"Are you sure I don't look stupid?" asked Tyler, fidgeting in his borrowed suit.

"You look great. Very dapper." Charlie said straightening Tyler's tie.

"I wish Hunter didn't have to work. I'm so awkward at these things."

"And I thank you for coming. I just hate doing these wedding type things solo. It's even worse when you're in the wedding party."

"There you are!" said Becka, coming out of the restaurant banquet room. "Charlie, we've got to get you for sound check!"

"Oh, god, you're not going to make me sing ‘The Rose' are you?"

"Don't be a goof," she said, as a youthful looking man armed with a camera came up behind her. "This is Jason. He's with Lexoria our videographer. They're doing a whole behind the scenes on our events leading up to the wedding."

"Fancy."

"All right, I gotta go check on things. My mother is driving me crazy! Jason, can I leave Charlie with you?"

"You got it!" said Jason. He took out a wireless mic pack and began putting it on Charlie's lapel. "So this isn't our equipment, the A/V stuff is the venue's. But quite honestly, they don't know what the heck they're doing, so I told them I'd give them a hand." He handed the pack for Charlie to put in his pocket. "So you're giving a speech? Best Man?"

"Um... sort of. Gay of Honor."

Jason chuckled. "Well you're definitely the handsomest Gay of Honor I've seen."

"Oh. I'm not your first?" Charlie couldn't mask his disappointment.

"Well, I'm also an actor. Do lots of theatre. Theatre, gays in weddings. Hand in hand."

"Right."

Jason turned the mic pack on. "All right, well you should be good to go. We'll check your mic in a few minutes. Just come right in."

Brad came out of the banquet room and went right to Jason. "Hey man, Becka's asking for ya."

"On it," Jason said, going back in. Brad went to shake Charlie's hand, full of nerves and adrenaline.

"You gonna make it?" Charlie chuckled.

"Sure. Just, you know, my whole family's in there. Waiting for me to announce my undying love for Becka. I wish this could just be it, you know. Get it over with."

"It'd save me a shit ton of money in bachelorette parties and showers," Charlie laughed. "Oh, Brad, sorry, this is my plus one. Tyler."

"Hey," Brad said, looking at Tyler quickly.

"Hey," said Tyler, all the color from his face draining.

"Well, um, I'm gonna go back in," Brad said, rushing into the banquet hall and closing the door. Charlie did a final check in the hall mirror and was open to go in when Tyler stopped him.

"What's up, Tyler?"

"I can't go in there," Tyler said, shaken.

"Oh, it's all right. They're all nice people. And I'm the one who has to do the talking. It won't be that... "

"No, um, you don't understand." Tyler started pacing, unable to catch his breath, his heart racing a mile a minute. "Look, I hate to bring this up, now that everything's calmed down at the apartment but... "

"Tyler, you're freaking me out. What's wrong?"

"Well... um... ok. Remember that night? Where you think Hunter or I hooked up with your ex and we don't know which one cuz we never got a name?"

Charlie's heart stopped. "Omigod, you slept with Tommy?"

"No!" Tyler cried out. "I slept with Brad."

"WHAT?!"

"That's why I never got his name. He said he was in a relationship but they were in a fight and he just wanted... he said he wanted to be discreet so I never pushed it. I... "

"Ok, calm down. You're sure. Like absolutely sure?"

"Charlie, he was the second guy I've ever been with in my whole life. I'm pretty fucking sure."

"All right. Ok, um, keep calm. Go home, I'll stay here cuz I have to."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Don't worry about me. I'll figure something out. Just don't say anything."

"I'm so sorry."

"How could you know?" Charlie said, opening the door. "Besides, if it was one time, no one has to... "

Charlie heard his voice echo back at him. Everyone in the room was staring at him and Tyler in the door way. Becka was crying. Brad was in shock. Jason's camera was pointed right at him. The mic had been on the whole time and everyone had heard.

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

In other news, long-time BOYSTOWN supporter Jess Godwin, the misfit with soul, will be releasing a new EP! The release party is on November 2 at the Double Door! Visit her website for more info, including a free download of her new song "Be A Light," featured in today's chapter. Want more Jess? Check out her albums on iTunes!

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