Austin's P.O.V

My eyes fluttered open as they began to catch the rays of sun that reflected off the windows, my vision was a blur of spots for a moment but they quickly vanished. I looked up to see that I seemed to have fallen asleep on Oli last night, my faced turned a horrid shade of red at the thought, but yet again...I sighed happily and turned my head to look up at him. To my utter surprise he was awake, "morning" he muttered, his voice a raspy whisper, he sounded like he hadn't slept in days...wait.

"Oli, have you slept at all since last night?" I asked quickly, pushing myself off his chest and looking him in the eye, he blushed slightly which made my heart do flip flops, but I felt myself frown when he shook his head and said "no." I got up from the couch and laid the pillow on the arm rest, and pointed at it, he just looked at me like he confused.

"Oli, get some sleep...please." I watched as he nodded sheepishly and he stood up, slipping his flannel off to reveal a black wife beater, which only covered so much, this way I could see that his entire chest and arms where covered in beautiful works of art. I fought the urge to walk over and trace the patterns with my fingers, I cursed myself for being so weird. He unbuttoned his skinny jeans and feverishly kicked them to the side, clearly agitated with how long it took to get them off. I took a brief second to take in the sight, trying to fight the heavy blush forming on my cheeks, but he was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. I looked up at the wrong moment in time, Oli was staring at me with a small smile tugging at his lips, if my cheeks weren't blood red then, they most certainly were now.

"You checking me out, Austin?" he stuck his tongue out in that adorable way he had before, and I felt like my chest was on fire. 'yes I was just taking a moment to appreciate how perfect and godly you are Oli.' I wanted to shove my foot in my mouth as that though prodded its way in my head. I just shook my head and ushered for him to lay down, he chuckled and made some joke about my face being red, which made it heat up even more, efficiently making me look like a tomato. He plopped down on the couch, and I sprawled the blanket on him, he smiled at me and I felt like a teenager girl who's crush just said hello to her, yes, even though I'm a grown man I still have my teenage girl moments. I turned to walk out of the living room to give him some space while he slept, but he quickly called out after me; I pivoted around and saw his arm slightly extended in my direction, like he was reaching out to me.

"Don't go..." he whispered hoarsely, I sighed in a joking manner before walking towards him and plopping down on the ground beside the couch, my back was resting on the table and facing him. "Why didn't you sleep last night? I hope it wasn't because I fell asleep on you..." my voice trailed off, but he shook his head.

"No, not at all mate. I...I feel bad for doing it, but your phone went off last night..." he cleared his throat and looked at me through half lidded eyes, heavy with sleep. I nodded for him to go on.
"I saw it was text from that unknown number, so I clicked it and...you should just look at it." He slapped a hand across his face and let out a "sorry I looked on your phone." I shook it off, and told him I didn't mind.

I got my phone off of the table and unlocked it, the text thread was already on my phone.

"Having fun yet? Cause I am. I think we should play again sometime. Sometime very very soon. goodnight you two. Try and get some sleep."
The text alone was enough to creep me out, but what laid below made me gasp in shock. It was a picture of Oli, not like the others though, he was obviously dead asleep but what lingered above his chest made my heart feel like it was going to explode. Which was entirely possible, because in the photo was a knife, being held only inches away from Oli's heart. I looked at him, mouth still agape in awe; he was frowning and his eyes looked as if he was ready to pass out at any second in time. I sighed and reached forward, brushing the hair out of his eyes, he looked up at me.

"Hey don't worry, we will talk about this later. Get some sleep Oli, I won't let anybody hurt you...I promise."

I caught his eyes with mine, just in time to see him smile brightly and snuggle into the pillow, successfully falling asleep immediately. He was so cute, that it made my mouth hurt from smiling so much. I pulled blanket around him tighter and daringly leaned down and planted a kiss to hiss head, something I knew that I would never be able to do when he was awake.

