I love my best friend, but tonight I’m just going to crash. Have a nice long relaxing soak with radox bubbles, and climb straight in to bed.
**Sorry, was driving home. I am just going to sleep tonight G, I have loads of moves for the pole to show you, but they hurt. Oh an I had the boss on my ass all day, and I think I might have upset him too :-/. I’ll see you nice and early tomorrow. Love ya. Rhi XoX**
I hit send and proceed to put my bath on. I place my phone on the bedside table while I bath.
Climbing in to the bath took a bit of effort, but I did it causing minimum damage.
It’s the laying back and relaxing that hurt the most. Who knew relaxing could hurt so much?
The friction burns on my arms, they sting, and the ingredients in the bubble bath are causing some serious discomfort.
Once I have managed to get my body to move, I wrap a towel around myself, and make my way to my room.
Once there I sit on the bed, and pick up my phone. I have two missed calls, and four messages, all from Grace.
Jeez, that woman is not very patient.
**Okay to the meeting tomorrow, but your boss – I need to know now, what did you do to upset him? That can’t be a good move on your part Rhi, just be careful, he pays your wages. G XoX**
**Rhiannon? G XoX**
**Why are you not picking up? You can’t leave me hanging! G XoX**
**If you have gone to sleep, I will kick your ass tomorrow. You are not picking up, nor are you replying to my texts. I can’t believe you would keep me in suspense like this :-( G XoX**
I decide I should text her back, putting her out of her misery.
**Grace, keep your hair on! I was in the bath, he just wanted to check my progress, and asked me out for a drink -which I declined, so I am being careful, hence why I declined. I am aware he is paying my wages, which is why it will remain at work. I am going to sleep now though, so I will talk tomorrow. I am exhausted. Rhi XoX**
After pressing send, I silence my phone and place it on the bedside table. If and when Grace replies, she won’t wake me up.
I quickly sit at my dressing table, and dry my hair before I sleep for the night.
*****
The next morning, I am sat in a café waiting for Grace to show up. I am sat sipping my mocha when she walks through the door. She spots me sat in a seat under the window, and she marches right over to me. She sits down opposite me, and before I manage to hand her her tea, her inquisition starts.
“Well, what did your boss want?” she starts right away, no friendly greetings, nothing.
“Nice to see you Grace, I’m great thank you. How are you?” I ask dripping sarcasm.
“Cut the crap Rhiannon, we will get to that after.” she responds taking a sip of her now cool tea.
“Okay. Well he only watched me in the dance studio Grace. Not a lot to report.” I say knowing that is not what she is after hearing.
“What did he say?” she demands.
“About what?” I ask knowing what she is going to want to know.
“The offer to take you out.” she says like I’m stupid.
“He just asked if I was free to go for a drink. I told him no, and he sulked off.”
“Why did you turn him down?” she asks like I have done the wrong thing.
“Because he is the boss Grace, and that would be inappropriate. I had to tell him straight.” I inform her.
“Rhiannon, you need to live some more. You’re going to grow old alone.”
“No I’m not,” I say defensively.
“What else was said?” she asks as she changed topic.
“He said you can use the dance studio to do pole dancing too, so we don’t have to find classes.”
“Not about that, about you.” she says disapprovingly.
“Grace, what happened to patience?”
“It left years ago, you know this.” she laughs. “Come on,” she urges.
“He wanted to make sure I was fitting it, and doing what I am supposed to be doing. Incidentally he said he liked my dancing. He said I was doing great for a beginner.”
“Is that all?” she asks disapprovingly.
“Yes Grace. I said there was nothing to it.”
“I know, but I know what you're like for with-holding information.”
“Grace, I have never kept anything from you.” I defend.
“Not from me, that I know off, but do your parents know what you're doing now?”
“No, how can I tell them? They don’t need to know. As long as I’m happy and safe, they’re happy.”
“You still don’t think they would want to know?”
“No, and I am hoping they won’t find out. Please don’t tell them.” I beg.
“I wouldn’t tell them anything, you know that.” she reassures me. Grace has always been like a sister to me, even my parents treat her like their own child.
