𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝑶𝒇 𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝑩𝒐𝒚

23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
🥀 JULIAN HART
PRESENT DAY
_______

"I want to talk and say some shit. Call me back Julian." I threw my phone on the bed and shut my eyes. It's already been 24 hours and we both cooled down a bit, but I'm still mad as hell. There was a better way that conversation could've went but...I was just mad. My face stopped hurting a couple of hours ago, see that's what I can't forgive, him putting his hands on me.

Nobody in my life, not even my ma put their hands on me before. I gotta stop thinking about that shit cause it's pissing me off even more. Anyways, my shift starts in a few, I don't even feel like going but it has to be done. I'll listen to the rest of Dante voice messages later.

"You going to work right now?" Alex asked as I took a bite of the lasagna she had fixed. "Mhm," I responded, tired as hell. "Okay. Make sure you put the keys in the bowl before leaving," she said and I looked back at her. "Huh? What you mean??" I asked confused. "I don't want you staying here anymore." My heart dropped as she said that so plainly.

"Alex stop fucking playin with me right now." I laughed. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "You can come get your stuff when I'm not here. Come near me and I'll put a restraining order on you," she said and turned away about to walk away. "What the fuck did I do to you???" I asked and she looked at me then walked out of the living-kitchen room.

I just stood there not knowing what to say, what did I do??? I had so many damn questions, questions that couldn't be answered right now though. But I'll find it out.

🥀

"Your name Julian hart?" Some man asked outside of the men's locker. "Yeah man. What you need?" I asked and he looked at the door behind me. "I don't need you on stage anymore." He said and i literally just...just stood there. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Look Julian, you're amazing on stage and whatever but redhead needs more attention than you. If you have a problem with that, then I'll just have to fire you. Don't even look or talk to him too while you're at it, okay? You can make your money by working in them rooms." He said and walked away.

I stormed off to the bathroom, "everybody get out." I said to the men who occupied the bathroom with their laughs and smiles. They looked at me then left. I dropped my bag and went into the big stall and sat on the toilet, putting my hands over my face. "Don't cry,!dont cry, dont cry." I repeated to myself.

"D..don't cry.." one tear fell then another and it just kept going. I grabbed my phone with my blurry eyes and gripped it, contemplating on calling my mother and telling her everything or calling Dante and telling him everything. I sniffed. "God..." I called out and put my arm over my face. "Please. I'm sorry but I can't take it anymore..." I whispered to myself. Why was this happening to me, it's like a bad dream.

I've never harmed anyone. Why are they harming me?? I asked myself and just cry, not no ugly cry but a silent one.

—-

"Julian! Come here," Janice called out to me as I exited the bathroom. "Okay." I said and followed her to her office. "Sit down." Oh God, what else is about to happen to me. "What is this about...? I swear I tried giving you information he j-''' she stopped me from talking with her index finger.

"This isn't about him. You don't even have to work on him anymore, I found someone else to do the job. If you get what I mean," kill him?!! I thought but couldn't show my anger. "Anyways, nobody gave Alex drugs." She said and now I'm really confused. "What?" I asked.

"Yep. She took them herself. This isn't even her first time overdosing in my establishment. She's a druggie Julian." She said and I couldn't hear or see anything anymore. "T-then why was she so mad about me..- what do you mean druggie she's never-''' I got up and ran out of the door and ran upstairs to the women's lockers. "AHH!" One girl screamed but I passed her up and continued to search for Alex.

"ALEX!" I called out and she came out, a towel wrapped around her. "You a drug addict? That's what you were so mad at me about? Huh?!" I walked to her and got in her place, she chuckled and rolled her eyes. "No, nigga. It's cause you always sticking your business in shit that don't have anything to do with you. You're so damn stupid Julian." She tried to walk away but I grabbed her arm.

"We're best friends.." I said and she looked at my hand then me. "Were . Youn mean shit to me." She said and took her arm back, I heard some of the women giggle in the silent room. I walked out and took all my shit with me and walked out of the job. I needed fresh air, I needed to drive. Even if I couldn't, I didn't care at the moment.

"Can I borrow your car for tonight?" I asked Janice looking away from her. "Bring it back tomorrow when your shift starts.." she gave me her keys. I grabbed em and threw all my stuff in her car then started it and drove off, driving to God knows where.

Then the tears started to pour and my vision became blurry and then I sped up even faster, trying to get close to Dante. I looked down at my phone and thud , I heard something get rolled over.

I immediately stopped and got out, seeing a woman's body. I ran to it and checked for pulse, nobody was on the road right now but my heart sped up and up. "Hey!" I screamed out and checked for pulse but there wasn't one. I covered my hand over my mouth and backed up slowly. I'm a monster.