summary: After escaping a long-term abusive relationship, Ciara leaves everything she's ever known behind and starts over in Atlanta. New city. New apartment. A chance to finally breathe. With no support system and bills piling up, stripping becomes more than just a job, it becomes her way of surviving. Quiet, reserved, and trapped inside her own worldjk, Ciara keeps everyone at a distance. Beneath her confidence on stage is a woman still trying to heal from the life she escaped. Jimmy Uso has built a life for himself, cutting hair alongside his twin brother, Jey, and their cousins. He has a successful barbershop, loyal family, and a relationship he's committed to. The last thing on his mind is another woman. But during a guys' night at the strip club, one quiet dancer catches his attention in a way no one else ever has. She isn't the loudest in the room. She isn't chasing anyone's attention. She's simply trying to survive. What begins as a lingering glance slowly turns into something neither of them expected, forcing them to question loyalty, healing, and whether two broken paths can ever lead to the right destination.
fanfic is 18+ NO MINORS ALLOWED
smut warning: it’ll come in the story randomly so PLEASE PLEASE look out for it I’m not really good at writing ✍🏽 smuts but I am improving at the moment
comments, likes, repost are appreciated I would love the constructive feedback in what area I need to approve in. 🤍
ALSO! I don’t not want nobody stealing my fanfics or take it as theirs that will be an issue fasho so keep it cute respectfully.
I only own my OC along with the make up scenarios
again mdni you have been warned.
title inspired by the song “Novacane” by Frank Ocean
thanks to my friend @charmed-dreamssss for helping me with the summary 🫶🏽
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Atlanta, Georgia - Ciara’s apartment complex
The next morning, sunlight peeked through the curtains in Ciara’s apartment. She barely slept, tossing and turning all night thinking about the stage, the lights, and what tonight would really feel like. Her body still buzzed from the audition, but the nerves were already creeping back in.
Jasmine showed up early, banging on the door with two iced coffees in hand.
“Wake up, superstar! We got shit to do today,” Jasmine called out as she let herself in with the spare key.
Ciara sat up on the couch, rubbing her eyes. “Jas… it’s too early for all that energy.”
“Too early? Girl, you got your first real night at Eclipse tonight. We not playing. Get up and get dressed. I’m taking you to my girl’s salon. She’s the best in the city.”
Ciara groaned but stood up anyway. “I don’t even know what to do with my hair for this. I was just gon’ throw it in a ponytail or something.”
Jasmine gave her a look like she had lost her mind. “A ponytail? Absolutely not. Tonight you need to serve. We getting you a middle part bust down. Something sleek but sexy. You gon’ walk in that club looking like money.”
Ciara laughed nervously as she changed into some sweats. “You really think this is a good idea? I still can’t believe I got the job.”
“Believe it, bestie. You killed that audition. Now we just making sure you look the part too.”
Thirty minutes later, they pulled up to a cute little beauty salon called Crown & Glory. The outside was painted soft pink and gold, and the smell of hair products and fresh braids hit them as soon as they walked in.
A pretty, thick woman with long pink and blonde curls looked up from behind the front desk. “Jasmine! Hey, mama!” she called out, smiling big.
“Hey, Tasha! This is my best friend Ciara I was telling you about,” Jasmine said, pulling Ciara forward. “She needs the works. Middle part bust down, make it look expensive. She got her first night at the club tonight.”
Tasha looked Ciara up and down, nodding in approval. “Ooh, I see you, sis. You got a nice face card. Come sit down. We gon’ have you looking right.”
Ciara sat in the chair, feeling shy as Tasha started parting her hair. “Thank you for squeezing me in last minute. I know it’s probably busy.”
“Girl, anything for Jasmine’s people,” Tasha said, running her fingers through Ciara’s hair. “So what kind of club we talking? You dancing or bartending?”
Ciara glanced at Jasmine, then back at Tasha through the mirror. “Dancing…”
Tasha smirked. “Say less. You gon’ need this hair swinging then. Middle part, deep waves, bust all the way down. We adding some length too — nothing crazy, just enough to make them niggas lose they mind when you on that pole.”