“Thank you. So how are you anyway?” I ask
“I'm okay. Been missing my best friend these last few days.” she says with a pout.
“I know, but work calls. Is Jake still not wanting you to work?”
“No, but I have to do something. I can’t stay at home all day. I am looking for work at the moment, he just doesn’t know it.”
“What are you looking for?”
“I don’t know.”
“I can ask M.r Braxton if there is any going at the big house?” I offer.
“Oh no thank you. I don’t think Jake will ever agree to me doing that.”
“Grace, I honestly don’t see the issue here. Its acting, you were the one who submitted my application form before you even told me, what could he object too?” I ask already knowing the answer.
“Rhiannon, he would not want me half naked on TV with other men. I also only submitted your application because I was always watching you fall, and I didn’t want you to lose everything you have worked for?” she explains.
“I appreciate that, but please give it some thought. Anyway, when do you want to go pole dancing?” I ask.
“We could go today”
“Oh no, it is my day off, I am not dancing on my day of, it hurts like a bitch.”
“Oh come on Rhi,” she begs fluttering her lashes, she knows I can never resist when she does that.
“Grace, seriously?” I ask.
“Yeah seriously. Can’t you just tell me how to do it, while I have the fun?” she continues begging. We both know that it will never happen like that. She is not a good listener, and I will end up having to show her how it’s done.
“You won’t be saying it’s fun once you're done, but okay.” I concede, giving up my fight. I never win against her, and she knows it.
“Yay, you're the best.” she says jumping out of her chair.
“Come on.” she hurries me.
“Can’t I finish my coffee?” I ask
“No, come on, I’ll buy you another one.” she says puling me out of the chair.
We both walk to my car. and as I unlock it Grace eagerly jumps in. I laugh at her actions, you would think she is excited, and that’s before she has spoken. I know later on she won’t be so eager to return. She will be moaning at me for weeks after today, and I can’t wait to terrorize her.
All the way to the big house, all Grace could talk about is what she can and can’t do on a pole.
By the time I pull up to the big gates, I have established the only thing Grace can do on a pole is hold on, and swing around.
She is in for a massive surprise.
“Wow, this is where you work?” she asks as I swipe my key card through the lock. Her eyes are looking at the building in surprise, and awe.
“Yep,” I say as I pull up to the valet. He opens my door, and I hand him my keys as Grace walks round to me, with her mouth wide open as she continues to stares at the big house in front of us.
“This looks like a mansion. Don’t you get lost?” she asks as I drag her in side.
“Not really. I had Toby show me around, and it’s easy to find your way around here. Let’s go through here so I can order a coffee.” I tell her as I pull her towards the cafeteria.
“Do you want a drink?” I ask as she continues to look around, looking astonished.
“No, I am okay,” she mutters back distracted. It’s good to witness a speechless Grace, it doesn’t happen very often.
Once I have ordered, and collected the coffee, I take Grace up to my dressing room.
Again I open the door, and her mouth drops open. This is becoming quite a habit for her today, and I will have to take advantage of this.
“Rhiannon, this is something else. It’s amazing.” she says as she runs her hand over my sofa. “This is just yours?” she asks in disbelief.
“Yeah, I even get my own bathroom.” I say opening the bathroom door. I think she is just about ready to pass out at this stage.
“This is amazing. I want this house.”
“You can always apply for a job here.” I hint again.
“Rhi, you know I can’t do that. Anyway, where is this studio?” she asks diverting my attention so I won’t go on at her.
I lead her to the studio I have been using and as soon as the door is open, Grace is off, swinging on the pole.
“Grace, do you actually know what you're doing?” I ask her, worried for her safety.
“No, but I can learn.” she shouts back, totally humiliating herself on the pole.
I slowly take my shoes off and walk towards the podium.
“Okay Grace, you have to pay attention then.” I say trying to get her to stand still on the podium.
She continues swinging on the pole, “Grace,” I shout trying to grab her attention. She finally stops to look at me, “Thank you, now can you pay attention?” I ask her.
“Yeah, sorry,” she responds as she steps away from the podium, with a mischievous smile.
