Monday I head out to a popular restaurant for lunch with a co-worker named Jason whom I've gotten to know well. I'm so happy when I see Grace walk into the restaurant. Hopefully she's alone and can come sit with Jason and I. Shit . She is definitely not alone. She's with David . She's giving him her sexy "if I could lay you down right now, I would stare". I lived in the the same apartment building with David when Grace and I dated.

I don't want to see Grace cozied up to some guy in the booth. Especially a prick like David. He thinks nothing of saying cruel things about people if he feels like it. Why Grace, why? You deserve so much better! Quietly, I finish lunch and try hard to be focused on my job. I wish I didn't have rehearsal after work. Even though I'm friends with all the other drag queens, I just want to go home and feel sorry for myself.

I arrive at the venue which we refer to as The Sequin Palace on show nights and our act is The Living Dolls."Hey there, Sexy Slut!" hollers Cora Set, another drag queen when I get to rehearsal. Cora loves saying things that might make people uncomfortable. That's just how he is.

"Cora, I'm not in the mood." I sigh. I can't shake the image of Grace and someone who is so beneath her. If Grace had a new guy who was nice, it would pain me, but not like this.

"Aw, have a little fun." he pouts.

"This is rehearsal time, not fun time. "I put on my six inch heels and wig.

"Damn you're crabby! What gives?" Dee Dee Desire, another Doll demands to know.

"Never mind!" I snap.

"Let's all shut the hell up and practice our new finale." suggests Cora.

We rehearse it but I'm not in it one hundred percent. Everyone knows it. "Okay Gary, what's on your mind?" asks Cora.

"Grace is dating an asshole." I quietly reply.

"Is that all? What the fuck does that have to do with you?" replies Dee Dee.

"I still care about her."

"How about I introduce you to my cousin? She's nice."

"I'm sure she is. But no, thank you."

Friday night:

I'm feeling a little better tonight. The shock seeing Grace with David has worn off some even though I'm still not happy about it. And anyway, The Sequin Palace is ready to accept her fans. Us Dolls are done up. My music starts. Singing, because Virtue never lip syncs, I strut onto the stage. There's no way I'd tell the rest of The Dolls, but I have the best strut here and such an amazing voice. More than a few fans have said I should be a professional singer. That's nice to hear but I'm such a good accountant that quitting would be a shame. Anyway, there's no room on MTV for a bawdy drag queen.

Grace isn't here tonight. Lately she has been here more. Halfway through my performance, I realize that I'm not performing at my best, because of the Grace shit. I begin to force myself to flirt with the audience, crack my little jokes and vamp it up the best way I know how. Then I go out to the parking lot to sell cassettes out of the trunk of my car. Still in my Virtue outfit I sell them to my fans. They also buy my 8x10 photos. Penelope took those photos. She's my go to photographer.

A car pulls into the parking lot David is driving and Grace is in the passenger seat. This is going to be interesting. They get out. Grace says with a smile, "Miss Virtue, I'd like to buy a cassette."

Not wanting to break character , I reply,"Of course, Darling." I sign it for her: To Gracie, With all my love, Virtue.

David sighs. "Really, Grace? You made me pull over so you can buy a cassette from a freak?" Grace ignores him. "Are you a bottom or a top?" David laughs at me.

"I'm always on top-of your girlfriend." I retort. It's something I'd never be able to say dressed as myself. David notices Grace laughing. "You think that's funny? Well, your slutty ass can find your own way home!"

"I don't need you for a ride or a fuck!" Grace insists. We watch as David glares at her and drives off into the night.

"Would you like a ride home?" I ask

"Yes please. May I buy you a drink on the way ?" She asks.

"Why not?"

We enter the bar, making quite the sight because I'm still in costume. One drink turns into two, then three...