FAME, FORTUNE AND SECRETS

Curtain Closed

The next morning I woke up and was in disbelief of all the things that had happened at my housewarming. As much as I wanted to lay in my bed I realized that I needed to get up and try to address the situations that happened. I wished Thomas had not been there to witness all that was being said about me. I know he was really upset when he found out that Vince had been putting his hands on me. He had every right to feel what he felt because that is my best friend. I had to talk to him. I looked down at my phone and saw a few missed calls and three voicemails. Most of the missed call were from Vince and Allen had a few behind him and there were two from Thomas.

I decided to listen to the one Vince left first.

"Baby I am so sorry about yesterday. Please call me, I love you."

I then listened to the one Allen left.

"Neal, I can not believe you defended a man who has been putting his hands on you. Call me, I love you."

I sighed before listening to the last message from Thomas.

"Neal....I really don't know what to say. You have strayed so far away from the guy that I knew you were. I still respect you because that is what best friends do but I am confused about the direction that you are heading. Alicia and I will be staying an additional night. I hope to catch up with you and help you through this."

I was very welcoming of Thomas message. I know he had to be the first person that I called. I sat up in my bed and dialed his number.

"Hello", he said.

"Thomas, good morning man. How you doing?"

"I am doing ok. I let Vince bring out the worst in me yesterday and my knuckles are bruised but I will be fine. The real question is how are you doing Neal?"

"I honestly don't know Thomas. I mean I feel like I am on top of the world with all the success I have gained but I also have some drama that had attached itself to me."

"Listen, Alicia and I are still here. She wants to do some shopping and of course find some of the best cuisine that you all have in the area. I will hit you up after we are done so you and I can hang out like we used to."

"I would like that."

"Cool, I will call you later."

I hung up the phone and sighed. I could not take long to think because before I knew it my doorbell rang. I jogged downstairs to see who it was and I looked through the camera and saw it was Allen. Reluctantly I opened the door.

"So what do you have to say....."

Allen put his hand up. "Neal about yesterday I apologize. I really do but I think you have to get out from under Vince's wing. He has already abused you."

"I was never under his wing Allen and if you cared so much about me I wouldn't have even been talking to him in the first place."

"Neal now is not the time to point fingers. I am worried for you....doing drugs and acting like someone who is justifying domestic violence", he said.

"Allen I was never under his wing and I do not do drugs. I experimented but those days are long gone.....I promise."

"Neal I really wish I could have been everything you needed so you didn't even have to be with a guy like that. I know what I have done has pushed you into his arms and I feel guilty but he will not lay another hand on you again and that is for certain", Allen said.

"Whatever you say Allen. You have said a lot and delivered nothing."

"I know.....I know and I want to change that. I don't know what you are doing tonight but I want to meet up with you at the theater.