Not a huge amount of writing this month, Covid has taken its toll on my family and I'm not focused, so here's what I've managed
Sweet Transvestite
Keep asking yourself what am I supposed to learn from this?
Sam
"Coming?" Mike asked him patting down his hair ready for the night
"I'm staying in" Sam told him
"Seriously?" Mike stopped to ask "Dude it's your birthday, everyone goes out on their birthday"
"Not this dude" Sam laughed "I'm fed up with being a third wheel to you guys, I'm sure Tina will appreciate me not being there for once"
"You know she's not like that dude" Mike's voice irritated that his friend could be thinking that of his girl
"I know, I just want to be alone, seriously"
"So, how about you come with us and then venture off on your own when we get there?"
"You're not going to leave this alone until I agree to something, are you?" Sam laughed
"I'm just fed up with seeing you sitting there moping about Quinn when she moved on the day before you two split"
"I'm not moping about Quinn it's been six months now and actually I finished with her, she's the one who keeps wanting meaningless conversations loaded with weak apologies and insincere regrets"
"Whatever, stop stalling, just come with us"
"I can't stand the place this whole damn place is too fast for me"
"Dude you've been saying that for nearly eight years now and you still haven't left, come on"
"Okay" he frowned "I'll travel there with you guys but after that you're on your own"
"That's fine, as long as you don't stay in on your own" Mike laughed for the victory "Mrs Right here he comes"
"I'm not looking for a Mrs Right now let alone a Mrs Right" Sam rolled his eyes at his friend
"But should she happen to come along today that T-shirt is not rocking it dude" Mike looked at his food stained top "And no costumes either" he called after him remembering the last time they went out
"That was four months ago for Halloween, who dresses up like that for a birthday?" he laughed
"You get freaky sometimes, I have to remind you" Mike laughed
"Give me a minute" Sam laughed jumping up and going off to go get changed, half an hour later they'd picked up Tina and were on their way to Time Square "God it's noisy out here" they walked towards the square looking at all the little shows and stalls selling their wares "Wow" he gasped when they got to the square "People"
"Told you you'd like it"
"Is it everyone's birthday this weekend?"
"You know this is all about the launch at midnight" Mike rolled his eyes at his friend
The first actual scheduled galactic holiday flight was due to take off at midnight and two thousand lucky people had nabbed the seats, everyone was celebrating this new venture into space, Mike just wanted it to be a success, and be over, so the flights could get cheaper, he was planning on getting married up there.
"I'll meet you guys later, just call me when you're ready" Sam told him sticking his hands in his pocket and walking off into the crowd. He definitely wasn't a crowd person, give him a couch by a well-lit fire any day and he was past satisfied, loved his own company, and his family when he got the chance to go home. He'd been in New York for nearly nine years now, it had given him everything he'd wanted at a time in his life when he wanted it, music, acting, modelling, he'd done it all, but he craved something.
"Sorry" he smiled at bumping into someone because his head wasn't in the game, it was sat in a little café he'd found that Halloween night five months ago, having the most tantalising conversation
Flashback
It was the end of the night and he'd lost Mike, Tina, Blaine, and Kurt, because he'd decided to follow a group of people all dressed up as Dr Frank N Furter, they were threatening a competition and he was more than up for that with his efforts. He'd had Tina do his makeup, borrowed some of Quinn's things she'd left at his place, that he was dying to destroy and even Mike had to admit he looked good, so he dared to go out like it.
