SINcere.

Drizzling rain.

They say that you can't teach an old dog, new tricks. That's the case with the fool called, Lionel.  

He has a mouth too big for his chubby face, which no matter how much you make it shut up, it never stops talking nonsense. 

I fume while walking in the slight drizzle of rain. In an angry daze, look up to the night sky with a few clouds here and there. It's a full moon and it's watching me, as if telling me to calm down. Bad things happen during a full moon. Foreboding settles around me. 

Adrenalin is high in my blood and my heart is still on fire from the encounter with Lionel inside. I should have given him a piece of my mind. I picture my fist nicely punching his jaw as he did to mine, or worse. I wonder how he would react if the gun at my back was on his forehead. His eyes would widen and he would kneel down in submission, begging me not to end his life. Then we would see who would have the last laugh.  

HA! Stupid Lionel-he should just stick to borrowing money and not giving it back! 

''Nick, you can't ride your bike in this rain,'' I deliberately put the helmet over my head in defiance. ''Besides you've been drinking! Dark ANGEL is a dangerous substance to the mind!'' 

''Bastian, shut up for once!'' He freezes in the rain and the bright neon sign spelling 'Casablanca' casts all sorts of colours onto his face, clothes and the rain drops. The expression on his face infuriates me even more. My body is shaking violently from the loose nerves and tension in my body. ''I am leaving this damp! I will see you later!''  

With finality, I get onto the motorcycle and start away from the bar without a backwards glance. Who does Bastian think he is sometimes? Telling me what to do like my own mother. I shake my head, trying desperately to remove the crazy thoughts sky rocketing in my mind. I need to have a clear mind since I'm driving. I know that it's mighty risky riding the bike with all kinds of toxic substances in my system. I can still feel my blood scorching from that fishy drink that Ai gave me.  

''Focus, Nick. It would be a shame if you died of a motorcycle accident.'' The familiar voice tells me and I agree. 

The little rain drops fall onto my clothes, helmet and bike. They are no match for my speed though. I am driving faster than normal under the street lights, passing the fairly occupied town Centre, the residential houses and the school. I have grown too accustomed to this road.  

I finally reach the outskirts of Locke-Ville and decide to take the routine turn to the left. Grand homes and empty streets greet me. 

The full moon stares after me in disapproval as I approach my destination. Coming here has become second nature to me in the past three months. It's un-healthy, I know, but what else will occupy me in this lonely life? 

''C'mon Moon, tell her I'm here, since you think so little of me.'' I say out loud and shut off the engine. My dark eyes glance upwards again. The moon, a she, continues to stare, but there's no answer. ''Yeah, that's what I thought.'' 

Today, for some reason I decide not to hide behind the shrub in the side walk. I am parked in the parking lot, unhidden and open to everything. I remove my helmet and stare at the window that makes my insides turn to mush.  

Today is my one hundredth anniversary of stalking Miss Parkinson.  

Lightning flashes in the sky, illuminating white light onto my less-than-sober face and then a terrifying thunder follows, booming in the atmosphere of the Evening. 

And yes dad, I have been counting every time I come here. This calls for a celebration, but disappointment surges through me. The curtains are drawn to the side as always, allowing me to see what's inside, but there's no light. The room is dark like my mind.