Here's a preview of the 2nd short story from my Wattpad exclusive book of short stories inspired by songs by popular music artist. Enjoy and click the link below for the full read. Remember to read, vote and share via Wattpad!
Short Story #2: Finally Clean
Inspired by: “Clean” by Taylor Swift from the album “1989”
The night is black with the exception of a few street lights that are shining. The air is cool but just enough to cure the breeze with a light hoodie. I can’t believe I’m back at it again. After all of the classes and months of rehab, here I am back at it making late night trips to my dealer.
I walk with my hands in the pockets of my hoodie, making sure I keep my supply safe. It cost me my last bit of money and I wouldn’t want to lose it because it slipped out. My mother worries about me and my father has basically lost hope. They’re good parents and they have sacrificed everything for me yet, I can’t stop my ways.
They’ve put me in every program and spent countless dollars on my recovery but I can’t seem to stick to the straight and narrow road. I want to get better but for some reason I can’t. I’ve tried my best but my best hasn’t been good enough.
I grew up with the best education and my parents did all they could for me but nothing was ever enough to keep me clean. I think I was wired this way.
My car was taken away from me as a precaution so I won’t do things like go on a late night run to my dealer’s house; but not even the lack of transportation could stop me from my urges. I pick up the pace as I walk the distance to my home. It’s a bit of a walk from my dealer’s to my house but to me it’s worth it.
I’m a few blocks away from my house when I hear sirens coming up from behind me. Oh no! I can’t afford to get caught again. I turn around as I continue walking in the middle of the street to see a police vehicle heading straight toward me. Strangest thing, they don’t seem to slow down. As the car gets closer I quickly jump over to the side walk. The patrol car races past me, never even acknowledging that it almost ran me over.
“Prick!” I yell out in anger even though I know the car is long gone and the driving officer couldn’t possibly hear me.
Who does that? I think to myself as I continue on my walk home. A few seconds later I hear more sirens. I stop walking to see what’s happening as a firetruck, more cop cars and an ambulance pass me by. Something terrible must be happening nearby. Maybe a fire or something. The good news is that they’ll all be too busy worrying about the current crisis that I won’t stick out like a sore thumb on a school night.
NEW SHORT STORY ALERT! This one is extra special because it's going to be part of a book I am going to start working on very soon. It's connected with the A Tragic Heart series but is strictly told from Adalyn and Jackson's POV. Two supporting characters are being turned into the stars!
At first I was iffy about the idea because I didn't want to drag it but I realized while on Parahoy that Paramore's music inspired it and as long as they're going to continue on, why shouldn't I. I won't make this book part 5 of the series but it will act as a stand alone novel that is heavily associated with the others. Basically, it will help a lot if you read the first 4 before reading this one but you won't have to. It won't be a long one either...probably 150-200 pages maximum. The name of the book will be the same as this short story, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. I'll give you more info on it in another post very soon. For now, check this one out (and the last short story if you haven't). If it fit with any book it would be part of What Could've Been (Book 4) Also, you may want to take a look at where the story stems from: Jackson: The Surprise
Listen to "Two Weeks" by FKA Twigs on repeat while reading for the full experience:
Jackson: Crazy Little
Thing Called Love
She
comes behind me and wraps her arms around my shoulders. She plants soft kisses
on my neck, distracting me from time on my guitar. I place it to the side and
she knows that’s her cue to take its place on my lap.
“Are
you sure you can’t stay the night?” she asks poking out her lip, already
knowing the answer.
“I
gotta get back home to Megan. We’re working it out,” I reply in a defeated
tone.
She
looks down. I know just what she’s thinking. “Then what are we doing?”
“I love
you,” I told her touching her face. “You know that…me and her…we just have two
kids and I didn’t think you would ever want me the way I wanted you…”
“I’m
sorry for hurting you the way I did…for being so indecisive but I know what I
want now and that’s you. This situation is really fucked up and I know that…I
would’ve never thought I could do something like this but-“
“No
need to explain. I know. We’re in the same position,” I say pulling her closer
to me.
Time on
tour together turned into something neither of us ever expected. After I found
Megan in bed with another man while our kids were asleep in the next room, I
left for tour and never confronted my feelings. I was pretty down and out for
most of the time but it was her who brought me back. She showed me a good time
one night and that was that. I never meant for any of this to happen and
neither did she. Besides, she had something going on with my sister’s ex-husband
and she used to date the lead singer of her band, who is currently my sister’s
husband and one of my closest friends. Complicated, huh? Not to mention, she’s
now my sister’s best friend…in a way they’re like sisters so this makes it all
the more complicated. These are the reasons it has to remain a secret. I’m a
married man having an affair. I’m just as bad as my wife.
After
catching Megan in the act we separated for a while. My heart was intent on
divorce and that’s when Adalyn and I started our fling. It was purely sexual at
that time but I fell for her in ways I never imagined. It was her beauty,
physical and internal. I poured my heart out to her one night and scared her
away. She told me what we had was just for fun…nothing serious. It was cold and
harsh; meanwhile my wife wanted to work it out with me so I gave into her.
There was no point in being lonely. I mean, I still loved Megan, I just
couldn’t look at her the same way, but I was willing to try.
Long
story short: when I was gone she realized she loved me too and now we’re here. After
her confession we tried to avoid each other as much as we could but I had to
give in. I wanted something new…someone who didn’t hurt me. With Megan it
started to feel forced but with Adalyn it was all natural. She started as a
friend and ended up being so much more. Everything was easy and it was just
what I needed. Fast forward and here we are: loving each other in secret,
afraid to let anyone know because of what they might think.
“I’ll
come by tomorrow night after I put the kids to bed. I’ll just tell her I’m
utilizing some studio time solo,” I say caressing her arm.
“You’ve
used that lie too many times…why not the truth?”
She’s
ready for this to come out and in a way I am too. It’s just that I know the
timing isn’t right. I haven’t wrapped my head around leaving my family for
someone else. I mean, I would never abandon my children, they’ll always be a
major part of my life and Adalyn understands that. I’m just not ready to take
them through another separation knowing this time it’ll be permanent. I’m not
sure how they’ll take having a second “mommy” around so soon.
“I’ll
tell the truth…eventually…” I reply. “You just have to be patient. I know you
have been for a while now but it’ll come soon. I just have to find the right
words and the time.”
“There
will never be a right time,” she corrects me.
I see
where this is going and it’s heading nowhere fast. I roughly grab her face and
kiss her. She doesn’t seem to mind. I let go and stare into her eyes. The light
quickly reflects off of them causing them to look a lighter shade of brown for
an instant.
“See
you tomorrow?” she asks as if she’s uncertain that I’ll be there.
“Yeah,
you can count on it.”
She
stands up and I follow her lead. I allow her to walk me to the door but I can’t
help but notice that disappointing look on her face. I’m not trying to hurt her
or Megan but it seems that’s all I’m doing lately. I touch her face one last
time and she gets what I’m trying to say. I kiss her cheek and she smirks.
“I love
you,” I tell her once more.
“Same
here…”
And
that was it for the night…it was time to head back to my wife and kids…
Please leave your comments with opinions and suggestions! Would you like to read a full novel on a secret Adalyn and Jackson could've possibly shared? Do you want more from the A Tragic Heart series? Sound off below!
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