Re: What happened in your game today?

Sorry for the long post. This is to close a storyline from Journeys. 😊

Travis knew it was now or never. Danielle was right, he owed them all an apology for cutting them out of his life. The guilt had gnawed away at that part of him that had managed to grow up. He was reluctant to admit it but he could still be an immature boy at times. That wasn’t entirely true. He still hadn’t really grown up at all. This would be a step in the right direction.

“Just straight out, I’m sorry. So sorry.” He paused and drew a deep breath. “I know that’s not enough. I was wrong and this whole mess was my fault. I own it. I ran away instead of taking responsibility for what I did. It was easier than admitting the truth.” Again he paused, only this time the pause drug on.

“And the truth is...?” Summer asked acidly.

“Summer, I really did love you. But…” Another pause as he steadied his nerves. Moment of truth Trav. You gotta say it and take the heat for it, he thought to himself. “Summer I broke up with you because I was still in love with Danielle.” The words tumbled out of him like water over a falls. “I still am.”

Summer had been expecting something like this. Still, hearing him admit it hit her hard. “What?! So you used me to stay close to Danielle? You lied to me, you played with my heart, and then broke it! Tell me I’m wrong?”

“You're right. But I did love you. That’s why I broke up with you. So we could both move on.”

“Oh how generous. You think that's a good excuse to break my heart?” Summer asked. Hearing it stung even though she’d been expecting it. As far as tears, she’d cried herself out over him years again. 

“No. It's not. I just couldn't deal with my feelings for Danielle. You three are always together. I couldn't get space any other way" he said. "I’m sorry I lied to you Summer. I'm sorry I threw away my friendship with all three of you."

Danielle wasn’t sure this was the best time to bring it up. But he did say he was still in love with her. “Just so you know, I'm a lesbian. I came out while we were at Foxbury. So you can put away any thoughts of hooking up with me again.”

Travis froze. That was the last thing he expected to hear. “You? No way! You’re not a lesbian. Are you really?” It still hadn’t dawned on him to connect the dots to the past.

“I am Travis. And, yes, I was struggling with my sexuality while we were dating.”

“So you lied to me!”, he said, an air of triumph sneaking in on the edge of his words. “You never said you were breaking up with me because you wanted to be with another girl.”

 “I didn’t lie to you and I didn't break up with you to date another girl! Did you ever see me with a girl? Did you ever hear rumors? Do you think that excuses what you did afterwards? I loved you as a friend. Not a romantic partner. I told you that word for word. I didn't mention being a lesbian because I was still in denial then.”

“Wow!” It was all he could think to say in the moment. A moment later he found the words. “What a mess we made of everything.” 

“We?” Liberty interjected.

“No, me. I regret everything I did. It was stupid and arrogant of me to think if I just hung around Danielle would come running back. Worse yet I hurt someone I really did, and do, love like a sister.”

“I never mislead you Travis, and if I had been sure of my feelings I would have told you then and there.”

For the next few minutes they talked some more and cleared the air. “I’m glad we talked” he said. “I’m only renting that house and I put in for an opening at work that would take me to San Myshuno, if I get it. I needed to do this before I leave because who knows if or when we’ll have another chance. Summer and Danielle, you both deserved an apology and to hear the truth.”