Public Displays of Affection (boyxboy)

Home - Chapter Six

Travis hated Canada.

He couldn't find a patriotic bone in his body as he walked. For one, in Canada, he had to go to school. Travis was counting down the days until the end of the year. Just a few more months, a few more exams, a few more parties and he would be free, forever. Until he had to go to college or university for something.

And then there was the snow.

A week past march break and Travis was still trudging through the soggy slush. It was dyed brown from mud and the wheels of passing cars splashing it around and it soaked through Travis' shoes. And even though it wasn't that cold anymore, it was still colder than Cuba.

He sighed heavily but kept walking.

"Hey!"

Travis turned around at the shout just in time to see Jared running up behind him. He grinned at Travis, cheeks rosy from the cold and bag slung across his shoulder.

"Hi," Jared said, as he came to a stop next to him.

Travis smiled at his friend but found the action odd. Jared's bright eyes and warm smile were very distracting and Travis' smile ended up lingering longer than he'd meant for it to.

Travis forced his gaze away as they started walking. When he glanced back, Jared was looking away shyly.

"I kind of thought you were ignoring me again," he admitted with an awkward laugh.

Travis raised a brow.

"Why is that?"

"Well, we haven't talked since we got back and then you left without me."

Travis frowned.

"We've only been back for a day," he said.

"Yeah," Jared agreed. "I guess you usually text at least, that's all."

There was a long silence as they walked. Why did Travis feel so hyper aware of his friends presence? Every step he took and shift he made, the sound of him breathing, it was all driving Travis crazy.

"What about walking to school?" Jared asked uneasily.

Travis stopped walking as Jared's words sank in.

"Are you serious?" he asked.

Jared flushed.

"We always walk to school together," he said stubbornly. His hands gripped the straps of his back pack, the knuckles turning white and finally he looked at Travis, a stubborn glint in his eyes and Travis felt all of the rising tension deflate out of him.

"Yeah, that's true," he said.

Jared's eyes widened.

"I don't know why I left without you," Travis said.

Jared chewed his bottom lip for a moment, thinking but then apparently Travis' answer was enough and he nodded and started to walk again.

"Did you catch up on any of the homework we were assigned?" Jared asked and just like that, conversation was back to normal.

Travis was relieved by the turn of conversation but the rest kept replaying in his head as they walked.

What the hell had he gotten himself into?

***

Brad and Cal found Travis the second he got into the school and both immediately howled with laughter.

"What the hell happened to you?" Brad asked. "You're like a different race."

Travis shoved his friend.