The Annals of An Angel: The War Of The Stones

By James C. Taylor

This is the beginning story of a young gay man looking for love and adventure in equal measure. He finds both but not in the way he was expecting, but that's how life is at times. Drake Charles Taylor is a recent college grad trying to make his way as a private-lesson teacher in Miami when he meets the love of his life in actor Jason Branton. They have a whirlwind romance and also get thrust into a quest in a whole new dimension where dragons are real. Staying together will be hard, but Drake is up for the challenge. Are you?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887934532

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The Annals of An Angel

The War Of The Stones

James C. Taylor

Copyright © 2023 James C. Taylor

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

ISBN 979-8-88793-445-7 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88793-453-2 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Prologue

Introduction

The Beginning

Is It Love?

New Chapter…or Is It?

Next Day

Interlude

It's About Time

Feeling Good

Interlude

Walk of Shame

Something New

New Life

Early Awakening

Interlude

Everything's Changing

Are You for Real?!

And so It Begins…

Part 2

Powers

The Love of an Immortal

The War of the Stones

Growing Pains

The Start of the Adventure

Jackson Yukon

Campfires and Dragons

Reunion

Interlude

Off to See the Wizard

The Master Is In

Will You Train Us?!

World Mixed Martial Arts Champions

The Quarterfinals

Finals and Beginnings

It's Time to Live Life

Drake Winters?!

Aliens and Cyborgs and Wizards, Oh My!

The Actual New Chapter

Epilogue

About the Author

To my mother, Catherine Charlotte Jones, who always stood by me and believed I would do great things. Thanks, Mom!

Prologue

I stopped in front of the stairs to the golden palace to marvel at the beauty all around me. It was a breathtaking sight, seeing this wonderful world we had built. From the ancient forest behind me to the rich plains on my left and all the way to the vast lake on my right, it was all amazing. It was a shame I had to leave it all behind soon.

I turned around and faced the deep green forest from where they would be coming. A big sigh rose from my very soul. This is as good a battlefield as any in the universe, I thought.

Without warning, a giant fireball shot out from the trees and headed straight for me. I walked away from the stairs and faced the fiery onslaught. I caught it with my left hand and then crushed it in an instant. You'll have to do better than that, Joshua! I shouted into the distance.

A man materialized out of thin air at the edge of the forest. He had jet-black hair, olive-colored skin, and blue eyes and was about six feet tall. Even through his clothes you could tell that this man had never missed a day at the gym. He looked in my direction with a puzzled expression and asked, How did you know it was me?

I smiled and conjured a giant fireball of my own. I'm the one who taught you, Joshua. Plus, I would recognize your lazy conjuring any day of the week.

You call that lazy?! Josh screamed in disgust.

Yes, son, I do. So many centuries have passed, and you still forget the basics. As I spoke, I made the ball get larger. I held it above my head, and it grew to be the size of Epcot Center. I threw it at my son, and then I reached for the amethyst pendant around my neck. It glowed deeply and started to morph its shape. Once done, it had become a katana with a black hilt. I lifted it above my head and parried a blow from another attacker. Joshua jumped up over the ball and shot a wave of ice and froze the fireball into an ice ball. With his telekinesis, he stopped the ball from entering the forest and then placed it above his head. Above me, my older brother, Sora, materialized and tried to drive me into the ground. With my blade, I knocked Sora away, and he jumped back to land below Joshua. That attack might have worked when we were kids, Sora, but not anymore. Who do you think I am?

Sora, still with his trademarked spiky black hair, put his sword into the ground and put his hands out in front of himself. Energy started to swirl. I thought I knew, but it doesn't matter anymore. Family or not, I can't let you do this.

He shot an intense beam of energy, and as it passed the ground, the surrounding foliage vaporized. I stood my ground and let it hit me. It felt a little like someone blowing feathers on my stomach. Seeing this, Sora poured more energy into his attack. I just laughed. Joshua launched his ice attack, and before it could hit me, I sent Sora's energy into the air, causing the beam to shatter the newly made ice ball into bits. Before they could realize what was going on, I teleported behind them and kicked Sora and jumped up and punched Joshua into the ground. Sora flew into the stairs, hitting it so hard that he left a huge gaping hole, and Joshua hit the ground with such force that he left a massive crater.

