Private Dancer

PING! PING! “Well hello there gorgeous lady. How have you been? When on Earth did you move to California?” “Well hello there gorgeous lady. How have you been? When on Earth did you move toCalifornia?” Sparrow looked down at the text on his phone, and snorted, “Lord help me.” Then tapped out, “Sorry, dude, wrong number,” while accidently running into someone. “Sorry.” “Sorry, dude, wrong number,” The large burly man gave Sparrow a lopsided grin, “Well, hello, sweetheart. What’s your name?” “Not interested,” Sparrow said as he tried to move around the guy. PING! PING! “Oh honey, don’t be that way. This is Brian the male stripper from Louisiana, that danced at Marsha’s Bachelor party last week.” “Oh honey, don’t be that way. This is Brian the male stripper from Louisiana, that danced atMarsha’s Bachelor party last week.” Sparrow remembered his friend Marsha’s bachelor party. He had been one of the many entertainers that night, but he also knew he hadn’t met any guy named Brian. Hell, if he was honest, he didn’t remember a lot from that night. He and the other attendees had gotten pretty toasted that night. However, this guy was looking for a woman and Sparrow knew for sure he was all man, so he tapped out, “Pretty sure you have the wrong number compadre, I am most decidedly not a gorgeous lady.” “Pretty sure you have the wrong number compadre, I am mostdecidedly not a gorgeous lady.” The burly i***t continued to block Sparrow’s way, saying, “You know, sweetheart, it isn’t polite to be on your phone when getting to know someone?” Sparrow looked back up and rolled his eyes. “Well, good thing I know enough people and don’t have any inclination to get to know any more.” Sparrow again tried to get around the asshole, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to be late.” The dumbass grabbed a hold of Sparrow’s upper arm, “I’d say you’re right on time, sweetheart. Now how about you and I go somewhere and get to know each other a bit better?” Sparrow jerked his arm free, snapping, “Look asshole, I’m not f*****g interested.” PING! PING! “Oh, for the love of all that’s holy, what the f**k is wrong with people tonight? I thought the stupid f***s were reserved for the weekend, not a Wednesday night,” Sparrow muttered, looking at his phone once more. “Awww, don’t say that! You are by far the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. We may not have spoken, but our eyes met across the room, and I felt the connection, and I know you did too.” “Awww, don’t say that! You are by far the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. We may nothave spoken, but our eyes met across the room, and I felt the connection, and I know you didtoo.” “I don’t like your attitude, sweetheart. I think you might need to be shown how to behave when with a man.” The nasty bastard in front of Sparrow said, making it very clear he wanted to be that man. Taking a moment to tap out, “Allow me to expand on that. I. Am. Not. A. Woman! Now, f**k off!” Then looked up at the dickhead in front of him. “Look, you asshat, back the f**k up and let me pass, or you’re going to be trying to figure out which are your tonsils, and which are your balls. I am not interested now or ever in anything you might have to offer, but if you ever find an actual man, feel free to send him my way. I’d be happy to show him how to behave.” “Allow me to expand on that. I. Am. Not. A. Woman! Now, fuckoff!” “Hey, Sparrow, is there a something I can help you out with here?” Sparrow smiled up at the friendly bouncer. “Hey, Yukon. I seem to be having a problem with this dickhead not taking no for an answer, and he’s making me late for the ball.” Yukon was the head bouncer at The Queens’ Ball Nightclub, a very popular gay bar and drag-queen club. He had been working here for the past two years, and the man wasn’t just scary as s**t, he was also extremely protective over all the performers... especially Sparrow. Whether it was because Sparrow was the top performer in the club, and had been so for the past three years, or because he was the godson to Tony Faruco, the owner of the club, Sparrow didn’t know, and honestly at this moment, he really didn’t care. Yukon stepped between Sparrow and the fucktard, growling out, “Go on, Sparrow, I got this. I’m just waiting for some friends anyway, so I have some time.” Sparrow went on his tippy toes and gave the big teddy bear of a man a kiss on his cheeks, “Thank you, Yukon you are a sweet and wonderful man.” Without giving the fucker a second look, Sparrow walked to his dressing room. Ping Ping “Our connection was real, sweet lady. Have a beautiful day and try not to miss me.” “Our connection was real, sweet lady. Have a beautiful day and try not to miss me.” Sparrow pushed the door open, and snorted, “Whatever, dumbass.” “You’re late, Sparrow.” Coco said as he fiddled with something on Addison’s bodysuit he was going to wear for