Wait A Minute

Chapter 16: Closing Pages

    Sal had often heard people whispering in the hallways as he walked with Ash to class, broken glimpses into conversations about his friend. The girls and guys of the town liked to gossip about her, saying she was too rude, too brash, that she was like a storm. One awry lightning strike, and she could send someone down. Sal had always despised the comparison, knowing that Ash was actually a sweetheart who cried too much during sappy movies. However, the girl had said she didn't mind the comparison, said it made her feel powerful. Sal never understood that.

Now, he did.

    Sal's head was held high, eyes staring straight ahead through his prosthetic, as he strutted down the sidewalk, heading back to the apartments. His arms swung at his sides, and his combat boots pounded the cement beneath him. The wind even seemed to be subordinate under his confidence, blowing his hair back perfectly as he breezed past passerbys. For once, he felt nothing but self assurance guide his emotions, feeling as powerful as a brewing thunderstorm. And if Sal was the storm, then Travis was the storm chaser.

    The other stumbled behind Sal, anticipation humming beneath his skin. He wasn't nearly as graceful as the shorter male, but his eagerness was just as strong. If Travis had any sense of self preservation, then maybe he would've deduced that following Sal back to Larry's apartment after he squealed wasn't the best idea. However, he wasn't quite bright enough to recognize basic self preservation tactics.

By the time both of them had made it to Addison Apartments, Sal wasn't feeling nearly as confident. Anxieties ran through his mind, giving him outlandish reasons as to why confronting Larry might not be the best decision. What if Travis was lying? Sal shook his head, dismissing that notion. The blond would have no way to know that Sal had that stupid journal. Still, maybe he was overreacting. It was entirely possible that Larry had only just found it and intended to return it to him soon. But then why would Larry set him and Travis up on a fake date to mute the blond? That wouldn't make sense.

The elevator ride down to the basement was a tense one. "You're not lying, right?" Sal glanced over to Travis who had a horror stricken face at the question.

"Of course I'm not," he deadpanned. Of course. Accusing Travis of maybe lying was silly, wasn't it? It's not as if this was the guy who bullied him for years on end. It wasn't as if this was the guy that was making out with Larry when Sal wasn't looking. It wasn't as if Travis wasn't just one big fucking nightmare to Sal.

Sal let out a heavy breath as his thoughts ran away from him. His arms wrapped around his chest as he looked away from Travis and to the metal doors in front of them. "Sorry," he stated, voice not sounding all that apologetic however. He could hear Travis mutter something but didn't particularly try to make out the words. He was sure it was just an insult or another apology that he didn't want to hear at the moment.

The ding of the elevator arriving at the lowest floor had never sounded so bittersweet to Sal. He trudged out, Travis still trailing behind him. Sal dumbly noted that the vending machine had restocked on its chocolate bars as they walked down the hallway. If he survived this, he'd have to share the good news with Chug. He could almost imagine how his friend's eyes would light up with delight. Sal let out a light snort at the image. Although his amusement was only short lived, both of them halting at Larry's door. Again, he could all but feel the tension rising. It was smothering him.

Breathe.

Sal rolled his shoulders, only slightly grimacing as they popped, before twisting the doorknob. He peered cautiously as the door swung open, and the hallway light illuminated the dark living room. The only other provided light was from the tv, a movie that Sal had never seen on full blast. Taking a step inside, he could make out that Larry was sitting on the couch. He also guessed that the other had a bowl of popcorn with him from the buttery scent that pervaded the air. Only when Travis closed the door behind him did Larry register that he had company.