“Kurt I promise! Your going to love this place. One of the girls in my class’s was telling me about it, its suppose to have a little bit of something for everyone.”

“Wait, I thought you said all the girls in your class’s were stuck up talent less bitches, who wouldn’t speak to you?”

“When I say telling me about it, It was more of ummm… over hearing I guess.. But that is besides the point! Kurt Hummel we have been in New York for 3 months now and have yet to do anything fun.”

“Rachel, once again I need remind you. YOU have been in New York for 3 months, I have only been here for a week! So Chill!!”

Kurt wasn’t really sure why he let Rachel talk him into going to this new club, he hated the party scene. It was always the same thing, alcohol, sex, alcohol…then probably more sex. It was just not his cup of tea, He wanted more out of life than a quick hook up. He’d been asked for his number and out by one or two guys, but no one who really caught his attention. Everyone here was so…fake. Don’t misunderstand now, he was a young hormonal man, but what’s wrong with wanting to have a conversation with someone first.

They made their way down the street from where the taxi had dropped them, following the sounds of the music and peoples voices. The outside of the building was huge, roped off entrance, bouncers at the door, long ass waiting line.

“Ugh Rachel we are NEVER going to get in. I did not get dressed up just to stand in line all night!”

“Maybe it’ll move fast, and we’ll only be out here a few minutes, yea that’s it”

Kurt knew that the chances of that happening were slim to none. He glanced down the ally that ran alongside the building and saw two men leaving a side door, carrying out trash. He noticed how they propped the door open while they were away. Grabbing Rachel’s hand he took off running while they had their backs turned and darted into door and down a dark hallway. At the end of the hall way they found curtains, pushing them aside to see a huge open room. The lights were different colors and flashed in sequences, their was a bar on each side of the dance floor. In the front of the room, which you would see if you came in the right way, was a sort of lounge area mostly open, but with a few booths that looked like they could be closed off with curtains. On the opposite side he noticed several raised platforms, on each were live dancers, but that wasn’t the oddest part. On the center Stage was a women in a mini skirt, heels and a white lacey blouse. He wasn’t sure how but he didn’t think it was possible for someone to dance like that without breaking her back and especially in heels.

Gathered around her platform were all these men just watching and throwing her money. It took a moment for this to set into his mind, turning to Rachel in shock.

“YOU BROUGHT ME TO A STRAIGHT STRIP CLUB!?!?!”

“What?” She looked past him to what the girl dancing .. Mouth open in shock. “ No, I had no idea that’s what this was, it was suppose to be welcome to everyone.. Look over their on that side!”

Kurt turned back around to look to see a male dance now, in hot pink briefs and a cowboy hat, gyrating on the other platform, surrounded by… men on the floor. Sure enough the third platform was a women, who was loving the attention from the women surrounding her as she danced.

“I’m totally confused right now. Rachel where in gay hell have you brought me?”

“See look, I told you it was something for everyone. Doesn’t matter what your label is here I guess, come on lets get a drink and have some fun.”

They found their way to the bar, ordering a water and diet coke, ignoring the odd looks the bartender shot them.

“Look, lets go sit down over there.”

They tucked in a little booth towards the side and watched as the bar slowly filled up with people. Kurt obviously didn’t know anyone here and really wasn’t sure he wanted to. He kept staring at his watch, hoping the night would end soon. He was exhausted after started his new internship, Isabelle had him running all over the place.

“Ladies and Gentlemen…and Flamboyant Gentlemen.” Kurt had to giggle at the announcement for a moment, this was so out of the ordinary he was still trying to take it all in until the speaker overheard went off.