Jasmine sat in the chair next to her, flipping through a magazine. “Exactly. Ciara too pretty to be hiding behind a ponytail. Tonight you walking in there like you already that girl.”
Ciara smiled a little, but her voice stayed soft. “I’m still nervous as hell. What if I mess up? What if they don’t like me?”
Tasha laughed while sectioning the hair. “Baby, the first night is always scary. But once that music hit and them lights on you? You gon’ forget half them people out there. Just dance like you did at that audition. And trust — that middle part gon’ do most of the work for you.”
Jasmine nodded. “Plus, I’m dropping you off and picking you up. You not doing this alone. And if anybody gets out of line, you got security and you got me.”
Ciara let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “Y’all really hyping me up like this… I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You thank me by stacking that paper and getting your own bag,” Jasmine said with a wink. “Fuck Leon and all that old shit. This is your new chapter, Ci. Own it.”
As Tasha worked the hair — adding bundles, flat ironing, and curling — Ciara watched herself transform in the mirror. The middle part was clean and sharp. The bust down waves fell beautifully past her shoulders, framing her face and making her eyes pop.
“Damn…” Ciara whispered when Tasha spun the chair around. “That’s really me?”
Tasha grinned. “That’s you, mama. Now go in that club tonight and make them remember your name.”
Jasmine stood up, admiring the finished look. “Period. She’s ready.”
Ciara touched her hair gently, feeling a small spark of confidence. It wasn’t just hair — it felt like armor.
She still had butterflies about tonight, but for the first time since leaving Nashville, she didn’t feel completely lost.
Now all that was left… was stepping on that stage for real.
After Tasha spun the chair one last time and sprayed Ciara’s hair with holding spray, they paid and stepped back out into the Atlanta sun. Ciara kept touching her hair, still shocked at how good it looked. The middle part was sharp, and the long bust down waves bounced with every step she took.
“Stop touching it before you mess it up,” Jasmine teased, unlocking the car. “You look too good right now. Come on, we going to the nail salon next. Can’t have you on stage with raggedy nails.”
Ciara laughed softly. “You really doing the most today.”
“Somebody gotta,” Jasmine said, starting the car. “You deserve to feel like that girl tonight. We doing this right.”
Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up to a busy nail salon called Luxury Touch. The smell of acrylic and nail polish hit them as soon as they walked in. Soft music played in the background while several techs worked on clients.
Jasmine spoke to the lady at the front. “Hey, we need two sets. She got a special night tonight, so make hers cute but sexy. Nothing too long — she gotta be able to grip that pole.”
Ciara’s eyes widened. “Jasmine!”
The lady at the front smiled knowingly. “Say less. We got you, baby.”
They sat side by side at the manicure tables. Ciara chose a soft but glossy black set with a little chrome on the tips. Jasmine went for a bold red with designs.
As the tech started soaking Ciara’s hands, Jasmine turned to her. “So… how you feeling for real? No cap.”
Ciara stared at her hands in the water. “Nervous as hell. My stomach been in knots since we left the hair salon. What if I get on stage and freeze again like I almost did at the audition?”
“You not gon’ freeze,” Jasmine said confidently. “You got past the hard part already. They hired you on the spot. That means Marcus saw something in you. Now you just gotta show up and get that money.”
The nail tech working on Ciara smiled. “First night dancing?”
“Yeah…” Ciara answered quietly. “I’m scared I’m gon’ look stupid up there.”
The tech shook her head. “Most girls feel like that the first time. Just breathe, listen to the music, and move slow. Them men pay more when you make them wait for it. And with that hair you got now? Baby, you already winning.”
Jasmine nodded. “Exactly. And remember what I told you — if it get too much, you can always switch to bartending or waitressing later. But I think you gon’ surprise yourself tonight.”
Ciara looked over at her best friend, eyes a little glassy. “I don’t know what I would do without you, Jas. For real. You didn’t have to do all this — hair, nails, riding with me… none of it.”
Jasmine waved her off. “Stop. You my sister. When you called me crying that night outside my house, I knew I was gon’ be there every step. Fuck Leon. Fuck your parents sheltering you. This is your time now.”
The tech on Jasmine added, “And you got a good best friend. A lot of girls go through stuff like you and don’t have nobody. You got her. That’s a blessing.”
