Diorama

 

© Sweet-Kisses

 

~*~

 

Alex looked up at the small run-down strip club before him that had red and yellow flashing neon lights that said “NUDES”. He sighed. This place was hardly respectable. A window had been smashed, obviously in a brawl of some sort, and was replaced by nailed-down wood instead. The place was rusting by the second and was badly in need of paint, or a fire to burn it down or a nuclear bomb to blow the place up so it could start again.

 

He honestly wasn’t comfortable even standing outside the place, much less having to work there for money, but he was in dire straits at that moment and he was willing to do anything to keep himself in college so he could prove everyone he knew wrong.

 

He would do anything.

 

Alex pushed the door open and strolled inside. The place was dingy and dark and had a spinning silver globe. A naked girl, albeit her underwear, was busy strutting in gold stiletto heels and flinging herself against a pole in a paroxysm of rapture. He thought she was a pretty good actress.

 

The air was filled with smoke and there were only a few men scattered about the place. The music playing was of a techno variety with heavy bass. Alex gasped when the girl removed her underwear and threw it to her minimal audience. This was greeted with catcalls and whistles.

 

Alex chuckled and walked over to the bar. “Hey!”

 

A dark, long-haired male wearing leather pants and holding a bottle of alcohol and a cigarette sauntered over to him.  He leaned against the counter with a sneer. “Yeah?”

 

“I’m…” Alex took a moment to wonder whether or not this was the right thing to do. But he needed money and all he saw were dollar signs. This wasn’t a career opportunity, just a means to an end. “I called earlier about the job?”

 

“Ya sure don’t look 21,” the man said, blowing smoke into Alex’s face. “Not that I give two shits. When can ya start, kid?” 

 

Alex’s heart leapt. How easy was that! “Immediately. You want me, you got me.”

 

“Save it for the ladies, kid,” the man replied, a lecherous grin on his face. “And now the rules. Normally we give beginners two nights a week and then extend that once we see how good ya go. When you’re on, you call the shots. If people wanna touch, that’s your business. At all times, you’re professional. If you want to conduct your own private business with clients, you do that after hours and we don’t wanna know about it. Got me?”

 

“Yeah,” Alex replied, nodding quickly. “Loud and clear.”

 

“Welcome aboard, kid,” the man said, shaking Alex’s hand. “People ‘round here call me Jim.”

 

“And I’m Alex McLean,” he said, returning the hand shake. “And you’ve got yourself a dancer.”

 

 

~**~

 

“I’m heading out,” Howie announced, slipping into a jacket. He turned around once he opened the front door. “You sure you want to stay here? You look like you could use the break.”

 

Nick shook his head. Howie had already made friends and was heading out for the night. How could it be that easy for him to make friends that quickly? His heart ached to ask, but he wouldn’t. He forced a small smile on his face. “Oh no, I’ve got a lot of work here to do.” He motioned to the books surrounding him on the table with his hand. “I’ll be here forever.”

 

Howie chuckled. “I don’t think you’ll get much work done with those boozehounds down the hall.” He was referring to a group of fraternity boys that had decided to start playing music really loud all of a sudden. “Look, just grab your jacket and come out with us. I’ll introduce you and make sure you’re not cross-examined. Okay?”

 

“Honestly, I do have a lot of studying to do,” Nick said softly. “But thanks anyway.”

 

Howie sighed and sat down beside his friend. He was beginning to be concerned about him. He was more than shy, more than introverted. It was something more than that and Howie couldn’t really decide what it was. “Are you okay, Nick? I mean, are you happy? Do you like what you’re doing?”

 

Nick’s eyes lowered for a moment. He hated people feeling sorry for him. He really hated it, more than being shy. He looked up at his friend. “Yeah, I’m okay. Positive.”

 

Howie didn’t buy that and he stared into his friend’s eyes for several moments, but Nick’s gaze never wavered. “All right,” he conceded. He quickly scribbled some details on a piece of paper. “This is just in case you change your mind. If you get lonely or you’re just bored with studying, don’t be afraid to show up.”

 

After Howie had left Nick threw himself into his work and tried to ignore all the activity that was going on around him. He tried to ignore the yelling, the laughter, the music, the fun that people were obviously having that Nick was missing out on. He was upset and actually considered meeting Howie and his new friends. But then that would just prove to Howie that there really was something wrong with Nick, that he really was lonely. Nothing could be further from the truth, but Nick didn’t want anyone to know that.

 

“I must be the only one who studies around here,” Nick murmured to himself, packing up his books and slammed the door to his room shut, heading in the direction of the library. On his way there, he passed numerous people and they all were the opposite to himself. Happy, and on their way to having a good time. Meanwhile, he wasn’t. He was on his way to being alone.

 

“Mr Carter!”

 

Nick froze the moment he heard his name. He froze directly on the spot. He recognized the voice and it gave him chills. He turned around slowly and saw Professor Richardson walking quickly toward him. Nick’s heart began to race. “Uhh…umm….y-y-yes…ummm…”

 

Professor Richardson smiled. “Calm down, take a few deep breaths and think about what you want to say.” When he found that Nick was speechless, he raised his eyebrows. “Are you always such a great conversationalist?”

 

Nick blushed and he realized that the Professor noticed, because his smile brightened. “No…I mean, yes. I mean…” He lowered his head, counted to three and tried again. “What did you want to see me about, Professor Richardson?”

 

The Professor chuckled. “Just between us, you can call me Kevin.” He stared into Nick’s eyes. “It can just be our little secret, huh?”

 

Already on a first name basis with a Professor that he just met? Weren’t there laws about that? Wasn’t it illegal! But despite that, Nick nodded. “Okay…Kevin.”

 

“Sounds better, huh?” the Professor teased lightly, now known as Kevin and would be from then on. “I want to offer you a chance to develop your talent. Singing, that is.” His eyes twinkled with humor. “I had a talk with your high school music teacher and she had only glowing reports about your ability. And I want to see just how good you are, if you can live up to all that.”

 

Nick couldn’t help but be shocked. “You do? I mean, you talked to her? What did she say?”

 

“Discretion, Mr. Carter,” Kevin said in mock reprimand. “But I’m sure you’re every bit as great as she says you are. So, are you interested?”

 

Oh, yeah, this really was illegal. And why was he always looking…down…at something? Nick wondered. He wanted to run away, but this really was a great opportunity and to think that he was singled out from everyone! He had to feel a bit pleased. “Yes, I’m interested.”

 

“Good,” Kevin replied, smiling lightly. “Do you have any classes tomorrow afternoon?”

 

“No.”

 

“Good,” he repeated, nodding this time. “Tomorrow afternoon at one in the main music building. Just bring yourself and your voice.”

 

Nick was silent for several moments, pondering this whole thing deeply, then asked, “Why me out of everyone?”

 

“I always make it my business to take care of my most talented students,” Kevin said with a wink. A smile appeared on his face as he began to walk away. He called out over his shoulder, “Tomorrow afternoon at one, Mr Carter. Don’t be late!”

 

A smile formed on Nick’s face as he watched his professor walk away from him. He made a decision right then. Whatever happened between them would be strictly professional, student-teacher like. If anything other than that nature happened, then he couldn’t be responsible. That was way out of his control. He turned around and hurried away, almost running past two girls on the path.

 

“Where’s he going?” one of the girls asked her friend.

 

“Nowhere we’d want to be!”

 

They both laughed.

 

~***~