CHAPTER~9~

As Travis pulled up to my house, I felt a strange mix of excitement and reluctance, he slowed the bike and I reluctantly let go of him, knowing that the night had to end,

"I'll text you later" he said, as his voice quieter than usual, and I could see the familiar coolness returning to his expression, though there was still a hint of warmth there,

I nodded, giving him a small smile, "Okay, I'll be waiting"

He gave my head a soft pat just a quick one, an affectionate gesture that made my heart skip a beat,

"See you later, Girly", he smirked,

And with that he turned around, hopped on his bike, and revved the engine, I watched him ride off, my heart still racing, a smile tugging at my lips, I couldn't believe it, Travis was my first ever crush, it was crazy to think about it, but I couldn't deny it, I felt something more for him than just friendship something deeper, something that had been building all this time, even if I hadn't fully recognized it until now,

I stood there for a moment, lost in thought, trying to process everything that had just happened, the kiss on my cheek, the way I held him on the bike, the way he looked at me, it all made my chest feel tight in the best way possible,

Just as I was about to head inside, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I nearly jumped out of my skin, I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat and almost screamed when I saw Miley standing there, grinning ear to ear.

"Miley!" I gasped, as my hand flying to my chest as if that would stop my heart from racing,

She raised an eyebrow, looking far too amused,

"How long have I been standing here? Enough to see Travis drop you off Mercei", she said as her voice filled with teasing excitement,

I blinked, still catching my breath. "What? How long have you been here?" I asked feeling a little flustered,

"Long enough" she replied with a mischievous grin, "So spill it Mercei, what happened? You have to tell me everything", she shook me gently,

I sighed, knowing there was no way out of it now, Miley was my best friend and I couldn't keep secrets from her, I quickly recapped the events of the evening, the whole situation with Celia and how Travis had protected her from the bullies, how I had escorted them home to make sure Celia was okay and how things had gotten a little awkward between Travis and me,

I left out the part about his protective older brother act but I did mention the kiss on my cheek, I could feel my cheeks burning just thinking about it,

Miley's eyes went wide as I finished and she jumped up and down nearly bouncing with excitement,

"Oh my gosh, Mercei, he kissed you on the cheek?! You're so lucky!" she exclaimed, "That's basically like a promise of something more!"

I frowned slightly, still not fully sure what to make of it,

"It wasn't like that Mi, I think he's just being nice… He was distracted with Celia, and—"

""No, no, no!" she interrupted, shaking her head with a grin, "You're so slow! He kissed you on the cheek, Mercei!!! That's a huge deal and you know what that means, right?", she raised her brows,

I raised an eyebrow too, already knowing where this conversation was headed,

"What does that mean, Mi?",

She looked at me with exaggerated seriousness,

"It means he likes you but you need to kiss him back to really know if he likes you to confirm, that's when you'll know for sure, you can't just leave it hanging like this, you need to kiss him and then you'll get your answer bestie",

I blinked, surprised by how determined Miley seemed about this, She was always the one who pushed me out of my comfort zone but I wasn't sure I was ready to move that fast,

"I don't know… I think maybe you're right but I don't want to rush things, Mi" I said, my voice thoughtful, "I want it to be right, I don't want to just throw myself at him without really knowing where we stand",

Miley crossed her arms looking slightly disappointed but understanding,

"I get it, but seriously, you can't keep being all shy about it, you like him, right?"

I hesitated, but then I nodded slowly. "Yeah, I do", I admitted finally,

She smiled wide, practically giddy, "Then just go for it when the time is right! Don't overthink it Mercei", she punched me playfully on the arm, "And if he doesn't feel the same at least you'll know, right?",

I smiled, a bit more at ease now,

"Thanks Bestie, you always know how to push me to do stuff.... even when it makes me nervous",

Miley laughed clearly enjoying the moment,

"That's what best friends are for...uh Mercei I need to go now, I'll talk to you tomorrow at school, okay?"

