"I know you're awake April." He says, his voice rumbling.
Busted.
I sheepishly open my eyes again and stare at him, widening them when I see the intensity of his gaze. It's almost like he's looking through my eyes and into my soul.
I guess that's why they said that the eyes are the window to your soul...
I slowly sit up when he doesn't make a move to say anything. I stand up and almost fall from the sudden movement but Austin catches me, I cling to his bare skin with my eyes wider than I thought possible.
This is the first time I'm touching him without a shirt on. His skin is warm and soft, my fingers tingle and his hair tickles the knuckles of my hand.
He helps me stand and I end up clearing my throat awkwardly. "You hungry?" He asks and aost immediately, my stomach decides to embarrass me by making a loud grumbling noise. He chuckles and I close my eyes. He raises a brow, obviously still waiting and I nod, furrowing my brows when I remember that Austin can't cook.
"I ordered pizza."
"Oh." I say, following him out of the room and down to the kitchen. I see the pizza box lying on the counter still not opened. I lick my lips as he opens the box, staring at the extra cheesy pizza. I go to the faucet and twist it on, washing my hands.
When I turn back, I see Austin with a different pizza box, eating one while walking towards the counter.
"What is that?" I ask and sit down, taking a slice of the cheesy goodness.
"Pepperoni pizza, I really don't like the extra cheesy one." He says and I raise a brow.
"Then why order it?" I ask as I chew,along it a little muffled but I guess he understands because he smiles slightly.
"Because I know you like cheese." He says and my heart does a flip, like literally because Austin smirks as he looks between my chest and my face and not the way you guys are thinking.
I quickly look back to the pizza to make sure he doesn't see my red face but I can already tell he knows why I'm hiding from the mysterious chuckle that fills the air.
They should call him Austin Mysterio, or Austin Mischief, you know, because he's very mysterious.
I sigh and close my eyes, feeling the taste all over mouth. "You know, you should really try this, cheese pizza is the best." I say and when I open my eyes, Austin is standing right above me, his eyes dark.
I stiffen as he leans in, his face barely inches from mine before he shuts his eyes tight and his jaw locks, he reaches and takes a slice of my pizza, walking back to his stool and sitting, chewing slowly on the pizza, his face turned from mine.
My heart clenches and I look down to the box, blinking slowly as I try to comprehend what just happened.
"I guess cheese is not that bad."
°•°|°•°
I walk out of the bathroom, my hands run through my hair. I see Austin laying on the bed, reading some book and I unconsciously smile.
"What you reading?" I ask and sit next to him, resting my back against the headboard. He looks at me, his eyes studying me for a while.
"I'm not even reading it, it's upside down, I'm just trying to not look like freak." He says and smiles at me. I laugh and close my eyes.
"You know, the closest I've ever been to death was the day I forgot to take Layla to her music classes. We got there late and when I went to pick her up later, she nearly wringed my neck!" He says and I laugh lightly, turning to face him.
"When I was fourteen, Ethan used to have a fetish for black fingernails so he had a crush on his emo girl yeah? So one night in a diner, he dresssed like an emo king and tried to get me to help him to talk to her. And what do I know about how to ask girls out for dudes, so I walk up to the girl and try to talk to her, then I tell her about my brother and how he likes her and if she'd like to hang out with him, she threw her beer in my face." I say and Austin's eyes go wide, then he starts cackling and falls off the bed.
"Shut up you tadpole! I was almost blind that night!" He immediately stops and becomes serious.
"That would have been terrible since you wouldn't have been able to get a view of this sexiness." He says and I smack his chest, causing him to gasp in surprise.
"You don't have to be so violent woman." He whines and I roll my eyes at him.
"You know we've met before?" I ask and he raises his brows.
"Oh really, I didn't know, oh my God! What is a stranger doing in my bed?" He gasps and I smack him again causing him to laugh.
"I'm serious Austin, when I was fourteen, we met at one thing that my parents dragged me to. I don't know if it was a charity or a community ball or something but I remember you being very goofy." I say and he a frown marries his face.
"Really? I can't remember." He says and my heart clenches.
I thought he'd at least remember the function.
"Oh, well that stabs, cause if you can't remember then I have to start explaining how you stole a bite from my donut, danced with me until my feet hurt and then carried me when I couldn't walk." I say and he smiles, a sad smile.
"I was fifteen, wasn't I?" He asks and I nod slowly. He closes his eyes and rests his head against the headboard, a pained expression on his face.
"I was that age when Xena died. I- I remember exactly how it happened that day. It was the day after I'd asked her out. Lord she was beautiful. I can still remember the confused smile on her face when she saw me rushing to her. She had surprise in her eyes and tripped me and then said yes. I couldn't stop being goofy that night. I remember finishing mint chocolate chip ice cream because she liked it even though it gave me stomach aches. She was the most adorable thing." He pauses and my heart strings.
Okay you've gotta admit it, hearing someone you like talking about someone he loved before you is a female dog. I don't know how it ended but I'm sure he wasn't okay with it, well of course, she died the day after, he's definitely not okay with it!
