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KWAN
“Hey, Beau, they’re only trying to help.” I touched his arm, and he smiled sadly before standing and walking to the bedroom.
I turned to both policemen. “I’m sorry. This has been a shock, like he said. Can he see her?”
“Sorry, sir. Who are you? We can only really discuss this with immediate family.”
“I’m his boyfriend. Look, he feels bad enough about his sister and how they left it. Can’t you just tell him where she is so he can see her?”
Beau came back into the room, fully dressed, slipping his phone into his coat pocket.
“Take me to her. I want to see her now.” I saw a look of determination on his face I’d not seen before.
“Do you want me to come with you?” He was on edge, I could tell. On the verge of something, I didn’t know what, but what I did know was that he needed me. “I’ll just go get dressed. Wait for me?”
Beau nodded, and I picked up my bag from where I’d dropped it last night, taking it into Beau’s bedroom. I tipped it out on the bed, sorting out some clothes and dressing quickly before dashing back. Beau was pacing, clearly anxious.
He reached for me as I neared, ignoring the questioning looks of the policemen as he grabbed my hand, squeezing it tight.
“I’m here, Beau. I’ll be with you all the time, okay?” He nodded, his lip trembling as we made our way downstairs into the waiting police car.
A short while later, we pulled up outside the hospital and walked into the A&E Department where we sat waiting until Beau was called through. Despite his protests, they only allowed him through. I wasn’t family, but I’d wait until he finished and then decide what to do.
Not sure what to do while I waited, I pulled my phone out, checking for any messages.
There were a few from Cho and, surprisingly, one from Kasem. I’d leave that one for a while but see what Cho wanted first.
Cho: Hey, you’re really not missing much tonight. Kasem’s as bad at bowling as he is at dancing. Heads up, though, he’s talking shit about you because you’re not here. Sure you’re having a better time than we are.
He ended the message with peaches and eggplants and lots of smiley faces. I smiled, then read the next message, which he’d sent about an hour later.
Cho: Fuck, Kwan. Kasem is not doing you any favours here. He’s huddled with Alan, and every so often I can hear your name, and they keep looking down at me and Sammy. Watch. Your. Back.
Shit, what was that fucker saying about me now? I know we didn’t always see eye to eye but slagging me off to Alan? That was a crock of shit.
I didn’t know if I wanted to read Kasem’s message. Wasn’t quite sure what he’d have to say to me, but there was only one way to find out. With a deep breath, I opened his message.
Kasem: I think it’s about time you decided what you want to do. I’ve talked with Alan, and we both agree that you need to choose.
That was it, nothing more. What did he mean? Have to choose? Did he mean I had to choose between the group and Beau? That wasn’t going to happen. I could have both, couldn’t I?
I sat for a while, deciding what to do about Kasem’s message and browsing social media. There were pictures of the guys at a bowling alley, then eating at a local restaurant. They all looked happy, joking around, and it was glaringly obvious there was someone missing. Me!
I scrolled through the comments, reading with interest the ones asking where I was.
“Where’s Kwan?”
“Why isn’t Kwanchai with you?”
“OMG, Kwanchai has left the band.”
That last comment had gained some traction, some wild accusations and theories about why I’d left the group. Who was going to replace me? This was fucking ridiculous.
To cap it all, one final comment from Kasem popped up just an hour ago.
“The whole band is out for the evening. Look out for a shock announcement soon.”
He’d tagged every member of the group, but not me. He was fuelling the fire, encouraging the speculation I was no longer in the band.
