Sora Itsuki's POV
"Fuck" I mutter. I throw my gym bag to the side and I pace around my room.
What was that?
I let my mind slam back into how I felt, just moments before.
I think back.
I can still feel her hand, running down my spine and the shockwaves that came with it.
The light pressure of her palm on my abdomen, and how close it was to-
Stop!
I breathe out. I can't be thinking like this!
What's gotten into me?!
It's still the middle of the day, so I decide to keep myself occupied.
I take a minute to cool off and then I order in some food, too stressed to cook.
I mentally snort.
If Lux saw how I was eating I think she might kill me.
But my mind should not be on Lux right now.
I flop down on the couch and turn the tv on, switching it to Netflix, when my phone rings.
I pick it up without thinking.
"Soraaaa~" A voice sings and I say.
"Emiko" I deadpan.
"You already sound annoyed to hear me" she laughs.
"Yeah because nothing good comes from getting a call from you" I respond.
"Ouchhh!" She exaggerates.
"What is it?" I ask.
"Me and Juanita are goin' out this evening and we're taking you with us" she says.
I sigh and flop back down onto the couch, already ready for the ground to swallow me up.
Emiko Hibana and her girlfriend Juanita Clarendon have been my best friends since we were in secondary school.
Emiko is loud and boisterous as hell.
^^ Emiko Hibana
Juanita is quieter than a pin dropping.
^^ Juanita Clarendon
And honestly, I'm just happy to be there.
But not today!
"Miko I've got too much to do" I lie.
"Liar. Your dumbass left your location on and I know that your lazy ass is at home, waiting for your food to arrive" she says.
As if to prove her point, my doorbell rings, signalling that the food that I ordered is here.
I sigh and get up, so I can pay for my food.
"What torture are you going to put me through this time?" I ask her, before thanking the driver.
"We're going to the strip clubbbb!" She says excitedly and I nearly drop my phone.
"No" I say instantly.
"You don't have a choice Sora. Get dressed. I'll be there in an hour and a half" she says.
Then she hangs up.
I swear under my breath and sit down to eat my food.
I start thinking of what to wear.
I haven't been to a strip club since college.
I was drunk enough to go stumbling into a private room, looking for the bathroom.
The patron was less than happy and knocked me out in one punch.
Juanita had to get her twin brother Caleb, to carry me home over his shoulder like a bag of rice.
The headache I had the next morning was a heavy combination of a hangover and the world's strongest punch.
I have never been to another strip club since.
I think of all the ways to get out of this.
I find nothing.
I sigh and start on my food, thinking of what to wear.
Once I'm done eating, I strip down and hop into the shower to get rid of the smell of food and grease.
I brush my teeth and fix my hair, before looking in my closet.
I finally find something to wear and I throw it on.
^^ Sora's fit.
I find some shoes and I wear them, when I hear my front door open.
Emiko must be here.
I hear footsteps coming up my corridor and Emiko walks into my room without knocking.
"Sora" she greets, hugging me as usual.
"Miko" I say, hugging her back.
"Let's go. Nita is waiting by the car" she says, taking my hand.
She pulls me out of the house and I lock my door after us.
We go and meet Nita by her car, who smiles and gives me a warm hug, getting into the driver's seat.
Miko rides shotgun and I sit in the back, still in disbelief that I allowed these two to drag me out.
The car ride is mainly Juanita on the aux chord and Miko talking in between her favourite songs.
We finally arrive at the club, and my stomach drops like it's the first day of middle school.
Why am I so nervous?
I shake it off and I walk with the girls to the line.
It's fuckin huge!
But the girls keep walking.
Juanita takes Emiko's hand and pulls her to the front of the queue, where a large bouncer stands.
He has to be about 6'5 and his body fills the doorway.
Now Juanita is tall.
She's 5'10, and in these heels, she's reaching 6'1.
But she looks like a dwarf in front of him.
She cranes her neck back to look up at him.
He looks down at her.
"Nita, you're late!" He says.
She just grins at him and he rolls his eyes, opening the door.
She touches fists with him and then grabs both me and Emiko's hands, pulling us inside.
"Who was that?!" I ask, yelling over the loud music.
"One of her family friends on her mama's side!" Emiko yells back.
We head straight to the bar and we order drinks.
We order our usuals and pay, before taking our seats.
A bunch of other people start to find seats and the lights dim.
It must be starting.
The music starts to play and the show starts.
Within minutes, the crowd is cheering, Miko included.
Juanita throws money at them as they dance and even though I hate to admit it....
I'm enjoying myself.
Everyone is having a blast.
So am I.
And then soon enough, it's time for the host announces the 'solo performances'.
We sit down again and order more drinks as we catch our breaths.
The dancers perform and we cheer them on one by one.
Until the next act.
"Please welcome... one of our most popular acts! The 'cerulean peacock'!
A tall, dark skinned woman with low cropped finger waved hair walks onto the stage.
