Date: Tue, 28 May 2013 17:48:56 -0500
From: Marcus Kost <meetingofcoincidence@gmail.com>
Subject: meeting of coincidence: chapter 62

Usual disclaimer. Don't be here if the local governing agency says you can
not read adult materiel. Please leave now...

Thanks for the emails, I really do appreciate the input and like to hear
from anyone. If you wish to make a comment contact me at
meetingofcoincidence@gmail.com

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possibilities open for writers. Without Nifty we would have no place to
post our writing.

Sorry for the late chapterÉ This took a lot of time and effort to write
and edit. Again Wolfie you are my savior and a life jacket. Thank you for
everything that you have done!

************************

Chapter 62

JW stepped out of Marcus Infiniti and closed the door behind him. Marcus
looked over at JW, "You look fucking sexy tonight." JW nervously nodded his
head and took a deep breath. Marcus shook his head, JW looked horrible; JW
was drenched in sweet, pale and still looked exhausted from work last
night.

JW locked eyes with Marcus who forced a smile, "You really do look
good. Now relax."

JW gave a faint smile and moaned, "Let's get this over with. Please point
me towards the alcohol as fast as you can. And don't leave me alone."

Marcus laughed and walked up behind JW and rubbed his shoulders as they
walked towards the front door of very large and expensive looking
house. Marcus pushed the doorbell and wrapped his arm around JW, JW quickly
pushed Marcus arm off him and stepped a little farther off to the side of
Marcus.

Marcus frowned, "Compliment Cherri on her makeup."

JW furrowed his eyebrows and said, "What?" Marcus stared at JW angrily and
was about to say something when the front door opened. Marcus felt JW jump
to his side and grab his hand tightly.

JW could not believe what he was seeing; it was a man in a black dress, a
platinum blond wing, lots of makeup, bright red painted lips and finger
nails that were four inches long and bright red. JW stood there eyes wide
open with his mouth open when Cherri said, "Oh Marcus. Thank god you made
it."

Cherri walked delicately out of the door entrance wearing four inch heels,
leaned forward and kissed Marcus on both cheeks. Cherri looked at JW, "Oh
my! So this is who Marcus won't shut up about. Your are simply delicious."

Marcus smiled wide, stepped to the side and waved his hand across JW, "This
is JW." Marcus looked at JW and frowned, "JW, this is Cherri!"

JW stood there in shock and didn't know what to do. Cherri took a little
step forward and JW jumped back. JW immediately looked at Marcus and hung
his head, "I am sorry."

Marcus sighed, "Cherri he does not mean to be rude. JW is very new to this
and honestly has extremely limited contact with gay men."

Cherri laughed, "Oh honey its ok, but get those sweet cheeks over here and
give me a kiss."

JW stepped forward and felt like he was going to pass out from the
awkwardness of the situation as Cherri kissed each of JW's cheeks.

Marcus nudged JW and coughed, JW looked at Marcus completely confused and
embarrassed. JW had no clue what to do and continued to stare down at the
ground. Marcus sighed, "Cherri you look amazing tonight. Your make up is
simply perfect tonight."

Cherri laughed and in a bad attempt to do a woman's voice responded, "Oh
thank you Marcus. You know it takes so long to put all this shit on. But
you know me, I will do what ever it takes to be fabulous!"

JW laughed nervously and his eyes darted up from the ground, "Um... I like
your... your... I really like your shoes..."

JW blushed and Cherri gushed, "Oh my Marcus. Your boy toy does have great
taste. Thank you JW, you're the first one to notice them."

Cherri turned waving JW and Marcus inside the house talking about her
outfit. Marcus met eyes with JW, flashed him a smile and grabbed him by the
shoulder pulling JW tight into his side. JW felt relieved and mouthed the
words "thank you" to Marcus who just smiled.