I flew back to the stairs and lifted Sora out of the ground with my mind. I sent him flying back to where Joshua was, and they both got up immediately. Sora did his best to wipe debris from his robes as my son tried getting the dirt out of his hair. Once you're done with the cleaning, maybe you will try again but with actual effort. Seriously, guys, that was pathetic. That didn't even get my blood flowing. Was that supposed to be a warm-up or something?

Joshua looked up and said, No, Father, that wasn't the warm-up, and he turned around and gazed into the sky above the distant plains. Another man hovered above the expanse of dandelions and grass holding an energy ball the size of the Earth's moon. It was my husband, Jason, and my other son Jonathan behind him. This is the warm-up and your end… Father.

Why were they doing this? Didn't they know that I didn't have much of a choice? What we were doing was meant to protect everything. The universe had to be saved, and they were trying to stop me from saving it. As the First, I wasn't going to allow that to happen.

I levitated above the ground and thought about the events that led to all this and the rest to come. I knew what needed to be done, and I was ready, but I had to take care of a few things first. After my ruminations, I shot into the air to be at Jason's height. He smiled at me and said through telepathy, My love, I really don't want to have to do this. Isn't there another way? This doesn't feel right.

No, Jason, this is how it must happen. You know what must be done. I don't like it any more than you do, but this is how it must play out.

They will be so mad at us.

They will get over it in time. But if we don't do this, there won't be any time left. Trust me, Jason… This has to be done, and you have to be the one to do it. Will you do this for me, my love?

Jason was silent for a time, and then I got my answer. He threw the ball at me. This really sucked.

Joshua and Sora were looking on from below. They both seemed upset and rightly so. They were trying to kill me.

Jonathan had a look of disgust and anguish. They were sad because they thought I was going to die. I looked over and noticed that Jason was sad as well, but I knew it was for a different reason.

I never wanted this to happen, but I knew it had to happen like this. That didn't make anything I did before or after any easier. Had I already said how much this sucked?

Introduction

Heaven was a perfect place. It was also an immense place. It had to be in order to hold all the denizens of the universe. Well, it held all the denizens who were good, of course.

If you took the most beautiful place in your imagination and brought it to life, it still wouldn't compare to what heaven was actually like. Everyone expected fluffy white clouds and angels playing harps and babies with wings flitting about. Nope, not even close. Heaven looked like a giant gated community. Take Wisteria Lane and mix it with Dynasty and you might have some clue as to what I was talking about.

It had big, beautiful houses that lined every block. In every house lived a soul. Each soul got their own house, but if they died with family, then they lived with those family members. The sun was always shining, and birds were always singing. That much was probably true from your imagination.

Everyone did whatever made them happy. There was no sadness, no disease. It had only the best of everything. People lived normal lives as if they were still alive but free of any worries or pain. You could work if you wanted, but most didn't.

There were parks galore, both amusement and national. There were lots of shopping malls and boutiques, museums and opera houses, bars and clubs, and everything in between. All the different kinds of stores you might find on the planet Earth could be found in heaven. Of course, if you were from a place like planet Foon for instance, you would probably find a bazaar or flea market type of place. But no matter where you were from in the universe, every place you went in heaven was free.

All the souls that made it to heaven lived on one vast level. There were many levels of heaven. On the second level, you would find the angels. It was really levels two to one hundred. These levels were more like floors in an office building but really were different dimensions of reality. They had offices where the angels would do their work. Each office manager was a higher-level angel, the seraphim. All the floors had their own parks as well for having lunches and parties and the like. Every park was roughly the size of Africa or even as large as Earth. It depended on the day. Whatever floor they worked on also had their abodes where they would go at the end of the day. The angels also had their recreation too, which was usually in the parks.

The job of an angel was to monitor the day-to-day activities of this and every dimension in existence. They always had to maintain the balance, so reality didn't cave in on itself.