Her body looks like it was carved out of smooth wood, but her muscles show that she's anything but delicate.
She wears a dark blue ensemble that sticks to her body like a second skin.
The whole room goes silent as she approaches the stage.
All of us are staring at her.
She smiles.
"I need a volunteer!" She says.
Her voice is soft but demanding.
And just like that, a bunch of people call for her attention, the room suddenly much louder than it was before.
As if sensing danger, my neck snaps to Emiko.
She has a wild grin on her face.
I shake my head, 'no'.
She airs me and pushes me towards the stage.
I pull back, but the sway of the entire crowd trying to reach her doesn't help.
Like a shark smelling blood, the dancer and I lock eyes and she gives me a slow, warm smile.
She points at me, and takes my hand to pull me up.
My mouth goes dry.
It's me.
Fuck.
Now everyone is watching.
I take her hand and I let her pull me onto the stage.
The spotlight hits me and I hold my hand above my face to shield it.
The crowd cheers.
I give them a shy smile, and they simper and cheer even more.
"What's your name sweetie?" She asks into my ear.
"Sora" I respond hoarsely.
My mouth is dry.
She takes my hand.
"Try to relax. I won't let anything bad happen to you" she says.
I nod.
I can almost feel the crowd around us buzzing with excitement.
She leads me to the middle of the stage.
There is a piece of fabric, hanging from the ceiling.
The long and it looks thin, but it's wide.
"You familiar with this?" She asks.
I shake my head.
She chuckles.
"We'll I'm gonna use you to excite the crowd a little bit, then do a couple of tricks. Hold onto me and you'll be great." She says.
I nod.
I notice padded crash mats all over the floor.
If I fall, I'll be safe.
The music starts and the crowd starts to get giddy.
'Cerulean' starts to move.
I stay in place, almost as if I'm in a trance.
She wraps her arms around my neck as she dances, pulling me close.
"I'm gonna take off your shirt. Is that okay?" She asks.
I nod.
So she unbuttons my shirt and let's it fall off of my shoulders.
The crowd goes crazy.
I hear Emiko yelling over the top of the noise.
The dancer grins at me.
She raises her arm and wraps it around the fabric.
The fabric starts to move upwards, pulling her off the ground.
As she gets further, I wrap my arms around her waist and I put my head on her abdomen.
She secures my arms with hers.
She's incredibly strong.
"Ready?" She asks.
"Yes" I say.
She wraps her legs around my waist and uses both arms to pull her along the fabric.
I don't know what possesses me, but I use a hand to hold onto the fabric.
She looks at me with an excited grin.
"Careful" she says.
I nod.
I let go of her, and I pull myself up to her height.
As if sensing my next move, she places her legs in between mine and she parts them.
The crowd coos excitedly.
I match her stretch, grinning at her.
She smiles back, pleasantly surprised that I can hold it.
She stretches even further, mimicking a high kick and I take it, holding it as she swings us around.
This is nothing compared to the drills Lux puts me through.
And I'm having fun!
She starts to close the routine and lets us down the fabric.
The floor is littered with money and we both take a bow.
Cerulean hugs me and I hug her back, before finding my shirt and hopping off the stage, wearing it.
I find the girls and they run to me all excited.
"Where the fuck did you learn that?!" Emiko asks.
I feel myself blush a little bit, as I think about Lux.
"You looked amazing" Juanita pipes up and I grin from ear to ear.
We go and get more drinks, when I feel a tap on my shoulder.
I turn and look, to see the dancer from earlier, smiling up at me.
"It's nice to finally meet you off stage. I'm Opal" she says, holding her hand out.
I take it.
"Nice to meet you" I say.
She lets go of my hand and turns to my friends.
"Can I borrow him for a while?" She asks them.
"Yes!" Emiko says, without hesitation.
I glare at her.
Juanita pushes me forwards and gives me a thumbs up.
So I follow Opal backstage and to her dressing room.
She opens a draw and hands me an envelope.
"You did great up there" she says.
"Thank you" I smile.
I open the envelope and I nearly drop it.
It's a shit tonne of cash
"Do you dance?" She asks, before I can ask where the money is from.
"I've only just started training with a dancer to improve my flex and fitness" I say all at once.
"Well whoever is teaching you, needs their coochie ate" she says and I laugh aloud.
"I'll let her know" I say.
"That's your cut. The people loved you, so I thought I'd gift it to you from them" she says, picking up a glass and pouring.
She gestures to me to ask if I want a glass.
I shake my head no.
"Thank you for all the fun. And, ah- the money." I say to her.
"Any time" she says.
We talk for a bit and she lets me go, after making me promise to come back and dance with everyone some time.
I go back to the bar to see Miko and Juanita backing shots competitively.
I shake my head and let them to it, my mind drifting back to the session I had with Lux in the studio.
I want her.
And there is no point in denying it either.
——————————————
What did you all think?
Tell me in the comments and don't forget to vote!
~ NJNJ14.