Worth A Shot - 2. Chapter 2

“I don’t want to go to Daisy’s party.” That’s an understatement; it’s a bit like saying, ‘I don’t want to burn to death.’

“Sweetie, you have to go. It’ll look bad if you don’t,” Ben says as he metaphorically strikes a match.

“It’ll be bad if I do,” I retort crossing my arms defensively.

My pyro boyfriend is undeterred.

“Honey, please. Matt’s my best friend. There’s no way I’m missing his party, but I really don’t want this to cause us any problems. Everyone is expecting you to be there. If you aren’t, they’ll think we had a fight. I don’t want that, do you?” He finishes rhetorically as he looks at me with puppy dog eyes and douses me in gasoline.

“Daisy won’t even want me there,” I point out making a last ditch effort to blow out the match.

“So you’re just going to let him win by keeping you away?”

‘Well played Ben,’ I conclude as I burst into flames.

“Fine.” I concede, slumping down onto the side of the ornate bathtub – there’s no water in it unfortunately – as Ben goes to work styling my hair.

It’s Saturday night now and unfortunately we’ve long since gotten out of bed. It’s Daisy 22nd birthday on Tuesday, but of course Saturday is a better party night so the ‘festivities’ are being held tonight. First a small dinner party at Cosmo and Giorgio’s place, then a larger shindig at Bender’s.

“What did you get him?” I inquire idly as Ben runs his gel slicked fingers through my hair.

“A new summer outfit! Want to see it?” Ben asks lighting up.

“Not really,” I respond truthfully.

“Ohh, fine then,” Ben responds shortly.

“Ouhh,” I exclaim a moment later as the hairbrush catches a patch of hair and then strikes my ear when Ben pulls it loose.

“Sorry,” he offers unconvincingly, then continues, “By the way, I signed both our names on the card and the gift is also from both of us.”

Well, I have to admit that seems like a pretty good deal for me. I’m spared the time and money of picking something out – not that I could have afforded it anyway – and I still get credit for the gesture. Unfortunately the only gesture I want to give Daisy comes with a rather prominent middle finger attached.

“Thanks sweetie,” I offer with a small smile.

“No prob,” he answers as he rubs my neck, and then puts the finishing touches on my bangs. Hairstyling definitely goes better when I’m nice to him.

“How many people did you say were going to be at the dinner?”

“Just the two of us, Matt and Eli, Jose and Doug, and Dave and Juan” Ben answers as he stands me up, straightens my collar, and centers my belt.

Eli and Doug are names I’ve never heard before; they’re probably just the most socially acceptable of Daisy’s and Giorgio’s recent bedmates. Juan I’ve heard Cosmo mention before and I’m looking forward to finally meeting him. They met at an HIV support group meeting, and I’m really hoping something develops between them; Cosmo deserves it.

“Have you met Juan before?” I ask.

“No, this’ll be the first time. Dave seems pretty interested though.” Ben responds with a big smile as he puts on his watch, turns out the light, and leads us down the hallway.

I guess it’s time to hop on the pyre.

“Hey Dave,” Ben says with a smile as Cosmo opens the door to his and Giorgio’s home in the museum district. Actually it’s Giorgio’s home.

“Hi guys,” Cosmo says grinning as he first embraces Ben and kisses him on the cheek, then repeats the friendly greeting with me. “Com’ on in!” he says as he leaves one arm around my back and ushers me inside behind Ben.

“MMMM, I can smell everything from here,” Ben remarks regarding our dinner as he puts an arm around Cosmos and the three of us walk into the living room arm in arm with Cosmo in the middle.

“Thanks, I hope ya’ll like it. But more importantly I hope the birthday boy here likes it,” Cosmo says as he beams at Daisy.

Daisy glances up from his position on his date’s lap and catches sight of us.

“Ben!” he exclaims with what comes about as close to a sincere smile as could form on his face. Rising he comes around the couch and makes his way toward us.

“Happy Birthday, sweetie!” Ben responds warmly as the two embrace and kiss briefly on the lips. It’s their standard greeting, but it still makes my blood boil.

“Look what we got for you,” Ben says pointing in my direction where the large gift bag is hanging from my wrist.

Daisy regards me like I’m Greek and then cautiously takes the gift I’m bearing.

“Thanks Ben,” Daisy says still ignoring me as he takes his gift and places it on the bar with the other gifts.

“It’s from both of us, Matt,” Ben insists for once trying to force Daisy to acknowledge my existence in a positive light. Pity Ben’s lying about the gift.

