Read Hardcore: Volume 2 for Free Online Page B

dates.”
    “Was it his decision or yours?”
    Jade’s. I took a deep breath. “I ended it. It was just too complicated. That’s the simplest way I can put it.”
    “I’m really sorry.” It was pity again. I’d had enough pity in the last few days to last me my whole life.
    “It’s okay.” We turned back to the counter as the waitress set our malts in front of us, and I picked up my spoon to spin it around in the chocolatey goodness. No matter how bad things got, at least there was always chocolate. “What else, Jilly?”
    Jill assessed me quietly as she used the tip of her spoon to draw little shapes in the top of her malt. “What was he like?”
    “Smart. Funny. Super hot. He’s a photographer.”
    “How did you meet?”
    My cheeks went hot at the memory of the night we met. It was the perfect bizarre start to the sideshow that my life had devolved into. “He parkours. We met running one night and … hit it off.” I turned my attention to my malt and shifted.
    Jill eyed me for a long second as I waited for more. “I think that’s probably good for today.”
    I raised an eyebrow at her. “But you’re not done for good, are you?”
    “Nope.” She laughed. “I’m surprised you gave me as much as you did, honestly. I know it’s not easy for you to talk about what’s going on with you, but I really do want to know. And I want you to know that you can be honest with me. So … thanks.”
    I actually felt a little lighter, even though she’d just scratched the surface. I smiled sideways at her. “It wasn’t so bad.”
    “You didn’t even catch on fire.”
    “Right?” I shook my head, and in the honesty of the moment, I felt compelled to tell her more. “I just … I don’t want to disappoint you. When I think about showing you or anyone who I am, I just know I won’t measure up.”
    “You have to trust the people who love you, Cory. That’s part of what love is. And if your honesty pushes someone away, then they didn’t love you in the first place.”
    If only it were that simple. She was too young to know that the truth could rip someone apart, burn everything down. I tried to give her a comforting smile. “I do trust you, Jill.”
    “But see, you don’t. If you did, you would just tell me without worrying about what I would think.”
    I searched her face. “I want to just tell you things, but … I don’t know Jill. I’ve never done this before.”
    “I get it. You’re afraid, but everyone’s afraid. You just have to stand up and do it anyway. You’re strong enough. I believe in you.”
    I was overwhelmed, my nose burning as I looked at my malt. “When did you get so smart?” I joked.
    “When my big sister paid for my top-notch private school.” She bumped me with her arm. I smiled over at her. “Baby steps, Cory. You’ll get there,” she said with a smile.
    I felt eyes on me. For a minute, I’d forgotten about her voyeur, and I sat a little straighter as my eyes scanned the diner patrons and looked through the windows to the street. The anxiety seeped back in as I worked over scenarios of what could have happened, what would happen, all while trying to carry on a normal conversation with my sister. I prompted her to talk about school and college, and she went on happily.  
    An hour later, I had walked Jill to the front step of our parent’s building. It was as far as I would go, and we said our goodbyes to her assurance that she was in for the night again, studying. I’d never been more thankful for midterms. As I walked away, the sun crept toward the horizon, and I ticked through everything that would happen in the next twenty-four hours to the beat of my feet against the pavement.  
    Lies. Danger. Betrayal. The words rolled around my thoughts and I found myself walking faster, wanting to run. It was all I wanted.  
    So I ducked into an alley and did just that.
    I peeled off my jacket and hoodie, stuffing them into my pack. It was chilly out, and the cool air