Best Part

PART 8

HER POV

If you love me baby let me hear you say it
I know I'm your favorite
First you love me then you leave me in the basement
I know I'm your favorite
If you love me baby let me hear you say it
I know I'm your favorite
First you love me then you leave me on the pavement
I know I'm your favorite

I've been singing for a while now, while Travis has his earphones plugged into both ears. He probably doesn't want to hear my voice while I'm singing.

I always play Daniel Caesar's songs. He's been my long-time crush because of how meaningful his songs are.

Everywhere that I go, everywhere that I be
If you are not surrounding me with your energy
I don't wanna be there, don't wanna be anywhere
Any place that I can't feel you, I just wanna be near you

And yes, I'm a mess but I'm blessed
To be stuck with you
Sometimes it gets unhealthy
We can't be by ourselves, we
We'll always need each other, and

Yes, I'm a mess but I'm blessed
To be stuck with you
I just want you to know that
If I could I swear I'll go back
Make everything all better, whoa

"Can you shut up now, Emily? Your voice is louder than my earphones!"

"Ultimate basher." I rolled my eyes, grabbed my bag, and left without bothering to say goodbye. He wouldn't acknowledge me anyway.

Early in the morning, Gwyn was already waiting for me outside my house. It's been a while since we last saw each other. We haven't been going to and from school together for days now.

"Be honest with me, Emily. Do you have a thing for Travis the loner?"

I quickly shook my head. There's no way I'd ever like Travis.

"Really, Emily? Really now? Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"Then why do you visit him every day? Take care of him? You act like his mom, Emily!"

I scratched my head.

"I just feel sorry for him, Gwyn. I know he's going through something serious—that's why he's like that. I mean, no one would stay locked up in their house for three years unless they were dealing with something heavy, right?"

"But... it's not your responsibility to fix him."

"You're right, but I'm doing this because I want to. I don't expect anything in return. I just want to stay by his side while he slowly picks up the broken pieces of himself."

But the truth is, I don't even know why I'm helping him. I just felt a connection with him.

"Emily, out of all the people... why him?"

I fell silent.

"Why him, indeed?" I stared at the sky.

"I don't know either. I just found myself helping him with whatever he's going through. I just found myself going to his house to take care of him. I... I just found myself understanding someone as broken as him." I sighed.

"Maybe I met him for a reason?"

"Just be careful, Emily. I don't want to see you crying over someone again. You're trying to fix him, but aren't you aware? What if, in putting him back together, you end up breaking yourself?"

I looked at Gwyn.

"Emily, I'm your friend. I know you're naturally kind and helpful, but... have you ever considered whether Travis even wants your help? Whether he wants you to be involved in what he's going through? Because from what I can see... he doesn't even want to see you."