Page 77 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“And that’s it?”

Silence.

“So it’s the second answer, then,” Will stated with a bitter smile. “I get it.”

“It’s neither of them,” Oscar countered.

“There’s no such thing as neither of them,” Will scoffed. “Either you want something more serious, or you only want one thing. There’s no room for half-measures in this kind of thing.”

“I like you,” Oscar said quietly, avoiding his gaze. “But I don’t think I can.”

“Can what?”

“Be with you.”

Will felt as if someone had kicked him in the stomach.

“Okay.”

“It’s not you, it’s me.”

God… That cliché line, too!

“Sure,” Will replied mockingly, because Oscar was obviously lying.

The problem wasn’t the perfect-in-every-way Oscar. The problem was painfully average Will, or rather, the fact that someone like Oscar would never take him seriously.

Considering the conversation over, he headed for the door.

“I… I’m really scared.” Will was about to leave, but something in Oscar’s voice—a helpless note—stopped him. Pausing, he looked back at Oscar. “I’m scared of being with you or anyone else. I’m scared of what will happen when I get involved again.”

“And what can happen when two people want to be together?” Will asked, failing to see where he was going with this. “Either they decide they’re a good match or that they’re not.”

“Or one of them goes missing. Maybe even worse.”

“What are you talking about?”

Oscar took a shaky breath.

“My ex-boyfriend… Brad…” he began, his voice breaking. “We were together since we were thirteen. I wanted to study in New Wing, but Brad wanted to stay here, so I stayed too, for him. And then… right before we started at BHA… actually, at the very beginning of the summer… he disappeared without a trace.”

Will was shocked. He hadn’t expected to hear anything like this.

“I’m sorry,” he said sympathetically, moving closer to Oscar. “I’m really sorry.”

He touched his shoulder comfortingly. Oscar looked like he was about to fall apart.

“But what does that have to do with us?” Will asked. He was aware he wasn’t being very subtle, but he wanted to know what this was about. “What are the odds that your second boyfriend will also go missing?”

Oscar smiled sadly.

“High. I’m unlucky.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m sorry.” Oscar pulled back abruptly. “I shouldn’t have… I’m sorry I disappointed you,” was all he said before hastily leaving the classroom.

Will was disappointed, yes. Disappointed and confused, because today he had seen a side of Oscar he had never known before.