Page 11 of Yours to Break

Josh shifted towards me with a puzzled look. “Who were those guys?”

I exhaled, “I was going to say it’s a long story, but it’s really not. Lane started seeing this weird therapist, and those were his brothers. I met them in the cafe, do you remember?”

“Oh yeah! A few days ago, right? Wait, that was youmeetingthem? They got so close to you that I thought you were friends,” he remarked, his hand moving to hold the back of his neck.

“Definitely not friends—they’re creepy. I get a bad feeling from them. Not to mention their brother…” I shuddered remembering the incident at the coffee shop and the weight of their predatory gazes.

“Well, I’ll try to keep my distance from them. But you have to tell me if they make you uncomfortable, okay?” He ran a hand through his hair. “You don’t think they didthisright?”

“No, and I don’t even think they knew I was trans until just now. This seems more like a dumb teenage prank.”

“Alright. Maybe there’s some CCTV around here that the cops can pull? I want them to see the vandalism in person in case they need to see it firsthand, but then I’ll help you get this cleaned off. But I think you should close for the day. This is a lot to handle even without the transphobia, so I can’t imagine how you’re feeling,” Josh fretted, eyebrows knitting together again.

“I um… I don’t think I’ve really processed it yet. I’m still a little shocked. I’m just trying to keep it together, I think,” I stuttered. Josh pulled me in for a side hug, not speaking yet emitting a calming energy. I leaned into his warmth.

I would’ve liked to have said that it didn’t bother me; that I let the insults and hatred bounce right off me. And yes, I wasused toit, but that didn’t mean I was immune to it. My own damn parents abandoned me for being trans, for heaven’s sake.

I think what got to me the most was that I hardly ever outright told people I was transgender. So, if people were being transphobic towards me… Wouldn’t that mean that I didn’t pass? It wasn’t like they would’ve called someone like Josh atrannybitch. I tried my best to steer my thoughts away from that rabbit hole; it would only lead to more self-loathing.

“Hey… If you want to talk about it, I’m here for you,” Josh promised, his green eyes swimming with sincerity.

“Thank you. I mean it. Did you… Did you know already?”

“Know what?”

“That I’m trans, dummy,” I weakly laughed, kicking at the sidewalk.

“Was I supposed to know?” He looked away, his fingers nervously fumbling with his hoodie’s pocket.

“So, when we first met, you automatically saw me as a guy?”

He looked back at me, a slight frown pulling his features down. “Well, yeah. I just assumed you had tiny parents.”

A brow quirked, I asked curiously, “Why are you so chill if you’ve just now learned that I’m trans?”

“It’s just something that doesn’t matter to me. Well–It matters, I mean I care about you–ugh. I feel like I’m fucking this up, man. What I’m trying to say is that it changes nothing for me. I’m just…I-I-I couldn’t care less how your body was made. That sounds weird, I–” I cut his rambling off, holding a finger to his lips.

“Thank you,” I swallowed, “for being a decent person.” Josh smiled before realizing how close he had gotten to my face and pulling back to a safe distance; his entire face flushed red. We stared into each other’s eyes, and I, at least, began contemplating just how close we’d gotten to a kiss.

We were pulled out of our charged trance when a police cruiser pulled up to the curb beside us.

Josh stuttered, “L-looks like they’re here.” I shook my head, carefully suppressing my laughter.

I let out a deep exhale, straightening my spine. “Right. Let’s get this done.”

6

Hayes

I couldn’t understand my actions recently. And I could say the same of Hudson. But there we were, standing with two dead bigots at our feet.

“What if we leave their fingers at his door?” Hudson considered as he played with the bloody garrote in his hand. Glaring, I smacked my brother on the side of his head.

“Yeah, let’s just leave severed fingers of unknown origins wrapped up like a gift on his doorstep. Damn idiot,” I ridiculed harshly, watching as Hudson rolled his eyes at me. “I don’t think we should do anything. They obviously won’t be bothering him anymore, so problem solved. We’d only give the kid a heart attack if he knew we killed them.”

“Yeah, okay, okay,” he groaned childishly, smearing the blood coating his palm onto his shirt.

I sighed, “Let’s go. I need a shower.”And self-reflection.

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