The Story So Far

10. Travis Muliciver Bayarrd

It was the day after our little date around town. Travis, Cameron, Amy and I spent the whole day in the nearby park, talking about nothing and everything. We ate lunch, fed the ducks, and eventually got bored.

We roamed around the park for what seemed like an hour. Then Amy and Cameron said, "How 'bout we play hide and seek?"

Travis and I haven't agreed yet when they started to run around like crazy and tried to hide. Leaving Travis and I alone. This is so intentional, I thought.

He led me around the park and made up topics so I wouldn't get bored. But there was one point while we were walking that the both of us fell silent. It was the kind of silent I felt comfortable in. It wasn't the awkward kind of silent, it was the kind of silent that you share with someone you know inside and out. Someone you trust. Someone who you can be just you-the real you, not pretend to be anybody else.

I felt the back of his hand against the back of mine and the butterflies in my stomach started fluttering again. He glided his hands around mine so our palms faced each other, he laced his fingers against mine and he started to wound his hands against mine. I can tell how nervous he was while he did this by the way his hands were slightly sweaty, but I knew that in the midst of being nervous about this, he was also confident. The boy he is, he always is confident. He's Travis Bayyard. Why shouldn't he be?

We walked around the park hand in hand. Our hands were getting sweaty and sticky but I didn't care. It felt nice and cozy...I felt like I found where I was supposed to be. It felt exactly like I was home. And I never wanted anything else in the world more than this moment to happen again.

We walked around the park hand in hand, people looking at us like we did some crime and we have been ransomed for a million dollars.

Travis and I shared a look and laughed at their blank stares. He ran, pulling me with him to the stairwell that spiraled around a fountain. He said, "You haven't kissed me yet."

I was taken aback, "What? I have."

"Yes," his thumb playing on my wrists, "but not today."

I leaned up real close to him and then-and then an old couple walked in between us, like we were just doing nothing.

I gaped at the couple then laughed. Travis cracked up laughing beside me as well, "Do you want to try again?"

I nodded then leaned in up close to him again, holding on to his hands for support, then my lips touched his cheek and I let go.

He smiled at me, his cheeks a fair pink. "Happy?," I mused.

"Ecstatic," he replied.

We sat down on the bench by the lawn and started to talk about ourselves. He told me how messed up his family can get and how sometimes they get a family threat. He told me that his parents had a death threat once in their office. He told me that he was with Maika before and they broke up because he tried to kiss her and she thought of it as kind of rude and it offended her so she broke it off. He told me everything from the way that he slept (which was mostly face down, snoring, and sometimes drooling) and he snored because there was something wrong with his sinus. He told me everything from as far as he can remember to the way that he is right now. He told me that his parent didn't make him grow up spoiled rotten, they disciplined him to the way that he was too scared to disobey his dad.

I thought of that as a great thing, the way he's been disciplined quite well. I like the way that he's so carefree talking about everything that he is. The way that he isn't afraid to let me know the real Travis, he let me in like he couldn't care less as to what I tell him because he knew I wouldn't judge. It was, like, he doesn't care if I know too much about him because that's how comfortable he is with me. And that is one of the things I loved about him.

He also told me that he used to have a chubby belly because it's beer belly, he drinks, yes. He knows how to drive. There's even a video of him driving as a kid and as a twelve year old, filmed by his mom.

He told me everything. He didn't miss out on anything one bit. He let me know everything because he said that I'm his girlfriend and best friend at the same time and that he'd choose me over anyone anytime.

"So, it's your turn," he said, looking at me with a smile.

I sighed, "I don't think you'll believe me."

"Try me," he started, "besides, I won't judge you. I just told you everything about me. You can go on for hours, I don't mind."

I folded my sleeves and showed him a scar. He squinted at it with a questioning look. "I used to cut myself," I explained, "I wasn't in good terms with my parents. My siblings. My dad would always scold me. Sometimes even if I did nothing wrong. And in fifth grade, I was bullied and I found out that the friends I have talked behind my back. I had enough, you know? And I didn't know what to do. I wanted to kill myself, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. So I started to cut. But then, I met Amy and Britt and they helped me recover. And then everything else changed even more when you came to my life." I looked at him. And his mouth was shaped like an O.

"Wow," he pulled me to him and squeezed me tight.

I laughed, "Yeah. But I'm fine now."

"Shhh," he whispered, "I'm always going to be here for you. I won't leave, I promise. I won't let you go through that again."

I started to feel a lump in my throat, like the way you were about to cry. But I didn't. I didn't cry.

After that, I started to tell him everything. From the very first memory I remembered and the latest thing I have. I let him in, all of him. I let him into the deepest part of my mixed up soul.

It was, like, I was giving him the permission to destroy me. And I would gladly let him.

That day was a day I could never forget.

Hello you guys! :) this chapter revealed alot about the two main characters and I think both of their stories are kind of touchy. I hope you let them both in as well.

Much love,

Maybelle