Good Terms

Travis Comes

   I walked over to where Sal had said he lived. I couldn't believe it. Me, Travis Phelps, the most Christian, anti-Sal kid was going to his place.

   When I got to his apartment, I banged my hand against it a couple times. Nothing happened. I knocked again, and I heard Sal's voice, along with Larry's, they seemed to be debating something. Neither of them sounded mad, but not completely happy with each other.

   I was just standing there waiting when I saw the masked boy open the door, Larry and Todd closely behind him, as if they were protecting him.

   "Larry, Todd, could you maybe back up a little bit. I'll be fine. I'm the one who invited him over anyway," Sal said to his friends slightly annoyed.

  Larry was still giving me a death glare that made him look like he was ready to kill me if I even dared to do as much as place a hand on Sal's shoulder.

   "I'm so sorry, Travis. They weren't very happy with you coming over, but I made a deal with them that if I let you come over, then I would buy them dinner tomorrow night," he laughed a bit as he said this, "though, it wasn't entirely expected that you would even pay attention to my note, so I didn't even think to tell them about it."

   I knew that what I'm doing is very unexpected to everyone, even myself, but I really wanted a breather and to finally get away from my house for at least ten minutes, even if that did require lying about it.

   "Heh, yeah, it's kinda shocking isn't it?"

   My entire facade left the minute I got on call with Sal. I wasn't the tough boy that many people cower away from, but instead, I was just like them. I was terrified of myself standing in the room with Sal and his friends, I was scared of accidently hurting them in any way, including with words. I was scared of the Travis Phelps that actually would want to hurt anyone. He wasn't the real Travis, he was the Travis that my dad wants me to be, so he was. But now, in front of Sal, Larry, and their friend Todd, stood me, Travis Phelps, the real one, not the one he forced other people to see.

   "Trav? Are you hungry? Me and Larry are about to start cooking here in a little bit," Sal offered.

  The name Trav caught me off guard, but I just ignored it, not wanting to make a fool of myself.

    "Uh, yeah, sure, man. I guess I could eat something?" It came out more of a question than an answer, but at this point, I can't even focus on that.

   My brain was kind of all over the place. I couldn't focus on one thing. This was all so bizarre to me already.

  "Okay, cool, we're making pizza, so let me know if you want anything different," Sal said, just trying to make his guests comfortable, though none of them really were.

  "Thats fine, I'm good with pizza."

   "Oh! Travis, I forgot to tell you that Todd and Larry will be leaving right after dinner, but you're welcome to stay longer than that." The blue haired boy said with tint of hope in his voice.

   I wasn't sure how to respond so I just responded with a simple "Okay, I'll think about it." Which was the truth, I did want to stay, but I'm afraid I'll accidently hurt Sal, or the tension will reach record high.

    My legs were killing me, so I just decided to set down next to Todd, who scooted a little more towards the other side to either make room for me, or get as far away from me as possible, though, the second option was probably the correct answer.

   Todd wasn't really saying much, just messing with some small gadget and occasionally cussing it out under his breath. I'm not sure what it is, but I don't really want to ask either.