On the highest of the angel levels, the archangels lived. Like the souls and the angels below, they, too, had their own abode. However, the archangels didn't just stay in their houses. This was also where they worked. In each of their homes, there was a giant monitor in their offices, where they watched the other angels. You see, it was an archangel's job to keep the universe in check. They essentially were the police of the universe. In some dimensions, they were considered gods. Because of that, there were only eight of them around. There used to be more, but they were running things in other dimensions. Angels like Baldur, Zeus, Ra, and Odin and so on were gods elsewhere. Ultimately, they still listened to the Creator, but no one there knew that. That, however, showed how powerful an archangel was. Lucifer used to be one of them. How else could someone like that challenge the Creator?

Speaking of the Creator, that brought us to the final level of heaven. This level housed the most ornate palace in which god the father, god the daughter, and god the spirit lived. But there was one more god. This other god was God the Creator. He ruled over them all.

God the Creator, named Janus, and god the father, named Jason, were married. Their daughter was named Sonja, and the spirit was Ganu. Ganu was their best friend. These four were the only ones who lived in the palace. No angel or archangel was allowed inside without a summons from one of the gods. There were two angels of which this didn't apply to, but they hadn't been around for millennia, so the edict still stood. The palace appeared as a golden silver color and was as big as planet Jupiter. Each room was decorated in a very ornate style, and it looked like any palace you would find on Earth. There were stairs that led to the palace, and they started just outside of an ancient forest that went for light-years to the south. The stairs were made of white marble and stretched for about twenty miles before reaching the front doors.

None of this was in the Bible though. This was exactly how Janus wanted it to be. He did, however, whisper in man's ear to have the Bible written. The things he told them were not what happened. It was all part of his grand design. And soon that design was about to be revealed.

Chapter 1

The Beginning

How should I begin this? Should I start it with Once upon a time…? Nah, that was too cliché. How about A long time ago in a…? No, not that one either. I thought I should just start it normally. Considering how everything turned out, normal was the only way to begin.

This all took place long before you were born…

It was a hot, muggy day in South Miami. I was driving home after an easy day at work. It had been long but rewarding, but the highways and major streets were packed as tightly as pickles in a jar. None of this bothered me that much because I knew all the side streets like the back of my hand. Not even ten minutes later, I was pulling into my parking spot in front of my apartment.

I walked over to the mailbox and found nothing inside, so I went upstairs. When I got inside, I called out to my roommates. No one answered. I was delighted. This was a rare opportunity for me. I was hardly ever alone. I planned on having a good time that day. My roomies, Brian and Charlotte, must have been in their respective classes. Sweet! I thought. I could play video games for hours without interruption.

After I put my bag in my bedroom, I went back into the living room and sat on the couch. I was about to turn on my gaming system when I thought of something. I think I'll put the video games on hold for a little while. I need to catch up on my shows. I turned the TV on and started watching the shows I recorded on my VCR. Oh, didn't I mention the year? Yeah, it was nearly the end of 2000, the end of the millennium. I believe TiVo was in its infancy, and DVR wasn't even thought of yet.

I had barely gotten through half of my show when Charlotte came home. She saw me on the couch and did a small mock salute. Hey, Drake, how was work?

I put the show on pause. You know how it goes, voice and piano lessons, selling instruments, the usual. How was school? Did you have a lot of classes today?

Charlotte was this just barely above five-foot-tall girl with blondish-brown hair, hazel eyes, and skin like porcelain. She was a buxom college girl that Brian had met a couple of years before.

Charlotte went into the kitchen through the batwing doors and came out with a can of grape soda. I had econ, Calculus I, and Chemistry II. So boring. She opened the can and sat on the love seat to the left of me. "Are you watching Kansas again?! You're so obsessed with this show."

I blushed. Well, I blushed as much as a black man could blush, that was. It's my favorite show right now. And the main actor is so effing hot! I'm going to marry Jason Branton someday. I faked a swoon, and Charlotte laughed, spitting out a bit of her soda in the process.

What's the show even about? All I see is pretty people doing nothing in a small town.

