_-_-_Travis' POV_-_-_

"So anyway, long story short, Garroth can't keep his mouth shut," Katelyn huffed as she stabbed at her chicken. We were all sitting at our table. And surprisingly, no Gene.

It had been a little over a week since the two started dating, and they were inseparable.

And Katelyn was still mad at me.

I have to admit, it was bothering me more than I thought it would. At first I was mad at her just because we were arguing, but now I'm more upset because she won't even give me the time of day. We haven't been alone together, and I want to get over the stupid arguments and just continue being friends.

"Excuse me? But you're the one who had that bright idea of setting off all of the fire alarms!" Garroth defended himself.

Aphmau started laughing and I just kept pushing my food around with a fork, not really paying much attention to whatever story they were talking about.

"Oh shoot, I forgot something in the art room...Aphmau, will you come and get it with me?" Garroth asked, awkwardly trying to lie so they could leave the table.

"Oh? Oh! Yeah! Sure! Let's go!" She laughed awkwardly and walked off with Garroth. I glanced at Katelyn to see her sigh a little and keep her gaze on her food.

"Katelyn, I-"

"Hey, babe," Gene walked over and kissed her cheek, sitting beside her causing her to smile.

I wish I could make her smile like that...

"Hey, where were you?"

"Zen and Sasha needed my help with something. What were you guys talking about?"

"Travis was just about to say something."

That's the first time she's said my name without yelling it in, what feels like, forever...

"It's...nothing..." I mumbled, not making eye contact.

"You sure?"

I dared to look up, only to see Katelyn, for the first time in awhile, wasn't giving me an expressionless tone, or a glare, or a tired bored glance. She was looking at me with genuine curiosity and a small smile tugged at her lips. I felt my heart stammer at the simple action.

"Uh...yeah...."

"Okay," she shrugged, looking at Gene again. They started up a conversation, but I couldn't hear over my stupid pulse that flowed violently in my ear.

I barely heard the lunch bell ring, signifying lunch was over. Which meant art class. Which meant I had to sit in the back while Katelyn sat with Gene, making goo goo eyes and smiling.

My world was feeling dimmer for some reason. I no longer felt the need to flirt with every girl, my only focus was on Katelyn and Gene.

Why were they back together?

Katelyn told me he was a jerk, which I knew, but she told me I should stay away from him. But now she's going against her own advice. It didn't make sense to me. The way she talked about him made it sound like she hated him.

"I just need you to answer me one thing....are you going to be okay?"

"I am okay."

"No you aren't, if you were already okay, you wouldn't of reacted that way at the sight of him. Are you going to be okay?"

She nodded, smiling a little.

"Alright," I whispered, stupidly leaning my forehead on hers, "don't go doing anything stupid."
 
The memory played in my mind. I glanced at my open palm. I still remember what it felt like to hold her. To touch her. How many times had we held hands? Maybe twice? But I still remember the way my heart tripped in my chest. Or that time we hugged? That was intense. She didn't fight me, and she was probably too tired to realise how close we were. Her lower back was cold under her shirt, and her hands were freezing against my chest. But I didn't care.

What's wrong with me?

I sat down in art class and slumped in my seat. I turned my head when I heard the sound of someone sitting beside me.

Katelyn?

Sure enough, she was there in her school uniform. Her powder blue hair tossed recklessly around her, and her bare legs crossed under her chair as she leaned forward a little.

She looked at me, tilting her head.

"Is something wrong?"

"N-no!"

"You're staring," she sighed, tucking some sky blue locks behind her ear.

"I...I thought you would sit with Gene..." I dumbly muttered.

"Why? This is my assigned seat."

Travis, you stupid, idiotic, moron. Dumb, dimwit, dipstick, loser, bafoon, empty minded, slow witted, brainless-

"Travis?"

"What?"

"Why are you banging your head on the desk?" She giggled, and suddenly, I had no reason to be slamming my head with every insult I thought of for myself. I laid my head on the desk and smiled at her.

"Doesn't matter now."

She smiled back, causing my heart to flutter as my toes curled in my shoes.

Maybe we were finally over that stupid bump.

"You forgot to mention imbecile," she suddenly blurted, turning to doodle on her page.

"W-what?"

"That list of insults about yourself? You forgot imbecile, nimrod, pervert, no brained, good for nothing, idiot."

"I said idiot..." I mumbled, her pleasant aura turning cold as she narrowed her piercing stare towards me.

"So why are we insulting you?"

"You wouldn't care..."

