Chartreuse (8 page)

    
The words had a devastating effect on Rowan, and it seemed to be mutual as
Elliott moved away from the door, though tears were falling down his cheeks. 

    
“Rowan,” He whispered.  But it was too late.  Rowan slammed the door hard,
nearly leaping off the porch as he hurried to his car.  It was only after he’d
gotten inside and closed the door that everything crashed down onto him.  The
cruel realization that his forever had just brought their happiness to a
sickening halt.  It hurt like hell.

    
“Rowan?”  The sudden soft voice pulled him back out of his thoughts as he
looked straight into the very concerned eyes of Kasen.

    
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Rowan rubbed at the bridge of his nose before he blinked,
offering a small smile.  “I uh, I guess I got caught up in my thoughts again. 
I’m sorry.”

    
“No, it’s okay,” Kasen replied gently.  “You just totally zoned out for a few
minutes there and I was afraid something was wrong.”

    
“No.  Nothing’s wrong, I promise,” Rowan reassured him, jumping slightly as
Nikki came back with their check.  He took it quickly, scanning the total
before he pulled out his debit card and handed it to her.  When she disappeared
again, he let out a shaky breath.  “Sometimes my mind just wanders.  I
apologize.”

    
“It’s okay,” Kasen repeated, nodding to him.  “I do it sometimes, too,” Then he
gave that little crooked smile, that made his eyes sparkle and Rowan gazed at
him for longer than he should have.

    
You’re going to get hurt. Very hurt.  Just stop it.
  He told himself. 
But he wasn’t listening to himself at that very moment.  As a matter of fact,
he was out of service until further notice.  There was just something tugging
at the back of his mind about this kid.  Every time they ran into each other,
it couldn’t just be coincidence.  What had happened at the radio station, that
wasn’t something that just ‘happened’.  There was a reason for it, or at least
Rowan wanted to believe that.

    
When Nikki returned with his card and a receipt, Rowan pulled out his wallet
and handed her a five.  “Thank you,” He nodded to her before he stood up.  He
surely didn’t see the way she reacted to getting a five dollar bill, but Kasen
noticed it because she smiled and he couldn’t help but to smile back.

    
They exited the Waffle House and then Rowan unlocked his car, getting in and
starting it quickly so the heat could circulate through the vehicle.  He
glanced over at Kasen, who’d just put on his seatbelt and was rubbing his hands
together.  For the short distance they had to walk, it sure as hell got cold
fast.  Though, still, it was nothing compared to Boston.

    
“Thanks for the breakfast,” Kasen said, suddenly, startling Rowan a bit. 

    
“Oh, it’s not a problem,” Rowan nodded.  “It was my pleasure,” He flashed Kasen
another smile before he carefully backed up and then headed back out onto the
main highway to get back to the small town of Chartreuse.  He took his time,
just in case Kasen wasn’t in any hurry to get back just yet.

    
“I’ve always imagined what it looked like beyond my town,” Kasen said
thoughtfully, before he turned to glance at Rowan.

    
Rowan smiled, resting his hand down beside of his thigh as he drove.  He’d
always been better at driving with one hand.  He wasn’t sure why.  It wasn’t as
if it were safe to do so, but he somehow managed to control the vehicle better,
“Well, now you know what a little bit of it looks like,” He said, as they left
Enterprise behind.  Maybe one day they would come back.  Or maybe not.  Rowan
had no way of looking into the future, and he couldn’t be sure that he and
Kasen would even be talking a month from now.  Though, he sort of
hoped.

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

   
Kasen still couldn’t believe how the night had turned out.  Sadly, it was the
most excitement he’d seen in a long time.  The only thing he could really
compare it to was when the circus came to town when he was eleven.  He had been
so excited to see the elephants, clowns, and tight rope walkers.  He’d never
experienced anything like it before.

    
Was he comparing Rowan to the circus?  Was that weird?  He bit his lip when
Rowan finally pulled up to the apartment complex where Kasen lived and he put
the car in park.  Kasen chewed at the soft flesh before he turned a bit to look
at the other.  “Thanks a lot,” He said again.  “It’s been a blast, really,” He
gave him that same little nervous smile of his. 

    
“As I said, it was my pleasure,” Rowan nodded to him, moving his hand up to run
his fingers through his raven locks. 

    
Then there was silence.  Kasen wasn’t sure what was supposed to happen here.  A
handshake? Just a goodbye?  He wasn’t very good at making friends…..that could
explain why he didn’t have any.

    
“Do you want to hang out tomorrow?”  Rowan suddenly asked.

