Chapter Twenty-Four

Travis's probation officer flipped through the file in her manilla folder and cleared her throat. "Since this is your first altercation, I'm considering giving ya a warning. But given the severity of your actions, I wouldn't be doing my job if I let you slide on hurting your brother."

While inside, he was scared shitless, Travis kept a cool demeanor, schooling his face into a blank slate. "What's the verdict?"

She eyed him sideways. "Depends on two things. Are you sorry for what you did?"

He wasn't but played along. "Yes, ma'am."

  "And you won't do it again?"

In his most obsequious tone, he replied, "No, ma'am."

She nodded and put her folder into her beat-up leather attaché. "Here's what's going to happen. You start school in a few months, correct?"

He nodded.

"If you stay out of trouble until then, I'll let you off with a warning. But don't try me, kid."

She packed up and left, and Travis was ecstatic. I'm not going to jail. I'm not going to jail. Whoot!

His parents weren't as enthused with the news and told him if he stepped out of line once, they'd call the police and have his ass locked away. At first, this filled him with dread, but then he saw this for what it was: an empty threat.  If they could do that, they would have done so instead of calling my probation officer.

He let them prattle on about curfews, cleaning his room, and taking care of the twins, while he nodded along, waiting for them to shut up. He got his reprieve when Grams called his mother's cell.

"Now is not a good time, Mother. No, you can't speak to him. Because he attacked Bobby, your other grandson. That's out of the question. You're rewarding his bad behavior. We were counting on that to tide us over during the winter slowdown. Fine! You can come next week."

Hair frazzled and cheeks red, his mother ended the called and turned back to Travis. "You. In your room. Now!"

"But it's not even five o'clock."

"Go."

He cursed her out in his head.

  "What was that?" she said.

Schiesse. I projected my thoughts.

"Nothing, Mother."

"That's what I thought. Now scram." 

That night, he ate his dinner in his room and had to do everyone's dishes before it was back to his room. He passed the time reading more of Nietzsche, wishing he were eighteen so he could move out and never deal with his so-called family again. To console himself, he imagined them dying in horrible accidents.

"Bro, you're all kinds of messed up," Prometheus said.

I don't recall asking you.

"Don't take it out on me. I'm just here to remind ya about your date with JJ."

It's not a date. And why are you so obsessed with my relationship with Josh?

"Meh. Shippers gon' ship? You going or what?"

Actually . . . yeah. It's hot than a mug, and a dip in the pool would feel fantastic.

"Right, and you liking JJ ain't got nothing to do with yo' decision at all."

Travis didn't reply and instead raised his mental barriers, drowning out Prometheus. In the still of the night, he closed his eyes and slowed his breaths, meditating, but the twins and their friends' laughter echoed through the house. He tried ignoring them, but it proved futile.

Around ten o'clock, the house settled down, but he waited another thirty minutes to make sure it was safe to leave. He dressed in shorts and put a change of clothes in his messenger bag. Then, picturing Josh in his mind, he focused on the house. After a few attempts, he Popped outside of the gate to Josh's house. He rang the bell, and Josh buzzed him in.

"You came!" Josh said. Then they exchanged an awkward greeting and headed for the pool.

"That thing's gargantuan," he said upon seeing the pool.

"Yeah. It took like four hours to fill it. Come on, the water's fine."

Travis hesitated a moment. Would Josh laugh at his scars or his blubber belly? Would he tell everyone what he looked like shirtless, and then they'd all make fun of the fat kid?

Would he--

"Come on," Josh said, pulling him toward the ladder of the pool.

 I guess we're doing this. 

He put down his bag, took off his shirt, and cannonballed into the pool. He came up sputtering. "God, that felt good."

Josh dove in after him, and they proceeded to have an epic splash fight. Travis only knew how to dog paddle, so he stuck to the shallow end. But this didn't stop him from grabbing Josh when he got close and tossing him into the deep end. They continued like this, splashing and laughing until they tired themselves out. Travis paddled by the ladder, resting his back against the rim of the pool as he caught his breath.

Josh swam up to him, huffing, cheeks rosy-red. Neither of them spoke, their shoulders rubbing against each other, the warmth a sharp contrast from the cool water. Travis looked up at the stars and felt both once at home and alienated in that moment.

