Burning Stars (BoyXboy) (Sequel to Falling Stars)✔

B.S 29

After Debbie left I sat on my bed, completely still. My imminent freedom hadn't sunk in yet. You know how we always say that if we get what we want we would do this and that and go to the moon and jump up and down and so forth, but when we get it we rarely do that? It was the same with me. Debbie's news were so overwhelming I couldn't digest them. After thinking my life was over she had delivered to me the best news I could ever wish for. The excitement was just too much I didn't know what to do with it. 

I looked at my study table where Debbie had left Michael's numbers on a piece of paper. I stood up and picked up the paper, surveying the numbers. I decided that before I could let my excitement get the better of me, I would do some investigation. 

I dialed Michael's number and waited. As one of Adriana's victims, I wanted to know how he'd managed to escape. Had Debbie come to his rescue too? 

"Hello", came a manly voice. I was taken aback a bit. 

"Hi, I'm Jake. Can I speak to Michael?" 

"You are speaking to Michael", he replied. 

"Oh, uh, hi..." I said and faltered. I hadn't planned on how I would go about asking him about Adriana. 

"What can I do for you?" he asked irritably. 

"I got your numbers from Debbie...Debra... Coleman? I was wondering if I could talk to you about Adriana Cortez". 

There was silence. "I do not think I have any information about Adriana Cortez that may be of value to you", he said firmly. 

"I believe you do. Could we maybe meet? It's quite important", I said. 

"I'm sorry, I'm quite busy", he said. 

"I'll only take a few minutes of your time. I think you and I share some circumstances that involve Adriana Cortez", I said. 

There was thoughtful silence. I heard him sigh. "Okay".

A few minutes later I was in my car, driving towards the address Michael had given me. He had suggested meeting at his place of residence, to which I hadn't declined. I was- after all- the one wanting to meet, so it was better not to get the man out of his comfort zone. 

I received a call from Gabe while I was doing a turn. I answered, wondering what it was Gabe wanted to say. We hadn't been on speaking terms after he had lashed out on me for cheating on Chris. What he said shocked me, made me veer off the road a bit. He said Chris knew I had cheated on him. When Gabe had called Chris to try and pierce together the reasons why he broke up with me, his friend- probably boyfriend- had answered and angrily supplied him with that little detail of our breakup. So Chris knew I had cheated on him and according to his friend/boyfriend it was the reason he broke up with me. It was surprising news, even though I knew pretty much that I had cheated on him. Anyway, I couldn't concern myself with that then, I was on a mission.  

As I drove, nearing the address Michael told me about; I realized I was entering the shady part of town. Around me people were walking freely, shouting and music playing. Kids were playing in the streets, some walking onto the road. I had to apply the brakes twice- once when a kid walked onto the road and another time when a ball was thrown in my path. I didn't like where I was, but I soldiered on. 

I finally came to Michael's address. There stood a rundown apartment building that looked like it had stood there for years. I parked outside, wondering if my car would be there by the time I returned. 

Michael answered my call after ringing the bell and I made my way towards his apartment. It wasn't the cleanest of buildings, but it certainly looked better inside than it did outside. I knocked on Michael's door and waited.