"Who do you do?" a fellow Furter asked as they loudly walked along the pedestrianised street singing a Natalie Cole song
"Who do you do?" he laughed back remembering Kurt's advice to always be friendly and cautious "I'm straight" he looked into Dr Furter's eyes telling them
"My bad" they smiled "But do you do tea or coffee?" they pointed at the café shop they'd all stopped at
"Now that's my bad" Sam laughed "Coffee all the way" he followed the crowd into the shop, smiling when another Dr Furter sat a cup of coffee in front of him "Thank you" he looked up at the most piercing eyes
"We get them free tonight Dr Furter over there asked me to pass you this one" the voice came back at him, he knew this was a different person, they were thicker in build, a lot jollier than the previous Dr Furter and had the most infectious giggle
"So…" he watched the person sit down
"Just call me Dr Furt, everyone's Dr Furter tonight" they looked around the room "Get's complicated if we start using names"
"I guess I'll stick with Doc then" he laughed "Pleased to meet you Dr Furt" Sam held his hand out for shaking
"Likewise, Doc" Dr Furt shook his waiting hand
"So, who are we outside these clothes?" he looked at his attire
"If I weren't in these clothes I wouldn't be me"
"Intrigued" Sam sat forward resting his arms on the table
"If you handling for a date, you're sending all the wrong signals" Dr Furt laughed
"I don't know if I'm looking at a date, but I'm definitely pulled in by this conversation" Sam smiled "Anyway what wrong signals am I sending?"
"Fancy dress for one, nobody wants to get serious about someone they met who was trying to be someone else"
"I know who I am, I'm just joining in on the party, like you"
"Subtract" Dr Furt picked their drink up and took a sip "I guess we could overlook the costume when we look at how much effort you put into getting your face on" Dr Furt raised an impressed eyebrow
"I'm not going to lie I got help from a friend, makeup is so not my thing"
"That's a shame, I was giving props"
"I'll pass them on, she'll be gassed" he smiled "Anything else?" he looked at himself
"No" Dr Furt smiled "Everything else is on point"
"I thought you'd have mentioned the sandals" Sam laughed holding his foot up
"Usually I would have, but…" Dr Furt ran their fingers over their mouth seductively "You have cute feet, and that says more than a pair of heels every damn day"
"Thank you" Sam laughed "Enough about me, without the clothes you wouldn't be you, who would you be?"
"Sweetie my dreams are too big for this world"
"Oh" Sam laughed "Like everyone else you're waiting for the cheap intergalactic flights too?"
"It's not everyone's cup of tea, but…"
"I get it, I've stopped talking about it now too, I just want to get it done and spit in the faces of those that told me I couldn't"
"You're a me" Dr Furt laughed "Favourite mag?"
"Terrestrials" they both said at the same time
"I could watch good movies about that stuff all day" Sam looked up in the air "Maybe for a month" he took a sip of his drink
"So, no compliments about my outfit?" Dr Furt asked out the blue
"Hell of a… I want to say sexy, but I'm straight, so I don't mean…"
"If the word fit's drop the compliment"
"Hell of a sexy, loving the bask, tights the whole get up" he laughed at Dr Furt getting up to do a twirl
"Makeup?" Dr Furt sat down asking
"Everything" Sam clicked his fingers looking at Dr Furt from head to toe
"So" Dr Furt giggled "Serious again" they picked up their drink and took a sip "What's your habitat like?"
"Home?" he asked confused "Strange question"
"Work with me, I have reasons"
"Home for me right now is right here in New York, I like the going back to Texas sometimes, family and stuff, but for now I love my own company, so when my roommate is out, which is often because he has a partner, I bask in the alone time"
"How are you with long distance relationships?"
"I've never tried one" he sat thinking about it "But I guess if I was to have one, I'd need honesty and commitment, it's got to be worth it"
"What baggage would you be bringing to a relationship?"
"What's with all this relationship talk, I'm not looking for anyone" Sam laughed
"So, what would happen if Mrs Right came along, out of the blue like?"
"Really I couldn't say"
"So, am I right in thinking you're not closed to meeting Mrs Right?"