Ciara smiled softly, feeling her chest get warm. “Y’all gon’ make me cry and mess up my lashes next.”
Jasmine laughed. “Don’t cry! We still got a couple more hours before we gotta get you ready. After this, we grabbing something to eat, then I’m helping you pick your first outfit for tonight.”
They sat there for the next hour, talking and laughing. Jasmine told funny stories from her own wild nights out to distract Ciara. By the time their nails were done — Ciara’s glossy black chrome tips looking expensive under the salon lights — she felt a little lighter.
Ciara held her hands up, admiring the fresh set. “They look good as hell…”
“Told you,” Jasmine said, blowing on her own nails. “Now you really look like you belong on that stage. Sexy, but still you. Quiet but deadly.”
As they left the nail salon, Ciara looked at her reflection in the car window — fresh middle part bust down, new nails shining. She still felt the fear, but it wasn’t as loud as before.
She whispered to herself, “You got this, Ciara.”
Jasmine heard her and smiled. “Hell yeah you do. Let’s go get some food, then we getting you ready for war.”
After leaving the nail salon, Jasmine drove them to one of their favorite spots — a little Caribbean spot called Island Vibes not too far from Ciara’s apartment.
They ordered at the counter and grabbed a booth in the corner. Ciara got jerk chicken with rice and peas, while Jasmine went for the curry goat. The smell of spices filled the air as they waited for their food.
Jasmine leaned back in her seat, looking at her fresh red nails. “This food finna hit different after all that running around today. You need to eat good before tonight. Can’t be shaking on stage on an empty stomach.”
Ciara picked at her straw. “I don’t even know if I can eat. My nerves still bad.”
“Girl, you better force it down,” Jasmine said, pointing her finger. “You already fine as hell with that hair and those nails. Now we just making sure you confident. Eat, go home, take a nap, then we getting you dressed. I’m staying with you until you walk in that club.”
Their food came out hot and fresh. As they ate, Jasmine kept the conversation light, cracking jokes and reminding Ciara of funny memories from when they were younger. For a little while, Ciara actually laughed and forgot about the pressure waiting for her tonight.
“You really think I can do this?” Ciara asked between bites.
“I know you can,” Jasmine said seriously. “You survived worse. This is just money. And who knows… maybe you’ll even enjoy it a little bit.”
Ciara gave a small smile. “Maybe.”
They finished eating, packed up the leftovers, and headed back to the apartment. Jasmine helped Ciara pick out her first official outfit for the night — a sleek black two-piece set that showed just enough but still left something to the imagination.
Meanwhile, across town at Uso Cuts Barbershop, the shop was loud and full of energy like it always was on Saturday afternoons.
Jimmy Uso stood behind his chair, lining up a client’s beard with precision. The shop smelled like fresh fades, aftershave, and the usual arguing between him and his twin.
“Aye, Uce, you trippin’,” Jey said from the next chair, laughing. “You really gon’ sit here and act like you ain’t losing to me this month on who got the better cuts.”
Jimmy smirked, not even looking up. “Keep dreaming, twin. My chair stay booked. Yours looking a lil slow over there.”
Their cousins Solo and Jacob were in the back cracking up, playing music and talking shit with the other barbers. The shop was family — blood and chosen. That was the one thing Jimmy always valued more than anything.
After he finished the line up, Jimmy dapped his client up and took a break, leaning against the counter sipping water. His phone buzzed — a text from his girlfriend checking in.
He replied short, keeping it sweet like usual. They had been together for a minute now. She was good to him. Loyal. Fine. But lately something felt… off. Like he was going through the motions.
Jey noticed his twin’s mood and walked over. “You good, bro? You been quiet all day.”
Jimmy shrugged. “Yeah, I’m straight. Just thinking. Tonight we still doing guys’ night at Eclipse, right?”
“Hell yeah,” Jey grinned. “Been a minute since we all kicked back. Drinks, girls, good vibes. You need it, Uce. You been working too hard.”
Solo walked up, wiping his hands. “Facts. You been all work and relationship lately. Come out with us and relax. Ain’t nothing wrong with looking.”
Jimmy chuckled, shaking his head. “Y’all wild. I got a girl, remember?”
