The night was young. Cars and lights through Vegas were as lively and loud as usual. People were drinking, and getting drunk and drunker; probably even grinding against each other in clubs, making out in an excessive amount of time until the time came to retire for the night. Oh, but it was a rich night.

For Anna, all of this was foreign to her. The moon embraced her body as she danced through the darkness. The stars circled around her surroundings like she was Tinker Bell and she was the brightest star of them all. Even hands that were not allowed to reach her could be felt crawling up her skin—feeling her until she was at the point of tasting what she had for breakfast a few hours ago on the flat of her tongue. Perhaps, it was not too foreign.

Ah, but it wasn't. She'd done this before… it wouldn't hurt to do it again.

Maybe, it was just another drunken night of hard work, regret, and disgust, but... there was this satisfaction behind these emotions. There always was.

She looked out behind the curtain on stage. Round tables with candles in the middle, surrounding the whole club. It was a big place with a big stage. It was her big night. Her first night. Possibly, her most regrettable night. She shouldn't have come back, but there was always one thing that held her back.

And a long metal pole was taunting her, waiting for her body to come hug it. Wanting to be caressed and to be felt with every inch of her naked body. No, this wasn't foreign at all.

She didn't oppose being on stage and having to "entertain" others - she only found it quite intimidating, and she was quite naked. But Anna was quite confident about the way she looked, considering how many people had complimented her freckles and curves and… her bright personality. People always wondered it was fake, and even Anna wondered about that herself, having to be a slave to this industry. Often, it was something that had to be the last thing she could worry about.

Though, there was a dark side to her - a part where she knew where to draw the line. Anna could feel the adrenaline rush through her like a herd of elephants.

She peeked out and shut the curtains again, not a second longer. Her heart was racing, loudly. All the confidence she had was blown right out of her. She put her hand on top of her chest, but it was impossible to still her lively heart.

"Nervous?"

Anna almost gasped, feeling a sturdy hand on her shoulder. A man, tall and broad, with bright hair, stood aside her. It was Kristoff, half naked. She glanced at him up and down and waved away the obvious question to an obvious answer of why he was half naked. Deep down she knew it was his job too. "Not nervous... terrified. Just terrified." She sighed.

Kristoff smiled, sympathetically. "First-timers always feel like this. Don't worry though, it'll pass eventually. But… you're not a first-timer."

Eventually?

Anna didn't even want to ask or even think how long 'eventually' would be. "This wasn't what I wanted to do..." Nor did she dream of doing something so... perverted.

"I know you're still continuing to clear her debt. Don't worry, it'll be quick. A three-minute dance, and that's enough to clear... probably an eighth of what you owe?"

She rolled her eyes, looking at the rosy red colored curtain. "I thought there was a better way."

"Then maybe you thought wrong. This could be your 'better' way."

Anna doubted it. She could've gone to work as a waitress, or just get coffee for people in offices. She could've done anything, but this. Except, this was just much faster. Her manager was… persuasive, to say the least.

The money would be due soon, and the 'soon' worth of pay could not clear those five zeroes. Not all the way at least. There was no question to ask to explain why she was back here again.

"Hey, stop thinking about it. You've practiced! Your parents will be proud."

"Oh, you'd be surprised," She looked down to her body, replying sarcastically. She'd admit, she was fit and confident enough to wear two black pieces of... cloth. God, they couldn't even be called clothes! Anna cleared her throat, "But I guess proud that I'm trying to earn money. But disgusted that this was the only way."

"Hey! Dancing is a profession!" Kristoff scowled.

"I'm a pole dancer, specifically, Krist. At a strip club."

"Honey, you're not stripping." He crossed his arms, jutting his hip to one side.

"Who knows," Anna shrugged. "One day, maybe."

"He never asked you too."

"That's because I earned some kind of… reputation here. A reputation that huge... that I don't even need to strip to get popular."

Kristoff groaned, "Listen, stripping or not, you get the joy of seeing people swoon over you."

"That's a weird way of saying 'I-like-this-job'."

"You'll be able to impress some people. You're sexy and confident, but you lack the courage and that's okay. Plus, there's this VIP here today so work extra hard okay? But you do that either way."

Anna almost grimaced. She wanted to take this slow and steady. How could there be a VIP here on her big day? She felt her stomach churn. It didn't matter - this was going to be a big payday. "Fuck..." She rubbed the bridge of her nose. She'd completely forgotten or maybe she just wasn't paying attention to that meeting the other day. Or maybe she was in class that day… but then again, she would've gotten a message from her boss.

