Chapter 26: The Beginning of the End
"It just doesn't make sense to keep it open," Bart insisted, as Will sat and twisted the cord of the phone painfully tight around his finger.
"I really have to close it up?" Will asked, hoping that there was some way the shop could stay open, even if it was only for a few more days.
"Yeah, as soon as possible. If you think about it, the longer you keep it open, the more money you're gonna lose." Bart did have a point.
"But today's our one year marriage anniversary. I can't close up the shop today," Will pleaded.
"That is really tough. At least break the news to him today, and then maybe it'll be easier when you do have to close down. I hate for you to have to do this, but we're both losing money with the shop making as little as it does."
"I guess I'll just have to do it then. Thanks for the support, Bart, I'm glad I have you," he said sincerely.
"Anytime. Let me know how it all goes."
"Will do," he replied and hung up the phone.
Throwing his pencil down onto the desk in frustration, Will ran his hands through his hair and shut his eyes. "I need to do something special today for Angel, so it's not so bad when I break the news to him."
Picking up the phone, once again, Will dialed in the number of a local florist, "Hi, I'd like five dozen roses delivered to 360 East 10th Street apartment 3 C. Yes, I'll pay when they get here. Thank you." Will didn't care how broke they were: he would make tonight special.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey baby!" Angel called into the dark apartment as he walked in the door. He had just finished a grueling night at the club. The crowds had been more out of control tonight than they had ever been, and Angel was dead-tired from mingling with so many people for so long. Still done up in full-drag, his pointy stiletto heels made a clicking noise with every step he took.
The still silence in the apartment gave Angel the chills, as he rubbed his hands together, his arms rubbing up against the rough sequined dress he was wearing.
"Will, honey, are you there?" Angel called to the darkness, turning on a dim lamp in the pitch black living room/dining room/kitchen. The dim lighting revealed a trail of pink rose petals. Blushing, Angel's cheeks turned the color of the petals as he followed the trail back to the bedroom he shared with Will.
More dim lighting, provided by candles, barely illuminated the bedroom. This morning, the room was a frightful mess, with clothes strewn all over the floor and various shoes, necklaces, and tubes of lipstick littered it as well. Now, the room was immaculate, completely spotless. The candles, placed strategically around the room, lit it up just enough for Angel to see the abundance of pink roses all around the room. Eyes widening, Angel glanced around, a huge smile forming on his red painted lips.
"Hi, beautiful," the deep, sexy voice said to him from the bed.
Jumping slightly, Angel turned around and saw his lover, leaning against the back of the bed, legs outstretched in front of him. Will held out his arms and beckoned for Angel to come in bed with him. Unbuckling his shoes, Angel yanked them off his feet and hopped into bed with Will. Immediately falling into the exact the right position, they kissed briefly and then Angel leaned up against Will as Will wrapped his arms around Angel, holding his waist.
"My baby is twenty years old today," Will whispered to Angel as he held him. "God, I can't believe we've been together for two years."
"I know. Will, honey, they've really been the best two years of my life. I love you so much, it's crazy," Angel laughed as he said it, placing his hand on top of Will's.
"I love you too, baby, I'd do anything for you," he said. Nervously glancing away from Angel's black bob wig, Will sighed and began to speak again, "So there's something I need to talk to you about."
Releasing himself from Will's embrace, Angel turned around and sat on the edge of the bed next to him, facing him and looking straight into his eyes. "You can tell me anything, you know that. What's bothering you?"
He cracked his knuckles as his breathing quickened slightly. "I was on the phone with Bart today."
Feeling a pang of jealousy shoot through him, Angel's eyes narrowed slightly, "What's going on?" he asked with a very serious tone to his voice.
"Oh my. Jesus, Angel, no it's nothing like that. I'd never cheat on you, ever, baby, I swear it," Will insisted, holding his lover's hand, trying to reassure him. "We were talking about the shop."
Instantly, the jealousy faded, as Angel remembered that Bart manufactured the clothes for Model Boy. "Oh, god, I forgot that he made the clothes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have -,"
Smiling slightly, Will responded, "No, it's okay. Don't worry about it. Anyway, we were calculating the profits and stuff, and. there's no other way to put this. we're not making any money."
