From across the room, I see Corey and Simone, a Black girl with a nearly shaved head who I recognize from the wrestling team, and wave. They’re sitting with a small group of kids—some who I recognize and some who I don’t. I think I missed the boat on Prism, but I’m starting to wonder if maybe I haven’t always been so alone and if, in reality, there’s been this little queer network all around me.

The muscled man from the front door takes the stage and he’s greeted by a few wolf whistles and squeals. “Now, come on, y’all. I damn well know y’all aren’t here to see little ol’ me. Put your paws together for the one! The only! Leeeeeeeee Way!”

A shorter queen who I think might be East Asian struts out onstage. She’s dressed in a gold fringed sequin shift dress and her blond wig looks like it could potentially be half her body weight. “Welcome, welcome, welcome to amateur night!” she sings into the microphone.

“I just got chills,” says Alex.

Hannah whoops loudly, catching us all off guard.

“You know her?” I ask.

She smiles slightly, and it’s too dark to see if she’s blushing, but the way she covers her cheeks with her hands makes me think that she is. “Lee’s an old friend.”

I shove her shoulder. I can’t believe I never knew. This may be my first drag show, but I’ve definitely heard of Lee. She’s a West Texas legend. “You buried the lede here, Hannah!”

She shrugs. “I didn’t want to get y’all excited in case she wasn’t here. I don’t know.” She shakes her head. “Besides, it’s been a little while. She might not even remember me.”

“You’re not very easy to forget,” I whisper to her.

She takes a big sip of water from her plastic cup, searching for anything to do besides respond to me, and even though Hannah likes to pretend she’s an old gay pro, I can tell this night means something for her too.

“But first,” Lee says. “Y’all know I’ve got to christen the stage with a song. Dale, give me something to work with. And last call to sign up for tonight’s main event! Sandra has the clipboard up at the bar.”

“Oh my God,” Kyle says. “You should totally sign up, Waylon. Give Pumpkin Patch time to shine.”

“Pumpkin Patch is currently on hiatus.” And then, because it strikes me as a possibility, I say to the entire table, “But I swear on Carmelo, RuPaul, Lady Bunny, Divine, and every other drag icon imaginable, I will kill any of you if you even dream of signing me up without my express permission.”

Clem nods solemnly and Kyle’s lower lip protrudes in a pout.