There it is.

“You have to meet the rest of the crew, and the majority has to like you to be welcomed in.”

A popularity contest. “Like a gay sorority?"

“Exactly," Nikki smiles, not picking up the undertone. "So let's get you introduced to the rest soon. I honestly think they’ll like you, but sometimes they do surprise me. Hopefully, they see that we should snag you before you get famous on Drag Race or something.”

“Oh no,” Cameron laughs, hands warding off the imaginary possibility. “I’m not trying to get that popular. Just make enough to support myself.”

“Valid. Jazmine tells me you probably make your outfits, yeah?”

To think that Jazmine guessed that about him, made the ginger blush. He hoped the rising heat on his cheeks would be taken as bashfulness, and not a reaction to a certain girl’s name.

“Yeah. Gran was a seamstress and a big believer in making do. Taught me how to fix clothes since there were no girls for the longest.”

“Would you be willing to help out the other girls? Not for free of course.”

“I-I’d love to. It’s my favorite hobby.”

“Amazing. These hands can only fix so many hems last minute. And I’m not that good,” Nikki admits with a snort.

“We all have our things. So what about you? What hobbies do you like?”

“Marrying people.”

Cameron fought like hell to not let his mouth drop open. Blinking a few times, the ginger tries to carefully remove any judgment or shock from his voice as he responds, lest he piss off the queen.

“Uh…y-you’ve been, uh, divorced multiple times?”

Instead of getting angry, the older student snaps their head and cackles wildly. A few onlookers shake their heads knowingly, as if it were a common occurrence. Cameron couldn’t help but let out a small laugh himself as Nikki slapped his thigh a couple of times, the performer’s eyes bright with unshed tears as he took deep breaths.

“Oh god, that was a good one,” Nikki huffs as he wipes at his eyes. “I didn’t mean getting married. I meant being the officiant for wedding ceremonies. In full drag.”

“Ooooooh.”

“Yup. It’s one of the services I offer. And really addicting to my romantic heart.”

“Aww, that’s cute… What are the other services you offer?”

“I have an OnlyFans and sorta do cam-work.”

Noticing the queen’s slightly tensed shoulders, Cameron shrugs. 

“The bills don’t pay themselves.”

“Damn right,” Nikki agrees, sitting taller in the chair once again. “Some people get weird, but I’m trying to get into and out of a master's program with the least amount of debt.”

“Totally get it. I did a couple of private parties to pad my savings before I moved here. The old men are always frisky.”

“Old bastards are the same no matter where you go.”

“Mhmm!”

“But speaking of frisky…are you dating anyone?” Between Nikki’s brows wagging so cartoonishly and thoughts of his track record, Cameron couldn't help but snort.

“En to the oh.”

“Bad breakup?”

“You could say that. Back in January.”

“And no one at Anderson has caught your eye so far? Like, no one has tempted you to dip your toes back in?” 

“...I’m not saying I’m blind, but I don’t think I have a chance.”

“With who? Amari? A random classmate? A–”

“No! Uh, no…” Cameron couldn’t help but glance at the table Amari and Jazmine occupied. The former seems to be in the middle of telling a story, the junior nodding thoughtfully as she sips her coffee. To Cameron, she looked gorgeous even as she spilled a little on her shirt.

“Oh. My. Lanta. You like Jazmine.”

Whipping back to Nikki, the ginger could see how sure the older student was. There was no point in lying. 

“Yeah, but I—“

“Whoa. Wait a second. Back. Up. You’re not gay,” Nikki quietly gasps. 

“I like bottoming,” Cameron says defensively, like there was anything to defend. “Outside of that, it’s a free-for-all.”

“Huh,” Nikki sighs, shoulders softly hitting the backrest. “You like her.”

“As much as one can, considering I just met her. And I know I don’t have much of a chance—”

Nikki holds a hand up, and Cameron immediately stops, much to his annoyance.

“Who says you don’t?”

“Uh. Reality. Look at her. She is…”

“Stunning? Yes. But why wouldn’t you have a chance with Jaz?” Nikki asks, brows pushing together as if confused. Which only confused Cameron more.

“Are you seriously encouraging my delusions right now? You’re her friend.”

“I sure am. And I also have great instincts. She’d eat you up like a Twinkie.”

A sudden flash of images makes his face feel on fire, and Cameron could only open and close his mouth a few times as he tries to bury the salacious ideas. 

“Oooh, you got it bad,” Nikki grins as he stretches out the last word. 

“I-I, this…uh. What?”

“Babes, Amari and I have been trying to get her to date again for a while. This is perfect.”

“Wait—“

“You’re literally her type. Feminine. Smaller than her. Not to forget, a real ginger,” Nikki counts off on one hand, evilly smirking as he catches Cameron’s gasp. “Ooooh yeah. She’s always had a thing for redheads, but never dated one.”

Mentally, Cameron questions why they were even discussing this. Out loud, the ginger finds himself asking, “Ever?”

“Mhmm.”

“You sure?”

“Honey, yes,” Nikki whispers as he grabs Cameron’s hand. “But there is one thing that might take you out of the running. What’s your political typology?”

“Uh…well, I don’t really agree with either major party. I’d define myself more as a socialist—“

“Amazing! You’re going to be catnip for Jazmine.” Cameron doesn’t expect the candid photo, nor for the drag queen to pull up the notes app. “Now what’s your full government name?”

“Huh?”

“As much as I like you, I will need to do my research on you both for my homegirl and for the drag house. So full name and date of birth.”

“Uh, um, C-Cameron Oliver McNeil.”

“All spelled normally?”

“Yes?”

“Cool. Anyway, what’s your skin care routine?"

“Uh…”