"What the-?"
They pause and look at me with wide eyes. I glare at dad as everyone files into the office, gasping as they see what is going on. Ethan shoots him an accusing look and shakes his head in disappointment, casting his eyes away into Brooke's shoulder. Adam narrows his eyes at them and scoffs, walking off.
The betrayer had the audacity to smile at all of us, but it immediately falls off his face when he hears mom's footsteps coming to the office. She peers over my shoulder and gasps, her eyes widening and she holds her hand to her chest.
"Jiraiya!"
Lord Jiraiya is definitely sleeping on the couch tonight.
°•°|°•°
I tape a paper to my forehead and blow it away, letting it come back and then blow it away again. As you might have guessed, this action is repetitive. It is also the cause of boredom. Ethan and Brooke left for yet another checkup hours ago, Adam and his crazy wife went to get something for her to eat, she said she has cravings, no one knows if that's true or not. Chase is still over at Fayette's, probably having an endless makeout session that no one will ever no is true, boy is tight lipped, and dad is in his room with mom, undergoing some sort of punishment. He's begging her while rubbing her feet and I'm kept on Run away Lover duty.
I blow it away again and I see the amused look on his face. He looks around my room and stops when he sees something.
"Why are there black lights in your room?" He asks and I shrug, not having the energy to reply him. He pouts and I sigh, ripping off the tape from my forehead and walking to the lights, I turn them off and put on the black lights.
His eyes widen as the room lights up from the paintings on my wall, the sea and colorful fishes that weren't there just a second ago makes me smile.
"Woah!" It leaves his lips in a whisper but I still hear it, making me look down when I feel heat creeping up my neck. I hear him stand up from the bed and see his feet moving in my direction. I cork a brow and look up at him, feeling the warmth radiating off his body from how close he's standing next to me.
"These are insane April, just wow." He says in a low voice and I feel a smile tugging at the corners off my lips but I scowl at him. I push him back until he's sitting in the chair and glare hard.
"Don't think because I showed you this, I've forgiven you!" His eyes widen and he gasps.
"Awn, please? Pretty please?" He begs with a pout and puppy eyes and I roll my eyes. I flop down on the bed, my hair spreading around me.
"No, you don't know how that hurts whenever you just leave, I have abandonment issues." I whisper softly and he becomes stiff. I close my eyes and run my hand down my face from exhaustion.
The bed dips beside me and I open my eyes to see Austin with his head in his hand. "Is that what you feel I do? Abandon you?" He asks quietly and I whisper a yes.
He grabs his hair in his hands, closing his eyes tightly. "April, I'd never leave you." He says and I nearly scoff.
"But that's exactly what you do, you've left three times now, and everytime you come back, I take it like nothing happened even though it does hurt me. I worry for you Austin, I do, and when you leave me out, it hurts. I get that you might not want to tell me something because we're not really close but you shouldn't just shun me, I feel like you're only around me when I'm needed and not because you want to be." I say and his head whips up, he grabs my hands with wide eyes.
"No, April, I want to be with you, I want to be around you all the time." He says but I see the hesitation in his eyes.
"You can say it all, but you can't lie to me Austin, I can see the hesitation in your eyes and I totally understand that. I know how hard it is opening up to someone, and I guess I'm just making a big deal out of everything, but just promise me one thing," I pause and look into his eyes.
"Anything." He rushes out in desperation and I look down.
"You'll let me know if you ever need space, to clear your head, you'll let me know before you disappear." I say and he nods frantically.
"For you April, anything." He kisses my knuckles. I let a lame smile slip onto my face before I close my eyes and let back onto the bed, tugging at my hairs.
"Dinner!" Mom's voice screeches throughout the house and I groan, standing up.
"Come on. Dinner time." I say and tug Austin up, making sure to keep a distance between us. Don't want to get disappointed again.
I stroll down the stairs, hearing some small movements in the kitchen. The doorbell rings and I divert, making my way to the door. I open it and Ethan and Brooke, Macy and Adam and Chase and Fayette stand outside, all with the same look on their faces. The look they get when they know its dinner time.
