Alright, I'm back with another chapter, yayyy! I hope you like it, reviews are highly appreciated! Actually, it's kinda sad. Alright, no more spoilers, so here it is.

Disclaimer: Rick Riordan would not have such a simple, basic plot, so therefore I am not he.

Chapter 9: The Day My Heart Gets Broken (Again)

Katie's POV

I walk out of Travi's hospital room, barely able to keep it in. I hold back the sobs that are gonna make people look weird, so I keep my head down and let my side bangs fall in my face. I feel a single tear run down my cheek.

"So everything that happened was kind of just in the moment that night?" I asked quietly again. Travis just nods again.

It was all I could do to not break down right then. The kiss never meant anything to him! I mean, he probably can't remember it, but it still didn't mean anything! What was I thinking, showing him my feelings like that! I'm so stupid! I knew I was going to end up with my heart broken, just like it did with Brandon. Except I never had the same feelings for him as I do for Travis. I never should have trusted him.

I told you that Katie, but you decided to listen to your heart. See why it's always good to rely on past experience and not feelings? You could have learned earlier, but it took two hurt feelings for you to realize that you shouldn't trust guys. They're dirt bags. No they're not! Travis was a really good friend, even if he hurt us that way, and if he never meant it, then he doesn't know the damage he did. And he would be sorry if he did, and a little uncomfortable. But not all guys are trash like Brandon was. It's just too bad that we had to start with him. Amen to that.

I reach my car, open the door, sit in the front, and then I cry. Straight out sob, really. I was gonna hang out with him the whole afternoon, I brought watercolor paints to do! I had such a good time with him yesterday, and then he had to go and ruin it! For me at least. And if he at least liked me as a friend, he would have enjoyed it too so at least he missed out on something good as well.

Katie, if he didn't know about your feelings, then he didn't know you would be hurt, so you shouldn't let any hard feelings stay for him. Yeah, I agree with feelings on that. I mean, it's not nice to hold grudges, so why should you? It will hurt at first, but you can make it through. Plus, if he actually likes you and he lied, and you show that you aren't hurt, then that will make him confused as heck or hurt him too. You know, you're supposed to be smart, brain Katie, but what you just said was totally hypocritical. Oooh. Right. Don't do that then. Or do it and be the bad girl. I don't know, do whatever you want Katie…

Oh my gosh, sometimes I just wish I could shut my thoughts up! I'm crying here! Remember sad Katie? Well she's here and trying not to sob too loud. And I'm trying to calm down so I can drive home! Right. Sorry. Thank you. Now I understand why he would do this, but at the same time, why?! Just kidding, I don't understand at all. I sincerely thought he liked me, it seemed really obvious after the kiss. I looked back on the many times he made me blush, and he was totally flirting! That just makes me sob harder.

I calm myself down after a few minutes, and blow my nose. The thing I need to figure out is this: How am I ever going to talk to him again?!

I don't go to school today. First of all, I'm still dealing with heartbreak, and so when I come downstairs, wrapped in a blanket with a red nose and eyes, Miranda tells me to go back upstairs and cry my heart out. So I do just that for the next hour. I'm lucky that dad is working a double shift, otherwise I would have so many questions to answer, and I really don't want to do that right now.

I take a rest and then hit the shower. The warm water feels so good on my face, but it doesn't really mix well with the redness from the crying, so I wash my face in cold water after.

I think I'm gonna go see Travis as soon as my face is somewhat back to normal. Just to hang out, see if yesterday makes a difference in anything. Maybe I can show him that I don't really care. Though I don't think I'll ever stop sniffling. But I can just chalk it up to the sick excuse again.

I go downstairs and just pamper myself by making an omelette and having a muffin. And a smoothie. And then a cinnamon roll. Yeah, sometimes I eat a lot when I'm emotional. Then I go watch some hilarious One Direction videos on youtube to make me laugh.

