Chapter Twenty-Five

After Josh made introductions, they congregated in the living room to decide what they would do. Travis sat next to Josh on the loveseat, while Brianna and Rachel sat next to Matt and Henry on the sofa sectional. Lance opted to sit in the overstuffed chair by the big screen TV.

"I say we game," Matt said. Henry and Lance seconded the idea, and the girls sighed.

Brianna shook her head, her twisty braids whipping around her face. "Naw. We ain't spending all day inside watching you d-bags play your little games. All those in favor of us chilling in the pool, listening to music, and then getting our grub on say `aye.'"

Rachel and Josh said, "aye," making Travis the deciding vote. He didn't mind doing either, but part of him was afraid to show them his burn scars.

"Kid, get over yourself and have some fun."

 He caged Prometheus but decided to take his advice since with the heat index, it felt like it was 105.

"I say we chill in the pool."

Brianna whooped. "That's what I'm talking about. My mans." She stuck out her fist, and he dapped it. Now that he'd gotten a good look at her, he thought Brianna was cute with her coppery skin and mahogany eyes.

"You're biracial, right?" he asked her.

"Uh, yeah. I'm Afro-Latina, you?"

"Black and white. Mixed kids of the world unite!" he said, and they shared a laugh. 

Josh cut him a dirty look. "Are we going swimming or what?"

Travis went with the guys to change in Josh's room while the girls changed in the guestroom. As they approached Josh's room, his heart was in his throat. Taking a calming breath, he squashed his nervousness down and put it in a box.

"Your room's way cleaner now," he said upon entering it.

"Yeah. My parents made me," he said, slipping off his shirt. The others followed suit, leaving Travis the only one in regular clothes. Best get this over fast.

He was sliding on his shorts when he felt someone staring at him. Turning, he found Henry and Lance gawking at him. "What?"

"Nothing," they said. He shrugged it off and went out to the pool while Josh got his Bluetooth speaker. Since Travis was the guest, he got first choice of song: he chose Numb/Encore by Linkin Park, featuring Jay-Z. As the song started, he bopped his head and locked eyes with Brianna, who was doing the same. He sang along, not caring what anyone thought. When the song ended, Brianna picked Diamonds by Rihanna, and this repeated with everyone choosing a song. Then Henry said he was bored and started a splash fight. 

It was Travis and the girls against the others. And whenever Matt and Henry would gang up on someone, Travis sneaked up on them and dunked them. He couldn't remember a time he'd laughed as much. Then the mood turned when Henry and Matt sneaked up on Travis while he was dunking Josh and pulled down his shorts. 

He turned, seeing red, thankful for his colored contacts. "What the hell?"

Henry held out his arms. "Chillax, dude. We were just playing."

"Do that again, and I will end you," Travis said, and a wind kicked up. Closing his eyes, he did 4-7-8 breath exercises. As his anger dissipated and Travis's breathing returned to normal, the wind stopped blowing. He dog paddled away from everyone, weighing whether he should leave. 

Josh swam over. "You okay?"

"I'm fi " A violent coughing fit racked him, and in between gasping for air, he told Josh to get his inhaler from his bag. Travis puffed on his inhaler twice. Able to breathe again, he took three gulps of air.

Josh placed his hand on Travis's shoulder. "You good?"

"Yeah," he said. It took him a few moments to recover, but he got back into the splash war. 

Around two o'clock, everyone started getting hungry, so they got out of the pool and ate while watching YouTube videos on the 75-inch TV in the living room. Rachel left first, stating she had to work at her parents' Chinese fusion restaurant. Briana left a bit after Rachel because she had to watch her cousin's kids.

With the girls gone, Matt suggested they play Halo. But Travis countered they should play Street Fighter. Josh sided with him, and the tournament began. The only one to even come close to beating Travis was Josh, and they traded insults the whole time they played. 

"Come on. Let's play Halo," Matt whined. 

Lance concurred, and Henry added, "Yeah. This sucks," 

"Not as much as you," Travis quipped, not missing a beat as he hadouken'd Josh into oblivion.

"I'm outta here, Henry yelled.

"Me, too, JJ," Lance shot over his shoulder as he left.

