Hello everyone! It's time for an update, don't you think? I really really hope that you like it!
Thank you again for reading, favouring, following and commenting my story; i can't express in words how much it makes me happy!:) You are one of the things i'm thankful for!:D
Disclaimer: i don't own Glee nor Magic Mike...if I were, Mark Salling would have a solo each episode!
Thursdays were Rachel's day off from the diner. And they were also her and her best friend's date night; they would eat dinner together and watch a movie, usually chosen by said best friend since none of Rachel's suggestions was approved by her friend.
But this Thursday was different. She would still have dinner and watch a movie with Santana, but it was Finn's first day of work at New Directions and, if it was possible, she was more nervous about it than he was.
She was fixing the dinner when she heard a knock on the door. Rachel wiped her hands on the apron and opened.
"Hey Berry!" Santana entered before Rachel could say anything. "I'm fucking starving. Is dinner ready, wifey?" said the Latina smirking.
"Hello to you too, San" said politely the short brunette and entering in the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready shortly. How was your day?"
The bronze-skinned woman shrugged and sat on a chair. "Usual, I guess" She grabbed a breadstick and started to nibble at it. Then, she looked around. "Where is Finn?"
"He's getting ready, today it's his first day at the club!" said Rachel to her best friend.
Of course, she told her what Finn's new job consisted in. They never lied to each other and their friendship was strong and solid. Santana was Rachel's first best friend (if not her first friend at all); she was abrasive, rough around the edges and never spared Rachel a piece of her mind but she was also very protective and caring with the ones who manage to destroy the walls that she built around her. At first Santana was one of her most vicious bullies but, thanks to the glee club, they became friends. Rachel helped Santana when the latter struggled with her sexuality and gave her a roof over her head when the Latina came out to her parents and they kicked her out of the house. These kind of things made Santana be loyal to Rachel and her family for life.
"Oh, right! His new job" said Santana mischievously. She was about to say something else but Finn chose that moment to enter the room. "Hello there, Full Monty! You ready to shake your bon bon?" laughed Santana.
Finn looked at Rachel unimpressed. "Seriously, Rach? You told her?" said pointing at Santana.
"Oh, Finnessa, don't be mad at Berry. I would have find out eventually anyway, the glitter is a bitch to take off the skin!" Santana laughed even harder. She found herself hilarious.
"Santana, stop teasing him! You're being rude and it's totally uncalled for!" Rachel stomped her foot at her best friend and then looked at her brother, shrugging with a small smile "Sorry?"
At that point, Santana noticed her friend's attire. "Wait a second. This is how you go to a strip club? With washout jeans and a plaid shirt?"
Finn rolled his eyes. "Do you think that strippers go to work with just their briefs and no shirt on? Really?" Santana shrugged in response. "And then I'm not going to do anything for the first month. I'm just there to learn what I'm supposed to do."
"Oh, that's something I can tell you" said Santana with a smirk on her face "you take your clothes off and wiggle your pendulum".
At that Rachel covered her ears and started to yell to her best friend "Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Ew! Gross!" and went out the kitchen. Finn and San looked into each other's eyes and started laughing. Shaking his head, Finn followed his sister out of the room leaving Santana alone. She reached the counter and finished putting the food in the plates and then she brought them in the living room, where Rachel was sitting on the sofa with her ears still covered.
"Have you done?" Rachel asked her best friend, grabbing her plate. " And since you caused me emotional distress earlier, we're watching 'Funny Girl'. You owe me that!"
Santana complained loudly about the movie's choice. Of course.
Finn came in sight and announced "Well ladies, I'm out! Have a nice evening". He kissed Rachel's head and ruffled Santana's hair, gaining a glare from the Latina.
"See you soon and greet the other Chippendales' members from me!" said cheekily Santana.
"Stop it!" said the short brunette, slapping her best friend's arm. "See you tomorrow, Finn" smiled to her brother.
Just after a couple of minutes since Finn closed the door behind him, Santana asked seriously "So, when are we going to the strip club?"
