章 22: Chapter 20
Max and Kira eventually left. And I was once again alone with nothing but my demanding thoughts to keep me company. I had only studied in the morning so I decided to do some research for the couple of hours that remained till I got off work. It was physics, and we about three weeks before the work was required to be turned in but I preferred to get it over with earlier so that I could focus more on other things. Taking out my phone, I used it to further my research since the books weren't as helpful as one would think. The phone itself was running slower than it used to, it also had a cracked screen and its battery life sucked completely. But I rarely used it for anything else so I didn't really mind. Two customers came and went within the next hour. I had written down about two pages, but they didn't feel like they were enough so I went on. Wanting to make the work as great as it could be. I hadn't completely forgotten about him, I'd be lying if I ever said I hadn't been thinking about him. But at least whenever I was studying most of my concentration was on something else. And I had been glad of that fact until a text notification popped up on my screen, bearing his name. I immediately placed it down without reading it, it felt silly and immature but I got entirely nervous and this dense wave of heat coursed through my entire body, making the tiny hairs at the back of my head prickle.
I didn't know whatever was up with my heart whenever I thought about anything Austin related, but I hated it. It just naturally started to pound. And I was able to relate that feeling to both fear and anticipation. Blowing out a breath, I hesitantly reached for the phone and stared at the screen.
" Hey, where're you?"
The text read. I chose not to respond. He didn't know I had to work on Saturday and for that I was grateful. And each time I recalled what had happened the previous day I felt like hitting myself on the head, maybe that would manage to get some sense into my brain. I was never myself whenever I was with him. Something happened to me each time he was in close proximity and it made me lose my ability to think and act reasonably. It had always been that way, and that effect had made me do things I still couldn't believe I had ever done.
I started going through whatever I had written down, clearing out any errors that I came across. Then another text came through and I sighed.
" Texting rules, no.1; FUCKING REPLY!! "
I raised my brows, it was just a text but I felt his seriousness through the words. And I could imagine his frustrated face as he was typing and waiting for a reply that never came. But I still wasn't going to do so, that would go against my goal to ignore him. Actually, the next time I saw him I was going to make it clear that I wanted nothing to do with him. Distancing myself from him was the only way I'd get the rumours to cool down.
Another text.
" Stevens! For fucks sake, "
I was tempted to send something.. anything, but I restrained myself. I had been encouraging him so far, I couldn't continue to do that. Especially because I didn't understand him, I never had and probably never would. He was an enigma and I had neither the time nor the mental energy to figure him out. Some minutes later, he decided to ruin my peace, the phone buzzed repeatedly. He was on a roll, sending me countless texts...I was barely done reading one when another came in.
" You now owe me. your reluctance to respond officially puts you in my debt, " One of them said. I scoffed and rolled my eyes. Then I proceeded to read the rest, at a certain point, they started to amuse me. Knowing he was putting so much effort into trying to get me to reply to his texts.
" You can't keep this up. "
" You're turning me into a crazy person!"
" Is this really your plan? Pretending you don't care?"
" You're a horrible human being. "
" That shade of blue suits you..."
I frowned at the last one, narrowing my eyes in puzzlement. Then I looked down at myself despite being fully aware of what I had on. The sky blue T had been a Christmas present from Kira the previous year, it was also my favorite. Cashmere, the softest thing I owned.
I immediately stood and glanced around, feeling tensed, my spine rigid. I turned to the windows next to the entrance and peered out, but I couldn't see anyone. Glancing at my phone once more, I re-read the text. Then I looked up and wondered where he was.
Another text, I read it immediately.
" Someone looks a bit disturbed..."
I recalled him having basically admitting to stalking me not too long before. I knew he was around there, I just didn't know where.
" Reply and I'll quit it, " The next one read. I didn't know what he was offering to quit, I did however know that he'd never quit messing with me. And I was done with his games, I reminded myself. If I replied then it would be a sign that I was giving into him and to his stupid wishes. So I took the phone and switched it off before settling it back onto the counter. And just to prove to him that he wasn't going to get to me, I sat back down and pretended I was busy studying.
The door was unlocked not too long after.
The pounding continued with more force than before. I quickly glanced up to confirm whether it was him, and when I saw that it was, I went back to my books and tried to play it cool. My hands were sweaty, my throat was perched and I couldn't seem to control my breathing. But I still insisted on ignoring him.