"What's this about, is someone about to fall out of the woodwork?" he looked around the crowded café
"Not right this second, but something or someone put us together tonight and I believe this is going to become something" Dr Furt smiled
"I'm not…"
"I know" Dr Furt told him "But we are destined to meet again" he took a long last sip of his coffee
"Hey" the fellow Furter that Sam had walked into the café with called over, both of them looked at the man
"Sorry" Dr Furt smiled at Sam "I better get going, my hubby can be a bit jealous sometimes, even with straight guys"
"Your hubby?" Sam looked at the man smiling
"Yeah, there are very few single people in here" he got up "Nice to have met you Doc, we will meet again" he held his hand out for shaking
"Nice to meet you too" Sam smiled watching them leave as he sat sipping his lukewarm coffee
End of Flashback
It wasn't Halloween tonight, but the space flight was happening at midnight, and he knew they both had that in common, maybe he'd meet up with Dr Furt and hubby and find out what that last bit of their conversation was really all about. It had kept him thinking for the past four months, not necessarily about Dr Furt but about the unanswered questions, why he'd asked all those questions, what picture Dr Furt was building of him in their mind and, where was it all leading to.
The one thing he was sure of was that this wasn't any sort of attraction, physically they had nothing in common, he'd just found this particular person so easy to talk to and enjoyed the banter. It had been a long while since a conversation had made him stop thinking about his sad situation.
Quinn and he had been together for just over a year, things were going well at first, he'd originally decided to stay in New York because of a crush on some girl he'd developed in University in his final year, whose name he couldn't even remember right now, but she was so popular he was invisible to her. About four year into his modelling job, he'd come into contact with Quinn, they were co-modelling for Vogue, and although he found himself infatuated with her, he was with a girl called Brittany, and didn't think that was the right time to bear his all. It might have been just over two years later, as luck would have it, that they were in a mini-series together, she actually started talking to him and although they hit it off she was with someone and he wasn't that man, so he left it all alone.
Just under two years ago she'd had the main role in a film he was a part of, and they quickly rekindled their friendship, he believed that relationships that started as friendships were destined to work, so he put his all into keeping this girl he'd dreamt about by his side. He'd learned the hard way that not everyone lived by the same values as he did, his dream girl quickly faded away as her superficial characteristics started to disappear and the real her came to life. It was strange how a cruel soul showed itself from the inside out, because by the end of those eleven months he really couldn't see a single strand of what he'd pined over for nearly three years. He finally had the easy conversation and they parted company; Mike was right she walked straight into another relationship without even looking back, and up until Halloween night he'd kept her things in his room unsure of the reasoning behind it but ripping them up to make his costume that night had been liberating.
He was making his way back to that café hoping for even a clue about Dr Furt or their crew when he was stopped by music coming from the bar a few doors away, he couldn't see past the crowd, he could just hear the sound as someone sang bone tingling ohh's and hmm's and for whatever reason it was enough to stop him in his tracks. He stood outside with the over enthused crowd everyone making noise as the song became familiar to them, he smiled at 'All Night Parking' by Adele coming at him, it had been a while since he'd heard the song, for some reason it made him remember a school dance
I know you've got things to do I do, too I just want to spend all my time with you it feels so good
I'm so hard to impress, don't leave me on this stretch alone, when I'm out at a party, I'm just excited to get home
And dream about you, all night long
Intrigued by the voices he was hearing he pushed through the crowd, surprised to eventually see Dr Furt and two other people stood in the stage dressed as Diva's singing their hearts out "I know that person" he tried to fit a name to their face as he pushed past dancing people having spotted the bar in the far corner
I don't know how you got through to me I'm so cold it's all happening' so easily like, oh, my God
It's so hard to digest, usually, I'm best alone, but every time that you text, I want to get on the next flight home
And dream next to you, all night long
"What can I get you?" the bartender asked when he finally got to the bar
"Beer please" he smiled turning his attention back to the stage
"Doc?" someone stood beside him smiling
"Hi" he smiled trying to place the face "Sorry" he finally decided to come clean
"I know, we don't have the face on today "Fellow Furt, who do you do, coffee?"
"Oh" Sam laughed "Dr Furt's hubby?"