Concerned lines appeared on the made-up face as Angel tilted his head, slightly, in confusion. "I thought the store was doing well."
"Was. It was doing well, but we're not making a profit anymore. I'm talking like we're making a couple of dollars, obviously not nearly enough to support both of us."
Lines of worry appeared on Angel's forehead. "What are we gonna do?" he asked quietly.
"We have to close it down. That's what I was talking to Bart about. We're only losing money if we keep it open. We've been having some money troubles for a few months, but I thought it was best just to wait it out and see if the store would start doing better, and it didn't, and." he trailed off, running a hand through his gelled, sun-streaked hair.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I didn't want to burden you with the problem. I don't want you to be stressed out over anything, and I thought I'd be able to handle it. I don't know. I wish I had come to you sooner instead of having to ruin our anniversary like this. Jesus, Angel, I'm so sorry," Will said, feeling a single tear slip down his face.
Angel had never seen Will even come close to crying before, and watching him so upset broke the drag queen's heart. "Honey," Angel said, sweetly, placing both hands on his face and wiping the tear away, "It's okay. And you didn't ruin our anniversary. The roses are beautiful, nothing could ruin our anniversary. It's just another day of you and me together, and I'm happy no matter what's going on. I'm happy as long as I'm with you. I totally understand why you didn't tell me, and I think it's sweet that you tried to handle it all on your own, but you know that I'm always here for you, and I always will be. Never feel like you shouldn't 'burden' me with your problems. It's not a burden, I want to help you."
Smiling and placing his hands on the warm, coffee cream cheeks, Will smiled, "I love you so much. I can't even begin to."
"Shh," Angel hushed him, placing a finger delicately on his lips, "I know, I know. I love you too."
A sweet, loving kiss occurred between the two of them, with emotion so deep that it could be felt in the air that surrounded the lovers.
"So we'll just close up tomorrow, officially," Will said, holding on tightly to his love.
"Okay. Let's just, uh, enjoy the moment, shall we?" Angel asked, giggling as he climbed on top of Will, beginning a night of sweet love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The early June sun shone down on the tiny, rundown building that would no longer be the residence of Model Boy. Will had called that morning and notified the landlord of the building that he would not be renting out the tiny space any more, and that he would be moving out. The ladder was left outside by the landlord, who seemed to be reasonably considerate for a landlord in New York City.
As Angel held the bottom of the ladder to steady it, Will climbed up and removed the sign from the top of the store, which had been cheaply held on with some nails. Holding hands, the two men went into the store, ready to pack up the clothes that they had spent hours unpacking just two years ago. In the back of the store, there were several spare cardboard boxes, which Will brought out and set up in the middle of the floor.
"Remember, Bart said if we want any clothes, we're welcome to them," Will reminded Angel.
"Oh, okay. Well, I can never have too many clothes, right?" Angel said, smiling slightly. He was very upset that they had to close the shop, and was trying hard not to show Will how sad he really was.
"Hey," Will said, looking at Angel and holding him, "We're gonna get through this."
Obviously not a very good actor, Angel smiled at him, sadly, "I know we will, baby, but I'm just sad that we have to close it like this, you know? I mean, it's where we first met, and everything, and now we're just forced to pack it up and let it go."
"I know, I'm upset about it too, but we'll find other work, and it's a step in the right direction, Ang, we'll be fine, I promise," he reassured.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," he sighed, "Well, we should finish packing."
"Alright. Just take whatever clothes you want and fold the rest up and put them in the boxes."
The lovers sat in the shop the entire day, packing up various outfits into the cardboard boxes. Angel looked around the room, noticing that it looked remarkably like it did when he first came in here on his lunch break two years ago. The only difference now was that it was coming to a close instead of starting something new.
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AUTHORS NOTE: Yeah, so some of it is disgustingly sappy. whatever, I was in the mood. Anyway, I'm going to be going away soon for 4 weeks, so that means no updates for quite a while, but I'm planning to stop at a good point before I leave you all for a month. When I get back, though, I'll attempt to update at least every other day. although, I must admit, I've really been enjoying this almost-daily updating thing. Okay, review and enjoy, guys! REVIEWS MAKE ME HAPPY =)!
