Chapter Seven

“Oh my,” was all Ryan could say as his eyes scanned about the room, trying to take in everything he was seeing: around him are dozens of obvious drag-queens in every get up from Cher to Dolly. There are the requisite real women, the “Grace” to most of these males “Will” and there are even a few straight couples sitting in booths although they are few and far between. Everyone is watching a queen sing a stunning, if not dramatic, version of Kelly Clarkson’s “Because of You.” There is a DJ booth along the right of the large room, and a kind of dais with karaoke equipment is set up on the wall directly across from the main entrance. Along the left of the entrance is a sleek, black bar with large man dressed in yellow spandex and a curly black wig serving drinks.

Ryan wasn't embarrassed or even uncomfortable, just startled. He had had a deep appreciation for the gay community, you can’t be in theater in New York and not have at least a few gay male friends, and his ego is always stroked when he’s in a bar like this. Apparently he is a very good “type” for many gay men. Although she never moved too far away, Kaylin was the hit of the bar, getting hugs and kisses from patrons and staff alike. Her outfit was praised over and over, and she was asked to spin more than once. Her laughter was warm and authentic and she held his hand the entire time allowing him to pirouette her while he laughed and offered to shake each person’s hand and even accepted hugs when they were offered. Kaylin referred to her friends as ladies and introduced Ryan as her date; just the act of her using such simple term made his smile widen. They were escorted to small booth to the left of the stage by a host-ess? wearing the most skin-tight dress he’d ever scene.

“Sweetheart what can I get you to drink while you wait?” she crooned, looking down at Ryan as Kay got herself situated and waved across the crowded room. Ryan looked to Kaylin to go first, but realized he was the one being addressed: they obviously know what she wants.

“Ah, what kind of beer do you have?”

“The foamy kind,” the hostess quipped and let out a bang of laughter.

“I’ll take one!” he laughed in response and settled in.

The Kelly Clarkson singer finished the song and everyone clapped politely when suddenly, over the speakers came a shrill Valley Girl voice, “Oh hell no!! Kaylin McSandsen get your skinny ass up here!” and the bar eruptted in applause.

Ryan looked over to his date, who is has hung her head, but was smiling broadly to herself. He raised his eyebrows in mock-surprise, and urged her on, “Your audience awaits!!” he laughed and, although she shrugged, Kaylin began to scoot off the booth and to saunter to the stage.

“Ya’ll know I’m here on a date, right?” she quipped into the microphone, adjusting it to her height, “don’t make me look bad!” She smiled out to him and he leaned on the table, he’d only heard snippets of her singing voice at the audition, but couldn't remember it from any of the other fifty or so women he heard that day. “What’ll it be tonight, Buffy?” Kay asked, rocking her head in the direction of the DJ, and Ryan saw that behind the DJ booth is a petite blond man dressed in preppy beach wear: it’s Spike, dressed as Buffy, of course.

Immediately the music starts up and Kay looked down at the TV positioned in front of her, reading the title of the song chosen. She smiled and closed her eyes dramatically, holding on to the mic. “You always pick this one, dear.” The crowd clapped again as Kay tossed her head to let her long hair fall down her back before leaning into the mic.

“She rings like a bell through the night and wouldn’t you love to love her?” Kay sang the lyrics of Rhiannon from memory, looking around the room, her voice accurate and sensual in a way that he thought only Stevie Nicks could.

Kaylin finished the song and the bar went crazy, Ryan clapped along with them and whistled loudly, almost knocking over the beer that has been brought over. Kay smiled and took a bow saying thank you to the people sitting around her showering her with praise. She walked over to the DJ booth and then both Kay and the DJ, Buffy, looked his way. Kay skipped over to their booth and pulls Ryan up. He gave a faint protest, but was happy to do it; he was a performer after all. As he approached the dais, Buffy looks him up and down.

“Well…well!!” came the voice again over the speakers. “Whaddya goin’ sing, babe?” Ryan faced Buffy, and looked Kaylin’s way. He said something that Kaylin couldn’t hear from her place at the table, but Buffy was smirking deviously and over the speakers came, “Oh Kaylin…I like this one! There’s been a request for you…”

She went back over to the karaoke machine and Buffy handed her the second mic. The music started to play and she took her place next to Ryan who was looking fairly smug, but she recognized the music immediately as a Stevie Nicks duet with Don Henley. Their voices melded into a sweet harmony and Kaylin became suddenly nervous; she didn't want to mess this up: this song, or this night.

