Eyes For You (Chasing Tomorrow Book 1)

by Abby-Rose Macchio

  "Chocolate chip!"

  "Good choice."

  "What was your life like back home?" He asked while mirroring my actions.

  "Well I'm from Medford, Oregon and my life wasn't interesting. It's just my mom and I, always has been. I focused too much on school so I never had a life, other than my relationship with my ex Liam." I explained while drinking my glass of water.

  "I'm from San Francisco, I have three older brothers and it is also just my mom and us. My dad died when I was five. I was sort of a high school jock with a science brain." He said laughing.

  "...And Stone?" I asked while staring into his eyes.

  "Stone started out when I was in high school. My little sister." He told me.

  "Sister? I thought you just said it was only you and your brothers?" I asked him.

  He cleared his throat, "I had a sister... past tense." I just let him continue. "She was a year younger than me and we were really close. When I was a junior in high school, she was a sophomore. She had a boyfriend Steve who was a senior, I didn't like him and I sure as hell didn't trust him."

  He tried blinking some tears away.

  "Hey. You can stop now. You don't have to tell me Travis, its okay." I said grabbing his hand.

  "No it's okay..." I let him continue, "One day, I was supposed to go out with my brothers to this concert thing their college was having and my mom was working at the hospital. Well, I didn't end up going out because I had a lot of homework. I guess that day when we all weren't supposed to be home, my sister knew she could take home Steve and not get in trouble. She didn't know that I was home but, I didn't hear her come in the house with Steve. I didn't know she was home until I heard her scream. It was all a blur but I remember trying to get to her room as fast as I could and when I did... Steve was on top of her. When I ripped him off of her, I threw him on the floor and I just kept punching him and punching him. I just kept going until I realized he was out cold. I hurried up and looked at my sister and she wasn't even recognizable. She had bruises everywhere, handprints over her whole body, swollen eyes, broken wrist, the list goes on..." he took a deep breath as tears fell and continued, "She was in such a state of shock that all she did was just stare and lay there, still. I called 9-1-1 and the ambulance got there for him and for her... Steve was pronounced brain dead at the age of eighteen and they put my sister in a medically induced coma because it was just too much for her to handle... I was questioned by the police but since it was protecting my sister and I was still a minor, the charges were dropped. After a few days, we were told that she had a severe trauma to the brain. Steve choked her for so long that it lacked oxygen to her brain so after a while, her brain activity slowly stopped. My mom chose to take her off life support. So, Stone is because I put Steve in a coma, but no one knows that story so they think I just did it because I'm a tough guy. I fight for a living because the bad guys should never get to win. I have people come to me with stories and what they did, so I go and do what I need to do. I put victims at ease and make them feel safe. It's not legal, but I need to do this... for my sister."

  "Travis," I got up and went to his side of the table and sat next to him, "I am so sorry, I can't imagine ever going through something like that." I hugged him.

  "...And when I saw that guy the other night trying to do that to you, it brought back memories and I knew that

  I needed to save you."

  "Come on, let's go." I stood up while grabbing his hand.

  "Where are we g-?" He asked confused.

  "Just come on." I stated.

  The other day when Em and I were walking around to get to know the campus, we saw this..." I said while pushing open a beautiful black gate.

  There was a little closed in park. It has beautiful flowers around all the little paths to walk in. There's a fountain right in the middle along with a river surrounding it. To get over the river and to the fountain, there's a little bridge to walk over. I brought him over to the top of the bridge so we could see the whole park.

  "Wow... this is amazing Anastasia." He said in awe while looking at everything in front of him. "It's beautiful isn't it?"

  "Truly beautiful. Almost as beautiful as you Anastasia." He said while turning towards me.

  I looked down, not knowing what to say. He put his index finger on the bottom of my chin and brought my head up. My eyes met his as he pulled me closer. When his hands tried to touch both sides of my face, I flinched.

  "Anastasia?"

