Paradisal Tragedy (13 page)

Fourteen

“I think we should go on a date,” Travis said out of the blue a week after her friends left. They’d been dating for a couple weeks now, yet they still hadn’t gone out.

“That was random,” Annabella told him as she tossed her copy of “Safe Haven” By Nicholas sparks aside.

“I know, but it just dawned on me that I haven’t treated you like girlfriend very well. I should have taken you out weeks ago,” Travis admitted as he traced the outline of her face with his index finger, sending chills through her body.

“We don’t have to go out on a date, Trav. I know how I feel about you, and you know how you feel about me. That’s what matters.”

“My mother taught me to treat a girl like a princess, and that’s just what you are, so we’re going on a date,” Travis demanded, not taking no for an answer. 

“Travis, I don’t need a date,” Annabella told him in a calm voice. She didn’t need a date to make her believe what he felt was real. She knew in her heart already. The way he touched her and kissed her told her everything she needed to know.

“It’s not about what you need or don’t, baby, it’s about what I want to give you and that’s the world. A date would be good for us. Don’t say no, please. Anyway, you should feel honored to be able to go on a date with your hot, irresistible, wonderful boyfriend,” Travis smirked.

“Now, aren’t we full of ourselves?” Annabella laughed “Why in the world should I feel honored?”

“Because I’ve never taken a girl out before.”

“I thought you said you dated a lot of girls.”

“I wouldn’t use the word date, honestly, Bella. I slept around. I didn’t care about those girls, and they didn’t care about me. They were easy; end of story. The only exception was Marissa,” Travis said, with no remorse.

“How was she an exception?” Annabella asked.

“I don’t mean that I ever had feelings for her. I didn’t. Things with her were complicated. She lied about a lot of things. I think I told you about the story when she claimed to be pregnant. She also claimed to love me, and I thought she was crazy. I almost wanted to laugh, because I didn’t believe in love. She doesn’t matter though. My point to all of this is that I’ve never felt for anyone the way I feel for you. It’s like you’ve changed the part in me that never wanted to feel.”

“How come you never wanted to feel Travis? Even with all my baggage, I hoped that one day I’d be able to feel. I didn’t believe I ever would, but I still hoped.”

“My dad left a long time ago, and that took a toll on my life. It was when he left that I started to act out. I was so hurt and confused. I just didn’t want to feel any kind of emotions.”

“Do you talk to him at all?” Annabella asked in wonder. Sure, she had a secret that she kept buried deep inside her, but her parents – especially her dad – were always there for her. She couldn’t imagine a life without her dad being by her side.

“No, I don’t,” he said in a voice that appeared to be regretful.

“You should contact him,” Annabella said.

Travis felt his eyes widen and he took in her last statement.
You should try to contact him?
Did she not hear what he told her? Why the hell would he even think about trying to contact him? He left him and Travis didn’t need that lowlife of a man in his life. He didn’t need him at all. Travis was a child when he left, and he’d had to grow up fast.

“Not a chance in hell,” Travis said angrily, rising from the bed to put distance between them.

“Travis, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just thought maybe you could get closure. I mean, the fact that he’s not around seems to bother you and I don’t want you to hurt,” Annabella explained, following him as he began to pace the room.

“It’s not you, Bella. I just don’t like to talk about it. So can we just drop it?” Travis asked.

“Of course.” She knew exactly how it felt to have something you didn’t want to talk about, and she wouldn’t push him.

“Now, about that date,” Travis reminded her, closing the distance between them as he wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her close.

“I’ll make you a deal, as long as you don’t spend any money on me, you can take me on a date,” Annabella challenged.

“No deal. How about if I spent very little money? That’s my best offer,” Travis negotiated, putting his lips to her skin.

“Fine,” She whispered, feeling the weakness that overcame her every time Travis kissed her.

“I’ll pick you up at seven. I have to work in an hour, so I’ll call you when I’m finished, okay?” Travis asked, glancing at the digital clock that sat on her nightstand. It was going on noon.

“Okay, I’ll miss you,” she said.

