Beautiful Disaster Read Online Free Page B

What about America? She has parent issues, too?”
    â€œNo, Mark and Pam are great. They practically raised me. She sort of tagged along; she didn’t want me to come alone.”
    Travis nodded. “So, why Eastern?”
    â€œWhat’s with the third degree?” I said. The questions were drifting from small talk to personal, and I was beginning to get uncomfortable.
    Several chairs knocked together as the soccer team left their seats. They traded one last joke before they meandered toward the door. Their pace quickened when Travis stood up. Those in the back of the group pushed those in front to escape before Travis made his way across the room. He sat down, forcing the frustration and anger away.
    I raised an eyebrow.
    â€œYou were going to say why you chose Eastern,” he prompted.
    â€œIt’s hard to explain,” I said, shrugging. “I guess it just felt right.”
    He smiled as he opened his menu. “I know what you mean.”

Chapter Two
PIG
    Familiar faces filled the seats of our favorite lunch table. America sat on one side of me, Finch on the other, and the rest of the spaces were picked off by Shepley and his Sigma Tau brothers. It was hard to hear with the low roar inside the cafeteria, and the air conditioner seemed to be on the fritz again. The air was thick with the smells of fried foods and sweaty skin, but somehow everyone seemed to be more energetic than usual.
    â€œHey Brazil,” Shepley said, greeting the man sitting in front of me. His olive skin and chocolate eyes offset the white Eastern Football hat pulled low on his forehead.
    â€œMissed you after the game Saturday, Shep. I drank a beer or six for ya,” he said with a broad white grin.
    â€œI appreciate it. I took Mare out to dinner,” he said, leaning over to kiss the top of America’s long blond hair.
    â€œYou’re sittin’ in my chair, Brazil.”
    Brazil turned to see Travis standing behind him, and then looked to me, surprised. “Oh, is she one of your girls, Trav?”
    â€œAbsolutely not,” I said, shaking my head.
    Brazil looked to Travis, who stared at him expectantly. Brazil shrugged and then took his tray to the end of the table.
    Travis smiled at me as he settled into the seat. “What’s up, Pidge?”
    â€œWhat is that?” I asked, unable to look away from his tray. The mystery food on his plate looked like a wax display.
    Travis laughed and took a drink from his water glass. “The cafeteria ladies scare me. I’m not about to critique their cooking skills.”
    I didn’t miss the appraising eyes of those sitting at the table. Travis’ behavior piqued their curiosity, and I subdued a smile at being the only girl they had seen him insist on sitting with.
    â€œUgh…that Bio test is after lunch,” America groaned.
    â€œDid you study?” I asked.
    â€œGod, no. I spent the night reassuring my boyfriend that you weren’t going to sleep with Travis.”
    The football players seated at the end of our table stopped their obnoxious laughter to listen more closely, making the other students take notice. I glared at America, but she was unconcerned with any blame, nudging Shepley with her shoulder.
    â€œJesus, Shep. You’ve got it that bad, huh?” Travis asked, throwing a packet of ketchup at his cousin. Shepley didn’t answer, but I smiled appreciatively at Travis for the diversion.
    America rubbed his back. “He’s going to be okay. It’s just going to take him a while to believe Abby is resistant to your charms.”
    â€œI haven’t tried to charm her,” Travis sniffed, seeming offended. “She’s my friend.”
    I looked to Shepley. “I told you. You have nothing to worry about.”
    Shepley finally met my eyes, and upon seeing my sincere expression, his eyes brightened a bit.
    â€œDid you study?” Travis asked me.
    I frowned. “No amount of studying