"It just doesn't make sense to keep it open," Bart insisted, as Will sat and twisted the cord of the phone painfully tight around his finger.
"I really have to close it up?" Will asked, hoping that there was some way the shop could stay open, even if it was only for a few more days.
"Yeah, as soon as possible. If you think about it, the longer you keep it open, the more money you're gonna lose." Bart did have a point.
"But today's our one year marriage anniversary. I can't close up the shop today," Will pleaded.
"That is really tough. At least break the news to him today, and then maybe it'll be easier when you do have to close down. I hate for you to have to do this, but we're both losing money with the shop making as little as it does."
"I guess I'll just have to do it then. Thanks for the support, Bart, I'm glad I have you," he said sincerely.
"Anytime. Let me know how it all goes."
"Will do," he replied and hung up the phone.
Throwing his pencil down onto the desk in frustration, Will ran his hands through his hair and shut his eyes. "I need to do something special today for Angel, so it's not so bad when I break the news to him."
Picking up the phone, once again, Will dialed in the number of a local florist, "Hi, I'd like five dozen roses delivered to 360 East 10th Street apartment 3 C. Yes, I'll pay when they get here. Thank you." Will didn't care how broke they were: he would make tonight special.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey baby!" Angel called into the dark apartment as he walked in the door. He had just finished a grueling night at the club. The crowds had been more out of control tonight than they had ever been, and Angel was dead-tired from mingling with so many people for so long. Still done up in full-drag, his pointy stiletto heels made a clicking noise with every step he took.
The still silence in the apartment gave Angel the chills, as he rubbed his hands together, his arms rubbing up against the rough sequined dress he was wearing.
"Will, honey, are you there?" Angel called to the darkness, turning on a dim lamp in the pitch black living room/dining room/kitchen. The dim lighting revealed a trail of pink rose petals. Blushing, Angel's cheeks turned the color of the petals as he followed the trail back to the bedroom he shared with Will.
More dim lighting, provided by candles, barely illuminated the bedroom. This morning, the room was a frightful mess, with clothes strewn all over the floor and various shoes, necklaces, and tubes of lipstick littered it as well. Now, the room was immaculate, completely spotless. The candles, placed strategically around the room, lit it up just enough for Angel to see the abundance of pink roses all around the room. Eyes widening, Angel glanced around, a huge smile forming on his red painted lips.
"Hi, beautiful," the deep, sexy voice said to him from the bed.
Jumping slightly, Angel turned around and saw his lover, leaning against the back of the bed, legs outstretched in front of him. Will held out his arms and beckoned for Angel to come in bed with him. Unbuckling his shoes, Angel yanked them off his feet and hopped into bed with Will. Immediately falling into the exact the right position, they kissed briefly and then Angel leaned up against Will as Will wrapped his arms around Angel, holding his waist.
"My baby is twenty years old today," Will whispered to Angel as he held him. "God, I can't believe we've been together for two years."
"I know. Will, honey, they've really been the best two years of my life. I love you so much, it's crazy," Angel laughed as he said it, placing his hand on top of Will's.
"I love you too, baby, I'd do anything for you," he said. Nervously glancing away from Angel's black bob wig, Will sighed and began to speak again, "So there's something I need to talk to you about."
Releasing himself from Will's embrace, Angel turned around and sat on the edge of the bed next to him, facing him and looking straight into his eyes. "You can tell me anything, you know that. What's bothering you?"
He cracked his knuckles as his breathing quickened slightly. "I was on the phone with Bart today."
Feeling a pang of jealousy shoot through him, Angel's eyes narrowed slightly, "What's going on?" he asked with a very serious tone to his voice.
"Oh my. Jesus, Angel, no it's nothing like that. I'd never cheat on you, ever, baby, I swear it," Will insisted, holding his lover's hand, trying to reassure him. "We were talking about the shop."
Instantly, the jealousy faded, as Angel remembered that Bart manufactured the clothes for Model Boy. "Oh, god, I forgot that he made the clothes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have -,"
Smiling slightly, Will responded, "No, it's okay. Don't worry about it. Anyway, we were calculating the profits and stuff, and. there's no other way to put this. we're not making any money."
