24 Ian
Ian
Ian walks into the bookstore, carrying their sushi.
They’re not quite sure how they got back here.
They remember being dropped off and going into the sushi place.
They must have gotten their order, and hopefully paid, and walked back here, but all that is blank in their mind.
Instead, they’re thinking about the voice on the line, the offer of millions of dollars, their life changing.
All they need to do is find some zip drive, apparently.
But is that voice on the line good or bad?
Is giving her this zip drive—if they even find it—something that will hurt people?
Certainly they don’t seem nice. Well, Heart-Eyes was kind of sweet.
Dangerous, for sure, but kind of hot and really open and—
Ian shakes their head. Not what they should be thinking about right now.
“Why are you just standing there?” Kate calls from the counter.
“I don’t know,” Ian says.
“I’m hungry.”
Ian walks to the counter and sets down the bag of sushi, hoping it’s their order.
“You look dazed,” Kate says, tearing the bag open and pulling out the food.
“Bumped into someone unexpected.” Ian isn’t sure what else to say: Took a super-fun ride around the nabe while being held at gunpoint because of someone else getting laid ?
“Was it who you were texting? That would be funny.”
“No,” they say quickly. Not Victor. Though Victor might know what to do in this situation.
He’s in law enforcement; he could protect everyone, right?
Except then Ian wouldn’t get the money. That money could change their life.
If the woman on the phone can be believed, anyway.
She might just tell Heart-Eyes to kill everyone.
Kate dishes out the food as Ian lets their mind spin.
“Eat,” Kate says, pushing Ian’s sushi toward them. “You look shell-shocked.”
“What would you do with ten million dollars?” Ian blurts out.
She laughs. “Why?”
“Just wondering.”
“I guess…I’d buy a place for the store. The rent here is killer.
An apartment too. Maybe one big building, live on top, bookstore on the bottom.
That would probably be all of it. Maybe put a little aside so the margins aren’t so tight.
Donate the rest to good queer causes.” She dips a sushi roll into the wasabi and pops it in her mouth. “What about you?”
“Custom dresses,” Ian says immediately. “Maybe try to buy a club, like in La Cage. Be the headliner and run the place, produce really high-quality shows, with really talented people, like NightGowns . Better wigs. Better place. Pay off my student loans. Not have to worry about…” They sigh. “A lot.”
Kate pats their shoulder. “I wish I could give it to you, kid.”
Ian nods. It’s within their grasp. A whole new life.
Well, maybe. They eat quietly, only half paying attention to Kate telling them about the new releases she’s excited about.
When they’re done, Ian pulls out their phone and sees all the messages: people asking how they are, which makes them smile, and Ollie and Brandon finding Jon.
And a party tonight. Well, that could make it easy to look for the zip drive the woman on the phone wanted, right?
If they’re willing to try. Which is dangerous.
A few teenagers come into the bookstore, going over to the queer YA section and looking at the spines.
IAN
You know how you said you missed game night?
We’re having one tonight, if you want to come
Ian watches Victor’s “…” appear and disappear a dozen times. They don’t blame him. But if they’re going to have a party with some guy on the run for stealing a zip drive that Ian might try to steal themself, it’s a good idea to have someone with a gun on their side, too, right? Like a bodyguard.
VICTOR
Are you asking me out? I’m still with Rafael
Ian frowns, feeling mild embarrassment.
IAN
No
You can bring him if you want
Ian hopes he does not want.
VICTOR
He has to work tonight
I don’t know
Ian glances up at the teens, now reading the back of a book together. Cute.
IAN
I’m bringing a date
I was just inviting you because you said you missed everyone
And to show you I’m sorry
But I get it
VICTOR
A date?
IAN
You’re surprised? Fuck you
VICTOR
lol no
Sure it would be nice to see everyone
I miss those disasters
IAN
That’s us
VICTOR
Should I bring anything?
Ian almost types your gun , but that would probably be suspicious.
IAN
Nah, but let me give you the address. It’s where Ollie is housesitting. Fancy mansion
VICTOR
I’ll bring cheese then
Cheese is fancy
Ian laughs. That was a joke of theirs, how cheese was the fanciest gift you could ever give anyone. They can’t even remember where it came from, but sometimes they’d just text each other different types of cheeses, trying to find more and more obscure ones to show how fancy they were.
IAN
What kind?
VICTOR
Camembert?
IAN
Not Gruyere?
The “…” appears and vanishes again a few times.
VICTOR
I’ll see what they have at the store. See you tonight!
Ian texts him the time and address, then moves on to the next issue—they said they had a date. A lie, but easily fixed, hopefully.
IAN
Hey want to come to a party tonight?
TOM
Tonight?
IAN
Yeah, my friend is housesitting this fancy place, so is throwing one of our game nights there. So not like, crazy trash the place party.
Sorry for the short notice. It’s kind of spur of the moment
TOM
To invite me?
Ian frowns. They deserve that. What’s one more apology?
IAN
I’m sorry I didn’t text you about the movie. Life has been pretty crazy
TOM
But now you’re inviting me to a small game night
IAN
Yeah
TOM
As a friend, or like as a date?
IAN
I thought that was obvious
TOM
It isn’t, and you still haven’t told me
IAN
Sorry!
Yes, a date. I am asking you to be my date to this silly game night.
TOM
Then yes, I’d love to
IAN
I know I’m a mess, sorry
But I’m hot and funny, right?
TOM
At least one of those
IAN
Hey!
TOM
I can be funny too
Should I bring anything?
IAN
Well, it’s a fancy place, and a fancy party
TOM
So cheese
Ian laughs. The teens look over at them, then at each other, disapproving.
IAN
Yes. The fanciest cheese you can find
TOM
Sounds like a challenge!
See you tonight
Ian is smiling as the teens bring a book. Adam Sass’s latest, which they ring up and hand back over, still smiling. When they leave, Ian opens up the group chat.
IAN
I’m coming
I invited Victor and Tom
They’re both bringing cheese