Page 47 of Savage Scream

It’s put a dampener on our time together today, after the epic night we had, and I hate that it’s pissing me off. Because that’s just selfish. Her brother could very well be in danger.

I sent Trav a couple of vague messages at lunchtime, but he hasn’t responded, and I haven’t told Dee. Because that’s unlike him and it will just cause her more worry.

Deciding to change tactics, I send Trav another message, but this one different, asking for some green apple, which is code for E.

Travis knows me. He knows I’m not into that shit, so hopefully he sees it and knows it means I need to speak with him.

A quick message to Griffin hasn’t told me anything either, because as far as he knows, there’s been no new developments.

Dee was going to ditch dance after school, but I drove her there anyway and insisted she go inside. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Dee and dancing, it’s that it can be therapeutic. Perhaps it’s what she needs to help get her out of her head.

Ruby is there with Caleb again, and after the girls move into the studio, Caleb admits to me that Ruby’s parents’ funeral is tomorrow and she doesn’t want to go.

It’s such a shitty situation. I feel for them, but I’m fucking glad her parents are no longer here, and hopefully with time Ruby is able to move on.

While Dee is in class, my phone vibrates with a new message, and I’m fucking relieved to see who it’s from.

Travis Watson

Green apple ready. Where?

I quickly send him my location and hope like hell he can get here fast. When he informs me he’ll be here in five, I excuse myself from Caleb and head out of the studio, back to my car.

Even though he said five minutes, it takes Travis ten to get here, and the moment I see his black eye and a busted lip, I know things aren’t ok.

“Dude. What the fuck happened?” I ask as he slips into the passenger seat of my car.

“Nothing. You wanted to see me?”

His tone is clipped and his head darts from side to side, his eyes roaming everywhere like he’s worried someone will see him.

“Trav. What’s going on?”

He blows out a long breath and turns to face me. “Ell spoke to me today. On the phone.”

My brows shoot up. She didn’t tell me that part.

“Shit, really?”

He nods. “Yeah. Fucking surprised the crap outta me.”

“Did it shock you so much that you walked into a fucking door and gave yourself a black eye?”

Trav smirks. “Funny fucker, aren’t you?”

“No. Now talk to me, man. What’s going on?”

He shakes his head, looking over his shoulder out the window before turning back to me.

“Bianca found out that Ell is in town.”

“Bianca?” I ask and he nods.

“Yeah. My foster mum.”

I don’t know a lot about Trav’s family, but I do know that Griffin said they are bad news, and Dee seems concerned about her brother being with them.

I’ve been to his house a few times now, and never once have I seen his mum. Or his dad, for that matter. Travis, his older foster brother and sister seem to be there most of the time, and I guess I assumed his parents worked, but fuck, that’s a pretty shitty house they live in. If they both worked, wouldn’t it be nicer?

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