“Great to meet you.” Scott says as he plants a kiss on my hand.
“Like wise.” I respond kindly.
Both men step aside and lead me into the room.
I am astonished with what’s in front of me. It looks like I have walked into a never ending wardrobe. I have never seen so many clothes in one place, not even in a store.
“Please follow me.” Scott says.
“I'll leave you here. Good luck Rhiannon.” Toby says stepping back out the room.
I'm a little nervous, but I guess I have to do it some time.
I turn on my heels and follow Scott. He takes me the other end of the big room, and stops at a rail hanger, full of colorful clothes. He pulls a few items of clothing to the side, and finally picks the piece he was after.
Satisfied with what he has chosen, he strolls back over to me, where I’m stood waiting for him. He looks at me and looks down at the costume with a satisfied smile.
He passes it over to me as I admire the fabric in my hands. I am holding two pieces of pink silk. It’s a bikini, full of sequences, and has some long strands of beads in pink and white that will cover my stomach.
“This is for your scene today Rhiannon. You have twenty minutes to put it on before you have to meet the choreographer. She will run you through your moves.” Scott informs me.
“If you go behind there,” he says pointing to a big screen, “You can get changed, while I get your shoes ready.” He walks over to another space in the room, where there is thousands of shoes all lined up. I don’t know how they find what they need in this cluster. I guess this is what you call ‘Organized chaos'.
I nervously walk behind the screen, and carefully place on the costume.
A few minutes later I walk back out, and Scott is waiting for me. He is holding a pair of white stilettos, with very high heels. I am glad Grace taught me how to walk in them, apparently 'every real woman can walk in high heels' Graces words, not mine, so she was resistant when it came to teaching me how to walk in them. I have never been more Grateful for Graces demanding ways.
Scott places them on the floor and helps me step into them.
Once my shoes are on right, and the straps fastened around my ankle, Scott takes my arm and leads me back in to the corridor.
“We are now going to meet the choreographer.” he informs me as he pulls me along the corridor.
I follow him till he comes to a room. He doesn’t knock, he just walks in with me following.
It looks like a big dance studio.
In the corner is a lady with lovely bright red hair. She stands up to greet us.
“Rhiannon, this is Cassie. Cassie this is Rhiannon. She is the new one who needs to learn the moves for the new movie.” he explains to Cassie.
“Certainly Scott. I've read the script, Kaleb gave me it a few days ago to get some moves sorted, and I think I have it set perfectly. Give us an hour.” she says smiling.
“Okay. Good luck Rhiannon, and I’ll come see how you did after you have finished filming.” he says before walking out.
I stand there, not knowing what to do. I feel out of place. Everyone is so friendly, and know each other, while I’m the new outsider. I hope I don’t feel like this forever.
“Okay. You have read your scene, so you know what is consists off right?” she asks kindly.
“Urm.... yes, I have read it.” I confirm.
“Great, let’s get under way then. We have an hour.” she says walking over to a pole in the middle of the floor.
“Now normally, we have people who know how to use the pole, but we can teach you the basics. Kaleb has given you a few weeks to do this. Today is just a rough, to see if you can do the basic, and to see how you are behind the camera.” she explains, as she plays on the pole.
Deep down I am relieved a little. Knowing I will have a little time to perfect this makes it a little easier.
Cassie pulls her hoodie off and slings it to a side.
“While we practice you can take your shoes off, but you will need to practice with them on before we finish up.”
I nod and bend, undo the straps, and place them neatly in front of the mirror.
“Right I need you to come grab this bar.” Cassie instructs. I slowly walk over on shaky legs, and place both hands on the bar.
“Okay. We are going to start with the 'Bumslide to standing'.” she takes her pole, beside mine, and shows me what to do. Once she’s completed it once, I copy as she talks me through it.
“You need to hold on to the bar, have your feet about three feet apart, and just slide up and down the bar, but keep your back straight” she slowly explains, as I slowly follow instructions. It looks easy enough.
After I practice that move a few times, Cassie informs me I have it, and we are going to try a different one.
“Next we are going to try the 'Extended skater'. Watch then copy again. You will feel this one in your arms.” she explains.