“I’ll miss you too. Surely we can find ways to make up for our time apart.” Travis winked at her before kissing her goodbye. “I’ll see you tonight.”

***

Dear Diary,

Everything is different when I’m with Travis. He makes me feel something I’ve never felt before. He makes me happy. And I know that may sound stupid, but the truth is I’ve never felt safer than I do in his arms.

The memories of the locker room haunt me every day, but when I’m with Travis, it’s like they disappear. Even if it’s only for a moment.

He’s taking me out on a date, and the truth is I’m not afraid. For the first time I feel like I can breathe again. I don’t feel alone anymore. Travis saved me from the darkness that consumed me. I’m not saying that I’m better, because the truth is I’m far from it. I’m still broken, but he lessens the pain that was caused that night.

It’s a funny thing… I closed myself off so long ago to emotion, yet a month with Travis and I just want to tell him everything. I don’t come anywhere close, but I always find myself wanting to tell him about that night. About Aubrey, Chelsea, Maxie, and Matt’s hand in it. I want to tell him all of it. I guess hand would be the wrong word for it, it’s not like they knew what was going to happen, but they did have everything to do with that awful night. I remember when I used to blame them. I thought I may have even hated them.

It was the whole reason I never told them I was moving. I couldn’t let go of my anger. With Travis, I feel like anything is possible. He gets me in a way that no one else does. He doesn’t try to change me and I admire him for that. It’s amazing just how hard I’m falling for him. He’s given me a light and now I just have to find my way from there.

***

After hearing a knock on the door, Annabella put her pen down and shoved her journal into one of her desk drawers. Her parents opened the door and stood in the doorway.

“Hey there baby girl,” her father said as he walked into her room and sat on the bed.

“Hi Daddy,” she responded. She was happy they were home. After everything she knew about Travis, she knew to never take her parents for granite

“So, your mom and I were thinking that we could all go out for dinner tonight. We’ve missed you. And we’ve heard you’re making some improvements in your behavior, minus your mirror incident, which we’ll talk about later,” Nicholas told her, happiness rising in his voice.

“I can’t, Daddy. I already have plans,” she said, trying to keep her smile to a minimum but failing.

“Oh? And what might these plans be?” Nicholas asked, shocked. The months they’ve lived here, Annabella always kept to herself; she wouldn’t even go out to meet new people.

“I have plans with Travis,” she explained.

“That boy who has been hanging around here? Bella, I’m not sure you should be hanging around with a boy like that,” Nicholas said.

“A boy like what?”

“Well for starters he drives that dangerous bike, he wears that leather jacket all the time, and he’s a bit rough around the edges. I don’t think an innocent girl like you needs to be hanging around him.”

“You don’t even know him!”

“Nicholas, stop this nonsense. That boy obviously puts a smile on our girl’s face. There’s no way you’re going to take that away from her,” Jennifer cut in before her husband could speak again. She’d die before she let anyone take away the little happiness that Travis brought to her daughter.

“Daddy, I like him. I like him a lot, and he likes me too. You can’t take that away from me. For the first time in a long time I feel like someone doesn’t see me as a problem that needs to be fixed. He just gets me in a way that no one else does. And you can’t tell me who I can and can’t date. I’m eighteen,” Annabella explained in a calm and rational voice.

“Baby, I just want to protect you. Travis is just that type of who just doesn’t care about anyone but himself. I don’t say that to make you angry, but it’s the truth. I’ve seen guys like him.”

“No you haven’t, Travis isn’t like any other guys. Trust me when I say I didn’t just go googly-eyed over our first conversation. Daddy, he’s been so good to me and whether you support me or not, I’m going to be with him. And tonight I’m going out with him.”

“Bella, don’t be like that,” Nicholas told her, knowing that she was starting to push him away. Just like before. “I love you so much and I just want to protect you.”

“Well you can’t, Dad. You can’t protect me from everything bad thing that happens. You can’t protect me from all the bad stuff in life, God knows we all wish you could but you can’t. And Travis isn’t a bad thing, he’s a very good thing. Until you take the time to get to know him, don’t judge him,” Annabella chided her father. It was the first time they’ve ever really disagreed. She and her father were always pretty close. She could talk to him about anything, and he always picked her up when she was falling, but now he was just overreacting.

