I ended the video and uploaded it, poured some coffee, grabbed my peachy yogurt, and went to the living room to stare out at the river and the island of dreams sitting in the warm, yellow sun. Someday I’d have it all. My name in lights and a man who adored me and could put up with all maintenance and whimsy that loving me brought. The alarm on my phone sounded, and I gobbled down my yogurt, threw back my coffee, and darted to the shower as another day of warding off my boss and leading seniors and kids through the merengue awaited.

  *~*~*

  I’d not made it through the doors when Julian slid into view.

  “Do you know what the date is?” he asked as his eyes roamed over me. Thank the gods I’d chosen my pink flowered poncho. It was super long and hid the bulge of my crotch from his nasty toady eyes.

  “Friday?”

  “Yes, Friday, the last Friday of March. I have the spring recital routines ready. Do you know what class you’ll be working with for the Spring into Spring show?”

  He stepped closer. I backed up. “Are you really using spring twice in the title?”

  His mouth opened then shut with a wet smack. “Don’t be silly, that’s just the working title. I have you down for the two to four-year-old group.”

  “You fat prick! You know I don’t do children. They’re unruly, do not follow direction, and poop in their tutus, which makes me queasy.”

  “Ah, yes, well, I’m so sorry but we needed someone young and pretty to be the Queen Raindrop. Hmm, do you think there might be a way to let someone else take that group?” He tapped his chin—the first one—as if he were deep in thought. The pig. I knew where this was going. “Perhaps if you and I went out to dinner tonight we could discuss group leaders over some wine and seafood. I’ll buy you shrimp, Sullivan.”

  He reached for me. I hit him in the face with my pink flowered tote. My water bottle and hastily packed lunch fell out and hit the floor.

  “I swear I am going to call the city and file sexual harassment charges if you don’t back the fuck up!” I yelled right in his stunned face. He rubbed his jaw. “I mean it, I’m not going out with you. Ever. So go ahead and give me the shitty tutu group, I don’t care.”

  “Miserable little cock tease,” he growled low in his chest. His eyes glittered with anger. I’d never seen him this irate. It was a complete turnaround from the way he usually acted with me. “You come in here flaunting your ass and dick every day, sashaying around like you own this studio, and then when I offer you a nice meal you hit me with your purse?! I should take you into my studio and teach you who the boss is.”

  Okay, now I was scared. Like shaking in my black flats scared. “I’m not scared of you,” I threw at him, although I really was.

  “You should be.” He snapped, spittle hitting my cheek. “I know people in the business. One call from me and your name will be blacklisted in New York.” I swallowed and took another step back. My shoulders hit the cool glass doors. “No producer will touch you when I tell them what a problematic little prick you are. And if you doubt me, just talk to Minnie. She can tell you all about the last dancer who wronged me. Now get to your studio for your nine o’clock hip-hop class and think about being a little more accommodating to the man who’s been so kind to you.”

  I jerked my chin higher despite the quaking that had been taking place in my limbs. If he did haul me into his studio there was no way I could fight him off. He was probably three hundred pounds to my one hundred thirty-five pounds. He’d pin me down and…and…

  I walked around him, gripping the handles of my tote with white knuckles. I walked at a leisurely pace to show the fat toad that I wasn’t afraid. Once I was inside my studio, I gently closed the door and then plastered myself to it, back to door, and had a gigantic but brief crying jag. It had to be brief because there were students rapping on the door, eager to get into my hip-hop class, my biggest and most popular class. I coughed, wiped at my wet cheeks with my poncho, gave myself a look in the mirrored wall to my left, and then spun and whipped the door open, smiling broadly at the teenagers in the corridor.

  “Who’s ready for some Beyoncé?” I asked in a voice that shook just a little more than I would have liked.

  Chapter Four

  Duane

  I was out of breath and drowning in my sweat when I slammed the apartment door shut. It was only 7:30. My jog time cut severely short by my impromptu meeting with a straight up elven prince. Tiberius was still in my arms, his long hair blown back slightly. He looked stunned. I set him down and undid his leash, but he simply turned and stared up at me.

