a heart's end

Thirty Three

Monty

I was at Jean-Claire's kitchen table studying for my biology exam when she came up behind my and tapped on my shoulder.

"Does this look okay?"

It was Saturday night, about two hours before Auden's party. I talked to him about it a couple times and he said it's a very upscale club, and he's buying for everyone. How he has that money, I do not know. I also don't know what I am going to wear, and I'm kinda worried about that.

The reason I was getting a little worried about my outfit of choice is that Jean-Claire had on this extravagant two piece, sparkling sequenced dress on. I had on jeans.

"You look beautiful, Jean-Claire. I like that shade of black on you."

"Dummy, all shades of black are the same. Black is black."

"Not true." I stood up and walked a couple feet to the bathroom. "I feel very underdressed." I washed my hands and splashed some water on my face. It was a couple hours before we had to be there.

    "Yeah, you are. Here, let me see if Lynn has anything you can wear." Lynn is Jean-Claire's girlfriend. I've never met her, since she's been gone to visit her family in Japan the last couple months.

    "Um, Lynn is a girl. I don't think that's going to work." I walked into her bedroom and sat on her bed.

    "Monty, I've never seen Lynn in a feminized piece of clothing since I've known her. And I know for a fact that she owns a couple suits. They might be a little big, but it's better than jeans.

    Thirty minutes later Jean-Claire has me in this royal blue navy suit, black shirt, black tie, and is now slicking my hair back. Very 1950-esque.

    "You need a haircut, Monty." It's true, I haven't gotten my hair cut since I've arrived in New York back in August. It currently was a little past my shoulders. I still couldn't grow a beard.

    "Alright, we better grab a taxi before we're late." Jean-Claire checked the time on her Apple Watch. Almost eight. With a spritz of cologne and last minute shoe troubles, we were out the door.

    I realized that if Anaelle was going to be here tonight, she would see me with Jean-Claire. I don't know what she would think, hopefully not that we were together. I would have to pull her aside and assure her that Jean-Claire is a lesbian, and my heart only belongs to her.

    It smelled like cigarettes in the taxi. Jean-Claire offered me one. I puffed on three of them in the ride to the club, thinking that if these truly were stress relievers for some people, they definitely were not for me. I felt a hand on my knee and turned to face the culprit.

"Don't be nervous. Just talk to her when you see her."

"Monty!" Auden exclaimed, followed by a quick handshake. He kissed Jean-Claire's cheek as Daisy came up to us.

"I'm so glad you could make it." She spoke with silk wrapped in her voice, and I caught a glimpse of her perfectly white teeth.

"Daisy," I leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Beautiful as always."

"Monty, stop." She swatted my chest and blushed. I looked around the room and everyone was quietly mingling among themselves.

"Wow, Auden. You rented out the room."

"Well, I have a lot of guests. And just because we're in the back doesn't mean service won't be great, so help me God."

Auden had a way with words that could build him up, or make him the biggest drama queen. That last sentence was the latter.