18

III. - "Travis Miller"

Harry cheered and I helped him carry the stuff into the car. In no time we were already driving our way over to Travis’s house and a million thoughts were going through my head. Was Amanda going to be there? How many people were going to be there? My fingers ran nervously through my hair as my mind flashed with scenarios of how I could approach Travis.

Harry’s hand found my knee and my eyes widened at his sudden reassuring gesture. “Don’t worry. When you see him just go up and talk to him.”

Taking deep breaths to calm myself down I thought over the scenarios in my head again. Just walk up to him, and start talking. He is only human.

Harry’s car pulled up in front of the house with loud shouts and blaring music coming from it. I saw a few people standing outside smoking or talking but I was worried what was going on inside. Standing outside of the car nervously Harry came up next to me and held my hand. Squeezing it slightly and giving me a small smile.

"I’ll help you find Travis, ok?"

"Ok. Thank you Harry." My hand in his squeezed back this time and I was really feeling thankful for a new friend like Harry.

Harry’s hand didn’t leave mine until once we were inside the large house. My eyes gawked at the party scene. Dancing, obviously in the living room while a couple people sat on the couch. The kitchen filled with tubs of assorted alcoholic drinks. Then the hallways were piled with couples making out or whispering in their ear.

Amongst the heads in the kitchen I spotted Travis’s familiar dark brown tussled hair. Harry must have seen him too because his hand found mine and gently tugged me towards the kitchen. A part of me wanted to fight back but a larger portion of me wanted to talk to Travis all night.

Travis came into full view, wearing a plain white t-shirt and black jeans. A beer was in his hands while his million dollar smile lit up the room. When he saw Harry and I his eyes hesitantly flashed towards Harry but landed on me and his eyes seemed to glow.

"Elle!" Travis shouted as he came and engulfed me in a smothering hug. I was in shock at first because he has never been this friendly towards me.

Once we pulled away from the hug we both smiled at each other, then his attention went to Harry.

"Did you guys come here together?" Travis asked while taking a sip of his beer.

"Yeah. We were hanging out together before this but decided to come here because Elle said you guys were good friends." Harry smiled at me, then nudged me towards Travis.

Travis looked down at me with his chocolate brown eyes that made my knees weak. “Well, I’m glad you came.”

"If you’ll excuse us." Travis said to Harry then he pulled me apart from Harry and into a separate room in the back. There was a couple people in here, talking amongst each other while having a beer.

"I’m really happy you are here tonight, Elle." Travis said to me again. My back was up against the wall and he was starting to get dangerously close to me. I could smell the alcohol on his breath which made me wonder if he was drunk.

"Where’s Amanda?" I asked while my eyes looked around the room for her familiar black hair.

Dylan waved his hand, “Don’t worry about her. I just want to talk about us.”

"Us?" My voice came out shaky.

"Yeah," he chuckled, "us."

I blinked a couple of times trying to process what was happening.

"You have the prettiest lips in the whole school, did you know that?" Travis said in a slow, deep voice. His eyes locked on my lips as his face inched closer to mine. My mind seemed hazy as his hand found my hip and his thumb began to rub small circles in my skin.