"They're beautiful, huh?" Josh said, pointing to Polaris.

"Yeah. Who would have thought giant balls of gas millions of miles away could be so gorgeous?"

Josh chuckled and nudged Travis with his shoulder. "I mean, yeah, if you want to get all scientific about it. But ya know, stars are powerful things."

Laughing, Travis shook his head. "Don't tell me you believe in astrology?"

"How can't you? The evidence is all around us."

Travis went into a detailed explanation as to why astrology was a load of equestrian excreta. And when he was done, Josh shook his head, smiling. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt up in your science."

Travis splashed him. "Come off it. If it can't be analyzed, quantified, reproduced in a lab and independently verified, then it doesn't exist."

 Josh gave him side-eye. "Dude, why so narrow-minded?"

Starting to get frustrated, Travis tried to keep his annoyance out of his voice. "I'm not narrow-minded. I'm a staunch materialist, which means I believe this is the only world that exists, and we get one shot at living life."

Turning to Travis, Josh's face bunched up in incredulity. "You don't believe in an afterlife, in God?"

"There's no afterlife. Once you die, it's game over."

      "How can you say that when there's tons of evidence for a creator?"

Travis massaged his temples. "I don't want to get into a teleological argument with you."

"Why?" Josh stuck out his tongue. "Cause you'd lose?"

 That smug, sanctimonious ass. "I know there's no afterlife because I've died before."

There, that'll shut him up.

Travis's triumphant mood lasted all of ten seconds when Josh said, "Right, you flatlined after The Fire. What was it like?" 

"What?"

Cocky smile in place, Josh said, "You heard me."

Looking up at the star-dotted sky, he thought back to that time. "There were no pearly gates, tunnel of light, or fire and brimstone. As far as my eye could see, darkness enveloped me while I floated. It was the total silence I remember most. No breaths, thoughts, or heartbeats. Nothing."

"What happened next?" Josh asked, leaning into Travis.

"I floated until I felt a presence wrap me in liquid warmth. Then I came to."

"See, that was God," Josh said matter-of-factly.

Travis sighed, barely holding back his contempt. "Nope. It was just my synapses misfiring and my brain flooding with dopamine."

"Oh, give it a rest. Science can't explain everything. You lived because there's a higher purpose for you."

"Believe what you want. But the fault, dear Joshua, lies within us, not in our stars."

They talked a while longer about philosophy, metaphysics, and life. And though they seldom agreed, Travis enjoyed their debates. As they talked, Josh casually wrapped his arm around Travis's shoulder, pulling him closer until their sides touched.

While generally against people touching him, Travis ignored this as he didn't want to ruin a nice night. At one point, Josh ran his hand through Travis's hair, and he flinched away.

"I should go," he said, exiting the pool and gathering his bag. Josh called after him, but Travis kept going down the drive until Josh and the pool were out of sight. When he was a safe distance away, he Popped home. His swim clothes were still damp even after teleporting, so he set them in a chair to dry overnight and crawled into bed.

That was the first of Travis and Josh's nightly swim chats, and over the coming days, they debated everything from superheroes to epistemology. Travis didn't care about what they talked about. At night, when it was only them, he felt comfort and ease he'd never dreamed of having with anyone, let alone Joshua Giovanni. And he'd almost go as far as saying he liked the guy.

***

Before he knew it, Grams's limo arrived, and she crushed him in a hug. "I've missed you so, my caramel cowboy."

Travis's rolled his eyes but hugged her back. "I've missed you, too, Grams. How long are ya staying?"

Smiling, she said, "You got me for a whole week. Be a dear and help me with my luggage."

Travis hauled her bags to the basement, his euphoria not waning a bit at doing grunt work; honestly, her luggage weighed next to nothing to him, and he grabbed them in one go while Grams talked with his mother.

Given his condition, Grams decided they would go out to dinner that night and celebrate Travis's birthday early. They went to a steakhouse, and when they returned home, she surprised him with her homemade German chocolate cake and presents--$1,000 in cash, a sweater she'd knitted him, and a few games for his Xbox.

He hugged her tight. "Thanks, Grams!" 

