A Thin Line Between Love & Hate (Love Conquers All series) ORIGINAL VERSION

Chapter 59: "Hell in the Real World"

"Every kiss I can't forget
This aching heart ain't broken yet
Oh God I wish I could make you see
'Cause I know this flame isn't dying
So nothing can stop me from trying."

- Time For Miracles, Adam Lambert

What do I do? Should I tell him?

Brandon wrestled with the pros and cons of informing Josh that his fears concerning Uriah were valid; their father was beating him—beating him bad. But if Uriah wasn't sharing that information...or the reason for the abuse...Brandon didn't know if he'd be doing more harm than good in revealing it to Josh. What could Josh do about it? What could anyone but Uriah himself do about it? If he'd even been seventeen instead of eighteen, the authorities could take matters into their own hands. But Uriah was legally an adult. Would knowing the facts cause Josh more stress and fear?

Taking a couple pouches for their samples, the two boys walked through the campground and into the trees on the far side. Brandon led the way along a footpath, cushioned with dry pine and fir needles.

"Are there really meteor rocks out here?" Josh asked quietly. It was the first thing he'd spoken since their brief talk in the car.

"Yeah," Brandon said. "They're scattered all over the county. Mostly just tiny pieces, but every once in a while, you find a larger chunk." He looked at Josh and smiled small, unable to keep the pain out of his eyes or his voice. "Maybe we'll find one."

Josh nodded silently and walked beside Brandon, looking around the forest. "How did the meteor rocks get here?" he mumbled. "Was there a meteor shower or something?" Was he focusing on this topic in hopes of keeping Brandon from asking him personal questions again?

Brandon shrugged. "I guess. Probably hundreds of years ago."

"Maybe someone in town is really Superman," Josh stated, his tone dead serious. "And he came down with the meteor shower."

Startled by his comment, Brandon smiled. "Maybe so. In fact..." he shrugged. "...maybe it's me."

It took a moment for Josh to reply, and when he did, his voice was so quiet that Brandon wondered if he meant to speak the thought aloud. "I could see that."

"Really?" Brandon's heart shuddered.

Josh ducked his head and nodded—and Brandon's heart soared. "You're nice to everyone," he whispered. "You try to make peace between people who don't like each other. You're trying to make the world a better place." He looked up tentatively and dampness glossed his eyes. "Like any hero would do."

A thick lump formed in Brandon's throat and his vision swam. Let me be "your" hero. Please let me help you. "Wow," he murmured with a slight tremor. "I've never been equated to a hero before."

Josh looked away, but not before Brandon detected the deep pain in his soft eyes. He fidgeted beneath Brandon's gaze and added absently, "Hope there's no Kryptonite out here."

Sighing, Brandon looked forward then cast another sidelong glance at Josh as his body and heart went weak. There is.

They spent the next half-hour to forty-five minutes focusing on their task. Brandon led them off the path and into an area of the woods where he often found bits of the meteor rock. Today was no exception. They dug through the soft soil and extracted their treasures, filling the pouches. When they finally called it quits, their hands and clothes were dirty.

Josh stood up and brushed at his pant legs, knocking away the excess dirt. His jeans remained stained with dirt and his t-shirt was mottled with smudges of the soil.