad memories and I hate to use it again, but I have no choice. "Harmony, I like it." He smiled. I gave him a small ungrateful smile then waited for him to go on. "Well Aria, I'm Robert, nice to meet you." He extended his hand and I shook it lightly. "How old are you Aria?" He raised his eyebrows at me. "Nineteen." I said. "Aahh a young one. The guys here will love you." He winked. "So I'm hired?" I asked. "Well you're pretty, from what I can tell you have a nice body, and you say you have experience, so I don't see why I can't give you a chance." He said. "What's your M.O.?" He asked. "Innocence." I answered. "That's good. We have sexy, MILF, erotic, etcetera. We could use innocence." He pointed at me and gave me an approving smile. I couldn't force myself to smile back. "I assume you can improv?" He asked. I nodded my head yes. "Great. You start tomorrow. Be here at ten so we can get you fitted for your costumes. You go on at ten thirty, and you'll work that pole over there." He pointed to the pole in the far right corner of the building where nobody was at. "Shift ends at 2:30am. I'll print out your schedule for the next month and give it to you tomorrow when you finish. You're going to need a minimum of four different costumes, and we alternate outfits every half hour. You get to pick what they are, but I suggest they correspond with your innocent act." He said taking another puff from his cigarette. "Also, those rooms back there," he pointed to a row of rooms against the back wall with curtains to hide what was happening. "Those are where you'll give your private dances to the men who request you." He said. "Every private dance you give is an automatic $500 you get to take home on top of the money you make dancing out here." He continued. "Think you can deal with that?" He asked. "Sounds manageable. But I can't start until 11pm on the weekends." I didn't want to tell him why. "That's fine. We don't really get busy until after ten anyway." He said. "Ok, well I'll see you tomorrow at 10:00pm." I gave him a small smile and left. Once I got outside I took a deep breath and began walking back to the house. I needed the fresh air. Half way to the house I pulled out my phone and called Caden. "Hey." He answered. "Hey what are you doing?" I asked. "Just got done dropping off for Jason. What about you?" He asked. "Just got a job." I said. I heard him sigh into the phone. "This won't last forever Aria." He said. "I know it's just...we don't deserve this shit Caden. You're the smartest kid I know, yet you're out selling drugs on the street, and I want to make something of myself. I want to be a performer, but what happens if I can't accomplish that because people find out I'm a fucking stripper?" I whispered harshly into the phone. "Calm down. Once we're caught up on moms medical bills we can be done with this. Get normal jobs and I can go back to school. And you can work toward your dream. We're going to be fine." He said, but I wasn't sure if I believed him. "So about James." He said, trying to change the subject. "What about him?" I was about three minutes away from the house so I slowed down. "How long have you liked him?" He asked and I could hear the smirk in his voice. "I d-" "don't you dare say you don't like him. It's so obvious. And he's definitely into you too, so why aren't you two together?" He asked. I sighed. "Because I'm fucking confused. There's so much happening right now....and there's another guy." I said. "Another guy? Who?" He asked. "His name is Casey. He's also in the band." I told him. "You know that's not gonna end well." He said disapprovingly. "Yeah I know. I don't know what to do." I said, as I reached the front yard of the house. "I can't help you. I wish I could, but I've never met this Casey guy." He said. "He's great. But things with him are complicated." I admitted. "Well from the sounds of it, you really like him." I could hear Caden unlocking the door to our house. "I do. But you're right, I also like James. They're completely different and I like them both for different reasons." I whined. "Well maybe you should just move on and stay focused on the competition." He suggested. "Yeah. Easier said than done." I opened the gate to the house and started walking towards the door. "Hey Caden I need to get some sleep. I'll talk to you later. I love you." I said as I quietly opened to front door and stepped inside. "Alright, love you too." He replied and then we both hung up. I silently made my way to my bedroom and put my phone on the charger. It was already a few minutes past 1am, so I quickly changed into my pajamas and went to sleep.

NOW YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT ARIA AND CADEN DO! WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?! DON'T FORGET TO VOTE AND COMMENT, AND I HOPE YOU LIKED IT! ♡