Cassie grabs the pole at the top, lifts herself of the floor, keeps one leg beside the bar, leans back, lifts her left leg back and grabs her left foot with her left hand, behind her back.
I watch her do it again, so I know I have it right. I attempt it, but my hand slides down the bar, making me fall down. I try it another two times, both times I fail.
“Rhiannon, you need to concentrate.” she castrates me.
She’s the pro not me. I think as I’m starting to feel defeated. This is actually harder than it looks.
This time I try again, determined not to fail, and like magic, I do it perfectly.
“That’s better,” Cassie comments as she stands, and watches me. She makes me do it another three times to make sure it wasn’t a fluke, and all times I do it, but now my arms are aching.
“Fab, Two more for today.” she says like another two is easy. My body is aching just after two, and this is before we're even ready for filming.
“Now, we are going to do 'Hang tough' and 'Dove'. Watch and copy.”
“First we have the 'Hang tough'.”
She puts both arms on the pole, and lifts herself of the floor, and kicks her legs up, basically so her legs are straight, and her feet are level with her ass.
I attempt it, and manage to get my legs so far before my arms slip.
“Just lift your legs a little higher.” Cassie encourages me. I try again and succeed, but it is very hard, and I feel like I’m going to fall any moment.
“Okay, let’s take five, give your arms a rest and come back.” she says as I release the bar. She walks to the chair she was sat in when we entered, and takes a break herself.
I take a seat in-front of the mirror, trying to bring some life to my shoulders that have suddenly become dead weight.
“The studio is always open for you to use, so you can practice as often as you like if you would like.” Cassie tells me.
“The key to your dressing room is also programmed to open the front gates, so when reception staff have gone, you can still get in.” she says warmly.
“I know you think I might have been a bit hard on you earlier, but I knew you could do it. You just needed tough encouragement, and it worked. You are actually doing fantastic for your first time on the pole.” she says kindly with a hint of humor in her voice.
Okay, maybe she isn’t as bad as I thought she was.
I grab a glass of water from the water cooler beside the door before we resume what we were doing.
“Okay, we are now going to try the 'Dove' move, then do them altogether. Come on.” she encourages.
“'Dove' isn’t as easy as it may first appear. You have to hold at the top of the pole, arch your back away from the pole, and kick your legs behind the pole, while the pole is between your legs. You have to have your hands above your head at all times.” she explains as she does it.
She makes it look so easy, and in side I die a little just thinking of my poor arms.
Taking a deep breath, I start to do it. I slowly lift one foot at a time till both legs are straight behind me.
“Rhiannon, arch your back further.” Cassie instructs. This is harder than it looks. At this moment in time, the pole is rubbing against my legs, and my arms are stuck I think, locked in place.
Taking a deep breath, and closing my eyes tightly I arch my back further. I do it, but just as I’m about to let go, Cassie stops me, “Hold it for five seconds, before you let go”
I don’t think I can let go if I tried. I think my arms are firmly locked in place.
“Okay, and drop it.”
I do as I’m told, and almost drop to the floor. Cassie laughs at me.
“How you feeling?” she asks.
“Dead,” I laugh, “but no seriously, you made that look so easy, but it’s actually hard.”
“The more you practice the easier it will be. You're just not used to it. I'll give you five minutes then we have to put them all together.”
Jeez, I’m not sure I could do any more today.
After taking a five-minute break she asks me to get back to the pole. I hesitate, but eventually get to the pole.
“Once without shoes, then you have to put them on and do it again.”
“Right, we are doing - 'Bumslide to standing', then 'Extended skater', 'Hang tough', then 'Dove', and finally, 'Bumslide to standing' again. Your scene for today is only five minutes, same tomorrow, to test your skills. Day after, Wednesday will be a full day rehearsal ready for a few hours filming on Thursday. If they get the scene right, you might get the day of Friday, but don’t hold me to that.” Cassie explains to me.
Oh I hope so, I’ll be spending the day in bed.
With that hopeful thought in my head, I walk over to the pole, and grab hold of it.
