Avenue Of Sins

Avenue of Sins: Neon

A sequel to Avenue of Sins

SUMMARY: '90s. It's the aftermath. Jaded, Bill and Alma navigate their new lives as they try to drag themselves out of the dark debacherous trenches they had once ensnared themselves in. It's easy to forget their evils when a silver lining introduces itself into their lives but can they create a less hedonistic life that would be just as satisfying?

Prologue

MAY 1993

Alma was sitting in her private office at Sheisty Sound Records alone procrastinating doing homework from her accounting class by creating a grocery list of items to pick up after work. Her first semester of night school had been going as easy as it could be for her. Making time between work, school, and her child was difficult, not to mention trying to keep a long-distance relationship with Bill. However, he had visited Seattle twice since the beginning of the year because Alma couldn't leave due to school. She had gone to New York City for a few weeks for the holidays last year arriving before Thanksgiving and Echo's first birthday and left before the New Year since Bill had major clients and business at Trigger Finger XXX so he wasn't able to dote his time on his little family.

Alma rubbed her eyes harshly, still unable to get used to the new contact lenses she had recently gotten prescribed, and effectively rubbed her liner off. She sighed and silently told herself she could only fix it until she finished her homework. She had a big exam coming up before the class session was over and she couldn't risk failing it and having to start all over. Shortly after completing it and putting her homework away in a class binder, she grabbed a compact and a coal liner pencil from the top drawer of her desk. While she was fixing her mistake from earlier, she heard the store door chimes sound which wasn't unusual but the way she heard Ash and Ulyssa enthusiastically greet the customer she lightly chuckled to herself. She assumed it may have been Jérôme, the Québécois college student who liked to frequent the record shop, he was pretty handsome and charming. Even Alma thought so especially because he also had impeccable taste in music.

She put her things back in her desk drawer and sat back looking out the open office door deciding on whether to continue her grocery list or start early on payroll. Stuck in thought a man appeared feet away within the frame of the door with his back facing her dressed in a black bomber jacket and black jeans with his hands behind his back scanning the ceiling but it hadn't registered for a few seconds. She blinked a few times assuming her contacts were drying out and causing her to see things that weren't really there.

"What the hell?!" She said as she stood up swiftly going to the office doorway.

Bill turned his head and smirked when he saw Alma's perturbed expression. He hadn't told her he was coming he hadn't expected to either but he also liked to mess with her so he never bothered to call ahead.

"No, hi, hello I've missed you?" He raised a brow at her while swinging his forearms away from the side of his body.

Alma rolled her eyes as she approached him and he had his arms out ready for her embrace. They held each other for a moment before they kissed deeply not caring if anyone saw, they never did.

"Why didn't tell me you were coming?" Alma finally said.

"Well, I didn't know until super early this morning," he shrugged. "And, uh, of course, I'm here to see you and Echo but I'm here on business."

"Business?"

Bill quickly glanced towards the cash wrap where Ash and Ulyssa were and noticed they were pretending not to stare. "Hmm, let's go speak in your office?" He took her hand and let her lead the way.