Austin
June 25th, 2015 | 4:00 pm
The first time he laid eyes on her, he knew she was special. How could he live here his whole life and only just realized she existed? He stared at her as she walked to her locker. She probably didn't even realize how much she radiated. That was just how she was though. You couldn't help but stare at the simple beauty that was Lexi Cross.
So, after weeks of staring at the girl he was so fascinated by, when she happened to be walking down the street parallel to him and Rick, Austin knew it was a sign.
"I'll see you at home, Rick," he said. Rick looked annoyed Austin was ditching him, but Austin was already crossing the street.
He was so nervous to talk to her, he was never this nervous before. He matched her pace and began talking to her. The entire time he was fascinated by her, she was so beautiful, but not just because of the way she looked, her soul too. She was good, through and through. Austin was over the moon when she agreed to go out with him. The entire time he felt like he was on cloud nine. She understood him, she laughed and smiled and Austin fell in love with the way her brown eyes twinkled when he was around her. As he walked her home, everything felt so perfect.
That was until they arrived at her house. The cops, the hospital, losing her mom, her dad's condition, all Austin could do was hold the girl he had just fallen in love with as she lost her parents.
August 7th, 2015 | 9:00 pm
He tried so hard, he wanted to be everything Lexi needed. However, she was drowning, and as much as Austin tried, she kept sinking deeper and deeper. He should have done something, he should have stopped Rick.
"I'm doing her a favor, Austin," he said.
"Getting her high isn't going to save her," Austin said angrily.
"Let her relieve some of the pain," Rick replied.
Austin should have stopped her, he should have done something. He only watched as the girl he loved slipped deeper and deeper into his life of drugs.
June 28th, 2016 | 3:00 pm
"I need you. Please? I love you, Austin."
Austin was both relieved and angry after he heard the voicemail. Rick, who had been listening as well, rolled his eyes.
"Don't you dare think about showing up at the police station," Rick warned.
"I have to," Austin said, already putting his shoes on. "I'm all she's got."
Rick shook his head angrily. "Do you know how much trouble we will get in if Uriah finds out we went to the station, we have to lay low."
"There is no 'we' here," Austin said angrily. "You got yourself in this mess, not me."
Rick looked mad, he grabbed Austin. "You're all I got, man. We're brothers, remember? You have to help me."
Austin shook his head and shoved Rick off him. Rick steadied himself and glared at him.
"I didn't want to resort to this but if you don't stick with me, I'll tell Uriah who's drug test might get him in trouble."
Austin glared at him. "You wouldn't dare hurt Lexi."
"Try me," Rick said back angrily.
July 1st, 2016 | 9:00 pm
Anisa had just left her office when Austin found her. It has taken countless hours of research and sleuthing behind Rick's back to find Lexi's lawyer. Certainly she would know what had happened to Lexi.
"Excuse me?"
The woman turned around, startled by Austin. "Can I help you?" she asked.
"Yes," Austin said. "Alexandra Cross, she was one of your clients a few days ago, do you know where they sent her?"
"I am not at liberty to discuss my clients," she said, giving him a strange look. The woman started to walk away.
"Please," Austin begged. "I'm all she has, she needs to know what happened."
The woman looked sympathetic, she sighed. "I can't tell you anything about her case."
Austin held back his anguish and began to walk away.
"However, there is a rehab facility on Harrison street that I just did some research on, it is very suitable for teenagers."
Austin immediately turned around and thanked the woman profusely.
"Just take care of her will you?" she asked. "The poor girl has been through so much."
Austin nodded, he almost ran to the center. He went right up to the receptionist and practically demanded to see Lexi. The woman would not budge.
"Sir, visiting hours are over."
Austin came back the very next day, still he wasn't allowed.
"Why not?" he demanded. "I need to see her."
Eventually, he had continued to cause such an annoyance each and every day with the receptionist, that one of the therapists finally came out to see what the commotion was all about.
"I need to see Lexi Cross," he told her.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Austin West," he responded.
"Well I am Macy, Lexi's therapist," she said.
"Can you tell her I need to see her?" he asked hopefully.
The woman's eyebrows furrowed. "I don't think that's a good idea."
His hopeful expression fell. "Why not?" he asked.
"I have heard a lot about you, and you and Lexi's past year together. The last thing Lexi needs is you coming back and ruining her progress, she needs to get sober and stay that way, your interference will only hurt her."