I had to push pause on the VCR again, and I got up off the couch. I don't know what you're talking about. There's so much more to the show than that. Though for the most part, they are pretty people doing nothing.

Charlotte laughed again. Whatever.

I was very passionate about the show Kansas. I was so passionate that I watched the reruns more than the regularly aired show. And with that passion, I began to describe my obsession to Charlotte. Okay, so the show is about these two siblings, Michael and Priscilla, and they're from the far-flung future, about a thousand years. Humans that far in the future are more evolved, so they have special abilities. Michael can manipulate matter and has telekinetic powers. His sister, Priscilla, has telepathy (reading and controlling minds) and can teleport.

Charlotte looked surprised and confused all at once. I continued with my explanation and hoped it would make sense. The government finds out about them, so most episodes are about them evading the government agents. Oh, also, it's about their many adventures in love.

But why are they in this time period, and why Kansas?!

They came back to change an event that causes the destruction of the world. That said event, which they haven't named yet, happens in a small town in Kansas.

Charlotte shook her head in disbelief. Okay, that seems like way too much drama for one TV show.

I know, and that's why I love it so much. I also watch because I can't get enough of Jason Branton. He is so hot!

Charlotte giggled as she finished her pop.

Oh, I said that already, I said sheepishly.

After my long-winded explanation, I sat back down on the couch. With Charlotte's permission, I started the show again, and we watched together. With only a few more interruptions from her asking about the plot, we sat in silence and tried to enjoy the show.

Twenty-five minutes later, Dinah's song Immortal began to play in the background as the credits rolled. The song was about an angel who lost his way and became a human. He eventually learned to love again. The song evoked such longing in me. I really didn't know why it had that effect, but I always felt so at ease whenever I heard it. It just felt like it was about me. Considering the popularity of the show, the song and Dinah had gone to number one on the pop charts. But that's not why I loved it so much. I couldn't explain it. However, every time I heard it, I was left breathless.

Charlotte got up and stretched. I'm going to my room. I need to get this paper done. I must admit, it is a pretty good show. I've never sat down and watched it from the beginning. Maybe I'll start watching it with you.

That would be cool. None of my friends really watch this show. Well, Matthew loves it, but he won't watch it with me.

She laughed again. Maybe you're more obsessed than he is.

Maybe, I said with a grin.

Did you want to do anything for dinner? I don't feel like cooking tonight.

Yeah, absolutely! Do you want to try the Pie Place in the mall? I love their quesadillas. At the time, that was pretty much the only thing I would eat at their restaurant. All their food was heavenly, especially the crab cakes, but it was that little Mexican dish that made my heart sing for more.

We could do that. I think Brian would like that too. He loves their crab cakes like you. Give me a few hours to finish this paper. Brian should be home by then, and we can all go at around eight.

I nodded. Sure thing. And then we both went to our respective rooms.

Being a bit of a chat-room junkie, I decided to go online to my favorite chat site, gayschat.com. I loved chatting with random people from around the minimetropolis of Miami for dates and sex. But who was I kidding? Most of the time I was trolling for sex, but not that evening. That night I was looking for a date. I hadn't been on one in like a month. The last one was with this guy named Larry. We went to school together. He was a second-year undergrad majoring in music when I was a fifth-year undergrad (I changed majors too many times to graduate in only four years). The date was all right, but I didn't really feel a connection.

He used to wear these tight T-shirts that left nothing to the imagination. Larry was very fit with rippling biceps and a bubble butt you could bounce a quarter off. He was very beautiful, but we had nothing in common. Well, we did have one thing in common. He was also a pianist. He was a very good one at that, hence his major. But after the date, we both agreed to stay friends. It was strange though. I had such a crush on him when we were in the men's chorale together. I wondered what happened to change how Larry and I felt toward the other. But all that aside, I was now looking for someone else.

Within minutes, I started talking to this dark-haired, blue-eyed Adonis who lived off Brickell Avenue.

