Hey, everybody. I know you all thought I'd dropped off the planet. Believe me, it felt like it. Went to a writer's convention. Wow...just... I don't know...wow. Wore my ass out. But I'm back. Things are a lot more normal. And here we go. Not as much as I wanted to post, but I'll be posting again either tomorrow or Friday. Enjoy...
Ana
"Oh dear God," Ana stood in the media room and watched the news report on the giant screen with horrified eyes. Adonis beside her on his phone, his eyes on the flames rolling over one the ship that had exploded into a fire bomb only minutes before - one of Adonis' ships. Apparently in addition to owning a telecommunications company he ran a shipping empire.
The phone rang while they were cuddling on the couch, she'd insisted Adonis stop nibbling her neck and answer it. She was glad she did.
"Yes, yes I see it. I'll be leaving within the hour. Get Welch on it now." He disconnected, turned to her, his gray eyes clouded, "I have to go."
"I know, Jose can give me a ride to pick up my car..."
"Stay here Ana," one hand reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, "I'll be back tomorrow."
"Oh, I don't think..." But Adonis was already dialing again...
"Jose...How's the pageant coming?" Silence, and a quick grin flashed across his face, "Excellent, very smart. Yes, I'm sure wearing Chanel peep-toes will make having to give up the tiara much more palatable. I need a favor...Yes, I have to leave town. I'll be gone overnight, and I was wondering if you could stay here with Ana..." Adonis shot her a very satisfied smile. He just never fought fair, "that's an excellent idea, of course yes Kate is invited to stay as well, and the security detail can take you wherever you need to go. Thank-you, I owe you one..." he disconnected with a smirk.
"Dirty Pool, Adonis."
He leaned down, placing a brief hard kiss on her lips, "No time, love."
Two hours later - Still Ana
"I've never seen so much glitter in my life."
Ana wandered into the bar where the Miss Drag Queen Seattle pageant was taking place, Kate at her side. Her friend had driven and left her car at Escala. Her new security detail, trailing behind her. Sawyer, Ana's security had driven them here. The men stood by the door of the club with Jose's detail.
Ana turned in a circle trying to take it all in, then just gave up. There was no way. Explosions of color everywhere, every kind of reflective surface you can imagine and some you couldn't... and feathers... and boas...and Drag Queens...
"Holy Lord, they're gorgeous..." Ana whispered. She'd been to drag shows before, but this was a whole other level.
"My ego is taking a serious hit right now." Kate's mouth had been hanging open for the entire five minutes they'd been standing in motionless reverence.
A tiny giggle worked its way from her throat, "I love it!"
Kate shoulder bumped her, "I know, what is it about glitter and feathers?"
"It appeals to the girlie-girl in us all." A tall woman in a bright red dress and vibrant purple hair spoke up, walking by them toward the back of the club, "A lady just has to sparkle, you know." she gave them a saucy wink over her shoulder, and disappeared behind the shimmering purple curtain running across the entire back wall.
"Annie, Katie...over here!" Jose', waved at them from the front of the club, where he stood at a long table directly in front of the stage. He was looking very large and in charge in a raspberry shirt and black slacks. Maneuvering between tiny tables and stunning queens, they made their way over.
"Welcome to paradise, my sugars," Jose' gave them little pecks on each cheek. "You've got the best seats in the house, right next to the judges table.
"Oooh, is this the famous Annie, who snagged that rich honey-bun we were all hoping would come out of the closet?" A queen in a skin-tight gown of neon pink lame with a tiara sitting atop her mile high blond hair, stepped forward.
"Yes, These are my dear friends Annie Steele, and Kate Kavanaugh" Jose, ever gracious, made the introductions, "Annie, Kate this is Sabrina, Miss Drag Queen Seattle 2012,"
"Nice to meet you, Sabrina." Ana smiled
"Great dress," Kate complimented.
"This old thing" Sabrina grinned, "just a little something shiny hanging in the back of the closet, and thanks so much for allowing me to wear the peep-toes."
"Sure," Kate returned her grin, "nothing like Chanel to make a girl feel fabulous." Ana secretly wondered how in the hell Sabrina's feet were going to get in those confidence-boosting peep-toes.
"Ain't that the truth." Bree laughed, a deep throaty sound, then turned to Ana her face suddenly serious,
"So, he really is straight then?"
