Dinner had been great, except for their mom asking whether Austin had already gotten a boyfriend.
How did she expect him to get a boyfriend so quickly?! But Austin didn't voice that out because then he would be admitting that he was really gay.
As he lay on his bed waiting for sleep to take him away, Austin thought of what kind of day he was going to have have the next day at school. He definitely didn't want a repeat of today. That had been one fucked up day.
Soon enough, he drifted off to into a dreamless sleep.
He woke up the next morning to his alarm playing Michael Jackson's Bad - he just loved that song too much.
He did his usual morning routine while singing along to that song, which was now playing on his iPod on a loop. He was in a good mood for no apparent reason. Maybe it was because yesterday had passed and today was a new, fresh day. He even dressed really nicely to reflect how he felt on the inside.
Even the breakfast their mom made this morning tasted better than usual, or maybe it might have been just his mood. He was soon out the door, heading to his car. Nicky was hot on his heel, "What's got you so excited today?"
"Can't I just be happy I'm alive?"
"Ummmnnnn, after yesterday, I don't think so."
"Hey, can you please not rain on my parade?" he begged, wishing to just an eventless day. He would really appreciate that.
"I'll let you be this time. I'm in a good mood today too."
"Why, they extended the half-off sale at whatever god-awful place you get your dumb clothes from?" he mocked.
"I wish. But no, Michael's picking me up!" she said, jumping a little with excitement and Austin failed to register why that was cause for celebration.
Just then, a red Mercedes convertible rolled into their front yard with the top down. Yea, Michael was the kind of kid whose parents would buy him a Mercedes to drive to school.
Noah, of course, was riding shotgun. A redhead, whom Austin assumed to be Lira, was in the backseat.
As soon as Nicky saw her boyfriend, she ran towards him and jumped into his arms. The hug didn't last a second before they were eating each other's faces off. Lira didn't seem too pleased watching this. Austin realized he wasn't either, so he opened the garage door and went to his car.
He started it but before he could back up, there was a knock on the the other window.
"What the fuck do you want now, Noah ?!" he asked as soon as he saw that face, his good mood starting to diminish.
"The other car's a little too crowded, can I ride with you?" he answered, giving Austin puppy dog eyes. Austin really wanted to say no but those doe eyes had words coming out of his mouth that weren't intended.
"Sure." Too late to take it back now!
He unlocked the door and Noah wasted no time before he skipped in, looking a little too cheery.
"I love how we ride to school together," Noah started as soon as he got in. "Do you think we'll be riding like this to work when we're married ?"
Austin stopped the car abruptly, "Get out." He said, regretting ever letting him in.
"What? Or we'll be having separate rides?" Noah ignored him.
"I said, get out." Austin insisted, cursing the day he had learned the affirmative because saying yes to Noah in his car was not a catalyst to the happy day he was planning.
"That would suck. I would hate to be away from your beautiful face for any amount of time."
"Are you deaf or just plain dumb. Or is it both?" Austin asked.
"Fine!.. Fine, I'll be quiet! Jeez, who pissed in your bowl of cereal this morning!"
"Put a sock in it!"
"I don't know if I can. You are really pretty!" He said simply, flashing one of his killer smiles while wiggling his eyebrows.
Shit.
When Noah said that, Austin was feeling equal parts annoyed and somewhat turned on. How was he now supposed to get to school with the spawn of the devil -a very sexy one at that -riding shotgun in his car? He wondered.
Austin thought it wise to keep quiet and say nothing to that because if he did, it would end up as the proverbial dog chasing its tail.
He just started driving with the intent of ignoring Noah the entire time, silently praying for this to be a peaceful ride. That worked only for about three minutes. So much for a silent ride!
"Did I tell you how hot you look in those skinny jeans?"
Austin ignored.
"Probably not. I was too busy drooling at your firm, sexy ass."
Silence.
"And it didn't help when your sister and Mikey started basically fucking on your front lawn. The entire time I was picturing it as you and me."
More silence.
"I swear, I was as hard as a rock! No kidding."
Deafening silence.
"I actually came over here hoping it turned you on too so we could get it on before leaving to -"
"When's the last time you took your meds?" Enough was enough. Austin was about to explode in frustration.
This was definitely the longest car ride of his life.
"Are you talking about boner pills? Because I'm all natural, baby. You're my pill Aussy. I swear just -"
"Dude!"
"What? Not one for dirty talk? 'Cause I was hoping one of these days you would talk dirty to me." That smirk had not left his face ever since he started talking.
"I swear, I'm about to drive off a bridge!" Austin said, mostly to himself.
"So you wanna make like Romeo and Juliet? Wow, now I know for sure we're a match made in heaven!"
"They didn't drive off a bridge, idiot and, even if I do, I don't think heaven's where you're going."
"I know, I'm going to purgatory. And I'll bribe Angel Michael with a blowjob to let us have conjugal visits. Trust me, he'll agree!"
These were the dumbest things he had ever hear. So why was Austin finding it funny?
Austin let out a slight laugh that he hadn't intended to. He didn't want to add onto his problems by letting Noah know that he could make him laugh too. Well, too late. So much for that!
"Oh, so now you think I'm funny! This means that you're already falling for my charm!"
"What charm?!"
"You know what I'm talking about. Probably why you dressed so sexy for our date after school." Austin had forgotten all about that. Oh crap!
