Chapter Five #2
He already knew the reason behind the name.
Apparently, Dorothy’s Home was named after the phrase “Are you friends with Dorothy?” which used to be a code queer people used back in the 40s and 50s.
Dorothy from Wizard of Oz, so it probably had something to do with the whole rainbow shit, or maybe because the Tin Man was played by a gay dude.
Kaiden knew the gist; he’d heard Dylan explain it to potential donors more than once.
He also knew Dylan’s origin story. Well, the barest of details.
Dylan didn’t discuss much, but Kaiden had pieced together enough to build a basic timeline.
Dylan got kicked out when he was fourteen—or so Kaiden assumed.
Most of the teens living at Dorothy’s Home landed there after being kicked out by their parents, so it wasn’t a stretch to think the same had happened to Dylan.
Though Kaiden didn’t know much about how Dylan got by until he found Jasmine at fifteen.
Kaiden didn’t press about the gap between them. It wasn’t something Dylan willingly offered, and when thinking about that time, it seemed to be one of the few moments Kaiden would notice Dylan’s smile fall away.
“Hey,” said a guy at the bar beside Kaiden.
“Oh, sorry.” Kaiden immediately scooted away, offering him space.
“No, I was like, um, saying hi.”
“Oh, sorry.” Kaiden grinned. “Loud in here. Didn’t realize.”
“Yeah, very loud.” The guy nodded in agreement, moving to close the distance between them. “Trying to grab a drink, then step outside for some air.”
“Nice.”
“Yeah, but I can’t find my lighter. Sucks.”
“Yeah, definitely,” Kaiden agreed. “I don’t smoke. I mean, not cigarettes.”
“Oh, okay.” The guy paused for a moment, and Kaiden couldn’t figure out his expression.
The bartender returned with his drinks, and Kaiden quickly grabbed them and left. When the guy turned to say something, Kaiden pressed ahead. He wasn’t sure why this guy wanted to talk to him, but it didn’t make any sense.
“Dude, what was that?” Rus asked, grabbing his blue cocktail and biting the rim of the plastic cup. “He was flirting with you.”
“No, he wasn’t.”
“Yes, he was.” Daysha nodded. “Even I saw that. He’s still staring at you.”
“Kind of creepy,” Dylan said. “But in a cute weirdo way.”
“You should go back and flirt with him,” Rus said.
“No, he’s just looking for a lighter. He’s heading outside anyway.”
“Then you can be his hero.” Rus withdrew a lighter from his pocket. “Always carry a spare.”
“No, it’s too late.”
“It’s never too late.” Rus tossed the lighter to Kaiden, which bounced against his palm a few times as he bopped it, trying and failing to catch it.
“I’m really bad at flirting,” Kaiden admitted a bit too readily as he knelt to pick up the lighter.
The vodka water with raspberry flavoring had a strong bite and an even stronger boozy afterglow. It made his words spill more freely. It didn’t help that Rus kept digging in.
“We’re all bad at flirting,” he said. “Well, with people we like. If you don’t like the person, the banter just pours out, no awkward delay or secondhand embarrassment.”
“Truth,” Daysha said, lifting her cranberry vodka. “I apparently give off flirty vibes all the time, even when I think I’m just being friendly.”
“Oh no, sweetie.” Rus patted Daysha’s leg. “That’s just because you have tits and a vagina. You could literally just stand there minding your own business, and some guy somewhere would assume you’re flirting with him.”
“Gross,” Daysha said.
“And with that beautiful commentary, I think it’s time we dance away the awkward.” Dylan nodded to the dance floor, which was slowly growing.
Kaiden mostly hated dancing, knowing he lacked rhythm and didn’t feel cute enough to pull off awkward movements. Still, he enjoyed the carefree nonsense when dragged out with Dylan, so he let his friend lead the way.
Daysha and Dylan had the most grace, each moving in sync with each other and anyone who joined them for a moment.
Rus thrashed about like a wild beast fighting the air.
Kaiden recalled briefly learning about mosh pits, where deranged people beat each other up and called it dancing.
That seemed very much like Rus’ style. Kudos to him; he definitely cleared the floor and made room.
Also, despite his chaotic attitude and wild behavior, he looked like he was having a blast.
Kaiden definitely disappeared twice to grab another drink. He wasn’t the only one. It seemed Rus required more of his blue motor fuel to kick back. The looser Kaiden got, the easier he swayed, enjoying the loud music and random people bumping into him.
Hours passed on the dance floor, booze blurred the night away, and laughter made for a carefree freedom Kaiden had almost forgotten.
Each time he jumped up with Rus, he forgot about his job.
Every time Daysha pulled him in to sing lyrics he didn’t quite understand, he forgot his sister’s complaints.
When Dylan dragged him into a dance number his body couldn’t follow, he let the nonstop babysitting wash away.
It was just a night for him, for his friends, for fun.
Goddamn, Kaiden loved every drunken second of the nonsense.
The lights went up momentarily, flashing to announce the shift in the evening.
When everything dimmed again, spotlights went to the stage where a drag queen stepped out.
She wore a glittering dress, flowy and big in all the most dramatic ways.
Her heels were huge, yet she stepped with grace.
Her makeup was vibrant, her hair done up.
“Welcome everyone’s favorite queen to the stage!” said the MC who’d handled the music earlier.
“Fuck you, Charlie.” Amber Ale pointed at the MC as she strutted onto the stage.
Laughter followed her entrance.
“Heeeeeey, you ugly bitches.” Amber Ale posed for the applause. “Why are you cheering? I just insulted you.”
