There was an unusual amount of commotion in the Eleventh Street lot next door to Matt and Jeff's apartment building. Besides the everyday inhabitants there was a strange abundance of people walking around the empty space. Carrying large boxes and crates back and forth, setting up spot lights and sound systems around a small stage that had been erected in the center of the lot. Many of homeless people surrounded the workers. Watching is confusion as they transformed the place they had made their homes into a performance area. Most of them not paying much attention to Joanne Jefferson, who stood off to the side of the stage, attempting to repair the sound system consol. She didn't appear like the type of person that normally did any sort of manual labor. She wore a pair of expensive black pants with a striped turtleneck top that stuck out from underneath her designer leather coat. Her dark mocha colored skin was well moisturized and almost glistened under the pale moon light. The strands of her long black hair were separated into multiple braids and were pulled back into a ponytail, to keep from falling into her face. Knelling down next to the piece of equipment she took a pair of pliers a began tightening the knobs. She let out a small yelp and fell back onto her rear as bright sparks flew from the consol. She was not cut out for this, she was a lawyer, a Harvard graduate, not an electrician. "How did I let her talk me into this?" Joanne thought to herself. Once again her beloved girlfriend Amy had used her charm and powers of persuasion to conned Joanne into filling in for her production manager who had suddenly quit the night before. Straighten her Channel glasses she climbed back to her feet, brushing off the dirt from her pants, reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her cell phone. She dialed her home number and listened as several rings led to Amy's familiar voice on their answering machine.
"Hi. You've reached Amy and Joanne. Leave a message and don't forget to come see 'Over the Moon' my performance, protesting the eviction of the Homeless (and artists) from the Eleventh Street Lot. Tonight at midnight in the lot between A and B. Party at the Life Cafe to follow."
Beep.
"Amy? Honeybear? Don't screen, it's your favorite substitute production manager." Joanne said knowing Amy would be screening all calls while she prepared for her show later that night. She smiled when she heard the phone pick and, soon followed by Amy sweet voice.
"Hi honey, just calling to check up on you...Did you eat?...Don't change the subject Amy...But darling you haven't eaten all day. You don't want to pass out midway threw your act tonight, do you?...You are not going to throw up. I promise...That's my girl... Oh everything's fine here. No trouble at all...Well there may have been a little issue with the digital delay...It was just a tiny little spark... It's nothing, everything is fine now, really...What?!...No, there's no need to call Matt... Amy, don't call Matt...Amy?... Hello?.... Shit!"
That was the one thing Joanne couldn't stand. Any time anything went wrong with her system Amy was always quick to call Matt for help. It's not that Joanne was jealous or envious of Matt in anyway. She just always felt really uncomfortable when he was around. What do you say to a man whose girlfriend left him for another woman, especially when you are the woman she left him for. "This is going to be a long night" she thought to herself before going back to work, trying her best to not electrocute herself.
Shannon lay on the ground for a moment, making sure his attackers were gone. Living in New York he had always heard of people getting mugged but it never actually happened to him. He did his best to crawl to his feet, attempting to ignore the throbbing pain in his head. Stumbling out of the alley he had been assaulted in, towards the street ahead, hoping he would find help there. He managed to make it a few steps before gravity got the best of his light head. Shannon put his hand on the plate glass window of the phone booth, he had called Matt from earlier, to keep his balance. The street was empty except for young man drumming a sweet gentle beat on top of an empty plastic bucket.
"Oh my god. You okay hun?" the man said in a soft voice. Shannon turned to face the street performer attempting his best to focus his blurry eyes.
"I'm afraid so." He answered back.
"Did they take all your money?"
"No. I don't have any money to take. They just ran off with my coat. But the jokes on them, I still got one of the sleeves." Shannon laughed, holding up the remnants of his jacket.
"Well at least you still got your humor...I'm Angel."
"Angel?" Shannon smiled, happy that his sight had been restored quick enough to take in the vision that stood before him. "Indeed."
Angel wasn't the type of guy Shannon normally found himself attracted to. He was short, thin, and looked very young, early twenties or so from what he could tell. His skin had a deep golden tint to it that indicated he clearly had Latin roots in him. His cat like eyes and full pouting lips gave an exotic beauty to his small frame. They each couldn't help but notice the striking differences between the two of them. Shannon was the muscular, all American looking kind of guy. Big green eyes and long blonde hair that fell down the side of his baby like face. He was the macho kind of guy where as Angel was, for lack of a better word, pretty.
"I'm Shannon, Shannon Moore."
"Hmm, I'll take Moore." Angel said playing with his name.
Shannon wasn't to sure how to respond. Ever since he came out two years ago he really hadn't really dated much, especially after finding out he had been infected with the AIDS virus. He wanted so badly to come up with a witty, sexy, response to Angel's comment but it had been so long since he had flirted he almost forgot how to.
"I'm just joking sweetie." Angel said noticing Shannon's sudden uncomfortable appearance. "You look pretty banged up. I live just around the corner, if you want to clean up those wounds."
"I don't know."
"At least let me take look at that gash on your head."
Normally he would never agree to go to some strangers place, even if they were just trying to help, but there was something very trusting about Angel. Something that just made Shannon feel at ease.
"I'd really appreciate it." Shannon smiled as he followed Angel towards his building.
Angel turned the key in the door and walked into his apartment with Shannon following closely behind. He took off his coat and threw it on the couch and walked into the bathroom while Shannon waited in the living room, examining the small apartment. It was cramped yet nicely decorated in typical New York queen fashion. But something strange catch Shannon's eye. On top of the coffee table that sat in front of the couch there was a wide assortment of different prescription pills. He got closer to take a better look but before he could read the labels on the bottles Angel came strutting back into the room with the first aid kit in his hands. He rested the little tin box down on the couch and took out a cotton swap and the rubbing alcohol.
"Now this is going to sting a bit." Angel said as he went to wipe away the dirt from the wound but Shannon grabbed his wrist before he could made contact with his infected blood.
"I can do it. You've already done too much for me."
"Okay. I gotta go get change anyway. There are bandages in the first aid kit if you need them."
"Changed for what?"
"I've got a 'Life Support' meeting at 9:30. Yes, believe it or not, this body provides a comfortable quite a home for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome."
"Really?" Shannon asked with bright eyes.
"Don't look so happy about it."
"No, it's just...I have it too. That's why I didn't want you to touch my blood."
"Well then you should come to the meeting with me."
"I don't know. I'm not much of a support group kind of guy."
"Oh come on. We'll make a night of it. We can get something to eat, maybe get you a new coat. It'll be fun."
"But I told my friends I would stop by their place. They're probably waiting for me."
"So invite them to come with us. The more the merrier. Besides, I'm not going to take no for an answer."
"Well I guess I'd have to say yes then."
"Goodie" Angel squealed "Okay, just give me a moment to change."
Shannon had to laugh as he watch Angel run into the bedroom, he sure was more persistent then anyone he had ever known. In fact he was unlike anyone Shannon had ever met. There was a presence about him that just took you in and kept you captivated. And Shannon was more then happy to be his prisoner.