“We know,” Jacob called from the back. “But looking ain’t cheating, fam. You married or something?”
Jimmy laughed it off, but deep down he knew they were right about one thing — he needed a night to just unwind. Between running the shop with his brothers and everything else, life had been feeling routine.
“Aight, I’m in,” he said, tossing his rag on the counter. “But I ain’t doing no wild shit. We go, we chill, we leave.”
Jey smirked like he didn’t believe him. “Yeah, we’ll see. Tonight gon’ be different, twin. I can feel it.”
Jimmy didn’t say anything, but as he looked around the shop at his family laughing and joking, he felt a small pull in his chest. Something was telling him tonight really might be different.
He just didn’t know how different yet.
Later that night, the Atlanta streets were lit up as Jasmine pulled into the parking lot of Eclipse. The neon sign glowed purple and black, making Ciara’s stomach do flips the second she saw it.
“You got this, Ci,” Jasmine said, squeezing her hand before they got out the car. “Remember what we talked about. Short set, feel the music, and stack them tips. I’ll be in the back watching.”
Ciara nodded, clutching her duffle bag with her outfit and heels. Her fresh middle part bust down swayed as she walked, and her new nails clicked against her phone. She looked good — she knew that — but she still felt like a fraud.
They walked through the side entrance. The bouncer from her audition nodded at her. “New girl, right? Dressing room is down the hall. House mom is waiting.”
Inside the club, the music was already bumping even though it was still early. The lights were low, and a couple girls were on stage warming up the small crowd.
The dressing room was chaotic but organized — mirrors everywhere, lights bright, music playing from a speaker. Girls were doing makeup, fixing hair, and changing outfits. A tall, beautiful woman with long braids and a no-nonsense attitude walked up to them.
“You must be Ciara,” she said. “I’m Shay — house mom. Marcus told me about you. First night?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ciara answered softly.
Shay looked her up and down. “Cute. You got that innocent but sexy thing going on. The customers gon’ eat it up. Go ahead and get changed. You’re on in about forty minutes. Pick a name for the stage too — something easy to remember.”
Ciara changed into the black two-piece set Jasmine helped her pick. The top was a sleek bralette-style, and the bottoms were high-cut with a little sparkle. She slipped on her clear heels and stared at herself in the mirror.
Jasmine stood behind her, fixing one of the waves in her hair. “You look like a whole different person. In the best way. How you feeling?”
“Like I might throw up,” Ciara admitted with a nervous laugh. “My hands won’t stop shaking, Jas.”
Shay walked back over and handed her a small shot of something clear. “Here. Liquid courage. Not too much — just enough to calm your nerves. First night jitters are normal. Just breathe, listen to the music, and dance like you own the stage. Don’t force it. Let them come to you.”
Ciara took the shot, feeling the burn go down. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“What name you going by?” Shay asked.
Ciara thought for a second. “Nova.”
Shay smirked. “I like that. Mysterious. Alright, Nova — you’re up after the next girl. Go out there and make that money, baby.”
Jasmine gave her one last hug. “I love you. I’m right here if you need me. Go show them who you are now.”
Ciara stood backstage near the curtain, heart racing as she waited for her turn. The music from the current dancer’s set vibrated through the floor. She adjusted her robe, touched her hair one more time, and whispered to herself:
“I survived worse. This is just a stage. I got this.”
When the DJ announced her name, she stepped through the curtain and onto the stage.
The lights hit her. The crowd was decent for a weeknight — eyes already turning toward her.
The DJ’s voice boomed through the speakers. “Alright, y’all… give it up for the new girl on the stage — Nova!”
The lights dimmed slightly, then shifted to a deep, seductive red and purple glow. The opening notes of “Motivation” by Kelly Rowland started playing, the smooth R&B beat filling the club.
Ciara — now Nova — stood at the center of the stage, heart pounding so hard she could feel it in her throat. For a second she almost froze. But as Kelly’s voice came in smooth and sultry, something shifted.
Her hips rolled slow and sensual, matching the tempo of the song. The long bust down waves swayed with her as she gripped the pole with one hand, sliding down into a smooth squat. She let her robe slip off her shoulders, revealing the black two-piece underneath. The crowd reacted immediately.