He wanted to protest but from his recent predicament, he knew that denial only seemed to add onto your problems.
Austin knew that Noah couldn't possibly coax him into submission but he was still terrified by the possibility. I mean, he had only known the guy for only a day. If know was even the word you would use.
Shortly after ,Austin was already parking his car in the school parking lot. Everything seemed the way it always was every morning. Students walking about, others in groups ; either discussing a show they watched last night or some new gossip that is spreading around about a student or a teacher. You know, normal high school nonsense.
They both got out and Austin tried to quicken his step so that he could walk further ahead of Noah but Noah was equally as fast, so they ended up walking into the building together.
As soon as he got to the corridor where his locker was at, everyone had turned their attention to him, anticipating what Austin had no idea about.
But he soon found out when he looked straight up ahead, about three lockers from his and saw a girl and a guy making out up against the lockers.
The guy had short, black hair. His naturally tanned dark skin and signature hoodie informed Austin that it was Colby. The long, blonde locks and silver Hello Kitty chain that was on the girl's wrist was all Austin needed to see to recognize her as Lucy.
This cannot be happening! Austin thought as he bolted forward as he felt his blood rush. Before he knew what he had just done, Colby was already on the floor holding onto his bloody nose and Lucy was screaming as a small crowd started to gather around.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Lucy screamed as she knelt down beside Colby, trying to tend to him.
Austin did not utter a word as he got away from the scene and found the nearest men's room.
He stood before the mirror and held on to the edge of the sink as if he was holding on for dear life. His pulse was beating quicker and he was so full of adrenaline that he just wanted to go back out there and finish off the beating he had started on Colby.
He pushed off the sink and headed for the door but before he could reach for the handle, it opened and Noah entered, locking the door behind him.
"Hey, you ok?" For the first time since he met him, Noah's tone of voice actually sounded like that of a human with actual concern for another human. Hell must have frozen over.
"What do you think?" Austin took a step back.
"Man, that guy is a douche!" Noah exclaimed.
"Yea..you would know that." Austin deadpanned, not in much of a mood to be nice.
He was never one to fly off the handle like this but any red blooded man would do the same if his close friend was close to fucking his girl a day after a breakup.
"What do you mean ?"
"He's a member of your species."
Noah gave him a small genuine smile, "I take that as a compliment."
"Arrgghh! I'm so pissed!" Austin punched the nearest stall door with the exact same hand he had punched Colby with.
Bad idea. It hurt like a mother and his knuckles were beginning to bleed.
"Hey hey hey..calm down!" Noah soothed, cradling Austin's fist in his hands.
"Why!"
"Because she's not worth it."
Austin looked deep into Noah's eyes and he swore he saw a lot of concern there. But it was possible he might have been dreaming with his eyes open.
"Why are you here?" he asked before he could stop himself.
"Same reason you and everybody else are..to study. That's if that's what people actually do here." he replied sarcastically.
"Don't play dumb.Why are you here helping me?"
"That's a stupid question."
"Then give me a stupid answer." Austin insisted because he was sure the whole reason for Noah's birth was to make his life a living hell, not to cradle his wounded arm in a school bathroom and actually sounding human.
"I don't know ..I just want to. I feel like I need to."
"Yea, don't say stupid things."
Noah's expression suddenly turned dead serious, his eyes glistening with an emotion that Austin couldn't quite put a finger on, "You know you don't need to dwell on what she did to you. You can move on if you like."
"That would be hard, considering every girl in this school now thinks I'm gay," Austin said, turning towards the sinks to wash his bloody hand. The cold water touching his wounds stung like hell, making him wince.
"I don't ." Noah said from behind him. Austin lifted his eyes and looked at his reflection in the mirror.
Noah looked so calm and just extra sexy when he was serious. His eyes seemed softer too and the green was so light, they almost looked yellow along the circumference. They were doing things to Austin that he couldn't understand but he liked it and hated it at the same time.
"What do you mean?"he asked, faking obliviousness.
Noah caught him gently by the shoulder, turning him around to face him. He looked Austin straight in the eyes and said, his voice not wavering, "Go out with me."
Austin did not say a word. In fact, he wasn't even sure if he had heard him well.He stayed unmoving, simply staring into those gorgeous green eyes as if he could find an answer somewhere in there.
Noah was mentally slapping himself. What had he just done? It hadn't been his intention to ask Austin out so soon. Now all he could think about was how Austin was about to reject him and stomp on his heart.
He had never fallen for someone so easily -so fast, but when he met Austin, it all happened so naturally. Just looking into those big brown eyes, he could turn into jelly.
Austin's eyes always turned darker whenever he was annoyed, or upset, which Noah thought was sexy as sin. It was like they were calling to him and Noah had to answer.
His lips were so pink and his lower lip formed the sexiest pout Noah had ever seen. Whenever Austin bit his lower lip as he was thinking deeply, all Noah could think about was taking that lip between his teeth as Austin moaned for him.
"Noah ! Can you hear me?" Noah was awakened from his stupor. Austin was looking at him with a frown, wondering what was up with him.
"Huh?"
"Dude, the bell just rang. We're gonna be late for class."
With that, Austin left the bathrooms quickly and disappeared on his way to class.
Noah remained rooted where he stood for a few more minutes before he left for his class too. He hadn't intended to ask Austin out, but now he was extremely curious about what his response would be.