Dear Austin...

“So what is there to do in your town?” Austin asked me one day. We were sitting on the porch under the cool shade of the clouds. Alan and LP were tumbling around in the grass. I think they were playing a combination of tag and hide-and-seek. I thought long and hard for a few minutes under the quiet canopy of the white-washed pergola.

“Well, we have a library, movie theater, and a few shops around here. It’s nothing too big or exciting. I mean, LP and I used to go down to the pet shop and stare at the fish, cats, and dogs. That was our idea of fun on the weekends.” I listed off to him. Austin sipped a glass of lemonade quietly in deep thought. I clutched my own sweating glass in both hands.

“I guess today we should go get groceries to help your mom out.” He suggested. I instinctively looked through the window screen to see the dark room where my mom was sleeping. The pills she took to ease the pain and let sleep come a little quicker had knocked her out.

“We need to do that.” I admitted. Alan and LP stopped tumbling around the yard in mid-chase to take a break. Austin and I solidified our plan and started to head inside while Alan followed him. LP trailed in Alan’s shadow.

“Where are you going?” LP asked me while she tugged at my sleeve. I smiled and told her.

“We’re going to get groceries.” Her face twisted into one of disgust. After a few complaints that arose of why would you want to do that? LP eventually released my sleeve. Alan took her upstairs to go and draw.

“Let’s head out.” I tossed Austin the keys and we headed through the garage door into the parked car. As soon as he had backed out and was headed onto the highway into town, we rolled down the windows and blasted the music. Austin flipped to one of his favorite stations and immediately, an Of Mice and Men song played. My eyes gleamed as the song stoked a spark of excitement in Austin.

I rummaged around to find my wallet in the back seat. I always hid at least sixty bucks in my wallet in the car under the passenger seat. We wouldn’t be buying that much, but would need the money.

As soon as we pulled into King Soopers, a group of teenage boys passed by us as we walked in. They whistled and pointed to me. I saw Austin tense up. He immediately grabbed my hand, pulling my closer to him. His glare could’ve disintegrated the four boys on sight. They stopped and kept moving, their heads staring at the ground. Austin didn’t release my hand. By the time we had reached the edge of the parking lot, he was shaking like a leaf in a tornado. I squeezed his hand thoughtfully. He looked at me and started to calm down.

I managed to grab a basket, Austin never letting go of my hand. He led me through the isle, pulling me into the bakery. By the time we had woven our way through multiple isles, we had put ten different items into our basket and gotten a dozen different stares.

Walking down the frozen meals hall, I spotted a familiar black haired girl. Austin was dragged along behind me as I hissed her name. Sara whipped around and nearly dropped her cartoon of eggs.

“A-A-Austin Carlile!” She stuttered. He pushed back his beanie, the one he wore most every day, and gave her that heart stopping, blood warming, soul rising grin he always gave me. Her eyes flickered from him, to our intertwined hands.

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out.” He laughed. She just stopped for a moment then laughed lightly. I stared at her a little oddly.

“You told me he wrote you letters, but you never told me he is visiting you!” She giggled. I face-palmed. I had completely had forgotten to tell her about him and Alan.

“Actually we’re staying with Rae and LP for a week until Warped Tour. Alan’s staying with her as well.” Austin nudged me. He swept his bangs to the side. I think Sara nearly died in the middle of the tiled floor.

“Ok that does it, you need to bring them in for practice on Tuesday.” She pointed an accusing finger to me. I thought about it.

“Do you think our instructor will let me?” I asked. She rolled her eyes and let out a small smile.

“Just tell him the truth. They’re staying with you and you are giving them the grand tour of our small town.” I could see her shoulders shake in excitement.

“Deal.” I grinned. I gave Austin the basket and my wallet. His lips parted to refuse as he instantly went to dig for his own wallet. I held his arm and stared into his brown eyes.

“Look, I’m paying since it’s my house.” I told him firmly. He could only shake his head.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m the guest anyways!” He argued. I shoved the wallet between the bread and the mustard.

“Take it, and you can pay me back in ice cream or monsters later.” I told him. He finally gave in and nodded. He walked down to the lines to check out. Sara pulled me close and whispered in my ear as we both watched him disappear behind a rack of spices.

“Have you told him about your father yet?” She asked me. I shook my head. Sara sighed. She was my best friend and the only one I’ve told about my dad’s attacks. I loved and trusted Austin to death, but I didn’t want another person worrying about me.

“Look, you need to tell him sometime.” She told me gently. I sighed as she fiddled with the chain on her wallet nervously.

“Why?” I asked her. She shook her head and smirked a little. It was if I wasn’t in on some big secret.

“Have you seen the way he looks at you? He’s so protective of you. I swear, when I came up to talk to you, he adjusted his position the slightest bit to be closer to you. He’s either proclaimed himself your guardian angel on earth, or he’s loves you.” She elbowed me. I sputtered a little and fell silent.

“I just don’t know.” I replied. The conversation had reached its end, so I went off to find Austin. He was finished checking out and I met him with the bags. He handed back the wallet and I checked the dollar amount, to make sure he used my money. Surprisingly, he had.

“Let’s go home.”

Notes

Hey everyone! Here's a chapter with more Rae/Austin. LP/Alan up next!
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