Grabbing the papers, I walk in my room, drop my bag to the floor and proceed to read the papers.
Dear Rhiannon.
Yesterday you did amazing. Here is your schedule for today.
Toby.
A little post it note is attached to the white envelope in neat handwriting, signed by Toby.
Ripping open the envelope I pull out my time table.
10AM – Hair and make – up. - Millie and Tina.
12:30PM – Costumes – Scott.
1PM – Rehearsals – Cassie.
3Pm – Filming – Crystal, Blake, Jase, and Scarlett.
Not a bad day – I hope. I am a little scared about practice again, but I am hoping it’s not as tough as yesterday. I really have to look up local pole dancing classes, and drag Grace along with me.
I set my time table on my dressing table, and drink my coffee before my work day starts. Once my coffee is gone, I decide to put on my bath robe so I am ready when the girls come.
At exactly 10, a knock on my door pulls me out of my thoughts.
I open it and there stand Millie and Tina.
“Great to see you both.” I reply as I step aside to allow them entrance.
“You too,” Millie says as they both set up their things on my dressing table again.
“Right Rhiannon, same set up as yesterday. Hopefully if we get this scene done you will have something different next time.” Millie says smiling.
“Sure. I will just let you do what you need to do.” I say relaxing in my chair.
While I am being pampered again I text Grace.
**Hey, arrived at work. Thank you for last night, I love our girly nights. You serious about joining a pole dancing class? Rhi XoX**
While I await a reply, I decide to ring my parents.
My mum answers on the third ring.
“Hey Mum, its Rhi.” I inform her, knowing she answers the phone to anyone.
“I know love, caller display told me.” she says seriously.
“Oh yeah, I forgot you finally upgraded.” I laugh at her, she was adamant there was nothing wrong with her old brick she used to call a mobile.
“I did, you kept nagging me so I thought I would give it a try. Your father is still trying to work it all out.” she says laughing. I have missed having my mum around, and her sense of humor, which is usually directed at my father.
“Mum, how are you and dad?”
“We are both great love. Missing our little girl of course.” she says petulantly.
“I know mum; I miss you both too.” I say sadly.
“Does that mean you will think about coming to join us?” she asks hopeful.
I hate to let her down but I can’t just up and leave like she did.
“Mum, you know I can’t do that.” I say hoping she will get the hint soon.
“I know, but I’m still holding on to hope.” she sounds hurt by my answer.
“I'm sorry mum. I will promise to come see you soon though. Once I know my work schedule I will let you know.” I promise. She worries about me. She didn’t want to leave me behind, and tried to drag me with them but I was adamant to stay. She was worried my past would catch up to me, and I will not tell her it is slowly catching up to me. She will worry, and come back and drag me to Georgia kicking and screaming,
“How is work love?” she asks. I didn’t have the heart to tell her I lost my job, she would of insisted I accepted money from her, and I didn’t want to do that. I also don’t think telling my mother I am now what they call a porn star is ideal over the phone, I would rather do that face to face, or not at all.
“Oh you know, same old, same old.” I mutter hoping to divert her questioning.
“Okay love, well I am just at the mall doing some shopping so I will let you go. Call me any time you need to.” she reminds me as she does every time I talk to her.
“You can always text mum, that might be easier.”
“Rhi, I am an old woman, I'm not interested in learning how to text, plus I won’t hear your voice through a text. I can believe your words if I hear them, I know what your like for not talking, or lying to protect people, but you also know I’m your mum, and can even read the tone of your voice.”
“Jeez, I'm sorry mum, I just thought we could communicate more if you would text.”
“I know dear, but I love to hear your voice. We don’t hear the British accent here, so hearing it when I can is comfort, especially when it’s from my beautiful daughter.”
“Okay mum I get it.” I inform her.
“Okay dear, I have to go, I can’t hear much over the noise in the mall, so I will let you go. Remember to call me whenever you like.” she reminds me.
“I will do mum; I love you.”
“I love you too Rhiannon. Keep safe love, and I'll speak to you soon.”