“Hope all you lovely people are having a good time tonight, now please give a big hand for our first dancer tonight. You all love him, you all know him, give it up for Criss” The lights went out and then a soft blue spot lit up the platform in front. Kurt watched as a guy walked out on the stage and began to dance to the techno music playing, but he couldn’t help himself from staring. He was….damn. His hair was styled with way to much gel, but surprisingly it worked, had a body to kill for, and was clad in only a pair of baby blue and white tight boxers covered in pictures of bowties. He couldn’t bring his eyes to look away, he wasn’t sure if it was the outline of the muscles in his arms as he danced, the 6 pack abs, or the clear V shape that ran down his waist. The crowd was going crazy watching him dance, throwing money left and right at him, even allowing a few to slide money into his waistband. All Kurt could do was sit back and watch, he instantly regretted wearing skinny jeans, because they were clearly becoming a bit too tight in certain areas.

“Why do you think he’s wearing a mask?” Kurt had to stop and actually look now after Rachel’s question. How had he not noticed that you couldn’t see the guys face, he wore a a tiny black mask that covered just the area’s around his eyes, his bright green eyes. Kurt stopped the waitress just as she passed their table.

“Why is he wearing a mask?”

“Ha-ha, Kid are you even old enough to be in here? You didn’t think the place was called Masquerade for nothing did ya? All out spotlight dancers wear mask, and even some of our clients as well. I take it this is your first time here then?”

Kurt was little bit embarrassed and didn’t a horrible job of hiding it. “ Yea, I just got to New York week so I’m still taking it all in, this place is….nice.”

“New to the city huh, well then Let me give you a welcome gift…Masquerade style.” She turned and walked off to the bartender, whispered something in his ear that made him began to grin and nod in Kurt’s direction. She came back to the table carrying two black mask identical to the one the dancer had on.

“Here you go newbie, put these on and wait here will ya. She gestured him back into the booth farther, reached up and closing it off completely with black Curtains. Luckily there was no table just a moon shaped sofa that he and Rachel had been sitting on, but between it and the new barrier was about 5 feet of empty space. He and Rachel slipped their mask on giggling at this, for some reason the novelty in it made him laugh.

“ Oh my god we look ridiculous in these things.”

“Tell me about it, ha ha Here take my phone and take a picture of us. This is Face book worthy!”

They spent the new few moments taking pictures with each other, and cutting up. Kurt was starting to have a good time, even if it was under odd circumstances. He tossed his phone to Rachel who only barely caught it.

“Here Rach, Get me good side” He pressed his lips together to pose for what he knew would be a fabulous picture. Not realizing their was someone else in the room with them now.

“Well from where I’m standing, looks like you have nothing but good sides.”

Kurt jumped noticed the new presence in the room, and then shot Rachel wide eyed looks at the shock to see the dancer…what was his name..Criss standing between them. It dawned on him what he said and he couldn’t suppress the blood flow that was now rushing to his face.

“ awww don’t be embarrassed, I only speak the truth. Both of you actually are quite beautiful If I must say so. “

Rachel couldn’t stop smiling while Kurt could only simply stare at the floor.

“Now. Which one of you is the newbie to the city? Hmmm” Criss looked around, the girl wouldn’t take her eyes of him but the guy on the other hand, couldn’t bring himself to look up at him. He knew right away that it must be him.

“I’m going to go out on a limb here and say its you. We have a special way of welcoming our new friends to the city. I just need you to sit back, and relax… and by all means…enjoy” He shot Kurt a wink , walked over to the wall, where a small screen lit up. He picked the song out and it began to play in the booth.

Rachel just sat back and watched it awe as Criss began to dance to Britney’s Womanizer. She had to hand it to him, the boy had moves. As the chorus went on she just stared across the booth at Kurt who looked frozen in horror as Criss danced in front of him.

Kurt couldn’t take his eyes off the dancer now, he was so close. All he had to do was just reach out and touch him. Seeing the apprehension on Kurt’s face, Criss giggled and in rush threw himself into Kurt’s Lap straddling the boys hips. He began to lightly grind himself into Kurt’s lap, watching as Kurt’s face reacted what Criss assumed was pleasure.