"We were supposed to get something for her mom at the store to help her with her bruises. They were like a dysfunctional family. Dad hurting mom while sleeping around, mom hurting daughter while also sleeping around. Daughter ended up being suicidal. We were on our way when we started hearing shootings, and it was closer to us than it usually is, so we started running to get cover. It actually died down, and once she came out straight shot to her head. The guy that shot her missed the person that was standing behind us. I got shot in the waist. But I couldn't get the fact out of my head that she had her brains splattered all over the floor. Her parents didn't even care, they just up and left like they never had a kid."
His eyes open and I notice that his blues are welling up.
"I- I don't even know what happened, I only remember her and my family because they were the ones that I saw when I woke up." He closes his eyes again and sighs.
"I lost my memory two months after her death." He says and my eyes widen, my fingers freezing.
"I fell off a cliff when we went rock climbing. I was lucky I didn't die, but what I hate the most is that I didn't forget everything about Xena, but I did about you."
The dinosaurs in my stomach start stumping and my eyes widen. He regrets not remembering me? But why would he want to forget Xena even though he loves her?
"Why would you want to forget Xena even though you love her?" I voice my thoughts and he smiles at me, causing my breath to hitch.
"She's a part of my past April, I don't love her anymore. I love someone else, and I hope she sees me the way I see her." He says, his eyes never leaving mine and I feel my heart shattering at his words and the smile slowly slips from my face before I let another one spread across my face.
I can even feel it's fakeness. I know that's not a word.
"Then tell her, life's too short." I say and he laughs a beautiful laugh.
"Believe me, I know, and I'm working on it, I'm banking on having a girlfriend by this weekend. I know I can't provide Five hundred dollars if I lose." He murmurs the last part and I feely spirit dropping.
"Will I get to meet her?" I ask and he frowns before smiling with amusement in his eyes.
"When I ask her, you'll be the first to know." He says and that was the last blow. He just openly admitted to me that I wasn't the girl he was going to ask out. I mean, look at him and look at me!
I'm literally the outcast in the society.
I guess you never should expect life to give you everything so easily.
When life gives you lemon, aim for where the sun doesn't shine.
°•°•°|°•°•°
I plug my phone and flop down on the couch, grabbing the remote and flipping through the channels. I settle for Thunder Cats Roar and start singing the theme song with so much passion, I clutch my chest like I'm singing the anthem.
"Are you watching Thunder Cats Roar?" Austin asks as he walks in, his brows raised slightly.
"You watch the cartoon?" I ask and his eyes widen. He starts fidgeting and suddenly yells "No!" I make a face and roll my eyes at him. I turn my attention back to the TV, increasing the volume.
"Who knew you were so passionate about a bunch of redheaded cats running up and down with an awkwardly large sword?" He muses and my eyes light up.
"So you do watch the cartoon." I say and he turns red.
"It was only once, and I couldn't find the remote, don't judge me!" He huffs and crosses his arms.
I burst out laughing and he frowns before a smirk takes over his face. I stop and watch as he starts walking towards me slowly, a mischievous smile on those rosy pink lips of his.
Would it be a bad idea if I pull him in and- never mind, the image in my head is enough to kill me if he doesn't.
My eyes widen when he grabs me, attacking my sides with his fingers and I start squirming, kicking my legs out at him while howling with laughter.
He continues, laughing lightly and trapping my legs between his so I don't push him off.
"I'm going to PEE myself!" I scream at the top of my voice in between my laughter and he stops, falling over and laughing silently.
"Wimp!" I manage to say and he pauses, rolling over me again and tickling me. I thrash at him and hit his chest, causing him to fall on me but his arms hold him from smashing my lungs. He stares into my eyes, his smile slowly dropping from his face.
The air around us becomes tense and his hands reaches to caress my cheeks. His thumb brushes against my lip and I inhale sharply, the skin tingling.
His eyes linger on my lips before meeting my eyes. His hands tangle in my hair as he leans in, his lips barely brushing mine when something starts blasting music causing me to push him off me.
He falls against the floor with a dazed look and I rush to my phone, cussing at it before answering the call.
"What?" I snap and I hear 'oohing' in the background.
"I'm sorry, did I interrupt a chance of you getting kissed by a hot thing?" Mia's voice laughs and I turn red, refusing to answer her questions and she gasps.
"Oh my God! Is it Luke? Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I'll call you back, just carry on like I never called, uhh... goodbye!" She says and hangs up, causing me to groan and Austin to chuckle.
"Should we continue where we stopped?" He asks teasingly and I glower at him, throwing a pillow at his head.
°•°•°|°•°•°
I chew on a slice of papaya, watching as Chase's forehead creates frown lines from focusing so hard on the chess board. Macy brushes her hair back, moving a bishop.
My phone pings and I pick it up, reading the message that came in.
"Hey, Macy, wanna hang out with Mia?" I ask and she nods frantically, check mating Chase who had a dumbfounded look on his face.
She blows out a breath and packs her hair back. "I've been waiting to do that, sorry Chase for making you wait. We'll continue after I get back, if you want?" She says and he shakes his head frantically.
