Title: I Could Still See the Postcards
Author: Roguester
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own Travis, Lily, Ray, or Bridget. But I think the devil does.

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Chapter 3: Man of Action

(Ray)

For now this will do, but um... this whole thing? Yeah, it's all just temporary. I'm gonna make my move soon. Just watch.

So, tomorrow. Tomorrow I'm gonna make my move. You bet I would. Me, Ray Brennan... man of action. Unless I chicken out or something. Anyways...

On Thursday, then. On Thursday I'm gonna make my move. Or maybe Friday. But I gotta make up my mind quick because there goes my lady love. I could see her sitting at the corner table of the cafeteria and Travis is waving me over so I better get there now.

Wait a minute – Travis is sitting with Lily and he's waving me over. Okay, usually this would bother me. But Bridget's in the picture now so I don't have to worry about anything anymore.

Yes, you heard me right. Bridget is indeed in the picture now – big thanks to me, of course. Because that whole shower o' postcards thing? Yeah, completely my idea. It was all me. Well, Travis helped a little. But I was definitely the unsung hero of this fool-proof plan.

I mean, seriously. How romantic was that? Let me tell you, it was so brilliant I could still see postcards floating in my head. It was so brilliant, I now count postcards instead of sheep before I got to sleep. Unless, of course, I'm counting monkeys... 'cause sometimes monkeys are just cooler.

Travis and Lily are chatting with each other now and I don't know what they're talking about. I totally just saw her lean over to him and whisper something in his ear – and usually I'd be jealous, but...

But. I don't know.

Now I ask myself, "Why aren't you sitting over there, you idiot? Travis invited you, didn't he?" So I go over there and I sit down, but they're still talking about something nonesensical and I'm completely lost.

Whoa... I just said 'nonsensical'. I have no idea what that means. I totally need to stop hanging out with Travis. Because you know what? A wise man once said that he who spends his leisure time with a weirdo shall contract the weirdness. And it's true. It is. But that's besides the point...

My point is that sometimes I do watch them. I mean, really watch them. Travis and Lily, you know? And it's like they share some kind of secret or something. And it's not one of those "we-had-a-mad-passionate-kiss-after-the-show" secret, but more like a "Travis-has-a-girlfriend-and-we-talk-about-her-all-the-time" secret. And the thing is, if Travis wants to talk about Bridget, why isn't he talking to me about her? Me! Ray Brennan, man of action... the guy who hooked them up in the first place!!! Hmm... I'm suspicious now. Really suspicious.

And now she's laughing at something he said, which I bet wasn't even that funny. I panic a little and my gut instincts are doing flip-flops inside my stomach, but no... I'm not worried because Bridget is now in the picture. I'm not worried at all. Not at all...

Quick, break up the flirty-laughing moment! Change the subject! Talk about Bridget! Yes, divert Travis' attention!

"So, how's Bridget, Trav? You missing her yet?"

But to my dismay, it was Lily who answered my question: "Of course he misses her, Ray! Did you even need to ask?"

Huh. And now Lily's answering for him. What's going on here? I made another comment about how Bridget's tattoo looked really hot (Because hello? It totally did!) but then Lily just glared at me, made a threatening comment, and punched me in the arm.

"Ouch, that really hurts, Lil!" I rubbed my sore muscle as I continued to tease her. "But if love is pain, then you must really, really, really love me." I grinned at her and expected her to smack me again, but instead she pinched me on the cheek and said, "Oh Ray... stop trying to be so cute."

Travis laughed and made a move to touch Lily's arm, but at the last minute he changed his course of direction and tapped the table instead. "You're such a glutton for punishment, Ray," he quipped.

And usually I'd be like, "What's a glutton?" but this time I've got ammunition.

"Don't try to sound like a smartass, Swami. I know what 'glutton' means. It means 'one who eats to excess.' Okay, wait... why would someone want to 'eat' punishment into 'excess'?"

Travis snickered and shook his head. "You know Ray, you're a lot smarter than you look." And then he smirked at me. "But then again, you do look like an idiot."

All three of us at the table busted our guts laughing, but nobody laughed as hard as Lily did. Turning towards Travis, she made a move to touch his arm, but at the last minute she changed her course of direction and tugged on his shirt sleeve instead.

Huh. There it is again. First, Travis taps the table to avoid touching Lily and now Lily tugs on a sleeve to avoid touching Travis. Why are they so weird about touching each other? Like they have something to be guilty about or something. Except they're not aware of it... or maybe they're just trying too hard NOT to be aware of it.

You know, sometimes I watch them. I mean, really watch them. Travis and Lily, you know? They wink at each other and they nudge at each other the way friends do, but with those two something's always woff. Weird and off... kind of like 'best of both worlds' but not really.

And suddenly, I started to feel woff myself. Me hooking up Travis and Bridget so that I can have Lily to myself makes me feel like crap. It's like getting rid of the competition so that the girl can settle for second best. It's ridiculous. The worst plan ever.

But you know what? I don't regret it. I don't regret it one bit. Because in basketball, it doesn't matter whether my team won by 20 points or by a 3-point shot. What counts is that we won. And in love, it doesn't matter whether you got there first or you're just sloppy seconds. The important thing is that you're in love and that you'll take anything that you can get. That's why I'm here... that's why I'm still trying.

And Lily's on her way to class now, but I know that I have to make my move quickly before it's too late. So right after she made a pit stop to her locker – right after Travis helped her tie a bandanna around her head – I grabbed her by the shoulder and stopped her. Screw Friday. It's go time.

"Lily, we have to talk," I told her.

(to be continued...)

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A/N: Some of you are curious about my style of writing. Well, let me tell you... I was inspired by an author named parkergray, mostly of the Harry Potter fandom. She writes the most magnificent ficlets and everyone should check them out! Also, when I'm writing I usually have a particular song in mind. And although this story is not a songfic, I still want to share with you guys the music that I've been listening to. So here they are:

Recommended background music: Ch 1 - Linger by The Cranberries, Ch 2 - Tigerlily by Matchbook Romance, Ch 3 - It's Good To Be In Love by Frou Frou