Kurt did everything he could to keep from moaning, he wasn’t sure what was going but he liked it. He felt the pressure leave his lap and had to restrain himself from whining at it’s loss. Criss just turned around to face Rachel, shooting her a wink as he went back to giving Kurt his personal Lap dance.

--------------------------------------------

Criss didn’t recognize the guy, but he liked what he could see. He clearly had a sense of style, and from the way his shirt fit his body, he was in nice shape. This whole thing had started as just a little bit of a tradition that Melody, the owner, had started when they opened. One of the dancers would come in for special guest, give them a nice show, and then leave with tips in hand. It wasn’t the first time he had to do this and it wouldn’t be the last, but something about this time was different. Masquerade had a strict no touching policy meaning, as a dancer he could get up on the guest with no restraint but they weren’t allowed to touch him back. It was mainly for their protection, but this time, in this booth, part of him wanted desperately for the boy to reach out and touch his chest, waist or hell even just his forearm.

He wasn’t sure where this all came from, it was new to him. Dammit, he couldn’t even see the guys face and yet he wanted to touch it. The song came to an end, and it was purely out of self control that he made himself walk away from the guy.

“And with that… Welcome to New York. Enjoy the rest of your night here.” He reached into the waist band of his shorts and pulled out a card. He always carried at least one on him at all times for situations like this. He reached down to the guys Shirt pocket and slide it in, winking at him and leaving the room. He had NEVER given out his Email address to a client before… He made his way to the dressing rooms, plopping down a stool in front of his mirror. Picking up a bottle of water, pouring some into his hands and splashing his now mask less face.

“Dear God, get yourself together man. Your acting like this is something new.”

He looked at his watch, his shift would be ending in about 15 minutes and he was more than happy to sit in the back, avoiding the glares of everyone out there who wanted him.

……………………………

Kurt woke up the next morning still in shock at the previous nights events. As soon as Criss left, he and Rachel walked out. Neither of the two could take any more excitement. You would have through they were a bunch of school girls the whole trip back to there loft.

He looked over at his clock, swearing under his breath. It was half past 7, he had to be at work 8:30 not to mention stop and pick up Isabelle’s Coffee. He rushed to get dressed and was out the door by 8. Apparently Rachel was already gone, since he didn’t see any sign of her in the loft before he headed out. He stopped at the coffee shop a block from the office, picked up their orders, ignoring the phone calls blowing up his cell. He knew it was Isabelle wanting to know where her coffee was.

“Hello, Yes Isabelle I’m in the lobby…..Yes I have your coffee….. Yes non-fat…..uh huh…. Right.” He hung up the phone and stepped into the elevator. He really did like his boss but she could be a real bitch at times. He rushed out of the elevator and around the corner, colliding with a mail room cart. The coffee he had been carrying was now running down the front of his shirt and slacks.

“UGH this day can NOT get any worse. Why don’t you watch where you park this thing…admit.”

“Oh My God, I’m sorry. Here let me help you with that. I swear I only stepped into the office to give Mr. Johnson his mail, I didn’t mean to leave my cart in the way. Are you ok?”

Kurt stepped back taking in deep breaths, he knew he had a temper at times and he knew how to reign it in. He stopped to glare at the mail room boy, marking his face to his memory. If Isabelle made him suffer for this, then by God, the shit will roll down hill!

“Ah man, I’m sorry. I ruined your shirt. Here, have it sent down to the mail room later today and I’ll have it dry cleaned for you. it’s the least I can do after all.”

The guy seemed like a nice guy, he had on a white polo shirt, black slacks, curly unruly black hair, but still cute and manageable, Black Rimmed Glass’s and….. The most beautiful Hazel eyes Kurt had ever seen.

“Umm Ok I will, thank you.” He headed off towards the office stopping as he realized he didn’t know who to send his cloths too.

“Wait.. Excuse me. I never got your name. That way some stranger doesn’t end up with my cloths.” The Mail Room clerk looked over his shoulder as he walked away with his cart.

“Just call me Blaine.”