I heard her whimper. As she started walking towards the door, she let a few tears fall.
"I love you so much Ana." She smiles while opening the door.
"I love you too mom... so so much." I smiled as she shut the door. I sat on my bed thinking how much I was going to miss her.
"So how are you? I missed you. It's been too long! How was Christmas? How was New Years?" That's the Emma I know. I started laughing.
"Christmas was good! My mom and I went to my grandparents’ house and spent the day there with my whole family. New Years was fun! My mom and I went out to a nice fancy dinner and neither of us had a 12 am kiss, but it was still the best." I told her smiling.
"How was yours?" I asked her.
"Good! I spent Christmas with the family but I spent New Year's Eve here at the dorms. We had a nice party. I wish you were there with me." She stated sadly.
"Well, I'm here now!" I smiled while getting up and pulling her hand to the door.
"Where are we going?"
"Our tradition!" She looked at me confused. "Pizza!" I pulled her out the door and down the stairs.
"I'm so happy to be back here, I can't wait to get back to my classes and eat take out three times a day." I told her sarcastically with a little bit of truth in it.
"And I'm happy your back so I have someone that I can eat take out with, rather than sitting on my bed like a loner eating by myself. I don't like any other girls here. They are all snobby and stuck up." As soon as she said that, a girl was walking passed us and gave Emma a dirty look, "See! Told ya." She shrugged her shoulders.
I laughed in return.
The restaurant was busier than we thought it would be. I missed college. All students talking loudly, sipping a flask when no one’s looking, laughing, talking about schedules and seeing if they have any of the same classes. I didn't realize how much I missed it, until now. I'm nervous to see Travis but thankfully he is not here.
"I'll have a large pizza, just cheese!" Emma yelled to the guy over the counter. She needed to yell over the loud students. I was too busy thinking and being in awe at the college life to know that we were at the top of the line already.
"10 minutes." The guy said to us.
"Great thanks!" Emma yelled, then she turned to me. "What are you thinking about over there in that big brain of yours?"
"Nothing! Just thinking about the food. I'm starving!" She looked at me weirdly, knowing that that's not what I was thinking about. I exhaled a deep breath. "Travis."
"I knew something was going on in your brain and it wasn't the smell of dough being baked." She said matterof-factly.
"I'm nervous to see him. I'm not sure what to really say to him." I shrugged my shoulders. "Has he... you know?" I asked her, afraid of the answer. Emma shrugged her shoulders and looked at the guy who was putting the cheese on our pizza and putting it back in the oven.
"That's a yes."
"Only six." She said quietly while still looking away.
"SIX?!"
"They were for good causes though." She looked at me trying to lighten up the mood.
I just shook my head. I can't be with someone like him.
"You just need to hear him out Ana." She told me while putting her hand on my shoulder.
"It's too late... he's still doing it."
Chapter 15
I managed to go five full days without seeing Travis. He came to the dorm a few times, but I wasn't there. Today is the first day back and since Emma and I found our classes yesterday, we don't have to rush since we already know where they are.
"Let's go!" Emma yelled from the hallway.
“I love you so much mom.” I told her on the phone.
“I love you too sweetie. Now go!” she yelled and laughed.
“I love you too, Elena!” Emma yelled through the phone.
“I love you too sweetie.” My mother told Emma. We said our goodbyes and headed out the door.
I grabbed my backpack and headed for the door.
Everyone was walking around campus, some were running trying to get inside from the cold, others were fidgeting with their schedules, and some of them were seeing their friends for the first time since last semester ended. Emma and I made it to the biology building and thank god for that because my eyelashes were going to freeze and break off. We had the same class together, Emma and I. We were taking microbiology.
Walking down the hallway to our first classroom this semester and for the first time in three months, I spot the thick curly light brown quiff. Catching up with guy friends, talking and smiling to everyone that walks by him. His backpack hangs perfectly off his shoulder. He has a button down shirt on with some buttons undone on the top so you can see his tattoos begging to be shown, sleeves rolled up to his elbows with tattoos all over him, dark jeans on, and converse shoes.