“Goddamn!” someone shouted from the front.
A few whistles cut through the music. More eyes turned toward the stage.
Nova kept flowing with the music. She wasn’t doing anything wild or over-the-top — her movements were controlled, hypnotic. She arched her back against the pole, letting her hands trail down her body, then spun slowly, making her hair whip around. When the chorus hit, she dropped low, popping her hips in time with the beat, thighs flexing, back arched perfectly.
The more she danced, the more the nerves melted away. She felt the music in her bones. For the first time in a long time, she felt powerful. Desired. In control.
The crowd was eating it up. Tips started flying onto the stage — ones, then fives, then twenties. Men moved closer to the stage, eyes locked on her quiet but deadly energy.
“Yo, she different,” one guy said loudly.
“She got that innocent face but moving like that? I’m in love already.”
Right as the song hit its second verse, Jimmy walked into Eclipse with Jey, Solo, and Jacob. The club was starting to pick up, music thumping, purple lights glowing.
“Finally, man,” Jey said, dapping up the bouncer. “Been needing this night out.”
They found a good booth near the main stage. Jimmy was just about to sit down when his eyes landed on the girl on stage.
She was moving to “Motivation” like the song was made for her. Not the loudest dancer, not the most extra — but something about her caught him immediately. The way her long hair flowed with every turn, the smooth roll of her hips, that quiet confidence… it hit different.
“Damn,” Jimmy muttered under his breath.
Jey noticed and followed his twin’s gaze. “Ohhh, twin, you see shorty too, huh? She new. Looking good as hell.”
Solo leaned forward. “She got that ‘don’t touch me but look at me’ vibe. I like it.”
Jimmy didn’t say anything at first. He just watched her. The way she flowed with the music — sensual but not trying too hard — had the whole section of the club locked in. When she dropped low and came back up slow, hair swinging, the crowd went crazy, throwing more money.
He felt something stir in his chest. A pull he hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Yo, Uce,” Jey laughed, nudging him. “You good? You staring hard as hell.”
Jimmy blinked, finally sitting down, but his eyes kept going back to the stage. “She just… different, man. Not like the usual girls in here.”
Jacob grinned. “Well, we staying for a minute then. Looks like Nova finna be the highlight of the night.”
Jimmy leaned back in the booth, sipping his drink, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Something about the quiet girl on stage had his full attention.
And for the first time in a while… he wasn’t thinking about anything else.
The beat of “Motivation” kept building as Nova worked the pole. She climbed a little higher, legs wrapping gracefully as she leaned back, letting her hair fall dramatically. The crowd was fully locked in now. More money rained onto the stage — twenties and fifties fluttering down around her.
She slid down smoothly into a split, rolling her hips to the floor, then came back up slow and seductive, eyes half-lidded. The song was nearing its end, and she gave one final spin around the pole, back arched, hands gliding over her body before she dropped to her knees right as the last note played.
“Take my whole wallet, ma!”
Nova stood up, breathing heavy, a small shy smile breaking through as she quickly gathered the money scattered around the stage. Her hands were still shaking, but this time it was from adrenaline and something close to pride.
She gave the crowd a soft wave and disappeared behind the curtain.
The second she stepped into the dressing room, Shay and a couple of the other girls clapped.
“Alright, Nova!” Shay grinned. “First night and you already got them throwing big faces? Not bad, baby. Not bad at all.”
Jasmine rushed over and pulled her into a tight hug. “Bitch, you killed that! I told you! The way you was moving… I was proud as hell.”
Ciara laughed breathlessly, still in shock. “I can’t believe I actually did it. I thought I was gon’ pass out up there.”
Shay handed her a bottle of water. “You did good. Real good. That quiet, sensual thing you got? They love that shit. Keep doing what you did tonight and you gon’ eat.”
Ciara sat down at her station and started counting her tips. Her eyes widened as she flipped through the bills.
“Almost eight hundred dollars…” she whispered in disbelief. “In one set.”
Jasmine screamed quietly. “That’s what I’m talking about! First night and you already making bank. This the beginning, Ci. For real.”
