Even though it was already mostly dark the sun still burned my skin as I made my way home. The sun felt intensely bright on my eyes as I tried to hide behind my hand. It was unfortunate that I’d had to leave so early. In part because of the sun and in part because after everything the day before I hadn’t wanted to leave Starburst so soon, but if I wanted to figure everything out this was the only way. I needed to properly talk to Anthony before anything unnecessary took place.

I rushed into the house quickly changing into fresh clothes and snatching a packet of blood from the fridge before immediately finding my way back out the door. Thankfully by this time, the sun had completely set, and I was able to be outside without too much discomfort. Despite my normal, sedentary lifestyle I ran to the place and by the time I reached the front door my lungs burned from exertion and my heart kept up with my ragged breath as it itself tried to burst from my chest.

. . .

“Anthony…” I gasped out leaning on the door frame I stepped into his office still heavy for breath as the man gave a startled shout at me, “We need to talk…” I huffed slipping down to the floor, “Just give me a minute…”

“Bloody hell…” The editor scowled with a groan despite his worried undertone, “What’re you doing here, you idiot? What were you doing out before dark?” He hesitated to touch me as he reached out a hand, “You’re burnt to a crisp…”

I grabbed hold of the palm extended to me as I mumbled out a painful yelp as I struggled to hoist myself back to my feet, “It’s… Fine…” My breathing had started to slow by this point as had the ever beating of my heart, “Do you have a moment? I really do have something that we need to discuss.”

Anthony swallowed softly a look of utter terror present just behind his eyes, “Right, there’s a chair over here, so let’s get this over with.”

. . .

“You don’t have to look so scared.” The black-haired man was pressed against his seat tightly gripping the arms of his chair in fists and his knuckles were already white from the tension he had on them, “I just want to talk because it’s obvious that I’ve put this off too long already. He relaxed a half step removing his hands from the chair choosing instead to wrap them around himself in a protective cocoon.

“What do you mean?” Anthony asked leaning forward a bit in the chair as he gave me a quick once over, “If you just want to talk, then why come all the way here?” He pressed me, “If you want to switch editors just get to it. You don’t have to nice about it. I know I’ve crossed the line already.”

“I’m not getting rid of you, Anthony.” I quickly interjected trying not to let his immediate assumption anger me too much. It’s obvious that’s most other people would’ve done, “You’re my friend and I know I’ve awful to you for a long time, so will you please hear me out?”

He looked at me piercingly for a moment before biting at his lower lip and sighing, “Alright.” He slumped back in the chair clearly giving up.

“Thank you.” I smiled gratefully as I interlaced my fingers and settled them on the front edge of his desk, “I’m not going to press you too hard here. You can tell me, but you can do whatever you think is best. I should’ve been there when I first noticed, but friendships aren’t my best area and I don’t know… I just thought there must’ve been someone better than me to be there for you, but… I’m sorry, Anthony…” I fidgeted slightly in my seat giving a hard swallow as I met the man before me’s eyes, Some-… Something happened about two years ago now, right?” My hands fell back to my sides pulling at the material of my shirt. This was a hell of a lot harder than I thought it was going to be, “Like I said I don’t expect you to tell me anything.”

“You’re… You’re right…!” Anthony admitted suddenly fascinated by the swirls deep within the surface of his wooden desk, “I’m sorry that this had any bearing on you. It was incredibly unprofessional of me to let something in my personal life affect my work to such a degree… Honestly, I don’t deserve for you to treat me like this.”

“Hm, that’s not for you to decide.” I said pointedly regaining some of my composure, “As for what I’m going to do now… It’s not just your fault… It’s also mine for not pointing it out when knew something was a problem. Anthony, I’m not asking you to be best friends with Starburst or anything like that. As much as I would prefer it you don’t even have to like him. All I’m asking is that you treat him as a fellow human being. Treat him properly as both my partner and my caretaker. I think he deserves as much, don’t you?”

Anthony slowly rose up from the other side of the desk and gave a steady pace toward me, “Onyx, I’m going to do something rather unprofessional again, so you’re going to have to forgive me one last time.” The editor gave me a brief hug lasting no more than a few seconds before he pulled away giving his tie a quick adjustment, “Thank you…Go home, take care of yourself, Onyx.” He found his way back to the other side of his desk, “I’ll call you tomorrow evening, so take care until then.”

. . .

I had just gotten off the phone with Anthony the following evening when the phone gave a shudder before ringing out once more.

Starburst! I thought with a smile as I swiped to answer the phone. Late or not I hadn’t expected the boy to actually call me, “Hey, Star!” I chirped with a sudden sense of energy, “I miss you already…!”

There was a pause on the other end of the line as the catboy drew in a sudden deep breath, “Hey, Onyx…” The ginger mumbled softly. So much so that I had to strain just to hear him, “Could you pick me up, please?” My heart gave a leap at him relying on me more quickly than I had expected, “I really don’t want to go home by myself.”