JW stayed attached to Marcus hip as they were introduced to what seemed
like hundreds of people. He couldn't remember anyone's name and could not
believe how out of place he felt. It took everything in JW's power to not
stare at half the people he was introduced to but JW held on tight to
Marcus and forced himself to give aa smile to everyone that he met. JW
laughed to himself, he thought that Shane's party was hard to bear. Marcus
looked down and whispered, "What's going on?"

JW shook his head and smiled, "Oh I was just thinking about how I reacted
at Shane's party and well that does not hold a candle to this."

Marcus shook his head and smiled, "There are actually a lot of people just
like me and you here, but we have not found them. You will be a lot more
comfortable in a few minutes." Marcus looked around the room quickly and
leaned into JW's ear to whisper, "All this is still hard for even me to be
comfortable around, so you are doing great."

JW felt immediately out of place and he felt like he was about to crawl out
of his skin. Looking around at other people he just felt the whole room was
packed with store mannequins wearing expensive cloths. Everyone looked
fake, their body langue was over the top and over emphasized. JW watched
another drag queen walk by wearing a long silver dress, black hair
perfectly curled and makeup thick enough to hide the wrinkles on a
walrus. He shivered and looked away to two men who were examining each
other's hands and talking about the manicures they had gotten the day
before. JW thought about how Marcus and himself interact; they have never
done anything like this, flamboyant mannerisms, waving of the hands, odd
body postures, strange fitting cloths and seeing these other men acting so
different made him extremely uncomfortable and he started to question
everything about himself. He wondered if this is what he was going to
become?

JW quietly listened to conversations going on around him and could not
believe what he was hearing. Everyone complained behind everyone's back
about how bad other people looked or who they were having sex with or how
horrible everyone is around them and the complaints never stopped. As JW
soaked in the people around him he quickly figured that he was absolutely
nothing like these other people and either Marcus is the best liar on the
planet and has been hiding what kind of gay man he is or Marcus is nothing
like these people other.

Cherri dropped Marcus and JW off at a bar in the back yard. JW watched
Cherri saunter off and then turned to the bartender to order a drink. The
man behind the bar could not have been twenty-one, just a little shorter
than JW, thick blond hair and a very defined and toned body. JW looked down
his body and started to laugh as the bartender was wearing only a
Speedo. The bartender frowned and JW held up his hand, "I am sorry I just
was not expecting you to be almost nude."

The bartender smiled and in an extremely effeminate voice said, "Oh honey
don't you worry about that, before the night is over I will have the most
clothes on." JW heard Marcus laughing at his side and then order two beers.

The bartender shook his head and JW watched it smoothly flow across the top
of his head, "Honey we don't have any beer here. Want a Cosmo?" Marcus
shrugged and nodded his head and the bartender turned away to start making
the drinks.

Marcus leaned into JW, "Well your doing better than I thought. I will find
some people that you might get along with that are here tonight as well."
Marcus nodded his head towards the bartender and JW looked. This bartender
was not wearing a Speedo like the last, this bartender was wearing
jockstrap underwear, the same kind JW had on at the time. JW smiled as he
felt Marcus hand run down his back and to his ass, they were about to kiss
when the bartender returned and gave them their drinks.

JW lifted his glass and started to sip his drink when the bartender said,
"Tab or you can pay now?"

Marcus reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet and handed the
bartender a credit card, "Tab please."

The bartender nodded, "The two hotties are on a tab. That will be two
hundred."

JW frowned and spit out his drink, "Two hundred dollars? What the fuck?"

The bartender looked horrified and Marcus laughed, "This is a charity
JW. We are raising money for AIDs tonight."

JW shot back, "But I don't have that shit and you shouldn't have to pay
that so what the fuck?"

Marcus rolled his eyes and the bartender took his hand to his mouth and
made a strange noise.

Marcus looked to the bartender, "Two more please and make them stronger."
The bartender frowned and turned away quickly.