Ciara smiled down at the money, tears pricking her eyes for a second. This was the most she had made in one night in her entire life. It didn’t erase the fear or the past, but it felt like the first real step toward standing on her own.
Back at the booth, Jimmy couldn’t stop watching the stage even after Nova disappeared behind the curtain.
Jey raised an eyebrow. “Twin, you still staring at the curtain like she gon’ pop back out. You good?”
Jimmy took a slow sip of his drink, then set it down. “I want a private dance with her.”
Solo and Jacob both started laughing.
“Oh shit,” Jacob said. “Uce really said that with no hesitation.”
Jey smirked. “You sure? Thought you wasn’t doing ‘wild shit’ tonight?”
Jimmy shrugged, eyes still on the backstage entrance. “It’s just a dance. She different though. I wanna see more of that energy up close.”
He flagged down a waitress and told her what he wanted. A few minutes later, she came back.
“Nova’s finishing up. She’ll meet you in Room 5 in ten minutes.”
Jimmy nodded, leaning back in his seat. His cousins kept teasing him, but he barely heard them.
Something about the way she moved — that mix of nervous and confident, quiet but magnetic — had him curious in a way he hadn’t been in a long time.
He was ready to see if that spark was real.
Room 5 was smaller and more intimate than Ciara expected. Soft purple lighting, a plush black couch against the wall, and a single pole in the center of the room. The music from the main floor was muted but still audible — slow and sensual.
She had changed into a fresh black lace set with a matching robe. Her hands were shaking again as she waited. This was different from the stage. This was up close. Personal.
A light knock came on the door.
“Come in,” she said softly.
Jimmy Uso stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He was taller than she expected, tattoos visible under his fitted black shirt, his presence filling the room. Their eyes met.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
“You’re Nova, right?” Jimmy asked, his voice deep and smooth as he sat down on the couch.
Ciara nodded, trying to steady her breathing. “Yeah… first night doing private dances too.”
Jimmy gave her a small, easy smile. “I can tell. You looked nervous on stage… but you still killed it.”
She blushed under the low lights. “You saw me?”
“I did,” he said, leaning back. “Couldn’t take my eyes off you. Something about the way you move… it’s different. Not like everybody else out there.”
Ciara felt her heart skip. She stepped closer, standing between his legs. The song changed to a slow, moody R&B track.
“I don’t really know what I’m doing yet,” she admitted quietly. “But I’ll try to make it worth your time.”
She let the robe slip off her shoulders and started moving.
Her hips rolled slowly to the beat, hands trailing down her body. She turned, giving him a view of her back and the curve of her waist as she bent low, then came back up, hair swinging with the motion. Jimmy’s eyes followed every movement, dark and focused.
She danced closer, straddling his lap without fully sitting, rolling her hips in a slow grind that matched the music. Their faces were inches apart now. She could smell his cologne — clean and expensive.
Jimmy’s hands stayed at his sides, respecting the rules, but his gaze never left her face.
“You got a real name?” he asked, voice low.
Ciara hesitated, then whispered, “Ciara.”
“Pretty,” he said. “I’m Jimmy.”
She kept dancing, but something about saying her real name to him felt… intimate. She spun slowly, pressing her back against his chest for a moment, letting her hair brush his shoulder before turning to face him again.
Jimmy swallowed hard. “You nervous?”
“A little,” she breathed, still moving. “This is all new to me.”
“You don’t seem new,” he replied, eyes locked on hers. “You got this quiet fire. Makes a man curious.”
Ciara felt heat rush through her body. No one had ever looked at her like that — not Leon, not anyone. It wasn’t just lust. There was something deeper in the way he watched her.
The song ended, but she kept moving for a few more seconds, slower, softer. When she finally stepped back, both of them were breathing heavier.
Jimmy reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick stack of bills, handing it to her.
“You earned every bit of this,” he said. “And then some.”
Ciara took the money with slightly shaky hands. “Thank you, Jimmy.”
He stood up, towering over her. For a moment they just stood there, eyes locked.
“I might have to come see you again, Ciara,” he said, voice low. “If that’s alright with you.”
She looked up at him, heart racing. “Yeah… I think I’d like that.”
He gave her one last lingering look, then left the room.
