My legs and butt are killing me!

Andrew's bike lessons lasted until mid-afternoon and was a fun experience filled with the most interesting pep stalks. Which contained a combination of uplifting and sarcastic insults. Soon enough I was wobbling my way next to him on his own bike, zig-zagging like a drunk. Andrew looked over his shoulder and laughed at me.

"Don't look now Cora but you're riding a bicycle."

"Slow down." I cursed. For the past ten minutes, I've been trying to at least get beside his own bike and match his level of riding.

"Well, catch the fuck up shorty. Come on!" he shouted, "Get your hand off the break!"

I groaned and paddled faster with my hand lingering on the break for obvious reasons. He held his own pace and casually waited for me with one hand extended towards me. When I was close enough he grabbed the center of my handlebar and pulled me to him, lining our bikes together.

"How are you doing that with one hand?"

"Like everyone else in America, I learned to ride a bike when I was four."

"OH fuck you!"

"I wish you would," Andrew smirked.

There was absolutely no comeback I could throw at him that he couldn't repel or turn into something dirty, it was his special skill among other things. As a final lesson for the day, he forced me to race him to the nearest food truck, which I lost and ended up having to buy him something. My horror wouldn't end there as I had to continue riding back to his place with him. Andrew did make it entertaining enough maneuvering through crowds of people. I did enjoy watching him struggle with both bikes as we made our way through the narrow hall, knocking them against the wall like an idiot.

I found our relationship to be such a strange and hilarious one. In such a short time since I met Andrew, we reacted and behaved as if it were years. Setting together on the couch eating chips and salsa with one of his legs propped up on the table while mine were practically propped up in his lap.

We talked about memories, thought barely personal, and not once felt judged or worried about what the other would say. Not like I did around Jasmine or Keiko, stringing in a constant fear that I was burdening them with my whining and personal problems. I guess I'm still scared though, holding back my personal life so that I don't push this one away as well.

He did ask me about the moment I nearly had a heart attack in the park. I felt foolish about it now but took a breath and told him everything, stopping a few times to check his reaction, probably thinking I was a crazy person. However, he didn't even budge or scuff at my silliness...not once. Even when I finished he sat there in silence, just staring at me.

"I must sound crazy to you."

Andrew shook his head. "You're not crazy. A little irrational and disoriented maybe...but not crazy."

"Well thanks for that, Andrew."

"I'm just saying I understand why you would be upset, he was your dream guy for a long time, and for a single day that dream was coming true." Andrew rested his hand on my ankle. "Rejection hurts, and to find out the way you did...you reacted as any love-struck human would."

"I'll apologize soon enough," I said brushing the crumbs off my fingers. "I am happy for them. Jasmine deserves someone to treat her like a queen...with someone who wants a family."

"You never did explain that part to me." Andrew asked curiously, "What did he mean by he had no future with you."

I took a deep breath, thinking about that far off memory made me sick to my stomach. The torment I went through, my father's rage, and ultimately led to him hating me...wishing I was a boy. The moment where I never truly felt human or worth anything. A turning point in my life at such an extremely vulnerable age. No one should have had to go through that, but sometimes it's inevitable.

"When I...started my cycle I was thirteen years old." I began. Pausing for only a second to see if he would cringe at the slightest term of a woman's menstrual note like every other guy I explained this to. Again I was surprised and relieved that he didn't cover his ears and cringe. "The first time hurt like hell. Mom did her best to comfort me, even kept me home from school. Dad thought it was all nonsense."

"He sounds like a great guy," Andrew scoffed.

"Oh, he was." I added, "The pain every month never stopped and I never adjusted. It took my mother my three years to convince him something was wrong and I should go to the hospital. Found out I had ovarian cancer."

"That's horrible."

"And rare, usually that cancer doesn't hit women until they are in their mid-twenties. I only had the tumor growth but it was more severe than most. Doctor visit after doctor visit I've had treatments, my nodes scraped, different medicine all under my father's strict orders of no major surgeries...no matter the pain."

"Why?"

"Oh he was worried...worried that I would become useless as a woman. When it finally reached stage four, I nearly died. Spent my high school graduation in the hospital recovering from a hysterectomy. I can never have kids."

"I'm sorry," Andrew slid his hand behind my neck and pulled me into him. It wasn't until I pressed my face into his shirt that I had tears rolling down my cheek.

"I mean I never wanted kids, but it would have been nice to know I still had the option."

"Perfectly normal." Andrew pushed my pink locks out of my face. "But you do realize that this doesn't make you any less a woman or human."

"I know." I mumbled, "It gets hard sometimes when your dad treats you like dirt and your friend rubs it in your face by forcing her baby on you. Not to mention all the bragging she does about how lucky I am because screwing a guy without a condom feels fantastic!"

"Well, she's not wrong," Andrew replied. "Sex does feel great that way but remember it's her lack of self-worth and protection that got her in that mess she's in."

"I wouldn't know."

Andrew's eyes grew wide as he leaned back away from me, getting a good look at my face. "You're a virgin?"

I got could feel the heat rushing to my face. "It's not that big of a deal!"

"Whoa...That's gotta go on the list."

"Forget it!" I snatched the salsa can and put the lid back on it.

Wiggling my way out of his comfort I took things back to the kitchen hoping to get some distance between him and this now awkward conversation. Naturally, it was too little too late as he stepped over the back of his couch with my notebook in his hand. Excited and jumping around the apartment like a toddler. Grabbing a pen he began scribbling bullshit into my book.

"No!" I warned him. "And stop jumping around before you fall and knock all the lights out!"

"Yes," He grinned, "Don't you see! That's my new mission! To get you laid!"

"You're an idiot."

Andrew was beyond gone as he swelled up in his excited ruse. Tapping the pin against his head as he conjured his evil plan. "OH, it can be with that coworker you like...the British one."

"Riley?"

"Yes! You said so yourself you're sweet on him AND he's single. This is your chance to bounce back...mark number one off the list."

He did have one tiny good point. I did like Riley a lot but as a boyfriend? We knew absolutely nothing about each other and after Beckett's short-lived date I don't think I could handle going through that again so soon. I should have just scribbled out that damn "fall in love" wish a long time ago. Andrew seemed more excited about it than I did, but perhaps it would be refreshing to try. To pull me out of the shadow of my own silly crush.

"Fine," I agreed. "On one condition, If it goes the slightest bit sour I get to say we stop."

"Deal!" Andrew held out his enormous hand, wanting me to shake it. I rolled my eyes and officially sealed the deal. A wide goofy smile spread across his face. "We will call it Operation Boston Tea Party!"

I leaned over the counter towards him. "Absolutely fucking not."

Sorry that this one is practically all dialogue, I hope it declares as a nice read for some of you guys. I try to balance things like that out but at least you get to learn more about Cora and what new schemes is plans to throw herself in for the future.

Happy Sunday Everyone!