LOVE BITES

A/N: I dunno if you noticed my mistake last chapter from switching from Robbie's POV to not his Point of View, but I'm getting that fixed so sorry if I confused you. This is a sorta long chapter, but I like it so hopefully you do, too.

Travis's Point of View

While I'm trying to meditate after dinner, the phone rings and ruins all my karma.

            "Hello?"  I ask, annoyed.

            "Travis? Dude, is your karma off balance or something?" Ray jokes.

            "Actually, yes."

            "Oops, sorry." He doesn't sound sorry. But that's okay.

            "Oh, right. How'd the date go?" I have a seat on a nearby chair. 

            "Unbelievable!" He could almost see Ray grinning.

            "That good?"

            "Better. We just sat and talked about stuff - but it was…so unreal. Exactly how I thought it would be like." I laughed on the other line. Ray was such a romantic and he didn't even realize it. He and Lily would be perfect together - I always thought so. I'm just glad Lily actually realized it.

            "I knew things would work out."

            "They did, man! They so did!" There was a pause. "Hey, Travis, can you hold on a sec, I have another call."

            "No problem." I say, and sit patiently. He comes back.

            "It's Lily!" He says. I laugh again.

            "I'll let you talk to her."

            "Thanks bro. Later." He hangs up and I sit back down on the floor. Clear my mind; clear my mind, and then RIIIIIIIING. Great, I wonder who is interrupting my meditation this time?

            "Hello?"

            "Hey Travis." It's Robbie. I give up. I take the phone up to my room.

            "Hey. How's the homework going?" I knew Robbie wouldn't skip out on the show for homework.

            "There was never any homework. But you knew that already, didn't you?"

            "Yeah." I reply.

            "Maybe Ray was right. You're all seeing and knowing." He laughs. So do I.

            "So who was it?"

            "Stop reading my mind!" He jokes. "Promise not to be angry."

            "Promise." I say. This is going to be good.

            "Judy."

            "Judy? As in Starry Eyes Judy?"

            "Yeah."

            "Oh…kay"

            "She asked me out…and apologized."

            "Oh."

            "'Oh,' That's it?"

            "There's this old saying that goes 'A false friend and a shadow attend only when the sun shines."

            "How do you know Judy is a false friend?"

            "I don't know. I'm just saying be careful." I'm not sure I trust Judy.

            "Look, Travis, you and Lily are just judging her by the people she hangs out with. She's not like that." I could tell he was getting a little angry. "Anyway, I'm gonna go." Before I can say anything, I hear the click.

The next day at school, Ray was waiting for me at my locker.

            "Heyyyyyy." He said to me.

            "Still in a good mood, I see." I grab some books from my locker and look back up at Ray.

            "The best!" He grinned and then Lily walked up to us. Ray couldn't take his eyes off of her but I didn't notice anything different.

            "Hey guys." She said to the two of us. "Hey Ray." She said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She blushed, smiling. I nodded, smiling as well. We all stood, there, smiling, until Robbie walked up. He was wearing a different kind of shirt then he usually wore, kaki's and dress shoes. I looked at his attire then looked at him, raising an eyebrow.

            "I felt like I needed to do something different today." Was all he said before his phone rang. He smiled and then looked back at us and I couldn't help but notice his smile fading a little.

            "Hey guys I'm gonna get to class."

            "But Robbie, hold up!" Ray said and grabbed his arm.

            "What?" He said sharply. Ray, Lily and I exchanged glances. I shrugged.

            "Never mind." Ray says, walking in the opposite direction. I follow. Robbie's been on edge lately...maybe he should cool it with Judy for awhile. But it wasn't my place to say anything, so I just followed Ray and Lily to class.

AFTER SCHOOL…

            I decided to head to the Warehouse earlier then usual because Ray and Lily were still attached at the hip and Robbie was on one of his mysterious 'study sessions' with Judy.  By quarter to four, Lily and Ray showed up but Robbie was nowhere to be found.

            "Robbie's never late!" Lily said, and we all knew it was true. There was nothing more important to Robbie then the show. Ray stared over at Lily longingly.

            "I'm sure he'll be here." He said. She turned to look at him and smiled. I wondered why I hadn't thrown up yet.

            "I'll call." I offered and dialed Robbie's cell, putting it on speaker phone.

            "Hey." Robbie said. Lily took over.

            "Robbie where are you? The show's going to start in ten!"

            "Sorry! I'll be there in a minute. Geez." And with that he hung up. I shook my head and Lily stared around at us.

            "What's his deal lately?" Ray asked. I shrugged; knowing I couldn't tell them or Robbie would do one of his immaturity acts again.  Finally it was about time to start and I counted down.

            "Okay guys, with or without him, we're going on. Five, four-" Robbie ran in, out of breath. Out of patience, Lily just rolled her eyes. He shoved on his headphones and once the blue light went on, he began talking.

            "I'm Question Mark and I'm wondering, is it alright to have other friends then the usual group?" He glared over at Lily, who looked away.

            "Why, yes, Question Mark, I believe that's fine and dandy but if you're skipping out of you're "usual group" then it's not." She shot back at him.

            "I'm here, aren't I?" He asked loudly.

            "Sure, but-"

            "Shady, Question Mark. Why can't we all just get along?" Ray said. "And maybe this song will help you realize that." I played the first track to Lily's play list today, which turned out to be a punk infused love ballad. Everyone yanked off his or her headphones.

            "What's your deal, Robbie?" Lily inquired.

            "Why are you always on my back?" Robbie replied in the same tone.

            "Guys, c'mon." I said. They shut up, but it didn't help the glares they were giving each other. Ray looked from one to the other nervously.

            "You're back to Radio Free Roscoe. At the risk of another blow out, Here's a song by Good Charlotte called Wondering." Shady Lane said into the mic. Great, another love song. While she was singing along off air, Robbie stared at the clock. The rest of the hour went by just as tense as before, with glares and poor Ray trying to lighten things up.  After about a million love songs later, with sickly romantic jabbering in between, the show finally ended. I emerged from the tech booth and offered anyone to come to Mickey's with me.

            "Sure, Travis, sounds like fun." Lily said, now in a much better mood.

            "Yeah." Ray agreed, though I don't think he heard a word of what I was saying. He was still staring at Lily.

            "I have somewhere to be." Robbie said and left quickly. I sighed, wondering what was so important about Judy that Robbie was skipping out on everything else.


A/N: Sorry this is so long and not very fun. More Lily/Ray action next chapter, I promise. Please review!