"I haven't even done a show since high school," Mason whined, fidgeting with his bowtie. "Why would I want to embarrass myself on stage now?"

"It's for a good cause," Josh said, handing him his drink. "This theatre company does some awesome work. Plus the casting auction is like a Chicago institution. Chadwick really wants to do this."

"Whatever, I just think the only reason the guys want to go to these galas is so we have an excuse to get all dressed up."

*

"I'm so nervous," said Chadwick, chugging his martini.

"It's not like you're auditioning for the show," Bryan said, rubbing his shoulders. "You raised thousands of dollars on that sponsor drive or whatever. You'll be the highest bidder. You're gonna get it."

"Look at him," Chadwick sneered at the handsome rugged man a hundred yards away. "He is SO sure of himself. SO sure that he's gonna get to play Joseph. I'll take him down like one of those wannabes on that reality show on BBC."

Bryan was too distracted by the handsome African American theatre company member with dreads to respond.

"Are you even listening me?!"

"Yeah babe, yeah. He's going down."

Chadwick watched his main competition laughing with some of the members of the company, drinking and having a great time. What the fuck? Didn't he know it was game on?

*

"I can't believe you dragged me here," Charlie said.

"I paid for your ticket," said Eddy. "It's open bar and full of hot gay men. Stop complaining, you'll have a great time. Now keep your eyes out for a hot blonde."

"You paid all this money just so you can hit on... "

"Brittany! Hey!" Eddy waved as a tall and leggy blonde turned and smiled at her. Eddy shoved her coat at Charlie and strutted towards her.

"Eds, I'm pretty sure that girl is straight!"

"You know me," said Eddy, with the prowl in her eyes. "I love a good challenge."

Charlie sighed and checked their coats, heading for the open bar right away. He bumped into the guy leaving the bar with two drinks. The guy spilled one on Charlie.

"Christ!" Charlie yelped, running to the bar, to grab napkins to clean up with.

"I'm so sorry," said the guy from behind Charlie.

"Don't look at me," said Charlie, covering his eyes. "I mean, it's ok, but... this feels like some obvious, stereotypical ‘rom-com' moment where we awkwardly meet and spend the next two hours jumping hurdles on our way to falling in love. I don't think I can handle it tonight. So let's pretend it didn't happen and not look at each other."

The guy behind him chuckled. "Fair enough." Charlie continued to clean himself up in silence.

"Hey Ben, let's go!" Charlie heard someone call.

"Coming!" said the guy who spilled a drink on him. Fuck, not the Ben that Charlie thought he'd lost? The whole drink spill happened so quickly, Charlie hadn't even looked at the guy's face. He finished cleaning up as quickly as he could and turned around, but there was no one behind him anymore.

"Charlie?" someone from the other side called. Charlie turned to see Josh, looking at him elated. Josh rushed over and hugged him right away.

"Hey Josh."

"I haven't seen you since... I mean, I was so worried while you were in your coma and I haven't seen you at Haven... "

"Yeah, I've only been able to stop in a couple of times since. Catching up at school has been... "

"It's so good to see you," Josh said, with a gleam in his eye.

*

"Nice to see you again," Bruce said to Diego, as the teaser performances before the live auction began.

"Shh. Singing."

"Right, right." Bruce sipped his drink for a moment. "You look good."

"Whatever," said Diego.

"Diego, have you seen Josh?" Mason asked, approaching. "I've been waiting for my drink for like ever."

"Isn't that him, over there?" Diego motioned. "Talking to that Asian guy?"

"Oh I see. Tom is walking over to them. What the hell, I'm waiting for my drink and he's talking to some Asian guy?"

"That's Charlie," said Bruce. "He lives in a building I used to own."

"Charlie?" asked Diego. "Charlie Parker?"

"Yeah," said Bruce.

Diego's eyes narrowed. "Huh."

*

"I just... I just keep thinking about that night," said Josh.

"Yeah?" Charlie felt himself blush, but knew that somewhere in the crowd, Josh's boyfriend had to be present.

"Hey Josh," said Tom, coming up, eyes locked on Charlie.

"Hey Tom. Do you know... ?"

"Excuse me," Charlie said, avoiding Tom's gaze as he walked away. Josh and Tom sipped their drinks in awkward silence. Then they noticed their boyfriends glaring at them from across the room. They waved. Their boyfriends just glared back.

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Just joining us? Start from the very beginning, Volume 1 Chapter 1, by clicking here!

Want to party like the A-Gays do? Join Bailiwick Chicago Saturday, 10/27/12 for the Chicago Casting Auction!

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