Read The Keys to Jericho for Free Online Page B

squeezing my fists, holding my ground. I don’t want to argue with Rio, but he brought this on himself.
    I again take a step back and he shouts, “She doesn’t tell me what I can and can’t do! I like spending time with her. If you’re going to be pissed off at anyone, then be pissed at me!”
    “She keeps you away from your friends! We never see you anymore! It’s not like she encourages you to ditch her or gives you permission to hang out with your friends!” I take a deep breath and slide both hands up into my hair underneath my hat, frustrated that he can’t see his girlfriend the way I do.
    Slightly calmer, I glance around us before resting my gaze on his chest, unable to look him in the eye when I say, “Since I’ve known you, none of your previous girlfriends kept you away like this.”
    Equally as composed, he replies, “Because I didn’t have feelings for them like I do for her.”
    My breathing slams to a halt at the same time my stomach crashes, and I instantly look up to his face. “Oh, no.” I swallow and laugh, but not really laughing, as I turn away and shake my head. “No, no, no, Duquesne. Don’t you fucking say it .”
    He dimly intones, “I’m in love with her, Jare.”
    I explode. “Fuck! I told you not to say it!” Dropping my arms, I again cross them over my chest, and angrily suck in my bottom lip as I stare at the ground, disgusted by this new and disastrous development. Rio doesn’t say anything more. He just quietly watches me as I think of what to say.
    Ultimately, I shake my head and look up at him. “Don’t tell me you believe in that shit, too. It’s bad enough with Dash and his lovelorn whining.”
    With his hands on his hips, he glances at the ground and shakes his head with a weighty sigh. “Jare…”
    Shit. I’m losing this.
    “She’s only luring you in! You’ve got to fight harder!”
    He crunches his face in puzzlement, squinting his eyes at me. “To not fall in love?”
    I eagerly nod, trying to save him from crossing to The Dark Side. “Yes! Don’t give in! Just walk away.”
    “Instead of falling in love? Are you serious?”
    “Damn right I am! You don’t need that shit! You’ve only been with her a couple months!” He seems to contemplate that. I think I’m getting through to him.
    Rio looks up at the roof of the covered walkway before crossing his arms, mirroring me. He whispers, “Fuck,” before looking back to me. We stare at each other in an odd standoff. The parking lot noises accentuate the awkward tension hovering around us. Rio and I never argue. It’s usually Dash and me fighting over something stupid.
    I finally ask, “Have you told her… that …yet?”
    “No.”
    “Don’t do it, Rio. Once you say that word, it’ll be too late.”
    The confusion is back on his face as he cocks his head. “Too late for what?”
    “Too late to take it back. To stop it. If you change your mind about how you feel about her, you won’t be able to undo it. Those words will forever be hanging over you like a fucking plague.”
    He adamantly shakes his head and speaks with unfamiliar fervor. “Jared, I can’t stop it. I don’t want to stop it. It was bound to happen for me someday.” His eyes fly over my face and he hesitates before saying, “Just like it should for you, if you let anyone get close enough.”
    I frown and scornfully snap, “What the hell, Duquesne? Now you sound like fucking Dash.”
    Straightening his arms out, he dips his left into his jeans pocket. “Don’t you ever want to fall in love with someone? As long as I’ve known you, you’ve never been in love.”
    I turn away from him to look out over the parking lot, so tired of this conversation. “And I never will be. Who fucking needs that shit? It’s just an aggravation and if you break up, it’ll suck the life out of you, along with your bank account. No, thanks. I’ll pass.”
    “That’s the risk I’ll have to take.” He props his hand on the brick wall,