Chapter 3 of Lex’s experience with his year-long self-imposed attempt at celibacy.
If you missed Chapter 2, read it here.

Portraits of Lex photographed for EVB by J. Yatrofsky

(718): Wassup?
(212): Hi, sorry, I got a new phone a while ago. Who is this?
(718): I’ll let you guess. The first letters of my name are A and P, and we’ve been in and around each other.
(212): Oh, haha, hey. What’s up?
(718): Nothing much. Wanna hook up?
(212): Still not down with subtlety, I see.
(718): Subtlety doesn’t get me laid ;-)

Subtlety is a good thing, in my opinion. It ups the excitement of flirting, and gives us a chance to work our other brain. The right glance can be enough to win someone over if only for a couple of hours. Flirting is how I keep my hand in the game. It keeps me sane. It’s a confidence booster. “I could get laid if I wanted to, but I choose not to.” The thing about flirting with a guy, though, is that he usually flirts back, and every so often he’s good enough to make me forget for a few moments that I will be going home alone tonight.

How do I explain to someone that I’ve been talking to for the last hour that I’m actually just being a cock tease for my own inane or selfish reasons? “Sorry, we can’t bone tonight because I was a slut-bag this summer, and right now I’m just entertaining myself at your expense.” I feel like that might be awkward.

What do I do when “why don’t we get out of here,” has been uttered and is floating by my ears waiting to be processed into a response? So many things are going through my mind: “He just made a joke using Unbearable Lightness of Being as context,” “I’m days away from four months of celibacy! one-third of a year,” “He’s so hot,” “Do I want to be the East Village bicycle,” “Uh, he’s so hot!”

Being coy and flirting gets me into trouble, then. Would it be prudent of me to cut myself off completely from any sort of romantic interaction with men, even chaste interaction? It’s looking more and more like that might be the case.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“I’m sorry, I’m here with my friends, and I really shouldn’t leave them.”

“Come on, it’ll be fun. I think we could have fun.”

“Sorry.”

“Suit yourself. Have a good night.”

Maybe it’s easier than I thought to get rid of people. Or maybe I’m just not as good as I think I am. Damn. “No Fuck” is crowding my style.

I have to admit I’m not much of a winter warrior. Maybe being born in the spring explains the reason behind this. I’m definitely happier in Speedo than smart wool, that’s for sure. I do like snow, yes, but “naughty snow” isn’t what I’m here to chat about.

The one thing about winter I love, however, and I know this will sound all adult and dare I say romantic, is staying with Andrew, my older gentleman friend, in his cabin in Vermont. It usually starts with a text message and ends with me and Andrew knee-deep in animal pelts and big fluffy down pillows in front of a roaring wood fire. This is where I write to you from. Yes, deep in the woods, cozy in front of the fire. Don’t hate. I do, however, have on my red hot Speedo’s - all the better to poke the fire in, that’s what I say. Enjoy the winter and keep cozy…

To spring 2010! Love, Dick

East Village Boys Log Cabin Mix - Dick William [ download ]

Christmas Time Is Here (Alternate Vocal Take) - Vince Guaraldi Trio / Merry Christmas Baby - Banjo or Freakout / The Last Christmas - The Favours / Come Closer - Salma Agha / What Did He Say - Nite Jewel / Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want - She & Him / Billie Holiday - Warpaint / What Does It Take - Pillow Talk / Sugar Man - Rodriguez / It’s Alright - Little Red / Feel It All Around - Washed Out / Time For Us All To Love - Bullion / Can’t Hear My Eyes - Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti / Naïve - Lily Allen / Waiting On You - Sun Airway / 1901 (live) - Phoenix / All Time High - City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
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This week’s East Village Boy of the Week is Johan, from Antwerp, Belgium
Photographs and artwork for EVB by Yves de Brabander
White historic corset by Cédric Jacquemym
Corsets and satin dress by Toon Geboers

A mix of strangely linked influences made me do this shoot with Johan. For several days in a row I couldn’t get rid of the song “Llorando” performed by a Portuguese singer in David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive. Every time I played the song, a mysterious and dark emotional image of a boy dressing up in designer corsets appeared. The year was 1945 and he lost his mother during the war… or something… shivers… anyhow… I met Johan at his vintage-decorated flat, Almodóvar soundtrack playing and his classic movie posters in the hallway, Mango’s Penelope Cruz billboards against the wall - I immediately knew I only had to follow my emotions and that’s what happened. - Yves de Brabander

Clothes: Opening Ceremony
Photography shot for EVB: Steven Chu
Fashion Editor/Casting: Marc Sifuentes
Grooming: Linh Nguyen
Models: Matthew V. [B1 Models], Keith Edwards

Clothing Credits:
1. Shirt, stylist’s own / Suede Cardigan, Opening Ceremony
2. Shawl Collar Cardigan, Opening Ceremony
3. Suede Cardigan, Opening Ceremony / Silk Shirt, stylist’s own / Polka Dot Tie - Alexander Olch / Color Block Cardigan, Dunhill
Tank - N. Hollywood / Herringbone Tipped V-neck - Dunhill  / Leisure Shirt with Tie - Dunhill
4 and 5. Navy Peacoat, Raf Simons for Fred Perry / Gingham Leisure Shirt, Dunhill / Engineered Fit Flat Trouser, Dunhill / Striped Shawl Jacket, Haversack / Tuxedo Shirt, stylist’s own / Prince of Wales Front Seam Trouser, B Store Consignment
6. Navy Jacket, Opening Ceremony / Shirt, Opening Ceremony / Prince of Wales Seam Front Trouser, B Store Consignment / Navy Peacoat, Raf Simons for Fred Perry / Engineered Fit Flat Trouser, Dunhill
7. Classic Double Breasted Blazer, Opening Ceremony / Buffalo Deluxe Shirt, B Store Consignment / Adan Chinos, Velour
8. Color Block Cardigan, Dunhill / Tank, N. Hollywood / Sharp Trouser, Hope / Herringbone Tipped V-neck,  Dunhill / Leisure Shirt with Tie, Dunhill / Pin Tuck Pant, Opening Ceremony / Shoes, Converse
9. Ribbed Leggings, Opening Ceremony / Shawl Collar Cardigan, Opening Ceremony / Sharp Trouser, Hope
10. Navy Peacoat, Raf Simons for Fred Perry / Engineered Fit Flat Trouser, Dunhill / Striped Shawl Jacket, Haversack / Prince of Wales Seam Front Trouser, B Store Consignment
11. Suede Cardigan, Opening Ceremony / Silk Shirt, stylist’s own / Engineered Fit Flat Trouser, Dunhill / Color Block Cardigan, Dunhill / Sharp Trouses, Hope / Herringbone Tipped V-neck, Dunhill / Leisure Shirt with Tie, Dunhill / Adan Chinos, Velour

This week’s East Village Boy of the Week is Scott, from New York
Photographed for EVB by J. Yatrofsky

When I met Scott I fell in love instantly. We spent months vollying text messages back and forth until we finally met up for the shoot. Most of the shoot consisted of laughter and digging through his underwear collection. Getting to know someone is a very important part of the photographing process for me. Underwear is equally as important. I took countless Polaroid’s of him, and many rolls of film! Scott is quit possibly the cutest boy I know. -J. Yatrofsky

You can see more images of him at Jessica’s other site, iheartboy.