Marcus looked to JW, "Aids is very important issue in the gay community. I
will not go into it the history but there are a lot of people that have
been deeply affected by it and lost a lot of partners. What you just said
is extremely offensive. I know you didn't know but that is the main reason
we are here. It's to support these people and the memories of the thousands
of lost loves. It is to support our friends, family and everyone who is
gay. So please be a little more understanding because what you see here are
people who are finally happy. They have spent a lot of their lives afraid
of who they are. Few have embraced it as well as you have."

The bartender returned and smiled at Marcus, "That was cute of you." The
bartender frowned and pushed the drink towards JW, "Have you lived in a box
your whole life?" Marcus raised and eyebrow and nodded his head towards JW.

JW thought to himself he will keep his big mouth closed the rest of the
night after this, "Actually I have. I have been attracted to men a long
time but I was way too scared to even admit it to myself. So even though I
am gay... I know nothing about being gay."

The bartender folded his hands across his chest, "Aw and now your finally
coming out of the closet. That's so inspiring."

JW furrowed his eyebrows and Marcus laughed grabbing JW's hand, "Let's go
find our friends."

JW rounded the corner holding Marcus's hand and was shocked at who he
saw. JW narrowed his eyes, "Tanner? What are you doing here?"

Tanner glided up to Marcus and JW hugging them both, "Yes JW, I have to
admit that you clean up very nicely." Tanner looked over to Marcus, "Thank
you for inviting us to this. I have always wanted to come to an A list
event. It really means a lot to me and especially Shane."

Marcus nodded his head and looked around the room, "Where is Shane at?"

Tanner laughed, "Shane is around here some where. Last I saw him he was
arguing with a bartender upstairs. I was getting embarrassed and told Shane
I was going to wander around and see if there is anyone else we know." JW
looked around the room desperately but he did not see Shane. Tanner patted
JW's stomach, "I can not believe wearing black slacks and a polo could be
so damn sexy."

JW blushed and smiled hard while Marcus wrapped his arm around JW's
shoulder, "Tanner you're always so sweet to us, but enough of us, how have
you two been?"

Tanner laughed and pointed at JW, "Shane has been driving me crazy talking
about him." He pointed at JW.

JW furrowed his eyebrows and frowned, "Really?"

Tanner laughed, "JW has turned into a very personal interest of
Shane. Probably to the level of a ... sorry for the bad analogy but its all
I have... much like a foster parent cares over a child they have watched
their entire life. Shane desperately wants JW to be a success but... Shane
knows that he can not give to much influence because that would be highly
unethical." JW turned away and Marcus thought he looked angry.

Tanner shrugged, "I am sorry I am sure that came out the wrong way. If it
makes you feel any better Shane says you're progressing much faster than he
would have ever thought." JW muttered something when he was poked in the
side and jumped. Tanner laughed, "Enough of this anyways. We are here for
the causeÉ There's Shane now."

Shane was standing there with a big grin on his face. JW smiled and didn't
know what to do until Shane stuck his hand out to offer a handshake. JW
grabbed Shane's hand quickly and Shane turned to Marcus, "Hello boys! Can
you believe how much the fucking drinks cost here?"

Marcus laughed and held up his Cosmo, "No beer and this was not cheap."

Shane handed Tanner his drink and Tanner wrapped his arm around Shane's
waist, "It's for a good cause though." Shane nodded his head and took a sip
of what looked to a be a very dirty martini to JW. The two couples walked
around talking, hands were flying in the air and one of the guys sounded
like a squeaky toy to JW and he tried hard to not laugh.

JW smiled and pointed around the room, "I thought I was the only one
ridiculously uncomfortable here."

Shane shook his head, "Honestly I am not a fan of this, but the only reason
I showed up is because I am an avid supporter of these events. Not to
mention a lot of people have much bigger balls than any of us for going out
in public and expressing who they are. Besides the second Tanner heard that
we were invited we were coming."

