Chapter Five

Bridget gave off an innocent smile. "I don't know what you're talking about. And Travis, you're starting to hurt me." My lips pursed and I gripped her tighter. A look of pain spread like a disease across her face. "Travis, that hurts!"

"I don't care! You just screwed up my relationship with my girlfriend!"

"Well I'm sorry! I didn't know she was your girlfriend! I just thought she was a friend!" I pushed even harder and I could tell that the force I was putting on her arms could be compared to putting a 100-pound weight on your arms.

"Bull crock! You knew exactly what she was to me! You did that on purpose! You saw her come in with me and that's why you said it so loud. Bridget, I can't believe you!" I let her go and her arms sprung to life and started to release the pressure I had put on them.

"Travis, I didn't mean it. Honest, why would I lie? I don't have romantic feeling for you anymore! I said that to make your mother happy. She really wants us to get back together and I didn't want to flat out say no. What was I supposed to do?" I looked at the floor and back to her.

"Go." She questioned me with raised eyebrows. "Just leave! I need to fix everything since you screwed it all up!" She winced her eyes and walked away into the dark abyss.

The next day I could be found in the park watching the couples cuddle together to stay warm in this autumn weather. Autumn had always been my favorite of the four seasons. I always thought of autumn as a messenger announcing to us that winter was soon to come. If I had to describe fall the best I could I would say that's it's a cascade of leaves in a bouquet of color. I always loved how the calming crunch of leaves under my feet would startle animals hiding in the nearby forest of plants.

When I was a little boy and I would play hockey with my sister, Rachel, we would use rakes and the leaves around us. It not only filled my young lungs with warm laughter, but it calmed my tense body. Now that Rachel is in college I never have the opportunity. Now I simply watch the leaves float in the winds like a stream, only in air.

I sighed and looked at the playground. Children hastily ran up the stairs in hopes that they would soon feel the cool air blow on their faces as they slid down the cold metal slide. Behind them I caught a glimpse of familiar golden hair walking along the path. I ran across the playing field and saw her. The stinging winds tossed her hair into the river of leaves flowing downstream.

She was breathtaking. I walked up to her and turned her around. I saw the tears in her eyes and wiped them away. The pain in her eyes was contagious. Even worse was knowing that I had caused it. She inhaled the bitter air and let out a throaty cough.

"Why do you do this to me Travis? Why do you always let me down?" I made her sit down and we rested against a large oak tree.

"Let me tell you the truth. Bridget and I used to date. She dumped me for the popular girls, that why I don't like trusting people. She only said that we had chemistry because my mom likes her so much. I talked to my mom and explained that you and I are dating and she continuously apologized. That's the truth." Lily looked up and me and back down at her gloves.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." I tilted her head back and pressed my warm lips to her ice ones. A she happily accepted and wrapped her arms around my next as if she was a predator and I was her prey. She toppled backwards and the crunch of leaves under her was nothing that could stop us.

"Hi Travis! Can I talk to you?" I looked up and saw the worst eye sore. Bridget stood in from of us looking as tall as a skyscraper. Her scarlet poncho blended into the leaves and her forest green pants seemed to disappear.

"No. I'm busy." I looked in Lily's direction to give her the hint but if she got it she wasn't biting. I sighed and stood up. "This better be fast."

"It will be." We stood behind one of the near by tree far enough that Lily was out of listening distance. "Well I was wondering if you would come and have dinner with my parents in a few. When they heard that I had run into you the immediately wanted you to come over." It was already past five so I would have to leave soon.

I thought about it and noticed that I wasn't really hungry. The more I thought of it I realized that I hadn't eaten in two days. The harder I thought the faster the jackhammer in my mind began pounding so I dropped the subject. Knowing how her parents are I told her I would leave with her as soon as I told Lily.

I walked back to my angel and sighed as I sat down. "I have to go eat dinner with Bridget's parents. I would ditch but her parents would never drop the subject and I don't need anything else adding to the throbbing in my temples."

"Okay. I understand." Lily smiled and gave me a kiss on the forehead. "I'll call you later." I nodded and we both went our separate ways.