tratie one shots ~

2. Thanksgiving

Travis pov

Katie was coming home. Panic. A lot of panic. Mum had said she was coming over for thanksgiving and her father was picking her up after because he was not at home for Thanksgiving. I have no idea how mum and Katie's father had gotten in contact, but I was suffering. Katie. Was. Coming. Home. Thanks a lot, mum... now I'll have to clean up my room and try my best not to make it too obvious I was head over heels for Katie in front of mum. She'll be seeing my room, my small ass house and memories that I'd have made in tiny photo frames—another wave of panic.

'Travis! Come greet Katie, show some etiquette! '

Great. 2 seconds in and mum had already embarrassed me. Deep breaths and trying to calm down. I headed downstairs and almost stumbled down after seeing her. Call it cliché but the light filtering through the windows literally formed a halo behind Katie. Her green eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed and a shy smile curled on her face. Her brown hair was plaited in one braid and she was wearing a yellow hoodie which she was drowning in and shorts.

She waved shyly and I stopped functioning for a minute. It's not that this always happens, I'm close to her, and I know she is pretty comfortable around me. I talk to her every day, well run away from her as she chases and yells at me for pranking her. I tease her when her archery stance is wrong knowing very well that one swift moment and my head would be cut off if I annoy her too much. It's just the fact that she was standing next to my mum (who was shooting me a knowing smile, just great) and was standing in my living room and actually smiling at me. (she was dying on the inside I know it)

I was brought out of my daze by Connor nudging me, whom I had just noticed. Everyone was staring at me, mum expectantly, Katie confused and Connor teasing, on the brink of laughter.

'Ahem... Sup'Katie-Kat' wow. Smooth Travis, smooth. Cringing inwardly, self-regret immediately hit in. I saw Connor trying not to laugh out of the corner of my eye.

She raised an eyebrow as if questioning the sudden awkwardness.

'Don't call me that, and-'

She was cut off by a bark. Guess that's Parker, our labrador (it's a dog breed).

'Holy hades, STOLL YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOU HAD A DOG'

I gaped at her as Parker, a huge ass dog jumped on top of her. I was expecting her to squeal or scream or panic but she was giggling as Parker licked her face.
...
I was squealing on the inside. Not a proud moment.
This was an adorable sight to see.
An adorable dog and an even more adorable Katie. Parker was basically mauling her by now, but she seemed unfazed. She was laughing, full-on as Parker was tickling her and I realised, I hadn't seen her laugh like that in a long time.

I secretly took a picture. Okay, maybe it was a lot more than one picture but still. Found a new lockscreen picture, yay! I heard Connor snicker behind me and I sent him a dirty look that conveyed the message "shut up or I'll pulverize you."

and for the next 2 hours I just watched Katie cuddle with Parker, play with Parker and basically have all her attention on Parker.

I watched with a sense of fondness, but there was something else blooming inside my chest. Katie never looked at me like that, or payed that much attention to me, and I've been pranking her every single day without a rest.

---------------------------- (skip to dinner) -------------------------------

'So Katie, how do you know Travis and Connor? Your dad mentioned something about a ridiculously annoying but cute boy.'

At that moment, I choked on my turkey. Katie who was sitting right next to me, offered my a glass of water looking everywhere but at me, her cheeks red. Yeah I wonder which one of was the 'cute' looking one.