After about three hours of repeating that, but with different types of food, I get ready to go. Today is Travis's last full day at the hospital, so I'll wear something nice. To make him realize what he's missing out on. Hmm, maybe not. I'm supposed to be 'sick', not vengeful today. Let's go with sweatpants and a 1D t-shirt. And a sweatshirt over that.

Wait. I'm going to the hospital. Sick. Well, I'm not actually sick. Maybe, but not really. Okay, so I won't spread my heartbreak sickness on anyone else. Except maybe Travis, but who cares anymore, right? I don't. Yes you doooo.

How am I dealing with all of this? Maybe I'm still in denial. No, I know what's happened. I've accepted it, and am moving on for revenge! Or just, you know, rubbing it in his face. But maybe it doesn't seem real enough. I don't want to cry again, so please let this be the acceptance stage!

I get in the car and head to the hospital. I grab a triple shot cold coffee from the gas station on the way there. I get a few weird looks, but I just keep going. When I reach the hospital, I get past the front desk without too many questions, and I head up the stairs to Travis's room. The closer I get, the slower I walk. The crunch of the weird hall carpet softens as I walk, and then it's gone. I realize I've stopped at Travis's door.

Should I really be doing this? Will it be better if I just leave? Yeah, that might be a good idea. I sniffle turn around to walk away. Then someone opens the door.

"Oh, hi Katie! How are you doing?" I hold back a groan and turn around to see Mrs. Stoll beaming at me.

"Oh, Katie's here?" I hear Travis say quietly from inside the room. I put on my best fake smile and act.

"Hi Mrs. Stoll! How are you doing?" I totally skip over my answer to her question. "I heard you were looking for a job lately, how's the search going?" I use my fake cheery voice, but it seems to do the trick.

"It's going really good! I have a few interviews today with some local businesses, and I think they could be really good!"

"That's awesome!" This isn't fake. This is real, because I am happy for her. "I'm so glad that it's going good for you." I smile, and so does she. Then, the closer she looks at me, the more her smile disappears.

"Is everything okay, Katie? You look like something's upset you." Her motherly tone makes me want to stop and cry and tell her everything. It makes me miss my mother so much. I sniff again and hold back a few tears.

"Yeah, I just had a really bad sleep last night. And I think I'm getting a cold." And that's the truth. I cried myself to sleep. I woke up and cried again. It's not a very good cycle, I wouldn't recommend heartbreak, people.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that honey. Well, I hope you get better soon! I'm gonna go, I don't want to be late for my first interview!" She smiles at me, and then walks past me down the hall. I hesitate outside the doorway, where Travis can't see me. I know he knows I'm here, but I still have the feeling I want to leave.

"Katie? Are you still there?" a quiet voice says. Ugh. Now I have to go in.

"Yeah, Travis, I'm here." I reply. I take a deep breath, rub my eyes, and then walk in.

Travis is sitting on the window seat, a t-shirt and grey joggers on. Like he's going home. Which, I guess he is tomorrow. He still hasn't turned around from the window, which is a little odd. Maybe he's uncomfortable after yesterday, he's just staring out into the fields surrounding the hospital.

"Hey." I can't really think of anything else to say. He turns around and I have to swallow hard to keep the tears away.

"Hey Katie." Then he looks at me closer and I look down. "Woah, is everything okay? You look like you haven't slept at all." He says tenderly. Like a brother would to a sibling if they were upset. I bite my lip and push the thought down. Then he gets this scared look on his face, but it passes quickly and a nervous expression settles.

"Yeah, I think the sick thing is really coming through now" I nervously laugh, but I have to stop and cough. My throat is a little raw from crying still. A pained look comes over his face, and I have to look away.

"Aw, I'm sorry Kates. You didn't have to come today, you know, if you didn't feel up to it." he says slowly. I quickly jump to conclusions. That's what my overtired brain does. He didn't want me to come. After yesterday, I mean. Why else would he say something like that?"