"What about…"she pretended to think. "…Never?" answered Rachel equally serious. "I'm not going to see my brother getting naked in front of dozens upon dozens of women. I already had my fair share of therapy hours in my teenage years and I don't want to restart any type of analysis on myself any time soon! Moreover, my psychologist, as you know, works in Lima and I'm not in the right state of mind for trusting another expert".
"Berry, you know I'm gonna drag you there anyway. And there isn't just Finn working there! There must be some sweet, sweet asses over there that are just waiting for us" said the Latina with a sinister smirk on her face. Rachel looked at her best friend as if she had completely lost her mind. "Santana, last time I check you were in a very happy relationship with Brittany. I won't help you cheat on her! She's lovely and she has such a good influence on you. You two even live together, for heaven's sake! You can't break up with her! Everything that made you think about returning on the heterosexual side, FIX IT!" said the brown-eyed woman hotly.
"Whoa! Calm your tits, Rach! I'm not breaking up with Brit nor do I want to cheat on her! I'm just curious…and then looking at some almost-naked guy is not considered cheating if you're sure as fuck you're lesbian!" laughed Santana. "And I love me some Britt Britt's lady fun very much, thank you; so I'm damn sure I'm 100% lesbian." The Latina winked at her friend. "Just, see it as a chance of going out of this cloister and have some fun!" San looked around the living room and then her eyes met Rachel's very confused ones.
"What do you mean with cloister? I resent that. I go out plenty!" said Rachel annoyed.
"And where do you go? In the bar down the street where you can't find a good fuck even if you beg for it. Hon, you need to get laid. Like, yesterday. You're bitchy when you don't put it out." Rachel's mouth fell open outraged but her best friend continued. "And don't give me that look! When was the last time you had sex with someone?" questioned the Latina, putting emphasis on the last word. "If I'm right, it was with Jesse St. Suck 9 months ago! I bet you had to stock tons of batteries for the little toy you keep in the second drawer of your nightstand".
Santana took her best friend's hands in hers (while Rachel's face turned crimson) and continued her speech "Rach, you have to start living a little! You're young, you're hot and you have to start to get out of your comfort zone. So I decided that we are going to the strip club. I'm not telling you when or you will invent some lame excuse for not coming. Case closed."
Rachel crossed her arms on her chest and sank deeper into the sofa's cushions, turning her body toward the TV.
"I have to start choosing my friends more carefully" said the short brunette, sulking.
And with that the discussion was over and they refocused on the movie.
The first greeting that Finn received when entered the New Direction was the sight of Will with just a vest, black briefs and a Stetson on his head.
With eyes filled with embarrassment, the tall man walked to his boss and uttered "H-Hi! Do I have to wear something like this too?!"
The owner laughed at the expression of pure terror on the young face. "Oh, don't worry, once you start your real job here you'll end up with less! However, no. You have to wear clothes…This is why they call it 'strip-tease', because you have to strip off your clothes!" and than noticing the grimace on the other said "You want to quit? Having second thoughts?"
"No, no" answered quickly "I think it just sunk in, I mean, the fact that I have to get naked in front of…you know…"
Schue put his hands on the other man's shoulders and directed him towards the backstage. "Don't worry, you'll get used very fast. I'll show where you guys change between performances."
They walked across the room while various people were prepping the hall and bartenders were checking if all the alcoholic bottles were full and in their right place.
They moved a black curtain and kept walking across a small hallway. Will pointed at a door at the end of it and said "The guys are there. You will be their shadow. You see how they move, how they act with the clients, what they do and whatsoever. Gotcha? I am not your baby-sitter so stay out of my way. However, for any kind of emergency, I usually stay next to the DJ's station. See you at the end of the night".
Finn thumbed up and went into the guys' dressing room. The room was small and filled of props and had a restroom; Blaine, Artie and Mike were getting ready, covering themselves with what it seemed body-oil, while Puck was laughing at Sam, who was fixing a thong with the help of a sewing machine.