The roars of the audience increased, accompanied by a few hecklers, but they were drowned out quicker than Kaiden or anyone could hear.
“This is why I hate this goddamn generation,” Amber Ale shook her head disapprovingly. “Ugly, dumb, and annoying as hell. But damn, at least y’all know what you’re doing in bed.”
“Wooo!” Rus shouted alongside a whole slew of hyped, drunken fools.
The more Amber Ale bashed the audience, the more they loved it. She made her rounds, insulting clothing, makeup choices, and even the features of some of the pretty guests in attendance.
She paused at Kaiden, sized him up, then puckered her lips and blew a kiss.
That was probably the most complimentary experience of Kaiden’s life. He could call it a night and a win at this rate.
“Bitch, what are you?” Amber Ale sized Rus up the same way she had Kaiden a moment ago. “Is that a duck?”
She pointed to the pink, purple, and blue bird tattoo on his neck.
“Goose.”
“Duck, duck, goose motherfucker,” Amber Ale shouted. “Why? Why a bisexual goose?”
“’Cause I’m a bisexual dude.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Then you weren’t listening, hun.”
“Oooooh, mouthy,” Amber Ale said, drawing the crowd’s laughter. “I like it. So, are you here with your girlfriend looking for a boyfriend, or here with your boyfriend eyeing all the girl candy?”
“Just here with my friends,” Rus said into the mic, a bit breathy as he laughed.
“Hmm. I’m gonna come back to you, sweetie. Can’t tell if you’re a hot mess or a hot bless me Father for I have sinned.” Amber Ale pointed a finger at Rus, letting the spotlight hit him and the whole group, much to Kaiden’s dismay. “But I’ll get my answer, best believe it, sweetie.”
With that, Amber Ale continued her rounds, mocking audience members on the front lines and then introducing a performer. The queen came out, dancing to 80s pop.
During the second performance, Kaiden caught a glimpse of the guy from the bar.
He stood alone, nervously sipping his drink, as he eyed the crowd.
Kaiden dug into his pocket and fiddled with the lighter Rus had loaned him.
It was a waste of time. There was no way that guy was actually flirting with Kaiden.
He knew that. Still, he longed for a little flattery, hoped for butterflies of excitement, and wondered if maybe he was wrong and this was an opportunity.
“I’m going to go, um, you know…” Kaiden nodded across the way.
Dylan eyed the guy and turned to Kaiden.
“Okay, okay, have fun,” Dylan said. “But be sure to let me know if you need an out. I can be a total menace if needed.”
“Me too,” Rus chimed in, scowling with a tiny smile. “I’ll go all agro.”
“I can also offer an out.” Daysha pointed a finger at Kaiden, then steered her pointed hand toward the crowded bathrooms at the other side of the club. “But only after I take a piss. Those goddamn cranberry vodkas.”
Kaiden made his way through the crowd, politely squeezing between people, and over to the guy from the bar.
“Hey.”
The guy nodded.
“Ever find that lighter?”
He shook his head.
“Well, you’re in luck.” Kaiden held up the lighter. “Maybe we can step out after the show.”
“Sure.”
They stayed and watched the drag performers come out one by one and lip-sync to a brilliantly choreographed dance number.
Amber Ale undermined every queen who came out, reminding the audience she was the only one worth worshipping.
Everyone laughed at her caustic comments, grateful not to be on the wrong end of her barbs.
“I’m Kaiden, by the way,” he said during a lull between performances.
“James,” the guy replied, keeping his eyes fixed on the empty stage and avoiding eye contact.
Kaiden found it a little awkward and a lot adorable. At least he wasn’t the only one struggling with small talk for a change.
The pair made their way through the crowded club, and Kaiden handed him the lighter as they approached the indoor/outdoor smokers’ section. James took the lighter, stuffed it in his pocket, and led the way further toward the front.
“You don’t want to head over there?” Kaiden pointed to the smoker’s section of the club. An outside venue that was still walled off by the club. Sort of like an enclosure within Himbos walls.
“Too crowded.” James shook his head, leading Kaiden to the front door exit.
Kaiden hesitated, staring at the bouncer and the sign that made it very clear that if you left, you paid for your cover again. No in and out from customers.
“I’ll get you on the way back in,” James said, giving Kaiden a coy smile.
There was tension in his cheeks, clearly as nervous as Kaiden, so he followed him outside, hoping the cold air would ease his anxiety.
The streets were mostly empty. Kaiden suspected most people were in bars and avoiding wandering for another hour or so. Still, James led the way to the corner alleyway between buildings.
Just as they cut the corner, a bitter breeze hit Kaiden, sending him stepping in close to James. He hadn’t meant to brush up against him, but he desperately needed to get away from the wind. Now, they safely stood in the alleyway, away from the frigid air.
James’s expression soured at Kaiden’s close proximity. He recoiled, arm retreating just enough to shove Kaiden off him. The sudden push knocked Kaiden off kilter. He winced at the jagged lining of the brick wall. His head bobbed back with a sharp, quick crack.
Hate replaced James’ coy smile, and Kaiden wondered if he’d become delirious after knocking into the wall.
“Don’t touch me, fag.”
Kaiden shivered, shrinking into himself.
The pain from impact, the humiliation from James’ venomous tone, and the fear from the looming shadows turning the corner.
Kaiden’s breathing hastened, his mind flooded with worry.
What was happening? Why was this happening?
How had he been so stupid in believing someone actually liked him?