Marcus laughed and nudged JW, "Ya! You could be wearing your leather
harness right now." JW turned around and lightly slapped Marcus and fire
flashed out of his eyes.

JW laughed, "That is so unfair. The only thing you could do is walk around
naked."

Shane looked at JW, "Leather?"

JW blushed and sighed, "Marcus really likes it and truth be told so do I."
Tanner laughed and was saying something about rope before Shane cut him off
and covered Tanners mouth with his free hand.

JW looked over both shoulders and then leaned to whisper to Marcus, "I am
sorry but how much longer are we going to spend here? I do not like this at
all and I am ready to get the hell out of here." Tanner frowned with Marcus
and Shane nodded his head.

Marcus shrugged, "Well... I guess we could go. I was hoping to introduce
you to more people and hopefully let you get more comfortable."

JW shrugged, "Marcus as usual I will do what ever you want me to do, but
none of this interests me and I would never want to be defined by the
people that are here. I heard someone talking about "breeders" and it took
me twenty minutes to figure out they were talking about straight couples."
He frowned, "I am sorry but this is not who I am and frankly I would never
want to be like these other people." Marcus stood there with a blank look
on his face, Tanner looked angry and Shane was obviously not going to pick
a side. JW sighed and shrugged, "I will go get more drinks. Whiskey ok this
time?" JW turned and walked off back to the bar.

Waiting at the bar and after trying to order three different drinks JW gave
up and ordered four long island ice teas. While waiting for the drinks
several men came up to JW and started to talk to him but JW just didn't
know how to respond to their questions. JW looked at these men, two of them
are what he would call twinks from the porn that he has watched; one looked
to just be tagging along and looked like he did not belong with the
twinks. The man asking most of the questions was thin, pale skin, obviously
older but looked like his hair was painted on. JW could hardly understand a
word that was being spoken and he had to ask them to repeat the question or
explain what they were talking about. JW tried to answer the barrage the
best that he could, "No I am not a waiter I am here with friendsÉ Yes I
have a boy friendÉ No I did not meet him hereÉ I am not telling you
anything about the kind of sex I likeÉ" By the time JW had the drinks he
almost dropped them as someone grabbed his ass. JW jumped and turned around
angrily, "What the hell? Who just grabbed me?"

JW looked at the guys and didn't know what to think or say at this point;
they stood there giggling like schoolgirls and JW was furious; he was being
treated like a new play toy. JW turned and walked away quickly and found
Marcus. Marcus watched JW look over his shoulder a few times, finish his
drink way too quickly and stand there quietly. Marcus looked over to Shane
and Tanner, they had also noticed something was going on with JW.

Marcus laughed, "What the hell happened?"

JW cursed and pointed behind him, "Those assholes over there, but forget
about it." Tanner started to talk about some random topic when four older
men walked up beside JW. A short man, dressed in a black tuxedo with a
bright yellow bow tie grabbed JW's wrist. JW flinched and looked lost as JW
was pulled off to the side a few feet from Marcus. Shane and Tanner watched
closely as Marcus took a step forward but Tanner reached up and grabbed
Marcus shoulder and whispered, "Wait just a second." JW kept looking over
to Marcus but it became obvious Marcus was not going to come over.

JW turned back to short man, "What are you saying?"

The short man snorted and laughed, "Are you here with anyone?"

JW nodded his head and pointed towards Marcus, "Him."

The short man looked over towards Marcus, "Damn he is too fine, but I bet I
could offer you something that he does not have."

For the first time JW looked the short man in the eyes, "What's that?"

The short man snorted and laughed again this time with the three other men
standing off to the side, "How about I take you back to my place. I will
give you anything you want?"

JW furrowed his eyebrows, "What?"

The short man tapped his foot, "You're not to smart are you? But that is ok
because I like dumb studs like you."

JW frowned and turned to walk away when the short man grabbed JW's wrist
again, "Let me put it another way. I will give you lots of money to come
home with me."

