The Lousy Truth (Kellic)

Seven.

"How long have you two been friends?" Hannah asked as the three of us sat down on the far away corner of the cafe nearest uni. They do not have the best coffee but the ambiance is great plus, they have free WiFi.

I looked at Vic, only to see him counting with his fingers, mumbling numbers. I rolled my eyes at him. "Seriously? I could answer that question in a heartbeat."

"Blame my poor memory!" He defended, raising his hands up in defense, making me laugh.

"A little over eight years." I said, grabbing my cup of coffee and taking a small sip. I could clearly see the steam playing on top of my drink so I took extra precaution. I learned my lesson the last time Vic and I went here.

Hannah's eyes bulged, making them seem bigger than they already are. I really like her eyes, though. I honestly think that she has the prettiest eyes that I've seen in my life. "Wow."

"Yeah, same." Vic chuckled. "I don't know how I managed to put up with this shit-head."

I smacked his arm and scrunched up my eyebrows at him. "Excuse me."

"See? Plus, you're always so whiny."

"You're so annoying and mean, though."

"Well, there's the balance." He commented and chuckled, shaking his head as he tried to control his laughter. I was too lost in Vic and I's small bantering that for a hot minute there, I almost forgot that we're with Hannah. I guess I got used to being with just Vic.

"Sorry." I mumbled to her, seeing a huge smile spread across her face.

"No, no, it's okay. I think it's.. interesting." She said, still looking at me but she shook her head right after, as if snapping her head out of her little trance. "I hope you don't mind if I ask but, how'd you- how did you meet, um, Vic?"

I perked up at her question. Most people aren't too keen on knowing Vic and I's back story so hearing her genuinely ask about it made me instantly feel happy but nervous at the same time. This feels like deja vu to me. I've been in this position far too many times and I dreaded each and every time I had to tell this story. Hannah seems trustworthy, though. But then again, I thought Ms. Jane was, too. I thought about it for a couple of seconds, Hannah looking at me concerned as my fingers unconsciously started scratching my arm, red lines appearing and creating long lines.

"Kellin, you don't have to tell me if you're not comfortable." She reassured and I find myself shaking my head vigorously. I want to tell her. They told me a thousand of times before that it's good to find an outlet, a person whom I could talk to. Hannah seems friendly and nice and understanding. I mean, she's the first one from uni that actually cared to know Vic and I. She never gave us disgusted and judging looks, ever.

I took a deep breath, tucking in a chunk of air in my lungs as I did so. I closed my eyes momentarily, as if praying for whatever god was out there to snap me out from, yet again, another one of these encounters. I am doing this again, I am telling this story again, no matter how much details I leave off, I want to tell her this. "It was when I was eight and I ran up to this park a couple of blocks away from our house because- and- and I, and I saw him there, rather, he saw me there, since I was, uh- I had my head down and yeah."

She nodded, her hand hesitantly placing itself on top of my now shaking one. I flinched, as usual. There it goes again. The horrible deja vu. It suddenly feels like everything is spinning in front of me; I felt nauseous. This was exactly what happened the first time I told Ms. Jane everything. She was looking at me the same way that Hannah is looking at me right now, her hand trying to touch mine, as if silently telling me that it's okay to open up. The difference between her and Ms. Jane, though, is that I didn't have that much choice with Ms. Jane. I had to tell her everything.