"Travis," she sighed, "stop being a stubborn ass and just tell me."

"You're one to talk about being a stubborn ass..."

"Seriously, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing you'd understand, so it's fine. Don't worry about me."

"I do worry about you..." I barely heard her mutter as we both fell silent.

For the rest of the class, we didn't talk. We just sat there, refusing to even look at each other.

As I was at my locker, I looked down the hall and saw Gene grab Katelyn's butt as he walked by her. She looked at him and blushed a little, not hitting him. I balled my fists and grabbed his arm as he walked by me. He looked at me with a raised brow and smirked. I growled and tightened my grip.

"Don't do that again..." I managed to keep my tone low.

"She's my girl, besides, she hasn't objected in any way."

"Don't. Do. That. Again."

I let go, letting him walk away. He smirked and walked back over to her. I watched as he walked around her and swung her around, smashing his lips on hers. He kept eye contact with me as he slowly reached down and grabbed her ass again. My eyes widened, and I slammed my locker shut.

Is this what jealousy is? Feels more like blood thirst...

I marched over to them, grabbed Katelyn by the forearm, and pulled her away. Her muscles were oddly tense, not liking being touched again. I lightened my grip ever so slightly and I dragged the angry ball of fire away from the crowded hallways, and only stopped when we were in a closet away from everyone. I turned on the light and pinned her to the wall beside a shelf of cleaning supplies.

"I don't like this."

"What do you mean?!" She growled, "you can't just pull me away while I'm kissing my boyf-"

"Don't call him that," I snapped, not letting her call that jerk the B word.

"What's with you?!"

"I don't like this."

"Like. What?"

"This," I tiredly sighed, "I don't like this stupid argument we've been in, I don't like seeing you two together, I don't like seeing you kiss him, I hate seeing him grab you and not getting hit, I don't like the way you two get to look at each other, I don't like any of this."

She kept silent.

"I just want things to go back to normal. No Gene."

"Gene's in my life now, Travis. I can't change tha-"

"Yes you can!" I laughed unamused, "you can dump his sorry ass."

"Just because you're jealous?"

"I'm not jealous!"

"I'm not getting in another argument about this, the fact is, Gene is my boyfr-"

I smashed my lips over hers, stopping her sentence like they did in the movies.

It was magical, her soft lips against mine, it was like a small piece of heaven had

Imagine how high I felt when she kissed back. That made this all feel like a dream. The way she cupped my jaw with one of her hands, her fingers barely reaching the lobe of my ear. Her nose brushing mine, her eyelashes occasionally brushing the bridge of my nose as we moved our heads in harmony, the feeling of her leg gently pressing against my own. I moved one hand down her shoulder and arm until I reached her hand. I intertwined our fingers, and our thumbs rubbed. She moved her hand from my jaw, running it through my hair. The world and all of it's worries froze for that moment. Her lips tangling with mine as our breaths mixed. We pulled away for a breath, but soon joined together in harmony again.

We pulled away, the world still in a frozen state. Slowly, she let go of my hands and cupped my face hesitantly, rubbing my bottom lip with her thumb. I leaned my forehead on hers, watching her features as she continued to trace my face with the pad of her soft thumb. I smiled as she ran her fingers along my jawline, she stopped at my chin, pulling my lips down to hers again. I traced her hips and memorised every curve she had.

She pulled her head back, her lips lingering for a second.

"Travis...." She whispered, the way she said my name sent shivers up my spine.

"Katelyn..." My voice came out huskier than intended, but I didn't care. This beautiful woman was finally letting me kiss her, explore the small curves and indents on her body.

"We're late to class...."

"Screw it, let's head to my dorm," I leaned in to kiss her again, but I was stopped when I felt her hands push my chest.

"This was a one time thing," I backed off as she straightened out her clothes, "we speak of this to no one."

"But....what about Gene?"

"He doesn't need to know about this," she looked down, a little ashamed. I held her chin and made her look me in the eyes.

"Well it won't happen again, so maybe it's best he doesn't know, right?"

"Right," she smiled, "whatever happens in this closet stays here."

"Then let's stay a little longer..." I purred, pulling her close to me.

"This never happened," she smirked and left the closet.

I slowly rose a hand to my lips, brushing them and smiling.

Guess I was keeping this locked in my heart.

A/N Alright, thought I'd sneak in a romantic and scandalous secret kiss. I enjoyed writing it. Next part is back in Katelyn's POV. I love you all devils, byeeeeee.
Song: Smoke and Mirrors