Remi's Choice

Chapter 8: Boiling Rage

As happy as I was that Travis got there right when he had, I was even more relieved that his friends were still with him. If it weren't for them, Travis might have killed Chaz.

His beating of Chaz alone was a frightening eye-opener of just what a dangerous guy Travis really was now. Chaz was a senior and a football player with a good build, but Travis's fists were lethal. Not even the splattering of Chaz's blood slowed Travis's fists. I watched in horror and awe at the power in those fists.

When it was all over and Travis's friends dragged Chaz outside to safety, I knew it was only Travis's concern for me that kept him from running out there and continuing the beating. Between Travis's two friends, they'd barely been able to pull him off Chaz, and it was only when he saw his brothers at the hallway door that he stopped fighting his friends.

After getting his brothers back to bed, he rushed out into the living room where I stood, still in a daze. “Don't go out there," I said when I saw him. “They put him in his car. He's leaving."

Travis glanced out the front window then at me; the fury I saw in his eyes earlier softened some when our eyes met. “Has he ever done anything like that to you before?"

“Never." I shook my head, feeling my face crumble now that it was all sinking in.

To my surprise, Travis rushed to me and hugged me. I fell into his body, trembling as he wrapped his arms around me tightly.

“Did he hurt you?"

The strain in his urgent but whispered words made me pull away to look at him. His deep gray eyes were still feral-like when his friends struggled to get him off Chaz. He'd kicked Chaz's face even as they pulled him away, and he cursed and threatened to kill him if he ever saw him anywhere near me again. The spattered blood on his face and neck made him appear even more savage.

“No."

I lied, afraid of what he might have done if I mentioned my still-aching scalp from where Chaz pulled my hair. I wasn't sure if Chaz was gone yet, and I didn't dare tell Travis the truth and have him run out there again. His eyes widened as if he'd just read my mind. “Tell me the truth, Remi. Don't lie to me, please. Did he hurt you?"

“No," I said again, shaking my head with a sniffle, yet my stupid head had the presence of mind to be disappointed he didn't call me Cherry. “He was rough, pushing me against the door and stuff, but he didn't hit me or anything."

Travis put his hands on either of my shoulders, leaning in closer to my face. “Listen to me, okay," he said, unnerving me the way his eyes dug into mine. “I want you to go to the cops."

I shook my head adamantly before he went on. “No, they'll arrest you."

“I don't mean tonight," he said quickly. “But tomorrow you have to. My friends are witnesses that I was only defending you, if that fucker tries to press charges. Guys like that don't force themselves on girls one time. He'll do it again. Maybe not to you unless he has a death wish, but he will to someone else. I can guarantee it."

I nodded; though the very thought of having to tell my parents made me cringe. I knew they'd be upset that I invited Chaz over and that it wasn't the first time. I finally saw a side of Travis I'd always known was there: a sweet and tender side he hid from the world but I'd seen when he talked to and interacted with his brothers. And after tonight, I'd likely never get the chance to be around him again because I knew my parents would never again let me babysit for Ms. De Luca. I wasn't sure what made me more emotional—that or what had just happened.

“You should clean up," I said with a wince, looking down at his bloodied knuckles.

He lifted his knuckles, and that sweet concerned way he'd been looking at me went hard. “I better never run into that guy again."

“Trust me, Travis," I said, touching his arm. “He'll likely run if he ever sees you coming from here on. That beating you gave him—"

“Wasn't enough," he said, staring in my eyes with a purpose. “And he deserved it."

“He did," I agreed immediately then closed my eyes. “I'm just so glad you got here when you did."

The touch to my hair had me opening my eyes. His eyes were on my hair and his jaw clenched. “Did he grab you by the hair?"

I shook my head, but I knew it wasn't convincing enough because I couldn't help pinching my brows as the emotion took over. I'd made sure my hair was perfectly curled and done before coming here tonight. I wanted to look good for Travis. I was certain it was frazzled now after Chaz put his hands in it. The memory of his fingers between my legs was too much, and my face crumbled.

“That motherfuck—"

“Travis," I said, squeezing his arm and shaking my head. “Please, don't do anything else to him. I can guarantee you he's gonna be hurting for days if not longer. I don't want you getting in trouble. He didn't hurt me," I lied. “I promise you. It's just all sinking in now."

Travis hugged me again, and I let him, falling into his strong arms. We stood there in each other's arms for a moment silently. It never felt so good to be held in my life. It was as if I belonged in his arms. That moment confirmed what I'd always known deep in my heart. There was so much more to Travis. Suddenly, I yearned to know everything about him.

Finally, we began to pull apart. “Sit down," he said, motioning to the sofa I'd sat on most of the night. “I'll get you water," he said, starting toward the kitchen. “We might have some juice."

“Water's fine."

I heard the water run for a while, and I imagined he was washing the blood off. The very thought made me shiver. What if Travis hadn't gotten here when he did? I shook my head, not wanting to think about it.

Travis returned with a glass of ice water, handed it to me, and then took a seat next to me. To my surprise, he gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His demeanor was now the complete opposite of what it'd been just moments ago. The concern in his eyes was pure and genuine—like when he worried about his brothers. Travis cared that much about me too. This was what I meant about the side of Travis I'd seen only a few times, but strangely, I'd always known it was there. I'd always known, as cold and indifferent as he could look sometimes on the outside, he did have a sweet heart. Despite everything that happened tonight, seeing this side of him made me smile.

“Thank you, Travis," I said softly.

“For what? The water or for beating Chaz to a pulp? Because that was all my pleasure."

I chuckled at that. “For both and for having such perfect timing." I shook my head. “If you hadn't gotten here when you did, and he would've—"

“He'd be dead the moment I got my hands on him," Travis said, reaching for my hand and slipping his hand in it. “I guarantee it, so let's not even think about it." He squeezed my hand then gently lifted my chin with the other. “Are you gonna be okay?"

“Yes." I smiled, and in spite of what happened tonight, I couldn't help but be distracted when he licked his lips.

For the first time since he burst in tonight, that familiar smirk was back, the one that was so much more like him than the sweet side I'd been witnessing in the past moments I'd spent with him. His lips were such an incredible distraction I hadn't even noticed I'd zoned out until I heard his voice again. “I like when you stare at me that way."