Chapter 1 Before the Club

“My life sucks ass,” Dale said as he dropped his duffel bag onto the floor and slumped onto Kirk’s well-worn sofa, the cushions exhaling a puff of dust and mystery crumbs that had accumulated over time.

He glanced around the room—Kirk’s idea of “organized chaos”—where vintage magazines, unmatched socks, and empty soda cans served as modern art.

Kirk spun from the cluttered kitchen counter, where he was arranging a collection of mugs with questionable stains. “Hey, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. I, for one, have always enjoyed sucking an ass or two…three, four…” He raised a hand, ticking off an imaginary list with a flourish.

Dale rolled his eyes, fighting a smile. “Fine, poor choice of words, but you know what I mean.”

“Sure I do, sugar,” Kirk said, waving a hand in that exaggerated way of his as he sauntered over. “Although I gotta say, it was a bold move coming out to your holier-than-thou parents before you’ve even gotten your feet wet, so to speak…or anything else.” He smirked, one eyebrow quirked upward.

Dale groaned, sinking deeper into the sofa as if hoping it might swallow him whole. “Yeah, dumb, I know. But thanks for letting me crash here. You don’t mind, right?”

Kirk ignored the question, brushing a hand along his collar with mock dignity. “Bold, yes, but still questionable. I mean, how do you even know you’re gay?” He paused for dramatic effect, raising his eyebrows as he leaned in, eyes sparkling with mischief. “We’ve been friends for ages, and yet you’ve never once let me anywhere near your—”

“That’s because I’m not attracted to you like that,” Dale interrupted, smothering a grin as he swatted at Kirk.

Kirk let out a mock gasp of horror, clutching an imaginary pearl necklace. “Well, I never!” He flopped onto the couch beside Dale, draping a pink feather boa he’d found somewhere around his neck. “To think, all this time, and I was harboring such unrequited lust!” His hand fluttered to his chest in faux distress.

Dale burst into laughter, shaking his head. “Okay, drama queen. But yeah, you’re right. I went through a whole trial phase—you know, kissed Caitlin Atkins, even touched her…lady parts.” He grimaced, remembering the awkwardness of the whole ordeal. “Not my finest hour.”

Kirk feigned horror, eyes widening. “Ugh! My dear friend, you have truly suffered for your journey of self-discovery. But Caitlin Atkins?” He shuddered theatrically. “I mean, her mom’s a friend of your mom, isn’t she? You practically kissed family, for heaven’s sake.”

Dale shrugged, pretending not to notice the way Kirk leaned closer, his arm brushing against Dale’s. “Honestly, it wasn’t so bad. But once Wayne kissed me…That’s when I knew.”

Kirk sat bolt upright, clutching his heart as if he’d just heard the best gossip of the century. “Wait, Wayne? As in tall, dark, and broody Wayne, or Wayne as in pale and pasty Wayne?”

Dale felt his cheeks heat up. “The tall one.”

“Oh, my stars and garters!” Kirk practically swooned, collapsing back against the sofa. “You went to chocolate heaven and didn’t even tell me!” He sat up again, eyes glinting with curiosity. “So? How was it?”

Dale tried to play it cool, but a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “Good. He, uh… gave me some tongue.”

Kirk gasped, practically bouncing in his seat like a kid on Christmas morning. “Did he now? And what else happened, hmm?”

Dale chuckled at Kirk’s enthusiasm, shaking his head. “Not much else. We were in the locker room after practice. He grabbed me, kissed me hard, and pushed me up against the wall. I could feel his… well, you know.” He cleared his throat, looking anywhere but at Kirk.

Kirk’s face twisted in horror. “That little closet case. And here he was, calling me a ‘flaming fag’ for daring to look at him during practice. That jerk! If only I’d known!”

Dale snorted. “Yeah, I know. But still, that kiss? Changed my life.” He glanced over at Kirk, who still gave him a look of appalled fascination.

“Well, of course, it did, sugar,” Kirk said, regaining his composure as he waved a hand dismissively. “He gets to go around kissing cute boys and hiding in the closet while poor Dale gets kicked out of his house. It’s ridiculous.”

Dale let out a weary sigh, nodding. “And my parents, naturally, blame you for all of it. Like being gay is some contagious disease you gave me.”

Kirk threw an arm around Dale’s shoulders, winking. “Well, I am the ‘spawn of Satan,’ according to your mother. And let’s be honest—she’s not wrong. That’s what you get for hanging out with the gay virus. Rubbing off on people all over the place.” He pulled a face of exaggerated horror, patting Dale’s cheek.

They both burst into laughter, the tension momentarily lifting as they collapsed against each other. For a moment, Dale felt a wave of gratitude for Kirk—a lifeline in this mess, his only friend who’d stuck by him through all of it.

Kirk leaned back, sipping his drink, and glanced at Dale with a playful smirk. “So, now that you’re homeless, what are you planning to do about that virgin ass of yours?”

Dale rolled his eyes. “Right now? Nothing. Gotta figure out where I’m gonna sleep, how I’m gonna pay for school. You know, basics.”

Kirk waved him off dismissively. “Oh, please. You’ve got me! This palace is all yours.” He gestured grandly to his cramped, over-decorated living room with a sweep of his arm. “Courtesy of Mother Dearest and her fifth husband.”

Dale snorted, looking around at the “palace” that could generously be described as eclectic. “Thanks, but what about tuition?”

Kirk tapped his chin, a glint in his eye. “Easy. Sell some of your designs to me. I’ll peddle them to my fabulous clients. That should cover a semester or two.” He paused, giving Dale a wicked grin. “And hey, if all else fails, there’s always the option of selling that cute little ass of yours.”

“Hard pass on that last one, thanks,” Dale said, throwing a couch cushion at him.

“Oh, you wound me!” Kirk clutched the pillow to his chest, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. “All right, let’s skip the auction block. But seriously, we need to get you laid. The poor boy’s got needs, after all.”

Dale laughed, shaking his head. “Sure, let’s get me a boyfriend before I have a bed. What could go wrong?”

“See? That’s the spirit!” Kirk jumped up, striking a pose as he tossed his pink feather boa dramatically over one shoulder. “You and I are going out tonight. It's my treat, naturally, since you’re my broke bestie. I’ll be your very own wingman.” He put a hand to his chest, looking at Dale with pride and mischief. “Let’s find you some action.”

Dale hesitated, looking at his friend. “Really? You think I’m ready for that?”

Kirk grinned, grabbing his arm and tugging him up off the sofa. “Oh, honey, trust me—you were born ready. Now get that hot ass of yours in some decent clothes. We’re going clubbing.”

As he got up, Dale couldn’t help but smile. Kirk’s infectious energy made him feel, if just for a moment, like maybe he could handle all this. Perhaps he’d find a way to be himself without losing everyone in his life. And if not? At least he had Kirk, his best friend, his gay fairy godmother, ready to light up his darkest days with just a few choice words and a whole lot of sass.

“What time should I be ready?” Dale asked, already feeling a knot of excitement and anxiety forming in his stomach.

“Be ready by eight, love. We’re gonna get you out there, and who knows?” Kirk winked, throwing an arm around Dale as they headed down the hallway. “Maybe tonight’s the night you meet Mr. Right… or at least Mr. Right Now. Either way, it’ll be an adventure.”

With Kirk always there for him, Dale figured he could face almost anything coming his way. Even if that involved more glitter, bad pick-up lines, and terrible decisions.