Disciple (Sal x Travis)

I know I'm wasting my breath on you.

Sal
Exams were slowly approaching. Nothing I did could keep me distracted from the stress of juggling my studies.

Except maybe..

"Hey, Travis." I smiled at the blond as he stepped over branches and what not.

He sat beside of me on the log we've claimed together, "Hey." He sounded tired.

I scooted a little closer, sticking my hand in my coat pocket, "I brought you candy. If you don't want it I'll eat it."

He glanced at me then smiled a little, "Can you just let me be in a bad mood? Or do you have to act like an idiot?" His cheeks glowed a cherry red under his tanned skin.

Giggling, I slip my hand under my prosthetic to pop a Hershey kiss in my mouth, "I'm a constant idiot."

He bumped me with his shoulder and grabbed a mini Reese's cup.

"So.. why are you in a bad mood?" I ask, setting the candies on the log space between us.

Travis rested his elbows on his knees and sighed, holding his head in his hands.

"My father is..." He stared out, seeming lost.

I nod a little, "You can talk to me.."

I poke him in the side, to lessen the tension. He winces and goes to rub where I poked, "Careful.." he hisses.

"Oh, shit.. sorry. What happened?" I tilt my head.

Travis
I hold my rib, looking at Sal. His hair is draping over his mask, he looks like a curious puppy, with his head tilted like that.

"Nothing.." I say with a shrug, "Ran into the counter and bruised my side." I chuckle to laugh it off, but he doesn't seem convinced.

"TRAVIS!"

I jerk my head back, "Shit." I whisper, standing up fast, dusting my pants off.

"What? Was that your dad?" Sal stands up, too.

"Um, yeah. Look- I've gotta go." I start making my way out of the woods, and Sal follows.

"Okay.. I'll see you around?" He says.

I ignore his question, "Wait until we get inside before you walk out. If he sees me walking out with you- uh.."

Sal nods, blue bangs bouncing, "Got it."

I smile at how little questioning he does, "See you around.."

After stumbling out of the woods, I see Father standing on the other side of the road with his arms crossed.

"Where the hell have you been?" He says loudly, stomping into the street, "and why in the name of the Lord were you in the woods?"

We meet halfway in the street, "The dog, sir." I answer him.

He stares at me for a minute, then rears back and smacks me with so much force I hit the ground.

I cough for the air that got knocked out of me and groan, holding my face.

"Get up." He demands.

I nod, slowly getting up, but before I make it to my feet he kicks me down, right in the ribs. I hit the ground again, tears bubble in my eyes and I sigh.

Father grabs me by the back of the neck of my shirt and jerks me to my feet, choking me in the process. He releases me and shoves me forward.

"Get in the house."

"Yes, sir."

Sal
I silently watch from between the shrubs as Travis walks towards his dad.

Mr. Phelps takes long strides to meet Travis in the middle of the street.

"Where the hell have you been? And why in the name of the Lord were you in the woods?" His voice booms like thunder.

I can't hear what Travis says back, but without missing a beat his dad smacks him so hard he hits the cement. I cover the mouth of my prosthetic, eyes wide.

Ran into the counter..

Travis began to stand, but Mr. Phelps kicks him back down, right before jerking him up by the neck of his shirt, and Travis makes a loud gagging noise.

His dad shoved him forward, and the dismal looking boy slowly made his way into his house, his parent disappearing through the doorway shortly after.

Travis
"Father, I'm sorry, I-I'll make sure I ask you next ti-"

"There will be no 'next time', Travis! When will you learn-" SMACK! "-to respect me!?"

I heaved sobs as Father towered over me. I sat with my knees pulled up in the corner of the living room as he kicked me, smacked my face, and threw whatever he could get his hands on at me.

After several rounds of this, he walked over to the podium by the TV, picking up a large and heavy book. He held it up as he walked back in my direction.

I watched him, althought my vision was blurry from collecting tears.

"Do you see this, Travis?" He asked, kneeling in front of me.

"Yes, sir." I whimpered.

"Do you know what this is?"

"Your b-bible, sir."

He set it on the ground in front of me and used his fingers to push it towards me, "Read it."

I nodded and picked up the book, holding it to my chest.

Sal
I waited outside of Travis' locker the next morning. He strutted down the hallway, shoulders slouched with his head down. He held a large brown book close to his chest.

"Travis." I say as he approaches his locker.

"Move." He shoves me to the side and starts messing with his lock.

My chest gets a little heavy, but I inhale sharply and begin what I wanted him for.

"I saw what happened."

He stopped dead in his tracks, and slowly, turned his head to look at me. His forehead had a bandaid on it and his cheeks were purple and swollen.

I feel a pain in my stomach, he doesn't deserve that.

He never says anything, just continues to stare at me, so I keep talking.

"You could have told me... I'm not going to mention if to anyone, if that's what youre worried about... but I-"

"Go away." His eyes are full of anger and water.

I can't help but feel hurt, "Travis, I'm just try-"

He shoves me into the locker, "You're wasting your breath. Go away, faggot." He slams his locker shut and tromped off, steaming.

My eye watered as I sighed, running my hand through my hair.

Travis
Im the biggest mistake to walk this earth. I destroy everything, even the things I so desperately desire. I can't stop the tears as I stomp down the hallway and cut into the bathroom.

I slam the door has hard as I can and lock it before slumping to the ground, breaking down entirely.

The one person that saw past my anger, only after what? Two weeks of getting to know eachother? I ruined it completely.

Because that's just who I am.

A fucking freak, a fag, a disgusting piece of shit, a disgrace, a mistake, a loser. I grip my hair and sob into my knees.

I wish I would have never met you, Sal Fisher.

I wish I were never born at all.