The rest of the day was pretty boring as per usual. Austin never understood why they even bothered to have classes after lunch. The teachers were so boring and most students just napped all through them.
The few who stayed awake were either daydreaming or just doodling nonsense into their books to make for the illusion of concentrating. It got so boring sometimes that other teachers just sat in the corner at their desks and slept too. This was pretty much a normal occurrence in their school.
When the last bell of the day rang, the hallways of the school building were filled with students loitering around in disorderly fashion, most of them in no particular hurry to get anywhere .
Austin made his way out and as he was walking to his car, his phone started buzzing so he pulled it out of his pocket.
So, I need a ride somewhere -X
If he replied, it would end up with him caving in and driving Noah. So ignorance was the best option. He was just going to be a good little boy and assume he hadn't received the text so that he could be on his merry way without a certain voice ringing in his ear every damn minute.
The moment he reached for the driver's door, however, a voice spoke from behind too close to his ear, "By the way, big fan of this cat and mouse game."
Austin almost jumped out of his shoes at the sudden hot breath fanning the back of his neck. It was like somebody somewhere had plans of giving him a heart attack at the ripe old age of sixteen.
"WHAT THE FUCK!"
"You tell me, why are you ignoring my texts? You're breaking my heart, baby!" Noah said.
"Text!" Austin corrected, "It was just one, you shithead! And I'm not your chauffeur."
"I never said you were." Noah was now smirking at Austin. "I'll be doing the driving in the bedroom between you and me. Or anywhere else you wanna do it. I'm flexible...in more ways than one." He sent Austin a seductive wink which in turn sent Austin's insides flipping over.
"What did our deal specify?" Austin asked in frustration, curbing his unwanted emotions to the best of his ability.
"I don't recall signing anywhere." Noah replied matter-of-factly.
"Get the hell away from me, asshole." Austin said, starting to feel frustrated by the mere sight of Noah.
"Oh, come on!" Noah said, reaching to stop Austin from opening the car door, "I promise that if you just drop me off, I'll never bother you again. Promise." He gave Austin those cute puppy dog eyes, his lashes making him look cuter than ever. Austin knew he was in trouble, telling from the way his insides turned in an unusual manner. Noah's eyes were like a shimmering green sea and it was hard to look away.
"Where have I heard that before? I wonder." He just replied sarcastically, trying to sound as calm as he could.
"I promise you won't even have to wait for me. Just drop me off and you can be on your merry way."
"You must be out of your mind if you think I'm gonna drive you and crazier still if you think I would wait for you!"
"Please babe! What if I make it up to you?" Noah asked, wiggling his brows.
"Lemme guess, you wanna suggest a make out session or some other shit that I just can't bring myself to even say or think about." Austin said, cringing a little at the unsaid thought.
"Wow, two days and you already know me so well. We are so meant to be!"
"See what I mean? Goodbye Noah." And with that, he got into his car.
"Wait!" Noah leaned in slightly through the window, "I meant, what if I give you twenty bucks?" He said with a mischievous grin.
"I don't have time for your creepy games, Noah." Austin rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Not kidding." Noah said as he reached for his pocket and pulled out a perfectly folded twenty-dollar note.
Austin eyed the paper cockily. He deeply disliked the guy but it didn't mean he couldn't make money off of him. In fact, it was actually a slightly comforting idea, "Fine, get in."
Noah pushed off the driver's door but Austin stopped him before he could go around the car. "Uh uh .. pay up first." Noah placed the note into Austin's palm and headed for the shotgun seat.
"That was really easy," Noah said as he closed the door. "I wonder if I could pay you to do other things."
"You could try but I can guarantee you won't have any teeth left the second you start."
"That's alright, it's what dentists and artificial teeth were invented for." Noah didn't seem fazed by the threat.
"Oh really? I had no idea." His voice lacked any kind of enthusiasm.
After that, the car fell into a comfortable silence which surprised Austin since he was expecting Noah to keep yapping all the way to his destination.
They were soon on the road as Noah gave Austin instructions on where to turn or when to keep going straight ahead. He never understood why Noah couldn't just tell the driver the address instead of deciding on being a human map.
