OUT

Chapter 38

Thursday, March 19th 2015

'Absolutely not,' Jack said, sitting up in the bed, 'are you taking the piss?'

'What?' he said defensively, 'it could be fun!'

'No way. No feckin' way.'

Paul laughed aloud. They were lying in his bed scrolling on their phones. Jack had stayed the night again, something he found was happening a lot more now even though they hadn't done anything apart from kissing. They lay apart in the massive bed, although Paul was rubbing his foot against Jack's leg under the covers.

He was talking about Sissy's Open Mic Drag Night in The George, a night where people who didn't do drag or those who were trying to break into the Dublin scene would perform to the audience for the chance to win a regular weekly slot in the nightclub. Ciarán had said it was really just to give them a break from performing, but it was always one of the biggest nights of the year for them.

'There's prize money too,' he said, turning the phone to Jack and showing him the promotional poster that was circulating on Facebook for the event. 'I was at it last year, the standard really isn't that high.'

Jack laughed, 'could you imagine me in a pair of fucking heels?'

'I'd pay to see it.'

'Oh fuck off.'

'Ah c'mon. I'll do it if you do. You might surprise yourself, and the winner gets a grand!'

'That would be handy, in fairness,' Jack admitted, he couldn't believe this conversation was even happening.

'So it's a yes?'

'What? No. It's a no!'

Paul shoved his phone under his pillow and rolled over in the bed, wrapping an arm around Jack's torso and resting his chin on Jack's chest, feigning the puppy-dog eyes to him. Jack tried to maintain a stone-cold stare, but eventually cracked a smile.

'Give me one good reason why you wouldn't just do it for the craic.'

'Because I'm not a drag queen.'

'Neither am I, sure!'

'Are you gonna do it?'

'I really want to, but I wouldn't do it by myself.' He looked at Jack suggestively.

'Who would even do my makeup? I don't have a wig, or any clothes.'

'You live with a drag queen, Jack! I'm sure Ciarán would help ya, no bother.'

'True.'

'Will you at least think about it?'

'Ugh fine, I'll think about it.'

Paul smirked and kissed Jack on the chest. He couldn't believe this conversation was happening and he couldn't believe he had just agreed to consider it!