For the next hour or so, I got lost in the tangled web of cyberspace chatting with so many guys. But the Brickell Avenue beauty seemed the most interested, so I bade adieu to everyone else and gave my number to him. In no time at all, my cell phone began to ring. And for a couple of hours, we were talking like two high school sweethearts. His name was Connor. He was a financial planner based in Miami, with offices in Chicago, Atlanta, and New York. And being gay, of course, he gave me his physical statistics. He was twenty-nine years old, five feet eleven, black hair, blue eyes, and one hundred and seventy-five pounds and worked out like every day. The picture he sent me was of him in a suit, so I didn't get to see this great worked-out body he said he had. He looked really awesome in his black suit though. He was also properly tanned. By that, he didn't look like it was all done in a tanning bed. I had a thing for white guys if you hadn't already noticed. I had dated guys from every race, but I found I was most attracted to men of the Caucasian persuasion. I was sure it had something to do with being the opposite because it was the opposite of me. They also seemed to talk to me more than any of the other races, so that probably had something to do with it. Larry was also white. Another trait he shared with Connor was the black hair and blue eyes. That was my favorite combination, the black Irish look.

I sent a picture too, but I described myself anyway. I was twenty-three years old, about five feet nine, one hundred and ninety pounds of chocolate-loving, brownish-black hair, brown eyes, and I worked out five days a week. I had a little bit of a gut, but I was working on it. Most of it was gone, but there was this little bit left that was being really stubborn. That's not unlike my personality.

Connor confessed he had a thing for black guys.

Well, then I guess it's a match made in heaven, I said.

So how about actually doing this for real? Let's go out on a date, Connor said.

I'm free this weekend. I was trying to contain my excitement and failed.

Does Friday afternoon work for you, like around five or six?

The sound of his voice was driving me crazy. I was hopeless. Six o'clock would be better for me. I don't get off work until five.

Awesome. I actually need to go right now. I have some of my own work I need to finish. Can I call you tomorrow for all the details?

Absolutely. I can't wait. Just then, Charlotte knocked on my door. It seems I have to go myself. I will talk to you tomorrow then. Have a good night, Connor.

You too, Drake. Talk to you later.

As I hung up the phone, Charlotte started to giggle.

What's so funny, missy?!

Nothing, it's just that you look so happy. Who was that?

I'll tell you at dinner. Is Brian home yet?

Yeah, we were just waiting on you. She was giving me her customized sly grin. It was the grin that said I knew what you were doing and wanted to rub it in your face.

What? Oh my god, what time is it?! I started scrambling to get ready after I saw the time.

Charlotte waved her hands in a calming gesture. It's only seven forty-five. We said eight o'clock, remember?

Letting out a huge sigh of relief, I sat down on my bed. Charlotte went into the living room still laughing, and Brian came out of their room and sat down next to her. They talked for a few minutes, laughing at what just happened, and held hands while gazing at each other. I came out a minute later and just watched the two of them. Aw, I want that too. You guys look so happy together.

Charlotte tells me you might have found this as well, Brian said with a smile.

"We'll see. It is internet dating after all."

Charlotte got up and stretched. Do you have a picture of him?

Yeah, I do, but it's on my computer, and I just turned it off. I'll show you when we get back from dinner. Come on, let's go, you guys. And we left the apartment, locking the door behind us.

We crossed the foot bridge by the apartment, and we crossed the street and then went into the mall parking structure. We entered on the west side of the building and walked the full length of the mall to get to the restaurant. While we waited to be seated, we started talking about our respective days. I was not going to bore you with that though because being the hero of this little tale, I should have properly introduced myself.

My name is Drake Charles Osabarama Kwadwo Taylor. I know it's a mouthful, but that's my name. Growing up, no one could pronounce it. To this day, people had problems saying it. I usually just said my name was Drake Charles Taylor. That one just rolled off the tongue. I was given that name by my father and grandmother in honor of my Great Uncle Drake. They were both from the Ivory Coast. Never been myself, but I planned to make a trip there someday when I had the funds to do so. My middle name had a meaning. It translates to warrior born on a Monday. Remember it. It comes into play later.

