The Difference

Chapter 7

         Corbin Avearey– Monte Carlo – 154 INT. St. H3

“If the sky falls I’ll catch it just to steal you a star…..”. I sang out the lyrics to Why Don’t We’s “Free” to Shirley. We were in my house. I’m trying to get her to tell me why she doesn’t want to have a boyfriend anytime soon. I was singing this with the intention of getting her to open her heart to make it free to love.

“C’mon, Shirley. Alright,” I said and sat down. “What happened that has made you immune to love?”.

“God. I can’t believe this day has finally come”. She sounded like she wanted to cry. “Corbin, I lied to you”.

“What do you mean you lied to me?”. I asked.

“You remember the first time we spoke and I told you people were judging me as gay because of how I dress and you asked if I was and I said no?”

“Yes I do.”.

“Well, I had a girlfriend when I was eleven”. She said almost in a whisper but enough for me to hear her.

“Oh my God”. Well I was shocked not because she thought she lied to me but because she had a girlfriend at that age. “Well, continue. You can’t leave me hanging”. I said.

“Oh ok”. She sounded unsure but decided to continue. “Well no one in my family knew. Not even Dakota the one I’m closest to. She was called Jade Evers and was older than me. She was fourteen. I believe it was lust not love. I didn’t tell anyone until they found out at Dakota’s sixteenth birthday party. I invited Jade to the party. In the middle of it, I sent her to my room and we were making out when my mum barged into my room. When she saw us she fainted. Already she had an underlying sickness. She had cancer. What she saw perked her up sending her into a septic shock. With the party immediately cancelled, she was rushed to the hospital by my brothers. She died the next day. I still haven’t forgiven myself because I know I killed my mom. People have told me to forget about it and move on because it’s been long and even I’m no longer gay. This is why I’ve closed my heart to love because it was my love for lust that drove me to kill my mom”. She ended, in tears.

“You know, even with the mindset that you’ve closed your heart you haven’t totally closed it because you let me in. A total stranger. I am now your best friend. I want you to understand that you didn’t kill your mom. One way or the other she was going to die from cancer. Besides, you were a kid. You may think you knew what you were doing, but trust me you didn’t. Now from today I want you to start your healing process and forgive yourself because this isn’t healthy for you, okay?”. I said to her.

She nodded with tears streaming down her face. “I don’t know if anyone would love me if he hears this story."

“Whoever judges you because of this doesn’t deserve your love. Don’t force anyone to love you." I assured her.

“I don’t know how to thank you for everything you’ve done for me." She said with a sad smile.

“You can thank me by letting you have the best birthday on Wednesday."

“So you won’t tell me what we’re doing or where you’re taking me?”. She asked with a laugh.

“It’s a surprise."

“Thanks for being the best best friend ever”.

“You too."

                      ******

        Dakota Walliams – Monte Carlo – 154 INT. St. H3

I’ll be going to visit Andy at the police station within the day. Wednesday is Shirley’s birthday but I don’t know what to get her. I’m caught between a necklace, a purse and a dress. I pulled out my phone to call her.

“Awineet. How are you?” I asked when she picked up.

“I’m good." She was laughing. It seemed she was with someone.

“Where are you?" I asked.

“I’m at Corbin’s." 

“Oh ok. What are you doing?”

“Nothing really. Just playing around."

“I was checking on you."

“That’s nice. See I’ve gotta go. I’d call you later” She hung up the call.

I was about to go and shower down when I receive a text from Mike saying they’d released Andy from jail. I replied asking how come. Apparently, they decided to release him on the condition that he wouldn’t do that again. Well, we hope so. I thank Mike for letting me know. I decided to take a rest after showering.