I roll my eyes and walk away from the door. hearing Fayette giggle. I walk into the dining room and see Austin helping mom to set the table. My heart warms as mom rests against the door frame, watching him with a raised brow. I walk up to her, completely ignoring the boy that's watching me with longing eyes.
"Where's dad?" I ask and she looks down at me with soft eyes. She jerks her head to the kitchen and I look to find him washing the pots. I nearly burst out laughing at how mom punishes him but I shake my head and walk back to the table.
Chase and Fayette are whispering to themselves, probably something perverted and flirtatious since that stupid grin hasn't come off Chase's face.
Coincidentally, the only chair left is the one next to Austin since dad always takes the head. Mom looks everyone in the eye with that I-know-something-that-you-don't-but-you-better not-let-me-remind-you.
But they all still have that clueless look, fools.
"Alright, it seems that y'all need a little spanking again huh? In a straight line, to the sink, and wash your disgusting hands, no one is touching my food with dirty hands! What do you think this place is? A pig sty?" She screams and everyone rushes out of their chairs, Adam almost falling off as they make a line.
I chuckle softly at him as I stand behind Chase, Austin behind me as the line moves to the kitchen. Dad just finished drying off his hands and smiles at us, shaking his head. Macy washes her hands first, then Brooke, then Adam and Ethan and Fayette and Chase, then me, leaving me to watch Austin.
We walk out of the kitchen in the same order we came in, don't want to freak mom out and receive glares for the rest of the dinner. We take our seats and dad holds his hand out and everyone links it. Austin's hand touches mine and I nearly gasp from the jolt it sends, slowly, our fingers intertwine and I bite my lips at how soft and warm his hand is.
My eyes shut and I lick my lips, biting them to keep me from saying something inappropriate.
"April?" My eyes shoot open and I see dad looking at me weirdly.
"Pray for the food you wanker!" Ethan says all of a sudden and my eyes widen, my cheeks heating up.
°•°|°•°
Ethan did the dishes for insulting me at the table. I'd feel pretty good about myself if I didn't do that right next to Austin, he kept chuckling softly throughout the dinner and I glared at him at any chance I'd get, when mom wasn't looking.
We're all in the living room, watching TV and chatting lightly, Macy with Brooke and Ethan with Chase. Fayette and Adam are playing rock paper scissors over when next Chase is to go grocery shopping. Who ever wins get to tell Chase and an additional bonus of free stuff for a month.
Fayette is losing.
Austin and Dad are talking at the other corner of the room, on the loveseat and I'm trying to hold myself back from making a snide remark. Mom is next to me, don't want a whack to the head.
"Mom?" Macy says after a while and we all turn our attention to her, she looks at Adam and he smiles at her, nodding a little for her to go on and I immediately know what is going to happen next.
"Well, first I want to congratulate you on your journey to becoming a grandmother, with Brooke's baby coming, that's one. But what if I said it's going to be two?" She asks and mom narrows her eyes at her.
"What are you talking about?" Mom and Dad ask at the same time, looking at Macy with so much intensity, and lord the ladies is not good for my heart! The suspense is just so much even though I know what is coming next.
"I'm pregnant."
Cue the screaming.
°•°•°|°•°•°
Mom jumps out of her seat and rushes to Macy, grabbing her and shaking her shoulders so violently, I think they might fall off with a huge smile on her face. Laughter echoes as she freezes and turns to Adam, pulling him in for a bone crushing hug.
She pulls away from him and hugs Macy again before hugging Brooke, a wide smile on her face throughout.
When everything settles, she looks at everyone. "Who knew about Macy's pregnancy?" She asks in a slightly dazed voice, guilty smiles covers all our faces and she shakes her head.
"I'd kick you out of the house for keeping this from me but I'm just so happy!" She squeals. Auston looks at me with a raised brow and a scared look in his eyes. I nod in confirmation and he gulps, closing his eyes.
I smile and shake my head, looking up at the time. Austin does the same and looks at me with a sad smile. He looks at dad but he just shrugs with a smile.
