Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Sophie
I looked around the bustling “backstage” area, making sure no one needed help. This is the third year I’m participating in this recital, but now that I’m an instructor, it seems different. I feel responsible for the students in a way I didn’t just a few weeks ago.
My gaze fell on Anjannette and Keera whispering together on the other side of the room. The two spotted me watching them and they abruptly stopped talking. Before I could think too much about it, Eve approached.
“Tracy is having a little meltdown about her routine. I tried talking her down, but wasn’t very successful. Can you give her a pep talk?”
I glanced over at the girl in question and nodded.
“On it,” I assured Eve.
I walked toward the timid brunette, straightening my shoulders on the way.
“You okay over here?”
She looked at me through the mirror and shrugged. I rested my hip against the table to face her head on. Even through the makeup Shannon had impeccably applied, Tracy looked a little green as she fidgeted with the fringe on her costume.
“I know you’re nervous right now, but trust me, you’re going to go out there and kick ass,” I said. “You know the routine so well, you could probably do it backwards and in your sleep at this point.”
“I’m just afraid I’m going to screw it up.”
“You won’t,” I said, then decided to switch tactics. “Everyone sitting in that audience is there to support and cheer you on. None of them expect perfection. Just have fun.”
One corner of her mouth curled up.
“Thanks Sophie.” She took in a short breath and blew it out. “I feel better.”
I stood and squeezed her shoulder.
“You’re going to be amazing.”
From what I can tell, no one else is freaking out. Time for me to get ready.
I’m only in the instructors’ routine, which is the last performance of the night, but I want to get ready now. That way, if I get held up helping out with something, I’ll still be good to go when it’s my turn.
I stepped behind the screen to slip into my costume. Since the song we’re dancing to is performed by Buckcherry, we went with black pole shorts and a top sporting cherries. The set is super cute and I love the way the boy-cut shorts make my ass look. As I checked my butt out in the mirror, I made a mental note to order more of the same cut.
Once I was dressed, I slipped into my silk robe, and found an empty spot to do my hair and makeup.
“Need help?” Shannon asked from behind me.
“If you’re free, I’d love some.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I was going to add some eye shadow, mascara, and red lipstick and hope I look as good as Anjannette and Keera.”
She pursed her lips and studied me in the mirror, then she smiled.
“Do I have carte blanche?” she asked as she set her makeup kit down.
“Sure,” I said. “Why not?”
“I won’t make you look ridiculous. I promise.”
She instructed me to open and close my eyes, and look up and down as she used different size brushes to apply a variety of products to my face. As she worked on my brows, I watched Keera rejoin Anjannette. As they spoke, they kept sneaking looks at me wearing matching Cheshire cat grins.
“What are those two up to?”
Shannon shifted her eyes toward them and shrugged.
“No idea.” She picked up a black eyeliner. “Close your eyes.”
I did as I was told and felt it glide across my upper lash line and end in a winged flick. Then a soft brush moved back and forth over my lid in quick, short, motions.
Once she finished my eyes with false lashes, I was able to keep them open. I watched Anjannette and Keera while Shannon applied lipstick. They were focused on the iPad and not paying me any attention.
Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I just hope they’re not planning some kind of rookie hazing. As far as I know, Anjannette didn’t do anything to Keera when she got certified, but maybe with their two minds put together they’ve come up with an induction for me.
I mentally shrugged as Shannon worked on my hair. I’m not going to worry about it. My friends wouldn’t do anything to embarrass me. Well, not in anything but a truly fun way.
“Close your eyes again while I spray.”
“Don’t make it too stiff. I need to be able to properly toss it.”
“How’s that?” she asked once she was done applying hairspray.
I opened my eyes and almost didn’t recognize myself.
“You are a miracle worker.”
She’d curled my normally straight hair into chunky ringlets that she separated with her fingers and sprayed into place. The result is sexy, just-fucked hair that looks amazing.
“You like it?”
“I love it,” I said. “This hair is incredible and if I tried to do a smokey eye with winged liner, I’d end up looking like I got punched in both eyes.”
It’s no surprise Shannon is so good at this. She lives in Manhattan and does hair and makeup for some pretty famous photographers. For some reason, she keeps talking about moving back to Scranton. I don’t have any issues with my hometown, but from what I’ve seen and heard, her life in Manhattan is filled with more glamour and excitement than this city can offer. But I’m sure she has her reasons, and when she’s ready, she’ll share them.
“I can show you how to recreate the look if you want.”
“That’d be great.”
Before I could say more, Anjannette announced five minutes to show time. The buzz of energy in the room increased, but in a good way. As far as I can tell, everyone is ready to go, even Tracy who looks much more relaxed than she had earlier.
I’ve seen each of these routines at least a hundred times, but can’t wait to see them once more. And afterwards, we’re all heading to Poor Richard’s to celebrate.
Sounds like a perfect night.
Jamie
I followed Elliott through the front door of Peaches & Pole, feeling the hum of energy as I entered the studio. It looks like it’s going to be a full house for the recital. Half the seats are full and there are enough people milling around to fill most of the empty ones.
On the way over, Elliott mentioned that the instructors would probably be busy in the dressing room helping the performers get ready. Of course that didn’t stop me from looking around the room for Sophie or stop the disappointment that filled my gut when I didn’t see her. What I did spot were multiple bouquets of flowers throughout the room. Flashbacks of Maggie bringing flowers to give Eileen at her dance recitals filled my head. I hadn’t even thought about getting some to give Sophie after her performance. Should I have?
