Revision 3

I haven’t seen Nicole since yesterday, and as usual she takes up probably about 60% of my mind the other 40% dedicated equally to work, food, and working out. I haven’t Seen Jeremiah in a few days, I should probably go check if he is still alive tonight, that old soul, give him a bottle of whiskey and an instrument, and he’ll play all damn night.

I waited around my house till it got dark out, I was hoping that Nicole would show, but she must’ve been busy. It was around 8:30 and I hadn’t had a bite to eat or a single drink in me yet. So I headed out on a goodie run for some studio time with Jeremiah.

I got there and there he was strumming his guitar singing with his case open for donations. He should be called Old Faithful not Jeremiah.

That night I sang with a passion I have never sung before, I sang with a soul I didn’t know I had within me, I sang with the old weary spirit, crooning, and swooning, groaning and moaning. We had the largest crowd that we had ever gathered. There must’ve been over fifty people just watching us on the street. I looked into the crowd and saw that same familiar face, all covered up listening to the music, wrapped up in her coat and sunglasses, it looked like it might rain tonight so that coat was a good call. I looked at her one more good time before I was sucked back into the music. She moved her head ever so slightly, nodded it to the beat, in such a familiar way that it spoke to me, it made the music take over, Otis Redding, “Change Gonna Come”.

“I was born by the river, oh my
In this little old tent, oh
Just like this river
I've been runnin' ever since
It's been a long, long time comin'
But i know, but i know
A change has gotta come now
Oh yes it is now, oh my, oh my, oh my”

Jeremiah was strumming the guitar, strumming the chords of the soul, I looked up for a second and the mysterious lady was now front and center, watching us perform. We continued, strumming, singing, we continued to let the music flow from our souls.

I looked up at the end of the number and there she was. Nicole, she had taken of her huge sunglasses, coat, and hat, let her hair out, and cracked her beautiful smile.

“I told you id see you soon”

She handed me a copy of the newspaper,

“What is this?”

“Its tomorrows, look at the cover”

There right on the front cover of tomorrow’s paper, was me and Jeremiah, strumming and singing, emptying our souls on the street corner. “Souls of the Street” By Nicole Spores.

“So you were the familiar stranger all along” Nicole nodded and smiled, blushing.

“I brought someone here too to see the show, I hope you don’t mind.” Out of the framework of the crowd comes the CEO of my record label, The D. Piddy.

“Hey yo Ster, that shits tight, I want you in the studio tomorrow, you’re ready my man you’re ready!” He grabbed my hand, did the classic bro to bro, hand clasp, hug, pat on back, then separate. Wow, I finally fucking did it.  “Nicole sent me recordings of you singing on the street, and said I needed to come check you out, and I like what I heard, ill talk to you  more in the morning, Studio 8:00 be there. Oh and bring your friend here too” We shook hands, said “Peace” and I gave him the copy of the paper, I wanted to save my glory for tomorrow, we chatted a little more then He left, and that was it, I got my job back. I have only spoken with him on various occasions and I have got to say, that was by far the best convo we have had. I could finally go back to the studio with Jessie and be Me.

I didn’t say anything to Nicole, she was my savior, she was everything I could have asked for. She filled the void in my life when I needed her most, and made my problems disappear, hopefully one day I can do the same for her.

I just pulled her in tight. I told Jeremiah to play something sweet and low for us, and he did. We did some lazy swaying, she rested her head on my chest. A couple people tipped us, a couple walked by saying get a room already, whatever, I didn’t give a fuck.

Suddenly Nicole looked up at me, but I was already looking down at her. Slowly our heads moved together in unison, eyes closed, lips moist, her wet hair was getting stuck to her face, then, suddenly out of nowhere, a crack of thunder. Lightning followed immediately after, streaking the sky. It was beautiful yet powerful. Suddenly the air moistened and began to smell like rain until, the sky opened up and a down pour started, drenching everything. Jeremiah was still sitting on the corner strumming his soul, singing in the rain.