"That is the last thing I am trying to do," Austin said. "I would never hurt her."
"If you want to help her, then move on," Macy said. "Help her do the same."
September 28th, 2016 | 9:00 pm
She couldn't be back. There was no way. Surely she would have stayed in rehab for longer. Hadn't Macy promised to make sure she moved on and come back healthy and sober? Surely that took longer than one summer. Austin sat on one of the couches in the skate pool. A girl was laying with her head in his lap, Austin barely paid any attention as she continued talking. He was still stuck on what she had said before. Lexi was back. Would she know they were here? They had spent practically every day at the abandoned skatepark after school.
Sure enough, he found her looking down on them in the pool. Austin stared at her for a moment, it was unreal. She was here, she was back, she was sober. She looked so healthy, her brown eyes weren't so tired or bloodshot. She looked good, he couldn't ruin that.
It pained him to do what he did next, he leaned down and kissed the girl in his lap. All summer he had worked to spread false rumors that he had been sleeping around all summer. Of course, Lexi wouldn't believe it though, he had to show her.
He broke away from the girl and looked up again, Lexi was gone. He tried not to show how much pain he was in, he hoped his actions would only cause temporary pain for her. If Macy was right, it would help her move on, get a better life, the one she deserved, one without him.
September 30th, 2016 | 3:00 pm
He saw her at school. She was trying to make it look like it didn't bother her, but Austin could tell she was suffering. Everyone was talking about her, she was clearly upset and all alone. She had tried to talk to Austin. It took everything in him not to run into her arms and tell her it was all a joke and that he still loved her.
Later, he had to watch from a distance as guys started to flirt with her at the party. Austin knew Lexi was stunning, of course guys would start to make their move now. Enough time had gone by. He tried his hardest not to get angry, he couldn't tell her he still cared, she had to move on. However, he couldn't just stand there as the boy danced with her. That was supposed to be Austin, it was supposed to be Austin who made her eyes sparkle, it was supposed to be him she threw her arms around.
His emotions got the best of him and before he could even restrain himself, he had already punched the guy square in the jaw. Lexi's face had said it all. She was both horrified and confused. She wanted to know why he had done it. How could he tell her? That he would always love her, yet he was also the worst thing that ever happened to her? All he could do was walk away.
October 10th, 2016 | 5:00 pm
Austin was staring at the poster for the dance. Would Lexi go? He doubted it. Not only had most of the girls been avoiding Lexi since she became the talk of the town, but Austin's punch to the boy who was dancing with her sent most of the boys running from her as well. Although he was sure they were all obsessed with her anyway. Still, he felt bad, she needed someone, and he needed someone to update him on her life. He needed to know she was doing okay. He looked up when he saw Maeve walking past him. An idea had formed.
"Hey wait up," he called.
Maeve looked nervous. "What's up?" she asked.
"I need you to be friends with Lexi."
She gave him a funny look. "What?"
"I need you to be friends with her, so you can tell me what is going on in her life. You can't tell anyone and you can't tell her I made you befriend her."
"What's in it for me?" she asked.
Austin sighed. "You can get high for free," he offered.
Maeve accepted instantly. He knew she would. She was Rick's best customer.
"Don't tell anyone," he warned.
He was pleased when he saw Lexi and Maeve at the dance. Lexi looked beautiful as always, she was gorgeous in that dark red dress. He caught her staring at him a few times. He so desperately wanted to run across the gym and hold her but he restrained himself. He had drugs to sell tonight and she had to move on.
October 11th, 2016 | 1:00 pm
Austin and Rick had just walked into the drug house. They were meeting Uriah. Austin was already apprehensive about today. He hated Uriah. He hated drugs now.
"Go see what that was," Uriah said to Austin.
Austin looked up. He had barely recognized Uriah was even talking to him. He was lost in his own thoughts. He went over and opened the closet door. The last thing he expected to see was Maeve and Lexi standing there looking absolutely terrified. His heart stopped, what the hell were they doing here?
"Must have been an animal or something," Austin said, finally closing the closet door. "This place isn't exactly up to code."
Austin only hoped that was enough for Uriah to let it go. Thankfully the man was trying to lay low after Lexi's trip to the hospital. Once they had all left, Austin glanced once more at the closet before leaving as well. He would be having a serious talk with Maeve later.
