"Can you not tug so hard at my hair?" Austin whines and I roll my eyes. I drop the comb and pick up the band, pulling his hair into a tiny man bun. I pull back and look at him, my lips tugging up into a smile. "Look at yourself!" I gasp and shove him towards the mirror. He narrows his eyes at me before turning and looking at himself, he pauses, a small frown taking over his forehead as he touches the bun.
"It's not as bad as I expected." He hums and I laugh, clapping and reaching for my phone. He makes a cute duck face and a peace sign as I take a shot. He laughs and rounds me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into his body as we both stare at the picture. He places a kiss on my cheek and releases me, grabbing two jackets and handing me one.
"What's this for?" I ask as he puts his on. "Well it's cold outside, and I'm going to drop you off at your house."
Oh well, that explains that.
°•°|°•°
We walk into the house and I'm greeted with mum and Kira laughing at something. I walk to the living room and find dad dancing to one of the songs they must've listened to when they were in their teens, mom and dad I mean.
He sees me and stops, placing his hands on his waist, almost like he's posing and I flip out my phone, taking a picture of him before I realize that Austin is still behind me. He clears his throat "Hey Mr. Freeman, Mrs. Freeman." Dad laughs, grabbing his arm and pulling him somewhere into the house. I flop down on the couch with mum and Kira, sighing out and rubbing my face. "What's wrong honey?" Mum asks, playing with my hair.
"I'm just really tired, I can't wait for the year to end and my hands have been shaking a lot, I haven't visited the white room in a while and I miss hanging out with my highschool art mates." I say and mum laughs, Kira just picks up her headphones and walks upstairs, they all know when the conversation should be private.
"If you want to paint, grab buckets and go to the white room, it doesn't have to be a perfect picture, it just has to express your emotion. It's what I do when I'm cooking. It doesn't have to look beautiful, it should be something that expresses your emotions, something that when everyone sees it, it will hit them hard, you'll be Cupid, just not bringing about love momentarily, bringing happiness, and don't forget money." She says and I laugh.
"Thanks mom." She smiles and claps her hands together.
"Now that you're better, come on, you're going to the grocery store with Kira." Mom sings and I groan. Going out to get groceries is enough stress, going with Kira is death in itself.
"But what about Austin?" I ask and she smiles, a wicked smile. "Oh, he and I are going to have a nice chat while we cook."
Uh-oh.
*At the grocery store*
"No Kira, no one likes the red apples, just because you want to feed as the evil witch from snow white don't mean that we have to get a whole cart full of them!" I whisper yell and she turns her nose up, picking the red apples one by one and dumping them into the empty cart. I groan frustrated and stalk towards the other direction, grabbing a cart and moving to the other aisle.
I rip the list open and glare at the writing like it's what made Kira want to buy every single red apple in the world. I close my eyes and breathe in, calming myself. I look up and go to grab the jar of peanut butter but my hand can't reach.
Stupid short legs!
I groan in frustration and reach again but someone grabs it and I go to glare but I see the person holding it out for me. "Rough day?" He asks and I close my eyes, smiling as I take it from him.
"You'd be surprised." I say with a sigh and look up at him. "I'm Zayan by the way." He says and I frown. The name sounds overly familiar, like I've heard one of the girls say that name before.
"I'm April, and thanks for the help." I say awkwardly as I laugh. He smiles, shaking his head. "It was no problem at all, I'll see you around." He says and walks away.
That was weird. Where does he know me from? And what? See me around?
°•°•°|°•°•°
"Ino! What in the world is this?" Mom asks as I come down the stairs. A smile slips onto my face when I hear mom ranting in Spanish, she hardly does that, and when she does, it means she's pissed!
Austin walks out of the kitchen like a log of wood, his eyes wide with fear and I groan. Mom!
I rush to him and his eyes widen when he sees me but I slap his face and he closes his eyes, relaxing and opening his eyes. His hand goes to his cheek and he makes a pained face when his hands brush the skin, I hold his shoulder and look into his eyes and he smiles, leaning in and kissing my cheek. I glare at him and walk into the kitchen but walk out back when I hear mom still ranting.
The Lady Tsunade is mad!
I walk upstairs to Brooke's room and I hear Ethan whispering something to her, then I hear little giggles. Someone's having a sweet moment. I walk to my room and have a mini heart attack when I see Austin laying on my bed with one of his books in his hands.
"What are you doing here? The twins will be here in five minutes for dinner!" I ask and he looks at me with a raised brow.
"Your mom is making me stay for dinner. She says I look like a broom stick." He says and I roll my eyes.
If only he knew I could stare at his body all day.
"You could, just ask." He says with a smirk and my eyes go wide, I just said that out loud. He nods like he knows what I'm thinking. I narrow my eyes at him and he sits up on the edge of the bed, his places his hands on my waist and pulls me to him, tugging me down onto the bed, until I'm lying on top of him.
"I wouldn't mind you know, if you asked, I'm all yours." He says, running his lips over my jaw line, teasing me. I close my eyes.
"You know exactly what you want, it's right at the top of your tongue April, say it." He sucks at my lobe, I bite my lips and he chuckles, his hands gripping my waist tighter, he sucks at the skin on my neck and I let out a loud moan, shivers cover my skin as he moves to my collar bone.
