When You Call My Name by Tucker Shaw

Author:Tucker Shaw [Shaw, Tucker]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

BEN

Ben plans to say goodbye to Justin at Canal Street and turn back toward Gil’s, but when they get to the intersection, Justin is in the middle of a story, so Ben keeps walking with him.

“I only had five bucks left after paying the cover,” Justin is saying, “so I flirted with this guy who bought me a vodka tonic, but it turned out that he was there with his boyfriend so I ditched him. Anyway, Candis Cayne and Girlina performed, and Mona Foot. She was so fierce. Connie Girl was supposed to be there, too, but I didn’t see her. I didn’t get home until five and of course I had to be at a shoot by nine. I wanted to die. But a drag show at Boy Bar is worth it. You know what I mean?”

“I’ve never been there.”

“Really?” Justin sounds surprised. “How old are you, anyway?”

“Eighteen.”

“Really? I thought you were my age. I’m twenty-one. But sometimes I feel like I’m thirty.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I feel like I’ve done everything already. I’ve been going out every night since I was, like, fifteen. Since the Private Eyes days. Danceteria. I just get tired of it, you know? But then I’m like, you know what? I’m young. I’m supposed to be going out! And so I go back out.”

“I know what you mean,” Ben lies. He doesn’t know what Justin means at all.

They walk all the way up the west side to the Christopher Street pier. They stop and look across the river, out toward Jersey City, glowing in the last rays of the sun. A group of guys is gathered way out at the end of the pier, spinning and vogueing to music Ben can’t hear.

Justin leans up against a concrete road divider a little farther up. “Do you want to smoke a joint? I have pinner in my wallet. Just keep your backpack on in case we have to run.”

Justin lights the joint, inhales, and hands it to Ben. Ben takes a puff and feels a tingle in his feet. It travels up to his head. The warm breeze coming off the river feels nice.

“Where are you from?” Justin asks.

“I live in Tribeca,” Ben says.

“Are you kidding? No one lives in Tribeca.”

“I do. But I want to move to the East Village.” He takes another puff, stifling a shallow cough as he exhales.

“I live on Avenue C and Second Street. Right next door to the World. You know that club? You should go there one of these days, too.”

He hands the joint back to Justin. “I’ve never really been to any clubs at all.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know.”

“This is New York,” Justin says. “If you want to do something, all you have to do is do it.”

Ben isn’t sure what Justin means, but he likes the sound of it. He likes being here with Justin.

“Shit,” Justin says, looking at his watch. “I have to jump. See you at another shoot soon, okay?”

“Okay,” Ben says, smiling dreamily at Justin.

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