JW stopped and turned, "Really? Is that how you find a date? Find the first
whore that you cross, throw a bag full of cash at them and mark another
notch in your belt?"

The short man sneered and looked over to the men at his side, "Oh I told
you that is all they are interested in. Just let me play with you for a few
hours."

JW laughed, "What if I am a top?"

The man laughed, "You can fuck anyone you want, but I am going to fuck you
tonight."

JW smiled and shook his head, "I don't know about this game you think
you're playing..."

The short man interrupted, "It's no game. You are gorgeous and I am going
to fuck your stupid ass in my California King bed tonight. What do you do
for a living?"

JW sighed, "Public service... Why?"

The man laughed, "And a angel of humanity. How much money do you make a
year?"

JW shrugged, "Fifty-five thousand a year. Why?"

The man laughed, "You must be amazing in bed. I will give you one year's
salary to go home with me tonight. What do you say to that?"

JW shrugged, "Why don't you just give the money to charity instead and find
someone that you don't have to pay to fuck?"

The short man nodded and looked to his friends, "And that is why I hate
these events. I find the only dumb hottie here who is a humanitarian." The
short man sighs, "Fine, one hundred and ten thousand dollars."

JW took a step back and laughed hard. The short man frowned, "Well that was
not the response I expecting? Do you want more?"

JW shook his head, "Oh I could use the money quiet easily. I know my kids
need the money desperately..."

The short man cackled, "You have children?" The short man looked over to
where his friends were at, "This one is a breeder. How idealistic is that?"

The short man laughed and JW looked to Marcus who was just shaking his
head, Shane who was covering his face and Tanner who looked extremely angry
and stomping his foot. JW turned back to the short man but this time he
lifted his shoulders and folded his arms across his chest.

The short man reached up and ran his fingers over JW's large arms,
"Impressive. So when do you want to go?"

JW laughed and shook his head, "I am not going anywhere with you. I have
several things that I would love to say to you but I seriously doubt Cherri
would like that." JW reached out with his arm, put his finger in the short
mans chest and pushed hard, "How about you just fuck off." The short man
took a step backwards with a stupid look on his face. JW turned to walk
back to Marcus but when JW turned he walked right into Cherri and almost
knocked her over.

JW caught Cherri in his arms and blushed hard, Cherri laughed, pulled her
feet under her body and grabbed JW's arm, "Oh my god. My hero!"

Cherri threw himself into JW's chest, "Oh I wish I belonged in these arms."
Cherri stepped back and grabbed Marcus wrist and pulled him towards JW,
"But this is how it's suppose to be." Cherri turned and looked at the short
man, "Bitch what is wrong with you? I told you to stop making a scene
here. I will not let you ruin tonight's events."

JW turned to Cherri, "I am sorry but I am going to have to leave. I enjoyed
your party but this is just not me. I do not appreciate being treated like
I am a whore for hire. I wish you the best and hope to meet you again in a
much smaller setting, I am sorry but I just don't do large groups." Cherri
scowled at the short man, stomped her foot down into the floor and
apologized to JW for the next five minutes begging him to stay.

JW grabbed Marcus hand, "Cherri I am completely new to this life style and
frankly I am very modest person. I have never taken a position on any
agenda my entire lifeÉ And now I am being told this is how I support my
community? If this community is anything like that asshole then I want to
have nothing to do with it."

Cherri gasped and laughed, "Dear lord you are like a new born."

JW laughed, "I need to ease into my new life style and there is nothing
easy about this setting. You of everyone else here should know that. Could
you express your true self a few years ago?"

Cherri shook her head, "Oh honey of course not! The 80's where hell, and
the 90's were not much better."

JW shrugged, "I am not saying that I have struggled like you have. I
definitely have not lost people like most have here. But this is just not
who I am, I can support our community and the cause and still be true to
myself. I know for a fact in the two hours I have been here that this is
not who I am."