"Why can't you just tell me the address so you don't have to actually talk to me all the fucking time."
"What if it's a surprise?" Noah asked. "If I tell you the address, I will be giving away the surprise."
"I'm assuming you're saying that as an example, you're not really luring me anywhere."
"Lure? Now why would I do that," Noah asked but his tone of voice was a little unsteady as if he was hiding something. "I believe I'm charming enough to get you to go on a date with me without trickery."
"Date?! Noah, what do you mean by date!"
"Did I say date? I meant hanging out. I mean..nothing!"
Something in the way Noah spoke spooked Austin causing the latter to immediately pull up to the nearest curb outside a range of buildings, "What the hell is going on?" he asked, turning slightly to look at Noah.
"Oh look! We're here actually, how did you know !" Noah tried to lighten the air with a chipper tone.
"What are you talking about?" Austin was confused until he looked out the windshield and spotted the neon sign that read 'STARKIE'S' in very large letters.
"Remember when I promised you a coffee date yesterday?" Noah's voice was back to its usual cunning tone.
"You've have got to be kidding me!" Austin couldn't believe this was actually happening, "For the umpteenth time today, get out of my car!"
Just then, there was a knock on his window. He looked to find Nicky waving and grinning widely through the glass. He slid down the window, "Took you long enough!" She sighed.
"Nicole?" Austin still didn't understand what was going on.
"Congratulations, you can say my name!" She replied with thick sarcasm.
"I thought you were supposed to be out with Michael and Lira! Me too, but I kind of forgot."
"Figured, and I am!"
"Huh?"
"We were going to Starkie's and this dimwit was supposed to get you here ten minutes ago." She motioned to Noah.
"I was but Austin insisted he pull over for a steamy make out session. I just couldn't say no." Noah replied.
Austin was now looking from Nicky to Noah, trying to figure them out. "You were invited too?" It was directed at Noah.
"Who wouldn't wanna have this gorgeous face around them?"
"Well, no wonder my subconscious decided to forget about this stupid hangout."
"Maybe your brain just got scrambled from the way I touched you when we were mouth fucking!"
"My god! That's what you call kissing?!"
"You're right, what we did was much more divine." Noah made a face that made him look like he was daydreaming.
"THERE WAS NO KISSING!" Austin shouted, wishing to god he could rip out Noah's throat out of embarrassment. "Do you normally get episodes like this? Where you believe stuff that didn't actually happen happened? I'm starting to get worried."
"Ladies!" Nicky interrupted their little banter. "Are we going in or what?"
"Noah is going. I'm just gonna go home. Long day." Austin said.
"No way Aussy, Lira said you promised her that you would come." Nicky tried to guilt him into submission.
"Wish he could promise me that!" Noah whispered but loud enough for Austin to hear and opened the door to get out.
"See why I don't wanna be around him?" Austin told Nicky, pointing his thumb towards Noah .
"Oh, get over it already!" Nicky brushed him off.
"Do I have to? I mean, who wants to hang with your douche bag of a boyfriend, his atrocious cousin and my annoying sister!"
"Don't bring Michael into this. And get your ass out of that stupid car and try to have fun on your date!"
"I don't think fun is something I'm capable of anymore and the next time you mention the word date in reference to Noah and me, you'll wake up bald the next morning." Nicky gasped and defensively grasped her hair that was held in a high ponytail.
"This never happened." She said.
"Atta girl!" he said with a smirk as he got out of his car, making sure to feed the meter before going into the coffee shop.
He spotted Michael, Lira and Noah seated at the far corner next to the large window. Noah was seated opposite Michael and Lira, busy with his phone, while the latter pair chatted rather fondly.
Those two were weirdly close, Austin thought. Maybe too close. But he wasn't about to bring it up - especially to Nicky. She had this notion that Michael was like a god and the perfect gentleman at the same time.
Of course Austin didn't buy that load of crap. He saw right through the façade. Sometimes he wondered if she wore some invisible gaggles that made her see what Austin couldn't. He wouldn't be surprised if Michael actually gave her such from all the crap he brought back for her from his world travels.
