Page 22 of Dance for Me

Sugar and Spice

Vanessa didn’t fall asleep until almost four in the morning. So, when she was woken up by a thunderous knock at her door, she was anything but happy. She had stayed up all night sketching. Her ideas kept flowing through her mind, so she needed to get them down on paper. She had to admit she was semi pleased with them so far.

She tore the covers off of her in annoyance and headed for her door. Checking the peep hole first, something she wished she had done the night Jack picked her up, she saw Michelle standing there.

“It’s seven thirty on a Sunday morning,” Vanessa said with a yawn while she leaned on her door frame.

Michelle held up her phone in front of Vanessa, displaying the video of her dancing on stage. “Care to explain why my best friend is working as, I don’t know… a stripper.”

Busted, Vanessa thought. She knew that video would get her into trouble. She just thanked the heavens her mother didn’t have any form of social media. Pretty sure that would send her over the edge.

“I’ll make the coffee.”

Vanessa sat there with Michelle and explained everything to her. She was silent the whole time, knowing that Michelle was anything but a quiet person, she must have really shocked the shit out of her.

She started with Jack, then her bills, and then the club. Vanessa did talk highly of the girls and Owen. Maybe with the exception of Trixie.

“I literally have no words,” Michelle said.

Vanessa believed her as they sat there with minutes of silence. But Michelle placed a hand on Vanessa’s. “You could have moved in with me until you found something V.”

Vanessa stared at the hand covering hers. She loved Michelle, like her own sister, but she wanted to make it on her own without charity.

“For me, that was admitting defeat and I just wasn’t ready to do that.”

Michelle flashed her a judgmental look, which she had never seen before. “So, you decided to take your clothes off for money? Basically, you’re a whore without the sex.”

Vanessa sat back from Michelle as if she were just slapped. “That’s a bit judgmental, don’t you think?” Vanessa, had she had been in Michelle’s place, probably would have thought the same thing though. “It’s not all that bad, besides it’s done with taste.”

“Really, I didn’t know that being a stripper was classy.” Michelle said with sarcasm.

“I didn’t take my clothes off.”

Michelle waved a frustrated hand in the air. “Same thing, look, I’m sorry. I just love you and don’t want to see anything happen to you. Or you go down this kind of path.”

“Well, I told you. I’m designing now, so I won’t be dancing anymore anyway.” Michelle’s expression softened.

“That is a bit of a relief. Didn’t exactly want to see my friend’s tits streaming on social media.”

They laughed and Michelle ended up staying there for another hour almost. They talked more about the club and Vanessa’s designing ideas. She could tell Michelle was trying really hard to be supportive. The best way she could be.

Michelle let out a sigh, “I should probably go, gotta babysit the kids today.”

“On a Sunday?”

“Yeah, apparently the mom has a…” Michelle made air quotes with her fingers, “business trip.”

Vanessa chuckled, “Right, got it.”

After Michelle left and Vanessa was unable to go back to sleep, she decided to head to the café. She wanted to sketch some more and needed another caffeine boost.

* * *

She stood there waiting for her order and then she felt her heart sink. When she looked around the café, she saw Jack, he was sitting in the back corner. It was the same spot he sat at when they first met.

He didn’t see her at first because he was focused staring at his laptop. He rested his chin on his fist and it made him look like he was posing for a photo shoot.

She admired the way his strong jawline sat on his perfectly handsome face, onto his perfectly strong hands.

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