"Are you okay?" Emma asked me after she saw Travis.
I just nodded.
As I was about to walk into my class, his eyes met mine. They were much bluer than I remembered, blue eyes are ice cold, or so that's what I thought. I didn't think they were warm. But, since I met him I've realized now, that blazing fires tend to burn blue in my world now. His smile is captivating, engaging, and irresistible. As he was walking towards me, I felt my cheeks burning up and my hands became clammy. We never looked away from each other, eyes locked.
"Let's go students. Class is beginning." My professor yelled out the door.
I pried my eyes away from Travis, looked at Emma, and then walk into the classroom just before the professor shuts the door.
Two hours later
"I will see you all next week." The professor said as everyone gathered their things together and started heading out.
"I'm definitely going to try to get the homework done before Friday so I have all weekend free for us to catch up and hang out." Emma said while walking out the door with me trailing behind her.
"I agree." I managed to get out after walking into the hallway to find Travis standing on the other side of the hallway facing my classroom.
He had his arms crossed and one foot up on the wall behind him and his backpack on the floor beside him. Why does he have to be so perfect all the time? He doesn't even have to try. Our eyes locked.
"Ready Em?" I asked her while pulling her to walk away fast.
"Ana, come on. You have to talk to him at some point." She's right, I do, but not right now.
"Anastasia wait!" Travis yelled after me.
His voice. It was like whiskey. Smooth with a slow burn that travels from your lips down to your stomach. It lights you up from the inside.
"Travis please not now." I told him. It kills me to be like this to him but with who he is, I don’t know how to be around him. Scared, protected, in danger... I don’t know.
He stopped walking as I went to go open the doors.
"I... I love... I love you Anastasia!" He said while stuttering fast.
Everyone in the hallway, along with me and Emma, stopped dead in their tracks. Silence. I turned around slowly while trying not to drop any of my books that wouldn't fit inside my backpack.
"What did you just say?" I asked him walking slowly towards him.
"I said that I love you Anastasia." He made sure he said that slowly and more clear. "And I'm going to keep trying until you give me the chance that I deserve."
"Deserve?" I asked loudly. "You beat people up for a living." I said more softly. "You hurt people. You think you deserve a chance... with me? I can't be with someone that beats men up for fun as one of their jobs Travis... or should I say Stone?"
"Please stop calling me that Anastasia." He pleaded. I hate to see him sad. Stand your ground Anastasia.
"Well, that's your name isn't it?!" I say more loudly.
He walked towards me in a fast pace and puts his hands on both sides of my face. He looked into my eyes and crashed his lips to mine. The world stopped for a brief amount of time. I felt alive again. The anticipation of his lips on mine. Intensity. Magnetic. Fire. Everlas
ting. Perfect. Completely perfect. As he pulled away, I knew I wanted more. This was just the beginning. He was my beginning. My beginning to feel alive again.
"You need to stop." I pleaded.
"Stop what?" He asked confused.
"This Travis. This. You aren't being Stone anymore. This shouldn't be you. If you want me to give us a chance then you need to take Stone out of your life. I can't be with someone like that. I want you to only be the Travis that I know when he's sweet and caring and kind. The
Travis who owns that hospital and helps people! Not this
Travis."
"Done." He hurriedly said.
"Done? Travis you haven't even thought it thr-" he cut me off.
"Done, Anastasia." He told me while pulling me in for another kiss.
"Go home and just think this through... this is your life we are talking about." I told him.
"Anastasia... I am home. Home is you. This isn't my life we are talking about, it's our life." He said while kissing me again.
"Can I take you on a date, Anastasia?" He asked me after I pulled away from the kiss.
"Okay, sure, Travis." I said with a big smile on my face.
"Since it's too cold for my motorcycle, I'm going to call Paul to take us. How about I pick you up for 6?" "Sounds perfect" I told him smiling.