“Well I hate to rain on our parade but… it looks like it’s raining on our parade” said Nicole, giggling “Got an Umbrella?”

She smiled, I smiled back. I pulled her close and looked into her eyes.

“This aint a parade anymore, its just me, you and the music.”

The rain picked up, but that just made us get closer, she kissed me and bit my lip, I got her right back. All the while, Jeremiah was still strumming his soul, singing in the rain.

“Ooh it's been so long
It's been so long, a little too long
But a change has gotta come
I'm so tired, so tired of suffering
And standing by myself
And standing up alone
But a change has gotta come
You know and i know
You know that i know
That i know that you know, honey
That a change is gonne come, oh my...”

Revision 2

The very next day I was in the city. I got a cab, and quickly made my way to 535 Hayden Lane. When I pulled up to the apartment complex, I saw Byron’s car I knew he was there and I knew what was about to happen. I reached into my pocket and clenched my gun for assurance of its presence. My heart was pounding. Blood rushing, adrenaline surging.

I paid the taxi, and away he sped, while I slowly traversed up the apartment stairs. Luckily someone right in front of me entered the complex so I just came in right behind, undetected. Before committing fully, I looked for an escape or alternate plan, I was raised to do this, if something shady is going down you better have a plan A, B, and C cause you know sure as hell the other person you’re fuckin with does.

I noticed a fire extinguisher right outside of Byron’s door, and also 2 security cameras on each side of the hall. I knocked on Byrons door quietly, No reply, though I could hear music coming from inside. I turned the handle, it was Open and I strolled right in.

“Bonnie baby that you?”

I didn’t say anything just kept on course moving towards Byron. That fucking Bitch I shoulda known her and Byron were still together, and scheming the second she said TMZ, fucking gold digger.

“Bon Bon?”

That was my nickname for her, gross. I was right next to him, I put the cold gun to his head.

“Bonnie, don’t play no games right now, we can get freaky…”

I cut him off “Fine no games Bitch!”

Smack, a big ole pistol whip to the face. Byron didn’t make a sound, he sat there and took it, his cheek got a gash in it, and it was now dripping blood, but it didn’t phase him. That wound was nothing to what he did to me. He knew who it was, he knew what had happened, it was only a matter of time.

“You took my money? Bitch you framed me, snitched me out for shit I didn’t do?”

SMACK! Byron made a sound at this one, a low grumble, followed by a spit of blood.

“How fucking dare you, there was never no gangsters, there was never no threat on you, you just got straight up cash you fucking prick. You ain’t even think about me”

My hands were shaking, for some reason my thumb was moving to caulk the gun, I didn’t know why, I had never killed before, I have shot a man but never killed. My thumb was slowly descending. Byron finally said his first words.

“Man think about this shit first!”

“Shut the fuck up!”

Click the gun was caulked

“Man now you know how I feel, your out there getting all the money, getting all the girls, I want tha shit too man! Why do you get to have it all? Fucking selfish”

“I did this for us, man if u didn’t double cross me, and stayed fuckin clean, we was all gonna be livin the life together, but look at what you done! Bitch! Look at it!” I put the gun right between Byrons eyes. My fingers were shaking, no not shaking, they were vibrating, uncontrollably. This was it.

Boom!

“What the fuckin hell is fuckin goin on in here?”

Bonnie just crashed in the door, and crashed the party. The sound startled me for a second but I kept my gun focused on Byron.

“I knew you was still with him, you smelt like a rat.”

“Shut the hell up little boy, maybe if you wasn’t so loud I wouldn’t a heard yo dumb ass, singing ass bitch!”

Bonnie reached into her pocket book and pulled out a gun, and pointed it directly at Sterling.

“U smack him up bitch?” asked Bonnie

“Yea I think he looks better now, more like your ugly ass.”

She chuckled, and kept poised right on sterling. Sterling’s gun was still directly in-between Byron’s eyes, Byron’s eyes had been closed for a while now, waiting, praying.

“So what you gonna do, Shoot Byron square in the dome and die after Ster, Huh? Die with your old best friends brains all over yourself? Big tough Singer wana play with a Bad Bitch?”

