Aubrielle Chapter 8
I packed up my bag. Relief filled me. I was done. That was one final exam down. Two more next week, and then this semester will be over. I’d get a week's break, then I’d take a class over the summer and the final two in the fall. Those will be the last three, and I was counting the days.
There was a low rumble of voices as my fellow students rose and began to file out of the classroom. I could take most of my instruction online, but I had to come to campus for exams. It could be worse. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to stand coming here all the time.
Even though I was on a stage most nights and the center of attention, I wasn’t comfortable around a ton of people. The exception was at the strip club. I was Parvati, not Aubrielle. And around the Punishers, I was the real me. They made me feel safe.
“How do you think you did?” a female voice I knew asked from behind me.
I smiled as I turned. I didn’t have friends, not really, at school.
I was friendly, saying hello to people in passing and that sort of thing, but I didn't actually sit down to study, talk outside of school, or go out with people. Leigh was standing there. She had been in a few of my last classes. We spoke. Sometimes we’d chat between classes in the student quad when I was on campus, that sort of thing. She was nice and about my age.
“I think it went well. What about you?” I asked.
She sighed before she answered. We walked together toward the door. “I never know if I studied enough, and I always second-guess answers. I’m working not to change them from the first answer I give. When I do it, it usually turns out right the first time. I passed, but I don’t know by how much.”
“Sometimes, I catch myself doing that, too. It’s hard, but I agree. Stick with your first answer unless you absolutely know you were wrong,” I agreed.
“How many more exams do you have?” Leigh asked.
“Two, next week. I can’t wait to be done. How many for you?” I asked.
I was walking toward the front, where Shadow would pick me up. She followed me.
“I have three, but they’re next week, too. I’m ready for summer break. I need the time off.”
I hummed as if agreeing, not that I knew what it was like to take a summer off, but in seven months I would.
We came to the area where people could be dropped off or picked up at the college’s front entrance. After a quick scan, I realized Shadow wasn’t here yet.
“Hey, a group of friends and I plan to go out tonight and blow off steam. I was wondering if you might want to go with us. It’ll be low-key,” she offered out of the blue.
I was surprised, and a part of me regretted having to say no. “I’m sorry, Leigh, but I can’t. I work on Friday nights. But thank you for asking.”
“Darn, well, maybe we can another night. Where do you work?” she innocently asked.
No way would I tell her where. I’d lived in fear that someone at school would recognize me.
I hated the idea of people gossiping about me.
I wasn’t sure if any of the guys had gone to the strip club, but at least a few had to have.
It was something I saw young guys doing.
As for the women, they were less likely to do so, though it wasn’t impossible.
More women went to the club than some might think.
As if by fate, the roar of a motorcycle saved me from having to answer her. We both turned. I smiled as I watched my man ride up on his Harley. His biker garb, paired with his handsome looks, his bike, and tattoos, projected sexy, alpha-male vibes.
“Wow, God, he’s yummy,” Leigh muttered, half to herself.
I bit my lip to keep from saying anything. When Shadow came to a stop before us, I heard her swift intake of breath. Then he took off his sunglasses, revealing his beautiful dark blue eyes. He smiled, increasing his hotness factor by ten.
“Hey, Dazzler, you ready to go?” he asked.
I felt Leigh’s incredulous expression turn to me. I smiled at him, then at her.
“I’ll see you next week. Have a good weekend,” I told her. Then, right before I walked off, I leaned closer to whisper to her. “And yes, he is yummy.” Her cheeks turned pink.
I didn’t delay going to the bike. Shadow had my helmet out and took my bag to put away while I put on my helmet and glasses.
Next, he held out his hand to assist me on the back, even though I’d gotten good at doing it.
As we took off, both of us raised our hands to Leigh, who remained frozen, her mouth hanging open and disbelief written on her face.
I laughed. Shadow didn’t know why, but he tossed a grin back over his shoulder.
I relaxed and let the wind tease my body, and the sun hit my face.
???
The club was full and loud tonight. It was Friday night, and it seemed everyone wanted to be at Punishers’ Eden. My first dance had been met with deafening applause and whistles. The haul I made in tips had been wonderful.