    
Kasen blinked, feeling his cheeks heating up once again.  Why did that keep
happening around Rowan?   Oh, that’s right.  First off, he was a really good
looking guy.  Second off, Kasen was
attracted
to guys.  And lastly, he
might have very carelessly developed a crush on a man he barely knew, and of
whom he wasn’t even sure if he was gay. 
You’re a smart one lately, Kasen.
He thought to himself.

    
“Yeah,” Kasen replied, unsure if he even recognized his own voice right now. 
“That would be really cool, actually.  Though uh, there’s not too much to do
around here…”

    
But then Rowan smiled.  It was a sly smile of sorts.  He gave a small shrug,
“Who says it has to be here?”  

    
Kasen’s smile grew bigger as he nodded, finally unbuckling his seatbelt, “Then
I’ll see you tomorrow?”  He asked.

    
“Definitely,” Rowan promised. 

    
Kasen opened the door and got out, though he leaned back down to look at Rowan,
“Again, thank you,” He said.  “I’ll see you tomorrow. Uh, bye,” Then he
awkwardly closed the door before he started walking towards the steps to go up
to his apartment.  He could have kicked himself for sounding like such an
idiot.

    
He’s a friend.
  He told himself. 
That’s all he is.  He’s new and
doesn’t have anyone to hang out with.  So just relax and be cool.  Don’t mess
this up. 
He rolled his eyes at himself as he unlocked the door and stepped
inside, to see a very happy Houston. 

    
“Hey, Boy,” He said gently, kneeling down to pet behind his ears before
straightening up again.  “Boy, have I got a night to tell you about.”

Chapter
Nine

    
It was the loud banging on his front door that damn near caused Rowan to fall
out of his bed.  Napoleon barked, but otherwise, he didn’t move from the
floor.  It took Rowan a good thirty seconds before he realized that it wasn’t a
dream, and he needed to get to the door to see what the hell was going on.  He
reached for his shirt, blindly, and tugged it on before he got up and walked
hastily down the hallway to the front door.  He peeked through the peep hole to
see a man standing there.

    
Thump Thump Thump.
  It made him jump a little.  But then he opened the
door and stared at the man in a bit of bewilderment. 

    
“Can I help you?”  He asked, yawning.

    
“Sorry. Didn’t know you’d be asleep,” The man said. 

    
Rowan’s thick brows shot up on his forehead.  If he
thought
he’d heard a
southern accent before, he was clearly mistaken.  This man had the southern
drawl down pat.  He was a fairly tall man, but he was just as round.  He wore a
red and black flannel with a pair of overalls, and a brown tattered cap that
covered his salt and pepper hair.  His beard though, was an entirely different
thing.  He reminded Rowan of hillbilly Santa.

    
“It’s no problem,” Rowan insisted as he ran his hand through his messy hair. 
“What can I do for you, Sir?”

    
“Well,” The man started. “My names Lloyd Bruckhemer.  That there’s my boy
Cecil,” He nodded towards the red truck in the driveway where a thin, blond boy
was sitting in the passenger seat.  “Don’t be rude, Cecil.  When I introduce ya
to people, ya wave.  Manners, Son.”

    
Rowan tried very hard not to laugh.  So he just nodded to the boy who waved at
him.  Then he focused back on Lloyd when he turned back around.

    
“Well ya see, I got me a problem,” He continued.  “One of my huntin’ dogs ain’t
doin’ too well.  I’ve ‘ad her fer ‘bout six years an’ this mornin’ she just
didn’t wanna get up and go.  I’s like ‘Now, Betsy, it’s time ta go huntin’, but
Betsy just didn’t wanna go.”

    
Rowan blinked, wrapping his mind around the accent and words before it all
finally registered.

  
  “So, you want me to check on Betsy?”  He asked.

    
There was a deep chuckle from the man as he reached out and patted Rowan’s
shoulder, “Well I reckon that’s what I’m getting’ at, Boy. It’s what ya do fer
a livin’ ain’t it?”

    
“Yes, Sir,” Rowan replied with a nod. 

    
“Good then,” Lloyd mumbled.  “Well, I live out there off Butter Lane.  It ain’t
hard to find me. Just go to the end of the road and I’m right there. Ya can’t
miss me.”

    
“Butter Lane…”  Rowan said, trying to remember that.  It wasn’t hard-he just
wasn’t fully awake yet.

    
“Why yeah. Just go ‘bout five miles outta town and ya will find Butter Lane.  It
ain’t hard, Boy.  I reckon you’s got yerself one o’ those fancy GPS
thingiemuhbobs that will tell you right where to go, right?  Just use it. 
Though back in my day, we just had maps, ya know.”

