Dear Austin...

"I'll show you my room." I led Austin on the tour of our house after LP had dragged Alan up the stairs to play with horses. The entire time, I could hear their laughter through the walls. I'm sure mom was smiling downstairs.

As I walked up each step to my room, I hoped that I'd cleaned up well enough. How I supposed to know that Austin and Alan were coming over?! I pushed the door open, grimacing a little. After opening my eyes, I let out a quiet sigh of relief as I realized that my room wasn't so messy.

"I like your room." He commented kindly. My desk was clear in the corner, nothing to much littered the surface where I wrote and drew. I threw a few books the floor when I spotted my fish tanks. What would he say to my hobby of keeping fish? I had at least four large tanks in my room, all teeming with different shapes, sizes, species, and colors of fish. I waited for the torrent of 'oh, fish' comments, like everyone else had said.

"You keep fish?" He asked me. I nodded, suddenly feeling very shy. Austin walked over to one of the tanks that kept my largest fish. The two were Oscars, a type of cichlid. They were beautiful under the light that was suspended just above the aquarium lid, or at least I thought so.

"These are amazing!" He exclaimed. The two fish in the large tank followed his finger back and forth.

"Thanks!" I relaxed under the tension that was instantly deflated like a filled balloon. He laughed and spotted the can of food.

"I know this is a weird question, but can I feed them?" He asked. I shook my head and opened the can, sprinkling food into his cupped palms and giving him instructions.

"Just throw it in quickly, and get your hands out of there. Just listen after that." I told him.

I opened the lid quickly. Austin deftly moved his hands in to drop the Oscar pellets into the water and pulled his hands back as I let the lid close. The two fish inside flipped against the water in their mad dash for food. Their splashes lifted the lid a few inches. I had to hold the top down as the two fish finally calmed down. We sat in silence together as their crunches were audible, even under the water and thick glass. When they were finally done, Austin sat back in silence.

"That was amazing." He let out a low whistle. I laughed.

"Just don't stick your finger in the water." I warned him with a lighthearted laugh. He held up his hands and backed away slowly. His eye was caught on something and he turned to kneel by a low cabinet in the back of my closet. Austin's brown eyes went wide.

"NO WAY! You have rock 'em sock 'em robots!" He exclaimed. My own eyes darted down to the game I had acquired a few years back. Through the days, I had spent only a little time on the game. It wasn't like the old fashioned, antique game, but a bit of a newer version.

Small particles of dust had gathered on it. Austin folded his legs under him and pulled it out. He looked to me like a kid in a candy store. Or like fan in a band merch store.

"Can we play it?" He asked me expectantly. I sat down.

"Sounds fun! I hadn't played this game in a while and was planning on getting rid of it anyways. Do you want it?" I asked him. It was true. The game would only collect dust and old memories that had no significance.

"Nah, I couldn't take anything from you." He waved a hand away. His large fingers swiftly moved the corners to each other. I had blue and he had the red robot. He shifted the controller and swung a few practice jabs to experiment.

"Don't worry about it! I was going to donate it anyways, so it's no loss to me. Hey, you're probably going to use it more than me." I shrugged. He thought for a moment.

"I'll talk with Alan." He finally decided, but I could tell his eyes were looking at it with longing.

"Best two out of three." I challenged. He stuck out his tongue in concentration.

"Onetwothree go!" He yelled quickly. I barely had time to throw up the red robot's arms before the blue started a vicious attack. I took each hit with both arms up, moving to block any head shots. Austin threw a good shot and knocked the red robot's head loose. He threw up his arms in victory. I clutched my head in mock defeat.

"The battle has just begun!" I challenged. The game was getting intense, but I had a trick up my sleeve. I knew that the blue robot's head was loose and it didn't take a head shot to jar it free. The red bot only needed a few strong shots.

As the second round begun, I started a forward attack, immediately pushing Austin's bot to the corner and beat it furiously. Within four hard left upper cuts, I knocked the bot's head up. Austin fell back in mock defeat before pushing the head down and resetting the match.

The third round was long and challenging. It lasted ten minutes, and at the end Austin ended up victory after I had pinned two of the bot's arms and he jarred the right hand free and knocked up the red bot's head. We both were panting form the hard fought battle, even though it was our warrior's that took the blows.

