No Really, I'm Fine
She's just a beautiful girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Ava squealed as Austin wrapped his arms around her waist and spun her around.
The sound of waves crashing on the shore drowned out Ava's screams and giggles as Austin tickled her ribs. He didn't stop until she was lying on the hard sand and out of breath; Austin started laughing hard as he observed her red cheeks and he had to cover his own face with his hands as he started to snort. The sound of Austin snorting like a little pig only made Ava laugh harder and she gripped her ribs when they started to hurt from laughing so much.
"Oh God," Ava giggled and sat up, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand as she finally calmed down. It had been two weeks since Ava had to tell Austin that she couldn't stay with him and she hadn't seen him since then. To say that she had missed her friend was definitely an understatement; Ava had longed to hear his gruff voice and just to look into those warm brown eyes.
Austin grinned at her as he sat down in the sand next to the tiny woman; he had definitely missed her as well. He missed having the company of a woman and someone who cared deeply for him.
He eyed the dark bruises on her wrist, but decided not to say anything about it; Austin didn't want to ruin the happy moment and bring up the topic of her abusive fiancee. Instead, Austin watched as she stretched her arms, revealing the colourful ink on her ribs as the hem of her shirt slid up her torso. He tried to catch a glimpse of what it was, but she quickly dropped her arms and pulled her shirt down before he could make out what it was.
"You still haven't shown me that tattoo," Austin poked her ribs lightly, just in case they were still tender.
She blushed, "It's a bit messed up because of some scars."
Austin shrugged, signaling that he didn't mind.
She hesitantly lifted her shirt up and stopped just below her breasts; Austin's jaw dropped as he observed the detailed tattoo. It was a feminine looking skull surrounded by an assortment of flowers, mostly red roses and bright yellow sunflowers. The colours seemed even brighter on her pale skin and Austin admired the detailing and amazing artwork.
"Reality is inside the skull," Austin read the cursive script that was wrapped around one of the many roses.
"It's from my favourite book, 1984," She smiled bashfully.
"I've never read it," Austin admitted sheepishly, "But you're tattoo is fucking awesome."
Her cheeks turned almost as bright as the red roses on her ribcage, "Thank you, I want more but..."
"He won't let you," Austin finished for her quietly. She nodded and pulled her shirt back down, concealing the beautiful tattoo. Austin frowned when he thought of her piece of shit fiancée, he had honestly contemplated marching on over to her house and giving him a taste of his own medicine.
He figured Ava wouldn't appreciate that though.
"Zack doesn't want me to get any tattoos that can actually be seen when I'm wearing clothes, he says they look tacky."
"What?! Tattoos are not tacky," Austin scoffed, "I'll take you to my guy one day and we can get you another one."
Her eyes seemed to light up, "I can take you to the guy who did mine too."
Austin grinned at her happy tone, "Sounds like a plan, I think I'm going to get a tattoo of your beautiful face tattooed on my left ass cheek."
Ava giggled, "I'll get your face tattooed on the bottom of my foot then."
"Dude!" Austin shouted, "Do you know how fucking awesome that would be?"
"Do you know how much that would hurt?"
"It would be so fucking worth it though!"
Ava smiled and lied down in the sand, knowing she would get sand in her hair, but she didn't really care. Austin copied her actions and lied down next to her; they stared up at the dark grey clouds in the distance and they both knew a storm was coming. Neither one of them said a word, but the smiles on both of their faces summed up how they were currently feeling. Austin reached over and grabbed Ava's hand in his; she turned her head to the side and caught his affectionate stare. His eyes shifted as he observed every small detail about her; the tiny opalescent scar below her left eye, the green and gold specks scattered across her grey irises, how her little nostrils flared ever so slightly whenever she smiled, and especially how she just radiated beauty.
Austin's lips parted as he continued to observe her.
He wanted to kiss her.
Ava felt something wet on her forehead and sure enough, little droplets of water started to pour from the sky. They both quickly stood up and Austin wrapped his hand around hers, letting him lead the way. She squealed as the rain started to come down harder and kept her hand in Austin's as they both rushed back to his house; he squeezed her hand tightly when a roar of thunder made her jump and yelp. Austin held her close when they finally made it back to the wooden deck that was considered Austin's backyard.
They took one glance at each other before bursting into a fit of giggles; Austin covered his face with his large hands as he laughed.
"That would happen to us," Ava giggled and buried her face against his warm chest, he was wearing one of his cut off t-shirts with a flannel thrown on top of it. Austin wrapped his arms around her shoulders and she immediately wrapped hers around his midsection, suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of sadness.
