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Travis always hated parties. In fact, he was rarely invited to them, and when he did receive a reluctant invitation, he would decline it categorically. Until the beginning of that school year, he had never been to one and hoped to continue that way.
Then he and Shauna Shipman started dating.
And even though his girlfriend also hated parties, she was still part of the only successful team at that school, so her presence was almost mandatory at most of them.
The difficulties of dating a jock, Travis thought ironically, then Shauna's angry face flashed in his mind, the difficulties of dating a very intelligent and cultured athlete, he corrected himself.
Travis had arrived after Shauna, which now put him on the impossible mission of looking for her among so many drunk and noisy teenagers scattered around the place.
After a few minutes of wandering aimlessly, he heard a loud commotion and shouts that sounded a lot like “fight, fight, fight” coming from a circle. Travis tried to ignore it, but something inside him made him go closer, while hoping that his boyfriend, who was known for drinking and getting into trouble, wasn't involved.
His silent pleas were completely ignored, because when he pushed a boy out of the way to get into the circle, he saw Shauna in all her glory yelling something in the face of Tyler Russo, a baseball player whom Travis knew very well was a complete dickhead. He ran over to his girlfriend, trying to understand why the hell she was threatening to kill the angry and also drunk boy.
“You should control your bitch, flex,” Tyler shouted, the mockery obvious in his words.
“Don't call him that,” they both shouted together, and when Shaun tried to advance, Travis let her go without any regret. Some people deserve to be punched in the face.
Shauna's fist made explosive contact with Tyler's nose, his head snapping back with nauseating force. He recoiled, screaming, his hands covering his nose, which Travis could bet was broken.
He allowed himself a moment of satisfaction before restraining Shauna, who was already raising her arm for the next punch, and he almost laughed at how his girlfriend gave him a sad look, her big brown eyes looking hurt that her violent outburst had been restrained.
“That's enough, Shaun” , he muttered low so only her could hear. “I bet he understood your point very well.”
They both ignored the cries around them, both from Tyler, who was whimpering pathetically as he tried to stop the bleeding from his nose, and from the other people around them who were craving a fight.
Travis threw an arm around his boyfriend's shoulders, pulling him close, smiling as his body relaxed against his, his arm wrapping around his waist and his hand reaching into the back pocket of his pants.
“Next time I'm going to hit him with a bat,” Shauna said petulantly under her breath.
“And I bet he'll deserve it”, Travis replied, making a mental note to ensure that his girlfriend never had access to any heavy objects.
Travis was already exhausted from that party and those people, but he still let Shauna take him to where the girls on his team were, at least relieved that this time they wouldn't drift away from each other. Van, Tai, Laura Lee, and Lottie were drinking and smoking together, wrapped in that bubble of tranquility that always seemed to surround the Yellowjackets when they were together.
They were definitely a strange group from the outsider's perspective, or so Travis had thought since the beginning, when his connection to them was solely due to his father's habit of forcing him to attend the team's practices and games. They had clearly known each other since childhood, reaching that point in female friendship where words were no longer necessary and they were practically able to read each other's minds. Travis was nothing more than an outsider to them, and the little interest they had in him made that very clear.
Lottie always seemed happy to see Shauna, and since she was clinging to Travis, it almost seemed like her smile included him too.
“Please tell me you're not involved in the arguing we heard” Tai said, her tone stern.
Van laughed loudly, her eyes analyzing Shauna's stubborn expression.
“Look at him, Tai, of course he was.”
Tai sighed, looking very much like a disappointed mother, and Travis automatically remembered all the times he had seen the girl running to stop an argument between Shauna and some rival player during games.
As always, Laura Lee's gaze was sympathetic.
“I'm sure Shauna didn't do anything without a reason. What happened there?”
Travis was also curious to know, since he had arrived at the argument too late to understand the context.
Shaun's shoulders tensed again, irritation covering her face like a wave.
“Those fucking idiots from the baseball team were making disgusting comments about the girls from the jv, and Tyler had the nerve to try to involve me in the conversation.”
All the Yellowjackets made identical faces of disgust.
“I'm glad you punched him, Ship,” Lottie said, her eyes always too intense on Shauna.
Travis looked at her with confusion, it was always strange how Lottie seemed to just know details she shouldn't.
“I would have done more if Trav hadn't interrupted me,” Shauna said with a pout, and Travis could feel her fingers contracting inside his pocket.
Van gave Travis a friendly pat on the shoulder.
“We should be thankful that at least one of them is reasonable.”
Of all the team members, she was one of the most willing to actively include Travis since his relationship with Shauna had begun, given that during the first three months, the other team members viewed him as nothing more than a strange guy meddling where he was not wanted, and only Shauna's sheer persistence prevented him from actively avoiding them all.
Lottie handed a lit cigarette to Shauna, who took a deep drag and gave her a grateful look before offering it to Travis, who accepted the Marlboro Red. The nicotine burning in his lungs relaxed him from the tense posture he always assumed when surrounded by the team.
