Gemini

Prologue

Cas stared at his cell phone as if it held all the answers. In his hand was a crumbled piece of paper and on that paper was a number, a number that he needed to call. He just couldn’t do it anymore. He was exhausted. Four college classes and two part time jobs were just too much. He needed help.

Needed this.

He kept repeating that phrase in his head as he finally punched in the number. Needed this. Feeling numb, he held the phone to his ear. Needed this. He listened to it ring, and couldn’t help himself from hoping no one picked up. That he’d changed his number years ago and never bothered to tell them. But, after just a few rings, he heard someone answer the phone.

“Hello?” asked a tired male voice. Was it really him? Cas couldn’t even remember his face, let alone his voice.

“Is this Julian Ansel?” Cas could feel himself start to shake.

“Yes, and who’s this?”

Cas’ mouth went dry, and he found himself panicking. He could still hang up. He didn’t need to get involved with this man. Julian still didn’t know it was him. He could just hang up and forget about everything. He’d been fine on his own for the past few months. Sure money was tight, but he could just take out a loan or-

“Hello? You still there?” Annoyance was beginning to creep into the voice, and Cas steeled himself. He wasn’t going to chicken out now. He couldn’t do this alone. He needed this.

“Umm… this is Castor Clay,” he finally managed to get out, nerves just about driving him crazy as he waited for the reply.

There was a long pause before, “Oh. What do you want?”

That was it? Sixteen years and that’s all he got? Of course. What had he been expecting? An ‘I missed you’?

He felt tears begin to slide down his face. Needed this.

“Dad. Mom’s dead.”