I wasn't surprised when rumors began to circulate as to why Sal was seen running frantically out the front door. One of the most popular ones involved some long lost family member. Truthfully, I didn't care about the senseless gossip of my ill-advised schoolmates, I just hoped that he was safe.
I somehow managed to finish the day without coming to blows with some hormonal roughen. When I arrived at the large, well-kept Victorian style house, my father was sat at the kitchen table waiting for me. My stomach churned as I greeted him.
"Sit down, my son." His voice was deep and threatening with undertones of pretentious kindness, causing me to shake slightly. He only talked like this when something was wrong. I morph my face into an unfeeling shell, just like I was taught to.
"Hello father." I spoke cautiously.
"Son, there's been an incident involving a boy named Larry Johnson, it's quite the calamity. Do you know him?" I tried desperately to maintain my composure. That explains Sal's urgency and intense distress.
"Vaguely, what happened?" I asked cautiously.
"It doesn't matter. He did a very selfish thing, but fear not, my child. For he will receive his punishment eventually."
"What do you mean, Father?" I tried to keep my voice as uncaring as possible but a lump was beginning to form in the back of my throat.
"Well, suicide is a very selfish act, my boy." I felt my heart sink to my toes. I barely concealed my horror. I agreed absentmindedly and made up some excuse about a quiz to study for. As I raced up to my room, my chest tightened. I can't imagine what Sal was going through right now.
I didn't know Larry very well, most of our interactions were hostile, but that didn't mean he deserved this. Most of the time he was just being protective of Sal, so it was hard to blame him.
He helplessly sank to the floor. He had no phone, no E-mail, no means of contacting Sal, or any mutual friends. Travis wasn't religious. Not really anyway. But in that moment, he found himself praying to every God he could think of. Praying for Sal, for Larry, and for all affected. There had to be something he could do.
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.