I made my way to my studio, which was right next to the living room, I opened the door and made my way inside, grabbing my guitar and strumming it. I quickly found the rhythm to one of my songs, even though my passion lay with screaming, I stuck to singing most of the time. No sense in screaming when playing an acoustic guitar, I really wished I could have a band, but time just got away from me. I closed my eyes and sang, I even surprised myself when I started singing one of my older ones, the one I used to sing to HER.

"Here in this world I'm awaked with mistakes
But it's love that keeps fueling me, fueling me
Pretty little lady with the swollen eyes,
Would you show them to me?
I know I'm not that perfect, but just stay a while
Baby, then you will see... "

I felt tears sting at my eyes, Gielle god dammit. She could always make me cry, you see... Gielle's my ex wife, one whom I married young, and divorced 6 months later, after I found out she had been cheating on me with someone I knew nonetheless. Yet, because of her I am the way I am today, but her words still sting when they cross my mind. But i guess that just makes me even more of a 'pathetic excuse of a man.' That's what she always said I was anyway, I never had the energy to disagree.

"Miles away I can still feel you lay
Your head down on my embrace, my embrace
Far away...
Pretty little lady with the swollen eyes,
Would you show them to me?
I know I'm not that perfect, but just stay a while
Baby, then you will see.."

By this point I was crying, not to heavily but enough to blur the corners of my eyes, I focused harder on the notes, and stressed every word; thoughts of not only her but HIM danced in my head. I could still picture him laying under my blankets, his pale skin blending with my white comforter, the only thing making him stand out from it was his tattoos and red hair. He would roll over and look at me in a way I never knew I could be looked at, he was my world. Just like Gielle, but after her I was never the same. I was never good enough for her, and I knew I'd never be enough for Alan, so I made up my mind to leave him; before he realized how stupid he was for dating a lowly soul like me. He was upset, but said he understood, we still talk quite often actually. He come's by my shop and we have lunch at least one every other week, it was nice; I hope he has found someone better than me. He deserved it. I noticed that I was no longer playing, but I was sitting with my head held low and staring at the guitar in my hands, well trying to through all the tears.

For 25, I had been through a lot; I was aware of that, but I would never ask for sympathy or compassion. It wasn't who I was.

My thoughts drifted back to Oli, and I moved out of my seat with a heavy sigh, as I sat my guitar down and walked into the living room. I wiped my face with my shirt and smiled at the sight before me. Oli was still cuddled up to the pillow, soft sounds emitted from him as he laid still. It was a sight I could look at forever, but my smile dissipated when I realized what I had been doing to myself. I was getting my hopes up, thinking that I could ever be enough for Oli...he was perfect in every shape and form and I was...me. A broken record stuck on the same emotions that always clogged my head. I would never amount to anything that would be close to his standards, and I was pretty sure he was straight to begin with.

I moved from my place in the living room and made my way to the kitchen where I fished out the ingredients for pancakes. I mixed it all together before setting it aside and heating up a pan, the clock read 12:04 pm, but it felt so much later than that, I sighed when I realized work was tomorrow. Owning a shop wasn't easy, and it required so much of my time, but I had fun, and that was most important. I finished making food, and left some out for Oli when he woke up. I ate in silence, thinking about nothing in particular; then I heard a click echo through out the house. It was quiet, but sounded like a hurricane in comparison to the silence. I stood up and walked towards the source of the sound, I saw a white envelope laying carefully on the floor, under the mail slot. I smiled, at the thought of my paranoia getting the best of me, despite the fact of our late night encounter. I admit it, I was still on edge. I picked up the piece of paper, noticing that only my name was written on the front, strange. I began to rip a small line into it, just enough so I could pull out its contents, I yelped in shock as a searing pain went through my hand. I dropped the small envelope on the ground and held my hand to my chest, before inspecting it. It was bleeding profusely, and ached; did I really just give myself a paper cut?

