“You guys make the perfect couple,” gushed Cynthia as we drove to the restaurant after the wedding rehearsal.

“Thanks,” I said.

It had been a long road for both of us. I still couldn’t believe we had made it this far. It seemed like ages ago when we met for the first time. That night we had known each other all our lives but we were strangers at the same time. It was ten years ago. I had just turned eighteen when my group of senior friends decided to go to Ft. Lauderdale for spring break. All the wildest parties were happening there and we were going to experience everything. The drive down was incredibly long. At least half the day was spent on the road. By the time we got to our cheap motel we were hungry, cranky, and more than anything we were itching for some fun. We dropped our stuff in the one room we were all sharing, unpacked only our bathing suits and rushed out to seaside.

The ocean was breathtaking but we weren’t there for the view. My friends and I wasted no time in hitting the strip. Every club seemed to be overflowing with beautiful women and muscular studs, something for everyone in our group. Actually I was the only one who was interested in guys but there was no way I could let my friends know. I just tried to act like a pussy craving teenager whenever my friends were around.

That night after we went out to eat everyone returned to the hotel room to change and shower for the night’s events. Choosing where to go turned out to be harder than it should have been. Everybody wanted to go to a different club. I claimed I had a headache and said I would stay in for the night. In reality I wanted to check out Ovations, it was supposed to be the hottest gay spot. After everyone left I got myself ready and went off in search of my kind of fun.

Ovations was overflowing with guys. Never in my life had I seen so many gay men in one area. They all looked like they were straight out of a GQ magazine. In spite of my own good looks, I felt terribly unattractive. I thought the guys were staring at me because I stood out and not because they were interested in a slim twink like myself.

Several guys looked my way but no one approached me. I really was beginning to feel like the ugly duckling, when I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“Eric? Is that you?”

I turned around and nearly dropped my drink at the sight of my brother’s best friend standing right in front of me. After I got over the initial shock I put down my drink and wrapped my arms around his neck.

“Oh John it’s so good to see you,” I said nearly bursting into tears at the sight of a familiar face.

“What are you doing here? Do you know what kind of place this is?” He asked.

I looked down as I answered, “Yes I know what kind of place this is.”

“Well who are you here with? Do your parents know you’re here?”

He was always so protective over me. In school he was two years ahead of me but for those two years we were in the same school he always looked out for me. I always wondered how come he never had a girlfriend.