Matt rolled his eyes as he got up. "Enjoy spending time with your boyfriend, ya knob gobbler."

Josh flipped them off, telling them to sit and spin. Travis and Josh continued playing in their own Travis and Josh world until David and Jason buzzed in.  

Josh bumped fists and chests with them and introduced Travis, who shot them a death glare worthy of Thanos. "Hey."

David half-smiled, half-laughed. "You're the one our Joshykins has been spending all his time with, huh?"

Travis puffed out his chest, hands akimbo, chin raised. "What of it, Green?"

Josh looked from one to the other. "Cool it, guys. What say I cream the whole stinking lot of ya in Halo?"

Laughing, Jason ruffled Josh's hair. "Start it up already, shrimp."

Josh flashed Travis a smile. "We're playing teams. Travis is on mine."

"Go right ahead, squirt," Jason said. "He'll need all the help he can get."

The round started, and Jason ambushed Travis, getting in a headshot as he turned a blind corner. "Ha, you suck."

"Not as much as your mom," Travis deadpanned.

David chuckled. "Damn, dude. You want some ointment for that burn."

Jason's face went red, and he lunged for Travis, but David held him back.

"Chillax. You'll get him back."

Jason cut Travis a dirty look but picked up his controller, and they played on; he and David scored ten kills to Josh and Travis's eight. Travis only got in one frag when David spawned right in front of him.

After a few more rounds, the score was tied at two.

Jason sneered at Travis. "Hey, ladies. You up for a little bet?"

"That depends," Josh said, looking frazzled and nervous. "What are the stakes?" 

"Smart boy. If the Dave-meister and me win, then you two have to run down the driveway and back. Naked."

"No way," Travis said before Josh could reply.

Jason snickered. "It's okay. I understand if you're scared to show us your micro peen."

Travis narrowed his eyes. "Deal, cocksucker. But when we win, you have to be our slaves for the rest of the day."

Josh did a double-take. "You can't be serious. You can barely move without getting shot."

"Now, now, Joshykins, David said, flexing his biceps, "Travis is a big boy and can speak for himself. You're on. BTW, I like your style. You got balls, bro."

Jason cut in, "And we'll all see just how big they are when he loses."

Travis flipped him off, and the match commenced. 

Josh played at top form, evidently having played hundreds of hours, but his skills weren't enough to overcome Travis's errors.

***

Jason and David cat-called and wolf-whistled at them as they undressed.

When they were down to their underwear, Josh turned to Travis. "We don't have to go through with this."

Travis thought a second. I'm scared. Matt, Henry, and Josh were about the same size as me, but Green and Miller are almost four years older than me. Why if I do have microphallia?

 "I knew you'd chicken out," Jason said and clucked.

 I'm not gonna let them think I'm a baby.  

Travis shot him a stone-cold glare. "We made a bet, and a man keeps his word." He gathered up his clothes, not trusting the older boys.

Travis gave Josh a resolute look. "On the count of three. One. Two. Three." 

Josh dropped his Superman boxers and ran down the driveway while Travis watched him transfixed. He snapped out of it, removed his tighty-whites, and ran after Josh, his twig and berries flopping around with each step.

"I can't believe you went through with this, Josh said as they reached the end of the driveway and doubled back.

Travis scowled. "One, I won't let them push me around."

"And two?"

"I got to see you naked." He punched Josh's arm and then took off, laughing.

"You're dead!" Josh shouted, laughing.

When they reached David and Jason, the older boys were screeching like howler monkeys, doubled over in laughter.

"And what's so funny, smart asses?" Josh said.

David flicked Josh's nose. "When we post this to the school's Snapchat account, everyone is gonna be LOL-ing so hard."

Travis stepped forward and got in David's space, his head barely reaching David's stomach. "Delete whatever pictures and video you took of us."

David jabbed his finger in Travis's chest. "Or what?" 

Travis stared down David, his insides an army of angry bees trying to burrow their way out of him. Then he grabbed David's arm and twisted it behind his back. "Or I'll call the police, and when they find said material on your phone, you'll go down for production and possession of child pornography. Now, what are you going to do?" He twisted David's arm until he yelped.

