More Than A Game

Chapter 31

It has felt like forever the last time I spoke with Chad and this continuing feeling of loneliness was already starting to drain my energy. Through the pain, there was some good news to this. The creep who tried to pull a move on was charged and being taken to a hearing which was somehow relieving to hear. As for the tribunals involment, Chad was also freeded from any convictions since his actions were out of self defence.

I've tried talking to Chad multiple times but I failed with every word with either finding a new way to argue with him or the time not being right. I sat at the couch, desperately trying to get my mind off my troubles whilst watching a rerun of Home And Away. I sighed as I tried my best to keep up with everything that was going on. I took a sip of the hot coffee in the blue mug when there was a knock on the door.

"Grace!" I shouted out and surprisingly, there was no answer. Slowly making my way towards the door, I turned the door handle and was shocked to see a familiar figure standing in the doorway sporting a black shirt, black puffer vest and skinny jeans.

"Travis?" I asked in a small tone. "What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk. Like right now." He said as I led him inside. The moment Travis said those words, it had immediately felt as if my heart had suddenly emerged in my mouth. Nervously, I awaited Travis to break the awkward void of silence between us.

"The other day I was at a media conference and Chad was there. But it's wasn't the Chad I knew, no. It was like he was a completely different person; a confused state of mind, many of his answers to reporters questions sounded really unlike him and when I went to ask him about it, he just brushed me off."

"Honestly, Chad's been completely off with me for the past couple of days. I honestly don't know what to do anymore. Everytime I try to speak with him, he's always too busy for me and if he isn't busy we're in a pathetic argument. Travis, I'm in a tough position right now and I have no idea what to do. I've tried speaking with him and so has his sister, Grace and if she can't get through to him then I have no clue who else will." I said as I raised my palms against my forehead. Travis soon realised and quickly sat right next to me.

"Carmen it's alright. I honestly don't mean to come across as angry because I have no reason to be that with you. I'm just irritated, irritated that I have to see my teammate in the way he was. You were the only person I know he'd be close with so there was a small part of me that hoped that you could help me solve the mystery."

"Oh. I'm sorry Travis but because I'm his girlfriend, that would mean I'd be the first person you'd come to when he's upset. Chad's lucky you know, when he's throwing a massive tantrum he's got a whole team he can go to but when I'm feeling blue, there isn't anybody I can see.

I wish everybody would stop treating him as if his the victim, his not the only one that seems a little off or the only one whose had problems. It's getting really annoying and quite frankly, enough is enough." I snapped as Travis sat back and stared at me in complete shock. Without warning, Chad emerged from his bedroom moving his sights from Travis and back onto me. Without thinking, I got up and marched up towards the bedroom.

"Carmen wait. Why are you suddenly so defensive. I only -"

Travis' voice faded past my ears as I rushed into the bedroom and slammed the door shut behind me as I slid downwards onto the ground, still keeping my back against the wooden frame.

My mind raced with a million thoughts as I desperately tried my best to think up of an excuse of why I behaved the way I did. Several moments had passed and still, I couldn't think of a reasonable excuse for my pathetic behaviour. I honestly had no idea how long I leaned against the door but I could hear slow footsteps. I preserved and ignored the footsteps hoping they would just fade away but sadly, the got closer until the stopped out the front of the door.