Little Montgomery: A Station 19 Story

Chapter Fifteen: Trying on rings

Hartley's POV:

Travis came into my science class today and pulled me out, didn't even give me a reason, just told my teacher we had to go and dragged me out of the room.
Travis(dragging Hartley out of the building): Come on, right now. This is very important.
Hartley: Trav, what's going on?
Travis: You'll know soon enough.
Hartley: Is it something bad? Did someone die?
Travis: No, nobody died. Get in the car.

I get in the front seat of the car as Travis gets in the driver's seat. Once we both have our seatbelts on and he puts the key in the ignition I look at him.

Hartley: Where are we going?
Travis: Hamburgers.
Hartley: I'm totally down, but I really don't believe you pulled me out of school just to get burgers. What's the real reason here?
Travis(pulling into the drive-through and speaking to the microphone): Hi, can I get 2 hamburgers with ketchup and lettuce only, 2 sides of fries, a medium diet coke and a medium root beer? Thanks.
Hartley: Are you gonna tell me now?
Travis: In a minute.

Five minutes later, once we've gotten our food and parked in an empty corner of the lot, I finally get him to tell me why he pulled me out of class.

Travis: I'm gonna propose to Emmett.
Hartley(almost choking on her hamburger): Wait, really? Oh my gosh, Travis that's huge! When? How? You need help? I've got a plan! Well, ten plans actually, in case you didn't like the first nine. Can I be involved? Can someone video it? Ooh you should have-
*Travis shoves a french fry in her mouth*
Travis: Calm down. Yes, you can help plan it, yes you can be involved, Jack will video it, and you have to keep it secret from Emmett. He can't know, okay?
Hartley(with a french fry hanging out of her mouth): Got it. I am calm, cool as a cucumber. Totally chill. *gasp* Can I tell Nick? Pleaseeee?
Travis: Yeah, sure. You can tell anyone except for Emmett. Oh, and if he says yes, you should be the one to tell his dad.
Hartley: Shouldn't you guys be the ones to tell him?
Travis: No, absolutely not. He doesn't like me as it is, and he's still processing the whole "Emmett being gay" thing. But, he loves you, still not sure how you made him like you, the man hates everybody, but he'll take it better coming from you.
Hartley: Of course he loves me, everyone does.
Travis: I would tell you not to brag, but you're right. So, will you tell Mr Dixon?
Hartley: Yes, I will tell Grandpa Michael.
Travis: He lets you call him Grandpa? He makes Emmett call him "sir" most of the time!
Hartley: What can I say, I got the charm in this family.
Travis: I hate you.
Hartley: You love me.
Travis: I know. But you're too perfect, it's annoying.
Hartley: Would it make you feel better to know I have an F in math?
Travis: WHAT?
Hartley: Did you ever do any better?
Travis: No.
Hartley: Case closed, you can't get mad at me. Gavel gavel.
Travis: Why are you better at parenting than me?
Hartley: I don't know, Trav. Maybe that's a question you should ask yourself.

I laugh again as he smears some ketchup on my cheek, and we start planning the proposal.

*an hour later*

Travis and I walk into the house after finishing our food since he's off shift today. When we get inside Emmett is standing in the kitchen making a smoothie.
Travis: Hey babe.
Emmett: Hey guys.
Hartley: Hi.
Emmett: Travis?
Travis: Hm?
Emmett: Why did I get a call from Hartley's school today telling me that you took her out of class for no reason?
Travis: Burgers.
Emmett: What?
Hartley: I texted him asking for burgers. He came to school. We left. We got burgers.
Emmett: Travis, you can't just pull her out of school to get food, she needs an education!
Hartley: No I don't. I'm gonna be a stripper.
Travis: No!
Hartley: Kidding!
Travis: You cannot scare me like that! I had enough of the secret family stripping with "let me be your daddy".
Emmett: Ohh, that was so gross.
Hartley: To be fair, I didn't get his genes. You know, it's kinda funny how they were both fucking around with men.
Travis: Hartley!
Hartley: What? I'm just saying, one act of adultery resulted in me, and the other ended in "let me be your daddy."

Emmett and I burst out laughing while Travis makes gagging noises and throws a strawberry from the counter at Emmett, who catches it in his mouth.

Emmett: OH! LOOK AT THAT, TRAV!
Hartley(laughing): Okay, that was kinda cool.
Emmett: Did you hear that, Travis? I'm cool.
Travis: Why does he get to be cool? Why can't I be cool?
Hartley: Wha-okay, you two run into burning buildings for a living, to save people you've never met. You're both cool.
Travis and Emmett (looking at each other): Awwww.

They pull me into a group hug, each of them smothering my face in kisses as I try to get away.

Hartley: Ahh! No! No more! I'm drowning in cologne!
Travis: Ahh, enjoy the lack of soot, my dear sister, it doesn't happen often.