US (Formerly The After Effect - Book 2)

9 - Love and Loss

I expected Brink and Travis to be wrestling on the floor, going at each other's throats, but when I exit the ship, neither one is even looking at the other. The fire is the star of the show for them. To be honest, I don't mind the silence. Especially because I become a part of it.

Of course, it isn't actually silent outside. My mother is busy educating anyone who will listens how to skin the deer the hunters had shot. It is already in pieces a couple feet from the fire. Roasting has become the new hot topic. While some sound disgusted at the thought after watching it being cut apart, others act so hungry they could eat one of us. I thought Travis would have been a part of the conversation. Guess not.

I choose to not say a word to Travis when I join him and Brink back at the fire. Travis, however, wants to speak. Same for Brink, though he opts for a more private setting—my head. Their voices hit me simultaneously, so I hear neither of them clearly, but Travis is louder for obvious reasons.

"Can we talk?"

I'm done with talking, I think to myself. It's like today has been nothing but mini therapy sessions with yours truly. First Brink, then Stella, now Travis. I guess everyone wants a slice.

"You can't be done talking when you haven't even started," Brink rebuts telepathically. "Just because you've been talked to, doesn't mean you've made any effort to respond," he continues.

So now he's talking about our conversation earlier—or his rather. I hadn't really said more than a couple words. I'd been dumbfounded. Speechless. And more than anything, confused. I still don't want to rethink any of Brink's previous statements, so I turn my attention to Travis, who I wish I could steer clear of right now. I guess being stuck in the middle of the mountains can do this to you—make you talk. Who knew?

Travis sets his hand over mine on my knee. I contemplate on whether or not I should slip mine out from under but decide to keep it where it is. I don't want us to hate each other. I'm just annoyed. With any luck, he'll apologize and change his ways. I figure I may as well not stir up any more hostility.

"Aurora?" he presses, his eyes solely concentrated on me. Usually he catches when Brink tries to wedge himself into conversation, but he completely avoids Brink at all costs.

"Have you thought at all about what happened earlier?" I ask. "Before you and the hunting gang set off in the woods?" My eyebrows raise accusingly at him, but I don't care. I want him to think. Think hard if he has to. I am over spoonfeeding my feelings to others.

Travis shrugs. "I mean, yeah. You blew up on me."

I slip my hand out from his and frown. "I blew up? Really?"

"No no no. What I meant was—"

"I know what you meant. Clearly you think I'm just a psycho who likes to get mad at you for fun. Without any reasons whatsoever."

He shakes his head. "No, babe, I— Look, don't get— Listen, I—" Travis stutters, trying to grab my hand and salvage the conversation at the same time, but is failing at both. In fact, he's made it ten times worse. I never thought he'd try to turn this on me.

"Why don't you listen? It's always you, Travis. I can do this, I can do that, and you can't do anything," I mimick. My face is burning hot with rage. I can no longer sit so close to him without wanting to hit him across the cheek. He makes me feel so weak. So helpless.

"Need me to get Stella?" Brink chimes in telepathically.

I growl at him and shoot him a death glare. He merely snorts and crosses his arms, but does shut up.