MsCezanne's Odyssey

Karen could feel herself being watched. She was arguably the hottest girl dancing on the risers that Friday night, and she was arguably the best dancer of the group too. She knew she had an appreciative audience, and she was doing her best to give them something to appreciate.

On her best nights, of which most were, she could get into a zone where she could perform at a top level for longer than any of the other girls. They would step down for breaks and she could keep going.

The trick that Karen used was to pick out one person, and perform for them. Making it personal added a warmth and personality that the others could not match. And by focusing on one person, it was easier to put everything she had into her dancing. She hardly ignored the rest of her audience though.

When she finally did come down from the risers that evening she was approached by a series of men happy to buy her drinks and give her their phone numbers. Tonight she was approached by the man she'd chosen to dance for. This didn't always happen, but tonight went so well, she was naturally inclined to join him and his friends. He bought her drinks, and they even danced a little bit that evening.

Karen spent the night at his place as well, departing before breakfast the next morning. She'd enjoyed her time with him, but she wasn't really into him. She loved his attention, but didn't feel any need to find anything more from him.

He wasn't the first such encounter for Karen, and he wouldn't be the last. There were times she wondered if there was more to life, but then Friday night would come about, and it was enough for her lithe body to be the centre of attention.

***

For the third Thursday in a row Karen found herself dancing on the risers. It had taken some time for her to acquire the curves she needed to be accepted as a chubby dancer. Despite her plus sized frame she was the thinnest of the dancers. She was also the best dancer, probably because she was the thinnest.

Karen was also aware that she garnered the least attention. The men in the club on Thursday nights appreciated their women with curves, and Karen just didn't have enough for their tastes.

She was dancing her heart out, she could stay on the risers far longer than the other girls. She still danced for one man in particular, but now it was Michael. He knew she was up there, but she knew that she had to fight for his attention with the bigger girls.

In fact, she looked over at him once to see that one of the biggest dancers had sat down with him. They were talking, laughing, eating. She was overcome by a moment of rage, wishing she'd taken the time to get down and talk to Michael. The part of her that loved to dance kept her up though. She was a dancing girl, and Thursdays were her one chance a week to really let go.

She had spent so long in limbo though, too fat for dancing on Fridays, and too skinny for dancing on Thursdays. She just had to get up there, to perform, to be who she was, even if she couldn't have the audience she wanted.

When she was finally worn out, and her anger had cooled, she stepped down from the riser and realised that Michael had left with the bigger girl. Karen went over to the bar where Tim was waiting with a drink and a plate of food for her.

He even knew what was on her mind before she said anything. "You've got his attention, you do. You think that girl he left with was always that big? She used to be quite a dancer, but never as good as you are. When you fill out a bit, you're going to be the hottest girl up there. You've got the moves, you just need the pounds."

Karen smiled. Tim always knew what to say to her. She drank, ate and eventually found some people to dance with. She did end up having a great night, considering she still didn't have the man she wanted.

Labels: FA, fiction, Karen, Michael, weight gain