Ciara stood there for a long second after the door closed, touching her lips like she could still feel the tension in the air.
Backstage, she counted the money from the private dance.
She sat down, staring at the cash in her hands, her mind replaying everything.
One private dance… and she already couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Jimmy walked back to the booth with a slight smirk he couldn’t hide. His cousins and twin were already looking at him expectantly.
Jey leaned forward first. “So? How was it, Uce?”
Jimmy sat down, shaking his head with a low chuckle. “Man… she different.”
Solo laughed. “Different how? You look like you saw a ghost.”
“She got this quiet energy,” Jimmy explained, taking a sip of his drink. “Not loud, not trying too hard. But when she dances… it’s like she pulls you in. Her name’s Ciara. Real name. She was nervous as hell but still killed it.”
Jacob raised his eyebrows. “You got her real name? Already? Damn, twin. She must’ve really left an impression.”
Jey smirked, nudging his brother. “You feeling her, huh? I saw the way you were staring at her on stage. You ain’t even been looking at your phone since she came out.”
Jimmy leaned back, staring toward the stage even though she wasn’t on it anymore. “I don’t know, man. She just… caught my attention. Something about her feels real. Not like the usual girls in here chasing clout.”
Solo took a shot. “Well, you better be careful. You got a girl at home, remember?”
Jimmy didn’t reply right away. He just nodded slowly, but his mind kept replaying the way Ciara looked at him during the dance — nervous, but with that spark in her eyes.
“Yeah… I know,” he said quietly.
But deep down, he already knew he’d be back to see her again.
Back in the dressing room, Ciara had changed into her robe and was sitting with Jasmine, still buzzing from everything.
Jasmine was practically bouncing. “Okay, spill! How was the private dance? Was he fine? Did he try anything?”
Ciara let out a shaky laugh, still counting the rest of her tips. “He was… really fine, Jas. Tall, tattoos, deep voice. His name is Jimmy. He was respectful though. Hands to himself the whole time.”
Jasmine leaned in closer. “And? How did it feel dancing for him up close?”
“It was intense,” Ciara admitted, biting her lip. “I was so nervous at first, but once I started moving… I don’t know. It felt different with him. He kept looking at me like he was really seeing me. Not just my body. We even talked a little. I told him my real name.”
Jasmine’s eyes widened. “You never tell them your real name! He must’ve really got to you.”
“He did,” Ciara said softly, staring at the money in her hands. “He said I had this ‘quiet fire.’ And he tipped me really good… like six hundred just for the private.”
Jasmine screamed quietly and hugged her. “That’s my best friend! First night and you already got somebody like that requesting you? Girl, this might be your glow up season for real.”
Ciara smiled, but there was a nervous flutter in her chest. “I don’t know… something about him feels dangerous. Like if I’m not careful, I could get attached. I just left one messed up situation. I can’t afford to catch feelings right now.”
Jasmine rubbed her back. “Then don’t rush anything. Just get this money and see what happens. But if he comes back… at least enjoy the attention. You deserve to feel wanted, Ci.”
Ciara nodded, thinking back to Jimmy’s eyes on her.
She had a feeling this wasn’t going to be the last time she saw him.
The rest of the night moved in a blur for Ciara.
After the private dance with Jimmy, she went back on stage for one more short set. The crowd had thinned out a bit, but the energy was still there. She danced a little more confidently this time, the nerves slowly fading with every song. By the end of her last set, more tips had piled up on the stage.
Back in the dressing room, she finally sat down to count everything.
Jasmine had already left to go home, but she promised to pick Ciara up whenever she was ready. Shay walked by every now and then, checking on the new girls.
Ciara stacked all the bills neatly on the counter. Ones, fives, twenties… and the thick roll Jimmy had given her.
She added it all up slowly, eyes growing wider with every hundred.
“Twelve hundred and eighty dollars…” she whispered to herself in disbelief.
Her hands shook as she stared at the money. In one single night, she had made more than she used to make in two weeks at any regular job. Tears stung her eyes for a second. This was real. She was actually doing it.
She wiped her face quickly and started packing her things into her duffle bag — heels, outfits, the robe, and the money tucked safely into a small zipper pocket. Her body was tired, but her mind was wide awake.
