QColumn: A Gay In The Life: The Great Compromise

The Great Compromise
By Steve Prince
It took me a week to get him to say yes.
But he finally did.
“If it’s that important to you,” Peter said with a shrug, “then I’ll go.” He leaned forward and kissed me tenderly.
It was that important to me.
Even though I tried to forget it, the party from last week was still fogging up my mind. Troy had apologized for what he had said, and I apologized for not respecting his wishes. We were fine, but still the fog remained.
I couldn’t help but wander if there was any truth to Troy’s words. In my experience, the things people say during fights are so hurtful, so shocking, well, because the things they say are usually true.
Were Troy’s words true, was I pissed because Peter wasn’t “out enough”?
So that’s why I brought up going out in West Hollywood. I knew that would be a bit of a stretch for Peter. He had never been.
When I asked him if he wanted to go out with me and the boys, he scrunched up his adorable face as if some foul stench had wafted by him.
“Pleeease,” I begged, wrapping my arms around his waist and cradling his amazing bubble ass with my palms. I knew this would be weird for him, but we had been together for several months now.
“I dunno,” Peter began to backtrack.

I looked at him. “I just want to go out for once where we both feel comfortable,” before I finished the sentence I began to kiss his neck.
I could feel his groin stiffen against me. Yes, I was totally manipulating him.
And that’s how I got him to agree. I have no shame, thank you very much.
Two nights later, as Peter and I got ready to go out, I couldn’t help but be excited. It had been so long since I had been out with a boyfriend. I couldn’t even remember the last time that had happened.
I looked over at Peter as he fussed with his hair. He was very particular about his hair. It was a cute quirk. I wondered what he was thinking. Was he nervous?
I remember the first time I ever went to a gay club. I was nineteen years old and my best friend Liz, who was such a queer deer, offered to take me. I was scared to death. I had no idea of what I was walking into.
We went to a place in Dallas called The Village. I remember as I walked into the dark club the initial shock of seeing guys dance together. I had never seen it before in my life, not even on television or in a movie. And then to see two guys kiss! I remember actually starting to get an erection right there.
However, the most shocking part of the evening was when we climbed the stairs to a small room in the back called, The Rose Room.
“What’s in here,” I asked Liz.
“You’ll see,” and with a flip of hair long blonde hair, she disappeared through a black velvet curtain.
As I walked behind her I held my hind, and Liz grabbed it and led me through the dark room. Suddenly George Michael’s Freedom began playing. In the corner of the room a corner opened and out stepped one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.
I then I realized it was a man in drag.
Her name was Sierra Nicole and I’ll never forget her. That night she was wearing only pasties to cover her nipples and her crotch. I remember thinking, “Where did her dick go?” I must say, there is something about the drag queens in Dallas…they just don’t get prettier than those ladies.
Peter’s voice brought me back from my memory.
“Steve,” he said, “have you seen my cologne?”
I pointed to the nightstand and smiled. Peter’s first experience at a gay bar was going to be much different than mine.
An hour later we inched our way into Weho, the traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard was it’s usual slow crawl at ten o’clock at night. We finally parked.
“Now where are we going again,” as Peter shut the car door.
“The Mother Load,” I responded.
The Mother Load is about the “straightest” bar in Weho. I hate to say it in that way, but I don’t know of any other way. Basically, it was just a bunch of masculine looking gay guys hanging out drinking beer. There weren’t any drag queens or even go-go dancers. It really was just a bar, with a pool table, darts, and guys who actually had body hair.
As we walked in, Troy and Alex caught our attention. As I snaked through the crowd towards the back, I held out my right hand. Peter accepted it.
I’M HOLDING HANDS WITH MY BOYFRIEND…IN PUBLIC!!!
I know this makes me sound ten years old, but I couldn’t help it. It was exciting. I could see on Troy and Alex’s face they were surprised.
As I turned back to look at Peter, he smiled back at me. Awkwardly but he did smile back at me. After saying our initial hellos to the guys, Peter went to the bar to grab a beer.
As soon as he was out of earshot Alex jumped.
“Oh my gawd,” he said, his accent tilting the words, “he actually came.”
I beamed. “I know.”
Troy put his arm around me, “I’m real happy for you, Stevie. I mean it.”
Troy still felt bad about what he had said, which was silly. We had talked about it and I’d forgotten about it. Still, it was sweet that he cared.
Peter returned with drinks for all of us.
“Okay,” I said taking a beer, “but just one. I’m driving.”
