When Stars Burn

Chapter Seventeen: Where The Stars Don't Shine

A/N: Hello everyone! So glad you're still here. I think we're at an important turning point in the story—the point where Star might finally start breaking. And will Julian cut himself on a jagged piece of her and bleed? We'll see, won't we?

Hope you enjoy!

Please don't forget to vote and comment! I know this story is a bit different from other ones I've written and I'd really like to see your feedback on it.

Happy reading!

***

Majority of the four and a half hour drive to Vegas was quiet.

I was torn between being angry and desperate to extricate Julian out of this situation even though it was much, much too late at this point.

Before we got into the car, having noticed that I was almost grinding my teeth in frustration, Julian pulled me gently to him and said, "You know why I want to come with you. You know how much I want to be there for you. But I'll give you the choice, Star, no matter how much I want to make it for the two of us. Will you let me come with you? Please?"

I should've seized the out he'd given me. I shouldn't have faltered the moment I looked into his eyes, saw the quiet strength there and wanted some of it to be for me. But I did.

"Maybe if you know everything, I won't have to tell you what's good for you and what's not," I said, turning away and getting into the car.

Julian took that as a yes and followed me.

As we entered Las Vegas from the south, I had to start giving area directions.

We were getting closer and closer to the truth of the life I thought I'd never have to look back on—at least not with Julian.

Our first stop was the hospital just north of the Strip.

I located my sister in the hallway just outside of the ward where my mother was now recuperating.

Josie was a pretty girl, sharing the same dark hair and eyes as me even though she was taller by half a foot and much more slender. With provocative costumes and sultry makeup, she changed from a pretty girl to a man's erotic fantasy almost every night, whether she was working the strip club or one of her private parties. Right now though, she looked like a fine mess, her reddened eyes rimmed black with smudged eyeliner and mascara, her hair thrown up into a bun, and every bit of her money-making body wrapped up in faded pink Juicy Couture track pants and a matching sweatshirt. I could see her fingers restlessly drumming on the back of the phone she was clutching and knew that she was itching to whip out a cigarette and take a long drag.

"Auntie Star!" A boy's pumped greeting brought my attention to my nephew, Simon, sitting on one of the plastic chairs lined up along the hallway and cradling a banged-up handheld Nintendo.

Josie stopped pacing at her son's announcement of my arrival but before she could do anything, Simon ran straight for me.

"Hey, buddy! I missed you!" I cooed to the boy, smiling and enjoying the rush of pleasure as I swept him up into my arms and gave him a tight hug. "You've gotten so big and heavy!"

"I missed you too, Auntie Star," Simon murmured tenderly to me as he wrapped his arms around my neck and gave me an awkward kiss on my cheek. "Mommy misses you too."

I looked up and past his shoulder at my sister who stood watching quietly. "Hey, Josie."

"Hey, Star," she greeted back, oddly reserved. Then she flicked a glance next to me. "Who's your guest?"