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

    
 Kasen was nervous.  He finally woke up around one, and he panicked for a
moment that he’d missed Rowan all together.  That didn’t seem to be the case at
all, thankfully.  He scrambled out of bed, took a shower, and then he had to
find something decent to wear.  He never really worried too much about his
attire, because he never did anything other than go to work, where no one saw
him, and then visit his mother occasionally-but this was different.  He
wanted
to look nice.

    
He finally found a solid blue button up, and he put that on along with a pair
of his best jeans.  And by best jeans, that meant a pair that wasn’t ripped at
the knees.  He was surprised he owned a pair that didn’t have holes in them. 
Then he put on his boots and grabbed for his denim jacket, putting it on before
he glanced down at Houston who was watching him curiously. 

    
“I’m sorry that I can’t take you to the park right now.  But I promise that’s
what we’re doing this evening.  Don’t worry,” He gave him a pat on the head
before he grabbed for his cellphone and his cigarettes, stuffing them into his
pocket before he headed out. 

    
It was probably quite pitiful to sit on the bench outside of his apartment for
well over thirty minutes, but he’d never been so anxious for anything in his
life.  He’d never had a reason to be anxious before.  It was when he saw
Rowan’s car pulling up, that a grin broke out over his face and he stood up. 
Rowan pulled up and then rolled his window down a bit. 

    
“Hey,” Rowan said with a smile.  “Sorry I’m a bit later than I expected to be. 
I had to go check on a dog before I could come over.”

    
“That’s okay,” Kasen insisted with a broad smile of his own.  “It’s not a
problem at all.”

    
Rowan glanced at him again, squinting one eye as the sun peeked out from behind
the clouds briefly, “So, you ready to get out of this town for a while?”

    
“You bet,” Kasen said excitedly.  He moved over to the other side of the car,
opening the passenger door before he got in.  He glanced over at Rowan again,
who was smiling back at him.  “So you had to see a dog today?”  He asked
curiously.

    
“Yeah,” Rowan replied.  “A vet’s job is never done,” Though he didn’t mind at
all.  It turned out however, that Betsy was pregnant.  She was just doing what
any female dog did her first time being pregnant.  She was being lazy.

    
They got onto the highway fairly quickly, and Rowan was going in the direction
of Enterprise, although that’s not where they were stopping today.  Instead,
Rowan had been looking up different things activities they could enjoy together,
and he thought it would be fun to take Kasen to see a bigger part of Alabama. 
It was a long drive for many, but Rowan knew it would be worth it.

    
“Do you have to work tonight?”  Rowan asked curiously.

    
“Uh, no. Not really,” Kasen shrugged.  “Dougie normally does the weekends.”

    
Rowan smirked, lifting a brow, “Good,” He continued driving, while Kasen
remained as quiet as a mouse.

    
He honestly had no idea where they were going.  All he knew was that he was
once again leaving Chartreuse far behind.  That wasn’t something that he was
going to complain about.  As they passed by various city limits, Kasen was
beginning to become curious.

    
“Where are we going?”  He finally asked after thirty minutes or so of driving.

    
“Montgomery,” Rowan replied.

    
“Montgomery?”  Kasen’s eyebrows shot up on his forehead.  That was nearly two
hours away!  “What’s there?”

    
“Lots of interesting things,” Rowan said, trying not to smile. 
This was
things that friends did together, right?  Going to towns a couple of hours away,
and exploring things together?
  Well, if it wasn’t before, it was now, because
Rowan had already made up his mind that they were going to have a good time. 
No matter what the outcome.

    
Kasen bit his bottom lip again, smiling a little as he relaxed in his seat.

    
It wasn’t long before they had arrived in Montgomery.  Kasen had only ever seen
pictures before.  He had no idea it was actually this neat.  There were
buildings that were nearly as tall as those in New York.  Or at least, in his
mind that’s what he was thinking. 

    
“Wow,” He whispered, tilting his head back slightly, cheek pressed to the glass
as he took in everything.  He’d never seen anything so incredible before. 
Chartreuse couldn’t compare to this place.

    
Rowan was watching him from the corner of his eye, grinning a little.  It was
like taking a child to the candy store for the first time.  Kasen seemed so
damn innocent. 
But what if he is that innocent?
Rowan tried to push the
thoughts from his mind as he turned left and as they neared their first
destination, he glanced back over at Kasen.

    
“So what do you think about this?”  He asked.

    
Kasen finally faced forward, and those blue eyes of his nearly bulged right out
of his head.  The zoo.  They were at the zoo.

