He took a step back and lifted his shirt, wiping his mouth. He stared at the red streaks on the white fabric and shook his head. �I just wanted to forget. Just for one fuckin� night.�
I wiped an escaped tear. �Then don�t let me stop you.�
I tried to retreat to the Honda, but Travis grabbed my arm again. In the next moment, America was wildly hitting his arm with her fists. He looked at her, blinking for a moment in stunned disbelief. She balled up her fists and pounded them against his chest until he released me.
�Leave her alone, you bastard!�
Shepley grabbed her and she pushed him away, turning to slap Travis� face. The sound of her hand against his cheek was quick and loud, and I flinched with the noise. Everyone froze for a moment, shocked at America�s sudden rage.
Travis frowned, but he didn�t defend himself. Shepley grabbed her again, holding her wrists and pulled her to her car while she thrashed about.
She fought him, her blonde hair whipping around with her attempts to get away. I was amazed at her determination to get at Travis. Pure hate glowed in her usually sweet, carefree eyes.
�How could you? She deserved better from you, Travis!�
�America, STOP!� Shepley yelled, louder than I�d ever heard him.
Her arms fell to her side as she glared at Shepley with incredulity. �You�re defending him?�
Although he seemed nervous, he stood his ground. �Abby broke up with him. He�s just trying to move on.�
Her eyes narrowed and she pulled her arm from his grip. �Well then why don�t you go find a random WHORE�,� she looked at Megan, ��from the Red and bring her home to fuck, and then let me know if it helps you get over me.�
�Mare,� Shepley grabbed for her but she evaded him, slamming the door as she sat behind the wheel. I sat beside her, trying not to look at Travis.
�Baby, don�t leave,� Shepley begged, leaning down into the window.
She started the car. �There is a right side and a wrong side here, Shep. And you are on the wrong side.�
�I�m on your side,� he said, his eyes desperate.
�Not anymore, you�re not,� she said, backing out.
�America? America!� Shepley called after her as she raced to the road, leaving him behind.
I sighed. �Mare, you can�t break up with him over this. He�s right.�
America put her hand on mine and squeezed. �No he�s not. Nothing about what just happened was right.�
When we pulled into the parking lot beside Morgan, America�s phone rang. She rolled her eyes as she answered. �I don�t want you calling me anymore. I mean it, Shep,� she said. �No you�re not�because I don�t want you to, that�s why. You can�t defend what he�s done, you can�t condone him hurting Abby like that and be with me�that�s exactly what I mean, Shepley! It doesn�t matter! You don�t see Abby screwing the first guy she sees! It�s not Travis that�s the problem, Shepley. He didn�t ask you to defend him! Ugh�I�m done talking about this. Don�t call me again. Goodbye.�
She shoved her way out of the car and stomped across the road and up the steps. I tried to keep in step with her, waiting to hear the other side of the conversation.
When her phone rang again, she turned it off. �Travis made Shep take Megan home. He wanted to come by on his way back.�
�You should let him, Mare.�
�No. You�re my best friend. I can�t stomach what I saw tonight, and I can�t be with someone that will defend it. End of conversation, Abby, I mean it.�
I nodded and she hugged my shoulders, pulling me against her side as we walked up the stairs to our rooms. Kara was already asleep, and I skipped the shower, crawling into bed fully dressed, coat and all. I couldn�t stop thinking about Travis stumbling in the door with Megan, or the red lipstick smeared across his face. I tried to block out the sickening images of what would have happened had I not been there, and I crossed over several emotions, settling on despair.
Shepley was right. I had no right to be angry, but it didn�t help to ignore the pain.
Finch shook his head when I sat in the desk beside him. I knew that I looked awful; I barely had the energy to change clothes and brush my teeth. I had only slept an hour the night before, unable to shake the sight of the red lipstick on Travis� mouth or the guilt over Shepley and America�s break up.
America chose to stay in bed, knowing once the anger subsided, depression would set in. She loved Shepley, and although she was determined to end things because he had picked the wrong side, she was prepared to suffer the backlash of her decision.
After class, Finch walked with me to the cafeteria. As I had feared, Shepley was waiting at the door for America. When he saw me, he didn�t hesitate.
