ELIZABETH'S POV:

"Because I—" Travis trails off and stares at me.

I wipe my tears, feeling like a baby for even crying in the first place. I don't wait for Travis to finish the reply to my question. I push him away and leave the room. He doesn't try to stop me this time.

I walk up to Adam and help him stop the bleeding. He obviously heard the fight; it was so loud the neighbors could have heard it. He looks down sympathetically at me and just gives me a hug. It was all I really needed. He holds me and I sigh, too tired to cry. Travis comes in and coughs behind us. I roll my eyes and squeeze Adam's hand as my way of silently saying goodbye.

"I'll find a way to see you." He whispers so only I can hear and I smile a little.

Travis and I walk to his car and I reluctantly step into the passenger seat. Travis doesn't say a word to me as we head home. We pass the restaurant.

"What about Sharon's car?" I ask.

"We'll deal with that later." Travis replies.

I look out the window and sigh. What a day.

"Do you want some ice cream?" Travis looks at me. I look at him strangely. Does he really think that ice cream is going to stop me from being mad at him? I chuckle to myself and shake my head.

"No thanks."

"Are you sure?" Travis drags out the word sure. I bite my lip.

"Alright." I surrender to my cravings. Travis grins and pulls into the parking lot of the ice cream shop.

We both order a cookies and cream cone and sit by the tables outside. We sit in silence for a while. I finally speak.

"You're like a cute puppy, I just can't stay mad at you. Even though you were meddling in my life." I mutter the last sentence. Travis eyes light up.

"So, we're okay?" He asks, shocked.

"I guess...but I swear to god Travis Harper, if you ever try to pry your little self into my life again, I'm leaving." I try to say it harshly, but Travis is grinning so widely that I can't help but smile as well. His smile is so contagious.

Travis leaps up and picks me up into a bear hug.

"I knew the ice cream would work. I knew you couldn't stay mad at me. I'm just too hot for you to ignore me." Travis releases me and I try to catch my breath.

"Ha, yeah, whatever you say." I scoff.

We finish our ice cream cones and walk to the car. I wonder if I let him off too easily...I shake my head. I did the right thing, he was just being protective. Besides, I can't imagine not hanging out with him; it would be impossible for me to stay mad at him.

Travis unlocks the front door and I walk in with an enthusiastic hello.

"We're in here!" Sharon calls from her room. Travis and I walk to Sharon and I hold back a gasp.

Sharon apparently spent the last couple hours piling on make-up on Stephanie. On top of the pale concealer, her cheeks are bright pink, her eyelids are covered in blue, her hair is poofed in ridiculous curls, her lips are a ruby red, and Sharon even had the nerve to put eyeliner and mascara on my Stephanie. Sharon better not have burned my baby's hair with that damn curling iron.

"Doesn't she look wonderful? I'm going to enter her in the Miss Little Colorado pageant!" Sharon coos.

"Travis, take Stephanie outside. And while you're at it, get that horrid stuff off of her face." I spit.

Travis's eyes widen and he looks between Sharon and I. He quickly grabs Stephanie and takes her outside, not wanting to see the scene about to unfold.

"Have you lost your mind?" I calmly ask Sharon. Travis walks back into the room without Stephanie.

"Excuse me?" Sharon gapes at me.

"Did I stutter?"

"There is nothing wrong with putting make-up on an adorable little girl." Sharon folds her arms.

"You're right, too an extent. Putting on make-up is putting on lipstick and blush, not enough make-up for a clown! And there is no way in hell that you are putting my daughter in any pageant." I growl.

"You're just mad because Stephanie likes someone who treats her like a princess. And you are unable to suit her needs."

"Are you suggesting that I'm a bad mother?" The anger builds inside of me. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"I'm merely suggesting that you don't cater to all of your daughter's needs and wants." Sharon smiles, "Stephanie needs to be entered in a pageant. She needs that attention and she needs to be dolled up more often. I was entered into pageants when I was young and I loved it."

"Wipe that smile off of your face before I do it for you." My hands turn to fists. "You do not know what my daughter needs. My daughter is four years old. Four. She is way too young for pageants and make-up. I don't want my daughter to end up as a superficial slut like you!"

"You take that back!" Sharon gasps and points a finger at me.

"No! You are a horrible influence on my daughter, and you are not to even think about entering her in any pageant." I turn away from her. Travis is staring at us with eyes larger than saucers. Mainly at me.

I feel myself being knocked to the ground. Sharon tackles me and pulls at my hair. I throw her off me in one swift move and hop back to my feet.

"I'm glad to see we're all handling this like adults." I mutter sarcastically.

I stomp to my room. Sharon's angry shouts pierce my ears. Travis runs after me.

"Was that really necessary?" He gestures in Sharon's direction.

"Travis, she had the audacity to call me a bad mother, and then she furthers it by wanting to force my daughter into some stupid pageant. And then she tackles me to the ground! She deserved that." I huff.

"Elizabeth, you called her a superficial slut, you were kind of asking to be tackled." Travis points out. I gasp. Was he taking her side?

"She told me I was a bad mother, and implied that she should be Stephanie's mother! She started this whole mess. Are you really taking her side?"

Travis sighs and runs his hands through his hair.

"Elizabeth, you've made this really hard on my part. I agree with you completely, but now I'm going to have to pick sides." Travis sighs again. I hadn't thought about that.

"Travis, I'm sorry. Take her side. Tell her I was a bitch and that she was right. I don't want you guys to not get married just because of this."

"Really? You won't be mad?"

"Yes, really, and no, I won't get mad. You and I both know that I'm right, so what does it matter if you tell her lies just to comfort her?" I grin.

Travis smiles and pulls me into a hug.

"Thank you Elizabeth. Please be more careful with Sharon, though, she might kick you out if you get into another argument like that. I'll try to calmly explain to her that she offended you first, and that you don't really think she's a superficial slut. Are you agreeable to that?"

"I suppose..." I ponder. Travis just looks at me. "I'm kidding. Yes, go on, calm her down, her screams are giving me a headache." I rub my temples. Travis smiles and gives me another hug.

"Elizabeth, you're the best. I don't think I could handle not being friends with you. I'm really happy you aren't mad at me anymore."

"Me too." I whisper with a small smile.

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Not my best chapter. Sorry guys. I just had to update though. The next one will be better, I promise.