“Nicholas, I’m not going to tell you again. Our daughter is growing up and we have to let her make her own choices. Travis makes her happy and if you care about her happiness at all, then you’ll support her. Whether you agree with it or not,” Jennifer scolded her husband with an icy glare.

“I guess you’re right. Look Bella, my warning against Travis still stands, but if you’re happy then I’ll support that. But I swear to God, if he ever hurts you I’ll break his neck,” he told her.

“I know, Daddy.”

Her parents left the room, and she turned back toward her desk.

“So, Dad doesn’t like Travis, huh?” Annabella turned to see Ryan standing in her doorway.

“It would appear that way,” she replied.

“Well, baby girl, he makes you happy, so don’t let dad take that away from you,” he told her, plopping on the bed as she stared at the ceiling.

“Ryan, why did you stay?” she finally asked after a moment of silence “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been wondering ever since you said you weren’t going back.” 

“Bella, I’m here for you. After the mirror incident, you scared me half to death. I don’t want to see you hurt anymore. I don’t know what forced you to change, but I’m here to make sure it doesn’t hurt you anymore. I care about you more than anyone else in this world. The moment I laid eyes on you, I vowed to always protect you. I love you Bella. You’re my baby sister,” Ryan told her.

“I love you too Ry, I’m glad you stayed.”

“Me too, now let’s talk about Travis,” he said, a grin appearing on his face. “I hear he’s taking you on a date, where might this be?”

“I don’t know, he said he’d pick me up after he gets off work.” Annabella told him, smiling. She couldn’t contain the excitement that ran through her.

“Well, he’d better take you someplace nice. You really care about him, don’t you?” Ryan asked, turning to face her using his elbow to support him.

“I do. He just snuck up on me, I guess. I care about him a lot. More than I ever wanted to care about anyone,” she admitted.

“I’m happy for you. I’ve watched you fall apart, and now I’m watching you put the pieces back together and I have to say, no matter what dad says, Travis is good for you. I see the way he looks at you. It’s like it’s just the two of you. He has this light in his eyes, something good.”

Annabella was surprised how easily it was for her to talk about Travis. She’d been closed off for so long, but when it came to Travis, she could talk all day. There was just something about him that she couldn’t seem to forget. It’s no secret that when they first met, she thought he was self-centered and arrogant, but deep down, he was selfless, kind, and giving. He always found a way to make her laugh. It scared her to know just how strong of feelings she was developing for him.

Fifteen

“Wear something pretty,” Travis said through the phone. He was driving home. Annabella could hear him start the engine of the car.

“Define pretty.” She challenged.

“No jeans, no shorts, and not that sweater you always wear. I know it’s sort of a comfort for you, but can I just have one night to look at your flawless skin?” he asked.

“Travis, I don’t know if I can,” she told him.

“Make a deal with me. You don’t wear that sweater and I’ll bring my leather jacket along. If you at any time feel uncomfortable, you put that on,” Travis suggested.

She thought about it for several moments as she listened to him breathe through the phone. The thought of not wearing her sweatshirt scared her. For months she’d worn it, except in the comfort of her own home. For Travis though, she would take a chance by not wearing it.

Then there was the matter of him saying no jeans, or shorts. Walking to her closet, she only saw the dresses that she didn’t wear anymore. Could she wear a dress? No! It was too soon, she was barely comfortable in her own skin, let alone a dress. She’d take a chance by not wearing the sweatshirt, but the dress was a definite no.

“Okay, I can do that,” she finally spoke as she settled on a fancy, purple tank top.

“Good, I just got off work, but I’m going to go home and shower, then I’ll come get you. Would you prefer the car or the bike?” Travis asked, wanting to make tonight as perfect as he possibly could.

“The car. It’s kind of breezy out tonight,” she said.

“Okay, Sunshine, I’ll be there soon.”

“Okay.” She hung up.

