The Haunting (15 page)

Authors: Nicole Garcia

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means our mother loves him more than me, and so do you.”

Savannah knew how much Travis loved her, but she didn’t feel the same way for him. She loved him as a friend. Maybe if things had been different she could have loved him like a boyfriend. But, she fell in love with Billy from the moment she saw him. Even though they were only teenagers, he always put a smile on her face. Travis was going through some hard times with his feelings for his father and at the time he didn’t want to be bothered with anyone.

Now was a different story. Travis was sweet, caring, and a respectable man. He had made a complete turnaround from the troublesome boy he once was. Savannah knew that if she wasn’t in love with Billy, she could definitely see herself being in a relationship with Travis. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work out as planned. She was still in love with Billy and there was nothing that could change that. Not even him breaking up with her and sending every single letter she wrote him back.

“Travis, what do you mean by that?”

“It means that my brother has everyone loving him and I don’t.”

“What are you talking about? Your mother loves you. I love you.”

“No you don’t. Not the way I love you.”

Savannah moved closer to Travis and took his hand. “I do love you Travis. I just can’t love you the way you need me to. I still love Billy. It wouldn’t be fair to you.”

“Don’t tell me what’s fair and what’s not. Was it fair that he left you? Was it fair that he broke up with you? Was it fair that he sent back every letter you wrote him? I don’t think any of that was fair do you? Yet, you pine over him when he hasn't been here for you, not once, in four years. I have been here with you practically every day. Holding you, consoling you, and giving you a shoulder to cry on. That’s not fair. Let me tell you something, it hurts me every time I see you cry because I know I can never be the man you need or even want for that matter. That’s not fair.” Travis began to stand but Savannah grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.

Savannah ran her fingers through his short brown hair and rubbed his cheek with her thumb. “I’m so sorry Travis. I understand how you feel, I really do. And I do love you. I love you more than you can ever know. You have been there for me every day and every time I have needed you without question. If it were different believe me I would be lucky to have a man like you. But, I can't shut my feelings off for Billy. I feel so deeply for him it hurts. My heart hurts not being able to be with him.”

Travis took her hand, kissed it, and sighed heavily. “That is something I can relate to.” He leaned over and took her head in his hands. He pulled her forward and gently kisses her forehead knowing that would be as close as he would ever get to her.

Savannah rested her head on Travis’ shoulder as they looked out onto the sparkling lake. She didn't know how long they sat there, and even though people were running about, it was the most peaceful time she’d had in a long time. She really wished that moment could’ve lasted longer.

The loud obnoxious voice of Sydney Bradshaw ripping through the air. She was Savannah’s arch enemy since the third grade. “Hey Travis, your brother is here!”

Travis sat up straight and looked in the distance and saw his younger brother walking with a cane and a bandage over the whole left side of his face. He jumped up and started running towards Billy. When Savannah heard Sydney shout that Billy had arrived she froze. She couldn’t even turn her head. She wanted to look over to him but was rendered immobile from the shock she felt.

Finally, after a minute or so she turned her head and looked up the hill where Travis was welcoming Billy. What she saw was something that was totally unexpected. Billy was wounded, badly. She quickly stood up and her first reaction was to run over to him and throw her arms around him. But, she remembered he didn’t love or want her anymore. Tears flowed from her eyes before she even had a chance to get a hold of her feelings. She violently wiped her eyes and ran up the hill over to Travis and Billy but instead of stopping she went right past them.

“Savannah! Wait!” Travis tried to call her back but she was already getting into her car.

Savannah got into her car started it up and peeled out of the parking spot. Tires screeching and white smoke filled the picnic area. She sped down the road and headed back home. She knew in her gut it was a bad idea to stay at lake, next time she was going to listen to that feeling in the pit of her stomach. There was no way she could handle any more heartache. This was going to be an even more difficult time since it was a small town and Billy would now be home.

The only thing she could do was avoid him. How she was going to do that she didn’t know, but it was the only choice she had now. That is until she saved enough money to get the hell out of town. There was no way she could live there anymore. She was totally unprepared for this situation. Damn her mother for not saying Billy would be coming home today.

Savannah pulled into the driveway almost running her father over and slammed on her brakes. She opened the car door, got out, and slammed it closed. She was seething with anger. Angry at her mother, angry at Billy, and even angry at Travis. How could no one tell her about something so important? She needed to unleash her anger out on someone, and that someone happened to be her mother.

Savannah walked up the driveway and into the house. She called out to her mother who was in the kitchen. “Mother!”