  "I'm sorry. I didn't mean... it just happened." I said while switching my weight back and forth on my feet.

  "Are you scared of me? Of what I do?" He asked softly.

  "Well, ye- no no I'm not... it just I didn't mean to." He pulled me closer because somehow I ended up back a few steps.

  "I will never hurt you. I will never lay a hand on you...

  what did he do to you?" He asked me softly while squinting his eyes looking at me.

  "He who?"

  "Liam... what did he do to you?"

  "Travis why are you asking me this. It's nothing. It's in the past and this is now." I said getting upset.

  "Anastasia, your past is why this right here is happening right now."

  "I'm sorry Travis, I should go." I started walking away until a hand grabbed mine from behind. He pulled me towards him and our lips met for the first time. He took my face into his hands and kissed me a little harder. His tongue licked my lips, asking for entrance and I gladly agreed. My arms wrapped around his neck and he pulled me closer. We kept kissing until our lips became numb.

  He pulled away. "Anastasia," He panted, "You are-."

  "Wonderful? So are you Travis." I finished his sentence.

  Chapter 6

  The next morning

  I woke up with Em standing over me and staring at me.

  "Ah! Em! What are you doing?" I asked while rolling over so my back was towards her.

  "Get up! Details... Now!" She said while ripping the covers off of me.

  "Em I swear on my life if you don't leave me alone and let me sleep, I will gouge your eyes out of your head." I told her while grabbing the covers and pulling them over my head.

  "Well then, gouge my eyes out." She said while taking the covers off me.

  "Last night was fine." I said while sitting up.

  "Fine? Just fine?"

  "Well yeah... Em I can't okay?" I said.

  "But you can Ana. Don't let your past experience with Liam interfere your present. You don't know what Travis is like... give him a chance. If you don't, then how will you ever know what could have happened." She said while sitting on my bed, facing me.

  "I can't Em... I won't let myself get hurt. Every guy will hurt you in some way and I can't let that happen to me again. I won't be able to handle it."

  "Ana, how do you know he will hurt you? You don't know and you will never know if you don't try. You will have to try at some point... why not now?" She lectures me while staring into my eyes.

  "You're right." I told her giving up. Maybe if I do try, it can't hurt. She is right. At some point in my life, I will have to try and date. Travis kissed me… and I kissed him back.

  September 14, 2018 7:23am

  So, I really think Em really likes Ethan. I'm happy for her. On the other hand, it's been a few days since I last saw Travis. I'm not avoiding him. Well, I don't think I am.

  I'm just scared.

  Liam was always in charge of me. I wasn't myself when I was with him. I was at the beginning, but not at the end. At the end, I was just a girl that he once knew, a girl I once knew. He turned everything around on me. Whatever he did that was wrong, he'd turn it around and make me look like I was wrong, dramatic, overreacting and stupid. He ruined it. He ruined me. He took a part of me that I will never get back. He brought me down so he could bring himself up. He made my morals jump down and fall to the floor but I was too bruised to pick them back up again. He made me think that I wasn't good enough. But in reality, I was so much more than what he cou
ld give me. He loved me yet, teared me down so he could feel better. He brought me down. He made me a person I thought I'd never be. He made me half of what I am. He made me feel insecure, yet beautiful and loved at the same time.

  But that will not happen to me again. I will not get brought down and pressured into being half myself. I will be full me. And if any guy tries to take even a piece of me. Then I'm done. He took a part of me that I will NEVER get back because I always thought I was being his overprotective girlfriend. I will never be put in that situation again.

  Maybe Travis isn't Liam... but maybe he is? Maybe I'm not being fair to Travis but, is it wrong for me to try and protect what Liam broke?

  I finally decided to work up the courage and talk to Travis. I've been at his door for the last seventeen minutes but, I'm too afraid to knock. Finally, my subconscious told my conscious mind to walk up to the door and knock.

  "Anastasia?" Travis asked.

  "Hey Travis...” I smiled while rocking on my feet. I was here for seventeen minutes, you would think a person would at least know what they were going to say and rehearse it. Well, not me.