“Okay mum. Bye.” I say as I hang up.
I love talking to my parents, and I do miss them, but I won’t be dependent on them. I won’t tell them about the notes, and I won’t tell them about the new job, well not till I see them anyway. That is something I want to tell them face to face so I can reassure them that I am fine.
Once the phone has disconnected I notice a reply from Grace.
**Of course I’m up for classes. Let me look some up and get back to ya. And I love our girly nights too. G XoX**
I knew Grace would sort classes out. She will find the best classes there is.
I put my phone away and relax while I have my hair and make – up done.
*****
Three hours later and I'm back in rehearsals with Cassie.
“Afternoon. How are you after yesterday?” she asks kindly.
“I'm okay. I hurt a little but am okay. I think we have Crystal coming in today.” I inform her, unsure if she already knows or not.
“As the saying goes 'no pain, no gain' right? Crystal will be here in about an hour.” she says obviously already knowing.
“Yeah, I guess you're right.” I say smiling.
“Today we are going to do a few lap dancing moves. I’m going to show you some moves, then we have Jase coming in to help you practice, as with Crystal and Blake.” Cassie explains.
Suddenly I am very nervous. I don’t think I can do it now, not with Jase, but after more thought I would have to do it with Jase or Blake anyway so I might as well get comfy doing it in private before the cameras are on us.
“Okay, so where do we start?” I ask.
“Right, I’ll show you, then you do it.” she says taking her cardigan off.
After I watch Cassie for a few minutes, she comes and stops in front of me.
“Now, you don’t have to do anything I have just done. You just have to tease him, look sexy, make him enjoy it and have fun. Now I want to see what you can do” she says pointing to the chair in the middle of the room that she has just practiced on.
I walk over to the chair in my stilettos. I take a deep breath and start to move around the chair. Cassie interrupts me a few times to correct me on things like my body language, my footing, and just other simple things.
After practicing a few times, Cassie sticks her head out the door and tells someone to come in.
Next thing I know; Jase is walking in the room. His brown hair is glistening of the mirrors, and his eyes are shining right. He is in totally different clothes than yesterday. Today he is wearing black sweat pants, and a grey top.
He looks so hot.
Following in his footsteps, Crystal and Blake are hot on his heels.
Jase strolls over to me and folds me in a friendly hug before kissing my cheek.
“Nice to see you again Rhiannon.” he says smiling.
“You too Jase.” I reply feeling like a child who has a teenage crush.
“Right, Jase on the chair please. Rhiannon get ready to do it again please.” Cassie says, “Crystal and Blake, you know what to do,” she says leaving them to it. I think these have all worked together, they are all so at ease with each other, and know exactly what to do with each other.
Jase lets go of my hand and takes his place in the chair.
Once seated, Jase looks at me and smiles. Taking a few minutes to pluck up some courage I stroll over to him. He smiles once more, encouraging me to do it.
I decide I can do this. I am stood above him, as I start to move.
After roughly ten minutes, Cassie comes over to us.
“Rhiannon, that was fantastic” she says smiling. “You would never tell you are new to this.” I am feeling proud, despite being nervous I did it, and I didn’t feel ashamed.
“That was amazing.” Jase says as he stands up and looks at me.
“Thank you,” I say with a big cheesy smile.
“Okay, I think we can call it a day. Go grab some food, and relax for a bit before you're called for filming.” Cassie is dismissing us once again.
We both leave the room, and as I throw my robe on Jase calls me
“Rhiannon, take a walk with me?” he asks.
“Urm …. Sure.” I reply coming to a holt.
I look back towards Crystal and Blake who are leaving the studio too,
“Good work,” Blake says.
“Brilliant stuff there Rhiannon.” Crystal tell me, as they both go their own way.
Jase takes the lead and walks to the cafeteria.
Once there he asks me what I would like ordering.
“I'll have a mocha, and a salad tray please.” I inform him as I grab a table.
“Coming right up.” he says as he walks to the counter and places our order.
Once he returns with our order, he sits opposite me and hands over my meal and drink.