Annabella walked into her bathroom and stared into her newly repaired mirror. She looked like a completely different person. Travis’s presence in her life was definitely giving her a positive outlook on life. For the first time in a while she didn’t fear the touch of someone. She didn’t fear the closeness that came with him. She couldn’t deny how much she felt for him, and with that came the trust she put in him. Annabella found it strange just how much she trusted Travis.

“Well don’t you look nice?” Jennifer said as she sat on the bed of Annabella’s room as she walked out of her bathroom.

“Oh, hi mom,” she said, startled.

“You look beautiful. You look – dare I say it? –
happy
,
”
her mother commented as she stood to walk to her.

“I am happy,” Annabella confirmed with a smile. And it was true. She owed every ounce of her happiness to Travis.

“That’s all I’ve wanted since we moved here; your happiness,” Jennifer told her daughter as she placed her hands on her bare shoulders.

“Mom, I know I haven’t been the easiest person to be around, and I’m sorry for that.”

“I just want to know that you’re okay,” Jennifer commented as she looked at her daughter. “So you really like this boy?”

“I more than like him mom. I can’t explain my feelings for him. He’s just Travis, and he makes me happy,” Annabella told her mother, butterflies appearing in her stomach.

“And from what Ryan tells me, he likes you just as much.”

“I can’t figure out why. He could have any girl he wants and yet he chose me,” Annabella mentioned as she fixed her hair and let her curls fall.

“Honey, you’re beautiful, and any guy that doesn’t see that is missing out. Travis chose you because you’re not one in a million, you’re a once in a lifetime kind of girl,” her mother said in a soft tone.

“Mom, I’m so sorry,” Annabella said. While she was going through all the pain, darkness and depression state of the secret she was keeping, she never once stopped to think about everyone else’s pain. She never once thought about the effect that her behavior had on the people she loved and cared about, especially her mother.

“For what, sweetheart?” she asked as they took a seat across from each other, Annabella in her chair, and her mother on her bed.

“Everything. I’ve changed so much, but I just want you to know that it had nothing to do with you or Daddy. I love you both, and I’ve never once thought you failed as my parents because the truth is, I wouldn’t have made it through life without either of you. I just want you guys to know that. I love you so much and no matter what you’ll always be my heroes,” Annabella said as she remembered that not everyone was lucky enough to have two loving parents the way she did.

“Bella, we love you too and that’ll never change. Come here,” Jennifer said as she wrapped her arms around her daughter in a hug. And for the first time in months Annabella didn’t hesitate.

“I love you so much,” Annabella repeated once again.

“I know; I love you too. Now how about we get you ready for that date? Is that what you’re wearing?” Jennifer asked.

“Yes.” She knew her mother was going to encourage her to wear one of the many dresses that her parents bought for her.

“Why not a dress?” she asked, right on cue.

“I’m freezing; I don’t want to wear a dress,” Annabella lied. It was the furthest thing from the truth. There was no way she’d ever tell her mother the real reason why she didn’t want to wear a dress.

***

“You look beautiful,” Travis greeted Annabella when she opened the door an hour later. He was wearing a black leather jacket, a black T-Shirt underneath and a pair of expensive looking blue jeans.

“You don’t look so bad yourself, in fact you look handsome.” Annabella winked.

“For you,” Travis said as she kissed her on the cheek and handed her a dozen roses, six white, six red.

“You didn’t have to,” she said as he handed her the flowers. Travis didn’t strike her as the flower type.

“You’re right, I didn’t. I wanted to,” he whispered in her ear as she leaned in for a kiss.

“Would you like to come inside?” she asked, in hopes that he’d say no. The last thing they needed right now was her father to over question him.

“Sure,” he said, grabbing her hand as she led him to the kitchen.

“You must be Travis,” Nicholas said as he stood at the top of the stairs.

“I am. Hello, Mr. Adams, I’ve heard so much about you,” Travis replied, a bit nervous. This was the first time he really dated someone, and more than that it was the first time he met the father of the person he had feelings for.