As the night progressed, that was the only beer I had. Although, I couldn’t say the same for Peter. By midnight, he was obviously tipsy. I have to say though I didn’t mind. The more he drank the more affectionate he became. In fact, on the way to the bathroom he had pinned me up against the wall, and we made out a bit. It was so hot.
We chatted and they drank, all the while Peter seemed to be relaxing more and more. I looked at my watch. It was almost one. I looked at Peter.
“Are you ready for bed,” I asked.
He smiled and slipped his hand down the back of my jeans on my bare ass. “Yeah,” he cooed, “but were not sleeping.”
“Okay, boys. We gotta go.” You didn’t have to tell me twice. Besides, I was afraid if he stayed longer Peter would drink more. Super drunk Peter meant no sex for me.
We said our goodbyes, as I hugged Troy he whispered in my ear, “Don’t get pregnant tonight.”
“Hush,” I said, “I’ll name it after you.”
He smiled back at me, and I could tell that now he finally felt comfortable around me again.
As Peter and I walked out of the bar, Peter looked around the sidewalk.
“Which way, babe,” he asked pointing and spinning in circles. He was tipsy and oh so cute at that moment. I pointed right.
And then, Peter surprised me. As we began to walk, he took my hand in his, and pulled me into him. And we walked, right there in the middle of West Hollywood…right in front over everyone. Wow, look what a little compromising does, I thought.
We walked in thoughtful silence for five minutes before Peter spoke.
“Tonight was fun,” he said.
“Yeah, it was,” I responded.
Across the street a group of guys were running around carousing. The looked really drunk. As Peter and I stood, waiting for the light to change I watched them cautiously. Something told me they were up to no good.
“Let’s walk this way,” I said, pulling Peter.
“Stevie,” he asked, “why? The car’s this way.”
“I know,” I said, but he cut me off.
“The sooner we get home,” he pulled me into him and whispered in my ear, “the sooner I can make love to you.”
Again, you don’t have to tell me twice. The light changed and we crossed. Most of the groups of guys had crossed to the opposite side of the street, but two remained on the corner. As we walked by I tried to ignore them and my hand gripped Peter’s a little tighter.
As soon as we had passed them, one of them spoke. It was a mumble but it cracked like thunder from behind me.
“Fucking faggot ass, bitches. Holding hands like fucking girls.”
Peter’s hand left mine before I could even tighten my grip. I heard a sickening crunch accompanied by a yelp. I whirled around, the fond memories of the night quickly becoming a nightmare.
Can things ever work out for Steve? Does life really have to be this dramatic? Come back next week for the conclusion…
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Years after moving from Oklahoma, Steve Prince is still acclimating to the gay scene in Los Angeles—he’s a slow learner. By trial and error and a lot of sex, his mission is to make the uncomfortable, comfortable. Also it should be known that he is gayer than butt sex.
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Previously, on A Gay In The Life:
The Birds and The Birds
Lyin’, & Twinks, & Bears—Oh My!
Going Public
Christmas in July
Luck Be A Lady Tonight
I Left My Heart In Oklahoma
As Luck Would Have It
Shock & Awe
Blame It On Britney
The Unending Journey
Makin’ Copies
Bullets and Bracelets… and Lube
To Tell The Truth…
Stars Aren’t Blind
The Dark Knight
Come As You Are
A Date?
A Happy Ending
Better Than Nothing
A Man With A Slow Hand
Taking The Long Way
Everybody Knows
Wake Me Up, Before Ya Go-Go
Definition
The Best
The Upper Hand
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
2000-Date
Dick The Halls
The Queer Dear
A Night At The Museum
A Conversation
I’m Just A Girl Who Can’t Say No
Change The Way You Feel
Kissing A Fool
Leo The Lamb
The Elephant In The Room
Zuckerman’s Famous Pig
A Birthday Surprise
The Sleepover-er
SP Phone Home
Out of the Frying Pan and into the Closet
What If…
Just Beat It
Intimate Portrait
Intimate Portrait (Part Deux)
Intimate Portrait (Part Trois)
State of Mind
The Age of Disbelief
A Man For All Seasons
Summer Lovin’
A-Men
The Urge
Gettin’ It Done
Here You Cum Again
Eye Of The Beholder
The Present
A Minute’s Pause
Brotherly Love
Ladies Who Lunch
Here Cums The Rain Again
Dinner For Two
Blow by Blow
Commando
Cum As You Are?
Aftershock!
Caught in the Act