Just as she zipped up her bag, she heard a knock on the wall outside her station.
“Nova?” Shay’s voice called out.
Shay leaned against the wall with a proud smirk on her face. “Girl, you did really good tonight. For a first night? I’m impressed. You got them boys throwing money like it’s nothing. Keep that same energy and you gon’ be just fine here.”
Ciara smiled shyly. “Thank you. I was so nervous… but I’m glad it went okay.”
Shay nodded toward the hallway. “Somebody wants to see you before you leave. He’s waiting near the side exit. Looks like you already got a regular.”
Ciara’s heart skipped. She already knew who it was.
She threw on a hoodie over her outfit, grabbed her bag, and followed Shay down the hall. Her clear heels clicked against the floor as they walked. When they turned the corner, Jimmy was standing there, hands in his pockets, looking even finer under the dim lighting.
He straightened up when he saw her.
“I’ll leave y’all to it,” Shay said with a knowing smile before walking off.
Ciara stopped a few feet away from him, adjusting the strap on her bag. “Hey… you came back.”
Jimmy gave her that same easy, charming smile. “Couldn’t leave without saying goodnight. You killed it out there tonight, Ciara. For real.”
She looked down for a second, feeling the warmth in her cheeks. “Thank you. I still can’t believe I made it through the whole night.”
“You did more than make it through,” he said, stepping a little closer. “You stood out. I had to come tell you that before you left.”
The hallway felt smaller with him standing there. The tension from the private room was still lingering between them.
Ciara bit her lip. “I appreciate it, Jimmy. Tonight was… a lot. But you made it a little easier.”
He looked like he wanted to say more, but instead he just nodded toward the exit. “You got a ride home?”
“Yeah, my best friend is coming to get me.”
“Good.” He paused, then added, “I’ll probably be back soon. If that’s cool with you.”
Ciara met his eyes. “It is.”
Jimmy gave her one last long look, like he was memorizing her face, then stepped back. “Get home safe, Ciara.”
Before Ciara could respond, her phone buzzed. Jasmine was outside.
“I gotta go. My ride’s here,” she said softly.
Jimmy nodded, stepping back to give her space. “Get home safe, Ciara.”
She walked out the side exit, heart still racing, and climbed into Jasmine’s car.
Jasmine immediately turned the music down and looked at her. “Okay, how was the rest of the night? You look like you got a story.”
Ciara let out a big breath and smiled tiredly. “Jas… I made twelve hundred and eighty dollars tonight. First night.”
Jasmine screamed and reached over to hug her while still parked. “I knew it! I’m so proud of you, bestie! You did that!”
As Jasmine started driving, Ciara told her everything — the second set, how the crowd reacted, and the private dance with Jimmy.
“He came back at the end too,” Ciara said. “He was waiting for me before I left. Told me I killed it and that he’ll probably be back soon.”
Jasmine glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. “And how do you feel about that?”
“I don’t know…” Ciara stared out the window. “He seems nice. Respectful. But the way he looks at me… it makes me nervous. In a good way. I told him my real name, Jas.”
Jasmine sucked her teeth. “Already? Girl, you moving fast. Just be careful, okay? Get your money, stay focused. You just left Leon. Don’t let nobody distract you from building your new life.”
“I know,” Ciara said quietly. “I’m not trying to catch feelings. I just want to be stable. But tonight… it felt good. I felt wanted. Powerful.”
They pulled up to Ciara’s apartment. Jasmine put the car in park and gave her a serious look.
“You did amazing. Go count that money again, take a hot shower, and get some rest. We’ll talk more tomorrow. I love you.”
“I love you too. Thank you for everything.”
Ciara got out, waved goodbye, and went inside. She dropped her bag, showered, and climbed into bed. As she stared at the ceiling, the night replayed in her head — the stage lights, the money, Jimmy’s eyes on her during the private dance.
She whispered to herself, “You’re really doing this, Ciara.”
But even as she tried to focus on her goals, she couldn’t stop thinking about when she might see Jimmy again.
a/n: ciara and jimmy's first interaction with each other nigga paid her 600 bands fr fr buuut its gon be messy
prguitarman
romaincrisis
theartofmadeline
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