Now to understand the type of person I am, you need to know exactly when I was born. I came into this world on February 21, 1977, at 8:21 a.m. on Monday during the height of the worst-recorded blizzard Boston had ever seen. Well, it was the worst blizzard of that year. Needless to say, there were times when I could be pretty cold, but I was never cruel, or at least I tried not to be. However, I did have a bad habit of always being truthful…to a fault. I wouldn't lie in order to spare your feelings. Nothing was ever sugarcoated. It was this very reason that people either loved me or hated me. Despite all that, I did have a lot of friends. I had so many friends, in fact, that I had trouble hanging out with all of them. You see, they weren't friends with one another, just me. Most of them didn't even know that the other existed. I'd been trying to rectify the matter, but not finding a good solution, I thought about throwing a big party and realized I should have done that when I left school. It was never too late to have a party though.

I graduated from the University of Miami in May of 2000, about three months before my speech about the show to Charlotte. I graduated with a degree in vocal performance with a minor in business. I wanted to be a singer in LA, but for the time being, I was just enjoying life in Miami. I worked at a music store in Kendall, where I taught voice and piano lessons, and was also the second assistant manager. My second job was singing for this church across from the campus in Coral Gables. My free time was usually spent with my friends or playing video games. I also went to the movies a lot by myself. It was so cheap with my student discount.

I used to be part of the South Beach Gay Men's Chorus, but the season ended in June. I started back in February. They were working on material for the big summer concert, and I was one of the leads in the show. It was so much fun. There was this one number that paid homage to Sister Act, where I put on a habit and everything, just like Whoopi Goldberg's character did. During the rehearsals, I started to fall for the lead actor in the show. He was so cute that I couldn't help it. I tried to go on a date with him, but he stood me up. I called him the next day, but he didn't answer, so I left a scathing voice message. I didn't hear from him for about a month. He called apologizing and begging for forgiveness. The reason he didn't show up for our date was because there was another guy that he had wanted to date for the longest time. They were usually in a relationship, so nothing ever happened between them. Newly single, the guy called my guy to go out. They went on a date the day before I was supposed to go on a date with him. I asked him why he didn't just call me and cancel. He said that he was afraid of what my reaction would be. I hung up the phone then and there, not wanting to prove him right.

It's not like that was my first rejection. I'd been rejected quite a lot. The first guy I ever liked told me he couldn't date anyone as young as I was at the time. I'd never actually been in a relationship. That's the reason I was always online. I was desperately searching for that one guy who would change all that. I was hoping this guy Connor was that one.

Chapter 2

Is It Love?

At dinner, I told Brian and Charlotte all about Connor. Well, I told them everything I could get out of him in the two hours we spoke on the phone. But as we were leaving the Pie Place, which was amazing as always, Charlotte dropped a major bomb on me about something I should have already known. Well…don't keep me in suspense. What is it?

Charlotte tried to hold back a smile and failed.

Tell me!

After I finished my paper, I went to watch some TV, and there was a commercial about your obsession. Apparently, your favorite show in the whole wide world is doing a cross-country tour. They are here in three weeks. She was doing this on purpose, I could tell. She always knew which buttons to push, but I couldn't fault her. It's why we got along so well.

I shook my head in disbelief. "What are you talking about?! Kansas can't be coming here! How did I not know about this?!" Where had I been that I would miss that crucial bit of information?

You have a lot on your mind these days. She seriously needed to stop smiling like that. I was getting upset.

Not so much that I would miss that! I would give anything to meet the lead actor, Jason Branton. I assumed he wasn't gay, but I didn't care. I still wanted to meet him. I knew all about his past love affair. The last time I saw him in the tabloids or on some talk show, he was talking about his girlfriend. She was definitely one lucky bitch to have snagged Jason Branton. Now I totally hated her because she could have him and I couldn't, but I digressed. Get used to it because it would happen a lot.

Charlotte could barely contain herself. She so loved to make me squirm. It's supposed to be on August 21. The commercial said it would be at noon in front of Burdines.

I guess I'll have to get that day off. I hope he comes. That would be the best thing ever!

After we got home, I went into my room and turned on the computer. A few minutes went by while I waited for the computer to finish starting up, and then I pulled up Connor's picture. Hey, Charlotte… I have Connor's pic if you want to see it.

