In the bright light every flaw on my body was on display, and I wished that I was as beautiful as some of the women who danced on Red’s stage.
“Get over it,” I muttered to myself as I stripped off my bra and underwear. I squared my shoulders as I looked naked at myself in the mirror.
I was going to get out on the stage and make as much money as possible. I was literally risking my life for this, so I wasn’t going to allow my insecurities to keep me from doing what I needed to save my brother’s life.
* * *
Itrembled as the music started. The stage was lit by blue underlights, which cast an odd illumination on the audience. I shivered as the DJ called out the fake name I gave him.
“You got this girl.” The dancer that just finished up sauntered off stage. My eyes widened as I watched her count her money. It was pressed closely to her naked chest, and overflowing from her arms.
I squared my shoulders and strut out onto the stage. I’d worked at the club long enough to be able to mirror how the dancers moved.
I closed my eyes as I pulled the clip I placed in my hair. I’d thought it would be sexy to release my curls as my first move, and based on the hoots and hollers that I got, the men liked it.
That spurred me onwards, and shimmied and shook my body as I sashayed further down the stage towards the pole. I closed my eyes as I hooked my leg around the pole and twirled around. Bills were raining down on me, but there were still men in their seats with other girls in their laps.
I knew why.
Girls who didn’t take their tops off didn’t make as many tips.
I pulled my body against the pole, rolling my hips against the cold steel. The voices were starting to get louder as my dancing started to get more suggestive, and I couldn’t help but smile at it.
There was something empowering about the sounds of their voices, and I allowed them to give me strength as I reached behind me and unclipped my bra. I slipped it down my shoulder, teasing the men with just a flash of the top of my breasts.
The sounds around me grew, and despite the trembling in my legs, I slid the fabric completely off, throwing it towards the back of the stage. My breasts bounced around as I swung on the pole some more.
I was starting to run out of moves, and I prayed that the music would soon end. I’d seen the dangers touch themselves on stage, nothing too provocative, but just enough to titillate the crowd.
Reaching up, I pressed my breasts together, letting my nipples peak through my fingers. The men were going wild, and the money showered down on me. For the first time in a long time, I felt as though I might actually be able to pull my family out of the shit we ended up in over the past few years.
The DJ said my name once more as I scurried towards the back of the club grabbing the money as I went.
“There ya go baby vamp!” The next girl said. Her words brought a smile to my face. I grabbed one of the robes and covered myself.
“Thanks,” I told her.
Nikki came bounding up towards me. She was dressed in a French’s maid costume that left very little to the imagination. “You killed it,” she said, pressing me forward into a hug. I smiled as I felt the mountain of cash between us. I didn’t know how much I had made, but I suspected that it was more than I would have made in tips if I was still a bottle service girl.
“We’ve got to work on some of your moves though,” she told me, as she pulled away.
I chuckled as she tickled me with her feather duster prop. “These men liked to be teased a bit more.” She winked at me, and I suppressed a smile.
“Noted,” I told her.
I felt giddy with excitement for the first time in a long time, as I watched the bouncer bring me my bag of bills. They were responsible for cleaning the stage in between girls. I needed fifty grand for Mikey’s treatment. Tonight, I’d risked my life in an effort to make a fraction of that. As I looked at the bag, I knew it was worth it.
“How many times can a girl go on stage in a night?” I asked Nikki. Her eyes were on the stage watching the latest.
“Depends on the night,” she said, with a shrug.
I nodded. Next time I saw Tommy I was going to make it clear that I wanted to dance during any open spot.
“I’ll meet you in the dressing room,” I told Nikki as the music changed.
She nodded to me, a sly smile on her face.
I understood now why it was there. There was something heady about being on that stage. I had been so nervous to do it, thinking that it would degrade me in some way. But it hadn’t. I hadn’t felt this powerful in months. Hell, I don’t know if I ever felt that way. Dancing on stage, knowing that all the men in the audience wanted me but couldn’t have me, made me feel confident for the first time in a long time.
The twenty dollar bills being thrown my way hadn’t hurt.
I smirked as I grabbed my cash and headed back towards the dressing room. The last twenty-four hours had been hell on earth, and though I wasn’t sure I was out of the woods yet, I was confident that I could solve at least one problem in my life.
Mikey would get the treatment he needed even if I had to strip every single day.