"Hi guys!" said Finn, waving his hand. He looked at Sam and asked "What happened to you?". The blonde had big horn-rimmed glasses perched on his nose and a bandana around his head to keep his hair out of the way.
"This is my sewing attire!" answered Sam confidently. At that, Puck laughed out loud.
"Dude, you look like a fucking moron!". He couldn't stop laughing. His roommate was ridiculous like that.
"Finn, we have to find you a stripper name!" said Mike, laughing. "Let me introduce you to the boys".
"Ehm, Mike, I had already met you all". Poor Finn was very confused.
"No, my friend. You met Artie, Blaine, Puck, Sam and Mike; not Blue Thunder", said the Asian pointing Artie, who simply smiled, "White Chocolate", Sam didn't notice the introduction because he was fighting against the sewing machine which wasn't working properly, "Ken," at his cue, Blaine waved with very stiff movements as if he was a doll, "The Puckerone", Puck saluted the newbie, "And last but not least, the best of them all, Magic Mike" ended Mike with a bow. "But now the question is, what will your name be?" questioned the Asian, scratching his chin.
"What about 'The Kid'? Schue already calls him like that and, if I'm not wrong, you're one of the youngest in here" suggested Puckerman. The others nodded in agreement while Finn looked at his new friends in disbelief. "I'm the youngest?! I thought we had the same age!" squealed the tall man.
"Aren't you 22?" asked Puck; Finn simply nodded. "So you and Blaine are the kids of the group, he's 22 too. Mike is the oldest with 26 while Artie is 24. Me and Martha Stewart here are 25. Do you feel better now that you know that, Finnocence?". The newbie just shrugged his shoulders. And then the guys continued to bicker jokingly.
At one point, Will entered the room and said "Okay guys, the club opens in 5. Get ready".
"Nonononononono! No!" panicked Sam "I didn't finish fixing the thong yet! This. Is. A. Disaster!" said the blonde, with terror in his eyes. His colleagues looked at their friend funny until Puck took the situation in his own hands and said bluntly. "Really, Samantha? Really? You're freaking out about that? Dude, flash news: those chicks will even notice anyway. So calm the fuck down". And with that peace was restored.
Then Puck looked into Finn's eyes and said "Man, let's leave the chicks get ready. I'll show you around".
Finn followed his friend out of the room and asked "Don't you have to get ready too? Don't you perform tonight?"
" Not yet. The first performances will be ones of Artie and then Blaine. Then there's a break and then other performances. I'm in the second lot, tonight". They entered in the hall where some clients were already seated and ready to enjoy the exotic show. The two men went straight to the bar and Puck ordered to the barman "Yo, Nick, two beers thanks!". The barman nodded while the other two seated themselves on the stools.
The beers arrived and then they turned so they could see the grand hall. Puck spoke. "So, this is how it works. You do your show, you let them touch you and then you get the fuck down of the stage. We never get fully naked and, if any of the clients get too frisky, Karofsky and Azimio will take care of it" said Noah, pointing at the two bodyguards dressed in black, and continued "Schue will take the cash that's on stage and, at the end of the night, we split it between us. Got it?"
At that point, Finn nodded. Then he took a look around the room and noticed Schue talking to a creepy guy with a sort of afro in his head. The tall man poked Puck and asked "Who's the man that's talking with Schue?".
Puckerman searched around the room and then grimaced when he saw the man. "That's the DJ. Jacob Ben-Israel, or Jew-Fro as I call him. He works here from a couple of years. Before he got the job, he was in jail for stalking and attempted rape, or something like that. I don't like him. He gives me the creeps."
They continued to talking about other aspects of the job. "So, what do you guys do when you don't strip? You stay in the dressing room?" said Finn curiously.