She caulked her gun, raised her weapon to eye level. To be honest, nothing is scarier to me than bonnie with a fucking gun, actually I lied, Bonnie on her period, during a full moon, with a gun is easily the deadliest thing in the entire world.

“Best you wish you didn’t ditch me now huh, Ster”

She closed one of her eyes, as if an expert marksman and time froze. Was this it? am I going to die? Am I going to kill? Am I going to live? My mind was flustered, it was like the first time I saw Nicole. Completely flustered, time froze when I looked into her eyes, just as when I looked into the barrel of Bonnie’s gun.

Tick, tick, tick, went the seconds

I sensed motion out of my peripherals, this was it.

“Pfffffffff” white smoke enveloped Bonnie.

“Oh Bitch!” she shouted

“BOOM!” went Bonnie’s gun as she let off a shot in the confusion.

“KLUNK!”

Bonnie collapsed to the ground, finally silent, and unconscious. I looked over to the area, and out of the white smoked, emerges Jessie, standing holding the fire extinguisher.

“Emergency Plan A, always the fire extinguisher baby!”

I breathed a sigh of relief, while Jessie Celebrated his heroism.

“You good Ster?”

“Fuckin great J, Beantown for life, taught us well, go make sure shes ok”

I’m never going to hear the end of this, forever, how he knocked my crazy ass, bitch ass, ex-girlfriend out with a fire extinguisher.

“You kiddin, im surprised that even knocked that thickskulled bitch out… she breathin I see her tits movin, shes good, just nappin” Jessie whispered, into the sleeping Bonnie’s ear, “Night night sleeping bitchy” Jessie stood up and walked over to me and By. “Ster man I came to your place, but you weren’t there, so I called Nicole, who was the only place I thought you could be since I had already check Boylston and Tremont. I got my fuckin second day off and look what you got me doin, missing another day of work, knockin fools out, I need a raise!” I didn’t respond, I was still just focused on Byron, the cold metal of my gun now leaving an in dent on his forehead. Jessie spoke first, and walked over.

“By, I’m through with you, dont never show me your face again, or else you see dat fire extinguisher, its gonna be so far up your ass, we can put out fires with it by opening your mouth. Your fucking scum!” Jessie spat on his feet, and left. Upon exiting he said.

“Ill let you two be it seems you have unfinished business.”

I couldn’t do it, im not a killer, I am a creator.

“This is the difference between you and me Byron.”

I put the gun back into my pocket, Byron’s eyes were still closed though.

“Stay in fucking Canada, Keep the fucking money man, that’s not what its about, your dead to me” I turned and stormed out, as I turned to shut the door, Byron’s eyes were still closed, But a single tear shed down his left cheek.

Jessie was waiting for me outside. I walked next to him, then we exited to the road to get a cab.

“We never speak of this again” Jessie Said, I nodded.

There was a brief silence while we waited for a cab. I flagged one down, and we headed over to it.

“But For real though, I just fucking smacked some bitch in the head with a fire extinguisher… HAAH!”

I laughed, it was funny though you have to admit, Bonnies going to wake up and just be like WTF. We got into the cab and flew home. 

Revision 1

Tonight is going to be one of those nights I can tell. Some Chinese take-out, a fifth, nah maybe a handle tonight, I am going to see Jeremiah after all. I need a release.

Jessie called me today, he said there was a good video released of our performance at Ned Devines, and it was getting me a lot of good press in the past couple days. That was good to hear, but is a drunken song show really my route back to the top? He said the video poster’s name was Spores. Nicole, she must’ve done it before that whole Bonnie thing. Or maybe she did it after maybe she still cares… that’s just some fucking wishful thinking.

I headed out to round up the goodie bag for the night, equipped with booze, grub, some gum, and a couple Beantown burners.

While I was heading to the T stop, I couldn’t get Nicole out of my mind. I  hate to see her leave. I gave her a ring, no answer, she’s probably busy, probably already onto the next guy. Or she just ignored my call, whatever.