"It was nice meeting you Mr. and Mrs. Freeman, the dinner was perfect and I wish I could learn how you made it but it seems I have to go." He says and stands up, looking at mom. Dad already gave him an approval so he's waiting for mom's.
"Oh alright honey, come again next time and we'll be glad to have you. April, see him to the door." She says with finality after kissing his cheeks. I roll my eyes and stand up, leave it to her to kick me out without kicking me out.
I follow him out of the house and notice his car down the road, we start walking towards it with my hands in my pocket, closing my eyes at the cool air that blows past me.
"So, tonight was nice." He says awkwardly and I look up at him with a raise eyebrow.
"Don't even, my brother called me a wanker." I say and he smiles.
"But between the both of us, we know that you're not a wanker." He whispers with a wink and I roll my eyes, smiling with him. His tongue runs over his lower lip and I see him wince a little when it touches his injury.
"Goodnight April." He says and I bite my lip, looking at his face.
"Goodnight Austin." He smiles and stares at my face before it turns serious. I frown at the sudden change but my eyes widen when he leans in and plants a soft kiss to my forehead, his lips lingering a little before he pulls apart.
He doesn't wait for a reaction before he opens his door and steps in, backing off and driving away, with me still in complete shock.
That was a bold move, the last time he did it when he thought I was asleep. The farthest we'd ever gone when we were both fully conscious is some minimal touching. We'd start cuddling when one of us is losing consciousness and yes I did think of that and that's how I know I'm very right.
The skin is still tingling and my heart feels like it's about to explode. I close my eyes and lightly touch the skin, letting out a shuddered breath. I turn around when my nose starts to feel the cold, walking in the direction of the house.
When I walk in, everyone smiles at me like they know a secret I don't and I start blushing, don't ask me why, I don't know. "Um, goodnight parents, family, girlfriend." I say awkwardly and dash up the stairs, my hair dancing behind me.
I fall to my bed with a sigh and run my hands across my forehead, wishing I could have his lips on me again. I close my eyes and just feel, just imagine his hands skimming across my body, taking time to grip each curve in his large hands. Those hands that can make anyone bend to his will without even realizing it.
I tug at my hair, remembering with a smile when he was unconsciously playing with the locks, my eyes flutter open and I stare at the ceiling, reality washing over me that it's not possible.
I groan and stand up, rushing to the bathroom to have a warm bath. I peel off my clothes and step into the shower, not waiting for it to get warm before turning it on. The cold water shocks me out of my dream state and I lean against the wall, breathing slowly as the water slowly gets warmer, before it gets hot enough to turn my skin red, just how I like it.
°•°•°•°|°•°•°•°
"April, wake up come on." I hear a voice and shove my hand in their face, sinking back into the bed with the pillow covering my head.
"Baby, come on, get up, it's late afternoon already." I hear the voice again and roll away, pressing the pillow against my ear so I don't hear that voice again.
"Babe, wake up, please."
"As much as I love your voice, I really can kill you again if I hear you say one more word." I growl out and when I don't hear any response, I relax and start falling asleep.
"You love my voice?" I throw the pillow away and lunge for the person but stop short when I see Austin looking at me with amusement in his eyes. I start blushing and grab the pillow, covering my head with it.
"Come on darling, get out of bed, we're going somewhere now and your mom has given me permission to take you out as long as I'm able to get you out of bed. Please don't make me lose to the bet I made with her." He pleads and I slowly take the pillow away from my face.
"What's the time?" I mutter sheepishly and he smiles.
"Two o'clock, dress pretty, and comfortable, we might not be back until late or tomorrow if there's a hold up." He says and I raise a brow at him, he winks in my direction before leaving the room. I groan, throwing the covers off me and standing up, still hugging the pillow.
I drop the pillow and walk into the bathroom, washing my face and grabbing my toothbrush. I slap on the toothpaste and brush my teeth, my eyes still half open. When I'm done, I take off my pajamas and turn on the shower, making it cold so I wake up.
