Maid of Dishonor (closed for allthepiecings & SexyVita)

[SexyVita]

Clara Burke

Clara set her phone down with a sigh. For the past two weeks, she'd been on the phone almost every day trying to sooth someone's ruffled feathers. Today, it had been the caterer, yesterday it had been one of the bridesmaids, two days before that it was the DJ and the photographer, and on-and-on it had gone. And it wasn't even Clara's wedding, it was her friend Hannah's.

"Oh crap, I'm going to be late if I don't hurry!" Clara exclaimed to herself, as she realized that the phone call had taken up nearly all her time to get ready for tonight. As she threw herself into the shower, Clara wondered, hardly for the first time, why she was even still friends with Hannah. Hannah had burned her more than once, and yet Clara kept going back. It wasn't as if Clara liked the abuse, but well... At her best, Hannah was fun, a bit wild, and great at reeling people into her orbit. Clara, on the other hand, was naturally introverted and would have spent most of her time alone if it wasn't for Hannah. And that was the real reason Clara had stayed friends with her, even when Hannah didn't make it easy. She simply wouldn't have a social life at all if it wasn't for Hannah and her other friends.

Once out of the shower, Clara started quickly doing her makeup but her mind was still thinking about Hannah. She'd been Clara's freshman roommate and so almost inevitably Clara had become part of her circle of friends. Over four years Hannah had dragged her to frat parties, clubs, and concerts. Now, six years later, Hannah was getting married. At first, Clara had been rather flattered to be asked to the Maid of Honor, at least until she'd found out that she had not been Hannah's first choice. She knew this because she stayed in contact with some of Hannah's former friends and several had told her that Hannah had asked them first, but that they'd turned her down. Now she understood why.

Hannah had always been an attention whore. She had a way of making sure she was always the center of attention. It was that tendency, more than anything, that led to Hannah having more ex-friends than friends, though Hannah was always quick to replace them. But as bad as Hannah could be, the wedding seemed to make it all so much worse. It was like Hannah really was the entitled princess she wanted to be on her wedding day. Everything had to be exactly the way she wanted it, and she didn't care who she had to anger, insult, or threaten to make it so. And then it had been up to Clara to smooth things over.

Finally Clara shimmied into her dress for tonight, a tight, green-sequined mini dress. It wasn't too revealing, but it showed off her long legs and closely hugged her curves. She looked over herself one last time in the hallway mirror and she had to admit that she looked pretty good. All too often, Clara felt fat, but it was mostly her wide hips and ample butt that made her feel that way. In this dress though, she looked sexy, and tonight she was going to need the confidence boost if she was going to pull off the first part of her plan.

Heading down to the car, Clara was thankful that Hannah's future sister-in-law had agreed to host the bachelorette party. It would never have worked in Clara's small apartment, but Alexa's house was big. She'd been married for a couple of years to some tech company venture capitialist. Clara had arranged the rest, food, a bartender, the DJ, and half-a-dozen male strippers.

She arrived at Alexa's house with a few minutes to spare and she spent it having a private word with the strippers just to be sure they understood that there would be extra, under the table tips for all of them, as long as they showed lots of extra attention to the bride-to-be. Clara was confident that Hannah's own nature would take over from there, but just to be safe, she made sure the bartender would slip Hannah extra strong drinks at least until the fun started. Tonight had to go as planned for Clara to get her ultimate revenge.

 

[allthepiercings]

Hannah tapped her manicured nails against the leather armrest of the car as it glided through the streets. The tinted windows reflected the lights of the city, which flickered like an audience awaiting her arrival. She allowed herself a small smile, the kind she perfected over the years, one that hid her true thoughts. This was her night, and she knew exactly how to make it memorable. Everyone was going to be watching her, as they always should, and Clara’s little gathering was just another stage for her to dominate.

Clara. The thought of her name was almost amusing. Poor, dependable Clara, always so eager to please, so eager to fix things. Hannah appreciated her usefulness—after all, every queen needs her loyal subjects. Clara had always been easy to manipulate, drawn in by the charisma and excitement Hannah brought into her otherwise dull life. That’s what people didn’t get—relationships were about power. It wasn’t about being liked, or even loved, but about being needed. And Clara needed Hannah far more than Hannah ever needed her.

As the car approached Alexa’s house, Hannah’s mind wandered to the party ahead. She’d already rehearsed how the night would play out, how she’d command attention effortlessly. Her bridesmaids would be there, laughing and fawning over her, not because they adored her but because she had the power to cut them out at any moment. She didn’t need to raise her voice or cause a scene—Hannah knew how to break people down quietly, subtly, making them feel like she was their best option in the world. That was the real fun, the invisible strings she pulled while keeping her hands clean.

The lights outside Alexa’s mansion lit up the driveway as they pulled in. Hannah’s reflection caught her eye in the rearview mirror—a picture of perfection. Her lips were painted a deep red, her eyes dark and seductive. She looked every bit the bride-to-be that people wanted to see. But that was the thing—they only saw what she wanted them to. Inside, she was laughing at them, at how easily they played into her hands. This was all a game, and she played it better than anyone.