October 31st, 2016 | 5:00 pm
Austin peaked into the window of Lexi's house. He knew it was so beyond wrong, but he had to see Lexi's father. Henry was such a nice guy and this past year was not easy on him. Once he made sure Lexi wasn't home, he opened the door with the key Lexi had made for him last year. He found Henry working on the television.
Austin wasn't quite sure why he was so insistent on fixing the television, but Austin walked over and began helping anyway.
"Hi Henry," Austin said politely.
"Hello."
Austin did this often, especially during this summer when Lexi was gone. Always making sure he was taken care of, and now, whenever Lexi wasn't home, he stopped by. Henry was calming to be around. Austin's life was complicated and messy, but the Cross household would always be a source of peace for him.
November 23rd, 2016 | 2:00 pm
Austin was angry with Rick. He had been for quite some time now. The Rick that Austin had once known and loved like a brother was gone. He had been so consumed with drugs that Austin refused to do anymore.
At one point, they were just two boys who had lost their families, they had taken care of each other and survived hell together. Except now, things have changed. Rick wasn't the same goofball Austin met when they were young.
Austin wasn't even sure who Rick was anymore.
December 12th, 2016 | 2:00 pm
Austin was waiting outside the hospital. He would only have a few hours. He had heard from Maeve that Lexi was leaving for a bit to take her finals. He would have some time with Henry. Austin watched as Liam drove her to the school.
Once again, his heart ached. Liam had shown kindness to Lexi. The type of thing Austin should have been doing for Lexi. He put the thought aside as he went into the hospital. Austin walked into Henry's room. He had heard once again from Maeve that there was little progress. He was losing brain function. Austin went over and sat by his side. Henry was the closest thing Austin even had to a father figure and now he too was dying. He couldn't help but let the tears slide down his cheeks.
December 15th, 2016 | 5:00 pm
Austin was angry. He wanted to go to the funeral. Except he was with Rick, who was already growing suspicious that Austin still cared for Lexi. He couldn't just leave. Austin angrily waited as Rick sold some pills a few feet away. Suddenly, his phone rang. Maeve was calling.
"What is it?" he asked irritatedly.
"It's Lexi," she said.
Immediately, Austin's expression changed. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"She has been sitting in front of her parents' grave for hours now, she's not moving, she's so broken and Liam and I are desperate. What should we do?" she asked.
What could he say? He knew what would happen, Lexi would want to get high, he hoped her sobriety meant more to her now though.
"Can you come?" she asked. "I know you have your reasons for staying away from her but there's no one here, no one would know."
Austin gave in, he left Rick and made his way to the graveyard. Lexi looked just as she did that day at her mother's funeral. She was sitting in front of their headstones, frozen, as tears slid down her face. Austin only hoped she hadn't gotten high yet.
Austin looked over at Maeve and Liam standing at the entrance. Maeve had told him that Liam's family was adopting Lexi. Austin would have to thank him for that later. Once again, he was taking care of her in a way Austin couldn't. He looked over at Lexi again.
He needed her to move on, but today, well today she needed him. So he walked over and comforted the girl he still loved, the girl he would always love.
January 9th, 2017 | 4:00 pm
"Are you kidding me?" Austin furiously yelled to Maeve.
He was angrily pacing in front of Maeve who was sitting on the couch. They were at Maeve's house, and Austin was beyond angry at her. Of course she had to get busted just when Austin needed updates on Lexi the most.
"I'm sorry, she figured it out," Maeve said, trying to calm him down.
Austin just shook his head. "Now what?" he asked.
"You could try moving on," she said softly.
Austin glared at her. "What?"
"Look you keep telling me, and yourself for that matter, that Lexi has to move on but what about you?"
"Who is going to look out for her if I don't?" he asked.
"Liam and his parents have been taking really good care of her," she pointed out.
Austin sighed. He didn't want to move on. He would always love her.
"It's the right thing to do, and you know it," Maeve pointed out.
He nodded slowly. "Call Liam."
February 14th, 2017 | 6:00 pm
Austin wondered what Lexi was doing today. Would she go out with one of the many boys who were always staring at her? Would she finally move on? One part of him wished she wouldn't, the other part of him knew that was wrong to think.
Austin knew Rick was already suspicious that he still cared about Lexi. He had to lay low, but he couldn't help but check social media and the local hangouts all night. He wanted to know if she was with someone tonight. He hated himself for being relieved he hadn't seen her on a date or someone online bragging about taking her out on Valentine's Day.
