"You really killed somebody… to be honest, I didn't think you had it in you." Holly mocked as she went to lie next to Andrew on the bed.
"Neither did I…" Andrew replied softly.
"Well, that's another thirteen days for you…" Holly said.
"Yeah."
"So… did it feel good?" Holly poked.
"No."
"It must've been hard for you to get it up then! I can tell you that guy from the party didn't have any trouble. That's for sure!" Holly teased insensitively, "Even if you're alive, you still can't stop me from messing around with other guys…. But that's okay. You're my weak little man."
"Can you just shut up!? " Andrew shouted.
"That was harsh," Holly said softly, "I was just kidding around. I didn't really snag the guy at the party. I still need to earn my next thirteen days."
Holly gently rubbed Andrew's chest and wrapped one of her legs around his.
"I love you, Andrew…" Holly said softly.
"Yeah, sure you do…" Andrew scoffed.
"I'm serious… you mean everything to me. And even though I need to let others use my body… my heart belongs to you." Holly said.
Andrew sighed.
"I know. My heart belongs to you too, Holly…." Andrew said as he turned over and wrapped his arms around Holly.
At sunrise, the next day, Andrew took off on his bike to blow off steam. He rode down to a local park where he and his high school friends used to hang out. Coincidentally, Marcus, one of those friends, was lounging around in the very same park.
"Feeling nostalgic are we?" Marcus jested sitting on a park bench.
"I guess so…" Andrew replied, taking a seat next to him.
"How long has it been since we all hung out together?" Marcus asked, his eyes sunken.
"I don't know… maybe a year or two?" Andrew said with uncertainty.
"No. It's definitely been longer than that…I know! It's been since that bitch decided she needed you all to herself!" Marcus said leaving no room to argue.
"Hey, that's… not…" Andrew couldn't finish his sentence.
"You can't deny it… I don't know why she doesn't want you to talk to us, but she got what she wanted." Marcus said bitterly, "since you managed to sneak away, you wanna come catch up with Tomas? I told him I'd be heading his way right about now."
"Sorry, I…"
Andrew was about to say no. Maybe he would have even made up an excuse, like that he had to study for an exam or something. But Andrew needed this, and somewhere deep down he knew that.
"Actually… sure! I'd love to come along." Andrew said gleefully.
"Honestly, I'm surprised!" Marcus got up and hopped on his bike, "Glad…but surprised."
Andrew and Marcus rode through the city. They felt the wind blowing through their hair and the exhilaration of speeding downhill next to the zooming traffic. Andrew felt free. If only for a little bit. Holly wouldn't be up for a couple more hours. So till then, he was free.
Andrew and Marcus now had to make their way through the city's infamous red light district; a shortcut their parents had never been fond of them taking. They got all sorts of inappropriate comments from the denizens, no matter the gender. They were about to turn the corner, as was customary for heading to the home of their friend. But Andrew felt uneasy.
"You okay?" Marcus asked looking back.
Andrew froze. Just around the corner was "the good night". The very same brothel where-
"Yeah…" Andrew gulped, "I'm alright. Just forget about it. Let's keep going…"
The pair rode around the corner. It was the last thing Andrew wanted to see. Police cars surrounded the brothel. Andrew's heart sank. He felt sick.
"Hey, Andrew. You don't look so good. I've got some stomach meds if you need 'em." Marcus offered.
Andrew's heart was beating out of control. He regurgitated in the street.
"Andrew!" Marcus shouted concernedly.
"I… I have to go." Andrew spoke softly through panting.
Andrew got on his bike and bolted. He never wanted to think about what happened again. Unfortunately for him, that wasn't possible.
Later that night, Andrew was preparing to go to sleep. He brushed his teeth, he put on his pajamas and turned out all the lights. Then the phone rang. He picked it up.
"Hello? Is this Andrew Baldmen?" The shrill voice on the other end asked.
"Yeah?" Andrew said with a tinge of nervousness in his voice.
"It's me, Marcus's Mom… I have some bad news." The woman replied.
"What happened?" Andrew spoke faintly.
"My son… he," The woman on the other end struggled to get the words out, "he passed away a couple of hours ago. I knew you were good friends… so, I thought-"
Andrew's phone fell out of his hand. The woman on the other side kept speaking. If only for a little while.