I had become somewhat of a local celebrity. Working at the radio station, I had expected it but nothing like what was happening. Yeah everyone who worked at the station was on my case, but in a teasing manner. Dave would invite me in on occasion to bug me about dating a celebrity. I do have to say one thing though, he started playing Krystal's music, which made me happy. When I would be seen in the park or around town people would come up and ask for my autograph like it was I who had the album in stores and not Krystal. And then on top off that, people would ask how Krystal was.
Then it happened one day. I was out on the town one Saturday afternoon and a young girl maybe about ten years old came up to me and asked for my autograph on a piece of paper. I kneeled down in front of her and was just about to ask her name before I took the paper and pen from her when her mother came up and grabbed her hand. "Chelsea what did I tell you about her?" the mother said pulling her daughter away from me. At first I thought that the mother just didn't want her daughter to bother me, but then I heard her next comment, "You know that God is going to punish them for their sins." I wanted to yell after her that the Lord was forgiving, but I held my tongue. I shrugged it off initially and headed to my car.
When I got to my car, I found a note under my windshield wiper. It was the cover to Krystal's debut album. On it was written "Hypocrite" in black permanent marker. I picked it up carefully as if it was going to bite me. What were they saying? That you couldn't love God and love another woman? I didn't know, but I decided to go home and take a bath before calling Brian. He would know what to say.
Getting home, I found post-it notes stuck on my door. They had phrases like "sinner," "hypocrite" and "dyke." I ripped them all down and stuck my key in the lock. Turning slowly, I opened the door and tossed the crumpled up notes on my entry table with my keys. Walking towards the phone, I picked it up and dialed Brian's phone number quickly.
"Hello?" he answered before the phone even rang.
"Hi, Bri, it's Becca," I said, slumping into the chair beside the phone.
"I was just thinking about calling you," he told me. "Krystal's been yammering about you so we all were thinking about coming out to see you this weekend."
I was shocked. Sure it had been a few weeks since Krystal and I had seen each other, but I sure wasn't expecting all the guys to come out. "Uh, sure. What were you guys thinking on doing out here?"
"Oh, just hanging out," Brian replied. "Leighanne wants to meet you, so she'll probably come. But Krystal's been saying that she wants to go karaoking. So maybe..."
"Yeah," I replied. "When you were thinking about coming in?"
"Probably Friday," he said. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, fine," I said into the phone, wiping at a tear I hadn't realized had fallen.
"You sure? You don't sound fine."
"It's nothing, really."
"Okay, but if you wanna talk, you know how to get a hold of me. And you can always two-way Krystal. So I guess I'll see you on Friday huh?"
I wasn't thinking clearly. "Yeah, Friday," I said absentmindedly. "Have Krystal page when you guys get in. I'll probably be working, but I know the station would love a promo." I could tell Brian was rolling his eyes on the other end. "Only if you want to," I told him. "I'll find a place that's doing karaoke on Friday night and ask them to close their doors so we can be somewhat alone."
"Cool," Brian replied. We hung up shortly after that, without me bothering to tell him why I had wanted to talk to him. I glanced over at the crumpled papers on my table and felt horrible. Friday wouldn't come soon enough, and even if it did, I don't know how I would handle Krystal being around.