Travis allowed the conversation to flow around him, content to hold Shauna and occasionally glance at her side profile (definitely not in a way that made it obvious how much he wanted to kiss her into oblivion), but from the way her brown eyes burned into his, it was obvious he wasn't doing a good job of hiding it.
Some of the other Yellowjackets eventually found them, and Travis had to step away from his boyfriend when a drunk Jackie Taylor ran up to hug him as if she hadn't seen him in years.
Jackie and Shauna had such a strange and sentimental relationship that Travis realized as soon as he started talking to Shauna that he should stay away from that topic if he wanted any peace.
At first, the team captain seemed to absolutely despise his presence near Shauna, and the two got into some absurd and childish arguments. Now the blonde's anger was silent and came in small reminders that his boyfriend would forever be Jackie Taylor's person.
And the sideways glance Jackie gave him as she let go of Shauna was absolutely one of those reminders.
Travis swallowed his own irritation, “Even when I had nothing, I had Jackie.” Shauna's voice rang in his head, a reminder of one of the few times he had tried to explain to Travis about their genuinely fucked-up friendship.
The mood among the group seemed to grow cold and tense for a moment. Travis felt it was all because of the brief awkward moment shared between the three of them, until Van, always the savior, intervened.
“Can you believe that tomorrow we’ll all be so damn close to becoming national champions?”
Everyone got excited, smiling wildly and proudly. Mari ran to the nearby keg to get drinks for all the empty cups.
“This deserves a toast, bitches.”
Travis overcame his shyness and joined them, raising his newly filled cup, his smile mirroring everyone on the team.
He may not have been very interested in soccer, but he was truly proud. He had been to every one of the Yellowjackets' undefeated games, for the first time not because he was forced to by his father, but to support Shauna in each one.
The conversations were heated and loud, and even if he wanted to, he couldn't keep up with all of them and their plans for both the trip and the matches. At some point, he's sure he heard Mari talk about diving naked into the hotel pool with the trophy, which made Laura Lee blush deeply.
The low-quality beer left a residual taste in Travis' throat that was erased by the menthol cigarette one of them gave him.
Tai and Shauna excitedly discussed their positions, wanting to try out some strategy in the next game that Travis didn't even think to try to understand.
He shoved his hands into the pockets of the blue flannel shirt he was wearing, something that had come straight from Shaun's wardrobe, watching his boyfriend gesticulate excitedly.
Shauna, who according to his own words didn't like soccer, had sparkling eyes and a conspiratorial smile on his face when talking about the subject and how the next team didn't know what awaited them.
Travis sighed in a way that would seem seriously pathetic to an outsider, but what could he do? At the end of the day, he really was a pathetically enchanted guy.
Finally breaking away from the team's conversations, Shauna approached him, her steps slowly faltering, and Travis' lips curled into a small smile (such a lightweight).
“Hey,” she said softly, her hands reaching for the collar of the flannel shirt he was wearing, her smile languid.
Travis wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer, breathing deeply, the scent of perfume and Marlboro Red making his head spin slightly.
Neither of them was really adept at public displays of affection, but it took a lot of effort for him not to break the distance between their lips. Shauna's eyes narrowed slightly as if she could read what was going on in Travis's head.
“We should go,” she said.
Travis hoped his nod hadn't been too eager, but from Shauna's smile, it had been very obvious.
She gave him a quick kiss before stepping back and taking his hand.
“Jax,” she called out louder to the captain who was talking to Natalie. “I'm leaving, do you want a ride?”
Her green eyes immediately focused on the two of them holding hands as she agreed, already beginning to say goodbye to the team.
Travis returned the farewell waves he received, as well as the few smiles, and couldn't help but laugh when a stumbling Laura Lee affectionately grabbed both sides of Shaun's face, saying she would pray for them to get home safely. Lottie and Tai hugged Shauna, Tai telling her to get a good night's sleep before their flight in a few hours, and Travis tried not to shrink from the strangely knowing smile Lottie gave him before saying goodbye.
Jackie hopped toward them and, without a second's hesitation, grabbed Shauna's left hand, the one that wasn't busy being held by Travis. Shauna stopped walking in surprise, and Travis's eyebrows rose so high they could be mistaken for his hairline, but Jackie remained unperturbed, just continuing to walk, now pulling the strange chain of three people's hands.
Shauna gave him a pleading look, clearly asking Travis not to make a fuss about it, and he accepted with a dismissive roll of his eyes.
The next awkward moment came when both Travis and Jackie tried to sit in the passenger seat of Shauna's car, but this time he didn't give in, boyfriend privileges, after all, Jackie could sit in the back seat or just walk home if she was too annoyed.
Jackie got in the back with a sulky look, and Travis returned it with a smug smile that fell when Shauna sighed heavily.
The drive to the Taylors' house was uncomfortable and silent. Shauna drove slowly, her eyes fixed on the road, too drunk to allow herself any distraction that could kill them all.
