HOME | DD

Description
The Dance of Fire

A long dark red curtain stood in front of me, inches from my face. I could hear talk and laughter with the clinking of glasses from behind the curtain, but it was much quieter than normal nights. They were waiting for something.

They were waiting for me.

I took a deep breath in a vain attempt to calm my heart. Being careful to make as little noise as possible, I reached up and made sure all my earrings were secure and uselessly adjusting my golden headband.

I wore the plain and snake bands on my arms again, decorating my wrists and ankles with whatever gold I had without going overboard. My dark hair had been straightened, but there was still a healthy hint of wave in it. I had colored my eyes black, grey, and gold, trying to go for a smoky eye; I felt like it had worked out pretty well. For the thousandth time I dragged my teeth across my lips in anticipation – and to bring color to them.

Remember, I thought panicky to myself. You looked amazing in the mirror a few minutes ago and that hasn't changed. Dancing will only make you even more beautiful.

The noise from the other side of the curtain suddenly quieted. My heart slammed to a stop before kicking back up to double time. I wanted to wipe my hands on something to get the sweat off but my legs were bare and there was no time.

The lights dimmed on the other side; I could tell because of what light was peaking under the heavy curtain. Music started playing, softly at first. I didn't know what instrument it was, but the sound was sorrowful and twanged, soon being joined by other instruments.

I realized my cue was coming up. Fear, dread, and panic ran rampant in my stomach as I felt it drop below the floorboards. It was a measure before I went out. I gripped the curtain on either side of the split, trying to ready myself.

The cue came and I tore the curtain out of my way, wind ruffling my skirt as I walked out. Bright lights shone harshly down on me, burning my skin like the eyes in the crowd. Instantly all my fear and panic fled from my mind, leaving my body free of worry.

I took slow steps, gliding into the practiced movements I had planned out a week before. Keeping with the slow rhythm of the music, I forced myself to take my time rolling my shoulders and stomach, snaking my arms, taking dramatic steps, despite my thrashing heart. Under the music no one was talking, forcing me to focus solely on myself.

Coming from the depths of the music was the drum. Soon it was commanding the rest of the instruments to pick up the beat, and I followed. I stepped, rolled, spun faster, matching myself with the music. For the first few measures I thought there was something wrong with the sound system, but the crowd's clapping came to my ears through the music. I could feel their energy as though it were tangible and redirected it to my body.

The music kept the fast beat as I made my way around the stage, using my hips to guide me while rolling my stomach. I wasn't sure if it was the moves or the fact that my skirt was lifting up with the wind I was creating that got me a loud cheer, but it only fueled me on.

My hair flew away from my face as I started to spin, the coins and earrings lifting up. I raised my hands to the sky when I slowed, twining them in and out of each other. I brought my small foot to a point, posing for a long second then rocking my hips to the drum.

By now the crowd was clapping and cheering loudly. I was eating it up, bringing my hands in front of me asking for more as I swung my hips from side to side. I pushed off the ground a little, starting to slide into a pivot controlled by my hips.

As I finished my pivot and stood in front of the roaring crowd I could feel the music taking control of my body. My hips started to sway and my body followed in a smooth S shape. Arms were raised to my side and above my head before I knew it, and my feet where taking steps I couldn't remember telling them to.

I held on for one last second, taking everything in: the crowd, the music, the strong power running through my muscles, the jewelry and clothing that decorated my body, the hot air pressing around me, the sweat covering my body. In that second I could feel everything so clearly that panic almost overtook me again. But the next measure started and I handed myself over to the music, the crowd roaring.

-F-

Golden eyes stared back at me from the mirror in the back room. Girls kept coming by and congratulating me on my one-girl performance. I nodded and smiled but never took my eyes off my reflection. I hadn't taken anything off since I came off stage five minutes ago.

I was trying to memorize how I looked right now because I couldn't remember when I thought I looked so beautiful. Even though my skin had a sheen of sweat, I believed that at that moment I was the most beautiful person I'd seen, even more so than the Host Club boys.

The next second, Mrs. C's voice rang out and I snapped myself away from the mirror, all thoughts of beauty washed away to the back of my mind. I settled my eyes on her as she made her way over looking rather pleased.

"Congratulations on tonight, Foxx," she said, stopping in front of me. "You did very well, even without background dancers. I think you may be one of the best dancers this club has seen."

I decided that the overjoyed look she wore reminded me of a shark trying to grin. "Thank you very much. And without giving me the opportunity it never would've happened."

She barked a harsh laugh, scaring half the girls in the room, and slammed down a very large wad of cash next to my bag. My eyes widened in disbelief. "That's your pay for tonight, as well as all the tips the customers were throwing." She took a second to look at me, thinking. "Good job," she settled on as she left.

