Paradisal Tragedy by Ada Marie Page A

great listener. You can tell me, and who knows, maybe if you tell me you’ll feel better. Most important maybe you’ll trust me enough to give us a chance to be friends,” Travis remarked as he led her through the park. They sat at the picnic table where he’d hunted her down to give her the iPod.
    “My best friends hate me,” she mumbled, putting her hand to her cheek. She didn’t bother looking at him.
    “Why would you think that?” he asked, intrigued. How could anyone hate her? She seemed like a pretty content and giving person. But then again, his judgment about people wasn’t always correct.
    “They came to visit, and I have barely spent any time with them. This morning they basically told me they hated the person I’ve become,” she answered calmly. She wanted to contain her emotions even though it hurt like hell that they didn’t like who she was becoming.
    “I’m sure they don’t hate you. Maybe they just don’t understand the new you,” Travis suggested. He sounded like he was speaking from experience. Annabella was surprised how easy it was to talk to him.
    “Maybe. I don’t know,” she said, giving him a shrug.
    “Hey, you’re going to have to be positive; it’ll all work out. And you know what would be even better?” Travis asked.
    “What?”
    “If you’d give me a chance to be your friend.” He stared intently at her.
    “I don’t know. Listen, Travis, I’m no good for you. I’m no good for anyone. I’m not perfect like all those other girls,” she said. Her emotions were starting to overwhelm her.
    Of course she wanted a friend; she’d been alone for so long.
    “I don’t want perfection, I want the real you. I want to know your hopes, your dreams. I want to get to know the Annabella that lives behind those beautiful blue eyes,” he confessed.
    Surprised by his declaration, Annabella wasn’t sure what to say.
    “I don’t mean that in a romantic sense you know. I mean I don’t want to get in your pants, if that’s what your silence means. I just want to know you. I think you could use a friend just as much as I could,” Travis told her. “What do you say? Take a chance on me?”
    Take a chance? How? How could she take a chance when every time she did, she always ended up hurt? How could she see the good in things when such horrible and terrible things have happened to her? 
    “I won’t let you down,” Travis pleaded.
    “I don’t know.”
    “What are you afraid of?” Travis just wanted to understand.
    “I’m afraid to trust you, and then have you end up like everyone else. I don’t want to be let down,” she whispered.
    “I won’t let you down, I promise. And if I do, I give you full permission to taze me.” He smirked at her as a way to get her to smile, which she did.
    “Fine. We can be friends, but I have just one condition,” Annabella told him seriously.
    “What is it?” Travis asked her.
    “You have to promise that it won’t go any further, that all we’ll ever be is friends,” Annabella said, trying not to let her fears come out.
    “Deal,” Travis said as she offered his hand to her.
    “Deal,” she repeated shaking his hand.
    “Can I walk you home?” Travis offered. And for the first time, Annabella felt a bit relieved. She wasn’t happy, but she didn’t feel as terrible as she always did on any other day. She knew her friendship with Travis would be a good thing.

Six

    “So, what do your parents do?” Travis asked as he and Annabella walked down the street on the way back to her house.
    “My father is a neurosurgeon, and my mom is a nurse. It’s how they met actually,” Annabella told him.
    “That’s kind of neat.” Travis admitted.
    “What about your parents?” In the short amount of time they’d known each other, he’d always been the one to question her, yet she pushed him away, but it occurred to her that she knew next to nothing about Travis.
    “My mom’s a lawyer. As for my dad I don’t know. I’ve barely