The rest of the night goes by uneventfully and next thing I know, Lisa is shaking me awake.
"You boys were up late! But, the day still awaits!" I thank her and head upstairs to get ready for school. When my dad emerges from his room, I see that his eye is bruised and swollen. I gulp and stare into my cereal bowl.
"Morning kiddo!" His tone was painfully cheerful.
"Hey dad." I say shamefully. We spend the next few minutes engaging in awkward and meaningless banter before I glance at the clock in the living room, grab my school bag and walk out the door.
On the bus, the only open seat is next to Travis Phelps. I wouldn't describe our relationship as close but we're not as bitter as we used to be. Mainly thanks to a note found on the floor of the mens' restroom. We share very little common ground. His father won't allow him video games or even television. He claims it poisons the spirit and distracts us from our faith. However, we do share a handful of classes.
We spend the 15 minutes bus ride talking about the ridiculous amount of geometry homework as well as making predictions for the strange odor radiating from Mr. Reid's desk. I swallow hard when he mentions bologna.
Before we know it, the bus pulls into the crowded parking lot behind Knockfell High. We have our first period together so I offer to walk him. However he blushes and declines claiming he has business to attend to in the library. For some reason, his blush makes my heart flutter. I break a sweat under the prosthetic mask. After a moment of silence so heavy I feel it might crush me, he bids me goodbye and scurries off to the large doors that lead into the school.
YOU ARE READING
A Chance To See You Smile
RomanceTravis Phelps has always been taught that it's wrong for a man to feel love for another man. But there's something about his classmate, Sal Fisher, that just makes his heart flutter.