Noah shook his head and put down his beer, licking his lips. "Usually we come back here and talk to the clients. You know, flirt and things like that. You have to make them drink a lot, it's good for the bar's income. What you decide to do after with them it's up to you, you can simply go home or wherever the fuck you go or you can go away with them and have some fun," explained Puck as if it was the most natural thing on earth. "I like to take advantage of my body and have some good fuck. I'm a sex god, I was born to please these ladies". Puck laughed out loud at his own statement and at Finn's reaction: he chocked on his beer.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed and the crowd started to holler and scream in excitement.
A spotlight was focus on Schue, who was now on stage alone.
"Good evening ladies and welcome to New Directions", Will winked and the women swooned at the sight. "Unfortunately, I'm here to tell you the rules of the house. What you can and cannot touch. Can you touch this? Can you touch this?" said the owner passing his hands across his torso teasingly. The women's screams grew louder "No, no, no, no!" said the man, smirking. He turned around, giving the back at the audience and looking over his shoulders. "Second, can you touch this? Can you touch this?" he said slapping his ass. This action was met by catcalls and horny whistles. "No, no, no, no!" And returning to face the crowd he added "The law says that you can't touch!". The women booed and Will looked around the room with a smirk on his face. "But I think I see a lot of lawbreakers in this house…and I don't see a cop in sight!". The crowd's screams boomed in the club.
He walked at the end of the stage while saying "And now the first performance of the night. Please give it up for Blue Thunder" and then hopped down the stage.
Finn looked at the stage and saw the curtain open. The song "Save a horse, ride a cowboy" started and Artie and Mike came in sight dressed like two cowboys, riding two horse-shaped props. They pretended to have a duel and Mike fell from the stage defeat. Artie took the centre of the stage and took off his leather vest, throwing it at the crowd. He then grabbed his crotch and shook it, indicating the ladies that now were standing and were trying to touch the stripper. They were nuts for Artie and they immediately started to throw money at him.
Finn was speechless. Puck saw the look in his friend's face and said "Don't worry, dude. You'll get used to it."
Finn said to Puckerman "Puck, I can't dance like that. I can't dance at all. One time I broke my sister's nose while I was dancing". He stared at Noah's eyes and seriously said "Did you look at them? They are wild beasts! They will rip my head off as soon as they realize that I can't move". Puck smirked "Do you want to know a secret?". Finn nodded. "They don't give a shit if you can dance or not. They just want your body! You could even stand there and just take your clothes off and they will go insane. Chill out, dude".
Puck throw a glance on the stage where Artie was dragging on stage one of the ladies after he grabbed her with the lasso and then he perched her on his pelvis.
Noah said to Finn "Come on, let's continue your guided tour of the club.".
Finn entered his apartment and noticed that the floor lamp in the living room was still on.
He closed the door, locking it with the key, and went in the room for turning it off but was greeted by the sight of his sister asleep on the couch.
He softly smiled down at her and he shook her with delicacy.
"Rach, Rachie. Wake up. Go to bed" he softly said. Rachel rubbed her sleepy eyes and said to her brother "I wanted to be up for when you would have come back". She yawned and sat on the couch, and patted the spot next to her for her brother to sit.
"Rachel, it's late. You have lesson in a few hours" he voiced his concerns "You'll be exhausted if you don't go to sleep now."
Rachel shook her head and said "I want to know how it went first. What do you think about it?"
The brother sighed in defeat and sat down next to her. "It was… intense, I supposed. I-I mean, it's so not me… but it's okay. Everyone said that I'll get used to it so it's going to be okay." The short woman grabbed his brother's face in her hands and looked right into his eyes while saying "Finn, if you're not comfortable with the job, quit it! I don't want you to do something that goes against what you are. We'll manage like we have always had!".
"No, Rachie. I'm going to do this. Let's see it as a new experience, okay?" His sister nodded. "Good girl. Now to bed, sleepyhead. Lunch together?".
Rachel smiled at him and answered "As usual. Good night, big brother."
"Good night, sis".
So, what did you guys think about it?:) Let me know! I love reading your reviews!
See you with the next chapter...I think you know what will happen!;) XOXO
P.S.: for the American readers: Hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving!:D