The bar got very quiet. It was like one of those old Paine-Webber commercials. Numerous beautiful, perfectly made up, hopeful faces watched her. She hated to be the bearer of such deflating news but...
"I'm sorry, but yes, he um...likes girls."
"Well, that's just a damn shame." came a sigh from the glittering crowd.
"Well, honey at least he has good taste." Sabrina patted her hand.
"Thanks."
"Now" Sabrina's million watt smile lit up the room, "sit in the place of honor and have a mimosa on the house, this is my honey's place." She waved over one of the waitresses, her shiny pink nails reflecting the light, "The drinks are on him tonight."
The pageant was the most non-sexual fun Ana had in a long time. Culminating in Sabrina, her feet somehow squeezed into the Chanel peep-toes, tearfully handing over her tiara to the new Miss Drag Queen Seattle, Macarena, with the purple hair.
It was after the stage had emptied and the music started thumping that disaster struck.
Ana was busy trying to pick a couple tiny sequins out of her mimosa. They were so close to the stage, the law of averages said she had probably already consumed a couple, but she was making an effort to pick out the ones she saw, when a shrieking scream came over the sound system and blew out her ear drums. This was followed by wailing hysterical sounds she didn't think were made in nature.
"Was that Jose',..." Kate shouted, her hands over her own ears, the club had gone still, but the music was still thumping.
"No, he's still at the judges table," She threw her thumb in Jose's direction, "besides...too high..." she shouted back, "I think it's coming over the sound system..."
"You bastard. You vile evil she-whore..." The exclamations, again over the sound system, were followed by a loud crack. Then Ana saw a flash of blond hair and neon pink fly through the packed but now completely motionless dance floor, a tall impeccably dressed man on its heels. Ana was guessing this to be the owner of the club.
"So I'm thinking Sabrina forgot to remove her mike." Kate mused, her wide eyes following the two all the way to the front door.
"Oh, shit!" Jose' jumped up from the judges table, "that asshole..." then he took off running out the door.
"Should we leave?" Ana asked, right as the waitress, Layla a dark-skinned African-American with hair the color of a granny smith apple, came over to take her drink order.
"Are you kidding me," Kate turned to her, "this is just getting good. We'll have two more Layla."
"Sure thing," Layla nodded, tossing her long, glowing green hair behind one shoulder, "and damn right don't leave now,"
A few minutes later, their eyes still riveted on the front door, Layla returned and dropped off their drinks, "That Rick is a whore. He can't keep it in his pants...this isn't the first time. Poor Sabrina deserves so much better than that jerk. I know he's my boss, but a weasel's a weasel..."
Her words ended when Jose and Sabrina came back into the club. Rick the weasel, was nowhere to be seen. Layla set down her tray and ran over to the distraught beauty queen. Wrapping her arms around her. Jose' broke off and headed in their direction.
"And on the night she had to give up her crown," Kate's narrowed eyes landed on Rick sneaking back through the door, "What a jack-ass. She should rip off those peep toes and slam the guy right in the balls. Those spike heels would drive them all the way up to his throat."
Wow, taking in Kate's face, Ana thought her friend might be considering doing the deed herself. Ana looked down and winced. Jimmy Choos were a lethal weapon in the Kate's hands.
"Annie, grab your drink, I need you." Jose's voice brought her eyes up to his angry face. Jose' was a fierce friend, between he and Kate Ana thought Rick should lay low for a while.
"Oh, I don't know, Jose' I want to help...but..."
"Honey, I wouldn't ask, but what else are you going to do with that cake? And the chocolate?"
"But with Adonis out of town, that explosion..."
"I know, but I promise we fairies will clean up after ourselves. It's Bree's birthday, and that Grade-A jack-ass has ruined her night. We can't have the party here now. I promise I'll take full responsibility," then a small grin lit his face, "besides Sugar-Buns said he owed me one."
"Alright," She gave up and gave in, "Yes, okay. Party at Escala."
"Fabulous, let me just go tell the girls and we'll head on over. We'll keep it simple. Just a few friends, some cake, and champagne for the birthday girl.
"Holy Shit!" Mount Olympus had turned into The Bird Cage. Ana stood just inside the great room and stared.
"How the hell did they do this in less than a half hour?" Kate asked the question foremost in her mind.
"Maybe they really are fairies."
