Read Online Beautiful Disaster 01 by Jamie McGuire - Free Book Online Page A

approached.
“Hey, Baby,” America said, kissing her boyfriend square on the mouth.
“What’s so funny?” Shepley asked.
“Oh, a guy in class was staring at Abby all hour. It was adorable.”
“As long as he was staring at Abby,” Shepley winked.
“Who was it?” Travis grimaced.
I readjusted my backpack, prompting Travis to slide it off my arms and hold it. I shook my head. “Mare’s imagining things.”
    “Abby! You big, fat liar! It was Parker Hayes, and he was being so obvious. The guy was practically drooling.”
    Travis’ expression twisted into disgust. “Parker Hayes ?”
    Shepley pulled on America’s hand. “We’re headed to lunch. Will you be enjoying the fine cafeteria cuisine this afternoon?”
    America kissed him again in answer, and Travis and I followed behind. I sat my tray between America and Finch, but Travis didn’t sit in his normal seat across from me. Instead, he sat a few seats down. It was then that I realized he hadn’t said much during our walk to the cafeteria.
“Are you okay, Trav?” I asked.
“Me? Fine, why?” he said, smoothing the features of his face.
“You’ve just been quiet.”
    Several members of the football team approached the table and sat down, laughing loudly. Travis looked a bit annoyed as he rolled his food around on his plate.
    Chris Jenks tossed a french fry onto Travis’ plate. “What’s up, Trav? I heard you bagged Tina Martin. She’s been raking your name through the mud today.”
    “Shut up, Jenks,” Travis said, keeping his eyes on his food.
    I leaned forward so the brawny giant sitting in front of Travis could experience the full force of my glare. “Knock it off, Chris.”
    Travis’ eyes bored into mine. “I can take care of myself, Abby.”
    “I’m sorry, I….”
    “I don’t want you to be sorry. I don’t want you to be anything,” he snapped, shoving away from the table and storming out the door.
Finch looked over at me with raised eyebrows. “Whoa. What was that about?”
I stabbed a tater tot with my fork and puffed. “I don’t know.”
Shepley patted my back. “It’s nothing you did, Abby.”
“He just has stuff going on,” America added.
“What kind of stuff?” I asked.
    Shepley shrugged and turned his attention to his plate. “You should know by now that it takes patience and a forgiving attitude to be friends with Travis. He’s his own universe.”
    I shook my head. “That’s the Travis everyone else sees…not the Travis I know.”
    Shepley leaned forward. “There’s no difference. You just have to ride the wave.”
    After class, I rode with America to the apartment to find Travis’ motorcycle gone. I went into his room and curled into a ball on his bed, resting my head on my arm. Travis had been fine that morning. As much time as we had spent together, I couldn’t believe I didn’t see that something had been bothering him. Not only that, it disturbed me that America seemed to know what was going on and I didn’t.
    My breathing evened out and my eyes grew heavy; it wasn’t long before I fell asleep. When my eyes opened again, the night sky had darkened the window. Muffled voices filtered down the hall from the living room, including Travis’ deep tone. I crept down the hall, and then froze when I heard my name.
    “Abby gets it, Trav. Don’t beat yourself up,” Shepley said.
    “You’re already going to the date party. What’s the harm in asking her out?” America asked.
    I stiffened, waiting for his response. “I don’t want to date her; I just want to be around her. She’s…different.”
    “Different how ?” America asked, sounding irritated.
    “She doesn’t put up with my bullshit, it’s refreshing. You said it yourself, Mare. I’m not her type. It’s just not…like that with us.”
    “You’re closer to her type than you know,” America said.
    I backed up as quietly as I could, and when the wooden boards creaked beneath my bare feet, I reached over to pull Travis’ bedroom door