I jammed out with the power of all the musical greats that night. I don’t know if I stopped banging on the keyboard or belting for a split second. I would look up and sometimes there would be an audience spectating out of nowhere, other times just a couple kids dancing, the music was taking me over again.

I looked up again later, and I noticed a lady, she looked like she could be quite attractive, if she wasn’t so bundled. She wore a hat and let none of her hair show, sunglasses the size of dinner plates, a long and heavy coat buttoned all of the way up, and black boots. I Looked back down, and got lost into the music, again.

When I looked up, there was an audience, and again still that bundled women, with sunglasses and all, standing spectating, she seemed familiar, she looked like she just got out of work. No sweat off my back, if she knew me shed speak, she can’t be that cute anyways if shes hiding all her features. I noticed a flash out of the corner of my eyes, the women placed something in her pocket, and then swiftly turned and left, while I returned to work on the keyboard. 

Singing in the Rain

I haven’t seen Nicole since yesterday, and as usual she takes up probably about 60% of my mind the other 40% dedicated equally to work, food, and working out. I haven’t Seen Jeremiah in a few days, I should probably go check if he is still alive tonight, that old soul, give him a bottle of whiskey and an instrument, and hell play all damn night.

I waited around my house till it got dark out, I was hoping that Nicole would show, but she must’ve been busy. It was around 8:30 and I hadn’t had a bite to eat or a single drink in me yet. So I head out on a goodie run for some studio time with Jeremiah.

I got there and there he was strumming his guitar singing with his case open for donations. He should be called Old Faithful not Jeremiah, or wait that may not be a person, well whatever he’s always there.

That night I sang with a passion I have never sung before, I sang with a soul I didn’t know I had within me, I sang with the old weary spirit, crooning, and swooning, groaning and moaning. We had the largest crowd that we had ever gathered. There must’ve been over fifty people just watching us on the street. I looked into the crowd and saw that same familiar face, all covered up listening to the music, wrapped up in her coat and sunglasses, it looked like it might rain tonight so that coat was a good call. I looked at her one more good time before I was sucked back into the music. She moved her head ever so slightly, nodded it to the beat, in such a familiar way that it spoke to me, it made the music take over, Otis Redding, change gonna come.

“I was born by the river, oh my
In this little old tent, oh
Just like this river
I've been runnin' ever since
It's been a long, long time comin'
But i know, but i know
A change has gotta come now
Oh yes it is now, oh my, oh my, oh my”

Jeremiah was strumming the guitar, strumming the chords of the soul, I looked up for a second and the mysterious lady was now front and center, watching us perform. We continued, strumming, singing, we continued to let the music flow from our souls.

I looked up at the end of the number and there she was. Nicole, she had taken of her huge sunglasses, coat, and hat, let her hair out, and cracked her beautiful smile.

“I told you id see you soon”

She handed me a copy of the newspaper,

“What is this?”

“Its tomorrows, look at the cover”

There right on the front cover of tomorrow’s paper, was me and Jeremiah, strumming and singing, emptying our souls on the street corner. “Souls of the Street” By Nicole Spores.

“So you were the familiar stranger all along” Nicole nodded and smiled, blushing.

“I brought someone here too to see the show, I hope you don’t mind.” Out of the framework of the crowd comes the CEO of my record label, The D. Piddy.

“Hey yo Ster, that shits tight, I want you in the studio tomorrow, your ready my man your ready, ill talk to you then.” We shook hands and I gave him the copy of the paper, I wanted to save my glory for tomorrow, we chatted a little more then He left, and that was it, it was that easy I got my job back. I have only spoken with him on various occasions and I have got to say that was by far the best convo we have had. I could finally go back to the studio with Jessie and be Me.

I didn’t say anything to Nicole, she was my savior, she was everything I could have asked for. She filled the void in my life when I needed her most, and mad emy problems disappear, hopefully one day I can do the same for her.

I just pulled her in tight. I told Jeremiah to play something sweet and low for us, and he did. We did some lazy swaying, she rested her head on my chest. A couple people tipped us, a couple walked by saying get a room already, whatever I didn’t give a fuck.