�Where�s Mare?�
�She didn�t go to class this morning.�
�She�s in her room?� he said, turning for Morgan.
�I�m sorry, Shepley,� I called after him.
He froze and wheeled around, with the face of a man that had reached his limit. �I wish you and Travis would just get your shit together! You�re a goddamn tornado! When you�re happy, it�s love and peace and butterflies. When you�re pissed, you take the whole fucking world down with you!�
He stomped away and I exhaled the breath I was holding. �That went well.�
Finch pulled me into the cafeteria. �The whole world. Wow. Think you could work your voodoo before the test on Friday?�
�I�ll see what I can do.�
Finch chose a different table, and I was more than happy to follow him there. Travis sat with his frat brothers, but he didn�t get a tray and he didn�t stay long. He noticed me just as he was leaving, but he didn�t stop.
�So America and Shepley broke up, too, huh?� Finch asked while he chewed.
�We were at Shep�s last night and Travis came home with Megan and�it was a mess. They took sides.�
�Ouch.�
�Exactly. I feel terrible.�
Finch patted my back. �You can�t control the decisions they make, Abby. So I guess this means we get to skip the Valentines thing at Sig Tau?�
�Looks that way.�
Finch smiled. �I�ll still take you out. I�ll take you and Mare both out. It�ll be fun.�
I leaned on his shoulder. �You�re the best, Finch.�
I hadn�t thought about Valentine�s, but I was glad I had plans. I couldn�t imagine how miserable I would feel spending it with America alone, hearing her rant about Shepley and Travis all night. She would still do that�she wouldn�t be America if she didn�t�but at least it would be a limited tirade if we were in public.
The weeks of January passed, and after a commendable but failed attempt by Shepley to get America back, I saw less and less of both him and Travis. By February, they stopped coming to the cafeteria all together, and I only saw Travis a handful of times on my way to class.
The weekend before Valentine�s Day, America and Finch talked me into going to the Red, and the entire drive to the club, I dreaded seeing Travis there. We walked in, and I sighed with relief to see no sign of him.
�First rounds on me,� Finch said, pointing out a table and sliding through the crowd to the bar.
We sat down and watched as the dance floor went from being empty to overflowing with drunken college students. After our fifth round, Finch pulled us to the dance floor, and I finally felt relaxed enough to have a good time. We giggled and bumped against each other, laughing hysterically when a man swung his dance partner around and she missed his hand, sliding across the floor on her side.
America raised her hands above her head, shaking her curls to the music. I laughed at her signature dance face and then stopped abruptly when I saw Shepley walk up behind her. He whispered something in her ear and she flipped around. They traded words and then America grabbed my hand, leading me to our table.
�Of course. The one night we go out, and he shows up,� she grumbled.
Finch brought us two more drinks, including a shot each. �I thought you might need them.�
�You thought right.� America tilted her head back before we could toast and I shook my head, clinking my glass to Finch�s. I tried to keep my eyes on my friends� faces, worried that with Shepley being there, Travis wouldn�t be far behind.
Another song came over the speakers and America stood up. �Fuck it. I�m not sitting at this table the rest of the night.�
�Atta girl!� Finch smiled, following her to the dance floor.
I followed them, glancing around for Shepley. He had disappeared, and I relaxed again, trying to shake off the feeling that Travis would show up on the dance floor with Megan. A boy I�d seen around campus danced behind America, and she smiled, welcoming the distraction. I had a suspicion that she was making a show of enjoying herself, in hopes that Shepley would see. I looked away for a second, and when I looked back to America, her dance partner was gone. She shrugged, continuing to shake her hips to the beat.
The next song began to play and a different boy appeared behind America, his friend dancing next to me. After a few moments, my new dance partner maneuvered behind me, and I felt a bit unsure when I felt his hands on my hips. As if he�d read my mind, his hands left my waist. I looked behind me, and he was gone. I looked up to America, and the man behind her was gone as well.
Finch seemed a bit nervous, but when America raised an eyebrow at his expression, he shook his head and continued dancing.