I mean, how many bracelets did a girl need? Couldn't he be at least more creative and buy some shoes? Or a stupid dress!
That got him thinking about his own relationship with Lucy. Had he been wearing the same gaggles ? Had he been unable to see past her cute face and sweet smile -for all he knew she might have been faking it - sexy figure and all the sweet words she said? Probably.
He couldn't even remember anymore why he had loved her so much. Maybe it had just been the lack of a better candidate so he had just stuck with her for the convenience.
He may never know.
Nicky went and sat on the other side of Michael that Lira wasn't occupying. He wanted more than anything not to sit anywhere near Noah for a number of reasons. He just did not like the feelings he got whenever he was in close proximity with the guy. Most were feelings he liked - which made him hate them and ultimately dislike Noah more.
He could have sat on the same side as the rest of the group but that would have just been weird. He wondered how he had ended up hanging out with four people whom he didn't particularly have an interest in doing so.
"If you're gonna get our coffee orders, that's great, I'd like one very much. But quit standing there and staring like the booth is gonna eat you. I'm starting to get creeped out." Nicky said and Austin stuck his tongue out at her childishly.
"Can you do that again but this time while looking me in the eyes seductively?" Noah said from the other side of the table while biting his lower lip and wiggling his eyebrows.
"Is there a way you can say anything without making me wanna strangle you ?" Austin asked.
"I've tried but it's like you have me on default." Noah replied. "It's really your fault, not mine."
"How?" Austin asked, throwing up his hands in the air, "How in the name of Chewbacca's ass is it my fault that you can't keep it in your pants!"
"Your question literally contains the words; ass, you, my thing and my pants in it. And you wonder why it's getting hot in here!"
"I wasn't wondering that at all!"
"Anyone else feel it?" Noah asked the rest of the group.
"Mmhm.." Lira agreed.
"It looks like you guys are about to sweep everything off this table and get it on in front of an unwilling audience." Nicky said.
"Wow..your sister gets us so well," Noah said as he reached across the table and gave her a high five.
"Oh, I no longer have a sister." Austin said , "I'm an only child!"
"Ouch." Nicky said flatly.
"Don't worry babe. You can always live with me." Michael said, finally paying attention to what the rest were talking about.
Lira cleared her throat, as if signaling something to Michael. "But Austin didn't mean that, right Austin?" She said hastily, but Nicky didn't catch on that.
Austin did though. It was like Lira wouldn't want Nicky to live under the same roof as Michael, even if it had been clearly a joke. Yup, there was definitely something going on. He needed to find out what fast because, although he didn't want any more drama in his life, he needed to know what that prick Michael was up to. He only hoped it was not what he feared it was or he was gonna gut the son-of-a-bitch!
"I mean it!" Austin insisted.
"Can I take your orders?" A busty blonde, whose dressing code and name tag suggested she was a waitress, asked. Her breasts seemed too big for the bra she was wearing and the length of her dress could not possibly be appropriate at a food industry.
Austin went and sat down next to Noah, nonetheless, when he saw her.
"Double shot espresso." Nicky said.
"Whoa, isn't that too strong for this time of day?" Austin asked.
"I thought you weren't my brother anymore!" That shut him up.
"Iced coffee for me." Lira said.
"Me too," Michael said.
The waitress wrote it down but all the while stealing glances at Austin while she shifted her weight from one leg to another constantly, swinging her hips in the process. A few hours ago, this would have had Austin almost cheating on his girlfriend but now he felt like asking her if she was on fire, which was why she couldn't stand still.
Noah saw her flirting tactics and although they weren't even close to appealing, he still held on to the chance that Austin might not be above finding that attractive.
"How about you cutie," her wide smile might have been normal but in Noah's eyes, it was like staring straight into the sun and his eyes were about to burn. "What are you having? Whatever it is, you can have it on me -if you know what I mean. By the way, your hair is so sexy!" The grating voice with which she spoke was beyond annoying.
