Read Online Give Me Truth by Bill Condon - Free Book Online

it.’
    â€˜And then, when you finally do ask me out, it’s to see stupid monster trucks, or to watch a DVD. What sort of date is that?’
    â€˜We’ve got a big screen TV.’
    â€˜That’s not the point! I’m going to hang up now.’
    â€˜Can I say one thing?’
    â€˜All right, but it won’t help.’
    â€˜When I asked you to see the monster truck show, that was the first time I’d done it – asked anyone to go out with me. Tonight was the second time.’
    â€˜You haven’t asked a girl out before this?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜That’s hard to believe. You don’t have any trouble talking to girls. I’ve seen you. You’re full of confidence – you even gave Miss Boyle flowers.’
    â€˜They were about to throw them out – I got them cheap.’
    â€˜But you still gave them to her. You’re not exactly the shy type, Lanny.’
    â€˜I can talk to girls and clown around – there’s no pressure in that – but asking someone out is torture.’
    I hear the truth in his voice, unmistakeable, and familiar. Torture to ask and risk being rejected, torture to never be asked. ‘You still there, Caitlin?’
    â€˜Only just.’
    â€˜Okay. One last thing: I want you to know that I’m not using you to practise on.’
    I stare at the phone, demanding an explanation, but too stunned to know how to say it.
    â€˜What I mean is, I didn’t ring you so I could get all the bad moves out of the way and use the good moves on someone better.’
    â€˜Right … well I suppose that’s a good thing. Then why did you ring me?’
    â€˜Because I think you’re fantastic. I don’t think there’s anyone better.’
    Words can rip you apart. These ones do. I pause a moment to regroup, then come out swinging.
    â€˜Hang on a second, Lanny. I have to find a sick bag – hey, get real – we have mirrors in this house. I know what I look like. I’m not stupid. All right? I’ll hang up if you try anything like that again.’
    â€˜I mean it, Caitlin. Honest. You look great to me.’
    â€˜Sure I do.’
    â€˜But it’s not just about how people look, is it? If it is then I’m stuffed. I’ve got no chance.’
    â€˜Oh stop it. That’s such bull. You look fine. You really do.’
    Now he pauses. I wonder if my words could have ripped him apart. No. Impossible. He’s a guy. He’s Lanny.
    â€˜Caitlin,’ he says at last.
    I have my answer ready.
    No, Lanny. Sorry, I really don’t want to go out with you. No hard feelings.
    But he doesn’t ask that question.
    â€˜Do you think it would be all right if I called you once in a while? Just say if you want me to go away and I’ll never bother you again. But I hope you don’t say it. It’s really good talking to you. I’d like to get to know you better.’
    I’m an ocean cli?. He’s erosion. I feel a large part of me crumbling into the sea, yet somehow I don’t mind at all.
    â€˜Sure, Lanny.’ I try to sound detached but I’m not certain that I make it. ‘You can call me again.’

Lanny and I sit on the steps outside the Science block.
    He gives me room to talk about my cut lip if I want, and when I don’t mention it, he leaves it alone except to ask, just once, if I’m all right. When I tell him I am, that’s the end of it. A mate knows when to back off, when to give you some space. This time I bury the trouble at home deep inside me and that’s where it’s going to stay. I’d feel like a traitor if I told anyone about Mum and Dad.
    â€˜Rehearsal tonight,’ he says. ‘You goin’, Dave?’
    â€˜Probably.’
    â€˜Because Glenna’s there. Right?’
    â€˜Don’t know what you’re talking about.’
    â€˜She asked me if you had a girlfriend.’
    â€˜I know you’re