Cherri nodded her head, "Oh honey that's fine. I just hope that we didn't
offend you or your leaving because of that slut." Cherri pointed at the
short man who was now hiding behind his friends. JW shook his head and
Marcus nodded his head towards Cherri, JW did not understand what Marcus
wanted. After a few awkward seconds Cherri leaned in and kissed JW on both
cheeks, "Oh you will learn some day."

JW gave an awkward hug and smiled stupidly at Cherri, "Thanks for
understanding." JW wrapped his arm behind Marcus and Shane, "Thanks for
inviting us again." As JW was walking away when he heard Cherri tear into
the short man, JW laughed and leaned his head onto Marcus shoulder.

JW walked out holding Marcus and Shane had his arm draped over Tanner. Once
clear of the house and next to Shane's car JW shivered and laughed, "Guys I
am sorry but that was fucking terrible and I never want to be around that
again." Marcus frowned, Shane nodded his head in agreement and Tanner
sighed.

Marcus looked back at the house and rested his hands on his hips, "Well I
was hoping it would go better than that. Last year was nothing like that
but Cherri did tell me that they were going to be a little more
unrestrained this year."

Shane laughed, "I have been a gay man for a long time and I remember the
80's well. It was hell during that time but never in my life have I ever
been around anything like that. What you saw in there JW is not what I
would call the standard gay male atmosphere."

Tanner sighed again, "But they are just trying to express themselves. It
was refreshing to be around..." Tanner stopped and stared back at JW,
Marcus and Shane. Tanner shrugged, "I will admit that there were a lot of
different characters in there, but I absolutely loved Cherri."

JW laughed, "Now let's go get something to eat."

Marcus looked up into the sky, "I know a great spot. In fact it's very
close to a hotel. We could all just check into the hotel for the night?"
Marcus watched everyone nod in agreement.

On the drive to the hotel Marcus looked up in the rear view mirror to make
sure Shane was still following him. Marcus reached over and patted JW's
leg, "I am sorry about that. It really was not like that last year. Cherri
was still in a dress but there were a lot of people here tonight that I did
not see last year."

JW shook his head, "Marcus that was possibly the worst place I have ever
been in my life. People should not act that way."

Marcus shook his head, "You have to be more understanding. You are
uncomfortable in any public event or place and. You should not blame your
insecurities on those gay men in there. You managed to only focus on the
flamboyant men and drag queens, but there were a lot of men that were like
you and me in there. How do you expect people to accept you when you will
not accept others in our community?" Marcus paused and smiled, "But I will
admit it was like a Zoo in thereÉ A lot of different animals!"


JW stared at Marcus, "I will never accept that. It was like a freak show"

Marcus shrugged, "Then we will never be accepted." JW looked out the
passenger window and the two did not talk until they pulled into the
parking lot of a Four Seasons.

Marcus climbed out and JW followed him, "The restaurant is just around the
corner. I figured we would just check in first." JW nodded his head and
walked up next to Shane's car and told him of Marcus plan. Tanner climbed
out of the car first, "We will hang out with you guys but we will probably
go home tonight afterwards." JW nodded his head and waited outside for
Marcus to walk out of the hotel.

A few minutes later Marcus walked out with and furrowed his eyebrows at JW,
"What are they not staying tonight?"

Shane spoke up, "No, honestly we didn't have plans on staying out late
tonight anyways. We will eat and drink with you guys but we are heading
home tonight."

Marcus nodded his head and pointed down the street, "The bar is just over
there."

Tanner grabbed Shane's arm, "I think I know where we are going. Good choice
Marcus." Marcus smiled and wrapped his arm around JW. Marcus felt JW
tighten up under his arm but at least JW didn't push away this time.

JW walked down the street and relaxed as he noticed no one else even paid
attention to him and Marcus. Marcus stopped and nodded his head up towards
a sign, "This is it."