Suddenly Nicole looked up at me, but I was already looking down at her. Slowly our heads moved together in unison, eyes closed, lips moist, then, suddenly out of nowhere, a crack of thunder. Lightning followed immediately after streaking the sky. It was beautiful yet powerful. Suddenly the air moistened and began to smell like rain until, the sky opened up and a down pour started, drenching everything. Jeremiah was still sitting on the corner strumming his soul, singing in the rain.

“Well I hate to rain on our parade but… it looks like it’s raining on our parade” said nicole

She smiled, I smiled back. I pulled her close and looked into her eyes.

“This aint a parade anymore, its just me, you and the music.”

The rain picked up, but that just made us get closer, she kissed me and bit my lip, I got her right back. All the while, Jeremiah was still strumming his soul, singing in the rain in the background.

“Ooh it's been so long
It's been so long, a little too long
But a change has gotta come
I'm so tired, so tired of suffering
And standing by myself
And standing up alone
But a change has gotta come
You know and i know
You know that i know
That i know that you know, honey
That a change is gonne come, oh my...”

I Never Got to Say Thank You

So I had done it, Byron was no longer going to try and blackmail/ rat me out to press and shit, he was out of my life. Ive got to give Byron some credit though, he has stayed true to his word and then some. I haven’t heard a peep, hear hes still in Canada, and get this, he even issued a statement saying that the story of me was not true, That I am not a drug fiend, and that I remain drug free currently. Well… except for a lil pot, but who doesn’t smoke fuckin ganja, lets be real. He even went as far as to say that he was 100% responsible for my overextended vacation fuck up.

The record Company Gave me a call and apologized for assuming I was continuing my drug use, but they said they think its best I still remain out of the studio for a while since the last blow up.

Thats fine I got my own new studio, and Jessie does too, right on the corner of Tremont and Boylston.

I went over to the globes headquarters, I wanted to see if maybe Nicole could get Lunch. I went to her office but she was on the phone. The guy on the other end didn’t sound to happy. The call ended in a minute, and Nicole looked up at me.

“So, I trust you rained on my anonymous sources parade?”

“Poured”

“excellent, since he came out saying that article was completely false, Ive been getting a lot of heat, but he was a completely credible source as one of ur best friends. That’s all I can really say”

“He was one of my best friends”

“ohh it really did pour then huh?” Her phone rang again and she picked it up. She told the caller to hold for a second.

“Hey I gotta go, im getting more shit for this article, but I would love to see you again?”

“I didn’t want to ruin your credibility my bad, I didn’t ask for this you know”

“I know, I wanted to do it, now I know how you feel, plus it was only a minor blow. Nothing I can’t handle and rebuild. Now you gotta go this call may get ugly”

“Ok when can I expect to see you again? I never got to say Thank you”

She waved me out of the room as if she had a very important call coming.

The feeling came again, I was blushing, but it was different this time. I moved right towards Nicole, I couldn’t help it, she was so Smart, so beautiful, so strong, I kissed her smack on the lips mid conversation. They were so soft, so sweet, I could feel her temperature rise in her face, just as she did mine the first day we met. She hung up the phone, grabbed my shirt, reeled me in, and planted one on me, right back.

“you just did” she whispered. The phone rang again

“Your blushing” I said as I exited. 

Emergency Plan A

The very next day I was in the city. I got a cab, and quickly made my way to 535 Hayden Lane. When I pulled up to the apartment complex, I saw Byron’s car I knew he was there and I knew what was about to happen. I reached into my pocket and clenched my gun for assurance of its presence. My heart was pounding. Blood rushing, adrenaline surging.

I paid the taxi, and away he sped, while I slowly traversed up the apartment stairs. Luckily someone right in front of me entered the complex so I just came in right behind, undetected. Before committing fully, I looked for an escape or alternate plan, I was raised to do this, if something shadys going down u better have a plan A, B, and C cause you know sure as hell the other person you’re fuckin with does.