    
“Really?”  Kasen asked, excitedly.  He turned to look at Rowan, “I’ve never
been to a zoo before.”

    
It warmed Rowan’s heart, the way Kasen was reacting.  And he was glad that he
could give Kasen this experience.  He parked the car and then he got out,
shutting his door before moving over to Kasen’s side to open his door.  Sure,
it was probably a weird move, but Rowan had always been respectful.

    
“Thanks,” Kasen laughed, getting out and then turning to look towards the
entrance.  “Wow,” He repeated.   

    
Rowan shut the door, making sure the car was locked up before tucking his keys
away.  He stood beside of Kasen, watching him for a moment.  He wasn’t sure
he’d ever seen someone look so appreciative of a place before.  Finally, he
nudged him gently with his elbow.  The electricity that shot through his arm
was undeniable.  “So, you wanna go in?”  He asked.

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

    
It was really fun to watch how Kasen reacted to everything once they were
inside.  They first strolled through the insects before making their way to the
birds.  Kasen was delighted with being able to see so many varieties, asking
all sorts of questions that Rowan could confidently answer.

    
The monkeys came next, followed shortly by a koala bear.  Though when they made
it to the elephants, Kasen was absolutely transfixed.

    
Rowan stood beside of him, watching curiously as Kasen leaned a bit over the
rail, getting a better view.  “Do you like elephants?”  He asked him quietly.

  
  “I’m not sure like is the word,” Kasen said with a smile, glancing up at
Rowan briefly.  “Elephants are great.  I’ve always loved them. When I was
little, I used to watch Dumbo. A lot.”

    
Rowan was elated that he could learn things like this about Kasen.  It made him
feel as if they were truly getting to know one another.  Which was something he
had missed; actually getting to know people. 

    
“Dumbo, huh?”  Rowan asked, gazing back out towards the elephants as a little
baby one came following behind its mother, loyally, “I always really enjoyed
Peter Pan.  There was just something so fascinating about a land where you
never grow up, and you can have as much fun as you want.”

    
Kasen grinned a little, glancing over at Rowan again as he bit his bottom lip,
“Do you think that’s a land of never being judged?”  He asked quietly.

    
Rowan quirked a brow, leaning against the rail as he turned a bit to where he
could face Kasen, “I think I can be pretty confident when I say that no one is
judged in Neverland.  Aside from old people,” He flashed a smile, and when
Kasen returned that smile, Rowan felt butterflies in his stomach. 
Bad sign.
Bad sign. Stop while you’re ahead.
  But he wasn’t interested in listening
to his conscience right now.  He was much more intrigued with the young fellow
beside of him, who’s smile seemed to light up the entire world.

    
Kasen laughed softly, clasping his hands together as he finally stepped back
from the elephants so they could go on their way, “If that’s the only thing
people judged for these days,” He said quietly.  “Though, really, I don’t think
people should judge at all.  Do you?”

    
Rowan was walking beside of him, his hands tucked away into the pockets of his
jacket.  He glanced down at Kasen before he shook his head, “No.  I don’t think
they should.  It’s not their place to judge.  It’s God’s.”

    
Rowan wasn’t the most religious person in the world, but he felt in his heart
that God loved everyone no matter what.  That’s why God had sent his son to
die, wasn’t it?  For all of humanity. For every sin.  Though he didn’t see his
lifestyle as a sin.  Surely, had God not meant for people to love, he wouldn’t
have given hearts the capability to do so.  And furthermore, he wouldn’t have
made it possible for one man to love another in such a way.

    
People could tell him he was going to go to Hell all they wanted, but life was
short as it was.  Why should he live it and be unhappy?  That was the secret to
life, in Rowan’s mind.  Living and being happy, no matter what gave one that
happiness.  Well, aside from murder and rape.  Those were two things that he
highly frowned upon.  But to hate him for loving a man?  It was better than
killing a man, wasn’t it?

    
  After they had covered the entire zoo, Kasen’s stomach growled.  He hadn’t
eaten anything that day out of pure excitement.  And Rowan must’ve realized
that because they were soon back in the car and making their way to a small
café that served everything from meatloaf to pizza.  It was a nice little
place, seemingly family owned.  The cashier was very friendly, and the cook
even waved to them.

    
Rowan couldn’t say he’d met such nice people before.  Sure, there were nice
people in Boston, but nothing compared to this.   It seemed everywhere he
turned, someone was waving or saying “How ya doin’?”  It just wasn’t something
he was used to, although he had a feeling he would quickly adapt.