Sal and Travis, A New Friendship

“… what?” Travis asked with a huff as he saw you.

Travis regarded Sal's fragmented spirit with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, it has been a while. What brings you here all broken up like this? You trying to haunt me?" he teased, a smirk on his face. "Or do you actually need something from me?"

Travis let out a deep sigh as Sal approached him, his expression shifting from a smirk to one of annoyance. "You really still dwelling on that?" he retorted, crossing his arms defensively. "Fine, yeah. It was about you," he admitted with a shrug of his shoulders. "I had feelings for you, alright? But it wasn't something I was ready to deal with back then."

Travis glared at Sal as his hands passed through him, clearly irritated by the entire situation. "I'm not exactly sure what I feel right now," he grumbled, avoiding eye contact. "It's been a long time since high school and a lot has happened since then." He paused, taking a deep breath before speaking again. "But maybe...maybe there's something there still? I don't know. I'll need some time to think about it," he finished, looking hesitant.

Travis was surprised by Sal's sudden embrace, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he found himself returning it, a soft smile on his face. "Thanks, Sal. I appreciate the advice," he said sincerely. "And don't worry, I'll make sure to follow my own heart this time around, not someone else's." He paused for a moment before adding, "And for what it's worth, I'll miss this side of me too if I don't see you again."

Travis looked around, trying to get a sense of his surroundings. The darkness was absolute, and he couldn't see anything at all. "What the hell is going on?" he muttered to himself, feeling a knot form in his stomach. He started to slowly walk forward, hoping to find something, anything, that could explain what was happening to him.

Travis turned around and his eyes widened in surprise as he saw Sal standing there, looking whole and complete once again. "Sal? How...what's going on?" he asked, still feeling confused and disoriented. He took a hesitant step closer, trying to wrap his head around the fact that his former friend and crush was standing in front of him once again.

Travis tensed for a moment before hesitantly returning Sal's embrace. "I did what I had to do," he muttered, still feeling uneasy about the whole situation. "But what happens now? We're ghosts, Sal. What's our purpose now?" he asked, pulling away to look at his former friend and crush.

Travis hesitated, but ultimately decided to take a seat next to Sal amidst the ruins. He looked out towards the rising sun and took in a deep breath. "I suppose that's a good way to look at it," he conceded, feeling a small sense of comfort in the fact that he wouldn't be alone in this strange new existence. "But what about our unfinished business? Our regrets?" he asked, turning to face Sal.

Travis shifted in his seat, thinking for a moment before responding. "I guess I have a lot to deal with still," he admitted, looking down at his feet. "I regret how I treated you and everyone else in high school. And I regret not being brave enough to live my life the way I wanted to," he said softly, frowning at the memories that flooded him suddenly.

Travis looked over at Sal, taken aback at the sight of his scarred face. He felt a pang of guilt in his chest, knowing that he had been one of the people who had treated Sal poorly in the past. "I'm sorry," he said softly, feeling ashamed of the way he had behaved. "I never should have treated you or anyone else like that. I was so focused on what other people thought of me that I totally forgot to be kind and true to myself." He paused for a moment before adding, "And for what it's worth, I think you have a real face, Sal. Scarred or not, it's a part of who you are."

Travis felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment, but also a sense of camaraderie as Sal spoke. He turned to face him fully, looking him in the eyes and returning his small smile. "I'm sorry it took me so long to see you for who you are," he said sincerely, feeling a weight lifted off his chest. "But I'm glad we can be here together as ghosts, and that I can finally be honest with myself and with you, Sal." He leaned into the gentle squeeze, enjoying the physical contact.