"Okay Bess, See at school tomorrow",

I waved her off as she turned to leave, and I stood there for a moment, thinking about everything Miley had said,

Was she right? Was I really slow? Maybe but I wasn't about to rush into anything, The kiss had been sweet, but it didn't mean everything was suddenly clear,

Still, there was something about Travis, something that made my heart race every time he was near, something that made me wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was more between us than I realized,

But for now, I'd let it unfold on its own time and when the right moment comes, I'll be ready.

The next day at school, I found myself sitting with Miley at our usual lunch table, picking at my food and trying to focus on the conversation, my mind was still a bit preoccupied with thoughts of Travis, but I tried not to let it show, Miley was rambling about something with excitement probably about her latest drama with Josh, her boyfriend but I was only half-listening,

"Mercei!!! Are you even listening?" Miley asked, pausing with her fork halfway to her mouth,

"Yeah, yeah, sorry," I said giving her a sheepish smile,"I'm just… distracted",

She raised an eyebrow, "I can tell Mercei, what's got you so lost in thought?",

I shrugged trying to play it off, "Nothing, just....thinking, its all good",

Miley gave me a knowing look but didn't push it, instead she smiled and continued her story and I was grateful for the distraction,

Just as I took another bite of my sandwich, I saw Celia walking toward our table, she looked a little shy with her usual reserved nature making her approach even more gentle, she smiled softly as she sat down next to me, a little hesitantly but it was clear that she wanted to join the conversation,

"Hey Celia" I gave her a warm smile, "How's it going?",

Celia returned my smile, her cheeks slightly pink from the attention, "I'm good Mercedes, thanks" she said quietly before digging into her lunch,

We all continued eating and chatting, the usual light hearted banter filling the air, when suddenly Celia, almost as if she had built up the courage to ask, spoke up again and her voice tinged with uncertainty,

"Umm... I was wondering" she began, twirling her fork around a piece of pasta, "Would you two... like to come with me to the art gallery at the museum this Saturday?" She hesitated as her eyes flicking between me and Miley, "I was supposed to go with Travis, but he has to run some errands, so...I thought maybe you'd like to join me?", she faced down at her plate,

I saw the way she hesitated and almost afraid of being turned down, and I immediately smiled warmly at her, she was so sweet and genuine, I couldn't say no to her,

"Oh, that sounds awesome!" I said excited at the idea of spending the day at the art gallery, I'd always loved visiting museums there was something about the quiet atmosphere and the way the art seemed to speak to me,

"I'd love to go with you Celia", I gave her a warm smile,

Celia's face lit up and she gave me a soft but heartfelt smile, "Really? You'd go?", She seemed so relieved like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, before I could say anything else she reached over and gave me a warm and unexpected hug,

"Thank you Mercedes", she whispered into my ear., "I really appreciate it. I know you don't have to, but it means a lot to me",

I hugged her back, feeling a deep sense of gratitude, "Of course Celia, it'll be fun!! I'm already looking forward to it",

Miley who had been listening, looked over at us then sighed dramatically,

"I wish I could go, but I already have plans with Josh this weekend," she said, her expression apologetic, "You two will have to go without me",

Celia's smile faltered for a second but she nodded, "That's okay", she said softly trying to hide her disappointment, "Maybe some other time",

"No worries", Miley said quickly reaching over to squeeze Celia's hand, "We'll plan something soon together, I promise and you two will have a great time! You know I'll be thinking about you guys, right?",

Celia's expression brightened at the reassurance and she gave Miley a grateful nod, "Thanks Miley",

As the lunch bell rang, signaling the end of our break, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me, it was nice to have moments like these where everything felt calm and simple, and I could just be with my friends,

I stood up and grabbed my tray glancing at Celia as I did, "I'll meet you at the museum on Saturday, okay? I'll text you when I'm on my way",

Celia nodded, her smile warm and grateful, "Okay Mercedes, see you then",

As I walked with Miley to our next class, I couldn't help but feel happy. I was looking forward to Saturday getting a chance to spend more time with Celia and getting to know her better, and who knows? Maybe there would be even more surprises in store,

But for now, I was content.

