naturally

What a way to start the new year, thought Cory who was getting the silent treatment from Roger. What was he going to do now? It was out about Eric.

Yes, one thing lead to another. Dora went off on Eric which left Roger grabbing his coat and leaving.

"Wait!" Cory chased after him into the cold, but he wasn't stopping. He wasn't looking back. He ran. Actually, Cory didn't know he could run so fast. It was cold too. Possibly, a bit warmer than it was. The snow had melted. But still, this was no fun to chase after him into the night, especially, when just a few minutes before it was all cozy and warm with a cherry vodka and coke in his hand.

Now this.

How could she? Just go on and on about Eric and him when there was really nothing to go on about. There wasn't. What a freaking imagination. Cory couldn't stop Dora. He couldn't stop anything.

He followed Roger into the old abandoned house close to the playground, past the meadow. Cory stumbled into darkness.

"Will you stop now?" Cory said while Roger paced with his fists pushed into the pockets of his thermal coat.

"Why? Were you gonna tell me?" He didn't look at Cory, but kept his back to him.

"There's nothing to tell. Obviously." Cory sighed with a shiver.

"But he-"

"He's a friend. Nothing more. Honestly, I didn't even know. Its like-" Cory didn't know how to explain this. "He's over it, already. Believe me, he's into Ellie."

Roger shook his head as if it couldn't be true.

"He was confused. All right." Cory sighed. "I think he was letting his sister just think too much for him then. You know. "

"Maybe this has nothing to do with Eric," Roger finally said very quietly. "Maybe its what he said that hurts worse."

His words stung Cory who stood there numb. The cold wasn't on his mind at all now. Just that Roger knew. Everything.