the opening performance tonight. Sparrow huffed, “Not on purpose, Coco. It seems someone laced the water with crazy today.” “Is everything alright?” Coco asked in concern. Coco had been Sparrow’s best friend since the day Sparrow walked into his second-grade classroom as the scared-as-hell new kid and fell over the first desk he had come to. Coco had walked over, looked down at him, saying, “Way to go, Grace, can I help you up from there.” Sparrow had taken the offered hand, and Coco, well Cooper back then, had introduced himself to Sparrow. They had been best friends ever since, and after all they’d been through together, that status would never change. Coco and Sparrow had been inseparable from that first day. Sparrow’s family lived on the edge of town close to the Inyo National Forest and Coco’s family lived about ten minutes away by bike. They rode together, played together, camped out together, and even discovered they were gay together. They had also been bullied together, beaten up together, and learned how to protect themselves together. They were similar in personality, but their interests were different in certain areas. For example, where Sparrow was an extrovert that loved and thrived on attention, Coco preferred to be in the background. That didn’t mean Coco didn’t handle s**t when he needed to, just that he preferred to not engage unless it was necessary. In a way, Coco reminded Sparrow of that quiet dog that his mom always warned him about. “Now, Sparrow, you see those two dogs over there. The one barking and running along the fence?” “Now, Sparrow, you see those two dogs over there. The one barking and running along thefence?” “Yes, Mama.” “Yes, Mama.” “Well, that isn’t the one you need to worry about, sweetie. Now you see the dog lying on the porch, looking like he hasn’t a care in the world?” “Well, that isn’t the one you need to worry about, sweetie. Now you see the dog lying on theporch, looking like he hasn’t a care in the world?” “Yes, Mama.” “Yes, Mama.” “Well, that’s the one that will bite you in the ass if you go in that yard. It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for.” “Well, that’s the one that will bite you in the ass if you go in that yard. It’s always the quiet onesyou have to watch out for.” That was Coco... well, he wasn’t real quiet. The man could talk your ear off, especially when he got scared or nervous, but for the most part he liked to step back and let Sparrow shine. However, if it wasn’t for Coco, Sparrow wouldn’t be the diva he was meant to be. The man was the best costume and clothing designer Sparrow had ever had the fortune of knowing. It was how Coco got his name. Sparrow had given it to him when he had been going to perform in the school talent show, and his best friend had shown up with an outfit any “A” star would drool over. Sparrow had dubbed Cooper, Coco, from that moment on. “Sparrow?” “Everything’s fine, love. Just some dumbass with the wrong number, and another one with the wrong attitude. I’m good,” Sparrow said, sitting in his chair and preparing himself for makeup. “I hope you behaved,” Coco said with a laugh. Sparrow pulled his headband over his head and placed it so his hair was out of his face. Thankfully, because of his Cherokee Indian blood, he didn’t have to worry about facial hair. He began to apply his foundation. “I have you know I didn’t even kick the fucker at the club in the nuts, and I told the guy messaging me he had the wrong number... more than once, without typing out dumbass.” Coco laughed, “I’m glad to hear it.” Sparrow continued to apply his makeup, then asked, “Where’s Harley. Isn’t she due to be on soon?” Coco stood up from what he had been doing on Addison’s outfit, saying, “Girl, didn’t you hear? Harley quit this morning.” “No!” Sparrow gasped as he stopped curling his lashes, and turned to Coco. “What the hell happened?” “She met a new man that came in with her this morning. He and Tony got into it, because the guy felt Harley deserved a chance at spotlighting.” “What the f**k?” Sparrow gasped. “That’s my slot!” myCoco nodded, “That’s what Tony told him, and he said that you were washing out and bringing down the club. He said Harley was the new blood needed to bring back life into the place. When Tony told him to get out, he grabbed Harley and shouted if he went so did Harley, and when Tony refused to give the man what he wanted, the asshole took Harley out of the club with him, yelling that she quit.” “Oh, f**k,” Sparrow whispered, then anxiously looked into Coco’s eyes, “Is he right? Am I...?” “Sparrow, if you even try to ask me a stupid question I know is getting ready to come out of your mouth, I swear to the heavens, I’m gonna slap the lipstick off of you.” Coco snapped. Raising a brow, Sparrow said, “I’m not wearing any lipstick.” “Well, that makes my job easier then now, doesn’t it?” Coco said, with a wink, then turned. “Get your sexy