“Hey, I was just givin’ you a hard time, Travis,” he said, looking up at him.

“Apologize to Pidge,” Travis said, glowering down at him.

Chris looked down at me with a nervous grin. “I…I was just kidding, Abby. I’m sorry.”

I glared at him as he looked up to Travis for approval. When Travis walked away, Chris snickered, and then whispered something to Brazil. My heart began to pound when I saw Travis stop in his tracks and ball his hands into fists at his side.

Brazil shook his head and huffed in an exasperated sigh. “Just remember when you wake up, Chris…that you bring it on yourself.”

Travis lifted Finch’s tray off the table and swung it into Chris’ face, knocking him off his chair. Chris tried to scramble under the table, but Travis pulled him out by his legs, and then began to wail on him.

Chris curled into a ball, and then Travis kicked him in the back. Chris arched and turned, holding his hands out, allowing Travis to land several punches to his face. The blood began to flow, and Travis stood up, winded.

“If you even look at her you piece of shit, I’ll break your fuckin’ jaw!” Travis yelled. I winced when he kicked Chris in the leg one last time.

The women working in the cafeteria scampered out, shocked at the bloody mess on the floor.

“Sorry,” Travis said, wiping Chris’ blood from his cheek.

Some of the students stood up to get a better look; others remained seated, watching with mild amusement. The football team simply stared at Chris’ limp body on the floor, shaking their heads.

Travis turned, and Shepley stood, grabbing both my arm and America’s hand, pulling us out the door behind his cousin. We walked the short distance to Morgan Hall, and America and I sat on the front steps, watching Travis pace back and forth.

“You okay, Trav?” Shepley asked.

“Just…give me a minute,” he said, putting his hands low on his hips as he walked.

Shepley shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m surprised you stopped.”

“Pidge said to teach him some manners, Shep, not kill him. It took everything I had to quit when I did.”

America slipped on her large, square sunglasses to look up at Travis. “What did Chris say that set you off, anyway?”

“Something he’ll never say again,” Travis seethed.

America looked to Shepley, who shrugged. “I didn’t hear it.”

Travis’ hands balled into fists again. “I’m goin’ back in there.”

Shepley touched Travis’ shoulder. “Your girls out here. You don’t need to go back in there.”

Travis looked at me, forcing himself to stay calm. “He said…everyone thinks Pidge has…Jesus, I can’t even say it.”

“Just say it already,” America muttered, picking at her nails.

Finch walked up behind Travis, clearly thrilled by all the excitement. “Every straight guy at Eastern wants to try her out because she landed the unattainable Travis Maddox,” he shrugged. “That’s what they’re saying in there now, at least.”

Travis shouldered past Finch, heading for the cafeteria. Shepley bolted after him, grabbing his arm. My hands flew to my mouth when Travis swung, and Shepley ducked. My eyes darted to America who was unaffected, accustomed to their routine.

I could think of only one thing to do to stop him. I scrambled off the steps, wheeling around, directly in his path. I jumped on him, wrapping my legs around his waist, and he gripped my thighs as I grabbed each side of his face, planting a long, deep kiss on his mouth. I could feel his anger melt away as he kissed me, and when I pulled away, I knew I had won.

“We don’t care what they think, remember? You can’t start now,” I said, smiling with confidence. I had more of an effect on him than I ever thought possible.

“I can’t let them talk about you like that, Pigeon,” he said with a frustrated frown, lowering me to my feet.

I slid my arms under his, interlocking my fingers behind his back. “Like what? They think I have something special because you’ve never settled down before. Do you disagree?”

“Hell no, I just can’t stand the thought of every guy in this school wanting to bag you because of it.” He pressed his forehead against mine. “This is going to make me crazy. I can already tell.”

“Don’t let them get to you, Travis,” Shepley said. “You can’t fight everybody.”

Travis sighed. “Everybody. How would you feel if everybody thought about America like that?”

“Who says they don’t?” America said, offended. We all laughed, and America made a face. “I wasn’t kidding.”

Shepley pulled her to her feet by her hands and kissed her cheek. “We know, Baby. I gave up being jealous a long time ago. I’d never have time to do anything else.”

America smiled in appreciation, and then hugged him. Shepley had an uncanny ability to make everyone around him feel at ease, no doubt the result from growing up around Travis and his brothers. It was probably more of a defense mechanism than anything.