By the third song, I was sweaty and tired. I retreated to our table, resting my heavy head on my hand, and laughed as I watched yet another hopeful ask America to dance. She winked at me from the dance floor, and then I stiffened when I saw him yanked backwards, disappearing through the crowd.
I stood up and walked around the dance floor, keeping my eye on the hole he was pulled through, and felt the adrenaline burn through the alcohol in my veins when I saw Shepley holding the surprised man by his collar. Travis was beside him, laughing hysterically until he looked up and saw me watching them. He hit Shepley�s arm, and when Shepley looked in my direction, he shoved his victim backward onto the floor.
It didn�t take me long to figure out what was going on: they had been yanking the guys that were dancing with us off the dance floor and threatening them to stay away from us.
I narrowed my eyes at them both and then made my way to America. The crowd was thick, and I had to shove a few people out of my way. Shepley grabbed my hand before I made it to the dance floor.
�Don�t tell her!� he said, trying to subdue his smile.
�What the hell do you think you�re doing, Shep?�
He shrugged, still proud of himself. �I love her. I can�t let other guys dance with her.�
�Then what�s your excuse for yanking the guy that was dancing with me?� I said, crossing my arms.
�That wasn�t me,� Shepley said, quickly glancing at Travis. �Sorry, Abby. We were just having fun.�
�Not funny.�
�What�s not funny?� America said, glaring at Shepley.
He swallowed, shooting a pleading look in my direction. I owed him a favor, so I kept my mouth shut.
He sighed in relief when he realized I wouldn�t rat him out, and then he looked at America with sweet adoration. �Wanna dance?�
�No, I don�t wanna dance,� she said, walking back to the table. He followed her, leaving Travis and I standing together.
Travis shrugged. �Wanna dance?�
�What? Megan�s not here?�
He shook his head. �You used to be a sweet drunk.�
�Happy to disappoint you,� I said, turning toward the bar.
He followed, pulling two guys from their seats. I glared at him for a moment, but he ignored me, sitting down and then watching me with an expectant expression.
�Are you gonna sit? I�ll buy you a beer.�
�I thought you didn�t buy drinks for girls at the bar.�
He tilted his head in my direction with an impatient frown. �You�re different.�
�That�s what you keep telling me.�
�C�mon, Pidge. What happened to us being friends?�
�We can�t be friends, Travis. Obviously.�
�Why not?�
�Because I don�t want to watch you maul a different girl every night, and you won�t let anyone dance with me.�
He smiled. �I love you. I can�t let other guys dance with you.�
�Oh yeah? How much did you love me when you were buying that box of condoms?�
Travis winced and I stood up, making my way to the table. Shepley and America were in a tight embrace, and making a scene while they kissed passionately.
�I think we�re going to the Sig Tau date Valentine�s party again,� Finch said with a frown.
I sighed. �Shit.�
CHAPTER NINETEEN
hellerton
America hadn�t been back to Morgan since her reunion with Shepley. She was consistently absent at lunch, and her phone calls were few and far between. I didn�t begrudge them the time to make-up for the time they�d spent apart. Truthfully, I was happy that America was too busy to call me from Shepley and Travis� apartment. It was awkward hearing Travis in the background, and I felt a little jealous that she was spending time with him and I wasn�t.
Finch and I were seeing more of each other, and I was selfishly thankful that he was just as alone as I was. We went to class, ate together, studied together, and even Kara grew accustomed to having him around.
My fingers were beginning to numb from the frigid air as I stood outside Morgan while he smoked.
�Would you consider quitting before I get hypothermia from standing here for moral support?� I asked.
Finch laughed. �I love you, Abby. I really do, but no. Not quitting.�
�Abby?�
I turned to see Parker walking down the sidewalk with his hands shoved in his pockets. His full lips were dry under his red nose, and I laughed when he put an imaginary cigarette to his mouth and blew out a puff of misty air.
�You could save a lot of money this way, Finch,� he smiled.
�Why is everyone trashing on my smoking habit today?� he asked, annoyed.
�What�s up, Parker?� I asked.
