Chapter 20: Live in my House
Awakening on the fuzzy blue couch in his dressing room at the club, just as he had every morning, Angel stretched his arms over his head and smiled, thinking about Will.
He had been working at Model Boy for a week now, and had been making good money between the make-out session and tickle fights. Every time he had to return to the club to perform, he was sad to have to leave Will. Each and every time they were together, Angel was overwhelmed by love. He was certain the love with Will was real. With Lenny, it was just puppy love. He was only sixteen when they started dating, and it seemed like years ago. He had fully moved on from his relationship with Lenny, and was looking forward to a new beginning with a new love interest.
Working at the store was a lot less stressful than working at the club. He didn't have to worry about looking his absolute best every day. Granted, he still had to look nice for Will, but at least he didn't have to do the whole drag thing. Although he enjoyed dressing in drag, it got tiring to do day after day. Angel was fully enjoyed the short amount of time it took to get ready in the morning, and the extra sleep he could get by going to bed earlier and waking up later. The hours at the store were much more reasonable. He still performed on weekends, and on some weeknights, if he was up to it. Usually, though, he preferred to go out with Will, and enjoy his company.
It was now 9AM, and Angel was getting up and getting ready to go to the store to celebrate his one-week anniversary of meeting Will. It was store policy that he had to wear the clothes that they sold at the store, so Angel slipped on the black t-shirt with the red "X" and the glittery jeans he had bought a week ago, on his birthday. Even though he was out of drag, Angel still enjoyed wearing makeup. He put on a little bit of sparkling eye shadow, and some sheer pink lip-gloss. It was nice to not have to cake on his makeup, layer by layer.
Within a half hour, his hair was spiked up with gel, his makeup was perfected, and so was his outfit. With one last glance in the mirror, Angel winked at his reflection and left the club before Fred and Queenie had woken up.
The early-morning summer air was cool and crisp, the streets virtually empty. Angel walked briskly, closing his eyes and letting the wind blow against his face, feeling the warmth of the sun. This was always his favorite time of the day: when he felt like he was the only one awake in a city that was usually so full of life. By this time, the junkies and prostitutes had retired to their respective shelters, and there was nobody outside. He remembered back to when he used to be one of those prostitutes. Shuddering at the memory of an empty heart, he continued his stroll from the club to the store.
When he arrived, Will was just opening the door, smiling as he saw his new love walking down the street. Just like in the movies, Angel's pace quickened as he went to greet Will. Jumping up and wrapping his legs around Will's waist, Angel passionately kissed him just outside the run- down shop.
"Good morning, honey," Angel greeted, as he still held himself up by his legs.
"Hey beautiful. Somebody's cheerful this morning, what's up?" he asked, as he put Angel down, still holding his tightly, gazing into his eyes.
"Nothing, babe. It's just a beautiful today, and I'm so happy to see you," Angel breathed, kissing him again.
"Well, I'm happy to see you too. And we've got a lot of work to do today. I just got another shipment of clothes from Devin, and we have lots of boxes to unpack. It shouldn't be too bad, though," Will said, trying to stay optimistic.
"It'll be great. We'll have a great day. And it's a special day, too. Do you know why?" Angel asked, giggling with happiness.
"Of course I do! It's our one week anniversary. I told you I was good with dates," he gloated, and kissed Angel again. "And I have a surprise planned. But it's for during our lunch break, so you're just gonna have to be patient."
"Aw, baby, you can't do that! Now I'm gonna be in suspense the whole day! No fair!" he pouted, crossing his arms and playfully stepping away from Will.
"You know, you're really cute when you try to be angry," Will said, pulling Angel back to him and into the store to begin their long day of work.
The hours had gone by so quickly, that the two young lovers hardly even realized that it was time for them to take their lunch break. With piles of empty cardboard boxes surrounding them, and lots more still waiting to be unpacked, the two men got up and began to walk towards Spring Gardens, their favorite restaurant.
Hand in hand they walked down the dingy, disgusting alleys of Alphabet City, illuminated by the afternoon sunlight. Spring Gardens was only two blocks from Model Boy, at 12th street and Avenue B. They were both excited that their favorite restaurant was so close to work. Just like Lenny, Will teased Angel about being so calorie-conscious when they went out to eat, but Angel insisted on staying thin. He cared a great deal about his appearance, as did most drag queens he'd met over the past couple of weeks.
As usual, they both ordered pasta with soy meatballs and pesto sauce, and then sat down together to wait for their lunch to arrive. Angel perched himself on Will's lap, straddling him and holding onto his arms for support.
