Too Young (Travlyn Fic)

Travis

Pain is everywhere.
Aphmau cries on my shoulder. Alina doesn't understand. She just keeps asking for Aaron. Grad is in two hours. I don't want to go. Aphmau and Aaron don't want to either. But we must.
This was suppose to be one of the happiest days of our lives. But Aaron's father died yesterday and we still don't know where Katelyn is.
All that is left is sorrow.
I pat Aphmau's shoulder as I hide tears myself.
"I'm sorry, Trav. I'm a hot mess," she sniffs.
"It's okay. I think we are both a little bit of a mess."
We are sitting in her room. Lucinda, Kim, and Nana are suppose to be coming to get ready and to support Aphmau. Aaron, Laurence, Garroth, and Zane are coming too. It hurts to think that Katy should be here right now.
At least she's not dead, Travis. I remember Aph's shaky voice as she told me over the phone. I remember thinking how could this happen to us. I forgot about Katelyn for that moment. Then guilt for forgetting about her crashed in on me.
"It's just, me and Aaron, whenever we talked about our future Derek was always apart of it and now..." I stroke her hair as she breaks off sobbing.
"I know," I whisper. I embrace her in a hug.
"This isn't fair, Travis! Why is this happening to us!"
"Mama?" Alina toddles over. She says something in Spanish. "Where a Daddy?"
Alina is going to grow up without a Grandpa, I realize. All because of some stupid drunk driver. Anger surged through me. All the anger and pain I've felt since Friday night. Friday. It seemed impossible my life could have changed so much in three days.
"Travis, who else is going to leave before there time? Who else are we going to lose? What if it's you or Aaron or Lucinda or any of our friends?" Aphmau whispers.
Before I can answer, the door creaks open, making me jump.
"Oh, Aphmau, honey," I hear Lucinda's voice say. She rushes over, embracing Aphmau. Kim and Nana follow suite talking a mile per minute.
It's weird to think that they have been affected too by all this. Not as much as Aph and I. But still. Lucinda and Nana spent all Friday night looking for Katy. Kim has called all the local papers. Then of course, there is the fact that Kim's mother is best friends with Rachel.
Nana looks at me, her eyes full of sympathy.
No. I can't have people feeling sorry for me because then I'll cry. And I'm trying so hard not to cry right now. So hard.
"The guys are in Alina's room getting ready, Travis, if you want to join them," she says softly. I nod. Before I leave I look Aphmau straight in the eyes.
"Hey, I won't ever leave you. We are not alone buddies, remember?"
She smiles sadly at me. I remember all those years ago back in middle school when I first met her.
And I remember saying the exact same words to her when she got pregnant.
"What if people don't want to be my friend anymore because I'm going to be a teen mom?" She asked.
"Hey, I won't ever leave you alone. We are not alone buddies, remember?"
I blink.
"I'm going to go get ready," I tell Aphmau. She nods.

Aaron's a mess. Garroth is whispering to him. It must be hard from him, harder than it is for me.
Aaron is already in his tux. Laurence is buttoning up his jacket. He keeps glancing at Aaron concerned.
"Hey, Trav, what's up!" Laurence says, trying for a light hearted tone, but failing miserably.
I shrug. Laurence comes over to me.
"I know your concerned for Katelyn, but we need to be strong for Aaron right now."
Strong for Aaron? What about me, I want to scream. My whole world is collapsing. But I know that Aaron just lost his father, his loved one.
I personally would be happy if my dad never talked to me again, but that's because he's a pompous jerk.
So I nod.
"I'll try, but I can't make any promises," I tell Laurence.
"Who can?" Laurence says.
And I agree with that.