“Now let’s just get down to the point,” Nicholas said as Jennifer and Ryan came into the room. ”What are your intentions with my daughter?”

“Dad!” Annabella gasped as she finished putting the roses into the vase.

“What?” he asked, as if it was nothing.

“Nicholas, knock this nonsense off. The boy makes our daughter happy. Can’t you just let them go?”

“Not until I find out what he wants from her,” he argued.

“Is it so absurd for you to believe that he actually cares about Bella? Dad, you weren’t here, I was. Travis cares about her very deeply. I know that for a fact,” Ryan said, coming to their rescue.

“Sir, I just want to say that I care about your daughter. A lot. She’s made me happier than I’ve been in such a long time, and I want to make her happy. I’d never do anything to hurt her,” Travis spoke up as he felt Annabella lock their fingers together.

“I’m not sure I believe you,” Nicholas stated, not bothering to deny the fact at all. “I was a teenage boy myself. I know how you all think.”

“With all due respect, Mr. Adams, I’m not most teenage boys. I’m far from perfect. I’ve made mistakes, but I don’t in anyway act like any of those guys in town. And as I said before, I care about your daughter very much. There’s something about her that I just can’t walk away from, and by some miracle she feels the same way,” Travis said in a brave voice. He’d do this for Annabella though, even though he couldn’t feel more uncomfortable if he tried.

“I still am unsure of your intentions.”  

“Please, just stop Dad. You know nothing about him. You haven’t even given him a chance. You’ve been home, what, a few days? And yet you’re trying to bring us down already. He’s made me happier than I’ve been in such a long time and you don’t even care. Well you know what, you can go to hell. Let’s go, Travis.”

“Don’t you step one foot out that door!”

“I’m eighteen years old, not five. You can’t continue to treat me like a child. I thought this was what you wanted; I thought you wanted me to make friends. And now that I’ve made one you can’t even accept that.”

“He doesn’t want to be your friend, Bella he wants one thing, what all teenage boys want. I’m trying to protect you, don’t you see that?”

“You’re wrong, Daddy. You’re so wrong. Travis has never once pressured me into having sex. You wouldn’t know that though, because you haven’t asked. You’re so dead set on him being the bad guy, you can’t even see how happy he really makes me,” Annabella told him as she felt the tears prick her eyes. Out of everyone, she thought her father would be happiest and yet he was the one tearing her down.

“I do want you to be happy, just not with him.”

“Right, so it’s your way or no way?” Annabella challenged.

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Dad, will you stop? Let her be happy. For months you’ve called and told me you just wanted your little girl back, and here she is, standing right in front of you. Only, you’re pushing her further and further away from us,” Ryan chided his father. He couldn’t understand how he could be acting this way when Annabella was slowly becoming herself again, and if they were all being honest, Travis had so much to do with it.

“I’m not saying I don’t want her to be happy, but how could this guy possibly make her happy? He’ll only end up hurting her.”

“I would never hurt her,” Travis disagreed. Under any other circumstance, he would have given this man a piece of his mind, then fled from the scene, but this was Annabella’s father, and he cared about her. He wouldn’t do that to her. So instead, he stood here and listened to every word Nicholas said.

“Nicholas, knock it off right now. You’re acting like an ass. The last thing our daughter needs is you ruining the first good thing that’s happened to her in so long. I won’t have you treating Travis this way,” Jennifer said as she turned to Travis. “I’m really sorry for my husband’s adolescent behavior tonight. I sure do hope it won’t stop you from coming around again. I’d really love to know more about you. You make my daughter happy. You make her smile and that’s something I’ll be grateful for. You two should go.”

“You can’t let them go,” Nicholas said.

“Daddy, I’ve never been more disappointed in you then I am right now. I thought you cared about my feelings, but I guess you don’t. I’m leaving and at this point, I don’t care if I ever come back,” Annabella told him then led Travis outside.

Annabella didn’t know what to make of anything, all she knew is that the man she looked up to her entire life was trying to end the best thing that ever happened to her. The light that was beginning to form at the end of the tunnel was slowing beginning to fade.