I noticed a fire extinguisher right outside of Byron’s door, and also 2 security cameras on each side of the hall. I knocked on Byrons door quietly, No reply, though I could hear music coming from inside. I turned the handle, it was Open and I strolled right in.

“Bonnie baby that you?”

I didn’t say anything just kept on course moving towards Byron. That fucking Bitch I shoulda known the second she said TMZ, fucking gold digger.

“Bon Bon?”

That was my nickname for her, gross. I was right next to him, I put the cold gun to his head.

“Bonnie, don’t play no games right now, we can get freaky…”

I cut him off “Surprise!”

Smack, a big ole pistol whip to the face. Byron didn’t make a sound, he sat there and took it, his cheek got a gash in it, and it was now dripping blood, but it didn’t phase him. That wound was nothing to what he did to me.

“You took my money? Bitch you framed me, snitched me out for shit I didn’t do?”

SMACK! Byron made a sound at this one, a low grumble, followed by a spit of blood.

“How fucking dare you, there was never no gangsters, there was never no threat on you, you just got straight up cash you fucking prick. You ain’t even think about me”

My hands were shaking, for some reason my thumb was moving to caulk the gun, I didn’t know why, I had never killed before, I have shot a man but never killed. My thumb was slowly descending. Byron finally said his first words.

“Man think about this shit first!”

“Shut the fuck up!”

Click the gun was caulked

“Man now you know how I feel, your out there getting all the money, getting all the girls, I want tha shit too man! Why do you get to have it all? Fucking selfish”

“I did this for us, man if u didn’t double cross me we was all gonna be livin the life together, but look at what you done! Bitch! Look at it!”

I put the gun right between Byrons eyes. My fingers were shaking, no not shaking, they were vibrating, uncontrollably. This was it.

Boom!

“What the fuckin hell is fuckin goin on in here?”

Bonnie just crashed in the door, and crashed the party. The sound startled me for a second but I kept my gun focused on Byron.

“I knew you was still with him, you smelt like a rat.”

“Shut the hell up little boy, maybe if you wasn’t so loud I wouldn’t a heard yo dumb ass, singing ass bitch!”

Bonnie reached into her pocket book and pulled out a gun, and pointed it directly at Sterling.

“U smack him up bitch?” asked Bonnie

“Yea I think he looks better now, more like your ugly ass.”

She chuckled, and kept poised right on sterling. Sterling’s gun was still directly in-between Byron’s eyes, Byron’s eyes had been closed for a while now, waiting, praying.

“So what you gonna do, Shoot Byron square in the dome and die after Ster, Huh? Die with your old best friends brains all over yourself? Big tough Singer wana play with a Bad Bitch?”

She caulked her gun, raised her weapon to eye level. To be honest, nothing is more scary to me than bonnie with a fucking gun, actually I lied, Bonnie on her period, during a fool moon, with a gun is easily the deadliet thing In all of the world.

“Best you wish you didn’t ditch me now huh, Ster”

She closed one of her eyes, as if an expert marksman and time froze. Was this it? am I going to die? Am I going to kill? Am I going to live? My mind was flustered, it was like the first time I saw Nicole. Completely flustered, time froze when I looked into her eyes, just as when I looked into the barrel of Bonnies Gun.

Tick, tick tick, went the seconds

I sensed motion out of my peripherals, this was it.

KLUNK!

Bonnie collapsed to the ground, finally silent, and unconscious. I looked over to the area, and there is Jessie, standing holding the fire extinguisher.

“Emergency Plan A, always the fire extinguisher baby!”

I breathed a sigh of relief, while Jessie Celebrated his heroism. I’m never going to hear the end of this forever, how he knocked my crazy ass, bitch ass, ex-girlfriend out with a fire extinguisher.

“Yea J, Roxbury and Beantown for life 781, 617, they taught us well. Make sure shes ok.”