He walked straight to the counter, and then I started to panic when he walked around it and to my side.
The black jacket he had on looked expensive, same to everything else he was wearing. Even the plain white T-shirt he had on underneath looked pricy. I got nervous on realizing he was still moving closer, then he got to where I was and stood right next to me.
" Playing hard to get?"
He suddenly asked, amusement in his tone. I stared at him from the corner of my eye and shook my head.
" I'm busy, " I curtly informed him without turning. He moved impossibly closer, I could feel his breath on my skin when the persistent guy leaned down. I could also feel his eyes boaring into me with heat and a slice of anger.
" You're always busy, "
" Yeah, unlike you I actually know which grade I'm in. "
He didn't reply, I think he was testing me. Trying to see how long I could last in the uncomfortable silence, with the even more uncomfortable proximity. And when I exceeded his expectations, I felt his arm as he snaked it around my waist from my back. I shuddered and turned to look at him, not knowing what emotion he would see because I was no longer aware of what was happening to me.
" You owe me, " he whispered, and when I did look at him it was to find that playful smirk in perfect place. I wanted to push him away, I thought of all the reasons why I ought to do just that, but somehow, I couldn't bring myself to do so. I had literally just made a resolve to stay as far from him as I could, but in that moment all I really wanted to do was lean in closer. I wanted him to tighten his hold, and I wanted to return it as well. He was.. addictive?
" I don't owe you anything!"
" Sure you do. Compensation for ignoring my texts, "
" What texts?"
" And for lying just now, so you owe me double. "
" Double of what?"
He chuckled lightly. My eyes this time decided to stay fixed on his lips, I blocked off all those stupid thoughts and started looking around the store.
" Will you ever be able to look at me? " he bluntly asked. I had never and would never like that question. I never liked it when he made his effect on me so obvious, I liked it better when it remained unspoken of. That way I still had the option of pretending that it was all fiction and nothing more.
" You smell nice, " he whispered, I shot him that creeped out look I had mastered over time, all I got in response was a short laugh.
His laugh...that sound did things to me, everything about him did things to me but his laugh in particular made me fucking tingle inside. And this time the sound was somewhere between light and deep, it was short but it still lingered on in my mind even after he stopped laughing.
" What is that? Lavender?" He seriously asked, then without notice, he leaned into my neck and took in a deep breath. My lips parted and I sucked in a breath. It was acts like those that had me confused and scared and unsure of who I was. I swallowed and struggled to keep my hands in place despite desperately wanting to rub my ear. I wondered why I was still sitting there.
" It is lavender, isn't it?" He spoke against my skin and I closed my eyes because the action weakened me. I could also feel his hand on my side, he dug his fingers gently into my skin through my shirt and I knew I had already lost whatever game that was. He had won the second he walked through that door looking how he did.
" Austin, " I called out. I couldn't be the one to ask him to stop so I just hoped he'd do it all on his own. I lacked the ability to do so.
" What're you doing?"
" Why do you keep asking me that? You know exactly what I'm doing. "
He leaned back just enough to look at me, holding my chin with his thumb and forefinger he angled me to face me, making it impossible for me to look anywhere else.
" So many times I tried to imagine how you turned out to be. You look better than all my imaginations of you ever did. "
" Why won't you give up?"
It was an earnest question, I was curious about what his response would be. I wanted to know why he was being as persistent as he was and whether his reasons were reasonable.
" Because it's you, " he said in that low whisper like voice that made me delirious and drunk on his stupid charm.
" Now, for your apology, " he added. The sly smile making him seem even more appealing. I slipped out my tongue and ran it over my lower lips, his eyes remained on me even after after I was done.
I stared at him with nothing but pure confusion. Watched as he leaned slightly back. Then he turned his face to the side and used a finger to tap his cheek, clearly indicating that what he wanted from me was a kiss. I leaned back and frowned.
" Go ahead, I'm trynna be considerate here," he said. Meaning that that was his version of him being caring. That if he wanted he could demand far worse. I believed that because I knew him well. But I wasn't going to give in, shaking my head I refused to do as asked. Hating how flustered I was starting to become. He however realized it, and it only served to boost his already large ego.
" Go ahead, before I do something you'll not be okay with. "
As if to remind me of his effect on me, I felt him fist my shirt in his hand. It was becoming too much. All of it!
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