She stepped out of the car, the sound of her heels clicking against the pavement as she walked towards the entrance. She could hear the music already, faint but rising as the door opened. Her smile widened—not out of joy, but in anticipation of the chaos she would create tonight. All eyes would be on her, and by the end of the night, she’d make sure Clara and everyone else remembered exactly who was in control.

 

[SexyVita]

Clara's position as the Maid of Honor had given her a unique position in tonight's festivities. First, she'd pretty much planned the whole event. Yes, she'd needed help from Alexa for hosting, and a few of Hannah's bridemaids and other friends had done small things, but Clara had done all the major planning. She'd also been in a position to talk with everyone that was here tonight. The DJ, caterer, and bartender were the same ones that Hannah had hired for the wedding reception. And, assuming things went more or less to plan, their services tonight would be free. Even if Clara had to pay them, it would be worth it if her plan worked.

The more Clara had talked to Hannah's friends and coworkers, the more she realized that Clara was not as well-liked as it might seem, in fact most of them downright disliked or even hated her. It was realizing this, along with the realization that she actually seemed to have more true friends than Hannah, that had hatched the plan for tonight, and indeed for the rest of the weekend. The fact that so many of Hannah's so-called friends and coworkers were here tonight was because Clara had promised them their own part in her plan. She made a circuit of the guests that had already arrived, making sure that everyone understood what they were supposed to do. Most of them simply needed to document the event, by photos and video, in excruciating detail. And all the cameras were to be focused on Hannah. Hannah wouldn't even find this suspicious, she would probably see it as her due, the true center of attention.

A few of the guests, however, had more pivotal roles. The strippers had been told to focus most of their attention on the bride-to-be, but not all of it. Clara had considered that Hannah might be reluctant to get too wild just days before her wedding, especially with all the cameras. But a couple of the women here tonight wouldn't be opposed to getting it on with the male strippers, or even each other for that matter. Clara knew Hannah would never allow herself to be outdone by her guests, and if they started getting freaky, Hannah wouldn't be able to resist doing the same.

The doorbell chimed and Alexa openned the door, admitting Hannah to a rousing cheer from the guests. Clara went and gave Hannah a hug, hiding, as she had been for years, the hurt and anger in her heart. "Hannah! It's so good to see you!"

 

[allthepiercings]

Hannah wrapped her arms around Clara, squeezing just tight enough to feel in control, but not too tight to seem insincere. “Clara, darling! Of course, you outdid yourself!” she purred into her ear. Hannah could usually feel Clara’s anxiety beneath the polished surface of her appearance, but not today, today seemed somehow different. The tension in her body was palpable, but Hannah usually knew how to disarm her. After all, Clara was the type to crack under pressure, and that was exactly what made her so useful. Clara’s whole identity was wrapped up in the approval of others—mainly, in Hannah’s approval—and she would never see through the manipulation if it meant feeling like she was needed. At least that’s was Hannah’s perception.

Hannah pulled back, flashing Clara her most dazzling smile. The kind that had always gotten her what she wanted. Clara looked a bit too done-up tonight, trying hard to keep pace with her. A hint of desperation clung to her like perfume. Good. The more Clara pushed to impress, the more predictable she became. Hannah liked predictable; it meant she could orchestrate things without much effort. Her eyes flicked around the room—everything was set perfectly. The music, the decor, the abundance of alcohol, all of it was as if plucked from the dreams of Hannah’s somewhat sociopathic brain. Clara had clearly poured her heart into this, but in the back of her mind, Hannah knew that wasn’t just out of friendship. Clara’s motive had to be alternative, but the bride-to-be wasn’t focusing on that for too long.

Hannah wasn’t worried. No, she relished it. She almost always stayed a step ahead. It was almost laughable how people thought they could surprise her when she had been the one writing the script all along. The strippers were a nice touch, that was what Clara definitely understood: Hannah wanted the attention. Being the scandalous bride-to-be would only feed the myth of her charm and allure.

As the party revved up, Hannah floated effortlessly from group to group, making sure she stayed at the center of everything. The guests laughed at her jokes, complimented her appearance, and the drinks kept coming, just as she’d expected. She could feel Clara hovering near the edge of her vision. Maybe it was her tight white dress, the kind that maybe Clara had envied, but the more the hour started to drag on, the less Hannah started to care. This was Hannah’s night, and she would make sure that by the time it ended, every single person here would still be orbiting around her.

 

[SexyVita]

Clara wanted to grind her teeth at the way Hannah praised her, but she kept a smile on her face by force of will. "Anything for you!" she said with the most convincing enthusiam she could muster. The most insidious thing was that some part of her still thrilled at Hannah's words of appreciation. However, her growing awareness allowed her to see through to the condescension and manipulation.

That awareness had been slow to come to Clara. Sure, on some level she'd always known that Hannah had been manipulating her, but it had taken time for her to realize the full extent of it. It was only by talking to Hannah's ex-friends that Clara realized the truth. While Hannah played to Clara's need for approval and acceptance, she also actively undercut that with their mutual friends. Hannah had gossipped and outright lied both to Clara and about her. The more she learned, the more obvious the pattern had become. Hannah wanted Clara dependent on her, and only her. Whenever Clara was getting on well with one of their other friends, Hannah intervened to sabotage it, ensuring her dependence.