“You need to pay attention so you don’t hurt yourself.” I explain.
“I'm listening,” she promises, holding her hands up in defeat.
“Okay, first I am going to teach you the 'Bumslide to standing'.” I say to her.
“What on earth is that?”
“I do plan on explaining, if you be patient.” I say trying not to laugh. This lady is not patient at all.
“Okay, are you going to get up and show me what to do?” she asks me. Did I say she’s impatient?
“Oh no, I told you I wasn’t doing it. I am resting today; I will talk you through it.” I say as I walk towards a chair the other side of the room.
“That isn’t fair.” she moans at me.
“What’s not fair is you dragging me in to work, on my day off to do some pole dancing, when that’s all I’ve done. I’m only doing it because you're my sister.” I tell her hoping she feels bad for dragging me here, and with emotional blackmail.
“I'm sorry I dragged you down here.” she says looking guilty.
“I'm not, I am ready to see you get beaten by the pole.” I say laughing, trying to lighten the mood.
“You think this pole will beat me?” she asks sarcastically, pointing to the pole that looks innocent, but is very offending.
“Oh I know it will.” I say confidently.
“Bring it on,” she says jumping up.
“Okay.”
“Okay, you going to talk me through this Bumslide what you call it move?” she asks radiating excitement.
“It’s called 'Bumslide to standing',” I correct her, “And yes, we are doing it now. I need you to hold the bar above your head, and just slide down the bar and backup.” I explain the move to her.
“Well, that sounds easy.”
“If it sounds easy, get it done.” I say pointing to the pole.
She jumps on her feet, and up the podium.
She stands at the bar and performs the move, wrongly, but she still does it.
“Grace, you need to separate your feet shoulder width.” I correct her stance.
She corrects her stance and is soon doing it correctly.
“Okay, we will do a harder one.” I say raising the game a little. I am determined to get that pole to beat her.
“This one is called 'Yogini'. You need to make sure the bar is behind your right shoulder, bring your arm round, so it’s like your arm is wrapped around the bar.” I exclaim as she follows instructions.
“Now you need to raise your feet behind you, and hold your ankles behind your back.” I finish.
“I can’t do that; my feet won’t be on the floor,” she says a little confused. I laugh at her response.
“Grace, that’s the point. Come on – the pole won’t win remember.” I say quoting her.
“I can’t do this,” she complains.
“If I can do it, you can.” I try encouraging her.
“It can’t be done.” she says pretty adamant.
“Yes it can,” I defend.
“You do it then,” she says as she steps off the podium.
I walk over to the bar and show her how it’s done.
“Wow, that is pretty amazing.” she says speechless as I hold the move.
“Yeah, I did say it could be done. Now your turn.”
She proceeds to do it, and fails epically.
Now we are both rolling about on the floor laughing uncontrollably at her attempts.
“That is not easy.”
“Do you mean to tell me the pole has won?” I ask trying to bring my laughing under control.
“Hell no, once I stop laughing, I’m going at it again.”
“How I'm glad to hear that. You are so funny up there.”
“Oh piss off,” she shoots back.
“Be nice or I’ll get my camera out.” I threaten.
She gets back to the pole once her laughing fit has passed. I however am still too busy laughing, I have tears streaming down my face.
Grace finally walks back over to me, hands on her hips looking pissed off. I stop laughing when I notice she is not joking.
“What’s wrong?” I ask not knowing what’s caused her sudden mood swing.
“I just done the move on the pole, but you were too busy laughing, you missed it.” she says in all seriousness. Her reply makes me laugh yet again.
“What’s so funny?” she asks like I have just offended her.
“You sounded so serious.”
“I am serious.”
“You can do it again.” I defend.
“Are you fucking kidding me? That damn pole is dangerous. My arms are killing.”
“I know, that is why I don’t want to go near that thing today. Are you going to do it again?” I ask.
“Am I fuck, it’s a killer.” she says as she throws her body to the floor, as I continue my laughing, “And will you stop laughing at me.”
“I'm sorry, but you're so funny. Are you going to do it again or not?”