They had been given the job of picking up the party platters. Kate was holding a fruit and cheese tray, she held a giant tray of chilled shrimp.
"Wow, it's a lot of pink." Sawyer, standing beside them with a plate of beef tenderloin and french bread slices, stated the obvious.
"Yes, a bit too much really, but Bree adores pink, and this is her night." Jose' appeared, his arms full of bright pink feather boas, "Trade with me, gorgeous," he took the tray from Sawyer, and handed over the pink feathers, "Go on over there to the grand piano and make use of that brawn. Marcie, she's the tall, girl with the green dress, and orange hair, she'll tell you what to do." Jose' then turned his attention on them, "You ladies follow me." Ana and Kate dutifully followed, their eyes wide. If Ana wasn't sure she'd stepped off the elevator into the right place she'd swear she was somewhere else. Where, she had no clue, wonderland maybe.
The candelabras and baskets of chocolate were gone, in their place were a variety of disco lights, resulting in a pink and white light show rotating around the entire great room. Bright pink, and silver metallic boas were draped along the walls like streamers. Sheer fabric in various pink shades adorned the walls and covered the remaining lights giving the room a pink glow. And the corner with the Grand Piano was set up like a stage, complete with a sound system. Ana suspected was a karaoke machine. She noted the sculpture was still there, but now it had a variety of pinks streamers hanging from it. The vases of peonies remained but they were adorned with silver and black metallic streamers, and when they finally made it to the table, and her eyes landed on the cake...Wow and wow and just fucking wow!
The chocolate roses were still there but now in addition there were pink roses and "Happy Birthday Bree written in bright pink letters on the sides of the top three tiers, the bottom tier was surrounded with more peonies and bits of silver confetti and the entire cake dazzled...
"There's pink glitter on the cake."
"It's edible," Jose' informed her with a careless hand wave, taking her platter and placing it on the table next to a plate chocolate covered strawberries.
"How in the blazes did you do all this" Kate asked, setting down the shrimp platter.
"Well, Tommy's boyfriend's ex, Steve, he's is a super nice guy, they're still friends, that's him over there helping set up the karaoke machine," Jose' explained, picking up the tray Kate had just set down and placing it at the other end of the table next to a platter of sushi, "He's a party planner, and his boyfriend has one of those extreme cake design bakeries. He's been on the food network, that cake battle thing. I think he won."
"Right." Kate's voice was on auto-pilot.
"But we were only gone twenty minutes."
"Hell, we had all this up in five." Jose' absently threw one hand over his shoulder and waved it in a little circle, stepping back and examining the table with an artist's critical eye. He gave it a satisfied little nod, then picked up a bottle of Perrier, pouring it into glasses, "Sweetie, if it's one thing the Gay community has down to a science," he popped in lime wedges before handing them each one, "it's how to throw a fun party."
"Wow, you guys are amazing." Ana sipped her water, continuing to take in the scene around her.
Jose' poured himself a Perrier and lime and took a long sip, "Yes, yes we are."
Macarena running across the great room drew their attention, "She's here, she's here!
"Lights, lights," Jose' moved to the center of the room issuing commands, "Dim the lights...no, no leave the disco lights on. Spotlight on the cake. Jamie be ready to put the spot on Bree. Now everybody quiet!
"Holy shit, it's like a Broadway show." Ana whispered to Kate, where they crouched behind the sofa
Kate snorted, "Broadway shows aren't this much fun. I am soooo having a drag queen party next year..."
"Shush, you two." Jose' chided squatting beside them.
Ana peeked over the couch to see the door open, she heard sniffling, consoling words and then Bree's voice, "Oh, Oh my goodness..."
"SURPRISE!"
And the light show started...
A pink spotlight hit Sabrina, as a pink glow slowly lit up the room, the disco lights spun. All of this happened to Donna Summer belting out MacArthur Park.
Then Sabrina was at the mike, "Oh thank you, thank you all!" She blew kisses around the room, "I've dumped the slimy jack-ass, so let's get down!"
Shouts of love you babe, hello gorgeous, atta girl, and you look fabulous...and then the music started thumping.
"Come on Katie, let's show these queens how it's done." Jose' grabbed Kate and pulled her onto the middle of the makeshift dance floor. The furniture had been rearranged while they were on platter duty.
For her part Ana made her way over to the table and grabbed a plate and was piling it with cheese and those chocolate covered strawberries.
