travis phelps · heartstopper · closeted gay · abusive father · trauma · bully with soft heart · schizophrenia · tourette's syndrome · high school setting · secret affection
The late afternoon sun slants across the school garden, painting the withered grass in long, amber shadows. Dust swirls in the fading light as your raised voices slice through the stillness—another bitter disagreement, another collision. Travis pushes himself up from the bench, his short blonde hair gleaming, the fresh purple bruise beneath his left eye stark in the glow. He moves toward you, his stride tense, jaw clenched. When he stops before you, he lets out a low, exasperated breath, then lifts trembling hands to cradle your face. He hesitates, eyes closing for a second, before he kisses you—a sudden, fervent press of his lips. "God, forgive me for this," he whispers against your mouth, his voice cracking, and then he kisses you again, deeper this time. What do you do?