"Think nothing of it. But there's something I need to discuss with you later in private," she said in a somber tone. He nodded, and Bobby whined about how it wasn't fair he and Amber didn't get anything. Grams scowled, then went to her room, returning with a makeup kit and a cashmere dress for Amber and a Nintendo Switch with two games for Bobby. 

"Thank your grandmother," his mother admonished them. They thanked her and went off to their rooms, leaving Travis to clean up the mess from cake and ice cream. He grimaced at his mother but carried out this chore without complaint since he didn't want Grams' stay to be marred by her and his mother getting into one of their legendary fights or risk him losing control of his powers.

When the dishes were done and put away, he went to Grams' room, where she was watching a rerun of The Golden Girls. She patted the mattress, and he sat.

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

She sighed, looking bone-weary. "I didn't want to bring this up in front of everyone, but I updated my will due to your disorder. As of yesterday, I'm leaving everything to your Cousin Austin."

"He's your great-nephew, right?"

"Yup. And should that doctor of yours find a cure, then I'll name you my sole heir as before." She hobbled over to her luggage and removed a box with a bow on it.

"What is it?" he said, insides squirming with anticipation. 

She smiled. "Open it and find out."

He tore through the wrapping paper and whooted when he saw it was the newest model of iPhone. "These aren't due out until September."

"I pulled some strings and had them release one to me early. You have unlimited everything, and here's your new number," she said, handing him a sticky note. "Let's not tell your parents about this just yet, huh?"

He laughed and sat with Grams as she told him stories about what her life was like growing up in the 1940s. It was hard for him to picture life without video games or the internet. Around nine, Grams said she was tired and went to bed. Travis put his new phone in his pocket, and once in his room, he checked it out. Then he texted Josh.

who dis???

Travis, dummkopf.

Oh. New phone? Ya coming over? 

Yeah and no. It's late, and I don't want to risk getting caught since Grams is here. Sorry.

Oh L

We can FaceTime if you want?

Abso-fucking-lutely, dude!!!

 When Josh's face appeared, Travis filled him in on the dinner and his presents.

"Bro, I'm totes jelly. But why did you celebrate your birthday tonight if it's not for another three months?"

Travis went silent as he thought. Should I tell him I'm dying? What if this changes things between us? What if he acts all patronizing? What if--

"You still there?"

"Yeah. If I were to tell you something uber private, could you keep it a secret?"

"Totes!" Josh said a bit too eagerly for Travis's liking.

"I'm dy--never mind. Forget I said anything."

Josh chuckled, then sighed. "Travis, I promise not to tell anyone your secret, scout's honor."

"You were a boy scout?"

"For like three months, until I got sick of tying knots and camping in the woods on the hard ground. But don't change the subject."

Travis didn't say anything.

"You can trust me, I promise."

Taking a deep breath, Travis said, "I'm dying. That genetic disorder I told ya about is making my DNA unstable, causing my organs to shut down."

"There's gotta be a cure or something, right?" Josh said. His voice held a pleading tone, and he had a concerned expression. It brought a smile to Travis's face.

"I'm taking an experimental treatment that slows the effects, but there's no cure yet."

Josh went quiet. "How long before . . . you know?"

"A year--two if I'm lucky."

Smiling wide, eyes alight, Josh said, "Then I'm gonna make it my mission to pack as much fun into that time as I can."

Travis smiled, happy that Josh would suggest something so sweet when they barely knew each other. "I'd like that."

"Great, `cause I wouldn't have taken no for an answer. Project Funnize commences once your Grams leaves. Later. I have a ton of planning to do."

Chuckling, Travis said, "Do you have to go this second?"

"No, why?"

S"Because, Joshua, I'd like to talk some more."

"Somebody likes me. Admit it."

"You're such a dork."

"I know you are, but what am I?"

"About four feet of pale fugliness."

Josh flipped him off. "Ha, ha. FYI, I'm up to four-foot-nine now. And weren't you the one who called me a model?"

Cheeks flushing with heat, Travis replied, "That was the vodka talking."

 Josh huffed. "Right. I supposed it was also the vodka that kissed me?"

"One, we almost kissed, and I was tipsy. Two, chill. I was just breaking your balls."