“Thanks Aaron,” Daisy says curtly in my direction.

“Hi Jose,” Ben says to Giorgio as he receives another hug and kiss.

After breaking the embrace with my boyfriend Giorgio regards me suspiciously before finally offering me his hand to shake.

“Hello Aaron,” he says formally.

“Hey Jose,” I respond as I shake his hand, surprised that he’s bothering with me at all, and embarrassed about my unintentional rhyming of ‘hey Jose’. I always call Giorgio Jose to his face. I mean look at the guy he’s huge! I don’t want to piss him off anymore than I already seem to.

“Let me introduce you boys to everyone,” Cosmo says breaking the awkward silence between Giorgio and me.

“This is Eli,” he starts, indicating the blond guy whose lap Daisy was gracing minutes before.

“Hey Eli, good to see you again. I think we met at Rich’s party a few weeks ago,” Ben says as he greets the preppy looking man. Damn, babe! I’m surprised you can even remember being at that party, yet alone anyone you met there.

“Oh yeah, good to see you again, Ben.” I can’t tell whether or not Eli actually remembered Ben or if he simply covered well.

“Eli,” Eli repeats his name as he grasps my hand and smiles. Yeah, Eli, I was there too. Thanks for remembering...okay, I don’t remember him either, but still...

“And this is Doug,” Cosmo continues as he indicates the slender, dark-haired twink currently snuggling against Giorgio’s chest.

“Hi!” the boy enthuses in a high voice as he extends his hand to Ben and me in turn, giving us old lady style handshakes.

“And this, is Juan,” Cosmo finishes proudly as he slides an arm around the muscular, well-dressed Hispanic man who has just approached holding a glass of water. Juan looks to be in his mid-thirties and as he gives us each a firm handshake he seems to channel a quiet poise and dignity.

With the introductions out of the way Cosmo hurries to the bar and gets me a Coors, then turning he asks, “Ben, what would you like tonight?”

“I’ll have a 7 and 7,” Ben answers.

“Can I get anyone else a drink?” Cosmo asks as he retrieves a 7up from the fridge and then goes about mixing Ben’s drink.

“I’ll have one,” Daisy answers.

“Me too,” Doug giggles.

“So will I, but let me help you, cariño” Giorgio says using his nickname for Cosmo and standing to make his way to the bar.

“So Aaron, what do you do?” Juan asks casually. In the background I can hear Cosmo telling Giorgio what Doug was drinking. Typical, Cosmo’s paying more attention to Giorgio’s date than he is.

“Ben,” Daisy interjects.

“Yes?” Ben asks.

“No, I was answering Juan’s question. Aaron does Ben.” Daisy says with a smirk.

“Matt.” Ben reproaches in a low voice as I blush.

“I actually meant what does he do for a living,” Juan says smiling good-naturedly at the joke.

“Oh trust me, that’s how he gets the bills paid,” Daisy answers briefly glaring at me, before giggling at Juan.

“Matt!” Ben chides angrily as his eyes spit fire.

“What? I’m just kidding. Besides, it’s my birthday. Can’t I have a little fun?” he responds innocently as he takes his drink from Giorgio.

“You’re not angry with me are you, hun?” he asks Ben with a soulful look.

“No, of course not,” Ben answers taking a seat next to him on the couch and pulling me down on the other side.

Yeah, don’t worry about me guys; I’m used to be called a whore.

“I’m a student,” I answer giving Juan an embarrassed look just as Cosmo returns holding his own drink in one hand and allowing his free arm to resume its position around Juan’s waist.

“Dave...” Juan says quietly as he takes note of Cosmo’s cosmo.

Name reproaches sure are popular in this crowd.

“What?” Cosmo asks borrowing Daisy’s innocent tone and puppy dog eyes.

“You said you were finished for the night,” Juan answers.

“It’s Matt’s party,” Cosmo says with a shrug and a dismissive laugh. “Doug, where did you get that belt? It’s adorable!”

I don’t catch his reply, or the next several minutes of the conversation as I consider what’s going on. Evidently Juan is uncomfortable with Cosmo’s drinking, but why? Everyone – except Juan himself – is drinking, and Cosmo is a perfectly pleasant drunk. I can’t know for sure, but I suspect he’s even pleasant sober. Why would Juan object?

