Three Red Lines (25)

I paused before saying anything. "I'm still feeling a little sick from yesterday."
"If you feel worse at all, we have medicine in the cabinet."
"Okay, thank you." I smiled and continued pushing my food around.
For the rest of dinner, we talked about school and how our day went.
"Thank you for dinner." When everyone was finished, I helped Travis' mom clear the table.
"You're welcome, and you don't have to help with that! Travis will do it." I laughed at how annoyed Travis looked. "If you want, you can go upstairs and shower."
"Okay, and uh which shower can I use?"
"There's a bathroom in Travis' room." I went upstairs and walked into Travis' room. I took my towel and shower stuff out of my bag and went to the bathroom.
The water felt warm and soothing when I got in. I peeled off all my old band aids and looked at the cuts and scars. They were so many of them.
After I finished showering, I got out and started to dry off. My hair dried to a big mass of curls. I wrapped my towel around me and walked into the other room.
Just as I was pulling my towel off to change, the door started to open.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" Travis just stood there as I covered myself with the towel.
"Don't just stand there!" Travis turned and closed the door. I pulled out a tee shirt and leggings to change into. Once they were on, I walked to the door to let Travis back in.
"I'm really sorry about that! I forgot that you were in there and I didn't think you would be-"
"Travis, it's fine, really." He talks really fast when he's nervous. It was hard to understand him.
"Okay." He walked into his room and spread himself out on his bed. "You can sleep here tonight." He smiled and adjusted his pillow. "And you can cuddle with me now." I laughed as he patted the small spot next to him.
"You're taking up most of the bed, you know that?" I climbed in next to him and he rolled onto his back so I had room. "Are you high on drugs or something? Because you seem very, very excited for some reason."
"My mom bribed me with candy so I'd help her with dish cleaning. I ate most of the candy as I came up here."
"Wow. You would." I moved closer to him and put my head on his shoulder.
"Do you want some?" He pulled a handful of pixie stix out of his pocket.
I took them from him and put them on the ground. "I think you've had enough."
Travis ran his fingers over my arm. He stopped at the most recent cuts.
"I don't remember there being this many." I didn't respond. "When did you last do it?"
"Friday night. When you dropped me off after we went out...." I avoided making eye-contact with him. I was afraid he'd be mad. "I understand if you're mad."
"I'm not mad. I just don't want you to hurt yourself." He moved his hand up to my head and played with my hair. "And thank you, for coming with me tomorrow. It means a lot."
"You're welcome." I looked up at him smiled. "You do so much for me, it's the least I could do." I rolled over more and put my arm on Travis' chest. We stopped talking and just laid there. I closed my eyes and started to drift.
"Come on, wake up! It's almost nine and we have to leave in forty five minutes." I ignored Travis and curled up in the sheets. "Fine, you give me no choice." I could feel the blankets being taken away and I was being lifted up.
"Alright, alright! I'm up!" He put me down and laughed. "Meanie." I pulled my dress and shoes out of my bag and went to the bathroom to change.
I did my make up and hair and went to open the door, but didn't want a repeat of last night so I knocked first.
"Are you dressed?"
"Yes, you can come out." I slowly opened the door just in case. Travis was standing aimlessly in the middle of his room. "I can't figure out how to tie this, can you?"
"You're seventeen years old and you can't tie a tie?" He handed me the tie and I started tying. "There you go."
"How do you know how to do that?"
"Clark taught me. I don't know why, but he did."
"We should get going soon." I followed Travis down to the kitchen where everybody else was. "Good morning."
"Woah! She looks pretty!" Hannah stopped what she was doing and came over to me. "I like your dress, and your hair!"
"Thank you. And I think you look very pretty too." She smiled really big and went back to Kelly.
"Travis, you can drive with Scarlette in your car, and I'll drive your mom and sisters." Travis nodded and got his keys out. "Hannah and Kelly, we're leaving now."
I followed Travis out to his car and he helped me in. We followed his parents to the church. He parked the car and opened my door.
"Ready?" I took his hand and got up. "The service starts at eleven. So we're here early to make sure everything is set."
Shortly after we arrived, guests started showing up. I stood quietly behind Travis as he met relatives and other people. After he was done talking to everyone, he sat us back down in the front of the room just in time for it to start.
Throughout the service, I stayed close to Travis and kept my head down. I could here him sniff every once in a while. I decided to look up at him. He kept swallowing, and trying not to cry.
The service ended and we went to his car to drive to the burial portion of the funeral. Everyone lined up in their cars before leaving, and the director came around to make sure all headlights were on.
Travis turned his on and pulled out. He looked straight ahead with his eyes fixed on the road. And his hands were white from his clench on the steering wheel. It was sad to see him like this.
"It's okay to cry you know."