“You kiddin, im surprised that even knocked that thickskulled bitch out… she breathin I see her tits movin shes good, just nappin” Jessie whispered, into the sleeping Bonnie’s ear, “Night night sleeping bitchy” Jessie stood up and walked over to me and By. “Ster man I came to your place, but you weren’t there, so I called Nicole who was the only place I thought you could be since I had already check Boylston and Tremont. I got my fuckin second day off and look what you got me doin, missing another day of work.” I didn’t respond, I was still just focused on Byron, the cold metal of my gun now leaving an in dent on his forehead. Jessie spoke first

“By, im through with you, dont never show me your face again, or else you see dat fire extinguisher, its gonna be so far up your ass, we can put out fires with it by opening your mouth. Your fucking scum!” Jessie spat on his feet, and left. Upon exiting he said.

“Ill let you two be it seems you have unfinished business.”

I couldn’t do it, im not a killer, I am a creator.

“This is the difference between you and me Byron.”

I put the gun back into my pocket, Byrons eyes were still closed though.

“Stay in fucking Canada, Keep the fucking money man, that’s not what its about, your dead to me” I turned and stormed out, as I turned to shut the door, Byrons eyes were still closed, But a single tear shed down his left cheek.

Jessie was waiting for me outside. I walked next to him, then we went to the road to get a cab.

“We never speak of this again” Jessie Said, I nodded.

There was a brief silence while we waited for a cab. I flagged one down, and we head over to it.

“But For real though, I just fucking smacked some bitch in the head with a fire extinguisher… HAAH!”

I laughed, it was funny though you have to admit, Bonnies going to wake up and just be like WTF. We got into the cab and flew home. 

535 Hayden, Toronto CA

My days were getting more and more boring, my only real sense of enjoyment anymore is playing downtown, on the corner of Tremont and Boylston. I still don’t have a job, still don’t know who’s trying to sabotage me, both of my love interests have fled, My best friend works too hard, and I don’t work enough.

I went to my Gym, and got my morning workout on. The radio had this new song from a new artist on the same label as me called “Bad Bitches” by Rocko Flocko. It was awful, and it instantly made me think of Bonnie. But why was it on the radio, I could be making so much better music, and so much more money for the label, if they would just fucking let me. Good thing I was working out, I got kinda worked up there.

I came up and took a shower, dried off and put on my robe. I went into the kitchen to get a snack, then went back to get dressed. When I grabbed my phone I noticed I had one missed call. It was from the one the only, Nicole.

“Hey Sterling, Listen, I feel like I owe you one, since I wrote that story about you in the first place. If your interested, come to my office today at some point, I have something for you, and its not dinner and a show, Bye…… Click” There was a long pause at the end it kind of sounded like she wanted to say something more but resisted.

Perfect I was already all cleaned up.

When I arrived, I was fairly efficient; I knew the lay of the land now and went straight to Nicole’s Office. When I got it we both blushed, yep she still felt it too.

“Hello Mr. Jones”

“Hi Mrs. Spores, I got your message.”

“So it seems, here this is for you, you can’t listen to it anywhere in this building, if you do I will know, and I will take it back. Do it in the privacy of your own home. It’s Best. Trust Me” She handed me a small recording device, the one she uses for interviews. Oh boy.

I got home, and couldn’t wait any longer, I threw it down on the table, What the fuck was going to happen now. I hit play, and then I immediately knew why she said to do it in my own home. I screamed so loud, I angered god, I could not believe what I heard.

Not only had I found out who my tormentor was, but I also lost a friend, forever. Byron, loud and clear all over her recording machine was his voice, telling made up stories of me and him doing copious drugs, driving drunk, hiring strippers. It was hard to listen to, how could a friend of so long, sell me out all to make some money. Was he jealous? I just couldn’t del with his shit anymore it was tearing all fo us apart, but this was the final straw it ends here.

I listened to the whole tape though, and then on the final question it slipped, “So what is a fine woman like yourself doing in Toronto?” straight from Byron, got him. I popped open the recorder, took the cassette, and realized there was a sticky note on the back, it was an address “535 Hayden Lane” and there was a little note written from Nicole. “Hope it doesn’t rain on your parade in Toronto, good luck!” Man was she good.