As I started to walk into my building, “Anastasia!" Travis yelled. I turned around.
"Yes Travis?"
"I can't wait to see you tonight." He smiled and I smiled back while turning around and walking into my building.
That went better than I thought it would. Hearing him tell me that he loves me was something I was not expecting. As I walked up the stairs and went to my dorm room, Ethan was with Emma... in her bed.
"I'm so sorry!" I yelled turning around and covering my eyes.
"Um, hello? Knock why don’t cha!" Emma said laughing.
“Um, last time I checked, this was my dorm too and I have a key!” I yelled at her with my hands still covering my eyes. I hear shuffling around and I am completely horrified. "I um... I'm going on a date with Travis." I said while keeping my eyes covered and walking to my dresser hoping to grab my toiletries and makeup.
"Aw that's great!" Emma squealed.
"I'm happy for you two... it's about damn time." Ethan said while laughing.
"Well I um... okay... whelp... carry on and I will be in the shower and getting ready out here." I went to walk out and of course only me, would walk right straight into a wall followed by hysterical laughter coming from Emma's bed. "Shut up... have fun you two." I told them as I was rubbing my head.
"Oh we will." Ethan told me, I can hear in his voice, he was smirking. I heard a slap as I was walking out the door and I figured that was Emma hitting Ethan because of the remark he just made. I just laughed.
As I walked into the bathroom, the showers were full so I need to wait my turn. I looked at my phone and noticed it was already 4 and I still needed to shower, do my hair and makeup, and figure out something to wear since I couldn't do that just now because Emma is sort of busy. As I was patiently waiting for my turn, I was trying to put together an outfit for later in my head.
By the time I showered and did my makeup, it was already 5. I figured out what I was going to wear while I finished up my hair. I was going to wear nice jeans with a cute floral shirt and my black flats. That should be a nice casual but cute outfit to wear...
My phone went off.
*Hey Anastasia. Make sure you wear something elegant. Can't wait to see you, I'll be there at 6 :)*
Or maybe it's not a nice outfit to wear for tonight. Damnit Travis. Why tell me know when I only have 55 minutes to figure out something elegant?!
*Can't wait to see you either. PS: thanks for telling me
NOW that you want me to dress elegant. :/*
*You like me too much to get mad at me. See you soon.*
No that's not true... I love you too much to get mad at you. I shook my head, pushing the thoughts back deep down inside. Now is not the time for them to come to the surface Anastasia. Day by day.
I rush back to the room once I'm done getting ready. Making sure I knock and wait for an answer first. I learned from my mistake an hour ago and that will never happen again.
"Come in!" Emma yelled.
I walk in to see her and Ethan dressed and saying bye to one another.
"I will come by tomorrow morning after work." Ethan told her while planting a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you Ethan." She told him while giving him a hug and walking him towards the door.
"I love you too baby. Have fun Ana! I know Travis has been looking forward to this for month’s now.” He told her then looked at me while smiling and walking out.
"Thank you!" I smiled and yelled before her shut the door and left Emma and I in the dorm by ourselves. I couldn't help my cheeks from getting red. "I love you" I cooed in a girly high pitch voice.
"Shut up... says the one blushing because Ethan said Travis's name. Travis, Travis. Travis. Travis." She told me smirking while picking up a pen from her desk and throwing it at me.
"Alright! Now I'm the one telling you to shut up." I told her as I picked up the pen and threw it back at her. "Shush, I was kidding but in all seriousness, I need your help. Like right now. Travis is coming in like 45 minutes and he just told me now to dress elegant." I hurriedly spoke to her in a panic.
She pulled something out of my closet that I honestly forgot I even brought with me here. It was a deep maroon, mid-calf, halter top dress. I decided to wear shiny black pointy toed heels. My makeup was natural and my hair was down in big curls.
There was a knock at the door. I looked at myself one last time in the mirror and I watched as Emma hid behind the door so Travis wouldn't see her.