  “What?” I huffed. He sat down, not moving his gaze from me. I groaned, sliding down the door to flop to the ugly linoleum of the kitchen. I buried my face in my hands, lamenting how stupid and socially inept I was. It had been this way since high school. Being the only person who wasn’t one hundred percent white in rural downstate New York meant people would go out of their way to let me know how unwelcome I was. Mom and Dad fought their hardest every time the janitors cleaned the n-word off my locker, but I learned from a young age not to put myself out there.

  God forbid if I was gay, I used to joke to the three friends I had in high school. Surprise! Come college, I started to notice myself checking out dude butts, which led to a huge soul searching, binge-drinking adventure. I met a man named Adrian. Crazy hot, wanted to be a veterinarian. We kissed at a frat party. I took him out for a movie. We kissed, we fucked, and we decided not to pursue anything. He was just in town for a few weeks visiting friends, then it was back to Maine.

  “Why can’t I be more gay?” I asked Tiberius, who had squirmed onto my lap and began licking my face. I scratched his little head, his dog tags jingling as he danced excitedly in my lap. Granted, I didn’t know how to talk to anyone, but I always froze around cute men. Maybe years of psychological conditioning not to stand out was finally at the forefront of my brain. Fuck if I could afford a shrink though.

  I sighed a dramatic, heavy sigh before tipping over to lay on the kitchen floor. Tiberius went mad, jumping on my chest and licking my sweaty face again. I didn’t react, except to pat his butt, which made him do a little squirmy dance.

  After a few minutes of floor loathing, I hauled my ass to the shower to wash off the sweat and dog spit. I wiped down my body with the shower poof, remembering not to wash my hair today. I read somewhere that shampooing your hair every day turns it to shit, especially if it was as kinky and curly as mine was. Wait…when was the last time I actually gave a shit about my hair?

  I stopped mid-scrub, the water running off me in streams. I wanted to go on that date. Get coffee with…the fuck was his name? His dog’s name was Princess Pizazz Petri dish or something, right? Did I seriously not get his name?

  “Fuuuuck,” I groaned, my forehead thudding to the shower wall. Why was I such a fucking loser?

  I finished up the shower, went to my room and pulled on a clean uniform, and remembered my hat that I had forgotten yesterday. No more stupid hairnets. I poured a bowl of Choco-Bombs and plopped down on the couch, relishing the rest of the half hour I had before I had to leave. I spooned cereal into my mouth, stopping only to pop a few to Tibby. I stared out the window, which gave me a decent view of yet another brick apartment building. I ran over what had happened this morning in my brain, focusing on his blue eyes, his long hair. He was definitely elven royalty.

  I let Tiberius lap up the remainder of my chocolatey milk before rinsing out the bowl and dropping it in the sink. It was Friday. Almost done, I told myself as I gave Tiberius a goodbye kiss and grabbed everything I needed.

  The sun was out now, casting the city in a comfortable warmth for March’s last Friday. I walked past Titi’s Thrifting, which wasn’t open for another few hours. Tomorrow, Ronan and I would have to get the furniture and haul it back to the apartment, somehow. Maybe McKenzie’s new fuck buddy would lend us his pick-up truck. I laughed bitterly to myself. Speaking of, I never actually responded to whatever she had said yesterday. I should probably do that, I contemplated as I walked to work.

  Barb was already there when I clocked in, smoking a cig and staring at the back of the building. I didn’t say anything as I walked by. Maybe a delivery truck would hit her before she clocked in. Wow, that was harsh.

  She didn’t, of course, and as I walked toward the sinks, Sonja cut me off. Her face was pulled into a concerned frown, and she glanced repeatedly toward the doors to the dining area.

  “You, uh…” she began, looking up at me with a sympathetic scowl. “I think McKenzie is here.”