Clara stayed close to Hannah as she drifted around to the inevitable clusters of friends, coworkers, and family. There weren't as many of the latter as one might expect, a few cousins, and Alexa, her soon to be sister-in-law. Clara suspected that Hannah had alienated most of her female relations in the same way she had so many of her friends. Unlike her friends, however, their was a limited supply of family. Hannah's mother was there, but she was the tree that Hannah's apple had not fallen far from. In fact, Clara believed the only thing that kept her from upstaging her own daughter was that she'd conceded tonight to Hannah.

As Hannah slithered over to next group, she set down her now empty glass and Clara seamlessly retrieved a fresh one from the bar. On her way she wondered if some of Hannah's need to be the center of attention was because she was trying to step out of her mother's shadow. She shook her head as if to clear that line of thinking. Tonight, she couldn't afford anything that made her feel sympathetic to Hannah. Clara sidled up to Hannah and slipped the glass into Hannah's hand. Hannah didn't even really notice, since Clara was always the one that got sent to the bar for drinks when they were clubbing, making the action one of routine.

Clara observed with pleasure that the phones and cameras were already out, and mostly pointed at Hannah, even though the show hadn't really started yet. Hopefully, it would keep Hannah from questioning why so much photographic attention was focused on her when things really got moving. The strippers had been instructed to give the ladies time to talk, eat, and drink before starting their show. Not that Hannah's crowd needed much alcoholic lubrication to get wild, but it was mostly Hannah that Clara was worried about. She wanted to be sure that Hannah had a few stiff drinks in her to dull her senses and impair her judgement.

Up until now, the strippers had been drifting around the edges of the room in their various costumes, taking pictures with the ladies and giving them a preview, albeit a clothed one, of what was on offer. However, when the music changed from a mix of Hannah's favorite pop songs to It's Raining Men by the Weather Girls, that was the strippers' que to take center stage.

 

[allthepiercings]

Hannah felt the pulse of the music vibrate through the room, a signal that the night was about to shift into something even more exhilarating. Her heart raced with anticipation as the familiar beats of the song filled her ears. She spun around, eyes sparkling, as the strippers made their entrance, and a ripple of excitement washed over the crowd. She could already feel the energy in the room rise, the guests buzzing like bees drawn to honey. This was exactly what she had envisioned—an evening that would be talked about long after the wedding. All the attention was on her, and Hannah reveled in it, like a cat basking in the sun.

As the first stripper took the stage, clad in nothing but a tiny pair of briefs and a grin, Hannah leaned back against the bar, taking a sip from her fresh drink. The alcohol burned pleasantly down her throat, and she felt the warmth spread through her. This was her moment, and she planned to own it. The strippers danced provocatively, their muscles glistening under the dim lights, and Hannah couldn’t help but laugh and cheer, letting the laughter and the drinks wash away any lingering anxiety. She was the queen, and tonight, everyone was her court.

But as she danced and clapped, a nagging thought flickered at the edge of her mind. Clara. Poor Clara, with her wide eyes and desperate need for approval. She was always there, lurking in the background, ensuring everything went smoothly, but Hannah couldn’t shake the feeling that Clara had something up her sleeve tonight. It was a fleeting worry—after all, Clara had always been predictable. Hannah had trained her well, like a dog following commands. Clara would never dare to undermine her, especially not on a night like this. Still, a small part of her wondered if tonight’s chaos might pull Clara out of her comfort zone in ways Hannah hadn’t planned for.

Shaking off the unease, Hannah stepped forward, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor as she twirled around to face the strippers again. She lifted her drink and yelled, “Who’s ready to party?” The crowd erupted into cheers, and she felt invincible, standing at the center of the swirling attention. The strippers began to interact with the guests, pulling them onto the makeshift dance floor, and Hannah was quick to seize the moment. She grabbed one of the male strippers, drawing him closer with a flirtatious smile. “You’re not getting out of this without a dance for the bride,” she declared, her voice dripping with playful authority.

As the stripper grinned and began to dance for her, Hannah could feel the energy of the room transform. Her friends were joining in, laughter blending with the music, and for a moment, everything felt right. The cameras flashed, capturing every moment, and she could already imagine the social media posts that would follow. She was the star of the show, the bride-to-be, the one everyone was there to celebrate. And yet, as she spun and twirled, her focus darted toward Clara, who was hovering near the edge of the action, her expression a mix of admiration and something else—something Hannah couldn’t quite place.

That flicker of doubt gnawed at her again, but she quickly pushed it aside. Tonight was hers, and nothing would derail her from that. The strippers were all about the fun, and she planned to be the life of the party. She shooed her “friends” away from her as the music shifted again, her inhibitions almost completely gone at this point. This was what she thrived on.
One of the men grabbed a simple metal chair and placed it in the center of the room and with strong hands, pushed her roughly into the seat. Hannah was never one to be told what to do, but in this case she seemed to make an exception, a devilish half-smile creasing across her face.