  "Anastasia..." He said, waiting for me to say something. Of course I have to think of something. He was smirking. He finds this amusing, yet I'm standing here rocking back and forth on my feet. I'm blushing from embarrassment and I'm trying to think of the dictionary because it has words and apparently, I forgot what they were.

  "So Travis, what are you doing?"

  "Standing here and talking to you." Of course he is. Duh Anastasia. He laughed while I mentally face palmed myself. Oh my…

  "How about a walk? Want to go walk around?"

  "Definitely." We've been walking around for an hour now, only talking small talk.

  "Travis, I'm sorry." I stopped walking to face him.

  "About what Anastasia?" He stopped too.

  "About not really giving you a chance. I kind of pushed you away... I tend to do that a lot with people and especially guys."

  "Anastasia. You don't have to apologize okay? I get it.

  I know you're scared of me and I don't blame you."

  "No no Travis. I'm not... you told me your story and I respect that. I don't think that you would ever physically hurt me, it's not that at all." I told him while walking over to a bench and sitting down.

  "Then what is it? Am I that bad?" He said winking and laughing.

  "No..." I laughed. "You aren't bad... But, I've been through bad. My past isn't pretty and it's not just Liam. It's a whole bunch of things put together in one pile... I just can't handle anything right now and I certainly can't handle anyone kicking me while I'm still down." I shook my head, playing with my fingers.

  "Anastasia. I won't do anything you don't want to do.

  We can be friends that go out and go to parties together. I do like you... I really do. So much. But, I want you in my life no matter how or what you are to me. I want you in my life." He said while squeezing my knee.

  "I will be in your life." I said, giving him a hug.

  Chapter 7

  "You look beautiful Emma." Ethan said.

  They are finally going on a date after always talking in the halls and outside.

  "Thank you... bye Ana!! I will see you later!" She yelled while shutting the door.

  "Sure thing!" I yelled back while throwing myself on my bed.

  *Knock Knock*

  I roll myself off the bed, walk to the door and open it. "Alright Em, what'd you for-?" "Anastasia." Travis cut me off.

  "Hey Travis... what are you doing here?"

  "Studying with you!" He said while grabbing his backpack off the floor and walking right past me into my room before I could protest.

  "Right... the biology test! I totally forgot! I was on the phone for a while with my mom. Then I needed to get

  Emma ready for her date..."

  "Date?"

  "Yes, with Ethan!" I said shutting the door and walking over to my desk to grab my books.

  "That's nice! Good for her!" He said smiling and sitting on my bed. I followed.

  2 Hours Later

  I finally decided to put my pen down. My hand was cramping from writing so much with all these biology notes Travis told me to write down.

  "I take it you're exhausted." Travis laughed while closing our books.

  "Completely." I stated while taking off my glasses and putting them down.

  My hair got all messed up from taking off my glasses so Travis came closer and gently put my hair behind my ears. His thumb rested on my cheek for a few seconds while he came even closer. I never realized how beautiful his eyes are, a light blue with specs of white. I'd say crystal blue, but they are so much more than just crystal blue. His thumb stroke my cheek in a gentle, soothing way. His eyes flickered to my lips and quickly met my eyes again.

  This time, it was me that kissed him. Our books were now on the floor. We were somehow laying side by side kissing each other. He put his arm around my lower back and swung me on my back while he pushed himself up. He was now on top of me. I grabbed his face in my hands and kissed him harder. We were exploring each other's mouths and I was enjoying every second of it. His lips found my neck and I couldn't help the goosebumps that formed on the surface of my whole body.

  "Traaavis..." I dragged out in a whisper,

  "Tra-... T-... Travis... wait, stop. We have to stop."

  "Anastasia, I know... you don't have to tell me again... this isn't what you want, I know." He said panting and sitting up.

  I stood up and walked in between his legs, looking into his eyes. He’s so tall that he is eye level to me just sitting down. His hands found my hips.