"You're Ana right?" She turned to see Tommy's boyfriend's ex. He looked very put together for a guy who'd shifted reality in under a half hour. Not one bright red hair was out of place, and his sky blue silk shirt and light gray slacks didn't have so much as a wrinkle, but she did see random glitter glinting when the disco light hit him.
"Yes, and you're Steve, it's nice to meet you."
"Believe me, the pleasure is mine, and I want to thank you for doing all this. Sabrina has had a tough year. I'm not betraying confidence, I'm sure she'd tell you herself, she lost her father, and they were such a close family..."
"Oh, that's terrible," Ana's eyes sought out Sabrina on the dance floor, "I'm so glad we could help."
"Oh honey," Steve's eyes followed hers," you've gone way beyond help."
"What about her mother?"
"Oh, Frannie's alive and kicking." a fond smile lit Steve's face, "She would love this."
"Is she local, I could send one of the security guys to pick her up."
"Oh...oh...oh.. that would be wonderful..." tears filled the man's hazel eyes, he blinked them away and pulled out his phone, "It's her bingo night. I'm calling her now..."
And forty-five fun minutes later, a very harried looking Sawyer returned in a sea of polyester pantsuits and some spectacular dye jobs.
"Oh my God,mamma!" Sabrina squealed, ran across the dance floor, and grabbed a tiny woman with a shock of bright orange hair and a pink pantsuit, spinning her around on the floor, "Mama's here, Karaoke time!" Bree, giddy with joy, carried her mother over to the little stage.
"Man, this is a fun party." Kate, taking a break from the dancing came over and grabbed a strawberry off her plate.
"Hey.. get your own..."
"Miss Steele," Sawyer's serious voice pulled her attention from her thieving friend. She turned to see him looking... well she wasn't sure how he looked, but he definitely wasn't happy.
"Is there a problem?"
"Look, I'm all for good deeds, but if I have to go after any more little old ladies, I'm going to have to ask for hazard pay."
"Wow, this strawberry is awesome." Kate munched away.
"Hazard Pay?" What in the world...
"Damn straight," he threw his head in the direction of the ladies now gathered around the dining table, "those women are a menace."
"What?" Ana's eyes settled on the women loading up their plates.
"Menace? Well, to fashion maybe..." Kate observed, using the distraction to snag another berry.
"Can't keep their hands to themselves." Sawyer was watching the women, like a jack-rabbit ready to run.
Kate choked on her strawberry. Ana reached over, patted her back, and bit her cheek to keep from laughing, "You're not serious."
"The hell I'm not" Sawyer was positively indignant, "My butt's been pinched black and blue."
"Black and blue?" Ana covered her mouth to hide her smile. Kate didn't bother, choking down her mouth-full of berry she burst out laughing and somehow managed to make it sexy. Ana marveled at her skill.
Sawyer, though, wasn't a bit impressed,"You laugh," the man actually shuddered, "but I'm telling you those ladies are downright aggressive."
Laughter found its way out of her throat, joining Kate's. Her friend had flopped back on the sofa howling, tears rolling from her eyes, making mascara trails and still she was gorgeous. If Ana didn't love her so much she'd hate her on principle.
"Someone left the cake out in the rain...I don't think that I can take it...cause it took so long to bake it, Sing it mama!" Bree handed the mike to Frannie, who opened her mouth and wailed, "and I'll never have that recipe again...Oh, Nooooo..."
"Wow, Frannie can belt." Ana covered one ear. That mike was powerful.
"Bree's no slouch." Kate mumbled between bites of chocolate covered pineapple, having consumed all the strawberries, she was moving on to the rest of the fruit. She hadn't touched the rose petals though.
"Excuse me, Annie?" She turned to Layla who'd quit her job working for the weasel and come to celebrate, "There's a couple people here, a woman and this gorgeous blond hunk-a-love..."
Ana knew who it was from her friend's narrow eyed reaction, "What the fuck is that ass doing here, And who's that with him?"
"She was introduced to me as be Dr. Trevelyn-Grey." Layla informed them.
"Oh, shit." Ana felt the blood drain from her face
"Well, damn." Kate froze, a chunk of pineapple halfway to her mouth.
"Got that right." Layla grabbed the chunk of pineapple from Kate's motionless fingers, "Hang on to your ta-ta's sweeties, you're about to meet mama."