“Right, 'Bumslide to standing.'” she orders.
I quickly take my place and do the requested move.
“'Extended skater', good, now 'Hang tough', fab you're doing a great job, 'Dove'. That’s it one more 'Bumslide to standing', Fantastic.” she praises me for every move I did, and I am astonished. I managed to do them all, without falling, or having to stop through pain. Still it really did hurt.
“Right, shoes on and let’s run it once more with instructions, then I want you to remember the sequence on your own.”
At this point I’m eager to get it done, just so my poor body can rest. I practically run to put my shoes on, and am back at the pole in no time at all.
I grab hold of it again, as Cassie shouts out the order. Once done I feel like I know it.
“Okay, on your own now.” Cassie says.
I start to do it. 'Bumslide to standing', 'Hang tough'.... then I struggle. Is it 'Extended skater' then 'Dove'? I think.
“No. again.” Cassie orders.
“Its 'Bumslide to standing', 'Extended skater', then 'Hang tough', followed by 'Dove', and 'Bumslide to standing' again to finish it off.”
Damn – I almost had it.
Again.
'Bumslide to standing', 'Extended skater', 'Hang tough', 'Dove' followed by 'Bumslide to standing'.
I repeat the sequence in my head till I’m finished, ensuring I don’t mess it up again.
I did it. I jump of the pole and do a little celebratory dance.
“Fantastic. Now take half hour before they call you for filming. They will call your room for you, so go relax, have a coffee and something to eat if you haven’t already.” she says fondly, as she dismisses me.
She hands me my robe, how it ended up here I don’t know, I left it in costume, but I throw it on, and make my way back to my room.
I pull the card key out of my room and swipe it in the lock.
The door opens, I walk in, throw my shoes off, and take five minutes relaxing on the comfy sofa in my room. I see a menu on the table, and pick it up.
I scan it quickly, and notice they do room service.
Perfect, I thought as I grab my phone and dial the number on the bottom of the menu.
“Hello, room service,” says an old man's voice through the handset.
“Hiya, can I make an order please?” I ask kindly.
“Certainly ma'am. Can I have your name please?” he asks.
“Yeah, its Rhiannon Addison.” I respond a little confused as to why he needs my name.
“Okay, we don’t have your name on the list. Can you tell me your room number please?”
“Urm – I wasn’t aware we had room numbers, where can I find the number for my room?” I ask feeling like a complete fool.
“It should be on your card key ma'am.” he responds like I’m a complete idiot for not knowing this already.
I pull my card key out of my pocket and turn it over. Sure enough on the other side is a number I hadn’t noticed before.
“My card key says room 201.” I tell him.
“Okay. You must be the new girl then, because that room has been empty for a few months.” he informs me kindly.
“First day” I explain.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to have you Miss Addison. I will put your name on the list so next time we will only require your name.” he says sounding relieved.
“Thank you.”
“No problem. What is your order please?”
“Can I just order a Mocha and a ham salad sandwich please.”
“Sure, it will be up in the next few minutes.” he says before he hangs up.
Well I never. Who knew ordering a sandwich could be so hard, but the guy was very kind.
I decide to text Grace while I’m waiting for the food.
**Oh gosh. Grace, this is killing me. I had to learn a few pole dancing moves. My arms and legs are killing. As for what I have to wear – well actually, that’s kind of cute. It is amazing though. I start filming soon. Just having food. Wish me look. Text ya when I’m done. Rhi XoX**
In no time at all she texts back, I’m pretty sure she always has that phone attached to her hands.
**Pole dancing hey. I might have to buy you a pole, I never thought you would get on a pole ;-) but good luck. I will catch up later. Busy with Jake if ya get my drift *wink wink, nudge nudge*. G XoX**
I laugh at her reply, honestly the dirty cow. There are some things I don’t need to know, and that is one of them, but Grace is always the same, so I don’t know why I’m so shocked.
As I’m laughing at her reply, I get a knock on my door.
Yay food, I think as I answer the door. As I predicted, which let’s be honest, wasn’t hard to do, my food is here.
I go to pay the man, but he said as I work here it’s free. BONUS.