Chartreuse (17 page)

    
“Now hold on just a second,” The cop held up his hands and shook his head. 
“Boy, this ain’t California.  We do not base a little graffiti as a hate crime
‘round here.  Did anybody beat you down?”

    
“No, but-”

    
“Have you been receiving harassing phone calls or threatened in your own home?”

    
“No! That’s absurd. I just want-”

    
“There ain’t been no hate crime here,” The officer repeated in a firmer tone. 
“Now it’s Thanksgiving Day and I’m sure you’ve got…” He looked Rowan up and
down before sneering slightly.  “Somewhere to be.  Why don’t you just close up
shop and mosey on your way?”

     Unbelievable! 
Was this really happening?  Could a town really be so uncivilized and so far
behind on basic human rights that they honestly didn’t consider this to be a
hate crime?  Rowan stood there, utterly at a loss for words as the cruiser
backed out and drove away, leaving him with the jarring realization that
Chartreuse didn’t give a damn about protecting anybody-at least not somebody
like him.

     He
pulled his cellphone from his pocket as he locked up, re-reading Kasen’s
message.  He couldn’t tell him about this.  He couldn’t expose Kasen to the
evils of narrow-minded morons, so it was with a heavy conscience that he sent
out a reply before putting his car into reverse.

    
Something
came up and I can’t make it.  Rain check for another day?

Chapter
Eighteen

     Did
he do something wrong? 

     Kasen
couldn’t understand why Rowan’s behavior had suddenly changed.  They’d gone
from hanging out every day to barely even talking at night time.  He hated the
sick feeling that constantly took residency in his stomach.  What did he do to
make Rowan so distant?

     He
couldn’t even find joy in his job anymore; and that was saying something.  The
night was dragging by and he couldn’t care less if anybody phoned in with a
request.  Of course, they came either way.  He put on his best poker face-or
poker voice, if you will-and played the songs they wanted to hear, although he
had a strong desire to play Journey back to back.

     Glancing
at the clock, he considered trying to phone Rowan again.  It was nearing eleven
o’clock and it was just Friday.  He knew that Rowan more than likely would
sleep in, so what would it hurt to try and call him again?

     “I
probably shouldn’t,” He mumbled as he stared at his phone.  The damn thing was
taunting him, begging for him to touch the keys and dial the number tingling at
his fingertips.  All he had to do was call……

     The
station’s line rang then, and he nearly fell out of his seat.

    
“Shit,” He sighed, reaching over to grab the receiver.  He pressed the button and
cleared his throat.  “Cool Kasey on the-”

     “I
know what you are,” a gruff voice growled on the other end.

    
“Beg your pardon?” Kasen switched ears quickly, glancing at the caller ID. 
Unknown. 
Of course.

     “I
know what you are,” The voice repeated.  It was distinctly male, and Kasen
couldn’t help but to find it to be familiar.  “You better watch yourself, you
fucking queer.”

    
“Hey,” Kasen’s voice became stern as he gripped the receiver.  “I don’t know
who the hell you think you-”

    
Click
.

      He
fell back in his chair, staring at the phone in disbelief.  Had that really
just happened?  Did someone really call in to the station and say
that
? 
His heart was beating painfully hard against his ribcage as he licked his lips
and willed his mind to slow down.  This couldn’t be…..

     The
line was ringing again and he could hear his pulse thundering in his ears.  He
was going to nip this in the butt before it had a chance to begin.  He snatched
the phone up in a hasty manner, clenching his teeth.

    
“Listen, Asshole.  I don’t know what your-”

    
“Um….do I have the wrong number?”

    
Embarrassment washed over him in mind blowing waves as he pressed his palm
against his hot forehead, “No.  I’m so sorry.  This is Cool Kasey.  Did you
have a request?”

    
“Kasey, are you okay?”

     He
blinked, quirking a single brow as the voice finally matched up to a face in
his mind, “Jess?”

    
“Yeah! Hey, are you all right?  You sound….off.  What was up with that
greeting?”

     “Oh
my god, Jess.  I’m so sorry,” He whispered, shaking his head.  “I, uh, I’ve
just been dealing with prank callers tonight.  I’m really sorry.”

