Travis has started to shut down. I've noticed it, Phillip has noticed it, hell, probably Larry's even noticed it.
It hurts to look at him.
I've tried to talk to him, tried to cheer him up, but... That small glimmer of light in his eyes I saw just days ago?
Burned out that same day.
He still goes to the bathroom occasionally during lunch, but he's locking the stall door again, and doesn't say a word.
One day, he let me rest my hand on top of his, but that was it.
I've been messaging Phillip a lot, because I don't know who else to talk to about Travis.
My phone flashes to life, a new text from Phillip.
P: how'd it go tdy?
S: nothing. Hbu?
P: nah.
P: one point, he glared at me
S: srsly?
P: yea.
S: has he gotten bad like this before?
P: once, yea.
P: but that was long ago
P: after a while, he got better, idrk what else to do other than to js keep trying to talk to him
S: yeah... I hope he opens up to us soon.
P: me 2.
I sigh deeply, running a face over my hand as I close my eye for a few minutes. Just... Thinking.
I think... I think I'm scared.
I'm scared about Travis. I want to know what he's going through, what he's thinking. Soon, I need to try and get him to open up, even if it's not in a way I really like.
Sometimes when I'm hanging out with Larry, I've wanted to say something to him. I've wanted to tell him just how scared and worried I am about Travis.
I wonder if he'd understand me. Or if he'd be mad that I'm talking to Travis, or if he'd try and help.
Maybe I should-
"Sallyyyy Faceee!!!" My walkie talkie buzzes to life, Larry's voice coming through.
I'm already sliding out of bed as I reach for the walkie talkie. "Yeah yeah, I'm on my way."
~~~
I lean my head back against the wall, staring up at Larry's ceiling, my anxiety starting to rise as I open and close my mouth.
Larry notices, putting down his pencil and sketchbook, knowing something serious was on my mind.
"What's up, Sally?" He stands up to plop down next to me on his bed, scooting back to lean against the wall, too.
I sigh deeply, my hands clenching my jeans. "Do you want to know what's been on my mind lately?"
Larry pauses for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, of course I do. But, don't feel forced to tell me anything, Sally."
"It's Travis."
Larry's eyes flicker with anger before he realizes I'm not talking about the bullying, then he reaches out for my hand.
"What's going on with you two, Sal?" Of course he noticed. Larry cares about friends and family like no other, so of course he knows something.
"Wellâ His dad... Andâ I guess- We're kind of... Dating?" I turn to look at Larry just in time to see his jaw drop at the last part.
"Hold on. Back it the fuck up. Dating?" Larry raises a brow, and I smile slightly.
"Yeah... I guess so. But... He's not okay, Lar." I whisper, my eye shutting as I swallow hard.
Larry squeezes my hand, noticing my discomfort. "So... You're focused on trying to get him to talk to you?"
I nod as I turn my hand over, fingers intertwining with Larry's as I squeeze his hand back. "I don't know what to do Larry."
I open my eye, and I could feel the tears wanting to form, but I force them back. "I'm scared."
Larry frowns, his other hand reaching out to touch my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Sal. If you need to talk, I'm here. I'm always here for you, you know that. Even if it's about Travis."
I wish I would've talked to Larry about this way sooner.
~~~
I told Larry pretty much everything. And he listened. He listened to every little detail, and comforted me when I almost started crying.
Larry takes a moment to process everything before nodding slowly. "I'm glad you told me, Sally. Now I feel like a dick for treating Travis that way all this time."
I rest my head against Larry's shoulder, staring at one of his paintings on the wall. "What should I do, Larry?"
"Just... Be there for him, even if he doesn't want it. Tell him that he can always stay over if he needs a place to stay, and tell him that you care about him, you know?" Larry rests his head ontop of mine.
"Thank you, Lar. You really are the best."
"I know I am." He smiles, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
"What do you think he goes through?"
Larry sighs, running a hand through his hair. "A lot. I've met Kenneth a couple times, and every single time I didn't like him. He has that like... Evil presence. Intimidating."
"And his mother?"
Larry tenses, and I lift my head to look at him.
"You do know about his mother, right?" Larry asks, his head turning to look at me.
"She passed away, right?"
"Yeah... Suicide. Uhm... Travis found her."
My whole body freezes.
What?
I knew his mother was dead... But I didn't know it was from suicide. Or that he found her body.
That's horrible.
"How old was he...?"
"Shit... It was when we were kids..."
My heart drops.