Page 8 of Crash
Ilook over my program, scanning for any hints that’ll tell me why this show is so important to Tessa. But all I’ve gathered is she’s the writer and featured dancer. Each contributor in tonight’s piece has a bio listed next to their picture and name. There’s even a mention of my sister, although she won’t be on the stage. The image is one of her jumping in the air doing the splits. A good shot, if I say so myself. The lights go dark, alerting the show is about to begin.
“Uh, Austin. I feel that I must warn you. This is an erotic burlesque-style show. So, you might see Tessa perform some risqué moves,” Courtney says, as she slides into the seat next to mine.
I clear my throat and sit upright. “You could’ve told me,” I say, while adjusting the seat of my pants from the immediate reaction I have to her warning.
“If I did, I know you wouldn’t have showed up, no matter if Tessa was dancing or not.”
“Are you going to tell me why this is so important to her?”
“That’s for her to tell. Not my place,” she concedes.
A familiar song plays, and on the stage are scantily dressed women in black vinyl-type outfits with the ass cheeks missing and red X’s across the breasts. They are straddling chairs, and when the words commence, they begin to dance. A man comes through and dances with each person one by one. They sit back in their chairs and continue the routine as he makes his way down the line.
When he reaches the end, one woman stands, wearing white instead of the color choice for the others. Upon closer look, I can see it’s Tessa. He positions her front and center, and they go through a variety of moves that includes dips and twirls, all on beat with the music. The way her body guides along the waves of the music, in sync with every underline melody, is mesmerizing.
“Wow,” I accidently let out.
Courtney laughs, and I strike her in her arm lightly.
“She is fabulous at what she does,” Courtney adds.
That’s an understatement, I think while being unable to tear my vision away from her performance. The audience claps at the end of the scene, and she scurries offstage while the curtains close. You can hear the stagehands changing the set for the next song. From the bottom of the curtains, I see shadows of people moving around. The tunes ofWicked Gamesby The Weeknd echoes through the stadium, locking me in a trance. It's one of the sexiest songs I know, even though it’s a bit dark. A young man sits, watching intensely while a woman dances in a cage in front of him. It’s seductive, and even in a room filled with people, it feels…personal.
She writhes and moves, and it’s hard to still my arousal. I clear my throat again and sweep my eyes around, recognizing that lustful gaze on the faces of others. I swallow hard when she turns, and I see that it’s Tessa. The cage door opens as she twirls, giving us her back again. He lifts Tessa, freeing her, and as the song reaches the high peak that goes into the chorus, he raises her higher with one hand. She slides down his body sensually and kicks her leg straight up to rest it on his shoulder.
“Fuck…”I whisper enthusiastically.
My sister passes me a tissue.
“What’s this for?”
“To clean up after you finish jerking off.” She giggles, and the person next to her chortles, too.
“Courtney, that is your best friend.”
“And? Go for it. Stop acting like it’s forbidden.”
A patronshushesour loud whispering, scolding us for disrupting their viewing pleasure. Courtney looks at them with a mean face, and I refocus on the dance.
“I’m gonna go help her get dressed, rather undressed for the next part. Be right back,” Courtney huffs before leaving.
Replaying her mention ofundressedleaves me wondering what the hell have I gotten myself into?
The rest of the evening is even hotter. Tessa dances the majority of the time, but there are a few acts that feature the individual sexes in group or duo settings. The entire recital is well worth my Friday night. Better than hanging out at any bar. After the curtain call, I make my way to the back where the production team and guests are standing in lines clapping and cheering as they step offstage. Hugs and tears are shared. Tessa appears clothed in a robe, and I straighten up, preparing to embrace her, but another person steps in. He picks her up, twirling her around before allowing her to stand.
“Tessa, baby. That was magnificent. Your presentation was outstanding, and the choreography was on point. It would be hard pressed for them to say no.”
“Stephen, thank you,” she says. “I hope they were pleased. To take this on the road as a tour would be phenomenal.”
And now I know why this is so important.“So, you’re leaving me?” I step up to say.
“Austin.” She grabs me into her arms, her body more at ease than it was earlier. “I can’t tell you how much it meant to me to have you here.”
“I’m glad I was able to make you happy. Now you can eat your gummy worms and relax.”
She giggles and grabs my hand. “You want to share them with me?”
Her gaze is inviting and stirs something inside.
