Author's Note: Thank you for all the reviews and taking a chance on this story.
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.
Besitos
Hinata
"You were awfully quiet during lunch," Itachi commented as he drove them to the nearest grocery store.
"Yeah, just hungry and thinking. The plot is always bubbling, you know." She was staring out the window, watching the scenery fly by.
"Hinata, you were not happy Sasuke was there. I tend to think like a spy," Itachi said, touching her shoulder briefly. "No secrets here."
Except that your brother was at my strip club, Hinata thought. Again, she wondered if she should rat Sasuke out.
Over lunch, Sasuke had chatted about inane things such as classes or his internship. Not once did he mention that he had visited "The Den of Sin."
"Hinata, darling, I can tell when something is on your mind," Itachi tried again. "I'm serious, this is a no secrets zone. Whatever you say to me will stay in confidence."
She chewed her lip, mulling the decision over. "Promise?"
"Promise. Now open up to me, my little Lotus. What is on that genius mind?"
"Well, and this has to stay a secret you understand, but…" How to come out with this information. "Your brother…" She sighed. "Came by work last night with his friends."
Itachi slammed on brakes, making the car behind him honk and swerve around.
"Ah! Itachi!" she screamed, pressing herself back in the seat.
"Shit! Sorry!" Itachi pulled the sports car to the shoulder of the road and killed the engine.
"Are you trying to kill us?" she panted.
"No, I was just…really?" Itachi rubbed his hand over his face.
"Yes, really."
"Did he recognize you?" Itachi had turned himself to face Hinata now, a shaking hand raking through his long hair.
"No, I don't think so. Stage name, remember? But he has been staring a lot today," she mused. All during lunch he had shot her furtive glances, as if piecing something together in his mind.
"And I invited him to lunch without even thinking!"
"You didn't know. It's okay."
"Okay, tell me everything," Itachi said.
The blush had long since worn off about telling Itachi the finer points of her working nights. She delved right in with all the details, trying to think of everything from last night. She just couldn't bring herself to tell Itachi his brother had given her money last night too.
Itachi let out a long sigh and rubbed his face.
"Okay, okay, I think everything is fine. It was dark, crowded, and not your real name. Plus, he probably won't see your tattoo or realize that Sai would know the artist. Besides, what would Sasuke do with that information?" Itachi asked her.
Hinata pushed the tips of her fingers together and tried to keep her lunch down.
"Well, I don't know if the university would appreciate how I'm getting my money," she told him. "Or my family."
"Sasuke hasn't blackmailed anyone that I know of. Look, I think you'll be fine. It was probably a one off, not Sasuke's scene."
Hinata nodded because Itachi definitely knew his brother better than she did. Sasuke had not looked pleased the night before and would probably never return.
"Okay," she consented. "You're probably right."
"Let's hope. Now, you need groceries. Can't let you go hungry." Itachi started the car again and pulled back onto the road.
Hinata tried to push the worry from her mind and focus on what else had to be done for the day. Checking her phone, she noticed that Asuma had emailed her back about the story.
"Listen to this," she told Itachi, "Asuma says my latest chapter shows real world building and character building. Blah blah about fixing errors, but he likes how the heroine is progressing at this point."
"Well done," Itachi complimented as he made a turn at an intersection. "When do I get to read this installment?"
"As soon as I get home and send it. I'll warn you though, it's pretty spicy."
"Since when has that bothered me?"
Hinata laughed. Spending time with Itachi was so effortless. She wished they were something more than just good friends, but he had never shown any interest in her that way, other than just harmless flirting. The weirdness of spending time under scrutiny with Sasuke was starting to dissolve.
At the grocery store, Hinata went strictly by her list. Her money earned from the night before had to last as long as possible. Itachi kept picking things out that he knew she wanted, insisting he was shopping at the same time, and slipping them in among her items.
It was a dance they had performed in the past and she knew how it would turn out. Once at the register, Itachi would insist on buying most of her items, if not all. She rolled her eyes. Guys and their games.
"What are you, my sugar daddy?" she teased.
"I guess technically," Itachi told her, a sly smile on his lips.
"One day I'm going to pay you back," she told him as they headed for the checkout line.