    
“No, no.  It’s completely okay.  You’ve been getting prank calls?  What
assholes!”

    
“Yeah,” He released a low breath as he pressed his feet against the floor,
turning from side to side in his swivel chair.  “What can I play for you?”

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

     His
room was eerily quiet as the seconds ticked by.  The radio was off, and
Napoleon’s occasional huff was the only thing Rowan heard as he rolled onto his
side and buried his face into the pillow.  He usually fell asleep to the sound
of Kasen’s voice on the radio, or Kasen’s voice on the other end of the line as
they bid each other goodnight; but just like the last two nights, Rowan found
himself restless and plagued by worries he didn’t deserve to be experiencing.

     He
knew it wasn’t right; it wasn’t fair.  Kasen didn’t deserve the silent
treatment Rowan was putting him through, but how else was he supposed to
protect him?  Furthermore, what the hell had Rowan been thinking?  Why had he
been so damn optimistic and hopeful that a small southern town would be
accepting of him?  Of
them
? 

     He
wouldn’t expose Kasen to that.  The boy had been through enough without adding
on heaps of hate from the bible thumpers surrounding them.  Kasen had opened up
to him a great deal over the last little while, and Rowan strongly disliked
Mrs. Reed; she just sounded like a psychotic cow in his mind-and that was an
insult to cows!

     He’d
picked a hell of a time to quit smoking.  Jesus Christ.  He wanted a cigarette
so badly it was killing him, but he and Kasen had made a pact to give up the
nasty habit before the new year.  Well…at least they’d made the pact before all
of this started.  Kasen probably hated him now and he couldn’t blame him for
that.  He was just trying to protect him…..

     Going
against his better judgment, he leaned across the mattress and reached out to
flick on the radio, immediately taking comfort in hearing Kasen on the air.

     At
least, he was taking comfort in it until he heard the tone of the other male’s
voice.

     
“Here’s another song that I just feel like playing tonight,” Kasen said
flatly.  “Maybe it’s a message to whoever thinks it’s funny to call in and say
stupid things, but either way, I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do.”

    
Rowan pushed himself out of bed upon hearing Eminem’s “I’m Not Afraid”, and he
could feel the icy grip of dread clutching at his heart.   Kasen was playing it
for a reason, and something had happened.

     
“I’m going to find out,” He muttered, picking up the pack of cigarettes that
had remained untouched on his dresser for two days.  He immediately placed one
between his lips as he made his way down the hallway.

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

     It
was a good decision.  He wasn’t acting irrationally, right?  He wasn’t going to
be harassed in the one place he felt happiest; well, the happiest he could be
aside from when he was with Rowan.  But Rowan was avoiding him, so that happy
place was gone now.  All he had left was his job, and he’d be damned if he’d
let people stomp all over him like his mother had been doing for years.  Nope. 
It wasn’t going to happen anymore.

     As
the lyrics blared through the one headphone he actually had over his ear, Kasen
eyed the phone lines.  One of them would ring again.  Would it be an actual
caller wanting a song?  Or would it be someone else calling to  piss him off a
little more?

     “Go
ahead,” He said lowly as he squeezed his fingers around the cigarette he’d
hastily lit only moments before.  Yeah, yeah.  He promised Rowan he’d quit with
him.  They would both get healthier and find less dangerous vices, but
shit….did ‘healthy vices’ even exist?

     He
was in a bitter mood and he couldn’t help that.  He’d been provoked, right?  A
cornered cat would always scratch, or at least that’s how he’d always heard
it.  The conversation he’d had with Jessica invoked something inside of him,
and he wouldn’t submit to his fears a moment longer.

    
But
they know,
he thought as he chewed at his thumbnail. 
Somebody knows and
now this isn’t going to stop.  Bad things happen to gay people.

    
Kasen wasn’t stupid by any
means.  Maybe he was a bit naïve at times, but he wasn’t infected with the ignorance
that dwelled in the hearts of so many around him.  There would always be good
and evil in the world, and right now, that evil was creeping towards his door. 
He had to make a choice.  Would he keep the door shut and hide away, or would
he open it and stand his ground?