Give me a minute, Charlotte said from her room.

About five minutes later, she came in with a glass of water in her hand. I looked at her and then the glass and then back to her. I was thirsty.

I didn't say anything. But I was sure I had my patented stare going.

You didn't have to say anything. You gave me a look.

I always give a look, but that doesn't mean I was going to say anything. You're too paranoid, I joked.

Whatever…is that him? Oooooh, he's pretty!

I know, right? And he seems nice enough. But I haven't had any luck with online dating in the past.

Charlotte shook her head. But you go on dates all the time.

It was never as simple as that. No one got my plight, but it wasn't just me. It was my whole race, but let my past self tell you about it. It's true, I go on dates all the time, but they are only ever first dates. I've never had a second date with any of those guys. Not one single guy has called me back for another date. We might talk a few more times, but even that ends shortly thereafter.

Charlotte drank some water and came to sit down next to me. I find that hard to believe. Are you telling me that you've never had a serious relationship? I mean, you're gorgeous, you're smart… Someone must have tried to scoop you up at some point.

That's what I'm trying to tell you. I've never had anyone scoop me up at any point in my dating history. It was too sad to even think about. Such a terrible time in my life, and it wasn't even my fault.

Did you ever think that they might not have been the right guys for you? she asked.

I went over to the computer desk and brought up the pictures of every guy that I had gone out with over the last three years. I only started dating after I turned twenty, during the end of my sophomore year. I showed the pictures to Charlotte. There were a lot. In the past two to three years, I've gone out with at least fifty guys. Not even one called me back. Supposedly I'm attractive. That's what I've been told at least. I'm not sure it's true because I'm never approached at clubs. It could be because I'm black. I've read that people of color have a harder time dating than our white counterparts. But people do stare at me, and I don't know what that's all about.

You're very attractive. Why would you think that you weren't?

I'm sorry, Charlotte, but at twenty-three and not to have had a single relationship ever…

But you're still young, and there's still time. She was trying to be sweet, but her kindness felt like daggers being thrown at my heart. And it didn't help that I was in a depressive state at the time.

No one had any idea how hard this was, but I tried not to show it on my face, so I told her, Thank you, Charlotte. I really appreciate you saying that to me.

It's not a problem. Just you wait. This Connor guy sounds like the real deal. He could be the one.

From your lips to God's ears…

Charlotte left, and I sat at my computer wallowing in self-pity. I never knew if it was normal to think like this or if it was my major depressive disorder coming through. My therapist said it was a bit of both. All people had doubts when it came to finding love. But despite that, I started to think that Charlotte was right. Maybe Connor would go beyond date number one.

I went into the kitchen to get some water when the phone rang. I walked to it and checked the caller ID, but it was saying caller unknown. That could be an unlisted number or a solicitor, but it was nearly ten. I took a chance and answered it. Hello?

Hi, may I speak with Drake, please?

This is he. May I please ask who's calling?

Oh hi, Drake. It's me, Connor.

I jumped, and the phone fell from my hand and clattered on the linoleum.

Hello, is anybody there?

Sorry, Connor, I dropped the phone. I didn't expect to hear from you tonight. My roomie and I were just talking about you.

Good things I hope.

Of course not, it was all bad stuff.

He laughed.

I thought you had a lot of work to do.

I do, or rather, I did. I've done most of it and decided to call you back. Sorry I had to go so suddenly before.

I get it. You're a busy man.

Yeah, well, that's no excuse. I could have finished that work at any time. I'm really calling to find out when you would like to meet up. We didn't really iron out the details.

I left the kitchen through the batwing doors and headed into the living room. I kept my calendar by the front door. It was where I put all my daily plans. Well, I put the plans that I couldn't already remember. In other words, it was virtually empty. So Friday still works for me, but maybe seven o'clock would be better. Miami traffic is so bad on Friday nights.

Yeah, I can still do Friday. And it's only a couple of days away.

That's too long. I'm not a patient person by nature, I said.

Connor just laughed. We'll have to do something about that.

