Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Warren
The summer heat had hit New Orleans, and despite being raised in it, I could never quite thrive in it. I rarely wanted to venture out during the day because the sun was always beating down on the locals and sending everyone into a frenzy.
After Levette’s outburst at The Carousel and our tender moment afterwards, Levette took my words to heart and visited me nightly during my shifts.
He tried not to linger, though I could tell he was pained every time he left for fear that I would end up hurt or someone would say something mean and he wouldn’t be there to defend my honor.
It made me laugh, but it also made excitement bubble in my chest. He was protective of me, and I had never experienced that before.
When each shift came to an end, he was always outside waiting.
Gerald gave me a look of warning each time, but the longer I spent with Levette, the easier I found it to shrug off that concern.
Levette would walk me home, this time allowing himself to linger outside until he saw me wave to him at the window to show I was safe inside.
My stomach fluttered every time he looked up at me with those sparkling eyes, tipping his hat before he walked home.
I took days off work more frequently, enjoying that I got to spend evenings wandering the city with Levette, talking about everything and anything that came to mind.
Some nights, we just lazed around his apartment and talked.
He took me to my favorite bookstore once while I browsed and the next day, I had a crate delivered to my apartment with all the books I had shown the tiniest amount of interest in.
Levette treated me like I deserved to be spoiled, and though I tried to contest it, he would wave me off and tell me he had the money to spare.
In those days, I should have wondered what he did when I wasn’t around.
I never asked him what he did for work, or where he disappeared to in between visiting me at work and walking me home afterwards.
But that’s the thing about first love—it makes you blind.
You see only the good, and even when you see the bad, your mind tricks you that it’s not there.
And Levette? Well, he was so dazzling in himself that I was happy to be blinded by him.
The world could have been burning, and all I would have seen in the flames was him.
When Levette’s letter was delivered, I found myself flustered the entire next day as I tried to get ready.
He had insisted on delivering clothes to my apartment after I had healed, so I had plenty of options to choose from, but that only gave me more anxiety.
I didn’t know where we were going, so I didn’t know how to dress appropriately.
Would he judge me for picking wrong? What if I stood out against the crowd rather than blending in? Or what if I dressed casually, but it was a more formal event?
I was having an internal crisis and eventually sat on the edge of my bed, panting, clothes strewn across the bedroom around me.
It was silly to be so frustrated by something so simple, but this outing felt different somehow.
More formal. It seemed special and so I wanted to show that I was treating it like that.
Still hanging up in the closet was a tailored suit Levette had gifted me, but I had never had the courage to wear.
The style was perfect and understated, while looking fancier than anything else I owned.
I thought if I wore it, people would think someone like me had stolen it.
I didn’t belong in fancy clothes and luxurious fabrics, but Levette had been so happy when he gave me it.
I let out a sigh and grabbed the hanger. “Let’s hope it looks as good on me as it does hanging up,” I muttered to myself.
The high waisted pants were a muted charcoal, with a white collared shirt. To place over it was a matching vest that fitted snugly against my stomach and hips. To drape over it was a darker gray coat which reached my knees, hanging loosely and oversized over my shoulders.
Once I adorned my hat, I looked at myself in the mirror, surprised by what I saw.
I looked like a gentleman; someone above my station in life.
The only thing left to do was grab a ribbon and pull my hair back, creating a ponytail at the base of my neck.
Respectable men always looked well groomed, so I had to play the part.
“MONSIEUR HAYES!” Levette called from the street, earning a few “Be quiet!” replies from my neighbors. I laughed to myself, loving how little he cared about public perception. “I have arrived!”
I rushed out of the apartment and practically bounded down the stairs until I was on the street, face-to-face with my beloved friend.
“You’ll wake the dead if you keep yelling like that!” I reprimanded, though I couldn’t stop laughing.
Levette’s joyous smile lit up further. He leaned in conspiratorially, the shadows shielding us. “We’re in New Orleans…The dead are already awake, love.”
I swatted at his shoulder, shaking my head. “You’re awful. Now, tell me where we’re going.”