  "Actually, what I was going to say was... I liked it." I said placing my hands on his shoulders.

  "You what?" He asked looking up at me confused.

  "I... liked... it, Travis." I said slowly, making sure he understood this time.

  "But, you said that this isn't what you-."

  I cut him off. "Travis."

  He continued, "I'm not what you're looking for. You said just fri-."

  "Travis!" I said grabbing his face. "I liked it!" I smashed my lips against his. He kissed me back, then pulled away.

  "So, this is okay?" He asked me while grinning ear to ear.

  "Yes... it's okay." I said right before I kissed his cheek. I grabbed his hands, pulling him off my bed. "Now, we need some sleep since the test is tomorrow."

  "Test... Right..." He said grabbing his books and walking to the door.

  "Now who's the one that forgot?" I asked laughing. "I'll see you tomorrow Travis." I said shaking my head, still laughing.

  "Tomorrow Anastasia."

  Well, after the test, I told Emma about last night and she told me about her night. On some level, we both were happy about this crazy beginning to our college experience.

  We were walking back to our dorm until we were interrupted.

  "Anastasia!" Travis yelled from behind us.

  Emma and I both turned around, "I wanted to ask you two, since we have 5 days off of classes, do you want to come to a ball with me? Emma you can bring a date, and

  Anastasia you can be mine."

  Emma and I looked at each other confused then turned back to Travis. "A ball?" I asked confused.

  "Yes, it's a formal event that my uncle is hosting for some company. We dress all elegant and it's just a ball." He asked, seeming nervous.

  "Absolutely!" Emma said excitedly.

  I turned to her, "Em! We can't just up and go."

  "It's only for 5 days! It's about 2 hours away, all expenses paid." Travis said fast.

  "Okay, we'll come with you... but, only if Emma has a date." I said while smiling at him.

  "Well, then we're going... I have Ethan!" Em squealed excitedly.

  "Awesome! Well, you two need a nice elegant gown to wear! So, here is some money... it's all on me!" He said while pulling out a wad of cash from his pocket.

  "Woah Travis! You just carry that much on
you?" I asked him, completely stunned.

  "It's only $2,100 Anastasia. It's not that much!" He explained while trying to hand me the money.

  "Not that much? Travis, that's enough for a vacation to Aruba… and it's all in your pocket!" I stated while pushing the money away.

  "Just take it Anastasia." He said, pushing the money towards me.

  "Absolutely not! That is your money Travis. We are not accepting that." Emma said to him.

  "You guys are unbelievably stubborn." Travis stated, rolling his eyes.

  "Yes we are... now we will go drop our stuff at our dorm and then we will go shopping." I told him, he started walking with us. "No no... You stay here and we will go. One, I want to surprise you with my dress and two, we will not let you pay. Now, we will see you later."

  "Limo leaves at seven!" He yelled at us from a distance.

  "Limo?" Em asked.

  "Weird." I told her confused.

  After we finally packed, we were ready to go dress shopping! We were going to take the bus, so we didn't have to walk. Em and I walked outside and saw a black limo with a guy standing with the door open.

  "Anastasia Reilly?" He asked.

  I was afraid to answer, "Uhh... Yes?"

  "Wonderful to meet you Miss Reilly, and you as well Emma. My name is Paul and I will be driving you to get your gowns for the ball." Paul said. He's very professional and posh. He's dressed in a suit, hat and a long black coat.

  "You came here to drive us to get gowns?" Em asked confused.

  "Mr. Coleman insisted. We need to be back here by seven, which means we have to leave now Miss Reilly." He said signaling his hand towards the open door.

  "Okay... I guess we are coming with you then." I looked at Emma and she nodded. We got into the limo and sat down.

  "There's champagne inside the cooler and the glasses are hanging from the top, near the window. You guys can listen to any music you want and there's heated seats if you are cold. Enjoy your ride Miss Reilly." He said about to shut the door.