"Those two little words April, and I will let you have it." He says, his voice raspier and hoarse. My heart beats like it's running a marathon, I try to control my breathing but it's like his touch gets everything about me awake, my senses tingling and my heart soaring with desire.
He looks into my eyes, those mesmerizing blues running straight through the doors and jumping through the window. They say your eyes are the windows to your soul, and I'm pretty sure Austin just found the lock and broke through it. They say the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy, Austin came to steal, awaken and renew. And with those thoughts running through my head, I let the words slip past my lips.
"Kiss me."
The smile that takes over his face is breathtaking, the kiss... the kiss is soul crushing.
I let my hands slip into his hair, tugging it out of the useless man bun. What a restraint!
When we pull apart to catch our breath, I stare into his eyes and can't help the small laugh that escapes my lips. He smiles, brushing his thumb against my cheek.
"Oh."
"My."
"God."
I whip my head so hard I was scared it might roll off when I hear those three voices, and those six eyes staring at me. Temi is the one that steps in first, her mouth still hung open. Lola follows in and then May.
"Guys it's not what you think it is." I say and May crosses her arms while Temi and Lola scoff.
"Not what we think it is that you have been running around with Run away Lover and you didn't tell me that you're already getting on one or two runs?" Temi asks, her voice terrifyingly calm.
"Okay it definitely isn't exactly what you what you think and no I haven't gotten to that part."
"So that means you will?" She counters and I groan. Austin sits up slowly and I look up at their judging looks. May's the worst.
"Girls, dinner's ready!" Mom yells from downstairs and I close my eyes.
"Hey mom, what about me?" I hear Ethan yell back and I almost know what mom's gonna reply.
"I said girls Ethan, that includes you." She replies.
Stab!
"Come on." Temi says and the three of them walk out of the room.
I stare at the doorway, thinking about how awkward dinner's gonna be.
"Well, that went well." I turn back to look at Austin with a what face and he just smiles.
Oh God!
°•°•°|°•°•°
I take a bite out of the rice, trying my best to avoid the stares of Temi, May and Lola. It's almost a disappointed look, but if you look closely, there's a very, typical and angry look hidden behind that one.
"Can you pass me your attention?" A voice says and I look up, staring at dad who has a really serious look, one that makes it seem like he's been talking to me for years.
"Sorry?" I ask and clear my throat, swallowing whatever anxiety and nervousness I have.
"I was asking if you and Kira got into a fight at the grocery store again." He says, playing with the knife in his hands.
"Y-yeah, I was guessing she could have told you." I stutter. Austin goes to hold my hand in his warm large ones which makes me look at him. I smile and go back to eating, hoping that the tension would go away.
"Okay is anyone going to tell me what is happening? I can feel the glares that are directed at April." Brooke says and I shut my eyes.
"Well, why don't you ask her?" Temi says and I shoot her a dirty look, she leans back in the chair and crosses her arms, a raised brow perfectly in place.
"Okay fine, yes I've had my first kiss with Austin, and I've had more than one if that's what you really want to know." I say and mom's eyes widen as Kira's spoon clatters onto the plate.
"What? Austin is that true?" Dad asks and I roll my eyes. He looks at me and nods.
"Yes, it is." The table becomes awkwardly silent and I face palm myself. I look up at Lola and June staring at me like I've betrayed them in the worst way possible.
"When did this happen? And who else knows about this?" Mom asks and shoots everyone a critical look. Brooke and Ethan slowly raise their hands, a small smile on their faces.
"And Macy and Adam too." Ethan says and I narrow my eyes on him. Macy and Adam are at her mom's place, enjoying the care of her grandma.
"Why didn't you think to tell us?" Kira asks as she looks at both of us. I sigh, my lips parting to come up with an excuse but Austin beats me to it.
"Because I haven't asked her to be my girlfriend." Austin breathes, his voice deep and soft. Temi's brows shoot to the roof, her twin sister choking on the orange juice she was drinking. "Well why's that?" Dad asks frustrated and I see Austin struggling to come up with an answer.
"Because I told him to, I didn't want to rush things." I say and I see mom's eyes soften. I go back to eating, taking Austin's hand in mine and entwining it under the table. He smiles and relaxes, eating his remaining dinner.
"I think I'll start going now, thanks for the dinner Mrs. Freeman, I could just live here because of the food." He says and mom laughs. I look up at him, worried that he won't be able to get sleep tonight with all the excitement of dinner.
"Well then you should be ready to wake up with knives at you throat." I see the nervous look on his face.
"Well, Temi, June, walk him out to his car." Dad says and when I turn to look at him, he's already back to eating. Temi stands up with a smirk, June with a devious smile and they both walk side by side with Austin, carefully shutting the door. I look down at my food and sigh deeply. Brooke pushes her plate to Ethan and stands up, kissing mom on the cheek and hugging dad, Ethan following close behind.
He walks into the kitchen to dump the plates, and rushes back to help Brooke up the stairs. I look at Kira and May, eating, Lola watching me with warm eyes. I stand up, grabbing my plate and pushing the chair back.
"Where are you going Temari?" Mom asks and I look at her over my shoulder.
"To bed."