"Alright, alright. You're stronger than you look."

Travis let him go and turned to Jason. "You, too."

"Jesus, bro. We were just messing around."

Travis had them unlock their phones, delete the images and videos, and then pass their phones to him so he could verify they'd followed through.

When that was done, only then did he finish dressing and go inside.

Once everyone was inside, David, Jason, and Josh got into an argument. 

David puffed out his chest. "What the actual fuck? Turner's a psycho,"

"Maybe," Josh said, frowning, "but you were wrong as hell for recording us, and you know it."

Josh finished getting dressed and was about to tell David and Jason to leave when Jason grabbed his arm. "You're sticking up for Turner now?"

He yanked his arm free. "Yeah. Because, unlike some people, Travis likes me for me."

 "What's that supposed to mean?" David said.

"Figure it out."

Meanwhile, Travis had gathered his things and announced he was leaving.

Josh's face fell. "Where ya going so soon?"

"I think I've had more than enough excitement for one day."

 Travis was halfway down the drive when he paused and looked back at the house. He couldn't let things end like this, so before he had a chance to overthink things, he doubled back.

 Josh's face lit up. "You came back?"

Rubbing the back of their head sheepishly, Travis said. "Yeah."

"When do you want to hang out again?" Josh said with a pleading look in his eyes.

"Depends. Will the dip shit twins be here?" he said, pointing to the older boys who were glaring daggers at them.

"We're leaving. Come on, David," Jason said and stormed out. David gave them a single grimace before joining him.

Travis let out a sigh of relief. "I thought they'd never leave."

Josh placed his hand on Travis's shoulder. "Hey, David and Jason aren't so bad once you get to know them."

He shrugged Josh's hand away. "I don't want to get to know them." Travis paused a beat, then said, "I want to get to know you." He hugged Josh.

Josh hugged Travis back, and they stayed like that, gazing into each other's eyes until Travis pulled away.

"I better be going. My taxi should be here in a few."

"Right." Josh's face fell. "See ya."

"Not if I see you first."

They both cracked up at this and started singing The Ballad of Paladin until Travis made for the door again.

"Later," Josh said. "And for the record, from what I've seen . . . you don't have anything to be ashamed of."

With a Cheshire cat grin, Josh waved goodbye, leaving Travis to think over what he'd said. Travis couldn't help feeling as though he'd won the lottery.

***

When Travis Popped home, he learned his parents took part of his birthday money to pay for a babysitter, and he was pissed, though not so much to risk another visit from his probation officer.

He remembered having a few old shoeboxes in his closet, and upon searching for them, he found one with over $12,000 in it. This made him think of that time Prometheus took over his body, and when he'd come to, he had a wad of cash in his pocket. Shrugging, he added the cash in the box with his money, put it all in a ziplock bag, and placed it inside the heating vent in his wall.

With that done, he called Grams and told her what his parents did. She told him she wasn't surprised and would set up a joint checking account for him first thing in the morning and email him the details. She also told him she'd give a piece of her mind to his mother. They talked a bit longer. Then he told her he had to go eat dinner.

After he'd cleaned the dishes, he read awhile, then FaceTime'd Josh.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself," Josh said. "Wanna hear a poem I wrote?"

"I do."

"It still needs some work, but "

"Get to it."

"Ssh, you can't rush art," he said, clearing his throat. "I'm a Trekker who ships Lucifer/ Chloe Decker. I'm keen on all things Tolkien. A fiend for the lean, mean green fighting machines. I get wet for peeps with the X gene. I lose sleep playing games on Steam. I'm a sucker for characters who are more than they seem. I watch anime and Buffy slay. I play RPGs with glee. See, I'm a closet geek. What do ya think?"

"Two out of ten on artistry. Ten out of ten on the funny."

Josh stuck out his tongue. "Dick."

"Don't ask a question if you're not ready for the answer."  

"Okay, smartass," Josh said, a serious expression coming over his face, "what did you mean by you want to get to know me?"

Travis sucked in his bottom lip. "That depends on the you in question."

"Come again?"

"I detest JJ but want to know more about Josh."

"But they're both me."

"Are they?"

