Beth's parents were pleased that she had finally come to her senses about that Hispanic boy she was dating. Her attitude had greatly improved over the last few weeks and there were no more disappearances over the weekend. Their little girl had come back to them and they couldn't have been more pleased.
"Did you hear who came home for Thanksgiving?" Beth's mother smiled across the kitchen table.
Placing her spoon back in her bowl of cereal, "Who?" Beth couldn't help but think, here we go again with her parents trying to set her up with one of their approved boys.
"Troy" Beth's mom's voice said excitedly. "He was always such a nice boy. Did you know he just graduated? He went to school to be an architect."
"That's nice." Beth stared into her bowl unimpressed. "I like being single Mom."
"I know dear." Her mom's hand patted hers, "You need to get out and have some fun though."
After dinner, Beth was about to hide in her room for the evening when the doorbell rang. The doorbell surprised her but she was not surprised to see Troy standing on the porch.
"Hi." Troy smiled showing his perfect teeth, "I was told I should come by and say hello."
Beth couldn't hide her puzzled look.
Troy began to stutter, "I...uh... "
Unable to prolong the awkwardness, "Why don't you come in?" Beth stood aside.
In her peripheral, Beth could see her parents watching discretely from the living room.
"Let's go up to my room." Beth turned and walked up the stairs motioning for Troy to follow.
Once in her room, Beth began to panic about the current state of affairs; was this any less awkward than standing in the watchful eyes of her parents?
Troy pulled the chair out at the little desk and sat while Beth sat cross legged on the end of the bed.
"So." Beth smiled.
Troy shook his head slowly and chuckled, "These parents of ours."
"Yeah." Beth avoided eye contact and began to trace patterns on her knee.
Troy opened up explaining that our parents had been talking and mutually decided that we both needed to get out, "So, I thought maybe we could get out and do something to shut them up. What do you think?"
Beth turned her eyes to Troy, "Sure. Just friends though; I'm not looking for a relationship."
"Understood." Troy chuckled. "There is something you should know though."
"What's that?" Beth raised an eye brow.
"I'm gay." Troy smiled again.
Troy's parents were unaware of his sexual orientation; at school, he could truly be himself and returning home left him outside his comfort zone. This resulted in Troy spending his time at home and his parents feeling that he needed to get out and meet someone.
Beth relaxed, "This may just work out!"
"How so?" Troy's magnetic smile slid across his face.
"We can hang out and have fun. Our parents will be happy and what they don't know won't hurt them." Beth took her turn laughing.
For the next week they went out every night; to their unsuspecting parents, they were on a date, but they were just two friends enjoying their time together and most importantly, being themselves.
"We should go to a club this weekend." Troy grabbed his ball from the rack and stepped up on the lane.
After some thought Beth responded, "What kind of club?"
"A gay one of course!" Troy wound up and released the ball towards the pins. "What do you think?"
"I think I'm going to be surrounded in women that I'm not interested in." Beth gave him a quizzical look.
Troy's now famous smile appeared, "The only women there will be straight."
On the drive to the club, Troy was very excited, "You have no idea how bad I need this."
"Someone needs to get laid!" Beth gave him a playful push. "What about me? Maybe I need to get laid too?"
Troy smiled and pulled in behind the club.
Inside the club, Beth found Troy's description was accurate; the club was packed and it was predominantly men. After grabbing drinks, they wasted no time getting on the dance floor and moving to the music. Beth was having a great time and let loose in the comfort of knowing that she wasn't going to be picked up or hit on. Troy however was a different story; his boyish good looks were a magnet to the largest variety of men she had ever seen. These men were very straight forward in what they wanted when they moved in to dance with him.
After the third drink, Troy seemed to have found himself a friend he was interested in. Beth watched curiously as they danced, kissed and pressed into one another with abandon. When they disappeared, she didn't bother to try and find them knowing full well what was taking place. A short while later they reappeared looking relaxed and dishevelled. Beth just smiled knowingly at them.
The three of them made their way to the bar where Troy introduced his new friend Duncan; he was a tall slender Asian guy with impeccable style. After finishing their drinks, Beth followed the two men out of the club, "Where to now?"
"Let's go find you some man meat!" Duncan blurted out in laughter.
Beth climbed into the back seat and the car sped away with Troy at the wheel.
Duncan sat sideways in the passenger seat, "Anyone else want to get high?"
Troy blurted his answer out, "I do!" His eyes caught Beth's in the rear view mirror, "You in?"