Travis leaned his head against the window and closed his eyes, ignoring how Jackie's irritation felt like a poisonous cloud filling the car.
He remained in the same position until they parked for Jackie to get out.
Unsurprisingly, the team captain hugged Shauna tightly as she said goodbye and completely ignored Travis's existence.
They returned to the car in an even more uncomfortable silence.
Shauna curled up in the driver's seat.
“I'm sorry, Trav,” he muttered, embarrassed as he was every time a scene like this happened.
Travis felt the urge to let the anger and jealousy that had been building up in his chest explode, but Shauna put her hand on his thigh, and God, how did those eyes seem to get even bigger every time she was even slightly sad?
Travis shrugged, but held her hand on his thigh, quickly bringing it to his lips and kissing the bruises left by that well-given punch.
He didn't answer, hoping that would make Shaun understand that everything was fine, even when it shouldn't be.
Shauna smiled at him, his eyes lighting up slightly.
“Want to spend the night tonight? My mom won't be back until it's time to leave for the airport.”
Travis's bags were barely packed, but well, he decided that wasn't so important when he nodded.
“But I really need to get home early.”
“Did you even pack for the trip?” Shaun asked with a teasing smile.
Travis shook his head in embarrassment.
"I took a suitcase out of the closet and left it on the bed."
Shauna laughed, the sound causing that stupid fluttering in Travis's stomach.
"I knew it. Tomorrow I'll help you pack, and I should probably take a look at Javi's too, just in case he decided to follow his older brother's example.”
Travis rolled his eyes, his younger brother could barely contain his excitement for this trip, a small part because of the nationals and a much bigger part because of Shaun, the boy was simply obsessed with his girlfriend in an annoying (and cute) way.
“Javi's bags have been ready since before today's game, but I bet he'll still find a reason to ask you for help.”
Shauna started the car again, looking more satisfied than before, and this time the silence in the car was comfortable.
Entering Shauna's house was a mess between the need to finally kiss and the desire to go up to her room. Finally, they reached Shauna's bed. She was sitting on Travis' lap, kissing him intensely, her fingers tangled in the dark hair that Travis had grown solely because Shauna liked to pull it. Shauna often kissed him as if she were devouring him, her teeth and tongue enveloping his head in a complete fog. It was messy, full of saliva and restrained moans. Shauna guided Travis's head as she wanted, licking his mouth while rubbing languidly against his groin, still covered by his jeans.
Travis' T-shirt and flannel had long since disappeared, while Shauna still wore the red dress, having discarded her jacket as soon as they came in.
Shauna pulled away from the kiss, a line of saliva connecting their mouths. The smile on his swollen, red lips sent a twinge straight to Travis' lower abdomen.
The bulge in his pants was painfully obvious, and they both looked down, Shauna's fingers closing even tighter around Travis's hair, a soft pain making him moan low as she rubbed harder against his clothed dick. Three layers of fabric separated them, but Travis could still feel the wet heat of Shauna's center. He closed his eyes tightly, trying to restrain himself. Shauna apparently noticed this because her movements became even more focused and firm against him.
“Shaun,” Travis moaned. He wanted to say something, but it was lost amid Shauna's movements and heat.
“Talk to me, pretty boy,” Shuana asked, her words punctuated by her moans. All the alcohol from the party seemed to have returned to their veins, and Travis wanted to warn her that if she didn't stop moving like that, he would end up cumming in his underwear and making a shameful mess. But all his determination was lost, and he just took Shauna's lips into his, his hands firmly on his waist helping him move.
Shauna's moans grew louder, her movements more messy, and Travis held her tightly, Shauna's head fell against Travis's shoulder and she turned to whisper in his ear “tell me you love me”
Travis closed his eyes tightly, too overcome to even think about not giving Shauna what she wanted
“I love you... I love you, Shaun, I love you so much.”
It was a breathless whisper, punctuated by moans.
Shauna shuddered against him, Travis followed her with one last thrust of his hips, his orgasm hitting him so hard that Travis swears he passed out for a moment.
They calmed down together, Travis holding Shauna as her breathing stabilized and her heart slowed.
Minutes later, Shauna pulled away.
“Hi,” she whispered.
Travis blushed, finally aware of how sticky his underwear was and the wet stain on his jeans.
“Hi”, he replied, too embarrassed to meet his boyfriend's eyes, Shaun's lazy smile showing that he understood,
“We really made a mess,” she said, getting off Travis' lap and going to the edge of the bed, still slightly shaky.
Shauna always looks soft when she's sleepy and satisfied,
“Come here,” Travis said quietly, a plea that was answered when she leaned forward again, one hand on his bare chest. Travis held his cheek. “How are you so fucking handsome?” Travis asked and felt the blush that warmed Shaun's face in the palm of his hand before he kissed her again.
That night, after a nice warm shower, Travis held Shauna close as she confessed softly about her anxiety, her fear of flying, her expectations for the nationals, and how much she wanted to win just because her team deserved it more than anything.