"Alright baby, let me get my purse and change my top." She says and rushes upstairs while I laugh at Chase's face.
"You'll get over it." I say and lat his shoulder, going to the kitchen to drop the plate and wash my hands.
"Okay, I'm ready!" Macy calls out as she reaches down the stairs and we both walk out the door, her blowing a kiss to Chase who was already typing on his phone.
We walk towards my car and she opens the driver's door since she just loves to drive my baby, and glued herself to the seat, smirking at me. I roll my eyes at her and walk to the passenger side and open the door, throwing myself in.
"I never got to ask you what happened at your date with Run away Lover yesterday." She says as she starts driving down the road.
I sigh, I'd left Austin's place about four hours ago and I was expecting questions but not his late, I was already prepping myself but Macy's cool demeanor is starting to creep me out.
"Well, he took me to his highschool and told me about his best friend, then he took me to see his parents." I say and she takes an abrupt swerve.
"WHAT?"
I knew it was too good to be true.
"Yep, I slept over there and they're really nice, he has a cat named Malcom and he said he's in a relationship with him." I say and she chuckles.
"He's in a relationship with his cat? That's messed up." She laughs and I smile with her.
"Yeah, then we came back this morning, or last night, I don't know, I fell asleep in the car and he took me to his place and then he told me about Xena. His other best friend that was suicidal, died from a stray bullet, the day after he asked her out, was broken, met me at that function that you pretended to be sick so you wouldn't come, lost his memories two months after her death except hers and his close family." I ramble out and she looks at me briefly and gasping.
"I know Xena! Xena Lennon. The news was everywhere, oh my gosh, I can't believe Luke knew her, I'm guessing he was the boyfriend who got shot in his waist, that's so heartbreaking." She says and my heart clenches but I furrow my brows.
"Yes, but that's not exactly what you'd like to hear someone you might like tells you he loves someone else." I grumble and she hits the breaks making me fly forward but thankfully, the seatbelt holds me back.
"What the freak!" She screeches and I cover my ears.
"No need to go all demon on me, geez. He told me by the end of the week he's going to ask her out and that he loves her and that he hopes she loves him too. And then he told me I'd be the first to know when he does ask her." I croak out and rub my nose, my lips forming into a pout.
"Awn baby, I'm so sorry, it's his loss if he doesn't want you, and it will be his loss, no children." She grinds out and I smile at the image of her kicking him where the sun doesn't shine.
"Mia would help me shave off that his amazing hair too, and we'll shove it down his pants. And bathe him in glitter, ha! It will take him weeks to get it off!" She cackles and her eyes glint.
"Macy, calm down, it's not good for the baby." I say and she immediately smiles like she's a good girl.
We pull up at Mia's place and she walks out after hearing Macy honk. Her fiery red hair reaches us and she smiles at me, opening the backseat door.
"Alright, baby move this car to Darcy's, we're going to get new hairstyles. And no backing out April, I already payed for the three of us!" She sings and I slump in my chair.
Maybe I do need this.
"Ya do honey." Macy laughs and high-fives Mia.
°•°•°|°•°•°
"Okay, open your eyes." I hear Darcy's voice and open my eyes, gasping when I see the new style my hair is in.
"Woah!" I breathe out as I take in the blue color of some of my locks, touching them. "This is awesome Darcy, I love it!" I say and she smiles at me.
"You already looked pretty and the hair is nicely kept, it wasn't much work." She says and I beam at my friends. Macy got a shorter hair, the middle having a rainbow color and Macy just styled her hair differently, and added a little orange highlight.
"Thank you Darcy, take care of yourself and greet my boo for me, come on girls, we're going to the spa!" Mia squeals and I laugh at her.
°•°|°•°
"This is life." I say in bliss as the whatever they call their names massages my back.
"I know right, do you think Marco would mind if I hit it with one of these guys, because I'd take a shot." She said ogling the guy that was taking care of her nails. He flashes his teeth at her, his eyes twinkling in amusement and Macy laughs at them.
She relaxes against the chair, wigging her toes as the person massaging it added some more oil.
Macy sighs and grabs her phone when it starts ringing and she smiles, answering the phone and pressing it to her ear. "Hey babe, uh-huh, I'm at the spa. I'll text you when we're done, and don't kill Chase, I still need to show him who's boss." She says and laughs, talking with him some more as I zone out.
I close my eyes and let the hands release the knots in my shoulders and neck.
"All done." I'm pulled out of my endless zoning when I hear that voice and I raise my face to look at the owner of the voice.
Macy and Mia stand up, walking in robes towards me and Macy hands me another robe. The guy walks out leaving only the three of us in the room and I take the robe from Macy, smiling gratefully. I stand and pull it over my body, tying it and walking out with them.
"So, did you hit it off with the pedicurist?" I ask Mia and she rolls her eyes at me.
"You know I was joking when I said that." She huffs and I know that it's not because she doesn't want to, it's because she can't, she's the kind of person that will cut every relationship with you so she won't be accused of cheating.
I love her that way.
We walk to where the they are soaking in hot tubs and Mia pulls us.
"Ladies, today, we love ourselves."