"Oh, so you didn't want me to come?" I bite out. His eyes widen and then they narrow defensively.

"I didn't say that Katie. I said you didn't have to come if you didn't feel like it. I don't want you to get sicker or anything like that. I'm not the horrible person that I sometimes think you make me out to be."

"Yeah, you didn't say it, but I sure as heck know you thought it." Travis glares.

"Katie-" says Travis warningly. I go off, and everything I've been thinking comes out. All the negative, pessimistic thoughts come spewing out my mouth like pyroclastic ash out of a volcano.

"Especially after yesterday, you probably never wanna see me again, right? I mean, that was pretty much a definition of you saying you never wanna see me again, so-"

"Katie!" Travis shouts. I glare at him and he glares back. I bite my lip so I don't cry. His eyes are filled with anger, and it's obvious he's clenching his teeth. The little line in his cheek comes out when he does it. Then his glare softens and he rubs his face with his good hand. "I think you're overthinking things Katie. You never said anything that would make me wanna never see you again. If anyone did that, it was me. I mean, I was the one that did the rejecting- er, the explanation and apology." Panic makes his eyes wide and he opens his mouth but nothing comes out.

"Exactly." I spit out with a glare. "You're the one that did the rejection."

"You heard that. That wasn't supposed to come out." He runs a hand through his curls, and sighs. "And I don't even know why it was a rejection if you don't even have feelings for me. It was more to make myself feel better about having to reject you because you didn't have feelings for me." He's quiet for a moment, then he jerks his head up to look at me. "Wait a sec…"

"Yeah Travis. It was a rejection. I don't know how it wasn't clear for you Travis, but it's been pretty obvious. Why else would I have looked so sad when I left yesterday? Why else would I look like I've cried myself to sleep?" His eyes widen and he starts to interrupt me but I keep going. "Why else would I be confused about your feelings for me, if you show me how you feel one minute,"

"Wait, what?"

"Then you say you don't love me, therefore meaning you don't like me like that either, then you say today that it was to save yourself from rejection after? What the heck is going on? Are you bi-polar or something? Maybe this all has to do with your stupid dad leaving, then your mom wouldn't have gone all emotionally absent on you and you would know how to deal with feelings by now and all that crap."

"Excuse me?"

"What?" I hiss.

"What did you say about my dad?" Travis asks, calm filling his voice, but the look on his face shows pure rage. My eyes widen. I went too far. I went way too far. I just ruined whatever friendship we had left. So why not dig myself deeper in the whole I've already made? I roll my eyes and dig myself all the way to China.

"I said your dad was stupid." I raise an eyebrow in challenge. How far till he yells at me to leave? He jumps up and grabs his crutches and starts walking towards me menacingly. How someone walking menacingly towards you in crutches is scary, I don't know, but I definitely don't recommend it.

The glare in his eyes as he keeps walking towards me is more than scary. It's so scary to see the love of your life look at you like he wants to kill you, and I tremble in fear. I think I went far enough, though I don't even think I could speak to go any farther. He stops when he reaches me, my back to the closed door. My eyes threaten to spill over with tears of fear and sadness.

"Get out." he says in a whisper. "GET OUT!" He stomps his crutch. "I NEVER WANT TO FREAKING SEE YOU AGAIN! NO ONE EVER TALKS ABOUT MY FAMILY LIKE THAT AND GETS AWAY WITH IT, SO GET OUT OF MY FREAKING LIFE, GARDENER!"

What have I gotten myself into? His eyes bore into mine, making me feel like I can't get out fast enough. Still trembling, tears falling down my face, I manage to pull open the door with shaking hands and jump out of the room. I can feel Travis's glare on me even as I run down the hall. I don't even make it to the truck. I get to one of the outside gardens, sit on a bench, and sob.

"What have I done?" I sob. What have I done?

I'm not saying anything. Just that the next chapter will be up soon.