ass ready. I have your new costume ready, and can’t wait to see it on you.” Before Coco could leave the room, Sparrow said, with all the emotion he was feeling for his friend, “You know I love ya, right?” Coco turned around and smiled. “I love you too. Not enough to s*x it up with ya, but enough to fill my heart. Now, I have to get Dana going. She’s taking Harley’s slot, and I’m going to have to take in the waistline by a good inch on her new costume.” Sparrow laughed at his friend’s comment, knowing he wasn’t wrong, and turned to finish applying his makeup. It sucked to hear that Harley was gone. Sparrow really liked her, and the crowd loved her opening act. He just hoped that this man treated her better than the last one had. Hell, Sparrow, at least she has a man. Sparrow thought to himself. He had always wanted love in his life, but no one ever seemed to measure up. He blamed his parents for that, not because they were mean or unsupportive, hell, his parents were more than supportive... they were the definition of unconditional love. Hell, Sparrow, at least she a man. Sparrow’s mom and dad were what others might call hippies, but Sparrow didn’t think of them that way. Yes, they believed in freedom, the spirit of peace and definitely love in all and any ways. Maybe it was the Indian in them, but they believed everything had a spirit or soul within... trees, grass, rocks... they even believed in things like ghosts, aliens, and bigfoot. They would tell Sparrow to never close his mind to possibilities, and even though he might not understand something, that didn’t make them something to fear, or look down on. That was when you opened your heart and mind and listened, because otherwise you might miss out on something special. Sparrow had taken those words to heart, yes, but that was only because he had seen what they’d taught him in his parents’ actions to him, others, and with themselves. He had the best parents in the world, and he damn well knew it. They embraced him when he came out as a gay ten-year-old kid, and opened their arms and home to Coco when his parents had died. He had just turned eight when it happened and had no living relatives. His parents refused to allow him to end up in foster care, and brought him into their home, and even went so far as to get parental rights over Coco, and made damn sure he knew he wasn’t only wanted, but loved as well. Sparrow’s parents supported both him and Coco in the direction their life had gone, by paying for singing lessons and dance classes for Sparrow, as well as designer school for Coco. Hell, it wasn’t a shocker to look out into the audience, and see his parents sitting at one of the tables, beaming with pride over their boys as they watched the show. They never even batted an eye when they had come out as gay. Sparrow could only pray he could be as strong and wonderful as his mom and dad, and he prayed to god and anyone else that would listen that he could find the love his parents had found in each other. Never in his life had he ever watched two people more in love, and damn if Sparrow was going to settle for anything less than what his mom and dad shared. It might mean he stayed single, but Sparrow knew in the end... in the end, it would all be worth it. The door opened once more, and Coco walked in carrying the new costume in his hand. “I sure hope you’re finished there, because it’s time to get this show on the road.” “I finished makeup. I’ll do my hair once I get dressed,” Sparrow said. Coco helped Sparrow with the costume, saying, “I don’t know what it is, but I have a feeling something big is going to happen tonight.” “Oh really? You think Andrew Lloyd Webber’s out there tonight?” Sparrow said with a laugh. “Smartass. I just mean... I don’t know, I have a feeling that something is going to go down tonight. It’s crazy I know, but I feel it, Sparrow,” Coco whispered, buttoning the back of Sparrow’s outfit. It wasn’t unusual for Coco to get these feelings, and Sparrow knew from experience that when he did, it was prudent to listen. “Good or bad?” Shaking his head, Coco answered, “I don’t know. Just be careful, okay?” Sparrow leaned close to his friend and kissed his cheek. “I promise.” Sitting in his chair, Sparrow allowed Coco to fix his wig. It was re mixed with orange and some other colors to represent fire and flames. He could feel the tension coming off Coco, and when the man finished what he was doing, Sparrow placed his hand over Coco’s and met his eyes in the mirror. “It’s going to be alright, Coco. We’re all going to be just fine. You said yourself, you didn’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Who knows? Maybe our dream men are walking through the door this very minute.” You know what I think this outfit isn’t the one for you tonight. Let’s go with the gold.” Coco said. Smiling wide, Sparrow said in his no nonsense tone. “I am feeling the diva. Let’s do it.”