Groaning, I reached down to pick up the mail again, but as soon as I touched it the pain hit my other hand. I dropped it again in confusion, as my other hand started to bleed. I leaned down to inspect the envelope and felt a gasp escape my lips. On each corner of the inside of the envelope were blades, like razor blades, terror shook through me again, as I carefully picked up the letter, avoiding its sharp corners I opened it, successfully staining the paper red, and shaking in the process. Once it was opened the blades popped out and clattered on the tile floor, grimacing I held the contents of the sealed paper tomb. It was a small piece of paper, folded carefully. I gulped and opened it up, making sure to be careful this time; I opened it and was greeted with a one word statement.

GOODMORNING.

Fear swelled up in my chest, as all the emotions from last night flooded back to me. I hid the note and tossed the blades away, as I grabbed some paper towels and a butcher knife before making my way to the living room. I sat on my recliner, and tossed the knife on the table; carefully tending to my wounded fingers. Why someone was out to get me was beyond me, and why did they want to hurt me psychically and emotionally? I glanced at Oli, and a feeling like none I've ever had before exploded in my mind. I had to protect Oli, at all costs. He was in a fragile state as is, and he didn't sign up for this crazy shit when he agreed to stay with me, it was up to me to keep him safe. I threw my head back as I clicked on the television, it was bound to be a long day.

And one thing was for certain, I wouldn't tell Oli about what had just happened.

-&-


Oli's P.O.V

I moved my head off of the pillow and took in my surroundings, I was in the living room; that much I could tell. It wasn't dark out, but wasn't exactly daylight either. I sat up slowly and finally noticed the other presence in the room, Austin was curled up in the recliner watching some movie. When he noticed I was awake he turned towards me and smiled, in the way that made my heart flutter; which was still strange to me. He got up from his position and stretched himself out, I looked him over, he was right...his legs were very long. I heard him chuckle, causing my eyes to meet his. He was blushing, much like myself. "You like what you see Oli?" he shot at me before doing a rather hilarious pose, I laughed quite loudly as I felt the sleepiness fall off of me. He offered me a hand which I took, he pulled me up hastily and I saw as he grimaced; but I pushed it to the side.

"What time is it?" I asked groggily, before yawning and pulling my arms over my head.

"7 on the dot." He smiled broadly, god if he kept doing that I was going to explode.

Wait...did I really just think that way? Since when did I feel like this towards Austin...well he was gorgeous, and kindhearted and the only person besides Matt who had ever done anything for me, I wasn't sure what it was about him but it made me happy. We walked to the kitchen where a stack of pancakes laid on a plate, he motioned to them.

"For you! They are from earlier, but im sure they are still good!" he called to me, with that child like wonder in his voice, he was just to amazing.

'fortheloveofgod,yoursuchafaggotOliver.'

I ignored my inner tormentor and sat down as Austin heated up the pancakes, we made small talk; he told me work started tomorrow and that we would be waking up at 9 in order to get things together before the shop opened at 12, I nodded and smiled, he did the same. As soon as I had finished my pancakes, I asked him if I could use his shower, he grinned at me before making a silly face.

"Duh, you kind of live here too Oli. Its the door on the left of your bed room, towels are in there and all that."

I laughed, but thanked him as I made my way up the stairs and into the large bathroom. I laid my head on the back of the door, and sighed. My heart was beating rapidly, my mind was ablaze with thoughts, and I could feel myself smile. 'Austin, what are you doing to me?'


Unknown P.O.V

After dropping off the 'letter' I rushed back to my house and made preparations for the night. Nothing big or elaborate like tonight, but something just as scary, just less invasive. It was bound to work, bound to be perfect. I couldn't wait to see the look on Austin's face tonight, I couldn't wait to see him so on edge, so scared and angry. It was still the most amazing sight I've ever seen.

Knife and keys in my pocket, I made my way to the car.

I hope Austin and Oli enjoy this as much as I do.

Notes

Some much needed filler, that way you can catch a glimpse in Austin's past :O

sorry it was so short towards the end, I wrote so much in the beginning and now im exhausted, but I am sorry for this being so late, some crazy stuff went down today.

please continue to leave feedback for me, cause that WILL make me more motivated to update!
love you all!

xoxoxoxo
siren