Close Encounters of the Drag Queen Kind.

Here's the most recent:
My exboyfriend Jason dated my best friend Ryan after me. There's a ring of friendship that tied all of us together, and after Jason and my breakup, he gravitated more towards my best friend Ryan. They had a thing, it ended. Jason wanted to still be everyone's friend. Jason fucked me over a couple times, and that's not to say I didn't throw a couple curve balls in there as well, but Jason burnt me in ways I'd never consider contemplating.

Here's what happened. I hear from the bar owner when we were having GGCC one night (gay girl chit chat), that Jason is dating Naomi. Naomi was once "THE" drag queen in the area, performing at all the major bars and headlining in every one. She had an enormous following and was loved by everyone. Somewhere along the way, the crowds grew tired of her microphone tirades and would start cutting her mic, and drowning her out with music. She lost a couple shows, but still has has feet held firm in a couple local bars where she still headlines. SOMEHOW, don't ask me how, but Jason's casual friendship with Naomi, turned into more. The two couldn't be any more different. Jason is just groping in the dark for anything to cling to at this point. He's really got himself into it this time. Amidst all the chaos of interjecting opinions and sharp words to be said during this GGCC session, I tell Ryan. It was the next day before I could tell Ryan about it, but I knew he'd have enough to say.

Jason had been calling and text messaging and IM'ing me for weeks. I had made no major efforts to get in touch with him or continue any sort of friendship or social alliance. He had on the otherhand, maintained perfectly good contact with Ryan. I was upset, and Ryan, practically furious, that Jason would try to be our friends, seem so interested in our lives, and yet, at the same time, withhold information that was crucial. This information should have been put out immediately, whether Naomi told Jason to keep his mouth shut or not.

Ryan and I went to the bar the next night and ran into Jason. After all the conversations Ryan an I had before leaving his house, it was clear in my mind even before the discussions, that I had no desire to speak to Jason or look at Jason. It surprised me that Ryan started talking to him. I don't know what they said. I do know that not even half an hour later, Jason was gone and I received a call on my cell phone whilst at the bar, from a number unknown to me. I answered.
"Hello?"
"Ryan, this is Nay."
I knew this was going to be some shit. I bit my tongue and kept as neutral as I could possibly be. Even though Naomi's following has greatly diminished, I still would never want to put myself in a position where I would have a tiff with her or any of the queens.

I told her that we all had a history with Jason, so we had a right to talk to Jason about it. I told her that, "I have no problems with you at all, Naomi. You know I love you to death."
I continued, "I have no desire to stay in touch with Jason at all. I am happy for him. I don't know what Ryan's take on everything is, but I'd be much more comfortable if you called Ryan."
I gave her Ryan's number, but after consulting Ryan after this unknown call, he couldn't wait.

Ryan and I paid out, hit the road, and proceeded to call Nay from my phone. They had it out briefly. Ryan was very collected and apologized for any miscommunication. He admitted to everything he said and didn't budge on any of that. Naomi wasn't too happy. She told Ryan,
"Here's what you're going to do: I'm going to walk into the bar, and I'm going to say Hi, and then you're going to smile and say Hello back."
She threatened to have Ryan banned from the bar also. The phone call ended.

After Ryan got back home, we parted ways. I went home. The next day I get the call. Ryan told me that Jason had told Naomi about Ryan's conversation prior to my receiving her call. Jason tipped off Naomi, but without intentions of stirring this hellish pot that he inadvertantly did. The news just got worse after that.
"She [Naomi] had Jason on three way on mute the entire time I was on the phone with her in your car. He was listening to everything. He called me when I got home and said I handled myself very well."

I don't think Ryan was that mad at Jason for being on the phone, but moreso at Naomi. Naomi had started out her call with me back in the bar with, "I'm not sixteen any more and I don't want to play these games." BUT, with that said, in my own professional opinion, by calling ME and not RYAN in the first place seems a bit childish. I understand Naomi didn't have Ryan's number, but she could've just called and asked for it and I'd have forked it over. Instead, she tried to pull me into the drama and get my take on things. I wasn't having it.

Ryan debated for a day or so whether he'd return to the bar at all. He wasn't to just avoid it all. He kept his personal promise of not returning to that shithole for all of EIGHT WHOLE HOURS I'm sure.

We went out Saturday night. We had a blast. We didn't get there until after twelve. Good friends were in our company, and the drinking glasses never fully emptied, they only somehow mysteriously raised their alcohol levels to the brim over and over again. Cigarettes were smoked. Jokes were make, and laughs were shared. I was introduced to a man named Mike through mutual friends. I had seen him out before. He's in great shape. Great body, really warm smile, but I can see where some would see him as intimidating. We were cordial at first, but didn't make major efforts to engage in conversation. After our mutual friend became tied up with another aquaintance, Mike looked at me. He looked at me and said the famous line I dread and love hearing all at the same time. "Has anyone ever told you that you look like a young..."
"George Michael?" I cut him off. We laughed. I told him, "If I only had ONE dollar everytime I heard that. But at least George Michael has a partner."
"He does?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure."
"And you don't?"
"No, I'm single, but I'm open to one. Are you single?"
"Yes, single and not looking." He smiled back at me.
"Why not?"
He went on to tell me that the guys he'd seen in the past weren't monogamous with him. He didn't want to put himself in that position again. I could completely understand.
"Yeah, that can ruin it for you. I understand."
We started talking. I moved over to him. I put my hands on his chest to feel his bulging pecs. The Abercrombie shirt was stretched pretty tight over his body. I absolutely love being touchy. I read that Taurus's are the "Touchmeisters of the zodiac." I kept this in my head the entire time and played off of it as much as I could, without mentioning the zodiac reference.

Mike grew fond of me pretty quick this past Saturday night. For someone "not looking," I guess you could say I found him. I don't put all the eggs in this basket, but I really did enjoy his company. He kept his arms at my waist, and the small of my back. I kept my hands on his arms, chest, and waist. We smiled a lot and paid our tabs at the same time. We both left within five minutes of each other, agreeing to do dinner this week sometime.

Saturday was good. We stayed until close at two A.M. I couldn't believe time flew so fast. I was glad I went. I even caught a glimpse of Ryan tipping a dollar to Naomi.
"That was BOLD," I told him. He just smiled and winked. I was so glad that we went out.

It's the same story after every one of these late nights. I sneak in the house as to not wake anyone. I kick off my shoes next to my bed, piling them up into a graveyard of the week's spent shoes. I check my e-mail one last time, and pass out in my underwear, still reaking of cigarette smoke. Lovely. Absolutely lovely.