"Hinata, you don't need to," Itachi told her seriously. "This is what friends do."
He paid for all the items he had picked up and then half of her list. Hinata had learned early on that there was no arguing with him or changing his mind.
"Thank you," she told him quietly as they loaded the groceries into the back of his car.
"Hinata, you know I don't mind doing this for you. We're friends," Itachi said. "I've been there before, so I know what it's like."
"Wait, you've been a stripper?" Hinata teased.
Itachi laughed. "No, but down and out. You'll get through it."
"Thanks."
"Come on, gotta get you home so you can get ready."
She nodded, hating their time had already come to an end.
At home, Hinata opted for adding more to her story and working on statistics. She knew if she left the homework, it would never get done over the weekend. Math just wasn't her thing.
She ate a light dinner as she started some of her prep work for her shift. Hinata decided that she could just go to the club a little early and work with the pole more.
The story was going nicely. Her character, Lotus, had just successfully seduced her master and was a step closer to freedom. Hinata had decided a little victory was good for her, since her writer was in a good mood today.
When Hinata reached the club, Genma let her in today.
"Hey Lavender," he said, moving the senbon around in his mouth, "coming to hit the poles early?"
"Yeah. Practice makes perfect right?" she shrugged, trying to avoid his gaze. He always seemed to be watching just a little too closely. He was nice, but Hinata wasn't taking any chances.
"That's what they say. Let me know if you need anything?"
"Of course. Probably just my usual, water, with the lid on," she told him, heading for the dressing room. There were only a few other employees around – a couple of barmaids and a few dancers.
In the back, Hinata changed into her outfit to practice and brushed out her hair. She didn't want to put on makeup when she didn't have to yet. Her shift wouldn't start for another two hours.
Another dancer was blowing out her frizzy curls. Hinata thought her name might be Temari, but she wasn't sure.
"You early too?" the other girl shouted over the sound of the hairdryer.
"Yeah. Thought I would work in some extra practice."
"You should," the girl said. "I've seen your routine. If you want more tips, you need to look like you belong up there, honey."
Hinata felt herself bristle but tamped it down. The girl was right.
"I'll take it into consideration," Hinata told her.
"Just remember you're selling a fantasy up there. Guys want to think that you'll do those things during sex. Just do what you do in the bedroom for your boyfriend."
Instead of bristling, Hinata felt the hot stain of blush crawling up her cheeks. This didn't escape the other girl's notice.
"Don't tell me you don't have a boyfriend," the girl said, cutting her hairdryer off.
"Not as such," Hinata said quietly.
"Oh no girl, this won't do. Come on, I'll show you how to do it. You know, that's why the other girls don't trust you, they can smell your virgin blood," the girl told her, grabbing Hinata's wrist.
Hinata made a little sound of protest but allowed herself to be dragged along.
"I'm Temari, by the way, at your service."
"Lavender," Hinata told her.
"I know. Your floor game isn't bad. That always seems easier, when you're one on one. Come on, grip this thing like you're the boss," Temari told her, firmly wrapping Hinata's hands around the brass.
In a flurry, Temari became part drill instructor, part fitness coach. She was loud and brash, but experienced. She had Hinata swaying and gyrating with more sensuality now.
"Not perfect, but we can work with this," Temari told her as they broke to get water.
"Looking good up there ladies," Genma told them as he served up two bottled waters.
"Of course," Temari answered for both of them.
"Now you take it easy on my Lotus," Genma said with a wink to Hinata. "Don't go corrupting her."
"I won't, if you won't." Hinata listened to the two banter for a little while as she sipped her water. She had learned a lot in the hour or two they had worked together. Was it that obvious that she didn't have anyone?
"It's almost that time," Temari said, motioning for Hinata to follow her back to the dressing room. Other dancers and employees had come in for the night.
She braced herself for the before shift crush in the dressing room, where everyone is getting ready. Pretty soon, the night would pass in a blur of money, spinning, and erections.
By the end of her shift, Hinata's little purse was a little fuller than it had been the night previous. Part of it was just the weekend and a busier crowd. But the men had seemed a little more appreciative of her routine.
Before she left, she nodded at Temari, who winked in return.