At first I didn't know what to do. I'd never gotten that much in one night. I should do this more often, was the only thought that drifted across my mind. I shook myself and put the money in the bag. I pulled all my jewelry off, save for the earrings, and put it in the smaller bag. I stripped off the skirt and pulled my jean shorts on quickly.

I had to be a little cleverer about the top – because of the way it was designed, I wasn't wearing a bra. When I was sure no one was looking I slipped the straps off, snapped my bra together and turned it to cover myself.

I set the top in the duffle bag and dragged a black tank top over my head. Now I looked pretty normal other than the stage makeup, so I sat down to clean it all off. I hated falling asleep with makeup on so I cleaned until I was sure I got as much off as I could. With that, I threw my trash in the garbage as I made my way out. Smiling happily on my way back home, not even the drunkard I dodged in an alley could pull down my soaring spirits.

I did it. The thought ran through my head as I hummed the song that had brought me so much fame. I did it. I really, really did it.

I shimmied down the dark street to my house, reliving the performance by breaking into swings to match the music in my head, much like how I would act after winning a soccer game. Every now and then I would bubble with laughter, exhilarated from the left over adrenaline rush.

I took my time walking home, hoping to let out all my energy so I wouldn't be staring up at my ceiling the whole night. Even so, I walked into my neighborhood after a few minutes.

Okay, take time to cool down, I thought. Don't want to be too loud and wake mom and dad up.

As I rounded a corner, I noticed a weird color, like a bright red light, on one side of the house across the street from mine. Another few steps and I could hear cracking, popping sounds.

Oh no, they're setting off fireworks tonight?!, I thought, slinking close to the fence so as not to be seen. Every summer the kids in my neighborhood would set off fireworks every now and then, just to have some fun. We hadn't done any so far, but I thought they would at least tell me when they would.

I had to make sure that no one would see me when I ran over to my house. Worse yet, my parents might be awake because of those loud poppings.

Now that I thought about it, they were louder than normal. And that red light on the side of the house seemed a little intense for firecrackers.

Cautiously I peaked around the wooden fence to look down my street, holding my bag behind me. But my eyes snapped to my house.

It wasn't firecrackers.

It was fire.

Flames danced around my blackened house, leaping into the sky. The cracks and pops were louder than before as the flames at more wood. There were three fire trucks there, people getting out to run around and yell and try to put it out.

And I stood at the fence, shocked beyond belief. I can't remember when I started running. I threw the bag next to my car parked safely on the curb and kept running. The only words running through my head were, this can't be real! It can't!

Mom!

Dad!

Description
The Dance of Fire

A long dark red curtain stood in front of me, inches from my face. I could hear talk and laughter with the clinking of glasses from behind the curtain, but it was much quieter than normal nights. They were waiting for something.

They were waiting for me.

I took a deep breath in a vain attempt to calm my heart. Being careful to make as little noise as possible, I reached up and made sure all my earrings were secure and uselessly adjusting my golden headband.

I wore the plain and snake bands on my arms again, decorating my wrists and ankles with whatever gold I had without going overboard. My dark hair had been straightened, but there was still a healthy hint of wave in it. I had colored my eyes black, grey, and gold, trying to go for a smoky eye; I felt like it had worked out pretty well. For the thousandth time I dragged my teeth across my lips in anticipation – and to bring color to them.

Remember, I thought panicky to myself. You looked amazing in the mirror a few minutes ago and that hasn't changed. Dancing will only make you even more beautiful.

The noise from the other side of the curtain suddenly quieted. My heart slammed to a stop before kicking back up to double time. I wanted to wipe my hands on something to get the sweat off but my legs were bare and there was no time.

The lights dimmed on the other side; I could tell because of what light was peaking under the heavy curtain. Music started playing, softly at first. I didn't know what instrument it was, but the sound was sorrowful and twanged, soon being joined by other instruments.

I realized my cue was coming up. Fear, dread, and panic ran rampant in my stomach as I felt it drop below the floorboards. It was a measure before I went out. I gripped the curtain on either side of the split, trying to ready myself.

The cue came and I tore the curtain out of my way, wind ruffling my skirt as I walked out. Bright lights shone harshly down on me, burning my skin like the eyes in the crowd. Instantly all my fear and panic fled from my mind, leaving my body free of worry.

I took slow steps, gliding into the practiced movements I had planned out a week before. Keeping with the slow rhythm of the music, I forced myself to take my time rolling my shoulders and stomach, snaking my arms, taking dramatic steps, despite my thrashing heart. Under the music no one was talking, forcing me to focus solely on myself.

Coming from the depths of the music was the drum. Soon it was commanding the rest of the instruments to pick up the beat, and I followed. I stepped, rolled, spun faster, matching myself with the music. For the first few measures I thought there was something wrong with the sound system, but the crowd's clapping came to my ears through the music. I could feel their energy as though it were tangible and redirected it to my body.