As I turned to ask Elliott that very question, he stepped away from me, ran across the room, and wrapped his arms around a tiny redhead wearing a black, silk robe. I watched as they talked, then he turned and gestured for me to come over.
“Jamie, this is the amazing Anjannette.”
Her smile widened.
“I’m so glad you could make it.”
I shook the hand she offered.
“I’m glad to be here,” I said, not sure if it’s true or not.
Certain terms were established when Sophie and I parted ways, and it's clear my presence here goes against those.
“Would you stop looking so serious?” Elliott asked. “We already went over the worst thing that could happen, and it’s really not that bad.”
He shifted his gaze to Anjannette and she offered him backup.
“Sophie is going to be thrilled to see you.”
That remains to be seen, but before I had to respond, a woman with thick brown hair approached.
“It’s time to start getting everyone settled,” she said.
"Elliott and Jamie, this is my partner Keera," Anjannette said, taking the microphone handed to her by the woman in question.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Jamie.”
The two women seemed genuinely happy I’m here. It makes me wonder exactly what Sophie has told them.
“Nice to meet you, too.”
“I’m going to announce that we’ll be starting,” Anjannette said to Keera. “Why don’t you show Elliott and Jamie to the seats we have saved for them?”
As we followed Keera across the room, Anjannette’s voice boomed through the speakers.
“Hi everyone.” She said that twice more before the room got quiet enough for her to continue. “We’re going to be starting in a few minutes, so please make your way to your seats.”
“We have you over here,” Keera said as she pointed to two empty chairs in the back corner. “Sophie is on dressing room duty, but will probably watch each performance from over by the door. You’ll see her, but hopefully she won’t see you. We want her to be surprised after we do the final dance.” She looked me up and down before offering a saucy smirk. “I can’t wait to see her reaction when she sees you.”
“Me neither,” Elliott said.
People were milling around us to get to their seats, so we made our way to ours while Keera walked back over to Anjannette. I figured us coming here was all Elliott’s idea, but it seems that’s not the case.
“How’d we end up coming here?” I asked him.
“Anjannette called and told me it was happening.” He shifted his gaze in my direction, and sighed. “We both thought it would be a good idea to get you and Sophie in the same zip code again.”
“Is everybody ready for this show to get started?” The crowd clapped, hooted, and hollered in answer to Anjannette’s question. “Oh come on. The ladies have worked hard. Let’s show them some real love.”
The decibel level increased tenfold and she waved her hands, encouraging them to get even louder. She clutched the microphone to her chest and spun in a circle, basking in the noise before gesturing for everyone to get quiet again.
“Kicking off our show tonight is Lily. She’s taking you back to the disco era, so pull out your Polaroid camera and show her some love.”
As the audience cheered, a tall woman with long black hair walked to the middle of the room. The fringe on her bright pink shorts and top swayed with every step. The room got quiet as she raised her right arm and grasped the pole. She looked at her feet for several heartbeats, before glancing toward the DJ and nodding.
It only took the first few notes of “I Will Survive” to play for the crowd to start clapping again. Lily’s movements got more confident as the dance went on. I’m sure the encouragement from the audience helped with that.
As compelling as Lily was, she’s not who I’m here to see. Keera had said Sophie would probably be watching from the doorway, so I kept shifting my gaze in that direction during the performance. Unfortunately, Sophie wasn’t there.
Elliott clapped along next to me, enjoying the show. He nudged me and nodded toward Lily.
“What a fun dance.”
As I nodded in agreement, something caught the corner of my eye toward the door. I looked over and there she was. Sophie.
She’s normally stunning, but with her curly hair and full-glam makeup, she looks like a goddess. Before I’d had my fill of looking at her, she slipped back out the door. I kept staring at the space she’d been in, just in case she appeared again. But she didn’t. As Lily’s performance ended, I joined in the applause that echoed through the room even though I’d only caught a fraction of the dance. And that’s how it went through the rest of the recital.
It didn’t take long for me to figure out that Sophie slipped into the room shortly after the performance started and left about three-quarters of the way through. While she was there, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. But once I figured out her pattern, I was able to enjoy some of the show instead of obsessively watching the door.
Anjannette introduced each dancer with flair, giving the recital a theatrical touch that added to the fun and excitement. It reminds me of the shows at Elliott’s studio. And just as Elliott always does the last dance at The Pole Experience, the instructors are closing out the show.
I saw the top of Sophie’s head peeking over Keera and Anjannette’s as she stood behind them by the door.
One of the women who’d already performed now held the microphone.
“We’re at the point in the show you’ve all been waiting for,” she said. “The final dance is going to be even more amazing this year since our newly-certified instructor Sophie will be joining Anjannette and Keera.” She paused as the crowd cheered, her face split in a huge smile. Once they settled down, she continued. “So put your hands together for these three crazy bitches!”
I nearly swallowed my tongue at my first glimpse of Sophie. There’s nothing extraordinary about what she’s wearing, but put together with her hair, makeup, and confident strut, she’s spectacular.
As the first strains of “Crazy Bitch” by Buckcherry sounded through the room, both the outfits and the introduction make much more sense.
I barely blinked as I watched Sophie glide around the pole with mesmerizing fluidity, every movement a testament to her strength and skill.
“She’s something, huh?”
I nodded in answer to Elliott’s question, unable to tear my eyes away from Sophie, the woman who’s stolen my heart.