She was tired. But she knew that as long as she put on her upbeat music for the drive, she would re-energize. Today was a good day. She was having more of those lately. Her life though, still felt surreal at times, like she was observing from outside herself.
As she walked into the club, Roger greeted her with his usual bear hug. “How’s my girl?!”
“Oh—you know—just livin today.”
“How’s school going, sweet Serena? I swear once you finish that law degree, I’m going to marry you and you are going to take care of both of us—sound good?”
Serena smiled. “Yes, Roger, I promise, you’ll be the first to know when I’m done with all this ...”
Roger gave her another bear hug and fondly ruffled her hair. “Hey!” she swatted him away.
“I know, I know … but you’re going to redo it anyway. Go on, sexy girl … get ready!”
Serena went to her usual spot in the dressing room, always early, before the night got started. As she pulled out her gown, she knew it would be a good night. She always made more than the other girls, even after tipout, and that made them jealous. She never bothered with any of it though ... she was there to make her money and go home.
Because of her standoffish ways, the girls never fully trusted her, and a few actually thought she might be a narc. Serena never bother with any of that either, so she ignored what they thought. Besides, she never got involved in that world, as she knew all too well what drugs did and how it destroyed someone she loved.
Sipping her water and putting on her makeup, Serena thought if she made her ‘usual’ tonight, she would have enough to pay for tuition next semester, and still have some left over to buy Christmas presents. She was getting closer to her goal and couldn’t wait to taper her work nights even more. The two-hour drive itself was becoming exhausting. Graduation wasnt far though, six months away.
Serena put on her finishing makeup touches and lined her lips with the new brown-red shade she had gotten. As she put on her lipstick, Serena laughed to herself, “If only Professor Hottie knew about this side job and this shade of lipstick. He would be shocked. Hmm ... maybe even turned on...” Yes, the secret life she led every other weekend outside of school.
Most people would be surprised actually, but well, this was all an act and a means to an end, as it had been the past couple of years she had been coming to this club.
The music picked up and she knew the club would start filling up. As she checked in and paid her house-fee, Tom the DJ gave her his usual wink. “Hey doll, you look gorgeous as ever”.
Serena half-feigned an exasperated sigh and gave him her best New York attitude. “Tom, you say that to all the girls, and no, you still will never get into this gown I’m wearing.”
“I know sweetheart- but you cant blame a guy for tryin’, eh?”
The irony of it all, to work in such an industry, and yet to have the least sex you have ever had in your life. Life certainly was strange.
As Serena went on stage, Tom played one of her favorite warm up songs. Gotta give the guy some credit for knowing her by now. The lights shone on her, and she looked out. Not many there yet, but she caught the eye of one. He came up to the stage, and she knew, with just her look, her stare at him—he was mesmerized. He took out a twenty.
“Yeah,” she thought, “it’s going to be a good night”
She let him close enough to smell her hair, just enough to tantalize but never touch, and he placed his twenty in her garter. The next song came on. Serena walked seductively back to the center of the stage and got lost in the music. She needed no drugs, no alcohol, nothing but the music and the stage. She was an actress, and for that moment in time, all could see her, but no one could touch her beauty.