"So, what's this surprise you were telling me about?" Angel pestered, as he had been for the entire morning. He was good at keeping secrets from other people, but couldn't handle people keeping things from him.
"I guess now's as good a time as any to tell you, isn't it?" Will said, holding onto Angel and gazing into them mystifying amber-hazel eyes.
"No day but today, isn't that what they always say?" he teased.
"Something along those lines. Anyway, I know we've only known each other a week," he paused. Angel liked where this was going. "And it's probably even crazy for me to bring this up to you. I mean, you have a life here, and I don't want to take that from you. You know? But anyway. Um, I uh. Angel, will you move in with me?" he asked quietly, almost inaudibly, and glanced away from Angel's eyes, blushing.
"It's not crazy at all. You're right; I do have a life here, and you're a big part of that life. I really like you. And I would love nothing more than to live in your house. It's a dream come true," he said, with a smile stretching across his face, his eyes beaming with happiness and love.
"Happy anniversary," Will whispered, as he and Angel began another intense period of kissing and groping.
Clearing her throat loud enough to stop to public display of affection in the quaint restaurant, the waiter stood at the edge of the table occupied by the happy couple, waiting to serve them their food.
"I'm sorry, honey," Angel said apologetically, getting up off Will and sitting back in his own designated chair.
"It's fine," the usually-friendly waitress mumbled as she set the two plates of pasta down on the table.
As she walked away, the two gazed lovingly at each other, barely even able to break eye contact.
"Okay, so you're gonna come and meet Queenie and Fred, now. They're like my parents, and if I'm gonna go anywhere, I need to talk to them first," Angel explained, as he and Will closed the shop early for the afternoon to go and see Angel's adoptive "parents."
Throughout the week they had known each other, Angel hadn't gone an hour without talking about Queenie or Fred. From what he'd said, Will realized that Fred was the man who introduced all the performers at the club, and Queenie, a drag queen, was his boyfriend.
He hadn't met Queenie yet, but he'd heard nothing but good things about her. Angel kept saying how she was a saint, and he'd do anything for her. It almost made Will jealous, knowing that he was not the only owner of Angel's heart.
"Here we are!" Angel exclaimed, as they approached the brick building, vandalized by pink and blue graffiti. "I'm warning you, though, they might get a bit emotional when I tell them I'm moving out. Especially Queenie. She can be a bit of a drama queen sometimes."
"It's no problem. And if you need time alone with them, it's okay, I understand."
"Thanks baby. You're the best," Angel told him, as they kissed and went into the club.
It was weird to be in the club with nobody there. Angel was used to it, but Will was in awe. When he had been there, it had been dark, and he couldn't see much of anything. In the day, however, he could see the little mosaic details along the edge of the stage, and the velvet shimmer in the curtains. It was a surprisingly nice building, which was unexpected from the way the outside looked. That was the way most of New York City was: ugly on the outside, but there was always beauty from within.
"Queenie!" Angel yelped as he ran up to her and hugged her.
She was not at all how he expected her to look. When Angel had described her maternal personality, he had expected an older man in a dress straight out of Little House On The Prairie. She was not like that at all. She was downright beautiful, although not as radiant as Angel. Bluish black hair cascaded down her back in shiny waves, covering the back of her blue Asian-print dress, which fell just above her knees. Will never realized how short Angel was without his heels until he was next to Queenie, who towered over him.
"Will, this is Queenie. Queenie, this is my boyfriend, William Dumott," Angel introduced them, proudly.
Excited that he had just been called Angel's "boyfriend," Will extended his hand for a shake, but instead, found himself wrapped up in Queenie's arms tightly.
"I am SO excited to meet you, darling. Angel's told me all about you. He can't even go an hour without talking about you!" she gushed.
"Same with you. I've heard nothing but good things about you and Fred."
"Ooh, that reminds me. Fred's out now, honey, he's at the doctor refilling his prescription," she informed Angel, "the doctors say his T- Cell count is good, and the AZT is helping."
Shocked at the fact that Queenie was so open with Fred's HIV, Angel gave her a surprised look. Will seemed to be okay with it, so Angel continued to talk.
"Queenie, honey, I need to talk to you about something," he said, seriously.
"Ooh, this must be serious. Will, baby, I hate to do this to you, but do you think you could give us a few minutes alone?" Queenie asked.
"Sure. Take your time," Will responded, understandingly.
