Chapter 6

That evening Wes and Thad changed to got to a Broadway Show. Thad was excited, he'd never seen a show on Broadway, Wes vowed as soon as he moved to NYADA he'd take him every chance they got.

"Is this OK?" Thad asked looking down at his attire with doubt.

Wes chuckled, "baby, you look great and nobody cares how you dress." He said pulling Thad's tie a little straighter. The younger boy had gone for grey jeans, a black and white checked shirt, red tie and black and white converse. Wes wore similar, but his shirt was plain black and his tie was checked. "Now remember, in my production I want to cast you as Moritz, so, take a look."

"Isn't he the one that offs himself?"

"Pretty much. How do you know?"

"Spring Awakening is one of my secret favourite musicals."

"You should've said, you are so hard to shop for on Christmas." Thad snorted with laughter and Wes huffed before laughing himself. "Come on, let's go, you look fantastic."

"So do you. So, casting, what about Niff?"

"Can't you work that out from memory of the musical?"

"Regrettably yes."

"Are you OK, with Moritz?"

"Why wouldn't I be, I get to sing one of my favourite songs. Well, three of them."

"And what would those be?"

"Bitch of Living, Don't do Sadness and Those You've Known."

"I like those ones too." They reached the theatre and Wes squeezed Thad's hand with a smile. "I'm supposed to see... The stage manager, come on," he said reading from a note from the envelope. "Umm, hi, I'm Wes Montgomery, my NYADA professor said to see you."

"Wes... Wes.. Ah, here we are and plus one?"

"This is him."

"OK, here you go," he handed them two lanyards. "Backstage at the interval and after the show, it's so you can speak to the cast for advice and any questions on the musical."

"Thank you."

"Enjoy the show boys."

"Thank you," they said, lacing their fingers again they took their seats in a booth, to give them a little privacy for note taking they waited for the show to start.

While scribbling his notes Wes stole a peak at Thad, smiling at the look of awe on his face, Wes made a note to bring Thad as often as he could, he loved seeing him happy. Plus the NYADA student discount was killer for Broadway shows. At the interval they went to meet the cast. They were nice down to earth people Wes decided as he got to know them. He asked his questions about the first act after which there was still ten minutes left. They returned to their seats, "baby, I'm going for a drink, do you want soda or coffee?"

"Uh, coffee please, I'm gonna use the bathroom."

"OK," Wes kissed him and watched him go the other direction.

Wes made his way to the merchandise stall first, buying Thad the soundtrack from the original cast featuring demo recordings too. He also bought a poster for in his room and a signed flyer which he got for every show he went to. While he waited for the drinks he called Allison to pick up the merchandise he gave them to her before rejoining Thad for the second half. On the way out after asking his other questions he excused himself to the bathroom and Thad said he was going to look for a t-shirt or hoodie. Thad gave Wes an idea but he let Thad go, praying they were out of Soundtracks.

"Get anything?"

"A hoodie with the name of the musical." He gestured to where he had secured it around his waist.

"Come on, the tickets were on school and I feel like treating my baby to something to eat."

"We-"

"No arguments, I know the perfect place." He pecked Thad's lips, took his hand and lead him a few blocks away to a Fifties Style Diner.

"Wes!" Called a woman Thad assumed to be in her early fifties at the most.

"Caitlyn!"

"Oh, Wes, how's NYADA? And who is this adorable boy?" The woman hugged Wes tightly in greeting and cupped Thad's cheek, stroking it with her thumb, making a blush creep up his neck.

"Caitlyn, I told you about Thad."

"This is Thad? Darlin' you are just adorable, come on boys, what'll it be?"

"We haven't seen the menu's yet," Wes laughed as she lead them to a booth and they sat across from each other. "I'll have what I usually have though."

"I trust his judgement, I'll have the same."

"Comin' right up boys."

"What did I just order?"

"Ah, you ordered blindly, now suffer the consequences."

"Damn," Thad muttered as Wes took his hand over the table. "Wes, thank you, this week has been... I can't even put it into words. So, wonderful, it's been a dream."

"Wait 'til you're here with me, it'll be better. I promise you that." Wes leaned to kiss him when Caitlyn placed two chocolate milkshakes topped with cream, chocolate sauce and crumbled cookies in front of them.

"Food'll be a couple of minutes boys." She smiled.

"Thanks Caitlyn."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

"Thad Darlin', as adorable as you are, you ever call me Ma'am again you won't live to graduate, understand?"

"Yes Ma'- I mean Caitlyn."

"Atta boy," she said, ruffled his hair and walked away, Wes giggling behind his hand.

"Not funny." He said.

"You're right, hilarious." Wes took a drink through his straw and Thad did the same, moaning as the sweetest chocolate shake he'd ever tasted hit his taste buds. "If you like that, wait until you taste the food." Before Thad could question their plates were set in front of them. "Thank you Caitlyn, Thad says thank you too, but right now, he's recovering from the shock of what we have ordered."

"Quite alright, enjoy boys."

Thad gaped at the plate in front of him. "This is your usual?"

"Every breakfast."

"How're you stil-"

"This hot? I go for runs. Now eat up before it goes cold."

"Gladly." Thad didn't know where to begin as he looked at the mountain or waffles, pancakes, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, brownie and cookie pieces topped with wafers and melted chocolate drizzling down the pile. He took his first bite and looked at Wes with full seriousness. "We may have to break up," he said with mock sadness, "because I think I'm in love." He chuckled at Wes' face, "OK, kidding. Partly," he added with a shrug.