Angel of Justin

Chapter 1

Michael Tavarro pulled his jacket up tighter around his neck. The cold November air was freezing on his back. He had been standing outside the ticket centre for three long hours.

The wind in Chicago ,especially inNovember was like liquid ice.

Who knew that standing in line fortickets would be so boring and the air would be so frigid.

It would be the last time he would doanything so hair-brained for his best friend Vicky. Even if it washer 25th birthday present,he didn't even like this band anyway.

Who ever heard of a Tennessee southernbelle loving a goth rock band. Especially with a name like Devil'sBiscuit. But she was his best friend, and when she talked about thisband, it was as if stars were sparkling in her eyes. Now he wouldhave to endure the torture of listening to them.

But hints had been dropped, and Vickywas special, in her own quirky, possessive way. This was the least hecould do for her for all she had done for him.

She was his only friend here, Michaelwas out of place. He still couldn't believe that he was here, and hadbeen here for over 5 years.

From the first day when he collidedwith her in Advanced Writing class, they had clicked.

Of course her calling him pencil dickand smacking him for knocking her down hadn't helped.

But when she looked into his eyes shesaw a kindred spirit. At least that's what she has always said.

Now here it was 5 years later and theyhad been sharing an apartment off campus for 4 years.

She was his life line, his confidantand his harshest critic.

You see, Michael was a story teller.Most people would say he was a writer, but not Michael.

He classed himself as a story teller.And Michael's own life was the cruellest story of all.

Six hours later, Michael was strollingback ,smiling, to their apartment with two tickets carefully hiddenin his wallet. The same wallet that was $150.00 lighter.

But then, Michael had reason to besmiling, for Vicky's surprise gift and for his own reasons.

Daniel's Mission was on the rise on thebest seller's list. He still couldn't fathom it. At 25 he had a bestseller, although it was still only number 156 on a list of 200. Butit had risen 10 slots in only 2 weeks and his agent was veryimpressed. Soon if things continued he would have to think about asigning tour. And that scared the hell out of him.

Michael didn't deal well with crowds,he was a loner. And his particular talents didn't work well withothers. Vicky knew some of it, but not all. She didn't know about thepain and the

sorrow of his early life, of the losshe carried with him. She had always known something was differentabout Michael and she had found out about it only 3 short months ago.

3 months earlier

"Mikey, have you seen Tigger?"Vicky barked at Michael while he was slumped over his laptop. Michaelwinced at her shrill voice.

"I let him out ten minutes ago, hewas scratching at the window. He was distracting me, I am trying tofinish this 3rd chapter."

Their first floor apartment was streetlevel and the cat always went out the