  “What?” I raised my eyebrow, rolling up my sleeves. I walked through the cook’s area and peered through the door’s window into the seating area. I immediately saw McKenzie and what I could only assume was her new man, a tall, muscly looking guy with slicked-back hair and two equally greasy kids. So that was how she hauled all my stuff out. The sneaky sea hag.

  I shook my head, turning to go back to work. “I’ll spit in her food!” Sonja called to my back, and I shot her a thumbs up. She wouldn’t, actually, no matter how much I might wish it.

  I couldn’t believe she would show up at work as soon as I started my shift. That was low, even for her. I pulled a pot from the rack and threw it into the sink much harder than needed. If she wanted the dog back, she knew where I lived. I had no idea what her goal was, fucking around with me like this, but I was getting really sick of it. I began scrubbing, not realizing until I had a headache because I was clenching my jaw way too tightly.

  Barb finally showed up after doing God knows what the first hour of work. Together, we sorted out the pots and pans, and as soon as that was done, she waddled off to bother someone else.

  Lunch came quickly and as I grabbed the burger Sonja had made me and headed to the smoking area, I glanced into the dining area again. She was gone. I released the breath I hadn’t been aware I was holding.

  My relief was immediately gone when I saw a heavy-duty pick-up truck parked in the alley. McKenzie was leaning against it, scrolling through her phone like she wasn’t waiting for me. Sonja was watching her like a hawk, only turning around when I thrust my plate of food to the picnic table.

  “You gonna be okay?” she asked my back. I was already stalking over to the truck, catching the movement of Bobby New-Dick in the driver’s window. He was staring me down with beady eyes.

  McKenzie looked up at me, tucking her phone into her jeans pocket. We stood in silence for a second.

  “What?” I snapped, and she huffed. “Decided to bring my stuff back? Or are you looking for your dog?”

  “Oh God as if. I don’t want him anymore. I’m moving to Indiana with Drew.” She folded her arms over her chest. I laughed humorlessly.

  “And this is what? A fond goodbye?”

  “Yes. I have class.” I looked down at her in disbelief. For a moment, I was speechless. “Also, you owe me twenty bucks but I’m going to let that slide because I’m classy.”

  I stared at her in stunned silence.

  “…fuck you, McKenzie,” is all I said then walked away. She yelled after me but didn’t follow. I heard the truck door slam, the engine roar to life and back down the alley before tearing away.

  I dropped to the bench, my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles were turning white. Sonja was silently dragging on her cigarette, going through her phone.

  “What a bitch.” She finally sighed, breaking the tension. I groaned and dropped my head to the table. My burger was getting cold, but I suddenly wasn’t very hungry. Sonja patted my head, cig in her mouth. “It’ll be all right, big guy,” she cooed before standing and walking back into the building.

  I pulled my phone out of my pocket and saw Ronan had texted me more pictures of his afternoon walk with Tiberius. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t even smile at those. Though I would never admit it, being walked out on hurt.

  I texted Ronan a long-winded paragraph, explaining what had happened today. My break was up, so I slipped my phone into my back pocket before I could see his response. The rest of the day was spent in a fuming anger. Barb sensed it and took out the trash without me asking. When Lester came in, he began telling me about his son until I shot him a glare, and he actually did some work.

  Five o’clock finally rolled around, and I was a bullet going for the door. Ronan met me at the entrance to the alley, holding up his hands to slow me down.

  “Woah, woah! Y’all right, lad?” he asked, despite knowing the answer.

  “Living the dream.” I snorted. He ran a hand through his mohawk, his hat stuffed into his back pocket.

  “Listen, mate, it’s Friday night. We get two days off, we’re getting new furniture, and we have a cute dog.” He shook my shoulders, earning a grunt of agreement from me. He was right.

  Ronan gave me one final shake before bumping his fist against mine and heading into work. I spent the rest of the walk home trying to calm down, trying to get the knot in my chest to loosen up. Aggressively scrubbing pots kind of helped, but the cool breeze and the sun made it vanish. My teeth hurt from clenching my jaw shut all day, and my headache was still there, but as I climbed the steps to the apartment, it didn’t seem as bad.