*****

It was a quiet Saturday morning when I finally finished getting ready, I texted my mom who was working, letting her know that I was heading out to the museum with a friend, I didn't really need to give her many details she trusted me,

I grabbed my bag, slipped on my shoes and left the house, feeling a little giddy about the day ahead. Art had always been something I enjoyed and the thought of spending the day with Celia was something I was looking forward to.

When I arrived at the museum, I spotted Celia waiting for me outside, She was wearing a simple but cute outfit, with her same nerdy look, and she gave me a bright smile as I walked up to her,

"Hey Mercedes! I'm so glad you made it!" she greeted me, her voice a little more upbeat than usual,

"Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world," I said with a grin,

We walked inside together and immediately the calm, quiet atmosphere of the museum enveloped us, the sound of soft footsteps and hushed whispers filled the air as we wandered through different rooms, exploring all the beautiful artwork.

The colors, the expressions, the raw emotion in each piece, it all left me in awe, it was even better with Celia by my side, sharing in the appreciation of each piece, we both had a passion for art and it made the whole experience that much more enjoyable,

At one point, we stood in front of a large intricate painting, a scene of a bustling city under a sunset sky, the colors seemed to shift as the light changed and we both stood there in awe, lost in the beauty of it, it was one of those pieces that left you speechless,

Celia sighed softly beside me, and I turned to glance at her, noticing the shift in her mood, she looked a little distant as her gaze still fixed on the painting but there was something else in her expression, something heavier,

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked gently, my voice soft filled with concern,

She turned to me hesitating for a moment before looking down at her feet, "It's nothing... I just... I don't know if I should tell you", she murmured, "But I... I need to talk to someone",

I frowned sensing that there was something deeper going on,

"Celia, you can tell me anything, you know you can trust me",

She seemed to think it over for a moment, her eyes flicking around as if she was debating whether to say anything at all,

Finally, she took a deep breath and looked at me, her voice barely above a whisper,

"Can you promise me something?" she asked as her eyes widened with sincerity, "Can you promise me you won't tell Travis what I'm about to say?"

My heart skipped a beat and I nodded without hesitation,

"Of course, I promise, you can trust me, I wont tell him anything",

Celia seemed to relax a little at my words and she took another breath, as though gathering the courage to speak,

"The reason Travis is so....protective of me...", her voice trembling slightly, "is because of our older brother, Dennis",

I blinked as I was surprised, I had never heard anything about an older brother, and I could sense there was so much more behind her words than she was saying,

"Dennis?" I repeated, "What do you mean? What's going on?", I askes curiously,

Celia shifted uncomfortably, and I could tell that talking about Dennis was hard for her,

"Dennis... he's a bad person," she said, her voice thick with emotion, "He wants everything, the property, money, anything he can get his hands on, and he's... dangerous, he's not a good person, Travis protected me from him, he's the only one who's always looked out for me",

I felt a chill creep up my spine, this was a side of Celia's life I hadn't even imagined,

"Celia..." I started, my voice soft, "I'm so sorry, I didn't know about Dennis or... any of this",

She nodded as her eyes filled with sadness,

"I don't really talk about it," she said quietly, "It's just... hard, our parents aren't around anymore, either",

I froze, my stomach sinking,

"What happened?" I whispered, afraid to ask but needing to know,

Celia's voice faltered as she continued,

"Our mom died from cancer, and then our dad... he died in a car accident, it was just... too much you know? And Dennis... he's been trying to take everything ever since", She swallowed hard as tears threatening to spill, but she blinked them away quickly, "I'm scared of him, Mercedes, I don't know what to do",

I felt my heart break for her, I could only imagine how tough it must have been, losing both parents and then dealing with a brother who was trying to take advantage of everything they had left,

"Celia..." I whispered, placing a hand on hers, "I'm so sorry for everything you've been through, I can't even imagine how hard it must be, but you're not alone, okay? You've got Travis and you've got me",

She gave me a small and shaky smile, her voice barely audible,

"Thank you Mercedes, that means a lot to me",

Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket, she pulled it out and glanced at the screen and her expression softening when she saw the name, "It's Travis," she said, a small smile appearing on her lips, "He's checking in to see if I'm okay",