We had the best time conversing on the phone. He told me that he was from Miami originally but decided to go away for college. He attended NYU for his undergrad and then received his master's at Harvard for business. I told him my little origin story. I grew up in Houston, but after graduating, I decided to move to Miami for my undergrad. I received a degree in vocal performance…as you knew.

I was so engrossed in our conversation that when I looked over at the clock, I nearly dropped the phone again. Um, Connor?

Yes, Drake?

You do realize its two twenty-one in the morning, right?!

What?! Oh my god! I have to wake up in less than four hours!

I laughed and then yawned. Yeah, there goes my morning workout. Thanks a lot, Connor.

It's more your fault than it is mine. If you hadn't told me your whole life story…

Now wait a second, mister, that was all you. I only told you where I grew up. You were the one who talked about all his friends from kindergarten through high school. This man's voice was doing amazing things to me.

Yeah…all right, you win.

I usually do.

Connor chuckled. Well, Drake, I need to get some sleep. I'll call you tomorrow when I'm done with work.

I was already in my bedroom at that point, but I was still dressed. I took off my clothes and laid them beside the bed. I so didn't feel like putting them away right then, so I pulled back the covers and got into bed. All right, I will talk to you tomorrow. Sleep well for the next few minutes. Good night, Connor.

Very funny, mister. Very funny. You have a good night, Drake. And Connor hung up the phone.

Following the lazy trend, I didn't want to go back to the kitchen, so I put the phone on my nightstand. As I lay back in the bed, I thought about what my roomie told me. If Charlotte were right and based on the great conversation we just had, Connor could be the guy I had been searching for. I would find out in a couple of days. I fell asleep before my head even hit the pillow.

Chapter 3

New Chapter…or Is It?

The next day went by in a blur. All I could do was think about the conversation I had with Connor the night before. It took everything I had to focus on teaching that day. I had two kids and one adult for voice lessons and two piano students. Luckily, they were my favorite students, so it was easy dealing with them.

I got home around five thirty, and not even a few minutes later, Connor called. We talked for a little bit, and then I went to choir rehearsal. I made it through rehearsal, all right, but Connor was still in my every thought, and I hadn't even met the guy.

I decided to call my friend Jean when I got home so we could discuss it. Jean was this little portly guy that was about my height and wore these designer glasses that really made his brown eyes pop. We went to school together. We were both vocal performance majors, but now he worked for a music publishing house downtown. He was this no-nonsense, easy-to-talk-to, gay black man who I just adored. But he was not happy that I waited so long to tell him about Connor.

Why am I just now hearing about this? A whole day has passed. I thought we were friends, Drake. How could you do this to me?

I'm so sorry, Jean. So much was happening that I completely forgot to call anyone.

So then, I'm not your best friend?

I scoffed. What are you talking about? Of course you're my best friend.

Then I should be the first person you call when you meet someone new.

But, I hesitated to say, we haven't met yet.

You know what I mean.

So I told Jean everything. About half an hour later, I received another call on the other line. It was Connor. Sorry, Jean, but it's him.

All right, girl, but you better call me tomorrow after the date.

And if the date goes until Saturday? I was totally baiting him.

I just said call me after, bitch. You decide when that is.

I laughed. Fine, I will call you after the date. Bye, Jean.

Bye, Drake. And he hung up the phone.

I switched over to Connor, and we talked for another hour or so. I loved speaking with him. It was the highlight of my day.

I barely slept at all that night. My dreams were flooded with images of Connor. I didn't remember what we were doing together, but whatever it was, we sure did have fun.

I only got about four hours of sleep, and I guessed that would have to be enough because I had stuff to get done. I got up around seven and went to the gym. The rest of the day was more of the same, though I had much better focus. My last student of the day was Sam, my second adult student. He had a pretty good voice. He wanted to be an actor. He was in his thirties and hot as hell. He let me see his abs once, and I nearly had a heart attack. It was so sad that he was straight. The things I would do to that man. We were pretty close, so I told him about the date that night. What do you think I should wear?

Why are you asking me? I don't know what gay guys wear.

I laughed. We wear the same things you would wear, but we add a little bit of flair is all.

He scratched