Hey so this story tends to go back and forth between POVs and does flashbacks of the girls so hopefully it doesn't cut off the indicators of changing perspectives like it did the first chapter…I'm getting used to posting on here...Hope you guys are enjoying!


Chapter Two

The light broke through the windows of the large office and hit my eyes directly. I groaned and threw one arm to cover my eyes. I had slept yet again at the office and was sure that if my boss walked in at this moment he would have just offered to build me a room that I could use to sleep in. He threw money around like it was nothing and I had to tell him over and over how much he needed to just cool it with the spending before his company went bankrupt. But his philosophy was one that I'm sure many would agree with, "What's the point of holding on to all this money if you could drop dead tomorrow."

I stood and stretched my aching joints that had knotted during the night. I made my way over to my desk and pulled a toothbrush and some toothpaste out for me to use. I quickly brushed my teeth in the women's bathroom and straightened my suit out. I wasn't sure if I was going to spend another Saturday working or if I would just go home and relax.

I looked at the files on my desk and decided to just head home. I grabbed my keys and headed out to my Ford Mustang. I know it's a tad flashy for me to being driving a brand new GT version of this classic car that I probably look ridiculous stepping out of when I'm in my business suits. I had to pick the dark red color that caught my eye the day I was passing by the dealership. The car was amazing and it was always a thrill speeding down Mopac to the hills and around the sharp corners as I made my way home.

After a few close calls with the incessantly bad drivers that frequent this city, I made my way into the driveway of my home. I opened the garage and parked my car before letting the garage door close behind me. I took my briefcase and headed inside my empty home to find that the only people who had called were my family and my boss.

Ok so I wasn't the most popular person in the world. I did have a few good friends that I would go out with every once and awhile but work kept me so busy that they usually thought I had dropped dead until I broke my routine and called them up. This was one of those days; I picked up my phone and dialed.

"Shiloh's house of pain…your pain is our pleasure."

"Hey Shi." I said laughing at my good friend who always answered her phone with a new slogan.

"Spencer Carlin! Oh my god! You know you go weeks without calling me and I just feel like you totally don't appreciate all the hard work I put into this friendship."

"What hard work? You are just as capable as I am to pick up the phone and call."

"How can you say that? I…I made you those brownies that one time…remember? And when you thought Jeopardy was the greatest show on earth I quickly pointed out all the highly volatile points that Mr. Tribeck tries to hide from his oh so unsuspecting fan base. You know Ken Jennings was a robot right?"

"Ok not this discussion again. See this is why I don't call you. You always have to bring up that Ken Jennings boy…" I sat down in a chair and listened to my friend go on and on again about her Jeopardy obsession.

"I mean look at him…his pasty expression…his uncaring eyes…he knew TOO much."

"Shi?" I said impatiently really regretting making the phone call in the first place.

"Huh?"

"I was calling to find out if you wanted to do something tonight."

"What did you have in mind? Oh…they are having a Jeopardy marathon later…"

"Oh god no. Look, I want to go out. I have been swamped at work and I need a break. So how bout it?"

"Hmm…let me see…now do I stay home and watch the mastermind himself bewilder millions or do I go out with my best friend whom I haven't seen since she called me exactly one month and two days ago? Man Spencer I'm afraid you lose on this one."

"Fine I'll find someone else to go with me."

"You're such a brat. Ok fine…I guess I can TiVo the damn thing. What did you want to do?"

"I don't care. I have been out of the loop…how bout we go to a bar or club or something? How bout the Rainbow Cattle Co.? We haven't been there in awhile."

"Speak for yourself you hermit. I was there just last night. You know I did hear a club that is supposed to be THE new gay club here in town. That and they say the owner is to die for."

"To die for really? So does that mean I should have the coroner's office on speed dial so that they can come pick up your pathetically lifeless body?"

"That's harsh. So yeah I have made our decision and we are going to this club."

"Does this place have a name?"

"Oh yeah…its something that's kind of weird…it's like the Church of Something…I don't know but its supposed to be killer."

"Church? Please don't end up dragging me to some place that you think is a club that turns out to be some form of bible study. I mean if I wanted to do that I could just call up my mother."

"It's not really a church…or at least I don't think it is."

"Ok fine…but you are buying tonight."

"Hey you are the one who asked ME out why do I have to fit the bill?"

"Because you love me that's why."

"Ha that's a laugh. Fine so you want me to pick you up around 9 so we can head over?"

"Sure sounds good. See you tonight."

"Later."

I hang up the phone and replace it back on its stand. I made my way upstairs and saw my comfortable bed and plopped down face first into my soft sheets. I groaned as I gathered enough energy to stand and change into a pair of boxers and a wife beater. I looked at my clock and decided that I was just going to crash until I had to get ready for Shiloh and my girl's night out.

I pulled the sheets back and climbed into bed falling instantly into a deep sleep.

"To the left…yeah…right there." I said as the stage crew I hired place the last of the pieces together for the night's festivities. I ran a hand through my hair and leaned against the bar and shook my head for getting myself involved in yet another drag show. I'm not a big fan of drag shows but the other owners seemed to think that we should alternate where we were going to hold the highly popular treat.

I can't say it will be all too bad but last night's headache was still weighing heavily on my mind. The night was going well until we had to break up a big fight between two butch girls who were staking their claim over a small blonde. It took my two bouncers and four of my girls to pull the women apart. They had really taken each other to town and insisted that we call the police.

