Hooper had blown up a small section of the picture, so that only the spot where Blue the bartender could be seen, while he mixed the drinks, and the tray he was setting them on.   

First he mixed the margarita and put it on the tray.  Then he poured the scotch and added a splash of water after he put the glass on the tray.  He turned away, to grab the blender for Blake’s drink; you could see him stirring it with one of those long spoons.  As he stirred the container, a second bartender bumped into him causing him to slosh the contents on the floor.  As Blue rushed to clean up the mess, the second bartender turned and dropped something into the scotch.

“You were roofied man.”

Ian didn’t buy it.  “That had to be someone else’s drink.”

“No man, think about it.  It hit you quickly and it lasted for a good 12 hours.”

“Why would any one want to spike my drink, Hoop?  That doesn’t make sense.”

Hooper leaned back on the couch and laughed.  “Aw man, you are so stupid.”

“Thanks, buddy!”

“No man, I mean you have no idea how you affect people.  This dude obviously thought he’d be able to get in your pants.  Thought you were hot, figured you were straight, so he slipped a little something in your drink and was probably planning on chatting you up, feeling you up and having a good time a little later.  It happens more often than you think.”

Ian was still having a little trouble understanding it all.  “There were two things this dude did not count on, buddy.  First and foremost, how fresh from the convent you are and secondly, that just about the time the roof kicked in, you’d be heading towards a very public stage to get funky in front of a crowd.”  Hooper patted Ian on the shoulder.  “You okay with this, Ian?”

“I’m not sure I understand, I mean, I understand but it just doesn’t make sense to me.  Why would this dude…”

Hooper tried not to laugh, “Ian, ol’ buddy, you just can’t comprehend one man finding another man attractive.  There are a lot of gay guys that aren’t very nice people; just like a lot of guys aren’t very nice to the women they prey on.  You just need to face the fact that you ran across one.”

“Why are you showing this to me, Hooper?”

“Because we are friends, and I know that you are going quickly up a ladder in the fast track, and you are still a little naïve.  Keep your eyes open bud, you don’t want to end up missing a rung and falling so far down you can’t get back up.”

The gentle warning stung Ian, and he understood exactly what Hooper was getting at.  He even felt worse because he thought Hooper’s intentions were something different.  “Thank you, Hoop; I guess I’m very lucky that I only ended up a hunka hunka on stage.  It could have been worse.”

“That was definitely one of my favorites.  I’m just watching out for you, buddy.  When I see this guy again, I’m gonna have a long chat with him…”

“I’d say leave him alone, but I certainly don’t want him trying it on someone else.  Next time, some one could get hurt.”

“Exactly.”

“Hoop, can I just