  Tiberius flung himself off the couch as I unlocked the door, and he yipped and danced around me. I dropped to my knees, scooping him up to let him lick my face.

  “Hey, buddy.” I chuckled, the stress of today finally catching up to me now that I was sitting down. I kicked off my shoes and flopped face first into the couch cushions. Tiberius began running up my spine, knocking my hat off and sniffing my hair and ears. I was grinning now, for the first time all day. I never thought this dog would be a stress reliever for me, but…

  I began my evening tradition of showering, eating, and playing PlayStation. Before I knew it, it was midnight, my usual timekeeping tossed away on Friday nights. I went to bed. Tibby curled up against my hip, and I dreamt of being swept away by an elven prince.

  The next morning, Ronan and I were heading toward Titi’s when I finally told him about my run yesterday morning. He looked me over with a disbelieving smirk, mohawk erect and catching the breeze.

  “You’re telling me Sullivan Haines wants to get coffee with you?” he scoffed, with his hands shoved into his leather jacket’s pockets. I shrugged wildly.

  “I don’t know who that is! But I was a fucking dumb shithead and I didn’t say yes, so now I don’t know what to do,” I grumbled, sucking in on my vape pen. Ronan shook his head.

  “I’ll show you when we get back.” He smiled as we turned into the thrift store. Titi recognized me, and her wrinkled face lit up as we walked in the door. Before we reached the recliner, Ronan tugged my hoodie sleeve.

  “So, what’re you wearing to your date?” he asked, and I looked at him with wide eyes.

  “I don’t even know if I’m going, dude, I haven’t—”

  “No, answer the question. You clearly want to, and I know you don’t own anything nice. So…” he drawled, leading me over to the suit jackets and button-up shirts. They were all fifty cents apiece. I glanced between the racks of clothes and him, and he met me with a smirk and a shrug, the spikes on his shoulders brushing his gauged ears.

  “Ugh, fine,” I huffed. Titi shuffled back over to us, and Ronan was all too eager to tell her about my date. He left out the part where it was with another man, thank Christ.

  “Oh, well it is spring! Light blues would look best on you!” Titi began pulling shirts off the rack, handing them to me for my approval. No matter how right Ronan was, I still felt overwhelmed. I picked a shirt at random, a plain blue one, and handed the rest back to her. I gave her two quarters and a shy smile.

  We made it the four blocks home, pausing only to debate whether we should take the elevator or not. It worked some of the time, but our elderly neighbors once got stuck in it for five hours because the doors wouldn’t open. We decided to haul it up the five flights of stairs.

  By the time we reached our apartment, we were doubled over, our lungs protesting violently. We finagled it through the door, somehow. Tiberius began barking wildly, hair standing up on his back as he rushed out of my room. He quickly turned to wags and happy feet as he saw us.

  “Move, my dude,” I told him as we hauled the recliner next to the sofa. We immediately broke into laughter. It was so fucking ugly.

  We still had no coffee or dining table, but it was getting there. As Ronan flopped to the new recliner and I to the couch, he pulled out his phone and shot me a smirk. He turned his screen toward me, a YouTube video already playing.

  “That’s him,” I exclaimed, snatching his phone from him. He was dancing to a pop song I didn’t recognize, his movements fluid and graceful. It looked like he was in his house since the room he was in was too small for a dance studio.

  “I keep tabs on talent in the area,” Ronan explained as I watched, enraptured. “Sullivan is really good. His channel is pretty small, but the video you’re watching went viral a few years back. It’s the only one though. He does vlogs and shit now.”

  The video ended, and I looked up at Ronan, awestruck. I tapped his channel name and saw the vlogs Ronan had been talking about. He had put one up yesterday morning, and the title immediately caught my eye.

  “Super Hunk Tibby featuring Self Reflection,” I repeated, more to myself than to anybody else. I tapped the video, and it buffered for a moment before opening up to him running. I swallowed tightly as he complained about his hamstrings, the camera focusing on his ass.