"Well yes but tonight I'm just plain Artie" Artie smiled looking at the stage
"And I'm just Sam" Sam laughed "Is that Dr Furt up there?" he asked
"It's Unique tonight" Artie laughed "He loves showing off with his sister"
"Sister?" Sam looked surprised "Mercedes Jones is his sister?"
"You know her?"
"I think everyone in the world knows her, I just didn't expect to walk into a bar in New York and find her singing for fun on stage"
"They do this about twice a year" Artie laughed "Their bit for the community"
"Okay" Sam nodded stood with Artie listening to the rest of the song
Maybe it's the way you remind me of where I come from or how you make me feel beautiful and then some
The sight of you is dramatic, one glimpse and I panic inside, I get lost in our hours cause you possess powers I can't fight
That's why I dream about you, all night long, all night long, all night
Of course, like everyone else, Sam stood clapping their performance it was for all intents and purposes a very professional one after all
"Hey" Artie grabbed hold of Unique as he got close, it was clear Unique thought there was competition the way he held onto his husband "Remember Doc from Halloween" Artie asked
"Doc" Unique gasped laughing "Sorry didn't recognise you without the…" he pointed at his face
"It's Sam" he laughed at looking nothing like that name he owned that night
"Kind of cute Sam, I thought you were flirting with my man but hey" Unique laughed "And this is Mercy my…."
"Everyone knows Mercedes Jones" Sam stood up straight holding his hand out "Pleased to meet you"
"Likewise," she smiled "I know your work"
"You know my work?" he smiled
"One has to keep up with the competition" she laughed
"That's very kind but unfounded" Sam laughed, Artie and Unique looked at each other smiling
"What?" Mercedes asked her brother
"I did some groundwork" Unique smiled at her "Likes his own company, prioritizes honesty and commitment over distance and…" he put his finger in his mouth thinking "I told you we were destined to meet again" he smiled at Sam "Come on babe, let's leave these two love birds to catch up"
"Unique" Mercedes gasped "I'm so sorry" she turned to Sam smiling at the smile on his face "What?"
"I guess if he saw something in me that told him I was worthy enough to hook up with the great Mercedes Jones I might as well take a shot" he laughed "Drink?"
"Maybe one" she sat on the stool next to him that Artie had been sitting on "Usual" she told the bartender "So, how did you and unique meet?"
Sam sat telling her their conversation, both dropping in some of their history along the way "I've actually had more alcohol than I care to at this point, want to grab a coffee or something?"
"Coffee would be fine" she smiled jumping down off the stool and following him out of the bar "I wouldn't have pegged you for a New Yorker"
"I'm not" he laughed "I'm from Texas, I like the quiet life, I sort of got swept up in it all, and stayed eight years too long" he opened the door to the familiar café shop "You?"
"No, we're from the quiet life in California, but Unique lives here now, so I try and get here at least three times a year, more if I can"
"Long distance relationships" Sam nodded
"Actually, those work with siblings"
"Yeah I know, I have a brother in New Jersey"
"Older?"
"Younger, by four years"
"I'm older than Unique by four years" Mercedes laughed "We do have things in common" they both looked at his ringing phone
"Shoot" his face frustrated for the interruption "It's my friend Mike, we came together, and I asked him to call when he was ready to leave, but it's nowhere near midnight" he opened the call "Mike" he stood listening to the conversation "An hour, I'll call you back" he smiled at Mercedes stood listening "Sorry about that" he closed the call
"Are you going to the square to watch the big launch?"
"I want to, but I didn't want to watch alone, not on my birthday"
"It's your birthday" she smiled "We should do it, make it memorable for you"
"So, we'll go then" he smiled "What would you like to drink?"
"Oh, coffee all the way" she smiled
The half and hour went quickly as they sat sipping coffee and talking about everything and anything, "So, like me I guess your big on honesty?"
