Disclaimer: All the characters belong to CBS (and I am not CBS).
Thanks again to Sally Jetson for the beta.
Chapter 4: Turn of the Pole
The lights were almost blinding, which Lindsay was thankful for. She could only see into the first few rows and the rest of the occupants were hidden. I really don't need to know exactly how many people are staring at me right now.
She hated this part. Over the weeks it hadn't gotten much easier. Once she got a rhythm going she found that she got into her dance and even fed off of the crowd, but the beginning, when she was just standing there, with all eyes upon her, always made her feel like a deer in the headlights.
The music started and so did she. The tease being the first part of her performance as she slowly and seductively rid herself of her excess clothing one piece at a time. Soon she was left with only a g-string, a sequined bra, stilettos and a red cowboy hat. Silver lining of all of this humiliation is at least I'm in the best shape of my life.
Then came the acrobatics as she used the pole to contort her body into the various positions. Thank God Cat taught me a thing or two. The bra was then tossed aside to a roar of the crowd as she chose her mark as to where she would make her money for the night. A fat man in the front row caught her attention. He was a regular and seemed to have taken a fancy to her, which meant the money would be good, and it was as he deposited a couple of crisp $50 into her g-string in exchange for some added attention.
She then moved on to a bachelor party to her left were she once again received some bills, though smaller this time. She gave the groom to be a quick kiss on the cheek and soon her song was almost over. One last twirl on the pole before she made her exit back stage. Another show done, another piece of her soul collapsed.
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Danny stared at the stage, his drink forgotten, everything forgotten except for her. It's her. It's really her. But this isn't her. This isn't my Montana, taking her cloths off in front of strangers. It took me months to get her to take her cloths off in front of me. She wouldn't do this. This isn't her… or is it? Did I ever really know her at all?
Flack looked at his friend and back at the stage, and back and forth again. He saw the internal battle Danny was having with himself. He saw Danny's expression change from shock, to confusion, to longing and finally to anger. Danny made a sudden move towards the stage, but Flack was quicker and held him back.
"No Danny. Not like this, not here."
"Give me one good reason why not. I mean what the HELL is she doing up THERE?"
"I'll give you two good reasons why not, and they both have no neck," as Flack pointed to the two large bouncers off to the side. "Come on, let's get some air," and with that Flack pulled Danny from the club.
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"I don't get it. She leaves New York, leaves her career, her life"… me… "for what? So she can take her cloths off in front of strangers. Does that make any sense to you?" It sure doesn't to me.
"Yeah, I mean we have good clubs like this in New York too." Danny gave his friend a venomous glare and was ready to strike. "But that's not the point," Flack responded sheepishly.
"Wait and talk to her Dan. Let her explain. Maybe she's in some kind of trouble that we don't know about. Just wait till later. Don't go scaring her off and creating a big commotion."
Trouble? Montana's in trouble? I swear if any of those perverts in there lays a hand on her…