If I Could Tell Him (Sal x Travis Fanfiction)

Getting Along

Sal
So, as it turns out, the bologna that everyone has been eating is human flesh.

Our findings last night led us to Mrs. Packerton's apartment, where we found a whole freezer chock full to the brim with human flesh.

It was... not a great sight to see. Especially for Larry. He threw up.

It also led us, by none other than the clumsy Ashley Campbell, to a temple hidden under the apartments. It was pretty cool, but it led us to believe that there's something wrong going on in Nockfell.

So this year won't be as normal as I thought it would.

Now, we're all back to school again, finally Friday after a long week of school and cult temple findings, and getting to know my bully a little bit better.

As I'm walking down the sidewalk with Todd and Larry, I catch none other than Travis Phelps walking a little ways ahead on the sidewalk too.

Without a word to Todd or Larry, I run up to him, wanting to say hello.

Travis
My dad left for work early and my mom was still in bed this morning, so I decided to walk to school today.

It's a pretty long walk there, but some time to myself is nice after this crazy week that's happened.

Just a few minutes away from the school, I'm surprised when suddenly there's Sal at my side, looking up at me.

"Hey, Travis." he says, breathless after catching up to me.

I glance behind me to see his orange haired friend and Larry Johnson staring gape mouthed at me. I quickly turn back to Sal. He's just... casually walking beside me?

Am I hallucinating?

"Uh... hey?" I greet back, kind of confused. What is he doing?

But then I remember our little interaction yesterday in the boys bathroom.

I guess he wasn't kidding when he said he wouldn't mind hanging out with me.

"Is it okay if I walk with you?" He looks back up at me, his blue eyes making my heart do somersaults.

"What," I say. "Uh—Are your friends okay with this?"

"Probably not," he says, looking back at them. "But I wanted to walk with you today. If that's okay."

"It's fine," I gruffly say. I hold my backpack straps tightly, feeling eyes burning in the back of my head.

We're both silent for the rest of the walk, which is agonizing. I want to say something, but it's hard to get words out, especially kind ones. I'm afraid I might snap at him under the pressure.

Thankfully, as we're a few steps to the school, Sal speaks up.

"Hey," he says, turning to me. I slow down a bit to hear him over the bustle of the school parking lot. "If it's not too much, would you want to sit by me at lunch?"

"Sit by you at lunch...? Like, with all your friends?"

"Yeah! Don't worry, I'll tell them that you'll join us then, so it won't be awkward."

"Sally Face," I look back to see Larry and the other boy approaching quickly. "Your friends hate me."

His eyes widen at that. "What? Of course they don't. I mean, maybe a little, but I don't."

I can see his face soften beneath the mask. I can't help but notice some torn skin underneath his left eye. "Travis, I always see you sitting alone during lunch. You don't have to sit by me all the time, maybe just for today?"