"Very, I need to have honesty, it's my thing"
"Definitely in my top five" Sam laughed
"Write them down" she tore the napkin in half and gave him some "Your top five" they sat writing their top five must haves in a relationship "So first?" she quickly looked up
"Trust" he told her
"Same" she turned the paper for him to see "Honesty of course"
"Sam" he turned the paper for her to see "Commitment is a big one for me"
"It's on my list" she smiled "Respect"
"Yep" he turned his paper to show her "Communication" he threw it on the table
"I cheated I have six" she giggled "I think it's important, and it's got to be good"
"What?" he asked smiling, watching her put her paper on the table "Sex" he raised his eyebrow "I think I agree" he laughed, rolling he eyes as his phone rang again, they laughed at going over time "I guess we need to start making tracks" he got up answering his phone at the same time waving for her to follow him.
They made their way back to the square moving through the crowd to get to the fountain "Hi" Mike looked at Sam and then twice at the woman stood with him shocked into frozen
"Hi" Mercedes smiled holding her hand out for shaking
"You're Mercedes Jones" Tina popped up beside him grabbing her waiting hand, grinning "The Mercedes Jones" she nudged a stunned Mike out the way
"I am" Mercedes laughed looking back at Sam
"Elated to meet you" Tina grinned widely
"This is Mike" Sam pointed at his still stunned friend "And his girlfriend Tina"
"Pleased to meet you both" Mercedes pulled her hand away from Tina and grabbed hold of Sam's hand
"Sorry, I'm a bit start struck" Mike laughed finally offering his hand "This is such an honour"
"I saw on the flyer you were singing tonight" Tina showed her the flyer n her hand
"Are you?" Sam looked around wondering how he'd missed that
"I am actually" Mercedes smiled at Sam "Do you want to come up front?"
"Sure" Tina replied for all of them, making sure Mike and her followed when Mercedes pulled Sam with her
"Don't move, I'll be back" she told Sam letting go of him to make her way backstage
"Dude" Mike tapped his friend as they watched her walk away "How the fuck did you…"
"We have a mutual friend" Sam laughed barely able to believe it himself "Here she is" he quietened them down after several minutes of chatter they stood watching her sing 'Oh My God' by Adele
I ain't got too much time to spare, but I'll make time for you to show how much I care
Wish that I would let you break my walls, but I'm still spinning out of control from the fall
Boy, you give good love, I won't lie, it's what keeps me coming back even though I'm terrified
I know that it's wrong, but I want to have fun, mmm, yeah, mmm, yeah, I know that it's wrong, but I want to have fun, mmm, yeah, mmm, yeah
Oh, my God, I can't believe it, out of all the people in the world, what is the likelihood of jumping, out of my life and into your arms?
Maybe, baby, I'm just losing my mind, cause this is trouble, but it feels right, teetering on the edge of Heaven and Hell
Is a battle that I cannot fight…
"She's even better live" Tina stood watching her rocking to the song
"Are you two…?" Mike looked at Sam questioningly
"We've just met" Sam laughed "But dude the conversation" he rolled his eyes
"That good" Mike laughed
"Sam" Tine turned to look at him "I know you're not going to believe me" she smiled "But she's the one you've been waiting for"
"How do you know that?" Mike asked her
"Remember when you moved into your apartment and MJ was engraved in the wall in Sam's bedroom?" she smiled "And you said it made you feel at home?" she looked at Sam "Mercedes Jones MJ, this is who you've been waiting for, trust me"
"And you believe that was a sign?" Mike asked
"That was nearly nine years ago" Sam laughed
"All god things come to those that wait" Tina reminded him
"Is that what I was supposed to be learning?"
"Hey" Mercedes was stood in front of him "Could we get out of here we need to talk"
"We do?" Sam asked surprised
"You're right Unique wouldn't have set this up if he didn't think it was going to work, the least we can do is try"
"I guess" he grabbed her waiting hand, smiled at Mike and Tina and walked away with Mercedes, he had a relationship to build