I nodded, understanding, "You should talk to him, I'm sure he just wants to make sure you're safe",

Celia quickly answered the call and as she spoke softly to her brother, I couldn't help but reflect on everything she had shared with me, it was clear now why Travis was so protective, he wasn't just being overbearing, he was doing it out of love and necessity, trying to keep her safe from a world that had already been so cruel to them,

As Celia hung up, she smiled a little more brightly though there was still an underlying sadness,

"He just wanted to make sure I'm alright" she said, "I think he'll be overprotective forever but.....I know he loves me",

I smiled back at her, feeling an overwhelming sense of respect for Travis,

"I get it now," I said softly, "I understand why he's always looking out for you",

Celia nodded wiping away a stray tear,

"Thanks for listening, Mercedes, it really helps to talk about it",

I squeezed her hand smiling gently, "You can always talk to me Celia, anytime",

After the call ended, Celia slipped her phone back into her pocket with a small sigh, but before she could say anything her stomach let out a loud growl, causing her to blush and giggle awkwardly,

"I guess I'm a little hungry," she said sheepishly, her hand resting on her stomach,

I chuckled feeling a little relieved at how normal the moment felt after everything she'd just shared,

"Don't worry about it, I can tell you're starving", I paused for a moment, then smiled, "How about we grab some lunch? My treat",

Celia's eyes brightened, "Really? That would be amazing!", she looked so relieved and it made me happy that I could do something small to make her day a little better.

We left the museum chatting lightly as we walked toward a nearby burger stop, it wasn't a fancy place but it had the best burgers in town and I could already smell the delicious aroma from the building as we approached,

As we sat down and ordered, I couldn't help but think about everything Celia had told me, she was so young yet she had already experienced so much pain, I admired her strength but it also hurt to think that someone so sweet and gentle had to go through all of that, I promised myself I would always be there for her, to support her the way a friend should and I'd be there for Travis too no matter what,

Celia and I sat down with our food, and she immediately dug into her burger with enthusiasm, clearly excited about the meal, I smiled at her watching her enjoy the simple pleasure of a good meal,

"Thanks again for lunch Mercedes," Celia said as her voice was filled with gratitude,

I shook my head, "You don't need to thank me, we're friends, remember?" I replied, giving her a warm smile, "Friends look out for each other",

She smiled back, her eyes shining with appreciation, "I'm really lucky to have you as a friend, Mercedes",

My heart warmed at her words and I felt like we were truly building a bond, after everything she had gone through I wanted to be someone she could lean on just like how she had leaned on Travis, I didn't know the full extent of their struggles but I wanted to be there for both of them.

As we ate, I found my mind wandering and drifting toward thoughts of Travis, I couldn't help it, every time I thought about him my heart would skip a beat, I glanced over at Celia who was still happily munching on her burger, and for a brief moment, I thought about how much her brother meant to me, how much I liked him,

He wasn't just the "emo guy" I had once thought of him as, there was so much more to him, I saw the way he cared for Celia, the way he was always there for her, and I knew there had to be more beneath his cool, distant exterior, he was protective, yes, but also kind and thoughtful, he had a depth to him that intrigued me more than I cared to admit,

I didn't know where things would go between us but I did know that I was starting to understand him more than I ever had, he wasn't just the guy with the dark clothes and brooding demeanor, he was the guy who protected his sister from harm, who made sure she was okay when no one else would, he was someone who could be more than just a crush, someone who could be a real part of my life,

As I took another bite of my burger, I looked over at Celia and smiled. "This is nice," I said feeling content, "I'm glad we could do this today",

She nodded with her mouth full, then quickly swallowed,

"Me too," she said with a smile, "It's nice to get away from everything for a bit",

We continued chatting and enjoying the simple pleasure of being together, and I couldn't help but think about how much more there was to learn, not just about Celia, but about Travis too, I was starting to realize that maybe just maybe, my feelings for him were more than just a passing crush,

But for now, I was happy to just be here, sharing a meal with a new friend and maybe just maybe taking the first steps toward understanding the complicated world of the people I was beginning to care about.....