Chapter One - Make it a Sweet, Sweet, Goodbye.
Beep, beep, beep, beep. The annoying continuous sound of my alarm clock rudely awoke me just like every other day. I looked out my window at the dark, stormy night. I sighed before throwing my alarm clock across the room. Another day without him.
I did my make up in the large bathroom mirror and shuffled though my half empty closet and threw some things into a duffle bag. I looked at the clock on the ground, sitting upside down; now softly playing a static noise. 8:30. This was going to be a long night.
I parked in the back, and got out of my car. I quickly ran to the back door through the rain. "Lexie, how're you?" The large bouncer named Skip crooned as he opened the door for me. "Things have been better." His face fell, "Sorry to hear that, have fun tonight." He said as I turned to walk into the back room where the other girls were getting ready. I changed into a lacy pink bra, and fishnet tights. Angela, one of the veteran strippers, called out to the back room, "9:30 shift you're up next bitches!" She looked at me, the only one not smiling and walked over to me. "Aye kiddo, what's going on in the mind of Lexie?" I exhaled and looked up at her. "Rick." She gave me a Oh-Please-I've-Heard-This-One-Thousand-Times look. "You take him back yet?" She said, playfully hitting my arm. "No." I said. "Why not?" Her eyebrows furrowed. "'Cause Rick left me." At that moment the girls from the previous shift walked in. I was late. "I gotta go." I told Angela before running on stage to get to my pole.
I stepped on stage only a few minutes after the other girls, and two others came on with me so it was no big deal. I flashed my fake smile before making eye contact with a guy surrounded by other guys. He smirked and I winked. I danced for only a few minutes before he called me over. "Sweetie, what's your name?" he spoke, surrounded by guys who looked only about 18 or 19. First timers. "My name is Lexie. What's your name, fella?" I said back. "How old are you?" he asked, with no hesitation or answering my question. "I'm 19." I said. "My name is Matt Flyzik and I'd love to watch you dance some more." He smiled. I smiled back and nodded. I looked at the rest of the guys he was with, then got back up on stage to dance for Matt Flyzik.
After my shift, I stood outside and smoked a cigarette. I checked my phone and had one new voicemail. I put out my cigarette before listening to it. "Hey Alexis. It's Rick. I'm not coming back babe. Things are over. Bye." I listened to the message again, then again. This can't be happening. I sat down against the brick wall of the club, and cried. I tried to light another cigarette but my lighter fell in a puddle. I buried my head in my chest. "Lexie?" I heard someone say. I looked up and it was Matt. "You alright?" I looked at him and must've looked like a mess. I wiped my eyes and cleared my throat. "I'm fucking fantastic." I said, then laughed at the contrast between my words and tone. He laughed too. "Come on, why don't you come back to my tour bus and tell Papa Flyzik about it." I got up and followed him, after all, he seemed nice enough.