Euphoria
by northern

for Music Diamond

"Don't just stand there like a fucking amateur!" Chris said.

JC shuffled forward a few steps and smiled uncertainly. The lipstick was cheap and thickly applied and stretched over his lips uncomfortably.

"I didn't pay for you to walk. I paid for you to dance," Chris said, a defiant gleam in his eyes.

This was true. Chris had, in fact, paid him a thousand dollars when he'd opened the door to JC in a purple boa, a gold dress and cheap makeup. The shoes were among the more difficult things he'd ever had to wear, but he managed. If this was what Chris wanted.

Chris leaned back even more in his chair, his legs wide apart. "So dance then, whore."

JC began to sway a little to the soft music coming out of the speakers. He had seen plenty of female dancers - even those who danced for a living around a pole - but he wasn't sure of how to make their moves his. He felt awkward in his dress. Not pretty enough. But then, maybe that was the point, when Chris had even picked out what kind of eye shadow he was supposed to use.

Chris waved for him to come closer, and he took a couple of careful steps in his shoes. He'd thought that performing for Chris would be like performing for the group, or the fans, but this was nothing like he'd thought when Chris had suggested it. The Chris sitting in a chair a few feet away, waving his hand impatiently, felt like a stranger.

JC's smile trembled around the edges, and he tried to tighten it up. He certainly had enough experience. He should be able to at least fake it, for Chris's sake. He moved a little more, running his hand down his body is what Chris might consider a sexy move.

Chris nodded and smiled, but the smile had a nasty, unfamiliar edge to it. "Let's see some skin, then," he said, making himself more comfortable, sinking down into the leather with a creak.

JC felt himself on the edge of cracking again, but he quickly covered up his stiffness with a turn. He only stumbled a little. He didn't know how he was supposed to strip in this outfit. Like a girl. Like a girl. He didn't know. He swallowed and forced himself to smile and slowly slide the hem of his dress up.

"Come on," Chris said, sitting up more.

The words echoed and ran through his mind like growing circles on water. He couldn't even hear the music anymore. Only his own breathing. Too quick. He tried to slow it down, but that only made his chest constrict and the light creep away from the edges of his vision. He heard something like a whimper and was terrified that it might be coming from him. Chris didn't move, though. He was still in his chair, all the way. over. there.

There was a blurry move somewhere and a voice that sounded unreal and hollow, saying, "Am I gonna get what I paid for or not?" before he lost control and fell and fell.

The numb darkness didn't recede until something touched his face. He tried to open his eyes and saw the empty outline of a face hovering over him. There was an empty voice, too.

"It's a fucking game, you cunt! Can't you understand that?"