I called the police over and they took the women outside. They questioned a few girls on my staff but left quickly after. Other than that hiccup the rest of the night went smoothly and I had little to complain about.

The "girls" and "boys" were going to be showing up around 3 PM to get their gear set up and to practice a set or two. I made a makeshift dressing room out of the back hallway for the performers and told my staff that they would have drinks on the house all night long.

I made my way to my office and sat down in my chair letting a deep breath out. It always felt like the calm before the storm when I would sit and listen as silence surrounded me. I heard a sharp tap on my door and turned around. What appeared to be a Marilyn Monroe look alike was leaning against my doorframe.

"Can I help you?" I said looking the man up and down.

"Hi…I'm Marilyn." I couldn't help but laugh and he cleared his throat. "Sorry the name's Charles. I just wanted to let you know that the other girls have arrived for the show so we will be working on our sets for the next couple of hours."

"Ok sounds like a plan. If you need me to make any adjustments with the lighting or if you want to change up some of the music let me know and I will run it by tonight's DJ. Her name by the way is Lizzy and she should be here in another couple of hours. The booth is all set up already so feel free to use it while you guys practice."

"Thanks. Well I should get back out there."

I could hear the sounds of a Cher song start and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Why do drag queens always have to choose a Cher song? If this was going to be the music choice for the rest of the night then this was going to be one long night indeed.

Shiloh made her way from lane to lane on IH-35 which frequently made me wish that I had taken the bus instead. My outings with Shiloh always left me feeling grateful that I was still living and breathing after the world stopped moving by me so quickly. We made our way down the interstate and took the ramp that led them to Congress Avenue. Shiloh quickly maneuvered through lanes and avoided the pedestrians who would run across the street at random points.

Shiloh took a turn and headed down a different street and we heard the sound of music pounding down the street. We made our way closer to the music and I saw a sign that read "Church of Hot Addiction." I was intrigued by the name and tried to see who was standing outside the club waiting to get inside.

Shiloh found a parking spot a few blocks down and we made our way back down to the club. We waited for a few minutes before we were let in by the very large muscular bouncer. "Remember ladies. Tonight is Drag Night here at the Church of Hot Addiction. Please enjoy."

We made our way inside the club and I noticed a large stage set up with random props and colors. Shiloh pulled me towards the bar and we ordered our drinks. We found a table in the corner of the club that had a clear view of the stage.

"So you happy you came out for Drag Night?" Shiloh asked as we sat and scanned the room.

"Oh yeah…you know I can't keep my mitts off those drag queens." I said sarcastically and took a long drink of my cranberry and vodka.

"Hey some of those girls are hot. Now the whole penis and no breasts thing…well we will never get passed that but I would SO make out with them."

I rolled my eyes and laughed. "Well honey looks like you will be having a fun night won't you?"

"You know you could have a fun night too!"

"Yeah…that's what we are going to do have some fun. BRING ON THE QUEENS!" I yelled into the club. Only those sitting near us heard my screaming over the music and I blushed as they laughed. I could feel the buzz of the alcohol start to overcome my senses.

The lights dimmed and the voice of Cher broke through the room and I couldn't help but laugh. The first girl to make her way out looked like a very butch version of Salma Hayek; she wore a tight blue dress and sang along to a song that I couldn't recognize and blew kisses around the room. The next few girls did their routines and were given large rounds of applause causing them to smile even larger.

I noticed that my drink was getting low so I flagged down a waitress and ordered another drink. Shiloh was too busy drooling over the girls to even bother refilling her drink. I shook my head and looked around the room and I watched the other club goers who were clearly enjoying the show.

I looked back towards the bar and saw a head of brunette curls that made me lose my ability to breathe. It couldn't be her. Of all the places for her to be; Austin can not be where she has been all this time. I shook my head and returned my gaze back to the girls performing on stage. I turned my head back to the bar and saw that the brunette had disappeared.

"So is everything running smoothly back here?" I asked Shannon, one of my best employees.

"Sure is boss. We had a really big turnout tonight huh?"

"Yes we did. Now if the music wasn't so god awful I might actually be happy about it."

Shannon made a few drinks quickly and sent them along the counter to waiting hands. I could see that everything was fine and decided to check with the stage crew about how everything was going on the front lines.

As I made myself to the stage, I noticed a somewhat familiar face of a love that I never thought would be brought back into my life again. That can't be her; no, it's not her.

I took the crew aside and went over some important information regarding the set up and take down of the stage. After getting everything situated I looked once more in the direction of the blonde and couldn't help but feel that this was my high school sweetheart.

I made my way to my office and sat down. I pulled out a small framed picture I had held onto dearly letting it serve as the one reminder of the sweetest and most caring girl that I had ever known.

"I need to go…to the bathroom…" I called out to Shiloh who was almost completely hammered and who was making out with a skinny girl who had the whole Johnny Depp look going on.

I stood and made my way past the tables' occasionally I had to reach out and balance myself as I headed towards what I assumed was the bathroom. My vision was completely blurred and I reached for the handle. The handle turned and I entered the room and I saw a dark blurry figure in the room. I couldn't focus on anything and felt strong arms hold me up.

"Thanks…"

"No problem Spence…"

My head jerked up at the sound of my old nickname that I would only let a few people use. My family was still back in L.A. and would never step foot in a gay bar so the only possible thought that I had was that this was the brunette who held my heart all those years ago and still did to this day whether or not she knew this.

"Ashley?"

I choked out the word and felt the world go completely black.