Beautiful Disaster

“Trust me, it’s important. I get so nervous with first kisses, too, but this one wasn’t so bad.”

“You get nervous about a kiss?” he asked, amused.

“Just first kisses. I loathe them.”

“I’d loathe them, too, if I had to kiss Parker Hayes.”

I giggled and left for the bathroom to scrub the makeup from my face. Travis followed, leaning against the door jamb. “So you’re going out again?”

“Yep. He’s calling me tomorrow.” I dried my face and scampered down the hall, hopping into the bed.

Travis stripped down to his boxers, and sat down with his back to me. A bit slumped over, he looked exhausted. The lean muscles of his back stretched as he did, and he glanced back at me for a moment. “If you had such a good time, why are you home so early?”

“He has a big test on Monday.”

Travis wrinkled his nose. “Who cares?”

“He’s trying to get into Harvard. He has to study.”

He huffed, crawling onto his stomach. I watched him shove his hands under his pillow, seeming irritated. “Yeah, that’s what he keeps telling everyone.”

“Don’t be an ass. He has priorities…I think it’s responsible.”

“Shouldn’t his girl top his priorities?”

“I’m not his girl. We’ve been on one date, Trav,” I scolded.

“So what did you guys do?” I shot him a dirty look and he laughed. “What? I’m curious!”

Seeing that he was sincere, I described everything, from the restaurant, to the food, to the sweet and funny things Parker said. I knew my mouth was frozen in a ridiculous grin, but I couldn’t stop smiling while describing my perfect evening.

Travis watched me with an amused smile while I blathered on, even asking questions. Although he seemed frustrated with the situation regarding Parker, I had the distinct feeling he enjoyed seeing me so happy.

Travis settled in on his side of the bed, and I yawned. We stared at each other for a moment before he sighed. “I’m glad you had a good time, Pidge. You deserve it.”

“Thanks,” I grinned. The ringtone of my cell phone reverberated from the night table, and I jerked up to look at the display.

“Hello?”

“It’s tomorrow,” Parker said.

I looked at the clock and laughed. It was twelve-oh-one. “It is.”

“So what about Monday night?” he asked.

I covered my mouth for a moment, and then took a deep breath. “Uh, yeah. Monday night is great.”

“Good. I’ll see you Monday,” he said. I could hear the smile in his voice.

I hung up and glanced at Travis, who watched with mild annoyance. I turned away from him and curled into a ball, tensing with excitement.

“You’re such a girl,” Travis said, turning his back to me.

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

He turned over, pulling me to face him. “You really like Parker?”

“Don’t ruin this for me, Travis!”

He stared at me for a moment, and then shook his head, turning away once again. “Parker Hayes,” he sighed.

CHAPTER SIX turning point

Monday night’s date met my every expectation. We ate Chinese food while I giggled at Parker’s skills with chopsticks. When he brought me home, Travis opened the door before he could kiss me. When we went out the following Wednesday night, Parker made sure to kiss me in the car.

Thursday at lunch, Parker met me in the cafeteria and surprised everyone when he sat in Travis’ spot. When Travis finished his cigarette and came inside, he walked past Parker with indifference, sitting at the end of the table. Megan approached him, but was instantly disappointed when he waved her off. Everyone at the table was quiet after that, and I found it difficult to focus on anything Parker talked about.

“I’m assuming I just wasn’t invited,” Parker said, catching my attention.

“What?”

“I heard your birthday party is on Sunday. I wasn’t invited?”

America peeked at Travis, who glared at Parker as if he was seconds away from mowing him down.

“It was a surprise party, Parker,” America said softly.

“Oh,” Parker said, cringing.

“You’re throwing me a surprise party?” I asked America.

She shrugged. “It was Trav’s idea. It’s at Brazil’s on Sunday. Six o’clock.”

Parker’s cheeks flushed a faint red. “I suppose I’m really not invited, now.”

“No! Of course you are!” I said, holding his hand on top of the table. Twelve pairs of eyes zeroed in on our hands. I could see that Parker was just as uncomfortable with the attention as I was, so I let go and pulled my hands onto my lap.

Parker stood up. “I have a few things I need to do before class. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay,” I said, offering an apologetic smile.

Parker leaned over the table and kissed my lips. The silence was cafeteria-wide, and America elbowed me after Parker walked out.

“Isn’t it creepy how everyone watches you?” she whispered. She glanced around the room with a frown. “What?” America yelled. “Mind your business, perverts!” One by one, heads turned away, and murmuring ensued.

I covered my eyes with my hands. “You know, before I was pathetic because I was thought to be Travis’ poor clueless girlfriend. Now I’m evil because everyone thinks I’m bouncing back and forth between Travis and Parker like a ping pong ball.” When America didn’t comment, I looked up. “What? Don’t tell me you’re buying into that crap, too!”

“I didn’t say anything!” she said.

I stared at her in disbelief. “But that’s what you think?”

America shook her head, but she didn’t speak. The icy stares from the other students were suddenly apparent, and I stood up, walking to the end of the table.

“We need to talk,” I said, tapping Travis’ shoulder. I tried to sound polite, but the anger bubbling inside me put an edge to my words. The entire student populace, including my best friend, thought I was juggling two men. There was only one solution.

“So talk,” Travis said, popping something breaded and fried in his mouth.

I fidgeted, noticing the curious eyes of everyone within earshot. When Travis still didn’t move, I grabbed his arm and gave it a good tug. He stood up and followed me outside with a grin on his face.

“What, Pidge?” he said, looking at my hand on his arm and then at me.

“You’ve got to let me out of the bet,” I begged.

His face fell. “You want to leave? Why? What’d I do?”

“You didn’t do anything, Trav. Haven’t you noticed everyone staring? I am quickly becoming the pariah of Eastern U.”

Travis shook his head and lit a cigarette. “Not my problem.”

“Yes, it is. Parker said everyone thinks he has a death wish because you’re in love with me.”

Travis’ eyebrows shot up and he choked on the puff of smoke he’d just inhaled. “People are saying that?” he said between coughs.

I nodded. He looked away with wide-eyes, taking another drag.