"It's hard to tell when you're joking and when you're being a dick."

"Look, maybe we should end things here."

"No. I wanna know why you almost kissed me. And what did you mean by I intrigue you?"

"I meant that I can figure out most people upon interacting with them, but you are a mystery to me. As for why I almost kissed you . . ."

"Yeah?"

"I don't know. I guess I was curious."

Josh didn't respond right away, but his panting let Travis know he was there. "You've never kissed anyone else?" he finally said.

"Nope."

"You ever been to a party?"

"No, why?"

"Then that's going to change, my man," Josh said and pumped his fist in the air.

Groaning, Travis said, "Not happening, captain. People suck."

"Dude, you're literally dying, so YOLO like a MOFO. Tell ya what, I'll ease you into it by having ya hang with my friends. Sound good?"

"I don't--"

"The only words I want to hear from you are yes and no. Do or do not. There is no try," he said, affecting a bad Yoda impersonation.

"Fine."

They hung up a bit later with plans to hang once Grams left. For the rest of the week, when Travis did his community service duty, he and Josh joked around, even getting into a splash fight once or twice while washing dishes. 

Though Travis knew he was breaking all the rules he'd constructed to keep himself safe, he found his pulse quickening upon seeing Josh. And when he couldn't see Josh, they'd FaceTime or text late into the night, and he often fell asleep with a smile on his face.

When Grams left, she hugged and kissed him goodbye with a warning he'd better call her twice a week or she'd tan his hide. And knowing her, she'd do it, too. 

He waited until after she left to tell his parents about the iPhone she'd gifted him. Bobby exploded. "It's not fair. He has two phones, and we only have one."

"He's not keeping it," his mother said.

He scowled.  How dare she try to take away a present from Grams!

"No."

His parents turned to him. "What was that?" his mother said, arms akimbo.

"You heard me. You're not taking it. You didn't give it to me."

"Be that as it may--" his father began.

"No!" Travis said, and the TV flickered off then on again. "Bobby has lost three phones this year. You can give that guttersnipe my old flip phone, but I'm keeping the iPhone."

Travis stood his ground until his parents relented. He deleted Josh's number from the flip phone and handed it to Bobby, who stuck out his tongue. He told them he'd be going over to Josh's house tomorrow, so they needed to find another babysitter. They called after him, but he walked away, smiling smugly.

***

 After community service the next day, Travis rode in a rideshare with Josh to his house, and they set up for the gathering.

"What's everyone like?" he said as he filled a bowl with chips, placed a container of hummus and ranch dip on the coffee table, and put a case of pop in the refrigerator to chill.

Josh shrugged. "I mean, Lance's cool enough. Matt and Henry can be asses at times, and Brianna and Rachel are my sisters from other misters."

"Green and Miller won't be joining us?"

"No. Just the core group. You nervous?"

Travis crossed his arms and frowned. "I don't do nervous."

Josh came over and rubbed his shoulder. "Bro, relax."

Travis shirked away. "Remind me why I'm doing this again?"

"Practice for your first party. Besides, I wanna introduce you to my other friends."

"Cute. You think we're friends." Josh froze in place, and Travis laughed. "I'm joshing ya, Josh. The look on your face was price--ouch!" 

Josh punched him in the arm. "Serves ya right."

"Punk. Imma get ya back," Travis said. Josh raced off, and the chase was on. He overcame Josh and, as punishment, gave him an atomic wedgy. 

Josh adjusted his underwear. "Oh, it's on." He pounced on Travis, and they wrestled around on the ground, their bodies rolling over each other until Travis straddled Josh. Gasping for air, he leaned over the smaller boy. "Pinned ya."

Travis held his position, catching his breath and willing his erection to subside. From this perspective, Josh looked tiny and frail, and Travis had a sudden urge to kiss him. He leaned in close, but before their lips met, the doorbell sounded. They separated, and Travis adjusted himself while Josh answered the door.

That was close. I might have done something incredibly stupid.

 But part of him hungered to know what kissing Josh felt like. For now, the part of him afraid of rejection won out, and he went to meet Josh's friends. Heaven help him. 

 

Author's Note: Next time, Travis and Josh get to know each other more, and he games i with The Squad.

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