Travis nuzzled my ear, and I giggled until I saw Parker approach. The same sense of urgency I’d felt when Travis wanted to return to the cafeteria overcame me, and I instantly let go of Travis to quickly walked the ten or so feet to intercept Parker.

“I need to talk to you,” he said.

I glanced behind me, and then shook my head as a warning. “Now is not a good time, Parker. It’s a really, really bad time, actually. Travis and Chris got into it at lunch, and he’s still a little raw. You need to go.”

Parker eyed Travis, and then returned his attention to me, determined. “I just heard what happened in the cafeteria. I don’t think you realize what you’re getting yourself into. Travis is bad news, Abby. Everyone knows it. No one is talking about how great it is that you’ve turned him around…they’re all waiting for him to do what he does best. I don’t know what he’s told you, but you have no clue what kind of person he is.”

I felt Travis’ hands on my shoulders. “Why don’t you tell her, then?”

Parker shifted nervously. “Do you know how many humiliated girls I’ve taken home from parties after they’ve spent a few hours alone in a room with him? He’s going to hurt you.”

Travis fingers tightened in reaction, and I rested my hand on his until he relaxed. “You should go, Parker.”

“You should listen to what I’m saying, Abs.”

“Don’t fucking call her that,” Travis growled.

Parker didn’t take his eyes from mine. “I’m worried about you.”

“I appreciate it, but it’s unnecessary.”

Parker shook his head. “He saw you as a long-term challenge, Abby. He has you thinking you’re different from the other girls so he could get you in the sack. He’s going to get tired of you. He has the attention span of a toddler.”

Travis stepped around me, standing so close to Parker that their noses nearly touched. “I let you have your say. My patience has run out.” Parker tried to look at me, but Travis leaned in his way. “Don’t you fucking look at her. Look at me you spoiled shit stain.” Parker focused on Travis’ eyes and waited. “If you so much as breathe in her direction, I’ll make sure you’ll be limping through med school.”

Parker took a few steps back until I was in his line of sight. “I thought you were smarter than that,” he said, shaking his head before turning away.

Travis watched him leave, and then turned around, his eyes searching mine. “You know that’s a bunch of bullshit, right? It’s not true.”

“I’m sure that’s what everyone is thinking,” I grumbled, noting the interest of those walking by.

“Then I’ll prove them wrong.”


As the week wore on, Travis took his promise very seriously. He no longer humored the girls that stopped him on his way to and from class, and at times he was rude about it. By the time we walked into The Red for the Halloween party, I was a little nervous about how he planned to keep the intoxicated co-eds away.

America, Finch and I sat at a nearby table while watching Shepley and Travis play pool against two of their Sig Tau brothers.

“Go, Baby!” America called, standing up on the rungs of her stool.

Shepley winked at her and then took his shot, sinking it into the far right pocket.

“Wooo!” she squealed.

A trio of women dressed as Charlie’s Angels approached Travis while he waited his turn, and I smiled as he tried his best to ignore them. When one of them traced the line of one of his tattoos, Travis pulled his arm away. He waved her off so he could make a shot, and she pouted to her friends.

“Can you believe how ridiculous they are? The girls here are shameless,” America said.

Finch shook his head in awe. “It’s Travis. I think it’s the bad-boy thing. They either want to save him, or think they’re immune to his wicked ways. I’m not sure which.”

“It’s probably both,” I laughed, giggling at the girls waiting for Travis to pay them attention. “Can you imagine hoping you’re the one he’ll pick? Knowing you’ll be used for sex?”

“Daddy issues,” America said, taking a sip of her drink.

Finch put out his cigarette, and tugged on our dresses. “Come on girls! The Finch wants to dance!”

“Only if you promise not to call yourself that ever again,” America said.

Finch jutted out his bottom lip, and America smiled. “Come on, Abby. You don’t wanna make Finch cry, do you?”

We joined the policemen and vampires on the dance floor, and Finch broke out his Timberlake moves. I glanced at Travis over my shoulder and caught him watching me from the corner of his eye, pretending to watch Shepley sink the eight ball for the game. Shepley collected their winnings, and Travis walked to the long, shallow table that bordered the dance floor, taking a drink. Finch flailed about the dance floor, finally sandwiching himself between America and me. Travis rolled his eyes, chuckling as he returned to our table with Shepley.