"Hey, don't worry about it. Just be yourself and maybe she'll give you some good tips," He winked.

"Y-Yeah..." The stage light slowly darkened and the mumbling from the other side became whistles and shouts. Most of them, quite demanding. Some, quite disturbing. She wouldn't be surprised if she was going to gag again.

Anna ignored it. "I'm not ready for this..."

"Hey, you'll be fine, feisty. You're only dancing for three minutes. Remember? I know it's been five months, but I know you haven't lost your touch." The blond swiftly turned her to face him. "Deep breath, Anna."

She took a deep breath, finding herself relax with each take of air that smelled like lavender. Maybe her perfume was too strong.

"Alright, go out there and impress them."

Anna grinned weakly. "Thanks, Krist. You're always a big help."

He laughed, "Go out there, feisty!"

With a gentle push, Anna scurried through the curtains and scrambled to find her spot. Ah, her pole.

She took a deep breath, eyes closed. Her hands were gentle, her grip barely even touching the cold metal.

The spotlight flashed onto her and she closed her eyes. Her front against the pole, legs gently wrapped around the bottom. Everything was silent in her world, the music elegantly wishing her good luck.

She was naked, but all she could feel was the warmth of the light, the cold sensation of the metal pole against her body. Anna started circling around her prop, feet gliding so beautifully.

Her fingertips swam elegantly on the pole, and slowly gripped tightly. Like a magnet, it suddenly pulled her towards it. She stared into the crowd, teal eyes bold and still making each and every one of those clients heart skipped. Perhaps even that said VIP.

Anna didn't care anymore, she was in her own little world. She turned, back leaning against the pole for support. Perhaps, like a man who was dancing along with her. Her fingers tenderly ran down her bosom, toned stomach arching from her own touch. She sighed, head tilted up as her fingers reached right between her legs.

She was in ecstasy.

Anna was lost in paradise.

And she danced, one hand gripping at a time, holding herself in the air on the pole. She was strong. Her body was water as she swirled around, legs spread to a complete split and she bent backward. Anna let go of one hand, fingers slowly running through her hair and she pulled her braid into a flow of red, beautiful loose hair. She continued to go around, her free hand reaching down to the bottom of the pole.

Slowly her legs wrapped around the metal, capturing the pole tightly—

She noticed a slender blonde staring at her. Legs were crossed, head tilted to the side as if she was impressed... perhaps, not so much. The woman stared, sending chills down the dancer's spine - and it wasn't just a simple gaze of amusement, it was... interest. Anna's heart skipped, seeing a small grin crossing her face, matching the brightness of those fantastically blue eyes.

The blonde picked her flute of champagne up, nodding to her. The redheaded dancer blushed, body heated into whatever she was feeling. The light? Her own touch? Maybe she was just tired.

Her attention was special, and Anna felt wanted.

At this moment, Anna's only intention and desire was to impress her. She continued dancing, swinging her body back upright, her toes touching the ground, her grip still tight on the pole. With all her might, all her strength, Anna stretched her arms out, slowly lifting herself until her body was up in the air, her back arched sharply until her calves hugged the pole.

She spun her way down. She let her hands go, palms on the ground. She flipped backward to stand and leaned against the pole with heavy breathing and a sweaty body. She did all this... just for a stranger - which, never in her life had she done before.

The blonde still had eyes on her. This time, those blue eyes showed no sign of any amusement. But Anna continued to sway like a leaf - back against the pole and she slowly bent down, legs spread, and hands wrapped around her hair... the pole... anything...

And only then, Anna finally caught a smile. Her chest finally caught up with hope and confidence.

She didn't have to look at the blonde anymore, so she danced her heart out. Hands reaching up above her head and held onto the pole. Anna lifted herself up, toned legs raised to the air and she spun.

The crowd applauded as Anna slowly got to the ground, sweat dripping off her body, hot breath rapidly coming out. She stared into the spotlight. She never felt so satisfied before. It had been the slowest three-minute of her life, but she felt nothing of what she felt from the beginning. It was the most satisfying three minutes of her life. She was proud. Confident. Wanted.

Anna blinked and turned to the blonde—no, a stack of cash on the table and a note stuck under the flute glass. She looked around in panic, running up to the front of the stage. Still, she was unable to find blonde hair shimmering through the crowd.

She was gone.