"Thanks baby," Angel said, kissing him as he left the room.
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"Ang, I don't want you to go!" Queenie sobbed in Angel's arms, gripping on to his shoulders tightly.
"It's the next step in growing up. I won't be that far, and I'll still be working here, if you want me to. I'll come back and visit as often as I can," Angel tried to reason with her. He knew Queenie was a drama queen, but he never expected her to get this emotional.
"But you're like my son. You're like the kid Freddie and I could never have, and we want nothing more than for you to be happy. And even though we'll miss you like crazy, if living with this boy would make you happy, then I wish you the best of luck, and you know you'll always be welcome here," she said, drying her eyes, trying desperately not to smudge her makeup.
"Queenie, you're gonna make me cry now! I'll miss you too, but it's not like I'll be that far. And I told you, I'll be back all the time, and I'll still be working, if you still want me here."
"Baby, we could never replace you," she complimented, hugging Angel as her tears began to flow again.
Feeling wetness in his own eyes, Angel hugged back his guardian, holding her tightly for what seemed like hours. The two stood there holding each other, like a parent finally letting their child go. Essentially, that's what it was. Queenie had been Angel's mother since his own had suffered an untimely death. Queenie took him in when he had nowhere to go, and accepted him for exactly who he was, and didn't make him change at all. To Queenie, Angel was the son she'd never be able to have. She loved him as if he were her own birth child; her own blood. Knowing she would do anything to make Angel happy, she released him, looking deeply into his young eyes.
"You go with that boy, and make this relationship a damn good one. You deserve the best, Ang, and I really love you. I mean that."
"I love you too. And I will come back, all the time. Even when I'm not working," he said, giving her a light peck on the cheek.
Watching the young boy walk out of the club, holding his boyfriend's hand, she looked on like a proud parent. She knew he was young, and believed that he was in love, but she got a funny feeling from Will. Shaking it off as nothing, she said out loud to herself right after the boys left, "It's only because he doesn't look gay. I need to trust Angel's judgment more." If only she could convince herself to believe that.
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Dun dun DUN! Oh, there's plenty more where that came from. Once again, read and review. I really apologize for the amount of sentimental crap in this one. Not one of my better chapters, but I need to get this story moving. I got big plans, hehe! And thanks to all of you who read this: it means more than you know.
Awakening on the fuzzy blue couch in his dressing room at the club, just as he had every morning, Angel stretched his arms over his head and smiled, thinking about Will.
He had been working at Model Boy for a week now, and had been making good money between the make-out session and tickle fights. Every time he had to return to the club to perform, he was sad to have to leave Will. Each and every time they were together, Angel was overwhelmed by love. He was certain the love with Will was real. With Lenny, it was just puppy love. He was only sixteen when they started dating, and it seemed like years ago. He had fully moved on from his relationship with Lenny, and was looking forward to a new beginning with a new love interest.
Working at the store was a lot less stressful than working at the club. He didn't have to worry about looking his absolute best every day. Granted, he still had to look nice for Will, but at least he didn't have to do the whole drag thing. Although he enjoyed dressing in drag, it got tiring to do day after day. Angel was fully enjoyed the short amount of time it took to get ready in the morning, and the extra sleep he could get by going to bed earlier and waking up later. The hours at the store were much more reasonable. He still performed on weekends, and on some weeknights, if he was up to it. Usually, though, he preferred to go out with Will, and enjoy his company.
It was now 9AM, and Angel was getting up and getting ready to go to the store to celebrate his one-week anniversary of meeting Will. It was store policy that he had to wear the clothes that they sold at the store, so Angel slipped on the black t-shirt with the red "X" and the glittery jeans he had bought a week ago, on his birthday. Even though he was out of drag, Angel still enjoyed wearing makeup. He put on a little bit of sparkling eye shadow, and some sheer pink lip-gloss. It was nice to not have to cake on his makeup, layer by layer.
Within a half hour, his hair was spiked up with gel, his makeup was perfected, and so was his outfit. With one last glance in the mirror, Angel winked at his reflection and left the club before Fred and Queenie had woken up.
The early-morning summer air was cool and crisp, the streets virtually empty. Angel walked briskly, closing his eyes and letting the wind blow against his face, feeling the warmth of the sun. This was always his favorite time of the day: when he felt like he was the only one awake in a city that was usually so full of life. By this time, the junkies and prostitutes had retired to their respective shelters, and there was nobody outside. He remembered back to when he used to be one of those prostitutes. Shuddering at the memory of an empty heart, he continued his stroll from the club to the store.