With the amount I was bringing in, I’d not only graduate debt-free, but I’d have a nice, small nest egg.
That was a miracle, given how I started this journey years ago.
It took me until I was nineteen to get Dad to let me go to college.
Then it was another two years before I convinced him that moving out to Bristol would benefit him.
I often wondered what Dad would think if he knew what I had planned. I knew there’d be anger, but would he feel more than that? I still prayed, though I knew it was useless, that he’d see me as more than a tool. I wanted to be loved as his daughter. To have a dad who wanted me to be happy.
Shadow’s smile washed away my twinge of regret. Instead of staying in the dressing room all night like I usually did, I wanted to roam. I was tired of listening to some of the girls bitching. They gave me a headache sometimes.
When I told Shadow what I wanted, he wasn’t thrilled, but he took me to the main area.
There was a booth of Punishers here tonight, so he told me he could fend off the hungry wolves.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head at his silliness.
I swear, the man acted as if every guy on the planet wanted me.
Yeah, a few had gotten out of hand, but that was the exception, not the norm.
I felt the gazes on me as a scowling Shadow escorted me to sit with the guys. As they moved to make room for us, I nudged my man.
“You have to stop scowling like that. You’ll run off the customers, and then what will we do?”
“The bastards need to stop looking at you and licking their chops. I know what those fuckers are thinking,” he growled.
“The same as you were when you saw her,” Hail stated.
“Hail, you can disappear,” Shadow threatened, making his brothers laugh. I held in mine, but I did lightly smack his arm.
“What? Those are fighting words. Sure, I wanted you, but it was for more than this lot does. I had honorable intentions,” he replied piously.
“You’re lucky no one snatched her up before you did,” Diesel added.
That set off the mock arguments at the booth.
They were so hilarious, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Tonight, other than Diesel and Hail, there were Ruckus and Fiasco.
Riot was working along with Mayhem. There were no couples here.
Despite being the only woman at the table, I was relaxed and safe.
I was treated as a sister by everyone but Shadow.
Drinks were ordered. I got to watch some of my fellow dancers’ dances and the reactions to them.
I thought they all did well. Dusty and Bianca were great, drawing loud applause and more than decent money tossed onto the stage.
My two dances were split wide apart each night.
I did one early in the night, then another on the backend.
It was a strategy. A popular dancer was spread out that way to bring in the customers early and keep them there, spending money until the dancer did her last dance.
The additional money would be spent on drinks, bar food, and other dancers.
Tips usually increase for the waitresses and bartenders, too.
When our drinks were brought to the table, I pulled money out of the back pocket of my jeans. I knew what it was like to need those tips, so I always made sure to leave what I could.
The guys, including Shadow, tried to say they’d cover me, but I refused.
When our waitress walked off with her healthy tip, after thanking us, Shadow kissed me.
I wasn’t embarrassed to kiss him back. I would’ve probably stayed there, lip-locked with him, if the guys hadn’t teased us apart.
Time flew by, and before I knew it, it was time to get changed for my last dance.
Shadow escorted me and stayed as usual. I quickly touched up my makeup, fixed my hair, which he had run his hands through, then got dressed.
The shouting increased when the DJ announced Parvati.
Shadow remained at the edge of the backstage curtain.
The music started. I let myself sink into my mind and let the music take over.
It was how I was able to do this night after night.
The dance was over in no time. I came out of my trance or whatever it was to tremendous applause, whistles, and shouts.
My old man wrapped me in my robe, then helped me pick up the money and place it in the velvet bag he always kept ready for me.
I heard voices shouting my name. Some demanded an encore.
I smiled, waved, then walked off the stage with Shadow’s arm around me.
Back in the dressing room, I didn’t waste time removing the heavy makeup, brushing out my hair, placing it in a basic ponytail, then changing back into my jeans and blouse from earlier.
Typically, we’d leave via the back door at that point, but tonight, I wanted to go back and hang out with the guys longer.
“Shadow, honey, can we go sit with the brothers for a bit longer?” I asked.
“Sure. Let’s go.” Was his immediate reply.