Inside | Shane Harte

4 | Coffee & shopping

It's friday and the first week of school is over. It was exactly like I imagined, besides the part where my classmates were a lot more... Snobby than I thought. But, believe it or not, I've actually started talking to one of my classmates. Her name is Cora and she's actually really nice, more like me if compared to the rockers and punks.

"So, do you want to go shopping later after school? Maybe grab a coffee?" Cora asks me with a polite smile.

"Yeah, sure. What time should we meet?" I say and put down the pile of books I'm holding on a table.

"Uhm, I'll just come to your dorm room at 4 PM"

"Okay" I say. "See you then"

Later, when school is finished, I go straight up to my dorm room. It's 3.30 PM and I have to freshen up before Cora arrives. When I open the door, of course Crystal's bed is packed with the all too familiar faces belonging to Trevor and Shane.

"There you are! I was looking for you today at school but I couldn't find you" Crystal says, appearing from behind the two boys sitting on her bed.

"Oh, okay, why?"

"I was gonna ask you if you want to come to this party at Trevor's frat house tonight"

"Uhm I can't, I'm going shopping with a classmate actually, she's really nice"

"Oh wow, so you've actually found someone decent among the classical snobs. Congratulations" she laughs before continuing. "So what's the name of the lucky girl?"

"Cora"

When I say her name Shane, who just looked as bored as he could ever be, suddenly starts staring at me.

"Cora? That's what you said?"

"Yeah"

He bursts out into laughter but quickly goes into silence again.

"What? What is it?" I ask, starting to get worried. I don't get it, she seemed nice when I spoke to her...

"Nothing" Shane chuckles and I can feel how the frustration starts building up in my stomach.

"Tell me. Now" I sputter and he puts his arms up for protection.

"Wow wow, calm your tits Kayla. It's my sister"

Okay, I can see why that's so funny to him but still. He didn't have to drag it out just to be as rude as he always is.

"Okay, so? She's kind and we're going to the mall, deal with it" I say with a sarcastic smile and right when I'm ready to punch him in the face it knocks on the door.

"Hey Kayla, are you ready?" Cora asks as she comes in, but when she sees Shane her face expression suddenly changes from happy to nervous.

"Howdy Cora! I heard you're going out shopping with this brat" Shane says and points at me with an evil little smirk on his lips.

"Stop it Shane, I'm not a brat" I snap before grabbing Cora's arm and pull her out of the room before it gets even worse.

"I'm sorry that he acts... The way he does. He's my big brother"

"Yeah, he told me before you walked in. But let's not think about him right now, okay? We're going to have an amazing evening at the mall" I say, and she nods.

We decide to take a cab to a mall nearby, and I'm amazed at how big it is. It must be hundreds of stores, or at least that's how it feels, all gathered in one place.

"Wow"

"I know" Cora smiles. "Now, let's go!"

After that we've been shopping for at least 2 hours, we start feeling hungry. A café appears around the corner and we decide to grab a coffee and something to eat.

"Hi, I'll have a latte and a cinnamon roll please" I order and the waiter nods and looks at Cora.

"Oh, no I'm doing an order of my own"

"No you're not, I'll pay. Now order" I demand and she gives me a grateful smile.

"Uhm, I'll go for ordinary black coffee and a chocolate chip cookie"

"Right, go and sit down. I'll bring your orders to you in a few minutes" the waiter says and we turn around to look for a table.

"So, tell me about your new... Friends" Cora says.

"I met Crystal on my first day here, we're roommates and yeah... She's nicer than she looks" I laugh and Cora does too.

"And what about... Shane and that other guy?"

"Yeah, they hang out a lot in mine and Crystal's dorm room. I haven't really talked that much to Trevor but Shane... He's... Special, you could say"

"To say the least" she smiles. "I know he can be rude and stuff, but there is another Shane in there, a kind and loving one"

I can't help but start laughing.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I don't mean to sound disrespectful or anything, it's just... I really can't imagine a nice version of Shane Harte"

"I know, that's what they all say these days" she smiles but I can see the sadness in her eyes.

"So, do you know why he is like that? If I may ask, of course"

"Oh it's no problem, really. He was an incredible kid once, all through high school until the last year, when our mum got cancer. It was a hard struggle for the whole family that year, and eventually she died, about a week after graduation. After that he completely changed. He got a lot of tattoos and started drinking a lot. Dad didn't know about that part since Shane made me promise not to tell. Then, he was gone on and off for about 2 years. We barely saw him during that time. When he finally came back, looking even worse than before, he just said "I'm going to begin at that music academy. Like it or not, I don't really care". Since then he's not as angry anymore, more rude and quiet I would say. He had a little meltdown when dad married Isabel, but instead of getting angry he's more into ignoring them now as much as he can"

I don't even know what to say. What if I say something inappropiate? Or push the wrong buttons, or...

"Hello?" she asks, interrupting my thoughts. "You've been quiet for a while now. What is it?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I just... Don't want to say the wrong thing. It's horrible, what you've gone through, and I will probably never completely understand what it is like. But I just want you to know that I'm here if you want to talk. Thank you for telling me such a big thing"

Cora smiles and we finish up our meals before paying the waiter and start walking again.

"Let's go home now, the mall is probably closing at any minute by now"

"Sounds good" I smile.