B.L. Miller - Crystal's Heart

"I'm not into aerobics."

"You don't have to be" Laura stopped at the dismissive wave of Crystal's hand.

"I'm not exactly what they're looking for," she said angrily. "Forget it, Laura. You wouldn't understand." The glass was once again drained and a cigarette lit.

"But"

"I'm not a dancer!" Her feet, which had been resting on the rail, came down angrily on the wooden boards of the deck. The sudden movement caused some of the whiskey to splash out of the glass but Crystal paid no attention. She turned to face the writer. "I'm a stripper, Laura. I take my clothes off for money!" She leaned forward, her features hard. "I'm barely a step above a whore."

"I know," Laura said calmly. "I mean, I know you're a stripper." Crystal blinked in surprise, some of the anger diffusing. The dark haired woman continued. "One of the characters in my newest story has an affair with a stripper and I went to the Tom Cat Club once to do research." She shrugged at the questioning look. "I figured you'd tell me when you were ready." Do I tell her now? "Um you aren't the only keeping secrets."

"No biggie. Your life is none of my business."

"Maybe not, but if you're going to continue living here, you should know at least this part." Laura took a deep breath. As many years as she'd been open about her life, there was still always that little quiver of fear that she would be rejected. "Jenny wasn't just my roommate when she lived here. We were lovers."

"You're a dyke?"

"I'm a lesbian," Laura bristled. "Jenny and I were lovers for almost two years."

"Oh," Crystal said quietly, unsure of what to say. "I wouldn't have guessed. I mean, neither of you look like"

"Like a dyke?" the writer finished. "Here's a news flash, Miss Sheridan, not every gay person is obvious about it."

"I didn't mean," Crystal started, then stopped when she realized that was exactly what she meant. "I guess I never really thought about it." A bit subdued, she sat back in her seat and stared at the silhouetted tree line.

The seconds stretched into awkward minutes, neither sure what to say to the other. Finally Laura couldn't take the silence any longer. "Nice night." Crystal grunted in response, forcing the writer to try again. "Bet the stars will be pretty."

"Stars are boring."

"So you do remember how to talk. I thought I stunned you into silence," Laura teased, earning a sidelong glance.

"I've met a few lesbians before," Crystal said, turning her gaze back to the half-empty glass. "My friend has a cousin that's one." She paused, then shrugged. "Doesn't bother me."

"Good." Laura tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "I'd hate to think something like that would get in the way of our living together." She chuckled to herself. "After all, there's enough other things."

"Such as?" Now Crystal's attention was more on the conversation than her drink. The glass which seemed permanently attached to her hand was set down on the table.

"Nothing."

"You wouldn't have said it if there wasn't something behind it." The blonde woman leaned towards her. "What? Is there something I do that annoys you? Other than the pot, that is?"

Laura hesitated before answering. "What possessed you to buy a clear shower curtain?"

"It's better than that blue flowery thing you had up," Crystal defended. "The clear one lets in more light."

Laura decided to take a chance and tease the younger woman. "You need to see what you're doing in the shower? Don't you know where everything is by now?"

"Screw you," the stripper said playfully, her smile growing. "You need a whole shelf just for your shampoo, conditioner, finishing rinse and God knows what else you have in those bottles." She reached absently for her glass. "How many hours do you spend in there?" She took a sip of her drink. "I get in there, do what I have to do and get out. No mess, no fuss." She reached for her cigarettes only to be stopped by the high pitched beeping of her pager. Holding it up in front of her, Crystal pressed the light button and looked at the number on the display. "Shit. I gotta use the phone."

"Help yourself. After all, you pay half the bill for it." Laura jerked her thumb at the door to her room. "There's a phone next to the bed." "Thanks."

Laura leaned back and finished heri.e.tea, quietly listening to snippets of Crystal's phone conversation. She figured out that it was the Tom Cat

Club looking for the blonde woman to come in and work. Crystal swore profusely and yelled at the person on the other end of the phone but in the end told them she'd be there as soon as she could. She hung the phone up and returned to the balcony.

"I have to go to work. Charice twisted her ankle. Where do you keep the phone book?"

Laura rose to her feet. "I'll give you a ride if you'd like."

"Naw, you don't have to do that. I'll just call a cab."

'Really, it's not a problem. I need to get some milk in here for coffee tomorrow anyway. I'll just stop at the Money Slasher over on Fourteenth." "You sure?"

"Yeah. Let me go put some long pants on and I'll be right with you."

After unlocking the passenger door, Laura crossed over to her side and stepped into her late model Jeep. She fastened her seat belt and looked pointedly at her passenger, who rolled her eyes and reached for her seat belt.

"Do you need a ride home when you're done?" she inquired while starting the engine.

"Naw, I'll get Rick or one of the girls to drive me home. No biggie."

"All right." She backed the vehicle up and pulled out onto the main road.

"Nice car," Crystal commented, looking at the brightly lit dials and buttons of the dashboard. "You have a CD player?"

"Yes." Without looking, Laura reached behind the passenger seat and retrieved a case full of discs. "I doubt there's anything in there that you like."

Crystal took the case and looked at the titles, the smirk on her face growing. "Paul McCartney's greatest hits? Little River Band? Captain and Tennille? What, are you stuck in the seventies?"

"Seventies and eighties, actually. I like that music."

Crystal closed the case and put it in the back. "You don't have to worry about me borrowing any of your CD's, that's for sure." "Let me guess. You're into heavy metal."

"When the mood strikes me. Most of the time I listen to rock."

"I prefer songs that I can understand the lyrics to, not super loud drums and guitars." Laura guided the Jeep onto the highway and picked up speed. "What time do you finish?"

"Last show is midnight. I usually get out of there around two or so but like I said, don't worry about it. I'll get a ride from someone." She pulled a cigarette out of her pack and rolled the window down.

"I don't allow smoking in my car."

"Even with the window down? It'll draw out all the smoke."

"It doesn't draw all of it out."

"Fine," Crystal huffed, jamming the cigarette back into the pack. "I suppose finding a decent station on the radio is also out of the question?"

Smiling in the dark, Laura turned on the directional signal and pulled into the passing lane. "As long as you can find one that doesn't threaten to blow my speakers."

The radio stayed off.

"I can't believe the crowd out there tonight. You'd think it was a Saturday or somethin'."

"Can't really complain, Monica. More customers means more tips." Crystal watched her reflection in the mirror as she adjusted the bust of her outfit. "Damn, either I'm gaining weight or these costumes are getting smaller."

"There isn't that much material to start with," the other woman replied. "Why don't you wear the leopard outfit?"

"Ugh, I hate that outfit. You ever wear it?"

"Well it's better than that thing." The redheaded stripper pointed at a black leather outfit hanging on the rack.

"I'd rather wear that than the leopard outfit." Turning away from the mirror, Crystal picked up her elbow length gloves and began slipping them on. "I hope they're not letting Charlie do the music tonight."