    
Riiiing.

    
Blue eyes moved to stare at the
caller ID once more.

    
Restricted.

    
Sucking in a deep breath and gripping his cigarette, Kasen reached down with
trembling fingers to press the button and pick up the receiver.  He was silent
for a moment, listening to the sound of static on the other end of the line as
his jawline tightened.

    
“Cool Kasey,” He started hesitantly.

    
“You’re gonna die, you little cocksucker.  You and your butt buddy have it
coming.”

     Rage
blinded Kasen as he stood from his chair, sending it rolling backwards before
hitting against the desk behind him.  He snarled, slamming his fist down
against the table.  The fire on the tip of his cigarette fell against his hand
and he couldn’t even feel the pain as he shouted.

    
“Who is this, huh?” He asked angrily.  “I’m not afraid of you, asshole!”

    
Click
.

      “Goddamn
it,” Kasen slammed the phone back down on the receiver, trying to ignore the
thundering of his heart in his ears.  He was
not
going to tolerate
this.  He shook his head, muttering beneath his breath as he picked the phone
back up to call the police department.

     He
pressed two numbers before stopping.

    
“Hello?  Hello? Kase?”

     He
froze for a second, giving his mind just enough time to clear.

    
“Rowan?”

    
“Yeah.  Yeah, it’s me.  Are you okay?”

     He
wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or cry as he leaned against the desk, finally
noticing the angry welts on the top of his hand. 
Ow.
  He sighed,
shaking his head even if Rowan couldn’t see it.

     “I
don’t know.”

    
“What’s going on?” Rowan asked.  The concern is his voice was apparent, but
Kasen didn’t understand why he was calling after two days of nothing. 

    
“Nothing you need to worry about,” Kasen mumbled.  Damn, why was he being so
mean?  He didn’t mean to say that!

     “
Kasen
,”
Rowan’s voice was firmer this time around.

     Closing
his eyes and counting to five wasn’t helping anything, and he didn’t feel right
about hiding this from Rowan.  But could he really tell him?  What if Rowan
felt threatened and decided to leave?  What if this made Rowan not want to see
him anymore?

    
Well,
he already proved he doesn’t want to see me after two days of silence. 
He
really hated his thoughts sometimes.

     “It’s
fine, Rowan,” He finally said.  “Everything’s fine.”

    
“No, it isn’t,” Rowan argued on the other end.  Why did Kasen take so much
comfort in just hearing his voice?  Why was he so conflicted on being happy or
angry over him calling in the first place?  Feelings were so confusing!  “You
said somebody’s been calling.  What did they say?”

    
“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” Kasen pinched at the bridge of nose. 
The promising of a fresh headache throbbed lightly just behind his eyes. 
Perfect.  “Don’t you have work or something in the morning?”

    
“You know tomorrow’s Saturday.  Is someone giving you shit?”

     Was
someone giving him shit?  Giving usually meant a gift, and this wasn’t a gift
that Kasen wanted to receive.  It was definitely shit though.

     “It
was just a prank call.”

    
When Rowan didn’t reply, Kasen glanced at the line to see if he was even still
there.  He was, and that made him wonder what the hell was going through
Rowan’s mind.

     A
heavy sigh sounded finally, and Kasen frowned.  What
was
Rowan thinking?

    
“I’m coming to see you.”

   
“What?” Kasen quickly switched the phone from one ear to the other, knocking
his headphones off his head as he licked his lips.  “It’s almost midnight.  Are
you insane?”

    
“No, Kasen, I’m not insane.  I’m worried,” Rowan replied in irritation.  “We
need to talk.”

    
“Fine.  Whatever,” Kasen slammed the receiver down without even thinking about
it.  He was trembling and it felt like he’d go into cardiac arrest at any given
moment.  What was happening to him?

     He
immediately pulled another cigarette from the pack on the desk, grabbing the
back of his seat and pulling it back into place as he plopped down and huffed. 
All he could do was wait for Rowan to arrive, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to
have a ‘talk’ because it would probably involve more bad news than he was
willing to handle.