Free Semblance by Logan Patricks Page B

number,” I said.
    Abraham grinned and waved farewell. “I’ll see you Saturday,” he said as he rolled up the window of the limo.
    I watched him drive off into the distance, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
    Who the hell were these people?
    I dragged my tired ass up the rotting wooden staircases of my apartment, still wearing the evening gown they gave me. It was too good for this hovel.
    It took me a good minute of fumbling around for my keys before I let myself into my apartment, stumbling in wearily like an impeccably dressed zombie.
    Bleary eyed, I flipped open my laptop and checked my bank account. Last night I had exactly $4.36 to my name. Now there was $11,004.36.
    Not bad for two night’s work.
    If I wasn’t so tired, I would have screamed to the heavens in pure ecstasy, but instead, I let out a yawn and said, “Sweet.”
    I collapsed onto my bed not bothering to remove the dress. The last image I had before drifting off into a deep sleep was the brooding look of Shadow’s face, just before I left him alone in his study.
    Who are you Shadow? What ghosts haunt your thoughts? Two intriguing questions which I hoped to unravel on our future dates.
    But first, sweet precious sleep.
     
    #

Chapter Seven
     
     
     
    I woke to the sounds of the Muppet’s Mahna Mahna , my cellphone ring tone, which normally put me in a cheerful mood. However seeing as how I slept only for an hour before it ripped me away from my sweet slumber, the song pissed me off.
    No I couldn’t blame the happy tune. It was whoever was calling me that was the culprit. I reached for my phone and looked at the name on my call display.
    Justin.
    I put my phone on mute and tossed it back onto my night table, rolled over, and went back to sleep.
    I was bailing on musical history class, and like an overprotective brother, Justin was probably trying to figure out where I was.
    I’ll meet up with him later tonight and grab whatever notes I missed from class. But for now, I wanted nothing more than to be seduced by my warm duvet and Mr. Sandman’s dreams.
     
    #
     
    Justin opened the door to his condo, dressed in torn jeans and a white tank top.
    He greeted me with a boyish “kiss me beautiful” type of grin, like he always did.
    “I missed you in class today,” he said.
    “I noticed,” I replied. “You called me five times in the span of five minutes.”
    “I was wondering if you forgot about our test today,” he said. “I guess you did. ”
    Oh shit! There was a test today on Schubert’s Erlkonig. It was one of the more interesting topics in music history, and one that I read up a great deal on. It would have been an easy way to boost up my average in the course, which was presently suffering because of my dick-faced professor who didn’t agree with a few of my essays.
    “Fuck,” I cursed.
    “Yeah,” Justin said. “It was on a topic you liked as well. Where were you anyways?”
    “Come on, let’s go grab some food at the Brickstone,” I said. “I’ll fill you in on the way there.”
    “I was in the middle of making dinner, but I guess I can save it for tomorrow. Just let me get my wallet,” Justin said as he headed back inside.
    “No way, you bought me lunch last time. Let me at least get your burger.”
    “Are you buying me dinner?”
    “Yes.”
    “Is this a date?”
    I saw the twinkle in his eye and regretted my offer almost immediately.
    “No,” I replied. “I’m just paying you back. I don’t like being in debt to anyone.”
    “You don’t have to do that,” Justin said.
    “Yes I do. Now no more debating,” I said. “I’m starving.”
     
    #
     
    I was hesitant to tell Justin the truth, especially seeing how clandestine last night’s celebration was, but I was going to explode if I didn’t spill my guts to someone about it. Justin was my closest friend and I trusted him with just about any secret.
    After having Justin swear an oath of eternal secrecy, I filled him in on last night’s events. As I