Capítulo 85: Chapter 82
" So, Kyle told us you used to know each other back in Phoenix, " Kira commented. They were sitting opposite from Austin and I. I was grateful that she was trying so hard to make conversation because Max was definitely not intending to do so. I knew it wasn't that he hated Austin, he just wasn't a fan when it came to people with egos. And the guy I had fallen in love with had the greatest egos of all time.
" We did... that's how this all began. " he lifted up our joined hands and I shook my head slightly at Kira. At times, I felt like Austin forgot just how young we had been back then. It would be nothing less of shocking for them to find out that our feelings for each other had developed while we were not older than ten. Maybe even nine because the guy had managed to make me uncomfortable from the first time he and I had talked. From the first time he had held my hand and touched me with the intentions of making me feel better. "
" You guys look really cute together, don't you agree Max?".The one being referred to turned to our direction, waited for a couple of seconds and to then gave a casual shrug and nod. I knew it would take more than one conversation for Max and Austin to actually start talking. If I really wanted that to work I had to take my time and personally talk to each one of them. After lunch, he had basically pulled me along with him and taken me to the first empty room he had come across. I suppose randomly just making out with him despite the time and place had officially become a part of my schedule. And I loved that. I asked him what the principal had wanted to talk to him about and when he told me I simply nodded. I wanted to say something... like the fact that I actually agreed with the principal, but I sealed my lips because I knew how little effort it usually took to trigger him. And he wasn't hiding the fact that he absolutely hated school.
That evening he took me to the store, and he said he was going to keep me company for about an hour or so. For the hundredth time I asked him what he usually did after dropping me off. I knew there was something. He always tried his best to ensure he got 'there' on time and I couldn't stop wondering where exactly there was. I hated the suspense, and the fact that he wouldn't be clear on the details only made me more suspicious. But unlike him, I didn't spend each passing second devising ways to make him spill it. I chose to believe that he was going to eventually tell me, my only concern was that he took care and watched over himself well. If anything bad were ever to happen to him I'd lose it. I knew for certain that I would go utterly crazy. I insisted that he do his assignments, and he had reluctantly taken out his books and started going through them. I knew the only reason he had done so was because I asked, but even then, he made it clear that his interest did not lie in between those pages. His phone rang, and in my head I told myself it was either Miles or another one of his friends, calling to get him to go over to them.
" Hello....No, I'm at a friend's place.." we're the first statements he spoke. He had stepped to the side, a tiny distance away. I was however still able to hear everything he said.
" How is she right now?.... that's cool.... Tonight?"
I tried to concentrate on my own work, but I was pretty curious about who that could be. Normally, when he received phone calls he only said two or three words, and he always stayed right where he had been. I was watching him from my peripheral vision, u was seeing him and his actions without having to necessary look at him. I watched how he ran a hand through his hair, then he placed his hand on his forehead and looked up at the ceiling. He looked either confused, upset, shocked or all three of them.
" I don't know if I'll be able to make it, "
He came back to where I was seated and stood right next to me, then he wrapped his free arm around me and pressed his chin to my back before sighing the way knew would after they were disappointed or something.
"Okay.." he said.." I'll be there, "
His promised hour hadn't even ended yet he was already leaving. I covered up my disappointment because I didn't want him to cancel his plans and feel awful because for such a silly thing.
I could hear the mumbled voice of whoever was talking on the other end of his phonecall.
" Wait, " Austin suddenly it in, standing up straight and threading his fingers in my hair. I couldn't see his face from that angle and it was all I really wanted to do. But then he kissed my nape and I shuddered, all other thoughts disappearing from my head. It was those small actions and details that mad me adore him so intensely. In his eyes I wasn't just some other kid from school who could easily be overlooked. Austin would simply look at me and I'd feel as if I mattered. Like I had some kind of purpose on this earth.
" I'm bringing someone over. Is that cool or.." he let the statement trail off. I tensed up, not knowing whether he was referring to me or someone else but pretty convinced that he was referring to me. He said bye and hang up, then he wrapped both arms around me and simply stayed still. I waited for him to talk, leaning back against him because I liked the level of warmth and comfort I was receiving from him holding me like that.
" Guess who's coming home with me tonight?" He suddenly asked.
All that comfort disappeared and in its place was tension and unease.
" What?"
" You heard me, we're gonna have dinner there. "
" Yeah, I think I'll pass on that. "
" No you won't. Just close early today, I'm sure it's not that big a deal. " Technically, he was right. The chances of my boss finding out I closed earlier than the required time was almost non-existent. I just preferred tondo things how they ought to be done. I never felt okay with slacking off, so I just stayed there for the required time and only left when my time to leave arrived. But the main reason I refused to go with him was that I'd feel weird.
I didn't like those sort of last minute surprises, I preferred it when I was mentally prepared for something because otherwise it would just fill me with dread.
" Come on, you can't say no. I already said you'd be going with me. "
" Was that your dad?"
