Strictly Dickly
The next weekend, Peter was convinced by Scott and Carol to go out with them to the bar again. Peter was a bit hesitant because midterms were the next week and he wanted to study. Scott told him he already studied too much and if he didn’t know the answers to all of his test questions now, that he wasn’t going to know them by cramming that weekend. Carol agreed and so Peter gave into peer pressure and went out with them.
At least this time Peter knew what to expect going in. They pregamed again though Carol did buy them each a shot of tequila when they got to the bar. Peter asked Carol where Hope was and she said, “Oh she met another bicurious girl and they’ve been hooking up so probably with her.”
Peter nodded and wondered what it would be like to meet a bicurious guy and mess around with him before he remembered that’s exactly what had happened with Flash. He hoped it was as fun for Hope as it had been for him. Or better.
Peter liked the idea of hooking up with someone, but whenever he daydreamed about it, he knew he always wanted more. He wanted someone he could cuddle up with and kiss and enjoy their company. If the sex was great then that would be a plus.
Peter led the other two onto the dance floor and began to sweat out the alcohol in his system. He couldn’t help himself. He loved to dance. And as he did a little turn, his eyes focused on the bar entrance and there he was again.
It was Steve, just casually walking through the door. He headed towards the bar once again. Peter felt a small rush of adrenaline and smiled. He had hoped Steve would show up again but was sure he wouldn’t. He didn’t even know the man but just the fact that he could see him again made Peter excited.
“Hey look, it’s the hot guy from last week,” Carol said. “You think he’s here for the drag show?”
“Probably,” Scott answered. “Isn’t he like best friends with the host?
“What was her name?” Peter asked. “The Incredulous Hunk?”
“The Incredible Hulk,” Scott corrected. “I followed her on instagram. She has some very interesting looks.”
“Yeah, but what was the guy’s name?” Carol asked. “The hot guy.”
Scott shrugged but Peter spoke without hesitation, “Steve.”
“Right, Steve,” Carol repeated. She smiled at the two boys and raised an eyebrow. “What if I go talk to him?”
“Ooh, are you trying to hook up too?” Scott asked.
“No, no, not necessarily…” Carol said with a slight shrug. “But if I can get it in with a guy like that, why the fuck not?”
“What if he’s gay?” Scott challenged.
“Then you can have him,” she replied, sticking her tongue out. She separated from the group and headed toward Steve.
Peter was a little saddened by this, but he kept quiet about it. It wasn’t as if Steve belonged to him. He was only his in his mind. He knew little to nothing about the man except he was ten years older than him and he was single. And it wasn’t like Peter was going to go over there and talk to him himself. He was comfortable just staring at the man and memorizing his perfectly shaped body.
“He’s at a gay bar,” Scott told Peter. “I bet he’s gay.”
“I don’t know, he’s very masculine. Could go either way,” Peter replied.
“Oh because masculinity has anything to do with sexuality,” Scott said with a scoff. “Masculinity could just be a defense mechanism. Think of all the gay men that had to pretend to be straight when being gay was illegal. Think of all the gay men who still do that because an attraction to masculine men has been instilled in our community. I mean half the people who play gay onscreen aren’t even gay in real life. It’s sad really.”
“You’re right,” Peter said. It was true that being gay and being straight had nothing to do with the way you acted. “But just because he’s at a gay bar doesn’t mean he’s completely straight.” Peter just didn’t want to be obvious and say what he was thinking, which was that he hoped Steve was gay so that Carol wouldn’t hook up with him. Although the thought of both Carol and Steve in a bed wasn’t the worst idea. He imagined having a threesome with them as he watched Carol talking to Steve. She had a bit of masculine energy herself so the thought of both of them overpowering him with pleasure got him a little excited again.
“I guess,” Scott replied. “I guess we’ll find out when either Carol comes back or ditches us for him.”
They continued dancing, but Peter kept glancing over at the bar where Carol and Steve were still talking. They both had smiles on their faces and Peter figured they were flirting. He was sure if the man was gay, he would’ve already turned her down and she would’ve come right back. Then, they both looked back at him. Carol caught his eye and waved. Peter waved back.
He had to steady himself when he saw Carol and Steve leave the bar. Had they decided to hook up already? Was she going to ditch them? He was disappointed again. Then he realized she was walking towards them and Steve was coming along. Peter’s heart started beating fast again.
