Travis Intentions

Valentina’s P.O.V

I have a brain-splitting headache, and I have felt bile rise in my throat for the third time today. I have an interview this afternoon, and I can’t afford to be sick. I was also unable to shut out the pain like I always do, it was difficult trying to concentrate in class as the words just passed through my ears.

Yes, that’s right, for three days in a row I have been unable to have a decent meal, and I have been working overtime in the restaurants too; not to mention how Ron had beat me up the previous day.

My body is shutting down and I know it.

“Valentina,” Mr. Pitt’s voice reverberated within the walls of my ears, and I returned from oblivion. “Can you please read the next paragraph?”

Shit!

I blinked back as my eyes stared down at the letters jumbled up in my textbook, I couldn’t see clearly, the words were all blurred out.

“Miss Chandler?” Mr. Pitt’s voice came back again, this time more strictly and I trembled in my seat, I felt bile rise to my throat and I swallowed it again.

I can’t be sick! Not today! I chanted in my head.

“I-I am sorry I wasn’t paying attention.” I forced out and the whole class seared with laughter, I couldn’t help but notice the scorned look on his face.

“Do I look like a joke to you?” He yelled at me. “If you weren’t interested in the lectures, you shouldn’t have bothered to attend class at all!”

He rambled on, the words I didn’t even hear, I winced in pain, this wasn’t the right time to be yelling at me. Mr. Pitt stepped towards me and stared down at my blank notebook and even more disappointment clouded his eyes. “Scandalous! There isn’t even a blot of ink on your note!”

“Pardon me, sir,” I whispered back as I tried to maintain my composure.

“Get up and leave my class.” He declared I could see his lips moving and for some reason, I couldn’t hear anything. Then my vision became blurry, I shook my head but my sight only darkened.

I got up from my seat, my legs heavy and shaky, I struggled to overcome the wave of dizziness but it was stronger than me, and soon enough I was met with the peaceful darkness.

   I could hear a continuous beeping of some sort of machine, soft breeze fanning against my skin, I groaned slightly as my consciousness returned, where the hell am I?

I slowly opened my eyes; it was a small room and I was lying down on a medium-sized bed with some strings attached to my left hand which was connected to some sort of machine.

This seemed to be the school clinic, just what in God’s name am I doing here? I sat up immediately and ripped the strings out of my wrists when I remembered I was supposed to be at an interview after school.

I heard the creaking of the door, and my eyes darted to the entrance of the room, where a pair of blue eyes gaze intently at me.

I stared back at Travis in confusion, and I wondered what he was doing here, of all the people in the world, what the hell is Travis doing here? He opened the door wider and got in, he closed the door soundlessly and a small smile reached his lips.

“I see you are awake.” He began as he got closer to the bed, panic built in my chest but I remained seated as calmly as I could be. “How are you feeling?”

I remained silent, he sat at the edge of the bed and he reached for my forehead, I felt every bone in my body stiffen before I shifted away in discomfort.

“Please, no, I am not going to hurt you, I promise.” My body stilled as I heard his silent but genuine assurance.

“Because you won’t hurt me doesn’t mean the others won’t,” I found my voice and I whispered as soon as I recalled Lucille’s threat.

“I am sorry.” His eyes fell to mine once more, “I just wanted to know if you were okay since you suddenly passed out in class.”

“Why would you do that?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking curiously. “Why do you want to know if I’m all right?”

“Excuse me?” He drawled in confusion and his eyes widen innocently.

“If I fainted, what is it to you?” I asked curiously. “Are you here to make sure I am sick? Or do you want me to die?”

For some reason, I was venting my anger out on him, even though this wasn’t his fault, he noticed my distress and he got off the bed immediately, creating as much distance as possible.

“I know what you think and how you feel, I know you believe we are all monsters and our mission is to hurt you, you are not entirely wrong but I am different from the rest.” He continued after a small pause. “I am not in support of what Ethan or any other person does to you.”

I remained speechless even as he continued to explain.

“I am here because I sincerely care about you and since you’re fine now, I will take my leave.”

He strolled towards the door held the doorknob, and turned back to me with a warm smile.

“If you don’t mind, we could be friends, Valentina.” His eyes radiated with sincerity. “I hope you get better soon.”

The door closed with a light thud, and I was alone again, only then was I able to catch my breath, what the hell does that proposal mean?

He wanted us to be friends?

Me and Travis? Friends? I don’t even want to imagine what Ethan would do to me; it would be a very stupid move to be friends with my arch-enemy’s best friend.

It’s ridiculous ofter but it was also worth considering.