" It was, we won't even be there for long, he just wants to have dinner together. "
" With you...I have no business being there. "
" Don't be stubborn. If you won't go then neither will I. Try me. "
I knew him well enough to know that he wasn't playing around. If he said he wasn't gonna go unless I did it was because he meant it. He was just unreasonable and stubborn like that. I shook my head and scratched my head, trying to find a way out of that one and hating the fact that I couldn't really think of one. He shifted and leaned on the counter next to me, the angle must have been a tactic of his because it allowed him to have a perfect view of my face.
" Say yes!" he whined, holding my gaze and using those pleading eyes of his which always made me weak. I put down my pen and buried my head in my hands, then I groaned out my slight frustration because deep down I knew that I was just gonna end up doing what he wanted.
" Why are you doing this to me!"
" Because I love you. It's just a table with food, I don't get why you're so scared. "
" I'm not scared, you do realize that I'm working, right?"
" You work too much, you need a break. If your boss finds out you left early I'll take care of it. "
" Okay, that just made me more worried. "
" Just trust me, will you?"
I did trust him, I knew he card for me and would never intentionally do anything to hurt me ever again, but there was just that little demon that lived within him. That part of him that I feared so much because I never knew what to expect from it. But I suppose just a simple dinner with his father wasn't that big a deal. I looked around the store, it was yet another slow night. There hadn't been a single customer since I took over and there were no signs of anyone else coming in. I tensed to think it was because of the weather. The nights lately had been extremely cold, there were hardly any people walking outside which meant there wouldn't be that many people coming to the store. The place was usually visited by casual people that were just passing by, saw it, and gained a sudden interest bred by curiosity.
" Let's go?" He asked, arching his brow and waiting for me to respond, and when I didn't say anything, he shrugged and pulled back his seat with the intention of settling back down..
" Fine then, well stay here..I was actually starting to get the hang of this chapter..."
" Let's just fucking go, " I gave in. I felt unprepared, and I never liked feeling like that, but I just didn't have it in me to start arguing with him. He was the type of person that would annoy and frustrate you until you went along with what he wanted you to. He was basically manipulating me, but I chose to be positive and look at it as more time provided to spend with him. He smiled, showcasing his satisfaction, then he got off his seat and waited for me to do the same, that cocky smile still in place. He even handed me my backpack so that I could hurry up. I shot him a look as I took it from him, feigning exhaustion and dislike.
" Jeez, smile at least. One would think I'm forcing you to go with me or something. "
" Which you definitely AREN'T doing, " I shot back sarcastically, making him smile even wider. After I was done puting my things away, I grabbed the keys and headed towards the door. Austin switched off the lights behind me, then he stepped out after I did and waited as I locked up.
Even on the way there, I couldn't believe that I was actually going to his house. I knew it was just for dinner, but that part of my head that enjoyed overthinking went straight to work. I started thinking back to how his dad had been back then. He had always been busy, but whenever he got free time he made it his priority to make some memories with Austin, and since I was always with Austin, I somehow always ended up tagging along with them. I had always felt a little strange at first, and I recall one time when I asked them to go on ahead without me. But his dad seemed to have understood how I felt. I remember him assuring me that he cared for me just as much as he cared for Austin. And that if I refused to go then Austin would do the same and he'd be left all alone. According to him, Austin only ever went out with him because I was also present. His dad wasn't the problem, it was the fact that so much had happened and changed since then.
I didn't know how I would be expected to act around him. I didn't even know whether he was aware of the relationship between Austin and I, and if he was then what were his thoughts on it?
Plus last I checked, him and Austin weren't in the best terms. Austin had told me just as much and I was pretty sure that hadn't changed either. And I didn't want to sit at a table with them if there was going to be all that silent rage and fury present. I wanted to clear out all of that with Austin, but I didn't. When I got too nervous or tensed, I tended to just remain silent and let my brain overwork itself with a million thoughts, which was exactly what I ended up doing.
From the outside I looked pretty okay, but inside I was confused and unsettled.
I knew that he lived in the same neighborhood as Miles, but I had never been there before. The second we got to the neighbourhood's gate, I was reminded of just how wealthy and fortunate his family was. It wasn't something I ever really thought of much because such things never mattered when it came to us, but as he rode along that street I couldn't help but be reminded of the fact that they were the pure definition of rich. The houses there were intimidating to just look at. And if the exterior was that mesmerizing I wondered how they looked like inside. I knew the design on each one was different, and I wanted to just get a chance to tour them and analyse it all by myself. I liked the fact that although it was all one large neighborhood, each person could live his or life in absolute peace. There was a fence surrounding each individual mansion, as well as a gate. He finally stopped at one of them, then he pointed at a house across the street and told me it was Mile's home.
I had known they were neighbors but I hadn't known just how close to each other they lived.
He rode close to the gate, then I watched as he reached out and pressed something against the wall, and not long after, the doors drew apart slowly. I assumed it was someone from inside the house that had let him in because otherwise, it was really unsafe to just have a button that could open up the entrance to whoever wished to go in. He went to the garage and parked his bike, and as I got off, I was trying to control my breathing. There was no reason for him to know how anxious and uncomfortable I was feeling. We both took off our helmets and placed them on the bike.
" Don't stress over anything, I'm here aren't I?" He asked me afterwards, reaching fir my hand and linking our fingers together before he kissed them. And that look he gave me really said everything was fine.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder