Claire gripped her purple checker skirt, the white color blouse she wore, wasn't helpful in the cold, the awkward atmosphere made her nervous, since she sat in the car, Austin hasn't spoken a single word, which made her feel something was wrong, it was unlike of him to be so quiet. The roads were quite empty, she sighed and looked outside the window thinking about what will happen when she faces the girls in the mansion.
She glanced at Austin who was driving the car with a frown on his face which reminded her of Jason, snapping out of her thoughts she said, "Um, Austin are you okay?"
Austin looked at her with a smile on his face and replied, "Why are you asking something like this?" He smiled, which was clearly fake, Claire may not know them for a long time, but she was a good observer, and she could tell that something was bugging both of them.
"I know we are not that close, but you can talk to me if you're in any kind of trouble!"
Austin glanced at her, his face was blank which made her groan, "You should stay away from him, his behavior is contagious!" Austin furrowed his eyebrows, thinking that she lost her mind, "What does that mean?"
"I'm talking about Jason," Claire pointed her finger towards Austin's face and said, "See, now you are also having the same look as him, he always has this look on his face."
Austin suddenly stopped the car, making Claire grip the seat belt tightly being thankful to it, saving her from the impact.
Austin turned towards her and asked, "How can you say that!" Claire gulped fearing that she offended him, this was the thing she didn't like about cheerful people, they are the easiest to be around and they hardly get angry but if they get angry, it means run for your life.
"I-I'm sorry if I-"
"How can you compare me to that statue like guy." Austin said, keeping his hand on his chest, with an offended look on his face.
Claire sighed in relief when she saw he wasn't angry, "You scared me!"
Austin laughed making her smile as well, "But you didn't answer my question, are you okay?"
Austin's smile faded a bit, but he replied cheerfully, "Everything is good in my life but there is a problem," Claire looked at him with a worried expression, "What problem?"
Austin was enjoying troubling her, and he wanted to see if she will really help, so he continued further, he masked his face with a painful look and said, "Let it be, you won't be able to help."
"What makes you think that." Claire pouted, "At least tell me your problem, I might be able to help you."
"Maybe, but I don't think you will help me." Claire rolled her eyes in irritation, she hates when someone underestimates her, "Austin!" She shouted, making him flinch, "Just tell me." Austin looked at her with a horrified expression, he knew he shouldn't mess with her anymore, "It's about Jasmine."
"J, what about her?" Austin tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, but when her face flashed in front of his eyes he stopped and gripped the wheel tightly, he looked away from Claire as he didn't want her to know about any of the problems that were going on in his life, "Austin." Claire called him, keeping her hand on his shoulder, Austin hated that he was behaving the same way he did two years ago.
plastering a smile on his face, he turned towards Claire and said, "Your friend is giving me a hard time." Retreating her hand away from his shoulder, she asked, "How is she giving you a hard time?"
"I have been asking her out since weeks, but she avoids me, she thinks that I'm a Playboy?"
"Aren't you?" Claire asked, making him stunned, "W-Well, I was before meeting her!"
Claire rolled her eyes at his answer, "That doesn't change your image in her eyes."
"So, what should I do to make her see me in a new light?" Austin asked, "It's not that easy you know." Claire crossed her arms and said, "J, is someone who believes in what she sees, rather than what she feels."
"Quite complicated," Austin muttered, earning a slap on his arm, "Ouch, why did you hit me?" He asked rubbing his arm, "Don't badmouth about my friend!" She warned, making him nod, "Claire can you help me, first I wanted to date her but now it's more important than anything in my life!" Austin begged, he needed to be prepared for anything that was about to come his way. Claire was confused by his words, she wondered what he meant by that.
"I don't think I can help you," Clair said, making Austin frown, "But why?"
"Because she doesn't like when I interfere in her love life." Austin nodded, "It's fine, I will find a way."
Claire suddenly went stiff and looked at him with a frown on her face, Austin was about to start the car, but when he noticed her looking at him like that, he asked her, "Claire, is something wrong, what happened?"
"You are not planning to do the same to her, that you did with other girls, right?"
Austin shook his head, he didn't even think about that, in fact since he started pursuing her, he has stopped going after other girls, "No, I would never, now I don't even flirt with other girls!" Claire still looked at him narrowed eyes, not believing him, "You better not hurt her, or I will break your fingers and trust me it's painful."
Austin looked at her with a horrified expression and nodded his head, "S-So, should we leave now?" Austin stuttered, making her nod, "Let me also give you some advice." Austin said as he started the car, "My friend, he doesn't do anything without a reason." Claire curiously looked at him, she didn't understand what he meant, 'So, does that mean that he wants to date me for a reason?' She wondered.