Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Ren

Everything is so much different without my best friend. Megan is still in the hospital and she won't be back till tomorrow. After my classes I head back to my dorm and quickly do all the things I need to get done. Austin is probably still in his classes. I finish all my papers and studying and put everything aside before putting on my earphones and closing my eyes.

I sit on the bench, looking up at the clear blue sky. I turn my gaze to the people playing Frisbee. Someone takes a seat next to me and I turn to see Austin. What is he doing here?

"Hi," he slightly smiles.

I smile back and stare into his green eyes. His green eyes never fail to mesmerize me. I may not like this guy, but I do love his eyes. He tilts his head and smirks at me. "Are you going to keep checking me out or answer my question?" he asks.

Question?

"Yes, Ren. I asked you a question," he rolls his eyes.

And I said that aloud...

"Yes, you did."

I smile at him sheepishly and he frowns. "You weren't listening, were you?" he asks and I shake my head. Sighing, "I was asking you if you'd like to accompany to the mall later."

I furrow my brows. Out of all the people he knows, why is he asking me? "What for?"

"I need new clothes," he shrugs.

I wrinkle my nose. "You sound like a girl," I joke.

He narrows his eyes at me and pokes my side and I jolt up. He smirks, "Someone's ticklish." He wiggles his index finger in the air before poking me a couple more times.

I almost drop to floor if it wasn't for Austin. He wraps his free arm around my waist and keeps me on the bench while his other hand pokes my side. I laugh, "A-Austin, please s-stop!"

"Are you coming with me or not?" he laughs.

"F-fine! Just stop, please!"

He stops poking me and sits properly. I scooch further away from him and cross my arms. I raise an eyebrow at him. "Why do you need new clothes anyway?"

"I got a date with Alanna," he says nonchalantly.

My face drops. So that's what this is all about? Of course he'd pick me to go shopping with him. Alanna and I had just gotten close; I practically know things about her. He needs tips-he needs advices. I sigh, shaking my head.

He's using me.

I jolt up and I feel my heart racing. I breathe in heavily and I run the back of my hand across my forehead, wiping the bead of sweat that's forming.

That was a weird dream.

I look across the room and find his bed empty. And as if on cue, the door opens and Austin enters. He goes to his desk and grabs his books and some notepads.

"Oh, you want to study? Now?" I sit up and he gestures me not to. It's not every day Austin wants to start tutor.

He rubs the back of his neck. "Actually, I'm studying with Alanna."

"Oh."

"Yeah. I'm sorry," he offers a small smile. "She was there when I was thinking about my tests and-"

I put my hand up. "No, it's fine. I get it," I tell him. He's finally got Alanna.

He nods his head before leaving. I grab my phone and press the lock button, showing the time. It's still five o' clock. How about I go to the cliff? I don't have anything else better to do. I get out of bed and grab my bag, shoving my phone inside. I get my car keys before heading out and to the parking lot. I get in my car and drive to the cliff. I park my car behind a bush and get out. I walk closer to the edge and look down at the town. I smile. It never fails to amaze me.

I walk back to car and grab a yoga mat I had in my trunk. I lay it on the ground and lay down, looking up at the sky and watch the clouds go by. Before I know it, I'm cloud watching and naming every cloud. I find a cloud that looks like a dinosaur holding a pizza. Another looks like cat on a crescent moon. I laugh at myself. I can't believe I'm having fun with myself, watching and naming clouds.

"Fuck."

I sit up and turn around. Austin runs his hand through his hair before crouching down to pull me into a bone crushing hug. What the heck? My head is against his chest and I can hear his heart beating incredibly fast; his chest going up and down heavily. He's panting. I put my hands on his chest and push lightly. He lets go and looks down at me.

"What are you doing here?" I look up at his green eyes and I feel myself melting.

"I thought you were kidnapped," he shakes his head and collapses to the ground, using his hands as support for his weight. "We've been looking everywhere for you."

I furrow my brows. "It's only been fifteen or twenty minutes since we last saw each other," I tell him. Geez, if I knew he was going to act like this with me gone I would have texted. Either way, I didn't think he'd be looking for me. I thought he'd be too preoccupied with Alanna to even think of me.

He raises his eyebrows at me and pulls out his phone from his pocket. He presses the home button and shows me the screen. Forty minutes passed six. What? But I just got here? Or perhaps I was having too fun naming the clouds I lost track of the time.

"And where's your goddamn phone, Ren?" he exclaims. I stand up from my mat and walk to car, grabbing the phone out of my bag. I walk to Austin and check my calls. 14 missed calls from an unknown number. I show Austin the number and ask if that his number. He shakes his head and I immediately call the number. His phone rings and I smirk.

"Seems like you were the only one worried about me," I grin at him, poking his arm.

"Alanna was looking for you too," he adds.

"Oh yeah? Then why hasn't she called?" I wiggle my phone in front of his face and he rolls his eyes.

He stands up and I straighten up. I look up at him and he sighs. "I was worried, okay? I felt bad for replacing my tutor so I went back to the room and saw your bag gone. I called and didn't answer. I went around the entire campus looking for you before I actually realized you might be here."

Wow. "You went through all that to look for me?"

"Don't feel special," he quickly says. "You're as fragile as a porcelain doll. Anything could have happened to you."

He shoves his hands in his pockets, looking everywhere but at me. "Austin." I grab his attention and he looks down at me. "Do you like Alanna?" Austin is known for his looks; he can get any girl he wants, any time he wants. I just want to know that he's not doing the same for Alanna. She doesn't deserve that.

"What?" he looks at me slightly annoyed.

"Do you like her?"

He shrugs, "I don't know. Well, she's pretty and hot and-"

"If you ever hurt her...ever...I will have Megan to kill you," I point at him.

"Whatever." He walks to his bike and gets on it. Before putting on his helmet he turns to me, "Get in your car, Ren."

I get distracted by the setting of the sun. I part my mouth and stare at the sunset in awe. I can hear Austin calling out my name but ignore him. It's so beautiful. So beautiful. The way orange, yellow, and pinkish red mix together so amazingly. The way God has painted the sky is just...I ran out of words to describe it.

"Extraordinary?" Austin suggests. And of course, I was thinking aloud again.

I smile, "Yeah."

Austin stands beside me with his arms crossed over his chest as he watches the sun set with me. It starts to get chilly and I hug myself, rubbing my arms to create warmth. Austin looks down at me and wraps an arm around me, pulling me close to him. He looks back at the sunset while I look at him with furrowed brows. He keeps a blank face and hides every expression in his face. Once the sun is down and the moon is rising, I pull away.

I cough, "I think we should head back."

He clears his throat. "Right, we should go." I get to my car and strap in my seatbelt. I turn to my right and see Austin starting his bike and putting his helmet on. He looks at me and gestures to open the passenger window. I roll it down. "Drive safe."

I offer a small smile. "You too."