She wished every day could be like this.
"Can you stay the night?" Austin asked hopefully. She knew Zack would be pissed off if Ava didn't come back home tonight, but she would take a beating just to spend more time with Austin.
"Of course," She answered, following Austin into his warm house.
He gave her that infamous smile and she nearly swooned.
****
"Come back so I can say thank you for this,
Home cooked meals and a place to rest,
My troubled head when you're away,"
Ava stared up at the white ceiling as Austin's voice filled her right ear; she felt her eyes burn with tears but she managed to control them. Austin and Ava both lied on their backs in his bed, one ear bud in each ear while they listened to his iPod on shuffle. Zack had always hated this type of music, he said it sounded like someone was being murdered and would always tell her to turn it off. Ava admired anyone who could scream the way Austin did though, she couldn't even begin to imagine how much talent that requires.
Ava frowned as she continued to think about Zack.
"He says he loves me," Ava whispered, "But why would he hit me if he loves me?"
Austin moved his head to the side and gazed at the sad girl who continued to stare at the ceiling, "He wouldn't, Ava. You don't physically abuse the people you love."
"You don't think he loves me?"
Austin paused and thought about his answer carefully, "No, I don't think he does."
He continued to stare at her, noticing the lone tear that slid down her cheek. Austin felt bad for saying what he just did, but he knew it was the truth. You don't show someone your love for them by leaving bruises and cuts on their body; Austin knew for fact that Zack didn't love Ava. Zack couldn't give a shit if he hit her too hard or if he made her cry for absolutely no reason, he was a heartless human being who got off on injuring a vulnerable woman.
"But..." Her voice is shaky and Austin knew she was about to cry.
"What's wrong?" He asked softly and held her hand tightly.
"He told me that no one will ever love me the way he does," Tears started to pour from her eyes relentlessly, "What if I leave him and I never find someone who loves me? What if I end up all alone and he was right the entire time?"
Austin's heart constricted within his chest; how could she even think that?
"That's never going to happen Ava."
"How do you know?" She inquired, "I'm not the type of girl guys fall in love with."
'I fell in love with you.'
"That's not true," Austin argued, frowning at her sudden outburst. He hated it when she talked so horribly about herself.
"It's true," She huffed, "Guys like women who have good personalities and I do not have a good personality."
"I think you have a great personality. You're funny and smart and beautiful; you're so beautiful Ava. Everything about you is beautiful and you're such a fucking amazing person, so kindhearted and affectionate towards everyone you meet. You're such a good human being and I know for fact you aren't going to end up alone and unloved and I will make sure of it."
"You mean it?" She sniffled.
"Of course I mean it," He promised.
Ava wiped her eyes as Austin spoke so kindly to her, she was so grateful to have such an amazing friend. Austin reached over and kissed her cheek firmly, as if reassuring her that she's not alone.
Ava rolled over onto her side and Austin mimicked her actions; they both just stared at each other for a few moments. Tears continued to pour from her eyes, but Austin knew she just needed to cry it all out because sometimes that makes everything better.
"You know I got arrested back in April?" Austin murmured, surprising Ava, "I was at a club and this guy starting talking shit about a fan who had recently passed away, she was just a little girl who had cancer."
"You beat him up?"
Austin nodded, "I'm not an angry person Ava, I don't get mad unless someone hurts the people I care about. I would never hurt you and I just want you to know that; I don't want you to be scared of me when you start finding out about me more."
"I could never be scared of you," She spoke softly, "And what happened in the past doesn't make you any less of a person, you saved my life and I'm sure you saved hundreds more."
"That doesn't mean that I don't make mistakes though."
"Everyone does, Austin. Nobody can be perfect, not even you."
"I don't know," He murmured, "You seem pretty perfect to me."
"I'm far from it," She said in a low whisper.
"That's what makes you perfect to me."
Ava reached out and cupped his stubbly cheek in her palm, his eyes closed and she smiled as he tried to burrow the side of his face into her hand. She suddenly wished she had met Austin long before her and Zack had even known one another, she wanted someone who cared for her and would never hurt her. Ava pursed her lips as Austin opened his eyes and stared into her own, her vision became blurry as she thought about having to leave him again in the morning just to go back to a man who would relentlessly beat her until she could no longer stand up on both legs.
Ava wished she could just stay with Austin forever.
The sound of waves crashing on the shore drowned out Ava's screams and giggles as Austin tickled her ribs. He didn't stop until she was lying on the hard sand and out of breath; Austin started laughing hard as he observed her red cheeks and he had to cover his own face with his hands as he started to snort. The sound of Austin snorting like a little pig only made Ava laugh harder and she gripped her ribs when they started to hurt from laughing so much.
