Six O'clock

I stood in front of  the mirror and stared at myself. Then turned on the water to wash off my makeup. I started to reapply it, hoping it would look better. 

Tonight had to be… well, perfect. If anything went wrong, I could lose my job, and my house. Then I'd have to move back in with my aunt, and have to listen to her tell me, "I told you so, Alora!" 

My hand slipped as I put more weight on it. The old dried soap on the sink was made slick and cause me to make a large jagged line of mascara going up my forehead and into my hair.

"Agh." I grabbed a towel and cleaned up the best I could before trying to fix my makeup and clean my blonde hair.

"Fucking white hair. Had to be white." I cursed to myself and tried to get the black mascara out of my hair. 

I couldn't wash it out or my hair won't be dry in time for my performance. Now it has smears of black in it. 

I sighed to myself and took a deep breath. Then took my black dye out of the cabinet below the sink. I stared at it and tried to decide if it was worth it or not. 

I added the ingredients into a small plastic container and put on gloves before taking little bits of my hair and making stripes.

"Jefferson is not going to be happy about this." I mumbled to myself as I continued.

I let it sit for twenty minutes before rinsing it out. 

My hair was now soaked and I had to straighten it again. I finished my make up and highlighted my face before taking my hair down from the towel and started to blow dry it.  

It was already 5:20, I had no time left to straighten it. Or do anything else.

I grabbed my bag as I ran out the door and got into my car. It was extremely hot and I began to sweat as soon as I was outside.

I quickly turned on the ac, hoping my makeup wouldn't be ruined again. I drove fast and rolled down my window to dry my hair more. I was hoping wind whipped and straightened would be the same thing in Jefferson's eyes. Otherwise. Well I'm done for.

I parked my car and ran into the building as quickly as I could. The dim lighting made it hard for me to see as I tried to get to my changing room.

I heard knocking as soon as I locked the door. 

"Yes?!" I yelled as I took off my clothes and ripped open my bag to change.

"Hennessy, you got ten minutes. You better be practicing!"

I put on my top and nodded. Then rolled my eyes at myself. "Yep. That's what I'm doing!" I pulled off my pants and put on the bottoms. 

I brushed my hair and looked at myself in the large mirror while I sprinkled black sparkles into my black and white hair.

I was startled by another bang on my door. "Hennessy, me and the babes are gonna do a run though. Wanna join?" Alex chimed from the other side of the door.

"Um, yeah, I guess, sure." I grabbed my lip gloss and perfume. Spraying myself as I made my way to the door.

I opened the door and stared her in the eye. She looked at me up and down.

"Oh my god. Jeff, sure isn't gonna like that." I laughed to myself and shrugged. "Looks good though, it matched the stripes." 

"Yeah. Thanks. I don't know what I was thinking." He took my hand and another girl's hand as we made our way to the floor. 

I could already hear people at the bar. The parking lot was full.

We all got into our positions and started our walk and our own dances that had been given to us. After a few minutes Jefferson came in to make sure we where all here and ready.

"Hennessy, what the hell? I said white!" Jefferson yelled and looked at everyone else. "Cant you do one thing right? Did you practice?" 

"All month, everyday." I answered.

He scoffed and turned to the others. 

We ran through an eighth of the dance quickly while he watched and wrote down a few notes.

"You're on in five. Hen, take jasmine's place in center. Jaz, you can do it on the side right?"

"Excuse me? I'm center dancer, you can't change like that!" Jasmine argued.

"Just did. Switch and head out."

I moved to the center of the stage. Front and center, where mostly everyone is watching. If I messed this up, I would be doomed. 

I felt warm and sick. I wanted to throw up but my stomach has been empty for days to prepare for this. Everyone took out their own perfume and doused themselves in it before lining up. 

It was freezing in the room but my hands still began to sweat. I wouldn't be able to hold myself up if I had no grip. 

I dumped power on my hands and waited for the countdown.

Everything was memorized. When the light reached one, we would all walk out onto the stage and the music will change. Black and white sparkles will fall from the fans on the ceiling. 

There will be men and women watching from the bar, the karaoke, the tables, and the benches. ALL eyes will be on me, the front and center.

I put more powder on my hand and watched as the numbers slowly went down from eight...seven...six...five...four. I put on my lip gloss and added more powder, then sprayed a little more perfume around me. 

The others looked like they were ready. I shouldn't be in this spot. I should have called in sick and had my replacement come in. Why did I have to go and change my hair.

Three...two...one….