Disciple (Sal x Travis)

Lost dog

Travis
"Who was it?" Father asked me as I came back inside.

"Neighbors," I replied, not missing a beat, "They can't find their dog so I offered to help."

I looked in the living room at them to see my mother with a soft smile, "You're a sweet boy, Travis."

"That he is.." my father agreed.

I smiled dryly, dragging myself back upstairs. Sal said he would come back tomorrow. I told him not to come to the door, I would meet him in the woods on my walk home.

Sal
"Dad?" I called out into the living room, flicking the light on, "I'm home!"

Dad walked out of his room in a robe, "Where have you been?" He asked, yawning and stretching out his arms.

"Went to the park with Ash, Todd, and Larry." I opened the fridge and grabbed the two liter of Diet Coke, "Then I hung out with Travis."

He looked at me with a questioning look, eyebrow raised, "Travis? Who's Travis?"

After a long swig of the bubbley drink, I answer, "You know who Travis is. His dad preaches at Nockfell Catholic."

He raises his eyebrows, "The blond kid? The one that's always pushing you?"

"That would be him.."

Dad chuckled a little, reaching his hand out for the drink, "Sal. Now, I know youre a weirdo kid and all.." I had him the drink and he takes a swig before continuing, "But, really? Why be friends with your bully?"

I feel myself smile a little and I shrug, "I dunno... he's actually not that bad.."

He leans against the counter, sucking his teeth. A habit I've always found annoying.

"Now, if I didn't know any better I would say you have the hots for the preachers boy." His fingers drum along the countertop.

My  face gets warm and I roll my eye, "Dad, you promised me when I came out that you wouldn't make a deal with every guy I hang out with-"

"Im not, Im not.." he held up his hands defensively, "Still weird though.."

I rolled my eye, "Whatever you say.. and for your information, I'm not crushing on Travis Phelps."

Travis
For the first time in forever, I'm excited to go to school today. I stripped from my night clothes and stood in the tall mirror in my bathroom.

The bandages wrapped around my thighs had crusty dried brown spots littered throughout. I unraveled them and tossed them in the waste can.

A shower always helps me feel better, I already felt pretty good, so I just feel amazing now. I rebandage my legs and put on my light blue jeans, cuffing the ankles.

I exit the bathroom and go across the hall to my bedroom to find a decent shirt. I settle on a white, long sleeved shirt with a collar.

Upon examination in the mirror, I conclude that I dont look half bad.

You should smile more, I think to myself, smiling in the mirror.

It doesnt look right, it looks wonky. I blow raspberry and try again.

Teeth. Not to brag, but my teeth are very straight and white. A long 3 years of metal mouth did me wonders. I still sleep with my retainer, even.

"Travis?" I hear after a knock on my door.

"Uh- yes, sir?"

My father opens the door, "You walking this morning?"

I nod, "Yes, sir."

Theres no way I'm sitting in the truck with him, it would ruin my day.

Sal
"What are you doing after school, dude?" Larry asked me in between bites of his 'Meat Surprise'.

"Homework," I lie, pushing my food around on my tray, "Packerton's a bitch."

Ash delivers a disapproving look, "She's a sweet old lady, Sal.."

Larry snorts, "She's ancient."

I laugh and Ashley does her best to conceal her giggles. I look up from my tray and scan the cafeteria, only to make eye contact with a pair of blue eyes.

And a shining bright smile.

Travis looks so good. He's wearing this collared shirt and his blonde hair is a bit messy- in a good way- and his smile is contagious.

"Sal? What are you looking at?" Larry turns around in his chair.

"Nothing." I say, but Travis' smile fades and he looks back down at his tray. I sigh.

"What's his problem.." Ash says, referring to Travis.

"Staring. Thats his problem." Larry adds.

I scoff and stand up with my tray, "You guys are assholes." I snap before I usher to the trashcan to dump the sludge. I decide not to go back to the table with them.

Instead I go to the bathroom.

Travis
I looked up from my food to see Sal looking at me. Immediately I began smiling, that is, until his body guard turned around.

My face dropped as Larry made comments to Ashley and Sal. Sal stood up with his tray and walked off.
He dumped the contents and left the cafeteria.

Curiosity got the best of me. I gathered my things and stood to dump my own tray before ushering out of the loud room and into the quiet hallway. I walk aimlessly down the hallway for a moment.

The bathroom has the red 'occupied' switch on it, so I pause and eye the door knob before knocking.

"Uh- someones in here." Sal..

"Freak- uh, Sally?" I say through the door.

A moment of silence passes and the lock clicks as the door opens to a very short blue haired boy.

"Hi." He says.

My stomach gets warm, "Hey."

Another bout of awkward silence passes and he steps out of the door frame and I step in. He closes the door and relocks it, sliding down, his back pressed to the door.

Carefully, I sit down with him, cautious of gettinf my shirt dirty.

"So..." He says.

"Were Larry and Ash saying stuff about me?" I immediately ask.

He doesn't answer at first, so I go to apologize, but he stops me, "They were just being assholes, and I told them they were, too."

Guilt washes over me, "Sal, those are your friends."

"So?" He looks at me and shrugs, "that doesn't mean I'm just going to let them be dicks to you."

My body feels weak as I listen to him, he has such a kind heart. If my friends were to make fun of him, I would probably agree.