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out!"
    Chris blew a kiss when the cold air hit his back.
    Before the door closed, Chris saw Jason catch the kiss.
    * * * *
    Back at the model house, Chris was astonished at how interested his roommates were to help him out. He'd come home such a bundle of nerves and excitement. The other models, pleased to see him without the gloom, went out of their way to brainstorm and facilitate the perfect date.
    His idea would take a lot of finagling, but his roommates were more than willing to help. He didn't have a lot of money. Though he considered tapping into his student loan funds, he thought of the accusations he'd thrown at Jason. Being irresponsible now seemed hypocritical.
    Fortunately, his roommates had all the connections he needed to get his plans hammered out on a budget. Sebastian, either out of guilt or apology, handed Chris a phone, putting him on the line to someone who could make the date extraordinary.
    * * * *
    One of Chris's roommates, a barrel-chested Armani model named David, worked for a limousine service. He managed to wrangle a few minutes away from a paying client in order to drive Chris to pick up his date in style.
    Chris stared out the window, hoping Jason would be waiting, and if he was, to catch the look on his face when the limo pulled up. They turned the corner slowly, the long car having trouble negotiating such small streets. But once they'd made it through the maze of traffic and narrow streets, Jason was in view.
    Under the lamplight stood Jason, adjusting the long top of his golden hair. It was pushed back with a thick black band, curls spilling from the back of his head. He wore a fuzzy cream cashmere sweater that grazed his thighs. The collar gathered near his face in a cowl neck. He also had on a long vest made of peacock feathers. The feather collar stood up, tickling his chin. The bottom was also graced with peacock feathers that fluttered in the wind.
    His blue jean-colored leggings were too tight to crease and treated with metallic paint, written over by a graffiti artist in bold yellow, lime green and orange. His customary stiletto boots were glossy black, with eggplant-colored legwarmers on top.
    Jason noticed the limo and watched it curiously, shifting so his long strands of turquoise beads caught the light. He was so beautiful; Chris couldn't wait and rolled down the dark window. Jason brought his leather-gloved hand to his mouth.
    "Chris! You can't afford this!"
    Chris grinned. "What, do you think I'd take a sexy man like you on the subway?"
    "Yeah, I kinda did."
    Jason reached for the door, but Chris jumped out to help him into the car. "Those heels on the subway?" Chris laughed. "I don't think so."
    Jason shot Chris an amused look and said, "A man after my own heart."
    "Yes, that's what I'm after."
    "And now we're in cheesy land." Jason stepped gracefully into the car and Chris squeezed in beside him.
    "Not much has changed, then?"
    Jason draped his arm around Chris. "I like cheese."
    "I knew I should've gone with fondue." He squeezed in closer. The feathers tickled him, but he bit his lip and bore it.
    "You are such a fucking dork. I don't know what I'm going to do with you."
    Chris took Jason's hand and pulled up his glove so he could finger his name on Jason's wrist. Jason tensed but he didn't snatch his arm away. They fell quiet. Chris inspected it.
    "I really didn't…I mean, I don't know what you see in me."
    Jason relaxed his arm and sighed. "I don't know either. You seemed so earnest. You laughed with no sense of irony. Maybe I was high. I thought you were so pure, so untouched by the city."
    "What do you think now?" Chris held his breath.
    "I think maybe you were too untouched to know when someone was using you." Jason turned his arm so Chris couldn't see the tattoo and pulled his glove back up, then wove his fingers with Chris's. "And maybe I was suspicious you'd put one over on me on behalf of Sebastian."
    The car stopped. They had arrived. Chris slipped out of the seat,