The music kept the fast beat as I made my way around the stage, using my hips to guide me while rolling my stomach. I wasn't sure if it was the moves or the fact that my skirt was lifting up with the wind I was creating that got me a loud cheer, but it only fueled me on.

My hair flew away from my face as I started to spin, the coins and earrings lifting up. I raised my hands to the sky when I slowed, twining them in and out of each other. I brought my small foot to a point, posing for a long second then rocking my hips to the drum.

By now the crowd was clapping and cheering loudly. I was eating it up, bringing my hands in front of me asking for more as I swung my hips from side to side. I pushed off the ground a little, starting to slide into a pivot controlled by my hips.

As I finished my pivot and stood in front of the roaring crowd I could feel the music taking control of my body. My hips started to sway and my body followed in a smooth S shape. Arms were raised to my side and above my head before I knew it, and my feet where taking steps I couldn't remember telling them to.

I held on for one last second, taking everything in: the crowd, the music, the strong power running through my muscles, the jewelry and clothing that decorated my body, the hot air pressing around me, the sweat covering my body. In that second I could feel everything so clearly that panic almost overtook me again. But the next measure started and I handed myself over to the music, the crowd roaring.

-F-

Golden eyes stared back at me from the mirror in the back room. Girls kept coming by and congratulating me on my one-girl performance. I nodded and smiled but never took my eyes off my reflection. I hadn't taken anything off since I came off stage five minutes ago.

I was trying to memorize how I looked right now because I couldn't remember when I thought I looked so beautiful. Even though my skin had a sheen of sweat, I believed that at that moment I was the most beautiful person I'd seen, even more so than the Host Club boys.

The next second, Mrs. C's voice rang out and I snapped myself away from the mirror, all thoughts of beauty washed away to the back of my mind. I settled my eyes on her as she made her way over looking rather pleased.

"Congratulations on tonight, Foxx," she said, stopping in front of me. "You did very well, even without background dancers. I think you may be one of the best dancers this club has seen."

I decided that the overjoyed look she wore reminded me of a shark trying to grin. "Thank you very much. And without giving me the opportunity it never would've happened."

She barked a harsh laugh, scaring half the girls in the room, and slammed down a very large wad of cash next to my bag. My eyes widened in disbelief. "That's your pay for tonight, as well as all the tips the customers were throwing." She took a second to look at me, thinking. "Good job," she settled on as she left.

At first I didn't know what to do. I'd never gotten that much in one night. I should do this more often, was the only thought that drifted across my mind. I shook myself and put the money in the bag. I pulled all my jewelry off, save for the earrings, and put it in the smaller bag. I stripped off the skirt and pulled my jean shorts on quickly.

I had to be a little cleverer about the top – because of the way it was designed, I wasn't wearing a bra. When I was sure no one was looking I slipped the straps off, snapped my bra together and turned it to cover myself.

I set the top in the duffle bag and dragged a black tank top over my head. Now I looked pretty normal other than the stage makeup, so I sat down to clean it all off. I hated falling asleep with makeup on so I cleaned until I was sure I got as much off as I could. With that, I threw my trash in the garbage as I made my way out. Smiling happily on my way back home, not even the drunkard I dodged in an alley could pull down my soaring spirits.

I did it. The thought ran through my head as I hummed the song that had brought me so much fame. I did it. I really, really did it.

I shimmied down the dark street to my house, reliving the performance by breaking into swings to match the music in my head, much like how I would act after winning a soccer game. Every now and then I would bubble with laughter, exhilarated from the left over adrenaline rush.

I took my time walking home, hoping to let out all my energy so I wouldn't be staring up at my ceiling the whole night. Even so, I walked into my neighborhood after a few minutes.

Okay, take time to cool down, I thought. Don't want to be too loud and wake mom and dad up.

As I rounded a corner, I noticed a weird color, like a bright red light, on one side of the house across the street from mine. Another few steps and I could hear cracking, popping sounds.

Oh no, they're setting off fireworks tonight?!, I thought, slinking close to the fence so as not to be seen. Every summer the kids in my neighborhood would set off fireworks every now and then, just to have some fun. We hadn't done any so far, but I thought they would at least tell me when they would.

I had to make sure that no one would see me when I ran over to my house. Worse yet, my parents might be awake because of those loud poppings.

Now that I thought about it, they were louder than normal. And that red light on the side of the house seemed a little intense for firecrackers.

Cautiously I peaked around the wooden fence to look down my street, holding my bag behind me. But my eyes snapped to my house.

It wasn't firecrackers.

It was fire.

Flames danced around my blackened house, leaping into the sky. The cracks and pops were louder than before as the flames at more wood. There were three fire trucks there, people getting out to run around and yell and try to put it out.

And I stood at the fence, shocked beyond belief. I can't remember when I started running. I threw the bag next to my car parked safely on the curb and kept running. The only words running through my head were, this can't be real! It can't!

Mom!

Dad!