He fished two tickets from his pocket. �That new Vietnam movie is out. You said you wanted to see it the other day, so I thought I would grab us some tickets for tonight.�
�No pressure,� Finch said.
�I can go with Brad if you have plans,� he said with a shrug.
�So it�s not a date?� I asked.
�Nope, just friends.�
�And we�ve seen how that works out for you,� Finch teased.
�Shut up!� I giggled. �That sounds fun, Parker, thanks.�
His eyes brightened. �Would you like to get some pizza or something before? I�m not a big fan of theater food, myself.�
�Pizza�s great,� I nodded.
�That�s uh�that�s good, then. The movie�s at nine, so I�ll pick you up at six thirty or so?�
I nodded again and Parker waved goodbye.
�Oh, Jesus,� Finch said. �You�re a glutton, Abby. You know that�s not going to fly with Travis when he gets wind of it.�
�You heard him. It�s not a date. And I can�t make plans based on what Travis is okay with. He didn�t clear it with me before he brought Megan home.�
�You�re never going to let that go, are you?�
�Probably not, no.�
We sat in a corner booth, and I rubbed my mittens together, trying to get warm. I couldn�t help but notice we were in the same booth Travis and I sat in when we first met, and I smiled at the memory of that day.
�What�s funny?� Parker asked.
�I just like this place. Good times.�
�I noticed the bracelet,� he said.
I looked down at the sparkling diamonds on my wrist. �I told you I liked it.�
The waitress handed us menus and took our drink orders. Parker updated me on his Spring schedule, and talked about the progress in his studies for the MCAT. By the time the waitress served our beers, Parker had barely taken a breath. He seemed nervous, and I wondered if he wasn�t under the impression that we were on a date, regardless of what he�d said.
He cleared his throat. �I�m sorry. I think I�ve monopolized the conversation long enough.� He tipped his beer bottle and shook his head. �I just haven�t talked to you for any length of time in so long, that I suppose I had a lot to say.�
�It�s fine. It has been a long time.�
Just then, the door chimed. I turned to see Travis and Shepley walk in. It took Travis less than a second to meet my stare, but he didn�t look surprised.
�Jesus,� I muttered under my breath.
�What?� Parker asked, turning to see them sit in a booth across the room.
�There�s burger place down the street we can go to,� Parker said in a hushed voice. As nervous as he was before, it had been taken to a whole new level.
�I think it would be more awkward to leave at this point,� I grumbled.
His face fell, defeated. �You�re probably right.�
We tried to continue our conversation, but it was noticeably forced and uncomfortable. The waitress spent an extended period of time at Travis� table, raking her fingers through her hair and shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She finally remembered to take our order when Travis answered his cell phone.
�I�ll have the tortellini,� Parker said, looking to me.
�And I�ll have�.� I trailed off. I was distracted when Travis and Shepley stood up.
Travis followed Shepley to the door, but he hesitated, stopped, and turned around. When he saw me watching him, he walked straight across the room. The waitress had an expectant smile, as if she thought he had come to say goodbye. She was quickly disappointed when he stood beside me without so much as blinking in her direction.
�I�ve got a fight in fourty-five minutes, Pidge. I want you there,�
�Trav�.�
His face was stoic, but I could see the tension around his eyes. I wasn�t sure if he didn�t want to leave my dinner with Parker to fate, or if he truly wanted me there with him, but I had made my decision the second he�d asked.
�I need you there. It�s a rematch with Brady Peterson, the guy from State. It�s a big crowd, lots of money floating around�and Adam says Brady�s been training.�
�You�ve fought him before, Travis, you know it�s an easy win.�
�Abby,� Parker said quietly.
�I need you there,� Travis said, his confidence fading.
I looked at Parker with an apologetic smile. �I�m sorry.�
�Are you serious?� he said, his eyebrows shooting up. �You�re just going to leave in the middle of dinner?�
�You can still call Brad, right?� I asked, standing up.
The corners of Travis� mouth turned up infinitesimally as he tossed a twenty on the table. �That should cover it.�
�I don�t care about the money�Abby�.�
I shrugged. �He�s my best friend, Parker. If he needs me there, I have to go.�
I felt Travis� hand encapsulate mine as he led me away. Parker watched with a stunned look on his face. Shepley was already on the phone in the Charger, spreading the word. Travis sat in the back with me, keeping my hand firmly in his.