“Thank you,” I say as I take them from him.
As we sit and eat, he asks me questions.
“So, what made you get in to this industry?” he asks looking interested in my answer.
“I needed a job to pay my bills, and I tried loads of other directions first, but never got anything.” I reply honestly.
“Fair enough, and a straight answer, I like it.” he laughs at me. He’s not the first to say this, yet my filter has never failed me so many times till I started working here. There must be something in the air that makes people speak what’s in their mind, and not what you think they want to hear.
“What about you? How did you get in to this?” I ask probing, if its good enough for him, its good enough for me to ask them too.
“Well I was approached by an agency, and decided to go with it. It wasn’t something I was actually ever interested in, but from the moment I started, I have never regretted taking the leap of faith. Five years later and I’m here.”
“Do you see yourself doing anything else?” I ask
“No, I actually like what I do.” he replies sternly, like I might just have offended him.
“I'm sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it.” I say as I put a folk full of salad in my mouth.
“Don’t worry about it. Do you want to go in the relaxing room before we get called?” he suggests, changing the tone he speaks to me with.
“Yeah, sure. I'll grab another mocha and meet you in there.” I reply.
“I could do with another tea myself.” he says smiling and helping me stand.
He joins me in the line as we wait for the line to die down.
“I'll get this, you got the last one.” I offer.
“No thank you, I appreciate it, but I don’t let a female run about after me. I'll get them both.” he tells me putting an end to that conversation. He has left me speechless.
Once he has placed our order of a mocha, and a latte, he takes my elbow and directs me to the relaxing room as he calls it. I have never been in this room.
I take a seat on the sofa, while he takes the seat next to me. He casually throws his arm over the back of the sofa as his other hand grabs the television remote and he flicks through the channels.
“Anything you like to watch?” he asks.
“No, not really. I don’t watch much TV, just the odd show while I was out of a job. I would much rather be sat with a book.” I confess.
“You don’t watch TV but you're going to be on the TV – I guess that makes sense.” he mocks me with humor in his voice.
“Just because I will be on it, doesn’t mean I have to watch it.” I say as I dig my elbow in his side. He laughs at me, shakes his head and goes back to channel flicking, while trying to hide a little chuckle.
*****
After an hour of watching TV, some sort of documentary he had me watch, we are called by Sammie in reception.
“It’s time to get up on set guys.” she says as she sticks her head in the relaxing room.
“Okay Sammie. We will go straight up.” Jase answers. He turns around, smiles at me and helps me stand.
“Time to do this again?” he asks with an excited smile. I nod my head as he walks behind me.
Once we reach the studio, we both walk in, and are greeted by the team.
I take my robe off, and put it on a chair that is sat behind set.
“Okay, Jase.” Scarlett says looking at Jase halting in her tracks, “Why are you not in costume?” she asks emigrating rage. “We are due to film in the next two minutes, and you're not ready.” she says as she marches over to him.
“Oh, I lost track of time. I’m sorry I was distracted.” he says glancing in my direction.
“Go get changed now, you're putting us behind schedule. If we run over, you will pay the price. You know how we work here Jase, go, get a move on, you will pay if we run over.” she threatens.
Oh how I wouldn’t like to get on her bad side – ever. She is quiet scary when she’s mad. She looks so small, and kind, till you get her mad. This is a typical case of 'don’t judge a book by its cover' because she has just shocked me.
With that he leaves the room, and we are all sat waiting for his return. Scarlett is blowing steam, and walking tracks in the carpet. She is muttering disapproving words about Jase as we wait for him.
It takes him over forty-five minutes to return. In this time, I have managed to have another mocha delivered, and drank, the crew have been getting pretty worked up, and Crystal and Blake sat in the corner whispering.
He finally returns and at this time Scarlett is furious, blowing steam furious.
Jase just walks in like we haven’t been waiting almost an hour for him.
“About time,” Scarlett says still radiating rage.
“Camera crew, you ready?” she asks them, not bothering to wait for any words form Jase.