Josh's brow furrowed, and his face scrunched up. "I mean . . . no. JJ is just an act, a role I play for my friends. But when I'm with you . . ."

"Go on."

"I can be my real self."

"And I like that version of you."

"I like you, too," Josh said. They talked long into the night about their plans for the rest of summer until Travis told him he had to go.

Josh sighed. "Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow."

Travis stifled a laugh. "Really. Romeo & Juliet?"

"Dude, don't be a moment spoiler."

"Fine, but just so you know, Romeo & Juliet was written as a satire of young love."

"Must you be so pedantic? See you tomorrow."

"Yeah. Later."

They ended the call, and Tavis couldn't help feeling sad like he was missing something.

"Or someone," Prometheus added. Travis ignored him and Popped to the park to train a while before bed. 

That night he worked on the mental side of his abilities. One by one, he lowered his mental barriers; when the final one had been lowered, he was bombarded with a million voices in his head. There were too many, so he focused on one: Jenny. In his mind, he saw a blue ribbon form, and he followed it, over land and sky.

When the ribbon stopped, he was in Jenny's apartment, seeing things through her eyes. Agent Anderson was in bed with her. 

It didn't take him long to figure out the score, and he exited. Only instead of coming back to his body, Travis was stuck in Jenny's mind, sensing everything she did. 

To say he was repulsed was an understatement. Only when Jenny fell asleep was Travis able to exit her mind and return home. The experience left him drained and traumatized, so much he vowed to train all aspects of his powers every day, even if that meant pulling all-nighters. Once he slipped into bed, he fell right asleep. But his dreams were anything but pleasant.

   

***

Oblivion visited him, warning that Prometheus couldn't be trusted. Given all the crap Prometheus had pulled, Travis was inclined to believe Oblivion.

"Forget the Giovanni boy and focus on your training. You are close to breaking the other's mental blockade. And with its demise will come the power to save your life."

"How?"

"Have you done as I suggested and cleaved your emotions from yourself?"

"I've tried, but "

"You've been preoccupied with Joshua."

"Yeah."

"Have you forgotten the rules that have well served you these many years? He will betray you like everyone you've ever let in. Search your mind; you know I speak true."

"Maybe you're right. Maybe I've imagined the looks of longing Josh gives me when he thinks I'm not looking."

"Yes, child. Harden your heart. Remember your words: people come into and out of our lives without predictability, so we can only depend on ourselves."

Oblivion's logic was sound, and he'd been honest with Travis from the start, but for the first time in his life, Travis listened to his heart. He liked Josh, and if that meant they'd only be friends, then he could live with it.

"No! I don't care what you say; Josh is my friend."

"Have it your way. I'm merely trying to spare you pain. Until we meet again, goodnight, sweet prince."

Oblivion vanished, and Travis woke up, lungs on fire as a coughing fit tore through him. He puffed on his inhaler but continued coughing. After three more puffs, he could breathe again, and he went back to sleep. 

In the morning, he called Jenny to tell her about his coughing spells and to get more of his treatment as he was running low. He kept the call short as he had flashbacks to last night that made his skin crawl. 

After he finished community service, she checked him over and said she wanted him to go to the hospital for a few tests. Three hours later, they diagnosed him with pneumonia, gave him some antibiotics, and told him to get plenty of rest and fluids.

Still, after taking the antibiotics for a few days, the coughing episodes continued. He shrugged it off, not wanting to bother Jenny or his parents. He kept his inhaler with him at all times and stocked up on over-the-counter cough suppressants, and carried on his training regimen. This helped some, but he'd taken to carrying a pack of tissues to cough into.

Soon enough, it was time for their next therapy session. Josh went first since he had to leave early for a charity event with his parents. As Travis waited, his thoughts turned to Josh. They had been trying to get their parents to agree to a sleepover, but they'd refused.

They were now entering the halfway point of summer vacation, and Travis's parents had started pushing back his curfew and making the twins go to bed earlier. Soon enough, school would start. But would he be alive?

 

Author's Note: Oblivion makes another appearance, but what is his endgame? Next chapter finds Josh in another session with Dr. Dull and he makes a major breakthrough. Travis also goes to therapy and makes a huge revelation to Dr. Dull.

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