When I step in, I jump from the contact, making a small scream as I stare wide eyed at the shower head. It glares back at me and I almost see it sticking out its tongue and blowing a raspberry.
I told you I was still sleepy.
°•°|°•°
I rush down the stairs with my phone in my hand, my hair down in a braid and my dress just above my knees. Austin stares at me wide eyed with his jaw hanging and I smirk at him.
"You have a little bit of drool, over there." I tease and he smiles at me.
"For only you, darling." He whispers and I smile. Macy walks into the living room with a weirded out look on her face and I frown slightly.
"What's wrong?" She looks up at me and makes a disgusted face.
"Adam's downloading." She says and I scrunch up my nose. That bathroom is going to be a disaster after he's done exploding.
"What's he downloading?" Austin asks as we make out way out of the house. I close the door behind me and smile sweetly.
"You might call it the number three." I say and he makes a face, before bursting in laughter.
"Oh I get it now, downloading!" He exclaims and I laugh, shaking my head at him.
We enter his car and I notice the new scent is lavender, making me hum and smile.
"Where are we going? I ask as he starts the car. He looks to me with a smirk, revving the engine before shooting me another wink.
"You'll see."
°•°•°|°•°•°
We're at a highschool soccer field, just looking up at the sun setting on the bleachers. He still hasn't told me why we're here but he's been awfully quiet since we reached here and I'm starting to get worried.
I'm dying to ask him questions about this place but I don't want to push him, I just watch him discreetly while playing with my fingers. His eyes lands on a row and he smiles, closing his eyes.
"You know I can feel your eyes on me, right?" He suddenly asks and I turn away, blushing.
Not so discreetly, I guess.
"Austin, why'd you bring me here?" I ask, dodging his question. He looks at me, his eyes having a shade like the one when you're reliving a distant memory.
"You know this was the first place I'd stopped my best friend from killing herself." He says and my brows shoot up, before they furrow again.
"Are you talking about Kai?" I ask and he shakes his head, smiling a sad smile.
"No, you don't know her, nobody does." He whispers the last part but I don't fail to get the hint of pain lacing his voice.
"It must have been scary." I say and the wind Carrie's my voice. He chuckles deeply and softly, eyes looking up to meet mine.
"The first few times, yeah. But then it became like a normal routine, we'd go to her usual spots and find her there, there was one time we found her in the River and Kai had to dive in to get her because I can't swim. We laughed that day at how stupid the idea was, she even said she might try to hang herself next, funny thing is we found her with a rope and she was holding a rosary. Kai had kicked her shin and I just laughed." He says and I raise a brow at him, a small smile playing on my lips when I see his.
"After four years of all her attempts to kill herself, she did die, but not by suicide, stray bullet, right into her brains, went all splat." He says and my eyes widen, lips parting in shock.
"When I found her, I'd thought it was just another scene where we would save her but no, she was gone. I was frozen for a day, couldn't say anything and couldn't think of anything, only the image of her blood spilling out of her head. I cried for three whole days, Lord! Just thinking about it right now hurts so bad!" He says in a strained voice and I look at his face to see it scrunched up.
My fingers find his and he looks at me, biting his lip and smiling a little.
"It was a long time ago though, really long time." He says and I intertwine my fingers with his. He looks down at our joined hands, a thoughtful look masking his face.
"It's not enough time to stop the hurting though, I know." I say and he looks up at me, bringing my hands up to his lips.
The jolt of electricity that courses through my arm as his lips brush my knuckles almost has me leaning into him and I bite the insides of my mouth.
"Is this where you wanted to take me to?" I ask when our hands rest on his lap, his thumb drawing small circles on the back of my hand.
"God no! I haven't been on a date before but I'm sure not so clueless." He says and my eyes widen.
"You haven't been on a date before?" I shriek and he raises a brow and shrugs.
"Yep, just haven't found the person I want to date."
Okay that stings, but maybe he doesn't know?
But then why is he so caring? Why does he touch me like he likes it too?
Why does he let me in even though I see it's hard for him to open up?