I turned the shower off and opened the glass door. I wrapped a towel around myself before stepping out. He was standing in just a towel and I licked my lips. When I looked him in the eyes I swore if I could I would have caught fire.

“Your Mom’s on the phone.” Austin husked and cleared his throat before holding my phone out to me. It must have fell out of my pocket when we were…otherwise occupied. I took my phone and held it to my ear. Austin slid behind me and ran his hands down the front of my towel.

“Hey, Mum.”

“Hello, darling. How is everything?”

“Everything’s fine. How is everything at home?” I leant my head back of Austin’s shoulder and he wrapped his arms around my waist before resting his head on my shoulder.

“Oh, everything is perfectly fine here. Alex told me something…upsetting today.”

“What is that?” I reached down and twined my hand with Austin’s and squeezed him tightly. He kissed the side of my neck and nuzzled my shoulder. I realised in that moment that he always liked someone touching him.

“She says that you’ve…been hurting yourself.”

“It’s true.” I heard a sob on the other end of the line and was quick to try and reassure her. “It’s fine now, Mum. I promise. Austin’s helped me through it.”

“I wish you would have come to me.”

“Me too. I love you and I promise everything is getting better.” A single tear slid down my cheek and I then realised in that moment it was true. Everything was getting better. I wasn’t fully there yet but with Austin at my side I knew that I would be better.

“We love you too. I’ll speak to you tomorrow. I miss you.”

“I miss you more.” We hung the phone up and Austin turned me around to hug me properly. I rubbed my cheek against his chest, right above his heart. It was beating strong except for the occasional stutter. “Is your heart okay?”

“Rise and rise again until lions become lambs.” Austin said into my ear and I frowned. I knew he was avoiding the question.

“Austin. Is your heart okay?”

“I’ll need another check up in a year or so. Why?”

“It’s stuttering.”

“That’s nothing to worry about. It does that occasionally. Especially after strenuous activity.” He waved his hand in the air and twirled me in his arms. “We need to get dressed.”

“Okay.” I wanted to press him about the strenuous activity remark but I wasn’t going to.
We dressed together. Austin chose out my underwear saying that he would be envisioning me in it all night. I wore black skinny jeans with an Of Mice & Men t-shirt and Austin wore the same. I just thought he left his hair but he actually stood for almost ten minutes styling it.

We arrived at the venue and I heard people shouting my name. I hid closer to Austin because I was embarrassed. He ushered me near the stage and sat me on a seat before giving me a pair of earplugs.

“Trust me, angel.”

I was glad he’d given them to me. My ears were ringing with them still in. He started singing My Understandings and was looking directly at me. When the song was finished he sauntered over and grabbed my hand and tried to pull me on stage with him.

“No, Austin.”

“Yes, Taylor.” Austin laughed and pulled me hard so I tripped into his chest. He practically dragged me onto the stage and wrapped his arm around me before turning to the crowd.

“Do you know who this little lady is?” Austin asked the audience. I flushed crimson when the crowd screamed. I hid my face and he tilted my head up. “I love you.”

He said it into the microphone and there was a unanimous ‘aw’ in the crowd. A woman ran onto stage and I knew it was Gielle. She stormed towards us and slapped Austin around the face. He laughed and rubbed his cheek.

“That all you got? I bet my girl could kick you into next year.”

“That fat hussy? You’re lucky you got her to stop eating the cake long enough to stand next to you.” I winced and tried to pull away from Austin who just pulled me even closer and Alan stood next to me.

“She’s so much more than you ever were.” Austin kissed my temple and glared at her. “I don’t even know why you’re here.”

“To tell you that that slut isn’t worth it.”

“And you are?” Austin was almost shouting and I squeezed his hand. He looked at me and I smiled before standing on my tiptoes to kiss him. The crowd cheered again before the security guard came onto the stage.

“Wait.” I whispered to him before standing in front of her. She was a blonde bombshell I’d give her that.

“What do you want, cutter?”

I hid my arms quickly and sneered at her. A microphone was pressed into my hand by Austin and I held it to my chest.

“At least I wouldn’t cheat on my husband with his best friend. I understand that you saved his life because his insurance didn’t cover his medical bills and I’m thankful for that. Without that he wouldn’t be here today and I wouldn’t have had the will to stop.

“He’s helped me. I just wanted to say that yes I am a cutter and I have been since I was sixteen. If any young boys or girls out there are suffering themselves I just want you to do two things. Tell someone. Even if it is over the internet or your Mum. Just tell someone. Since Austin found out I’ve felt so much better. They may not understand at first but give them time and they will. I promise it to you.

“The second thing. Turn to your left and hug the person standing next to you. You may not know the person but do it. I’m trying to show you that if you feel alone, scared, not comfortable in your own skin or just hate yourself in general that you’re not alone.”

I watched as everyone in audience turned and hugged the person to my left. I turned and hugged Alan before turning to hug Austin. Gielle frowned before stomping off the stage with a flick of her fake hair. Austin squeezed me so tight I had to pull myself away slightly.

“That is why I love you so very much.” He turned to the crowd. “Don’t you love her?”

I smiled as everyone cheered for me. I hugged Austin close as he sung the opening to Second & Sebring. When he got to the last line he turned to look at me with tears streaming down his face and sung the lines to me. I felt like we were in our private world.

He dropped the microphone and kissed me on the stage. I kissed him back because I couldn’t not. The crowd went wild. I didn’t know what to do. Austin couldn’t stop kissing me. He pulled me closer and kissed me deeper.

“Guys!” Alan grabbed Austin by the hair and pulled him away from me. He sighed before resting his forehead against mine.

“Fancy meeting some people?” Austin asked.

“Sure.”

Notes

Title Cred - Young Guns

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