When he arrived, Will was just opening the door, smiling as he saw his new love walking down the street. Just like in the movies, Angel's pace quickened as he went to greet Will. Jumping up and wrapping his legs around Will's waist, Angel passionately kissed him just outside the run- down shop.
"Good morning, honey," Angel greeted, as he still held himself up by his legs.
"Hey beautiful. Somebody's cheerful this morning, what's up?" he asked, as he put Angel down, still holding his tightly, gazing into his eyes.
"Nothing, babe. It's just a beautiful today, and I'm so happy to see you," Angel breathed, kissing him again.
"Well, I'm happy to see you too. And we've got a lot of work to do today. I just got another shipment of clothes from Devin, and we have lots of boxes to unpack. It shouldn't be too bad, though," Will said, trying to stay optimistic.
"It'll be great. We'll have a great day. And it's a special day, too. Do you know why?" Angel asked, giggling with happiness.
"Of course I do! It's our one week anniversary. I told you I was good with dates," he gloated, and kissed Angel again. "And I have a surprise planned. But it's for during our lunch break, so you're just gonna have to be patient."
"Aw, baby, you can't do that! Now I'm gonna be in suspense the whole day! No fair!" he pouted, crossing his arms and playfully stepping away from Will.
"You know, you're really cute when you try to be angry," Will said, pulling Angel back to him and into the store to begin their long day of work.
The hours had gone by so quickly, that the two young lovers hardly even realized that it was time for them to take their lunch break. With piles of empty cardboard boxes surrounding them, and lots more still waiting to be unpacked, the two men got up and began to walk towards Spring Gardens, their favorite restaurant.
Hand in hand they walked down the dingy, disgusting alleys of Alphabet City, illuminated by the afternoon sunlight. Spring Gardens was only two blocks from Model Boy, at 12th street and Avenue B. They were both excited that their favorite restaurant was so close to work. Just like Lenny, Will teased Angel about being so calorie-conscious when they went out to eat, but Angel insisted on staying thin. He cared a great deal about his appearance, as did most drag queens he'd met over the past couple of weeks.
As usual, they both ordered pasta with soy meatballs and pesto sauce, and then sat down together to wait for their lunch to arrive. Angel perched himself on Will's lap, straddling him and holding onto his arms for support.
"So, what's this surprise you were telling me about?" Angel pestered, as he had been for the entire morning. He was good at keeping secrets from other people, but couldn't handle people keeping things from him.
"I guess now's as good a time as any to tell you, isn't it?" Will said, holding onto Angel and gazing into them mystifying amber-hazel eyes.
"No day but today, isn't that what they always say?" he teased.
"Something along those lines. Anyway, I know we've only known each other a week," he paused. Angel liked where this was going. "And it's probably even crazy for me to bring this up to you. I mean, you have a life here, and I don't want to take that from you. You know? But anyway. Um, I uh. Angel, will you move in with me?" he asked quietly, almost inaudibly, and glanced away from Angel's eyes, blushing.
"It's not crazy at all. You're right; I do have a life here, and you're a big part of that life. I really like you. And I would love nothing more than to live in your house. It's a dream come true," he said, with a smile stretching across his face, his eyes beaming with happiness and love.
"Happy anniversary," Will whispered, as he and Angel began another intense period of kissing and groping.
Clearing her throat loud enough to stop to public display of affection in the quaint restaurant, the waiter stood at the edge of the table occupied by the happy couple, waiting to serve them their food.
"I'm sorry, honey," Angel said apologetically, getting up off Will and sitting back in his own designated chair.
"It's fine," the usually-friendly waitress mumbled as she set the two plates of pasta down on the table.
As she walked away, the two gazed lovingly at each other, barely even able to break eye contact.
"Okay, so you're gonna come and meet Queenie and Fred, now. They're like my parents, and if I'm gonna go anywhere, I need to talk to them first," Angel explained, as he and Will closed the shop early for the afternoon to go and see Angel's adoptive "parents."
Throughout the week they had known each other, Angel hadn't gone an hour without talking about Queenie or Fred. From what he'd said, Will realized that Fred was the man who introduced all the performers at the club, and Queenie, a drag queen, was his boyfriend.
He hadn't met Queenie yet, but he'd heard nothing but good things about her. Angel kept saying how she was a saint, and he'd do anything for her. It almost made Will jealous, knowing that he was not the only owner of Angel's heart.