A streetcar pulled up next to us, and Levette opened the door. “It’s a surprise.”
We drove through New Orleans and I stared out the window in awe.
I had never been in a streetcar before, and seeing the world blur by was incredible and mystifying.
Levette watched me in fascination, smiling every time I gasped in wonder at something.
By the time we got to the outskirts of the city and into the bayou, I was more in love with Louisiana than ever before.
The car halted outside a row of small, hut houses, and Levette motioned for me to get out. I had never been to the bayou, and the lack of life and atmosphere put me on edge. I grabbed at Levette’s arm when the streetcar took off, leaving us in the dimly-lit woods.
“Levy…”
Levette smiled, walking into the tree line. “Trust me, mon cher! This night will be full of amazing surprises for you. But you have to let me guide you.”
I sighed, groaning as I accepted that wherever Levette went, I wanted to go, too.
Trudging after him, I tried to watch my feet to ensure I didn’t trip as we walked through the trees and into a clearing. In the middle was a large barn sitting by the water, light illuminating from it. The music was loud, thumping through the wood shutters, and people lingered around outside.
My eyes travelled the length of the bayou, noting the houses built on the opposite side of the water. A whole community lived there, and I had no idea.
“Do you trust me?” Levette asked, his voice low as he moved to stand next to me.
I nodded. “Shockingly, yes, I do.”
Levette beamed, and I gasped as he took me by the arm, leading me inside.
At the far end of the barn was a band playing live music, swaying and singing their hearts out. Sweat dripped from their faces and I wondered how long they had been playing, but the look of sheer euphoria they had told me that they were living their dreams.
To the right as we entered was a long bar, shelves lined with different types of beverages, including jars of moonshine.
Between the bar and small stage area was a large dance floor and small, circular tables with stools were scattered around the walls.
I followed Levette like a lost puppy as he guided me to a table near the band, pulling a stool out for me to sit.
“I’ll go get us something to drink!” he yelled over the music, motioning to the bar.
As Levette left me alone, I let my eyes wander around the place. The dance floor was filled with people dancing and having a great time, but my leg bounced nervously beneath the table. I eagerly awaited Levette to return so that I wasn’t alone.
“I got you a beer and a glass of wine,” Levette said as he slid both onto the table. “I didn’t know which you would prefer.”
I forced a smile, taking a sip of the red. My hands shook and I stared at the table, averting my gaze from everyone around me.
“Why are you so nervous?” Levette asked, amusement etched in his voice.
I gestured with my hand to the dance floor. “It feels wrong…”
Levette leaned over, tucking my chin between his fingers, lifting my head up. “You do not have to be ashamed of yourself here, mon cher. You should not have to feel that shame anywhere, but especially not here. Lift your head up and allow yourself to see what this place is.”
He moved my chin to the left so I was looking directly at the dance floor where everyone was.
So many people were crowded there; all kinds of people I had never seen gathered together.
Different classes and skin colors, all moving to music like society’s rules did not affect them.
My eyes watered as I noticed two women with their arms around each other, swaying to the song being sung.
“What do you see?” Levette asked, his voice like a whisper in my ear.
I swallowed slowly, tears lodging in the back of my throat. “Acceptance.”
“Oui, mon amour. Here, you can be whatever you want to be without judgement.”
Swiping at my eyes, I turned to Levette and felt myself smiling. “It’s beautiful.”
“Tout comme vous. This world is a cruel place, and you have had a lifetime of being made to hide who you are. Let me help you embrace the beauty of your heart.”
The tears fell freely after that, and we both turned to watch the crowd. Levette moved his chair closer, explaining to me about the people there.
“You’ve been here before, I assume?” I asked, trying to hide the jealousy from my voice.
Levette smirked, holding my hand under the table since I still hadn’t fully found my bravery. “Once or twice.” He squeezed my hand, forcing me to look at him. “But never with someone. You, Warren, are the only person I have ever brought. The only person whose heart has called to me.”
There wasn’t an adequate reply to that with words, so I squeezed his hand in return and sipped my wine as I took to people watching.