“Hey guys,” she said when she reached them. “This is Steve.”
Steve reached out to shake Scott’s hand. “I’m Scott,” Scott said.
“I’m--” Peter started.
“Peter,” Steve finished. “I remember you from last week.” He smiled and Peter smiled back at him. They shook hands and Peter felt like there were shocks going through him. He was so beautiful up close. He thought he could feel himself blushing. “Carol tells me you’re here to watch the drag show.”
“Yeah, I fucking love The Incredible Hulk!” Scott said.
“She is pretty awesome,” Steve replied with a chuckle.
“Did you know her before she started drag?” Scott continued.
“Yeah, I was there the first time he got in drag,” Steve said. “Also the last time I got in drag. It was for Halloween and the heels were a big mistake. My feet hurt for days. But Hulk loved it so she continued with it and now she’s...a star.”
“Well hey, Halloween’s coming up,” Carol said. “Maybe it’s time to give it another try.”
“Mmm maybe,” Steve replied. “I’ll probably wear flats this time though. Any of you interested in drag?”
“Not as a career,” Scott said. “But Halloween is a definite maybe.”
“Yeah, I’m not suited for the stage,” Carol said. “But for a house party, I’m willing to bind my chest and wear a mustache.”
“What about you,” Steve asked Peter.
Peter had been quietly laughing and nodding along to the conversation because he was nervous. He didn’t know how to talk to someone he found so attractive. “I uh...I’ve never thought about it,” he said. “Last week was my first time ever seeing a drag show.”
“What’d you think of it?” Steve asked.
“It was...amazing. Like, better than some live theater I’ve seen.”
Steve laughed at that and Peter laughed with him. He loved that he was able to make the man laugh. And his smile was perfect.
“By the way, Carol and I had a bet,” Scott said. Carol glared at him. “Do you swing both ways or are you strictly dickly?”
Steve looked taken aback by the question but smiled nonetheless. “Strictly dickly. Sorry Carol.”
“No worries,” she said. “There are plenty of fish in the sea.”
“I also had a bet with Carol,” Steve said. “How long have you two been together?” He motioned toward Scott and Peter.
Carol laughed and Peter was the one taken aback this time. Scott just smiled and put his arm around Peter. “Let’s just say, Petey here’s no longer a virgin.”
Peter blushed. He was embarrassed. Not just because they were talking about his virginity again, but because they were doing it in front of Steve, the most attractive man Peter had ever seen. Peter shoved Scott’s arm off him and said, “I have to go to the bathroom.” He headed there without looking back.
There were two bathrooms, both of which had signs on them that said, “All Gender Bathroom”. He chose the one on the left and locked the door. He stared at himself in the mirror and turned the water on to wet his face in hopes of cooling himself down. He knew his friends hadn’t meant to embarrass him. He hadn’t even meant to get so upset by it. It was just something that he didn’t want to talk about.
What was even more embarrassing to him was the fact that Steve thought he was a twenty-one year old virgin. Peter imagined being an actual twenty-one year old virgin and hoped that by at least then he’d have gotten a little more action. He stared at himself in the mirror again. He wasn’t ugly. He knew he was downright cute and that someone eventually would want him. Everyone was a virgin once, right?
Peter took some paper towels and wiped his face and hands. He exited the bathroom only to find himself looking at Steve.
“Sorry,” he said. “Your friend clarified that you two weren’t dating, but I still have to apologize because it was none of my business. Carol was just telling me that she thought you two were dating because you’re both so close and Scott had asked me something personal so I thought it would be funny if I asked something similar. I...I’m sorry.”
Peter smiled. He was just as handsome being apologetic as he looked when he was being friendly. “It’s fine, Steve. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
Peter couldn’t say no to such a beautiful pleading face as his. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
“Okay, I just don’t want to ruin your night with your friends,” Steve replied. “The show’s gonna start soon and I know that a bad mood doesn’t mix well with that.”
“I’ll be fine,” Peter said. He was just glad he was able to talk to Steve one on one and have sort of an upper hand. It was so much easier to talk to someone as beautiful as him when he was humanizing himself. “Should we get back to my friends?”
“Yeah, yeah. I just told them I needed to use the bathroom too so...I should at least go in for a second.”
Peter laughed. “Sounds good. I’ll see you out there?”
“Yeah, definitely.”