Drag Show Denied

Rita

Outside the rain was falling in disarray and knocking against the window panes in a great panic to get in. I hadn't noticed until a few seconds later that it was actually Will who was in the panic to get in, so I hurried my way to the door and unlocked it. He bustled past me into the safety of the bar without so much as a greeting. My welcoming smile fell, he was obviously aggravated and I was not about to pretend to be a particularly hospitable person for his sake if he was going to be this way. "Nice to see you too, pal," I said while closing the door. He grunted, slid off his coat, and wiped his glasses. Underneath the coat was a tall, lean frame. His body wasn't every girl's dream but his hair certainly was- thick, gold locks fell short of his ears, and gave him the "in" unruly look of the pretty boy, but the glasses and the everything else deterred from that image. "What's the matter?" I asked, popping a seat at the bar. "David. Again." Oh god, there was no telling what was his deal now. "What's happened?" He slammed a hand down. "Won't let me put the drag show on. It's too "vivacious" for this s**t hole of a place. I thought I might put in some effort for once and help, I thought I might try to muster up a different rep for here than the fucked one it has now, I thought 'Hey, maybe this fresh new idea can attract the better crowd, the bigger crowd, just the type of party people we need here!' But no, no he says, because it's just too goddamn vivacious for him." He spit this out with venom in his voice, and I allowed it, because there was no better Will than the Will that's pissed off. Pissing him off is my favorite thing to do nowadays. "He's right you know, can't have those queers in our world-renowned bar." I used sarcasm to the umpteenth degree. Nevertheless, he threw daggers at me with his eyes. "I'm just kidding," I added a little exasperated now. "You know what, let's just do it anyways. Let's do it and watch his panties get in such a f*****g wad he won't know what's become of them." He scoffed. "Wonderful suggestion Rita, really, but I'm not looking to get my a*s fired any time soon." "Yeah well screw David. What else is new with him anyways?" At that, Will's faced completely changed to one of realization. What could he possibly have forgotten to tell me in his monologue of hate? "That actually reminds me, I've hired someone and they're working as a fill in bartender for me." Oh no, no I don't like change. Not change that big anyways. I tried to speak slowly and clearly to indicate he's stupid, which in all honesty wasn't untrue. "Look, Will, I don't understand why you won't let me help from time to time. I know you just got promoted at- what was it, that Serbian restaurant?- well anyways, what you're doing right now is very, very dumb, and I could do the job perfectly fine for less. You know I'm in between them now." Really, why couldn't he let me help, and who was this newbie he's bringing in? "I really don't wanna discuss this right now. I've told you a million times I have my own reasons for not hiring you, and it's nothing against you, it's really not, but the only job you can do here is perform every few nights." I must've looked hurt because he rolled his eyes as if I was overreacting. "You've never told me what these 'reasons' are." I slumped onto the bar and let out a loud groan, one of annoyance. "That's for me to know and for you to find out," now it was my turn to roll my eyes. "That's so overplayed Will. I guess I'll just live off of bar scraps and pocket money for the rest of my life, because you won't hire me." Will let out a hefty sigh. "Don't be ridiculous." There was a silent moment where I motioned him to fetch me a drink, my regular, which was a mimosa. And like a teenage girl agitated over her loser ex-friend showing up at her party, he sighed again. To break the silence I decided to ask the question that was eating away at me. "So tell me about this new person. What're they like?" He set the drink in front of me. "Her name's Naomi. She's charismatic and confident, so I think she'll be a valuable asset to us. I don't know much else but that she used to work as a chef at the Garage before it got shut down." I've always liked the Garage, it had a nice atmosphere and good music. "That's all you've got on her? Jesus Will, are you sure she'd be better than me? I'm charismatic, I'm confident." Neither of these statements were true. "Neither of those statements are true. Trust me, we talked, and she's perfect for us. In fact, she should be here later tonight. Promise me you won't bite her head off." I gave him a sugary fake smile. "Of course I won't," not literally, anyways. I don't like new people so this won't be easy. I downed the rest of my mimosa and left for my apartment, where my cat Hoggle was not eagerly waiting, but rather annoyed that the door had interrupted his path of destruction on the toilet paper. I wondered what Will had in store for this new girl. I wondered if he even knew what he was doing.