Perfect Timing: a tratie story

January // Chapter 15

Travis Stoll

"Uh, sure, sounds great!" I call to Ellie, quickly walking away before she can start a conversation with me. Considering my talk with Katie this morning, I'm not eager to ruin my chances by talking to some flirty new camper.

I do a quick scan to make sure everyone is with a partner, then I head over to Katie. She's standing with her arms crossed, avoiding eye contact. All she needs is a withering glare and it would be just like old times. That's what worries me.

"Hey, sunshine, you seem like you don't want to be my partner or something," I joke, bracing myself for an angry comeback.

She shifts her weight and looks up at me. "Well, it's not the best idea," she says cautiously. I raise my eyebrow and she continues, absentmindedly nudging the sword next to her with the toe of her shoe, "I just feel like I'm digging a deeper hole for myself, ya know?"

I really don't, but I think this side of Katie makes me more nervous than the angry one, so I don't say that.. "So you just want to avoid me forever?"

She only shrugs in response. She nervously tugs on the end of her sleeve, bringing my attention there.

"Then why are you still wearing my jacket?" I ask, trying to hide a smile.

Her head snaps up and she pulls her arms closer around her, "it's cold."

"It looks better on you anyway," I blurt out.

Blush floods across her face, as she slips the hoodie over her head and tries to hand it to me. "Shut up, Travis. I'm not new here."

I open my mouth to make a joke, but stop when I notice tears pooling in her eyes. "Katie wh-"

Before I can get the words out, she mutters something about needing to go to her cabin, and she turns away.

It only takes a few steps for me to catch up and lightly grab her arm. "Kates, what is that supposed to mean."

She holds the jacket close to her chest, and steps out of my grasp. "You can't constantly just say stuff like that to people and expect no consequences from it. I'm smarter than some kid that turned up on the hill a few weeks ago, I know you way better than that. And I thought that you knew me enough to know how I feel, but then you go and flirt like nothing is wrong and I'm just someone to mess with when you're bored and I can't. I can't do it anymore." Her voice starts to break as I notice her grip tighten on the hoodie.

As I stand struggling to register everything she's saying, she shakes her head. "You wouldn't get it," she spits, obviously trying not to appear vulnerable.

"Well can you please explain it to me?" I finally ask, exasperated, "because I honestly don't know what I did to make you mad-"

"I'm not mad, Travis," she interrupts me, "it's just, I get it, okay? You're not my boyfriend. I need to stop letting myself think that was ever possible." She shoves my hoodie into my hands and leaves as the tears finally spill over.

I take a step after her before thinking better of it. And so I watch, afraid of her leaving, but more afraid of hurting her again.

Okay so this is a super short chapter from one perspective for a change. I just felt like this part would be repetitive in two POVs. Also, I hate hate hate how angsts this story is but everything should be cleared up next chapter. For this plot line every character had to be super dramatic and i'm kinda not here for it lol. On a separate note, my siblings are throwing me a prom at my house tomorrow and I'm really excited. How is everyone else doing in quarantine? Let me know in the comments
-Kate