JW looked up and read "Mary's" and asked, "What is this place?"

Tanner laughed, "It's a gay bar."

Marcus felt JW tense up under his arm and Shane laughed, "JW this place is
cool. In fact I think this is something Marcus should have taken you to a
long time ago."

JW looked around and shrugged, "Well I am starving god damn it so lets get
going."

JW sat down and looked around and immediately knew this was something
completely different. The restaurant was filled with many different types
of men; older, younger, some well dressed, others wearing shorts and tank
tops, and two men wearing cowboy boots, tight jeans and long sleeve work
shirts. This crowd looked like doctors, lawyers, mechanics, technicians,
engineers, cowboys, hipsters, college students, retirees and everything
inbetween to JW; they were all dressed differently and looked completely
approachable. "What the hell? Why didn't you bring me here before?" JW was
all smiles looking around the diner and bar. JW started pointing at a group
of men and women who were wearing police department shirts, "These are
normal people. Normal like me and Marcus or you and Tanner."

JW didn't realize a waiter had walked up beside him, the waiter said,
"Normal? I hope soÉ So what do you guys want to drink." JW jumped, hid
his face with his hands and started laughing. The waiter put his hand on
JW's shoulder and looked at the other three at the table, "You guys need to
get him out more. It's been a long time since I have seen someone this
excited to be out with other gay men." The waiter grabbed his note pad, "So
boys what do you want to drink?"

Everyone put in their orders for beer and Tanner got a martini. The waiter
quickly returned and put JW's beer in front of him, "Ok, so your first beer
is free if I can pop your cherry?" JW looked over to Marcus who was
laughing and looked back to the waiter and shrugged. The waiter looked up
to the ceiling and then stood back up and let out a dramatic sigh, "Oh this
one is full of passion." JW hid his face again with both hands and everyone
else at the table laughed hard.

JW took the menu from Marcus and read over the names of the food items and
started laughing, "What the... have you read over these item names yet?"

Shane nodded his head, "I think I will do the Blue Balls Burger."

Tanner smiled, "That does sound good, but I think I am going with the Cream
of Sum Young Man Taco's." Tanner continued to look through the menu and JW
was laughing uncontrollably now. Marcus looked over the Menu and sighed,
"Mile High Flamer or the Queen Royal Burger are both really good JW, but I
think I am going with the I Like It Big and Thick Burger."

JW looked around the Diner and started to compare it to the party they had
left just a short while ago. The people here looked happy, they were
talking and laughing. Some talbes had people floating between them, it
appeared they all knew each other and enjoyed being around each other. It
was exactly opposite of the party where people only talked to each other to
complain. JW made eye contact with a few people but that is all that it
was, people were not checking him and he was safe to not be offered up as a
prized ham. JW looked to Marcus, "I am dead serious when I say that I like
this place and why the hell have you not brought me here before?"

Marcus shrugged and the waiter arrived, "You boys ready?" Everyone gave
their order and the waiter returned with new drinks.

JW was taking a sip and Marcus responded to JW's comment, "Well honestly
after what happened Shane's party I thought you were ready to get out into
the open and mingle with more gay men." JW looked over to Shane who was
smiling and glanced over to Tanner who was smiling.

JW sighed, "What does that mean?"

Tanner coughed and JW looked to Tanner, "Well Marcus does not want you to
feel forced to do anything that you don't want to do. And at our
party... well that was unexpected to say the least."

JW leaned back in his chair as the waiter brought over the beers and he
waited for the waiter to leave before saying, "What if that is something
that I wanted to do?"

Tanner lifted his eyebrows, "Well it was obvious you wanted to do it. That
is still the best sex I have ever seen." JW looked over to Shane who was
staring down at the tabletop. Tanner continued, "Marcus was just giving you
a different side of our community tonight, even if you do not like those
people at the party the fact of the matter is the A list crowd is a
powerful group of people. These people here at this bar is also different
side of our community, you identify with these guys because they are more
like you. You can pick and chose what part of the community you want to be
affiliated with but the fact of the matter is that we are too small to not
support each other. Even the parts we don't like."

