TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
(32nd installment)
warning...adult content
Ghost and Maxy played a couple more gigs. Maxy was frustrated they weren't being recognized as super stars, yet, and of course blamed it on Ghost. Ghost was still watching for his chance to escape. He wondered why things had changed between him and Maxy. It had been so good, at first. they had loved each other at a time when he had needed to be loved so desperately...but now, he felt that he'd just been lied to, used by Maxy's own greed and inflated ego.
This hurt Ghost, to know he'd given himself wholeheartedly and now...now it had all gone so wrong. Then, a few nights later, they'd had another blow-up. Maxy accused Ghost of sabotaging their path to fame, called him every bad name he could think of, said he hated him...and all the while knocking Ghost around. He kept drinking and cursing and finally stumbled to bed, where he passed out.
Ghost had had enough. He saw his chance, and took it. He quietly went out the door, the same door he'd so willingly came into months ago. He also did something he thought he'd never do...he stole Maxy's money...everything that was in Maxy's wallet. He didn't care, figuring some of it belonged to him anyway for his pay from the gigs. Maxy had never given him any, in all this time. Ghost had no idea how much it was, but knew he could maybe pay his way back home on a bus. He didn't want to hitch-hike if he could go some other way.
He remembered his way back to the soup kitchen he'd ate at when he first got here. Asking around, he found that the Rasta guy had moved on. He would have liked to thank him for his help. He got directions to the bus station, where he handed over a wad of money. It was enough to take him back to Missing Mile. It would take three days.
On the long ride cross-country, he slept a lot, and thought a lot about everything that had happened to him. It was a long, torturous journey, that was coming full circle. He didn't know if he could forgive Steve, but he knew he had to try. Maybe Steve was glad he was gone. The more he thought about it, the more nervous he became. The closer he got to home, the more scared he was of what would happen.
Kinsey had said Steve had made a mess of his life...well, so had he. Maybe, just maybe they could work it out. At least he was going to try...he hoped Steve would do the same.
~
The bus driver let him off in the middle of the night, in Missing Mile. The town was dark and deserted. Ghost stood there in the street and just breathed. It felt right. The night air was cooling from another hot, humid day. Fog was beginning to form, but high above in the indigo sky, thousands of stars looked down on him.
He began walking home. He hadn't been there in so long. He didn't know if Steve had stayed or not, didn't know what he'd find when he got there. His feet crunched the gravel, as he slowly walked up to the front porch of his house. Things looked pretty much the same. Steve's old T-bird wasn't there. He'd not heard of the wreck Steve had had...the car was long gone. Walking up the steps, he noticed his warding off star was still there in front of the door, painted on the wooden planks...a little more faded. He knew he'd repaint it.
Opening the door, he knew immediately...Steve was here. He caught his breath, swallowing hard. The whole house smelled of Steve.The whole house's essence screamed at him of Steve's presence. Feelings and lightning quick visions of everything that had ever happened in this house, since he was a kid, and up until that horrible day when he'd left, came flooding into his senses. It made him weak, made him stagger almost to his knees, it was so strong in his mind. The adrenaline of anxiety was making him shake.
After a few more deep breaths, he began walking to Steve's bedroom. He could hear Steve breathing, a sound he was so familiar with, and had missed terribly. He made his way down the hallway, lit only by the moonlight that streamed in through the living-room window. He opened the door...and there was Steve. It had been almost two years since he'd left his home. It was time to begin the next journey of his life.
As he watched Steve sleep, feelings washed over him...feelings of goodness and badness, and all that happened...but most of all, love. No matter what did happen, or would happen, he knew there would always be total, awesome love between them. The time was right.
His heart melted at the sight of his best friend, his lover. He didn't trust his voice, so he whispered, "Steve." It wasn't loud enough. Ghost's eyes welled up, and tears fell down his face. "Steve," he whispered a little louder. Steve stirred on the bed, rolled over toward Ghost, his eyes fluttering open as he came slowly awake.
"Steve," Ghost whispered shakily, again. "I need you," he sobbed.
Steve only stared at Ghost. He felt he was still asleep and dreaming, then sleepwalking, as he rose from the bed. Reaching out, he touched Ghost's wet face. "Are you real? Are you really here, Ghost?"
"Steve...I need you, now," Ghost sighed, reaching up to Steve, kissing him deeply. He didn't know if Steve would reject him. His heart was pounding, and he was almost collapsing with his overwhelming need to be loved by Steve, to be one with him again.
Steve was in shock at seeing Ghost after so long, so long...and when Ghost kissed him, he felt all the love and need from Ghost. His heart nearly exploded with the love he felt for this exquisite creature in front of him...loving him, wanting him...needing him.
They had no more need for words. Steve enveloped Ghost in his strong arms, and led him to his still warm bed, where they took each other in absolute love, passion and adoration. They fell asleep in each other's arms, hearing their heartbeats, and the soothing sounds of a breeze blowing through the pines.
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
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