Johnson Hearts Carter

Your Helpfulness is NOT Helping!

"I think I need to talk to Travis,” Alex whispered to Verna while the catcalls and teasing continued. It was starting to get irritating and her head was also beginning to pound.

"He doesn't take his lunch in school. In fact, from what i heard, he usually skips classes after lunch" Verna replied, her eyes clouded with worry as she tried to glare at the people laughing.

“Great!"

As if on cue, the doors opened as Kurt and Travis strutted inside the cafeteria. The same boisterous crowd that consisted of jocks and cheerleaders greeted them. Then a guy wearing a letter jacket stood up to ask Travis out loud:

"Hey, Johnson, I heard you didn't get some nerd booty!” 

Travis ignored him like he heard nothing and followed his best friend towards the lunch line. These immature dickheads really were not worth talking to. Plus, why are all these people always interested in his s****l activities? Weren’t they having tons of action on their own? Also, it was so like these dumb jocks to assume that he was always getting some.

Travis grabbed a sandwich and fries while having a discussion with Kurt about their next beach trip and his girlfriend Camille. He never usually bothered coming in for lunch but, he was feeling a little moody, unable to figure out why he bothers thinking about the Carter girl. So, he figured the crazy lunch room will distract him from his thoughts.

"I guess now's a better time than any,” Alexandra muttered and grabbed her bag, her half-eaten lunch forgotten. She slung the pack carefully over her uninjured shoulder and marched bravely towards Travis just as he was about to pay for his food at the end of the line.

"Hey, we need to talk,” She whispered a little loudly as she halted to a stop beside his tall frame. Travis grinned as soon as he heard her voice. He pretended to ignore her as he handed the money to the cashier. He heard her hiss out the same phrase again.

"The tables are turned! Now, you want to talk to me?" Travis finally relented, picking up his tray and turning to look down at her. He was surprised at how red her cheeks were getting that he choked back a laugh.

Alexandra scowled at his expression and continued her quest. "Yes. I want to talk to you in private, please."

Travis wanted to tease her a little more but, the person next to him on the line was Kurt’s girlfriend, Camille and she decided to speak up.

"Go, talk to her, Travs. Can't you see she's not really feeling good?" Camille muttered, nudging his back with her hand. She turned to look at Alexandra, her eyes reflecting concern as she said “I’m sorry he's being an asshole, Alexandra. But he'll talk to you now. Won’t you Travis?"

Travis glared at his best friend's girlfriend but she did not even flinch.

”Okay, fine. You wouldn't be championing her cause if you knew how rudely she treated me the other day" he muttered at Camille as he brought his tray over to the nearest table and placed it down with a bit of force. 

He picked up the sandwich and can of Coke before turning to beckon towards Alexandra to follow him. Of course, the entire senior year erupted with hoots and shouts of teasing as the scene looked like Travis is leading Alexandra out for some private one on one time.

"We knew she won't be able to resist you, Travis! Bang her in the janitor's closet!" Someone shouted after him and Travis tried his best not to turn around, charger towards the jerk who said that and punch him to oblivion.

Alexandra walked as fast as she could, following Travis until she was out of the cafeteria and alone in the hallway with him. She felt a bit relieved as the silent hallway stretched out before her. She turned to look at Travis who was now leaning against one of the bulletin boards, munching on his sandwich, looking uncaring and bored.  She knew what he was doing. Apparently, he was not going to talk this time just to give her a dose of her own medicine. 

Geesh, can this guy be even more dramatic?

"Excuse me, I'm not entirely sure what's going on but, what did you actually tell people?" She hissed, unable to help her temper from flaring up.

Travis chuckled and shook a finger at her "I was just trying to help you. It's not bad that people think you turned me down. I mean, I did not say it’s easy to believe coz, well, you know…” his voice trailed as he gestured towards his tall, lean figure.

Alexandra groaned in exasperation, glaring at his bravado “Wow, god’s gift to women!”

“What’s the deal? Shouldn’t your status elevate a little bit now that you apparently refused a torrid, series of love-making with me?” Travis teased, enjoying the way she was getting riled up. It also made him feel a little refreshed that Alexandra Carter wasn’t ogling him like most girls did.

"Stop! Please just don't do anything for me okay?” She cried out in a serious tone. She gestured feebly with her free hand at him “Look, I know you're feeling guilty about hitting me with your car but, I'm fine; nothing’s damage except my clean attendance and that's not even a big deal compared to all this unwanted attention I'm getting!”

"Oh- wait- hold on there for a sec.. I- I wasn't doing this cause I hit you,” Travis sputtered, standing straight. The last thing he wanted for this girl to think was that he was doing her a favor because he felt guilty. Well, he did feel guilty but he was hoping he would focus on him helping her out instead.

Alexandra held her hand up to stop him from explaining further "what then? You feel sorry for me, is that it? Oh don't tell me you actually care because we both know that's not it" 

“Hey, I was just trying to make sure you’ll be all right after…”

"I was doing fine before any of this happened. FYI, i like being invisible. I don’t see why it has to change just because you’re playing doctor to make yourself feel better!”

Travis wanted to argue but he knew he had been busted. It felt a bit disorienting to have some girl give him a beat down. The only other student in their class who would dare talk that way to him is Camille. He was at a loss for words yet again when it came to Alexandra Carter.

"I'm sorry I was rude to you when you went to my house,” she continued, her voice softening a bit. “I just don't deal with bullshit that well. I'm sure you were sincerely apologizing and I thank you for that. But please, just stop acting like we know each other since kindergarten and then feel like you have to be my knight in shining armor, okay?"

Alexandra moved past him, walking away and not waiting for a response from him. Travis was left bewildered in his place but managed to move and grab her by her backpack. She gasped and tugged, he did not let go.

"You're right. I felt guilty but, I truly wanted to help you" he said in a low voice “that’s the truth, whether you believe it or not. Frankly, I don’t care either way. I was trying to do right by you even though I did most of it to make myself feel better.”

Alexandra looked at his somber face and tried not to gape. She was surprised that he confessed his true motives. Plus, it was not everyday that the school's bad boy agreed with anyone. 

Travis smiled at her adorable, confused expression and then let go of her bag slowly so that it did not slump heavily against her back. He knew her injury would still be very sore and tender.

"Hey, I'll leave you alone from now on, okay? I'll see what I can do about the rumor,” he added then raised his hands “promise, I’m not going to fuel the fire or attempt to provide you any aid!”

Alexandra nodded, still a bit unnerved and unsure at how easy it was for him to apologize. He sounded really sincere that she did not know how to react. It was like a regular guy talking to a regular girl without any usual bravado and sense of entitlement.

She walked back towards the cafeteria but, just before she could open the door, he called out to her. She turned back to look at his tall frame, standing next to the wall, the forgotten sandwich still in his hand. 

The long, huge hallway made him look solitary and alone, like a scene from some movie. There was even some eerie sadness around him that Alexandra could not pinpoint exactly as the light illuminated the outline of his body like a shadow.

"You don't have to let them beat you down all the time, you know," Travis announced, the familiar smirk back on his face. He nodded at her silence, turned around and walked down the empty hallway leaving Alexandra frowning after him. 

She was about to go into the rowdy cafeteria but she already realized the howls, jeers and taunts that she would be receiving. She pursed her lips and decided to turn around and walk the opposite direction. She did not have to endure that scene today and apologize to Verna for leaving her alone at lunch.

Suddenly, Alex felt exhausted.