"Iced coffee as well!" Noah said suddenly.
"What?" She asked, looking distracted.
"I'm assuming you're still a waitress and you're here to serve coffee." He replied with a fake, wide smile. She didn't even have the decency to look embarrassed.
"Me too! And I'm thirsty, so, can you please make it quick!" Austin interjected, tired of her running her fingers through his hair. There was nothing even mildly sexy about it, which was weird considering his scalp is one of the most sensitive parts of his body, and oddly sexual.
"Only way I know how!" She said with a wink at him, then turned to walk away but she stopped as if she had forgotten something, "Would you like anything with your drinks?" She asked.
"Like a staph infection?" Noah whispered from beside Austin, low enough that only he could hear, which earned him a chuckle from Austin.
"Two apple pie slices please." Austin said. She simply gave him a smile and turned around, walking away as if she didn't know how to walk in a straight line.
"Austin, how many people are you gonna have sex with before we leave this place ?" Nicky spoke.
"Hope I'm at the top of that list. Bitch ruined our moment." Noah complained.
"I'm not having sex with anyone, pervs!"
"You say that but do the complete opposite." Nicky said.
"Ok, time to change the subject!" Austin said, "How was Europe, Mikey?"
"Same as every time I've been there. Awesome people, awesome food. Fancy people!" Austin already regretted asking. "Sometimes I think I was meant to be European. This place is just too casual for me, I like class." Asshole, Austin thought.
"Then move there!" Noah said.
"I'm planning on it."
"Babe, you're moving?" Nicky asked.
"You wanna come with - " Lira cleared her throat to cut him off , "I mean, I'll totally visit as often as I can."
"Please don't go, I'd miss you too much! " Nicky whined, "Or we could go backpacking around Europe like we always planned!" She said, sounding overly excited.
"As a person who grew up in Europe, I can guarantee its not that special. Just too many old buildings." Lira interrupted.
"What are you talking about ? That place is amazing !" Nicky asked. "And old buildings means history. I wanna visit them!"
Lira looked slightly annoyed, so much so that only Austin noticed because he was actually paying attention to figure out what her deal was. Michael only looked uneasy whenever the two girls conversed.
"Here are your orders!" The waitress announced as she set the styrofoam cups down, each to the respective customer, then two plates containing the apple pie slices, "And here is something I think you're gonna like," she reached into her bra and pulled out a folded piece of paper slowly while biting her ridiculously glossed bottom lip. Austin knew what was coming. Uh oh! He didn't know what to say as he watched the paper start to move his way.
Noah knew what was coming too and he couldn't let it happen. So he had to pull a Hail Mary. He swung his arm around Austin's shoulder and pulled him closer to him fondly. Austin was so downright startled that he didn't know how to react.
"Babe, you want me to feed you this pie the way you like it?" Noah asked, hoping Austin would play along.
Austin, on the other hand, did not have a clue on what to do. He just stayed frozen, staring into space as if he was gonna get his answer from there.
"Do you even have to ask?" Nicky tried to salvage the sinking ship, "You know he loves it. You can even see it by how red his face is from all that blushing."
"You two are together?" The waitress asked, seemingly in denial as if she was hopping that they weren't.
"Uhh.. Y-y-yes ?" Austin tried.
"Didn't you see how much bantering was going on between them earlier?" Nicky explained, "Yea, they're so in love, they're basically married. It's like a thing!"
Austin almost snapped his neck while turning suddenly to look at her as if she had lost her mind.
"You are!?" She raised her voice an octave higher, "And you led me on you jerk!" Tears were starting to well up in her eyes. Now Austin felt as if he was stuck between a rock and a very gay place.
"No no no no..you're extremely pretty!" Austin said in a panic, "And if I wasn't in a committed relationship, I swear I would do you!"
"What!"
"Th-that came out wrong. Shit! What I meant to say was...you have amazing boobs!" This train was just free falling downhill.
"What the -"
"Arrgh! Forget it!" He had clearly given up.
"Forget it? You broke my heart!"
"I wouldn't go that far."
"You did! It hurts so bad!"