"That was a good battle." He grinned at me. I returned the friendly gesture as I pushed the game to the back of the closet, to be taken out for later.

"It's to bad that you have to leave soon. It was so much fun being able to hang out." My smile faded but still remained on my face. Austin lifted an eyebrow as he leaned back on his elbows. I looked out the window and glanced at a finch flying out of view.

"Actually, I was going to talk to you about that." Austin followed my gaze to the trees outside in our front yard. I could feel my face scrunch in slight confusion.

"Tino and Phil were going to go sightseeing in the area for a little while and the others were going off for business. Alan and I were anxious to get to see you guys, but we don't have a place to stay. I guess we could live off in the bus, but being stuck there for months upon end can be a little....well...cramped. So, with permission from your mom of course, Alan and I were wondering if you would let us stay at your house for a little while, if that would be okay." He asked me.

I think my heart stopped for a minute there, or maybe I had misheard him. No, I had heard him right. It took me two nanoseconds to think about this week. It fell so perfectly. Dad was out of the house, mom wasn't doing much. I only had a percussion practice on Monday next week, and that was all.

"T-that would be amazing!" I stuttered.

"Would your mom be okay with that. We can help around the house, and we would be no bother. We can help bring groceries, cook meals, drive..." Austin started listing off all the things he and Alan would help with.

I had read about it on the interviews and stories fans had written about how sweet Austin was when they met him. I knew it was true, but I had never experienced the full force of the Austin-Kindness-Cannon.

"I'm sure my mom would appreciate any help she could get. That's very kind of you to offer! Let's go talk to my mom." I shared in Austin's enthusiasm.

"Your mom is very kind." He complimented as we walked down the stairs. I hopped down the the floor and walked down the hall to my mom's bedroom.

"Well she thinks you're the sweetest people, to be honest." I gave him a crooked smile as he blushed. I knocked on my mom's door and she let us in. My mom put down the book she was reading to smile at Austin and I.

"Mom, Austin has a question to ask you." I threw him on the spot light. He grumbled a little, but all in good humor. I listened closely as Austin repeated what he'd told me. I crossed my fingers the entire time. If he had gone this far just to meet LP and I, then surely mom would let Alan and him stay. I could see her think for a moment.

"We would be willing to help go out and get food, cook food, drive, do anything you need us to. We'll be quiet to, we promise. Plus, Alan is a good cook." Austin bargained with my mom. She sat in silent thought for what seemed like hours on end. I crossed all the fingers on my other hand for good measure.

I could tell she was pondering over the thoughts of dad, her recent surgery, and the alternatives. Then I took matters in my own hands and added my own thoughts.

"Lily-Pearl really loves Alan. He could keep her busy while you're resting." I added in. Austin smiled and nodded vigorously.

"And Alan just thinks the world of LP. He always loved getting letters from her and I can tell he just fell in love with your daughter." He added in. Mom smiled from weariness or past thoughts, I didn't know. She finally spoke.

"You know you would have to put up with my girls for a week until your Warped Concert." She cautioned him. Did this mean yes?

"Mrs. Croft, it would be a pleasure." Austin grinned. I couldn't believe it. She thought for a moment.

"Would Alan really cook?"

"Absolutely!"

"Please tell me he makes good pizza." My mom sighed with the memory of old times, when we used to have fire grilled pizza.

"It's the best." Austin affirmed.

"So you won't trash the house or throw crazy parties?" She asked. Austin shook his head.

"Nope!" He continued. We both held out breath in until we were about to pass out when mom answered.

"The guest bed is downstairs, and it's really a couch, so you'll have to make due." She answered. I smiled and mouthed thank you over and over. Austin smiled and nodded as we both ran out to tell Alan.

We knocked and entered LP's room where both the ginger princess and LP were fast asleep.

"They wore each other out." Austin laughed quietly. Alan had one hand protectively draped over LP as she quietly slept with her head on Alan's chest.

"We'll tell them later." I laughed and closed the door a crack.

I still couldn't believe it. This should've been a dream, but I was lucky it was reality.

Notes

Next chapters: The troop of troublemakers make their mark in Rae and LP's small town! Keep tuned for fun and adventure with LP and Alan, and some lists accomplished with Austin and Raelyn!

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