March 24th, 2017 | 3:00 pm
"You want me to drive you to the rehab center?" Austin asked.
Maeve nodded. "If you and Lexi can get clean then maybe I can too."
Austin hadn't even realized he had gotten sober. Not until Lexi had asked him that day at Henry's funeral. He had been giving his supply to Maeve to spy on Lexi for so long and in his agony of losing Lexi, he hadn't even thought about getting high anymore.
He nodded. "Yeah, let's go."
When they arrived, they waited outside for Macy to collect Maeve.
"Do your parents know where you're going?" Austin asked.
Maeve rolled her eyes. "They will be too high to even realize I am gone."
It had been awhile since Austin thought about his own parents. They had died when he was young.
"Take care, okay?" he said.
Maeve nodded. Macy came out and greeted them. Austin tried to be polite to Macy. However, it was clear she still didn't like Austin.
"It's nice to see you again, Austin," Macy said politely.
Austin nodded. "How is Lexi doing?" he asked.
Macy gave him a funny look. "I thought you moved on?" she asked.
"I'll always care about her," he said softly.
Macy studied him for a moment. "She's doing well, she's sober, working, volunteering, good grades, she's happy."
Austin nodded curtly. So, it was true. Lexi really was better off without him.
April 7th, 2017 | 9:00 pm
Prom was tonight. All Austin could think about was last year. His promise to Lexi. He had told her he would take her to the senior prom. He had promised that they would slow dance and kiss under the soft lights in the gym. He couldn't believe how much had changed in a year.
Now he was hiding out in Lexi's old house, he was avoiding his ex best friend, and he and Lexi were now completely sober. He only wished they were still together. All Austin wanted was for her to be happy. It pained him so much to know that he couldn't be there for her, that she was doing so well without him.
He was bitter when he found out that she was going tonight. He saw a photo online of her in a dark blue dress that fit her perfectly. She was standing with Liam and his girlfriend along with a couple of boys. Austin wondered which one of them would be lucky enough to get to do the slow dance with her that he so envied.
Austin had to get out of Lexi's house. All he could think about was her not being in his arms tonight. He found his way to the graveyard, he thought about going to his parents graves, but he barely remembered them. Instead, he went and sat down at Henry and Laura Cross's graves.
He had never met Lexi's mom, but Lexi used to talk so fondly of her. Laura had a heart of gold and you could feel the love she and Lexi had for each other by just listening to Lexi talk about her.
Austin hadn't met Lexi's dad before his accident either. However you could still tell a lot about Henry from his relationship with his daughter. She loved him and was very close to him. Lexi often repeated the jokes he would tell her to Austin when she was in a good mood. After the accident, Henry and Austin spent a lot of time together. They watched sports together and they used to go out with Lexi to the park or out to eat.
Although the accident had taken a toll on Henry, he had become obsessed with fixing the television he had broken while Lexi was in rehab. Austin had paid someone to fix the rest of the television when he began hiding out at their house. It felt like a good way to honor Henry's final project. A tear slipped down his cheek. The pain he felt when Henry died was only a fraction of what Lexi must have felt.
Eventually, Austin made his way back to Lexi's house. He was surprised to see the door was unlocked. He cautiously went inside thinking Rick had finally found him. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Lexi peaking into the hallway from her bedroom.
But what was she doing here? Had she realized he lived here now? He made his way over to her as she asked him what he was doing here. Austin could barely think, he hadn't been alone with her in months, not since the funeral. Austin realized he hadn't made the side of the bed he slept on this morning, she knew.
So, Austin was honest with her, and as they talked, Austin realized something: she still cared. Nothing was going to break their bond. He so desperately wanted to kiss her and apologize for hours on end about how awful he was to her, but that was when Rick came in.
Immediately, almost instinctively, Austin went over to Lexi and shielded her small body from Rick. What could he do? Rick had the gun, he was going to kill them. It all happened so fast. All Austin could do was keep Lexi behind him as he heard the guns go off. A shot to his best friend and a shot to his abdomen.
All Austin felt was pain as he collapsed onto the floor. All he could see was Lexi's horrified expression. All he could hear were her sobs as she held him.
It was okay, he thought to himself. She was okay. She would survive. She was better off without him anyway. Austin closed his eyes, it was worth it, to save the girl he loved, nothing else mattered, he was ready to die.