Chapter Five

“Not much of a drinker, are you?” Ryan commented, finishing his cheeseburger and motioning to the waitress to bring him a refill on his beer.

“Not at all. I guess I had my share of drinking when it was still illegal,” she smiled taking a sip of her iced tea. They had eaten at a small bar around the corner from the theater; it’s a small place whose customers are usually the theater and art people dropping in for good bar food at odd hours. They spent the entire meal laughing and casually talking like old friends which, in reality they are: they’ve each seen the other at numerous auditions, through friends, and even managers’ offices.

“So, you’re from Ohio, you’ve been here for ten years, and now you’re about to open a major show directly on Broadway. You’re the American dream, baby!” they share another laugh as Kaylin considers what he has said: she’s been so wrapped up in preproduction red-tape that, with the exception of going out with some friends to celebrate, she hasn’t had time to ruminate on the significance of her goal, her dream, coming to fruition so completely.

“You know, I never thought about it like that. Well, I have, but not lately,” her eyes flickered around the room, avoiding Ryan’s gaze, “I don’t have family, so except for Saturday with Kaitlyn and all, I haven’t really let the impact hit me.” Before Ryan had a chance to take note of the sadness that skimmed across her eyes as she said it, a light voice came from over Ryan’s shoulder.

“Kaylin McSandsen, you uppity bitch,” Ryan snapped his head around to see who was talking and found behind him a petite, blonde man wearing a leather jacket and red scarf. “You haven’t returned my calls, too good for your old friends, now?” there was a slight British accent to the man’s voice, and a broad smile came across his face; he was joking and moving to get around the table to where Kay was seated. Ryan turned back to Kay and she was grinning.

“I’m awful, I know,” she stood up and embraced the man – who appeared to be a bit shorter than she was and she wasn't very tall, “but I haven’t talked to anyone. Tell him!” she motioned to Ryan. “Ryan, this is Spike. Spike, this is Ryan, another friend whose calls I haven’t returned.” Spike extended a delicate hand to Ryan.

“My name is Stephen, but they call me Spike. It’s a Buffy thing,” Spike laughed and turned his attention back to Kay. “Well my dear, you are to come by the bar tomorrow. I will not HEAR of you turning me down” Spike said as he tenderly reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Kaylin’s ear for her. From across the bar, the bartender announced that a to-go order was ready for pick up, and Spike perked up, kissed Kay on the cheek before spun around to dash off to the bar.

“That’s my food. Darling, you had better show up!!” He called over his shoulder. Once he was safely behind Ryan, Spike gave Kaylin a two thumbs-up sign and mouthed, “Hottie!!” and went off to get his food, leaving Kaylin standing, chuckling to herself beside her seat.

“I’m sorry about that,” she giggled, “but it must be nice to know I wasn’t just avoiding you.” Ryan was amused by the entire encounter, and his easy-going personality took it all in stride. Based on what he saw from the patrons of the clubs they visited that Saturday, he had a feeling hanging out with Kay would be like this a lot. She knew a lot of people and didn’t meet anyone she didn’t treat like a friend.

“No problem. But I can’t believe you haven’t been running around the streets of New York this last week shouting about your role!”

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I was told the PR guy from the theater would be 'in touch' with me, and then I'd have interviews and stuff, but for now I've been too busy to breathe!”

“Well, I was going to ask you to do something on Saturday, but since you’ve already gotten orders,” they laugh and his voice drops an octave, his eyes turning serious, “when I can I see you again?”

Looking over his shoulder to see Spike mouthing HOTTIE again as caught her eye before walking out the door, Kaylin leaned across the table on her elbows. “Tell you what, if you would like, why don’t you come with me on Saturday? Spike deejays a bar that does karaoke on Saturday nights; it’s a little place, not many people, but they’re a part of my entourage. If you wouldn’t feel out of place I’d love for you to come too.”

“Consider it a date then. Should I pick you up?” he leaned back in his seat to reach into his back pocket for his wallet to pay the bill.

“Sure, here’s my address,” she looked around the table for something to write on but, giving up, grabbed a pen from her purse and wrote out a short, street address on one of the dollar bills he was putting down as a tip. “Around 9 ok?” She stood up and began to pull on her coat. Ryan stood up, effectively putting himself directly in front of her by only a few inches.

“You know, that might be considered the third date, if you consider Saturday a date,” he says letting his hand go to her waist, under the jacket before she can zip it up. She puts one hand on the back of his neck and kisses him quickly, but heatedly.

“It might be,” she throws back to him demurely, biting her lip and pulling on her gloves and hat.