A Hidden Truth

The Glimmer

[Jaxon]

    The Glimmer was in an old warehouse. There was a little bit of a line to get in. Not huge, but big enough. We stood huddled together and chatted about Kenny’s capstone paper. 

    I’d told them all discussions of a personal nature had to happen privately. When we reached the front of the line, we showed our IDs and had our hands stamped for the alcohol side of the club.  

    Inside, it was dark. There were flashing lights by the dancefloor, but, otherwise, very minimal lighting. We went to the barrier and showed our stamps to get into the bar. 

    Morgan found us a table, while Kenny and I ordered drinks. It was pretty busy. I sipped my whiskey sour and watched the people who were dancing. Mostly teens and they were having a lot of fun.

    We drank while talking about all the places I wanted to take Juniper when we went to visit my parents. It would be a good trip. Getting away from town would help her to relax more. She wouldn’t have to worry about bumping into Hank or one of the Shaws.

    After a while, there was cheering from the dancefloor. We decided to go check it out, since we still hadn’t heard from the girls. Kenny led Morgan out and they started dancing in their crazy way. They liked having fun and didn’t care what anyone else thought. It made them popular wedding invitees. I wandered around.

    The crowd was hyped. A lot of these kids were unwinding from the week of review for their exams. I knew the feeling. We did a lot of different things to relax before exams. Clubs had never really been my thing. There was a stage with a pole in the middle and two little stages at the end of catwalks. People were dancing there.

    I turned back to find my friends. A space had cleared around them, probably people trying to escape their flailing. Something was niggling in the back of my head, though. I got a few feet away from the stage, when I realized what it was. I turned back.

    Tammy and Amber were grinding on the small stage to the left. Kelly was dancing on the one on the right. I looked around to see where Juniper was, when she came twirling, upside-down from the top of the pole.

    She put her hands on the ground when she reached it and kicked off, landing gracefully before she wrapped one leg around the pole and slid around it. Grabbing it again with both hands and running around it, Juniper used her momentum to force her body upside-down again, gripping it with her legs. She climbed the pole a couple of feet before pulling herself upright and wrapping herself around it like it was a lover.

    I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, as she rode the pole sensually. Her body writhing and grinding against it. I felt someone bump me and looked over to see Kenny staring, open-mouthed as Juniper leaned back, spread her arms, and slowly descended while holding on with her legs and rotating around the pole.

    “You better get up there. It looks like she has some fans.” Kenny pointed out.

    There were three boys waiting at the bottom of the pole. I looked around for stairs to take me up to her. What the hell was she thinking?

    I ran to the side where I saw people climbing up to the stage. By the time I got up the stairs, she was kicking off again. One of the boys approached her and put his hands on her hips. I balled up one of my fists and was going to punch him for even thinking of touching her.

    She pulled away from him and shook her head. He tried to pursue, but she put her hands up in a ‘stay back’ pose. I nearly reached them as he stepped forward again. Kelly came up and blocked me. I tried to tell her what was going on, but she stayed in my way.

    I looked up and the boy had gotten ahold of Juniper. She reached out and away as he held onto her. Their arms were straight and he didn’t seem to be struggling with her. One of her feet was braced against his and they were at a perfect angle. He pulled suddenly, and she spun into his arms with a dip. Another cheer came from the crowd.

    Bringing her back up, with her facing him, the boy put one hand on her hip and held her left hand in the other. He walked her back and one of the others ran in behind her, putting his hands over the other boy’s and walking back with them. They danced her back and forth, when the third ran around them. She reached for him and he pulled her from the grasp of the other two.

    I realized what was going on as Kelly pushed me back to the stairs. She had me bend down and explained that Juniper was in dance lessons with those boys from five until fifteen. The boys were at the club every Friday night to have some fun and put on a little show. If Juniper was there, they asked her to join. She would improvise and they would build their routine from it.

    Staring, I watched as flips, dips, twirls, and tosses happened. It looked like she really trusted them. Kenny and Morgan stood in front of the stage and watched as well. When the group was finished, they waved and headed off the stage. Tammy and Amber followed them to the stairs. They all pulled me along to a roped off area in the underage section.

    We got to a spot that was taken up by a large sectional and situated around a coffee table. Kelly pushed me into the seat next to Juniper. I was getting my bearings when Juniper grabbed my arm and slid under it, cuddling into the curve of my side.

    She was wearing what looked like a black leotard with a short pale blue skirt. She crossed her legs toward me and squeezed me hard. I wondered if Teddy had any idea his sister could dance like that. I could barely hear any of the conversations. It made me feel a little old.

    Juniper introduced me to Van, Mike, and Les. They seemed like nice guys. They complimented her on her pole-work. She laughed about a place where she had tripped on stage, but Mike caught her. Everyone seemed to be having a great time.

    After a while, they decided to head back and dance properly. Juniper pulled me out to the dancefloor. I didn’t really go dancing much, so I didn’t have a lot in the way of moves. She danced around me, sliding her body against mine, wrapping my arms around her from time to time, creating movements with her hips that mine felt the natural urge to follow.

    By the time they were ready to call it a night, I was so hard I thought I would die. I wondered if this was the way she was planning revenge for holding her down until she stopped trying to hit me earlier. If it was, she was a cruel and evil woman.

    We walked to Tammy’s car, followed by Morgan and Kenny. Amber was raving over Kenny’s hair. Kelly was talking about anime with Morgan. Juniper was wrapped around my arm, listing a little into me as she walked.

    “Did you have fun tonight, sweet?” I asked quietly.

    “Mmm. Yeah. I always have fun there. Everyone’s too busy for gossip. None of the people who would normally call Hank go in there, so he never knew. Did you have fun?” She leaned against my arm.

    “A lot more than I thought I would. You’re very good at dancing.” I said.

    “I guess. I was mostly just having fun. Tomorrow won’t be as free. Just… stiff. But we get to dress up all fancy, so it’s whatever.” She chuckled.

    When we got to Tammy’s car, I pulled Juniper into my arms and caressed her face. She licked her lips and leaned into me. I couldn’t help but smile as I bent to kiss her soft, waiting lips. It was hard not to push her against the car and grind my body into hers. I made sure to keep my hands above her waist, so I wouldn’t pull her into the throbbing bulge in my pants.

    I let her go and saw a little disappointment in her face. Either she’d planned for me to get carried away, or she was sad I wouldn’t give her more, like I would have before we’d made the agreement. I was proud of myself. That was really f*****g difficult.

    “I love you, Juniper. Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow when I get you for prom.” I told her.

    She got into the car and I turned to my friends. We walked over to Bobbi’s car and got in. As I drove to their motel, Kenny started laughing. Morgan joined her after a little while. I was tired and frustrated.

    “What the hell’s so funny?” I growled.

    “You two were so f*****g cute.” Kenny snickered. “That kiss was the most chaste French kiss I’ve seen in my life! You didn’t even grab her ass. What’s the deal with the virginal act? She was practically f*****g you on the dancefloor! Were you afraid she’d slap the taste out of your mouth again?”

    “It’s none of your business, Kenny. Leave it.” I sighed.

    Not telling my friends was tough, but I wouldn’t break any of the rules. I was going to show Juniper how serious I was about this. Getting home soon was important. I needed a shower. Sleeping would be rough tonight.

    We pulled into the motel and I said goodbye without leaving the car. Standing wasn’t going to help my condition. No wonder Juniper laid me out with that slap, she had to have some serious strength to move like she did on that pole. 

    When I got home, I quietly went to my room and got in the shower. I couldn’t wait to see her tomorrow.