It’s then that I remember Ben’s words about where Cosmo and Juan met, an HIV support group. That didn’t actually make a lot of sense since I was unaware that Cosmo attended any, but I wonder if this is related. Are people with HIV allowed to drink as much as Cosmo? Wait a minute is ANYONE allowed to drink as much as Cosmo?

“Where did you guys say you met?” I interrupt the conversation suddenly. Everyone turns to look at me and Daisy gives me a particularly icy glare. I think I just messed up a joke he was telling. BONUS!

“At Bender’s,” Doug responds kissing Giorgio and snuggling further into his lap.

“I meant Cosmo and Juan,” I clarify.

“Cosmo?!” Juan questions staring between the two of us.

He looks less than pleased. Meanwhile, Cosmo looks like he wants the floor to swallow him, and Ben just jabbed me in the ribs with his elbow.

“Sorry,” I mouth to Cosmo before returning my attention to Juan. “It’s just my nickname for him.”

“I figured,” Juan answers. Oh yeah, that’d be the problem, huh?

“Um, anyway I was just curious about where you and Dave had met.”

OUCH! Fuck Ben, what did I do that time? Oh wait, Cosmo looks even more upset and Juan is starting to look flustered too. Oh man, Giorgio looks like he’s ready to throw me through the window and even Daisy looks uncomfortable at this point.

I turn and look into Ben’s eyes hoping they hold the answer to why everyone’s staring at me like I just announced Cosmo had herpes or something. Granted I just all but announced he was an alcoholic, but please! Half the people in this room are.

It turns out Ben’s eyes do hold the answer as he directs them pointedly toward Eli and then Doug, both of whom are looking expectantly and curiously at Cosmo and Juan.

Oh CRAP! I didn’t just announce Cosmo has herpes; I announced he has HIV!

“So then the doctor says ‘you’ll have to take the butt-plug out first’,” Daisy suddenly says in a loud voice.

Everyone turns and looks at him in shock for a few moments before Ben starts laughing. Then Giorgio, then Eli, and gradually everyone else until the whole room is in an uproar. It takes me a few more seconds but I gradually realize that Daisy must have decided to finish his joke. Leave it to Daisy to make a situation LESS awkward by using the phrase ‘butt-plug’.

I look to Cosmo to try to apologize and notice him discretely mouthing, ‘thanks’ to Daisy. Daisy just shrugs and mouths back ‘my party’ before slipping his hand into Eli’s.

“I need to go and check on the lamb,” Cosmo announces.

‘I need to go on the lam,’ I think as I realize Giorgio is still glaring daggers at me.

“Let me help you, Dave,” Ben offers quickly standing up and shooting me an annoyed look.

Ben can’t cook his way out of a paper bag so I’m pretty sure he intends to apologize to Cosmo for me.

“Eli, would you like another...?” Giorgio begins the question noticing Eli’s empty glass.

“Crown and Coke, yes please,” the good looking blond answers, reaching around Daisy to hand his glass to Giorgio.

“Anyone else?” Giorgio asks.

My own glass is empty, but I have no intention of asking Giorgio for a drink.

“I’ll have more water please,” Juan says. “Looks like Aaron is dry too.”

“Dry and boring,” Daisy interjects. Eli coughs slightly and looks uncomfortable. Doug giggles and Giorgio smiles slightly and starts to walk away.

“Yeah, I think I will have that drink,” I pipe up, nodding appreciatively at Juan. What are the chances Giorgio would poison one of his guests?

Daisy rolls his eyes then catches Giorgio’s gaze as he says, “¡Justo lo que necesita el idiota! ¡De por sí actúa de esa manera sobrio, y ahora pide mas alcohol!”

“Es insoportable, y si lo avergüenza de nuevo no importará que sea novio de Ben, lo echaré de aquí,” Giorgio says.

This is nothing new; Daisy isn’t Hispanic but he speaks fluent Spanish and he and Giorgio often use it around me. Call me paranoid if you will, but based on the way they keep glancing at me I think they’re talking about me.

“Es de mal gusto hablar de la gente en otro idioma. Para.” Juan interjects into their private conversation. Oh great, now I’ve got three of them to deal with.

“Preocúpate de lo tuyo,” Giorgio says to Juan looking annoyed.

“Hazlo de nuevo y empezaré a traducir,” Juan replies.

“What’s going on?” Eli asks Daisy quietly.

“Nothing, hun; we’re just talking about the weather,” Daisy answers sweetly.

“Yeah, El Niño is causing a lot of trouble,” Giorgio says with a slight sneer in my direction before stalking off to the bar with the empty glasses.

