Breaking Barriers

30

30

"You can't expect me to ignore the fact that you had another girl in your room half naked Cole" I said after he started explaining to me. It was more of the same as what his father told me.

But it wasn't enough.

"I know" he sighed "But I can't give you another reason apart from the fact that I wasn't even thinking. I didn't know how to handle the possibility of failing him. I don't care if I don't get into a team next month but I can't fail him Alexis" Cole says as he slowly stirs his soup with his spoon.

Finally, Cole was starting to look better but not enough to make me happy.

"He wouldn't have thought that, this wasn't you Cole he would want you to fight for the truth wouldn't he. He also wouldn't want some other girl sitting on your lap that wasn't your girlfriend" I know that I don't know what his brother was like but if Cole admired him that much I knew that he had good intentions.

"I'm really sorry Alexis, it makes me sick even thinking about and I understand your anger, if it was the other way I would be furious" he says. Yes, he would.

"what do you actually remember about that night?" I asked him.

He slowly took a sip of his water. "I remember hearing about the drugs. My coach gave me one hell of a lecture. Ultimately, he mentioned Braden and I think that's when I zoned out. Dad said that someone was here to see me, and I assumed it was you"

I just silently listened.

"when I saw her, she did what she used to do when I would think about my brother. Sophie was there when I went through my brother's death and many other times when the pain of losing my brother got to me. I let my guard down and I'll hate myself for it" he glanced down.

He didn't want to meet my eyes, probably scared of how I would react.

I had to put myself in his shoes, the best that I could.

He wanted comfort in that moment and luckily for Sophie she was there to give it to him.

"Did she make you feel better?" I asked him. He finally looked over at me.

"I didn't feel better but I felt comfort, an old feeling but that doesn't mean it was a good feeling" he replied.

It hurt to hear him say that I was worried that he wasn't being completely honest with me but I shouldn't just assume these things.

"you don't believe me do you" he stated after a few tense seconds of silence.

I sat up straight. "you can't expect me to be fine with this Cole. She obviously means a lot to you and I can't just forget" I said to him honestly.

I desperately wanted to forgive him, but I definitely need some time to think.

"she doesn't mean any more to me than you. But I get it I really did fuck this up I'm sorry"

I closed my eyes briefly and sighed. This was hard, I didn't know how I was going to walk away from this, especially when I didn't want to.

"look Cole I need some time. I think it would be better for both of us if we concentrated on our situations. That doesn't mean I won't be here for you through this. We were friends first; I still care for you" I said as I bravely reached over the table and placed my hand over his knuckles.

Only now did I see his knuckles, there were red and starting to bruise up.

He retracted his hand quickly, but it was too late I had already seen the damage.