"Here we are!" Angel exclaimed, as they approached the brick building, vandalized by pink and blue graffiti. "I'm warning you, though, they might get a bit emotional when I tell them I'm moving out. Especially Queenie. She can be a bit of a drama queen sometimes."
"It's no problem. And if you need time alone with them, it's okay, I understand."
"Thanks baby. You're the best," Angel told him, as they kissed and went into the club.
It was weird to be in the club with nobody there. Angel was used to it, but Will was in awe. When he had been there, it had been dark, and he couldn't see much of anything. In the day, however, he could see the little mosaic details along the edge of the stage, and the velvet shimmer in the curtains. It was a surprisingly nice building, which was unexpected from the way the outside looked. That was the way most of New York City was: ugly on the outside, but there was always beauty from within.
"Queenie!" Angel yelped as he ran up to her and hugged her.
She was not at all how he expected her to look. When Angel had described her maternal personality, he had expected an older man in a dress straight out of Little House On The Prairie. She was not like that at all. She was downright beautiful, although not as radiant as Angel. Bluish black hair cascaded down her back in shiny waves, covering the back of her blue Asian-print dress, which fell just above her knees. Will never realized how short Angel was without his heels until he was next to Queenie, who towered over him.
"Will, this is Queenie. Queenie, this is my boyfriend, William Dumott," Angel introduced them, proudly.
Excited that he had just been called Angel's "boyfriend," Will extended his hand for a shake, but instead, found himself wrapped up in Queenie's arms tightly.
"I am SO excited to meet you, darling. Angel's told me all about you. He can't even go an hour without talking about you!" she gushed.
"Same with you. I've heard nothing but good things about you and Fred."
"Ooh, that reminds me. Fred's out now, honey, he's at the doctor refilling his prescription," she informed Angel, "the doctors say his T- Cell count is good, and the AZT is helping."
Shocked at the fact that Queenie was so open with Fred's HIV, Angel gave her a surprised look. Will seemed to be okay with it, so Angel continued to talk.
"Queenie, honey, I need to talk to you about something," he said, seriously.
"Ooh, this must be serious. Will, baby, I hate to do this to you, but do you think you could give us a few minutes alone?" Queenie asked.
"Sure. Take your time," Will responded, understandingly.
"Thanks baby," Angel said, kissing him as he left the room.
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"Ang, I don't want you to go!" Queenie sobbed in Angel's arms, gripping on to his shoulders tightly.
"It's the next step in growing up. I won't be that far, and I'll still be working here, if you want me to. I'll come back and visit as often as I can," Angel tried to reason with her. He knew Queenie was a drama queen, but he never expected her to get this emotional.
"But you're like my son. You're like the kid Freddie and I could never have, and we want nothing more than for you to be happy. And even though we'll miss you like crazy, if living with this boy would make you happy, then I wish you the best of luck, and you know you'll always be welcome here," she said, drying her eyes, trying desperately not to smudge her makeup.
"Queenie, you're gonna make me cry now! I'll miss you too, but it's not like I'll be that far. And I told you, I'll be back all the time, and I'll still be working, if you still want me here."
"Baby, we could never replace you," she complimented, hugging Angel as her tears began to flow again.
Feeling wetness in his own eyes, Angel hugged back his guardian, holding her tightly for what seemed like hours. The two stood there holding each other, like a parent finally letting their child go. Essentially, that's what it was. Queenie had been Angel's mother since his own had suffered an untimely death. Queenie took him in when he had nowhere to go, and accepted him for exactly who he was, and didn't make him change at all. To Queenie, Angel was the son she'd never be able to have. She loved him as if he were her own birth child; her own blood. Knowing she would do anything to make Angel happy, she released him, looking deeply into his young eyes.
"You go with that boy, and make this relationship a damn good one. You deserve the best, Ang, and I really love you. I mean that."
"I love you too. And I will come back, all the time. Even when I'm not working," he said, giving her a light peck on the cheek.
Watching the young boy walk out of the club, holding his boyfriend's hand, she looked on like a proud parent. She knew he was young, and believed that he was in love, but she got a funny feeling from Will. Shaking it off as nothing, she said out loud to herself right after the boys left, "It's only because he doesn't look gay. I need to trust Angel's judgment more." If only she could convince herself to believe that.
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Dun dun DUN! Oh, there's plenty more where that came from. Once again, read and review. I really apologize for the amount of sentimental crap in this one. Not one of my better chapters, but I need to get this story moving. I got big plans, hehe! And thanks to all of you who read this: it means more than you know.