The intimacy of anger (Sal x Travis)

Anxiety

Sal knew he needed to let Travis heal before he made a move. He monitored the behavior of Travis and his mom for many weeks and while he knew that the pain Kenneth had caused was still lingering it had gotten slowly better, and Sal couldn't wait forever. Eventually, he decided that things had gotten good enough to where he could approach Travis and maybe even make a move, the question was, when? Sal could never seem to find the right time, but it might've just been his anxiety holding him back.

It was a day like any other and Sal was walking to his final class of the day. His eyes were fixed on the ground. He must've not been paying enough attention because he bumped into someone, knocking their books to the ground in the process. He looked up and made eye contact with a certain olive-skinned blonde feeling his heart skip a beat. His mind was racing only the words 'fuck fuck fuck' playing over and over again. He was frozen like a deer in headlights.

"God damnit Sally Face!" Travis grumbled, he was pissed off and crouched down to pick up his stuff. Sal got down on the ground too, helping him gather everything up. Sal handed Travis his things and apologized profusely.

"Whatever Sally Face, just watch where you're fucking going."

"Wait Travis, I actually wanted to ask you something." Words came out of Sal's mouth faster than his brain was processing them.

"What?" Travis was still annoyed but less defensive than usual.

"I was wondering if I could have your number?"

"The fuck? Why? Is this some gay shit?"

"No no just like you know, friends?"

"Friends?" Travis seemed taken aback by this word. "Fine, whatever."

Sal's entire face felt hot. Thank God Sal's mask hid his blushing face. He scribbled his number onto a scrap of paper and handed it to Travis before scurrying away. He ran into the bathroom barely able to breathe and locked himself in a stall. The blue-haired boy leaned against the wall trying to calm himself down. He took his mask off and rubbed his eyes in disbelief. After he'd collected himself, he went to his last class of the day and apologized to his teacher for being late, but they didn't seem to mind.

Sal kept his eye on his phone for the rest of the day, nervous. He couldn't help but worry. What if Travis didn't text him? What if he just threw out the number? Maybe he only took it to laugh at him? He kept trying to reason with his anxiety. Maybe he couldn't use his phone in the class he was in? Or maybe his phone died? Sal could only sit around and hope while choking on his own nervous thoughts.
School ended and Sal still hadn't heard from Travis and the anticipation was tearing him apart, he needed someone to confide in and Sal knew who he could talk to. He walked to Todd's apartment and knocked on the door which was answered by Todd's obviously stoned mom.

"Hi, Mrs. Morrison, is Todd home?"

"Yes hon, he's just in his room. Come on in." She moved out of the doorway and let Sal in before plopping onto the couch with her also clearly high husband. Sal walked past them to Todd's room and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Asked Todd.

"It's Sal, can I come in?"

"Yeah come on in."

He opened the door and immediately let out a groan of frustration. Todd didn't even look up from whatever he was tinkering with at his desk.

"What's wrong now princess?" Todd asked sarcastically.

"I made my move."

Todd turned around faster than the speed of light. "YOU WHAT? HOW DID IT GO?"

"Shh shut the fuck up, I don't want the entire apartment complex knowing!"

"Okay my apologies, but what happened?"

"I bumped into him in the hall, so I panicked and gave him my number."

"Has he texted you yet?"

"No! That's what I'm so upset about."

"Oh lord, do you think he might've accepted it as a joke?"

"That's exactly what I've been worried about!" Sal fell onto Todd's bed and groaned into his pillow. Todd rolled his chair over to the bed and tried to comfort Sal by placing a hand on his back.

"Come on let's try and be positive. He's probably just busy, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about!"

Suddenly Sal's phone buzzed. The two stared at each other in shock while Sal slowly built up the courage to pick up his phone. To both of their disappointment, it was just a text from Larry about some weekend plans. Sal slowed down his breathing and planted his face into the pillow again.

"I made a fool of myself! He probably hates me even more now." Sal huffed out.

Sal's phone buzzed again. "Ugh, what now?" Sal asked begrudgingly and emotionally exhausted.

He flipped open the phone to see a message from an unknown number.

'Is this Sally face?'