Concerned lines appeared on the made-up face as Angel tilted his head, slightly, in confusion. "I thought the store was doing well."
"Was. It was doing well, but we're not making a profit anymore. I'm talking like we're making a couple of dollars, obviously not nearly enough to support both of us."
Lines of worry appeared on Angel's forehead. "What are we gonna do?" he asked quietly.
"We have to close it down. That's what I was talking to Bart about. We're only losing money if we keep it open. We've been having some money troubles for a few months, but I thought it was best just to wait it out and see if the store would start doing better, and it didn't, and." he trailed off, running a hand through his gelled, sun-streaked hair.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I didn't want to burden you with the problem. I don't want you to be stressed out over anything, and I thought I'd be able to handle it. I don't know. I wish I had come to you sooner instead of having to ruin our anniversary like this. Jesus, Angel, I'm so sorry," Will said, feeling a single tear slip down his face.
Angel had never seen Will even come close to crying before, and watching him so upset broke the drag queen's heart. "Honey," Angel said, sweetly, placing both hands on his face and wiping the tear away, "It's okay. And you didn't ruin our anniversary. The roses are beautiful, nothing could ruin our anniversary. It's just another day of you and me together, and I'm happy no matter what's going on. I'm happy as long as I'm with you. I totally understand why you didn't tell me, and I think it's sweet that you tried to handle it all on your own, but you know that I'm always here for you, and I always will be. Never feel like you shouldn't 'burden' me with your problems. It's not a burden, I want to help you."
Smiling and placing his hands on the warm, coffee cream cheeks, Will smiled, "I love you so much. I can't even begin to."
"Shh," Angel hushed him, placing a finger delicately on his lips, "I know, I know. I love you too."
A sweet, loving kiss occurred between the two of them, with emotion so deep that it could be felt in the air that surrounded the lovers.
"So we'll just close up tomorrow, officially," Will said, holding on tightly to his love.
"Okay. Let's just, uh, enjoy the moment, shall we?" Angel asked, giggling as he climbed on top of Will, beginning a night of sweet love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The early June sun shone down on the tiny, rundown building that would no longer be the residence of Model Boy. Will had called that morning and notified the landlord of the building that he would not be renting out the tiny space any more, and that he would be moving out. The ladder was left outside by the landlord, who seemed to be reasonably considerate for a landlord in New York City.
As Angel held the bottom of the ladder to steady it, Will climbed up and removed the sign from the top of the store, which had been cheaply held on with some nails. Holding hands, the two men went into the store, ready to pack up the clothes that they had spent hours unpacking just two years ago. In the back of the store, there were several spare cardboard boxes, which Will brought out and set up in the middle of the floor.
"Remember, Bart said if we want any clothes, we're welcome to them," Will reminded Angel.
"Oh, okay. Well, I can never have too many clothes, right?" Angel said, smiling slightly. He was very upset that they had to close the shop, and was trying hard not to show Will how sad he really was.
"Hey," Will said, looking at Angel and holding him, "We're gonna get through this."
Obviously not a very good actor, Angel smiled at him, sadly, "I know we will, baby, but I'm just sad that we have to close it like this, you know? I mean, it's where we first met, and everything, and now we're just forced to pack it up and let it go."
"I know, I'm upset about it too, but we'll find other work, and it's a step in the right direction, Ang, we'll be fine, I promise," he reassured.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," he sighed, "Well, we should finish packing."
"Alright. Just take whatever clothes you want and fold the rest up and put them in the boxes."
The lovers sat in the shop the entire day, packing up various outfits into the cardboard boxes. Angel looked around the room, noticing that it looked remarkably like it did when he first came in here on his lunch break two years ago. The only difference now was that it was coming to a close instead of starting something new.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHORS NOTE: Yeah, so some of it is disgustingly sappy. whatever, I was in the mood. Anyway, I'm going to be going away soon for 4 weeks, so that means no updates for quite a while, but I'm planning to stop at a good point before I leave you all for a month. When I get back, though, I'll attempt to update at least every other day. although, I must admit, I've really been enjoying this almost-daily updating thing. Okay, review and enjoy, guys! REVIEWS MAKE ME HAPPY =)!