�I just got off the phone with Adam, Trav. He said the State guys all showed up drunk and padded with cash. They�re already riled up, so you might wanna keep Abby out of the way.�
Travis nodded. �You can keep an eye on her.�
�Where�s America?� I asked.
�Studying for her Physics test.�
�That�s a nice lab,� Travis said. I laughed once and then looked to Travis who had a small grin on his face.
�When did you see the lab? You haven�t had Physics,� Shepley said.
Travis chuckled and I elbowed him. He pressed his lips together until the urge to laugh subsided and then he winked at me, squeezing my hand once again. His fingers intertwined in mine, and I heard a small sigh escape his lips. I knew what he was thinking because I felt the same. In that sliver of time, it was as if nothing had changed.
We pulled into a dark patch of the parking lot, and Travis refused to let go of my hand until we crawled into the window of the basement of the Hellerton Science Building. It had just been built the year before, so it didn�t suffer from stagnate air and dust like the other basements we�d snuck into.
Just as we entered the hallway, the roar of the crowd reached our ears. I poked my head out to see an ocean of faces, many of them unfamiliar. Everyone had bottles of beer in their hands, but the State College students were easy to pick out of the crowd. They were the ones that swayed with their eyes half-closed.
�Stay close to Shepley, Pigeon. It�s going to get crazy in here,� he said from behind me. He scanned the crowd, shaking his head at the sheer numbers.
Hellerton�s basement was the most spacious on campus, so Adam liked to schedule fights there when he expected a larger crowd. Even with the addition of space, people were being rubbed against the walls and shoving one another to get a good spot.
Adam rounded the corner and didn�t try to hide his dissatisfaction of my presence. �I thought I told you that you couldn�t bring your girl to the fights, anymore, Travis.�
Travis shrugged. �She�s not my girl, anymore.�
I kept my features smooth, but he had said the words so matter-of-factly, it caused a stabbing sensation in my chest.
Adam looked down at our intertwined fingers and then up at Travis. �I�m never gonna figure you two out.� He shook his head and then glanced to the mob. People were still streaming in from the stairs, and those on the floor were already packed together. �We�ve got an insane pot tonight, Travis, so no fuckin� off, okay?�
�I�ll make sure it�s entertaining, Adam.�
�That�s not what I�m worried about. Brady�s been training.�
�So have I.�
�Bullshit,� Shepley laughed.
Travis shrugged. �I got in a fight with Trent last weekend. That little shit is fast.�
I chuckled and Adam glared at me. �You better take this seriously, Travis,� he said, staring into his eyes. �I have a lot of money riding on this fight.�
�And I don�t?� Travis said, irritated with Adam�s lecture.
Adam turned, holding the bull horn to his lips as he stood up on a chair above the multitude of drunken spectators. Travis pulled me against his side as Adam greeted the crowd and then went over the rules.
�Good luck,� I said, touching his chest. I hadn�t felt nervous to watch him fight since the one he�d had with Brady, but I couldn�t shake the ominous feeling I�d had since we stepped foot in Hellerton. Something was off, and Travis felt it, too.
Travis grabbed my shoulders and planted a kiss on my lips. He pulled away quickly, nodding once. �That�s all the luck I need.�
I was still stunned from the warmth of Travis� lips when Shepley pulled my arm to the wall beside Adam. I was bumped and elbowed, reminding me of the first night I watched Travis fight, but the crowd was less focused, and some of the State students were getting hostile. Easterners cheered and whistled for Travis when he broke into The Circle, and State�s crowd alternated between booing Travis and cheering for Brady.
I was in prime position to see Brady tower over Travis, twitching impatiently for the bullhorn to sound. As usual, Travis had a slight grin on his face, unaffected by the madness around him. When Adam began the fight, Travis intentionally let Brady get in the first punch. I was surprised when his face jerked hard to the side with the blow. Brady had been training.
Travis smiled, his teeth a bright red, and then he focused matching every punch Brady dealt.
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