Recently several people have asked me, on and off of tumblr, how my boyfriend and I met. So here is the tale:
It was Midsummer '13, pretty much literally. I was single and trying to be better friends with the few [single] gay men that I knew (I have trouble maintaining friendships with [single] gay men... even though I am a gay man). My friend Andrew just graduated from SMCM and was back in Baltimore for the summer. The perfect opportunity.
We talked about hanging out and he mentioned that Grand Central was having an event called Toxic, a Britney Spears themed night. He needed someone to go with him. I gladly agreed, even though I am not really a Britney fan. I have nothing against her, I just mean in the sense I have never been to a show of hers, bought a cd/song of hers, etc. I know her music and do not listening or dancing to it.
Another thing, I wanted this to be purely a friendship building thing. So I told myself that I was absolutely NOT going to go home with anyone or try to flirt with anyone (although I can not intentionally flirt, it always happens when I am not trying to flirt.)
We got to Central early, and there was a cheap drink deal, so I helped myself to several beverages while Andrew and I sat and talked at the bar. My [straight] friend David was texting me random trivia about Britney Spears to help me fit in (it was cute). The night was a lot of fun, Andrew and I talked a lot (and I drank a lot... as per usual).
Eventually my friends Kevin and Jaren met up with us. (They are a gay couple that are friends with my brothers and I.) For some reason, they had a rose with them. They gave me said rose, and I tucked it into the pocket on the front of my tank top (I have recently remembered this part). For a majority of the evening, whenever a gentleman approached me to dance or talk. I would explain that I was "spoken for", as the rose ~obviously~ implied, but was still willing to non-sexually/romantically talk and/or dance with them.
Eventually a(n apparently well-known) drag queen came on the stage to do a Britney impersonation. It was apparently really good, but I do not really remember. During that time I got a little separated from my friends, searching for a better place to watch from the crowd. My rose must have fallen out. And my memory turns into one big blur. I have flashes of dancing with this cute guy with eyes so blue they shone through the darkness of the club. Man, this guy was so excited to sing along to Britney. It was kinda adorable.
Suddenly my memory picks up with Andrew, Kevin, and Jaren telling me that I should stay (they were leaving for the night). The guy was cute. They did not mind. I insisted that I did not want to leave them. That going home with someone was not the intent of the night. They told me it was fine and I should go with the guy (I did not really need that much convincing, but I tried to put up a fight at least).
Next thing I know, I am at Never On Sunday's, next door to the club, and I have just shoveled two slices of pizza down my throat (I can eat an entire large pizza in less than 14 minutes). For some reason the boy is still smiling and talking to me. I did not shatter his ideal of me with my... enthusiastic... pizza consumption.Â
I go home with him.
The next morning I smile the entire train ride home excitedly texting my friends about this "silver fox" I met last night (he started going gray at age 17).
We have a "real date" at Stang of Siam in Mt. Vernon later that week. I once again inhale my food in front of him. He is sober, he is still interested.
And thus, our relationship begins.Â
The hookup that never ends.