Keeping Secrets (Book 1)

Chapter 2: Families

By the time we made it to Travis' house, I had calmed down. He was still worrying about me though, believing I had panicked simply by being in the car. To be fair, it wouldn't have been the first time that's happened since the accident.

Inside, Travis helped me up to his bedroom. No matter how many times I've been up here, the stairs haven't gotten any easier, although my physical therapist said that would come with more practice. He's never complained about my need to hang onto him, though. He probably even enjoyed it.

As soon as we made it to his room, I flopped down on his bed, ready for a nap. This is why I was grateful I lived in a one story house. I didn't have to deal with stairs every day. It was exhausting.

Travis stood by my legs, his hands already on my thighs. I knew what he wanted - I wanted it too. There was just one thing in the way.

Thankfully, he knew exactly what I was thinking. He carefully rolled up my pant leg, exposing the metal and plastic monstrosity that was my prosthetic.

He looked me in the eyes. "Mind if I-"

"Do it." I hated the thing, and having to deal with it during sex was not something either of us enjoyed, as proven by the first time we tried.

I watched as he carefully undid the strap and slid the thing off the stump of a leg I had left. As soon as he placed it on the floor by his desk, he was back to me, moving so that his whole body covered mine.

"Hi," he whispered, his breath fanning my face.

I didn't answer him. Instead, I leaned up to kiss him.

"You know, I always suspected you were gay."

I gasped, pushing Travis off me. I quickly sat up, staring at the chair in the corner of the room where Jenny was sitting.

Travis was trying to ask me if I was okay, but I couldn't focus on him. I hadn't seen her since the accident. Why would she show up now? Of all times!

I only turned my attention away from my little sister when Travis guided my head away from the chair so that I was looking at him. "What's wrong, babe?"

I shook my head. "Sorry. I don't know. Can you get me some water?"

As soon as he agreed and left the room, I turned back to my sister. "What are you doing here?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice down in case Travis could hear.

She shrugged. "Figured it was time to check in. Didn't realize I'd be interrupting."

"It's been four months, Jenny! I've been feeling so guilty!" A flash of that night went through my head and I tried to hold back a sob. "I'm so sorry, Jenny. It's my fault you're dead."

"No," she scoffed. "It's that drunk driver's. I never blamed you."

Before I could say anything else, Travis returned. He had a glass of water in one hand and a big bag of BBQ chips in the other - my favorite. "Here you go, babe," he said, handing me the water. "I brought some chips too, in case you were hungry."

He sat down next to me and I grabbed the bag. "You're the best."

"Are you doing okay?" I could hear the worry in his voice. I hated lying to him. I really did.

"Sorry," I said softly, looking back at the chair. Jenny was gone, like I knew she would be. "I started thinking about my sister and I... I freaked out."

Travis wrapped his arms around me and I leaned into his embrace. He didn't say anything, which I was glad for. I just wanted everything to go back to normal, but I knew that wasn't possible.

"I should have been the one to die," I muttered. "Not her."

He kissed the top of my head. "Don't ever say that, Dyl."

"Yeah, listen to your hot boyfriend," Jenny said, having reappeared. "I already told you it wasn't your fault. Don't feel guilty about it. I'm fine. I just happen to be a little dead, is all."

I nodded, sort of responding to both of them. They were right, I guess. It was just hard, knowing that I'm never going to be able to accomplish what I had wanted in life because of this disability I had now. I couldn't even bring myself to make Travis happy by telling my parents I'm gay. Is that really a life worth living when she had so much more potential?

"Hey," Travis said quietly, standing up and placing my glass of water on the nightstand. "How about we..." He grabbed both game controllers, tossing me one. "Play something? Take your mind off everything?"

I easily caught it while he turned on the TV screen. I appreciated how much Travis tries to help me - without question - even when I've barely given him anything recently. I've been such a bad boyfriend recently, no wonder he's ready to leave me behind.

Travis jumped onto the bed behind me, sitting down with his legs on either side of me and his back against the wall. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I leaned on his chest, getting comfortable to start playing.

I wasn't sure how long we were there - although if the empty bag of chips said anything, it was at least an hour, maybe more - before there was a soft knock on Travis' bedroom door. He paused the game just in time for his step-mom to walk in. She smiled when she saw me.

"Dylan, sweetie," she said. "I didn't realize you were here. Are you staying for dinner?"

Travis answered for me. "Yes." Then he leaned forward enough to press a kiss to my cheek.

I let him do it. She already knew we were dating anyway, since she once walked in on us kissing. His dad knew too, but they also knew I wasn't out yet, thankfully. I trusted them not to tell anyone, and so far, they've kept their word.

"Travis," Stacy said. "I need your help downstairs for a minute. He'll be right back, Dylan, if you don't mind letting him leave."

I smiled up at him over my shoulder. "Of course not. Go be useful, Trav."

He kissed my cheek again. "I'm plenty useful all the time, babe."

I laughed as he stood up. "Yeah? Prove it: hand me my leg, will you?"

"What? This thing that you hate oh so much?" he asked, pointing at it. "Are you sure you want it?"

"No." I rolled my eyes. "But I need it to walk, so yes."

He handed it to me before placing a quick kiss to my lips. "Be right back," he said, then walked out of the room to follow his step-mom downstairs.

"You two are so cute, it's disgusting," Jenny said, having reappeared in the chair. "Also... fancy looking leg you got there, brother. Didn't notice that earlier."

I rolled my eyes, strapping the prosthetic to my stump. "Yeah, my wonderful souvenir from the accident."

"That and the whole I see dead people thing you got going on. How come you got the cool stuff and I just got dead?"

I could hear Travis' footsteps coming back up the stairs, so I knew I had very little time left to talk to Jenny right now. But before I could say anything else, she spoke up.

"While I have you here right now," she said, suddenly looking rather concerned. "I need to warn you, Dyl. Something bad's coming."

Travis walked in at that moment, before I could ask Jenny anything. "Hey, good, the leg is back on. Ready for dinner?"

I nodded, standing up. I wanted to forget what she said, but I couldn't help the sinking feeling growing in my chest that she might just be right.