"Wow Anastasia, you look absolutely beautiful." Travis stared at me in awe while giving me a bouquet of red roses. As I put them on the dresser next to the door, I glanced at Emma and she winked at me and gave me a thumbs up. I just smirked at her.
"Thank you Travis! You look very handsome." He had on a black suit with dressy shoes and a white button up underneath. His tie was perfectly placed and you could still see a little of one of his tattoos peeking through the top of the shirt. If you look closely, you can see some of the tattoos through the white shirt. He looks steamy.
"Shall we get going?" He smiled while moving to the side and gesturing me to go in front of him.
"We shall." I smiled while stepping out into the hallway.
"Bye Emma!" Travis yelled and Emma came out from behind the door with a blushed face.
"Have fun guysss." She sang embarrassingly. "Uh how'd you know I was behind there?"
"I heard you giggling the whole time." Travis told her while smiling.
"Hm... I'll work on that for next time." I laughed at her while she shut the door.
We got outside and Paul was waiting with the Limo door open.
"Good evening, Mr. Coleman and Miss. Reilly." Paul said while gesturing us into the vehicle.
"Thank you Paul." Travis and I said in unison as Paul shut the door.
"Shall I do this or would you like to?" Travis asked me while holding a bottle of champagne.
"Me! I've always wanted to pop a bottle of champagne but I never got the chance to." I said excitedly while grabbing the bottle from his hand. "So how do I do it?" I asked while holding the bottle up in the air.
"First, you need to point it away from me since the cork will go right to my face." He started laughing and I joined in.
He moved my arms so the bottle was away from him and his hand was placed on mine.
"Ready?" He looked at me and smiled. I nodded excitedly.
*POP*
"We did it!" I yelled excitedly as he took the bottle from my hand and grabbed two glasses and filled them halfway.
"Yes we did. Now let's make a toast." He smiled. "To us."
"To us." And we sipped.
"We'll be at dinner by 8" he tol
d me while putting his champagne down on the lighted bar in the limo.
"8?" I asked him confused. Its 6 now.
"Yes. Since you don't have classes tomorrow, we are going to dinner at my house."
"How did you know I don't have classes?" "Emma." He smirked and winked at me.
It was 8 when we arrived on his road but instead of going straight to his house, we went right. 10 minutes later we arrived to a place that I didn't know was on his property.
Paul opened the door and Travis stepped out, turning around and helping me out.
"Enjoy your night." Paul told us while smiling and shutting the door.
"Let's go." Travis said while I heard Paul drive off. He left out his arm and I linked it with mine.
We walked up a beautiful rose pedal walkway with candles forming a pathway. There was a gazebo with a chandelier hanging down in the middle and along the gazebo, there were fairy lights around it. I was in awe.
"Travis... I... I don't know what to-"
"You don't have to say anything." He smiled while unlinking my arm with his and pulling out one of the chairs from the table he had set right in the middle of the gazebo.
As I looked on one side, there was the rose walkway with candles and when I looked to the other side, there was a beautiful lake. As he sat down across from me, he smiled and I smiled back.
"This is breathtaking." I told him stunned.
"It really is."
"How did you..?"
"I had my planner set this up for us." He stated proudly. He took both of our covers off our plates to reveal our dinner. He had a steak filet with mashed potatoes on his plate and I had a penne alla vodka. He opened a bottle of red wine for us and poured two glasses.
"I hope this isn't too much. I just wanted everything to be perfect." He blushed embarrassingly.
"It is perfect Travis."
"Cheers"
"Cheers" I said as we clinked our wine glasses together and took a sip.
Dinner was delicious. We both finished everything on our plates and we almost finished our bottle of wine too. Everything is just so perfect. He planned this evening for us from the picking me up to the rose pedals on the ground. How did I get so lucky? My mom was right. You really don't know someone unless you try to know them. I never gave Travis a chance, I didn't think he was deserving of a chance but I proved myself wrong, he deserves everything.
Eyes For You (Chasing Tomorrow Book 1) Page 9