JW leaned back in his chair and looked around the dinner and then turned to
face Marcus, "Your telling me that Cherri and everyone else there did not
make you uncomfortable?"

Marcus laughed, "Well first off Cherri is a saint and would give you the
shirt of his back... horrible analogy but you get what I am saying. But I
just wanted you to see a different side of our community. That party is
filled with powerful A list gay men who have a lot of influence on what
happens in our community. Those men also happen to attract a lot of garbage
also. The true A list guys are surrounded by people who do nothing but
praise them and give them as much attention as they could possibly stand
and those same men think they are just as important. The guy that was
offering to buy you for the night has a lot of money but he is not an A
list gay man, he just creeps a long like a slug sucking everything up in
the wake of the A list crowd. But, again I just wanted you to be around
other gay men and in one retrospect I failed miserably. Thankfully you
recommended leaving and this place came to mind." The waiter walked up and
was checking on drinks when Marcus asked, "Hold on a second. I have a
strange question but before I ask it I feel that I must say something
first."

The waiter looked at Marcus, tilted his head to the side, "Go ahead."

Marcus grinned, reached up and patted JW on the shoulder and then pointed
at Shane and Tanner, "This is JW and these are our friends Shane and
Tanner. We are couples and the only reason I am telling you this is because
JW is brand new to the gay life but still has a lot to experience and this
brings me to my point. Are you a gay?"

The waiter furrowed his eyebrows and looked around the table before saying,
"Babe I thought you would never ask." The waiter rested his hands on his
hips, stared into JW's eyes and smiled. JW looked away and hide his face
with his hands.

The waiter started laughing hard, "You were not kidding. If this guy is gay
you could have fooled me because he tensed up the second I looked at
him. Don't worry bro I don't bite... at least not at the table." Marcus
laughed hard and the waiter asked if they wanted another round.

The waiter walked off and JW turned to Marcus, "What the hell are you
doing?"

Marcus smiled and pointed across the room. JW turned and looked over his
shoulder and watched the waiter climb on top of the bar, reach for a bell
on the ceiling and start ringing it hard. The entire bar stopped and turned
to look at the waiter who yelled, "Fags and Stags, Ladies and Lipsticks I
have a major announcement." The waiter pointed at JW and yelled, "Stand up
you sexy beast." Marcus reached over and pushed JW hard who turned around
and flipped Marcus off and then stood up. The waiter called out, "I want
everyone in this bar to welcome our newest member out of the closet. JW
please take a bow and accept this as your baptism into your homo-rific
world."

JW sat down and laughed hard, "We are going to talk about this later god
damn it." JW glanced over at Shane who was smiling and leaning
forward. Several people walked over and patted JW on the shoulder and
introduced themselves. The waiter arrived with their drinks and a round of
shots, "I hate to do this to you guys but only his shot is free. So drink
up."

Everyone took their shot and Tanner yelled out, "Wait! JW take this serious
for one second and let this be the day that two things happen. You finally
become comfortable with yourself and you finally embrace being gay around
other people, because you have fought both of those pretty hard."

Shane spoke next, "Accept who you are man and stop trying to be so modest
and show that fucking man next to you all the love in the world. Let us see
it!" Shane coughed and almost spilled his drink as Tanner jabbed him in the
side, "What? I don't mean take your cloths off right now." JW was starting
to laugh when Marcus grabbed him and pulled JW in for a kiss. JW felt the
pressure of the moment and relaxed and accepted Marcus kiss for a several
long seconds.

Marcus pulled his head back, "Baptism I think not. A simple step forward?
Yes."

JW leaned forward and kissed Marcus again, "Just as long as it's a step
forward with you."