"Do you even know where that so called heart is? It's hidden so deep under those fake things that an X-ray couldn't locate it." She was being over dramatic and he just did not like the sort very much. He didn't really feel like entertaining her anymore so he went for cruelty. It was easier that way.
"They're real!"
"Can you go find some sad sap to serve your bullcrap to, I'm hungry."
"Well, how is this for serving!" In a split second, she reached for his coffee cup, opened the top and swung the cold liquid all over his hair, face and clothes. She then set the cup back on the table and stormed off.
The had managed to get the attention of most of the people in the shop. Everyone sitting around the table was speechless but they all looked like they were about to burst into laughter any second. And that's what they did.
While they all laughed their asses off, Austin was feeling like strangling someone. He felt sticky all over and he didn't see why they were laughing.
"You couldn't play your gay card before she brought the drinks!" He fumed at Noah.
"No way, then she would have spit in our drinks and spit isn't exactly my flavor, unless I'm swapping it with you, of course!"
"I'm all wet and I am not in the mood for your jokes !"
"A) I wasn't joking , and B) wet is a good color on you." Noah flirted.
"Hey guys, psycho blonde is giving you guys the stink eye." Lira said.
"Well then, we should entertain her," Noah suggested, "How about I lick you clean, Aussy!"
"You can kiss my ass, that's what you can do!"
"Really?" Noah said, faking enthusiasm-only slightly. "You'd let me do that?"
"I need to find a bathroom." Austin ignored Noah's last comment.
"Why," Nicky asked.
"Because, unless I can absorb coffee through skin -which that bitch probably thought I could, I need to clean myself off!"
"But Noah just offered to lick it all of!" Michael said.
"Lick, lick, lick, lick -" Nicky started chanting.
"Yea.. Lick, lick, lick .." Michael and Lira joined in.
"What do you say babe?" Noah asked. "Give the people what they want ?"
"Un-fucking-believable." Austin rolled his eyes as he slid out of the booth, frantically making his way to the washrooms.
He looked himself in the mirror and what he saw was not an appealing sight.
The sticky feeling was making him jittery as his hair stuck to his face and brown patches formed all the way to his neck and down to his shirt from the drying up coffee. He opened the tap and started splashing water on his face and through his hair.
He didn't mind getting his hair wet because he had to try and minimize the damage before any more discomfort awakened his demons. He was never one for messes.
He pulled out a bunch of napkins from the dispenser and wet under the tap, then proceeded to wipe off the parts that could be helped. His white T-shirt though was as good as ruined, no way that stain was getting out.
He pulled it off and wiped down his torso as well.
The now ugly shirt laying carelessly on the sink was still wet and no was was Austin putting it on in that state. He spotted the hand drier to the side which he put to good use after fruitlessly washing off the stain which formed about half of the shirt now.
He was about to leave when he heard banging noises coming from one of the stalls. He could hear sharp, pained noises as if the person was being hurt. So, being the Good Samaritan he was (and a curious cat), he decided to check it out.
Pushing the door after realizing that it wasn't latched, he peeped in and in that second, he almost literally punched himself for being so stupid. There were two men in there, one tall and buff and looked like he worked out at an M.M.A. gym, with numerous tattoos running up both of his arms. The other was a scrawny little guy who could easily pass for a girl -without the breasts. The kid was extremely slender, with short, curly hair and eyes big and adorable like those of a bush baby.
The bigger guy had the smaller one against the wall with his back facing him and they seemed to be going at it like wild rabbits.
As soon as Austin entered, they stopped abruptly, the tiny one taking in a sharp intake of air and terror forming in his features. Buff guy did not even move, still had his hands on the boy's hips. "What!" He roared, "Occupied! Get out before I bash in your skull!" He didn't have to say it twice.
Austin bolted out of there and rushed to the entrance with a desperate need for escape but he didn't make it there because he ran into a hard chest. He hit is so hard he almost lost his balance but the stranger caught him before he could. The person pulled him up by his waist steady to his feet and as soon as he looked up to apologize for his carelessness, he changed his mind.
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;P