“Dinner’s ready,” Cosmo calls out as he walks from the kitchen carrying a large bowl of vegetables in one hand and a large mixed salad in the other. Ben walks out moments later carrying a delicious looking platter of lamb.

“Let me just go and get the rice and bread,” Cosmo says as he hurriedly arranges the food on the table and heads back to the kitchen.

“I’ll carry the bread for you,” Ben volunteers following Cosmo back into the kitchen.

A few minutes later everyone is seated around the table with a plate of food and, thanks to Giorgio’s continuing efforts, a full glass. Everyone except Cosmo that is…

“Hun, will you fix me another drink?” Cosmo asks Giorgio as he hands an obviously tipsy Doug his third drink of the night.

“Sure, Cariño,” Giorgio answers.

Juan starts to say something but Giorgio’s glare silences him as Cosmo pretends not to notice the exchange.

The first half of dinner passes uneventfully with everyone making small talk or gossiping about mutual acquaintances. Ben seems to have once again managed to forgive my foot-in-mouth syndrome as he rests his hand on my thigh under the table. Doug is pretty drunk by now and getting very silly – and horny – as Giorgio struggles to keep Doug from undressing him in front of everyone. Daisy is practically holding court as he rattles off his plans for the evening and basks in the attention he’s receiving as the birthday boy. Cosmo is practically glowing with all the compliments his dinner is receiving – even Daisy made it a point to tell him how much he was enjoying it – and by now even Juan seems to be relaxed as he and Eli casually discuss the economy and the stock market. Yep, everything’s going smoothly. That is until Cosmo is once again faced with an empty glass…

“Excuse me for a second,” Cosmo says casually as he gets up and grabs his martini glass.

“Where are you going?” Juan asks grabbing Cosmo’s wrist, the one the glass is in.

“Just over here, sweetie,” Cosmo answers evasively as he pulls his arm free.

“Dave wait! What do you think you’re doing?” Juan demands as he stands up and once again grabs Cosmo’s arm.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Giorgio growls as he pushes Doug away and rises to his own feet.

Ignoring Giorgio Juan continues in a desperate, frustrated voice, “Damn it, Dave! You’ve got to take better care of yourself! Or do you want to drink yourself into an even earlier grave?”

Cosmo looks like he’s getting pretty emotional, and at the end of Juan’s speech Giorgio decides that he’d heard enough. He quickly leaves his position at the opposite end of the table and makes his way toward Juan, fire in his eyes.

“Jose, leave it to them!” Ben insists as he jumps to his feet and steps between Giorgio and Juan and Cosmo.

“I...I just want another drink,” Cosmo says in a broken voice.

“Yeah, well you have another drink, Dave, and when your T-cell count is in the toilet you can just go ahead and have another drink, and then ANOTHER, but sure as hell don’t call me. I’m not going to sit here and watch you destroy yourself; we’re over,” Juan says coldly as he brushes by Cosmo and heads for the door.

“You Goddamn bastard!” Giorgio roars as he pushes roughly past Ben – then more gently past Cosmo – and bears down on his target.

“Look this is-” Juan starts as he turns around clearly not expecting Giorgio to already be so close. He wouldn’t have had the chance to finish his sentence anyway though as Giorgio’s left fist slams into his right eye.

“Eeugh,” Juan groans as he stumbles back and falls against the wall. Giorgio quickly pins him against it and takes the opportunity to punch him in the gut. Juan’s head starts to fall forward but Giorgio grabs his throat and pushes his head back against the wall.

“Jose stop!” Cosmo screams from across the room.

“Just let him go. Please,” Cosmo tries and fails to suppress a sob as he says the word ‘please’. Ben’s arms are around his shoulders now and he’s trying to get him to sit down.

Giorgio’s face drops as he looks at Cosmo, then he returns his glare to Juan.

“Listen you fucker, if you ever go near him again I’ll break your neck,” Giorgio hisses through clenched teeth, then, as if to emphasize his point, he slams Juan against the wall one more time before releasing him and striding off down the hallway. Moments later a door slams announcing in no uncertain terms that Giorgio is done socializing for the evening.

Juan shakily returns to his feet, takes a breath to calm himself, then puffs out his chest and resumes his well-possessed manner as he once again walks toward the door. Just as his fingers touch the knob he turns around and gives Cosmo one last look.

“Take care of yourself, Dave...please,” he says as he opens the door and unceremoniously exits through it.