"Oh God," Ava giggled and sat up, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand as she finally calmed down. It had been two weeks since Ava had to tell Austin that she couldn't stay with him and she hadn't seen him since then. To say that she had missed her friend was definitely an understatement; Ava had longed to hear his gruff voice and just to look into those warm brown eyes.
Austin grinned at her as he sat down in the sand next to the tiny woman; he had definitely missed her as well. He missed having the company of a woman and someone who cared deeply for him.
He eyed the dark bruises on her wrist, but decided not to say anything about it; Austin didn't want to ruin the happy moment and bring up the topic of her abusive fiancee. Instead, Austin watched as she stretched her arms, revealing the colourful ink on her ribs as the hem of her shirt slid up her torso. He tried to catch a glimpse of what it was, but she quickly dropped her arms and pulled her shirt down before he could make out what it was.
"You still haven't shown me that tattoo," Austin poked her ribs lightly, just in case they were still tender.
She blushed, "It's a bit messed up because of some scars."
Austin shrugged, signaling that he didn't mind.
She hesitantly lifted her shirt up and stopped just below her breasts; Austin's jaw dropped as he observed the detailed tattoo. It was a feminine looking skull surrounded by an assortment of flowers, mostly red roses and bright yellow sunflowers. The colours seemed even brighter on her pale skin and Austin admired the detailing and amazing artwork.
"Reality is inside the skull," Austin read the cursive script that was wrapped around one of the many roses.
"It's from my favourite book, 1984," She smiled bashfully.
"I've never read it," Austin admitted sheepishly, "But you're tattoo is fucking awesome."
Her cheeks turned almost as bright as the red roses on her ribcage, "Thank you, I want more but..."
"He won't let you," Austin finished for her quietly. She nodded and pulled her shirt back down, concealing the beautiful tattoo. Austin frowned when he thought of her piece of shit fiancée, he had honestly contemplated marching on over to her house and giving him a taste of his own medicine.
He figured Ava wouldn't appreciate that though.
"Zack doesn't want me to get any tattoos that can actually be seen when I'm wearing clothes, he says they look tacky."
"What?! Tattoos are not tacky," Austin scoffed, "I'll take you to my guy one day and we can get you another one."
Her eyes seemed to light up, "I can take you to the guy who did mine too."
Austin grinned at her happy tone, "Sounds like a plan, I think I'm going to get a tattoo of your beautiful face tattooed on my left ass cheek."
Ava giggled, "I'll get your face tattooed on the bottom of my foot then."
"Dude!" Austin shouted, "Do you know how fucking awesome that would be?"
"Do you know how much that would hurt?"
"It would be so fucking worth it though!"
Ava smiled and lied down in the sand, knowing she would get sand in her hair, but she didn't really care. Austin copied her actions and lied down next to her; they stared up at the dark grey clouds in the distance and they both knew a storm was coming. Neither one of them said a word, but the smiles on both of their faces summed up how they were currently feeling. Austin reached over and grabbed Ava's hand in his; she turned her head to the side and caught his affectionate stare. His eyes shifted as he observed every small detail about her; the tiny opalescent scar below her left eye, the green and gold specks scattered across her grey irises, how her little nostrils flared ever so slightly whenever she smiled, and especially how she just radiated beauty.
Austin's lips parted as he continued to observe her.
He wanted to kiss her.
Ava felt something wet on her forehead and sure enough, little droplets of water started to pour from the sky. They both quickly stood up and Austin wrapped his hand around hers, letting him lead the way. She squealed as the rain started to come down harder and kept her hand in Austin's as they both rushed back to his house; he squeezed her hand tightly when a roar of thunder made her jump and yelp. Austin held her close when they finally made it back to the wooden deck that was considered Austin's backyard.
They took one glance at each other before bursting into a fit of giggles; Austin covered his face with his large hands as he laughed.
"That would happen to us," Ava giggled and buried her face against his warm chest, he was wearing one of his cut off t-shirts with a flannel thrown on top of it. Austin wrapped his arms around her shoulders and she immediately wrapped hers around his midsection, suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of sadness.
She wished every day could be like this.
"Can you stay the night?" Austin asked hopefully. She knew Zack would be pissed off if Ava didn't come back home tonight, but she would take a beating just to spend more time with Austin.
"Of course," She answered, following Austin into his warm house.
He gave her that infamous smile and she nearly swooned.
****
"Come back so I can say thank you for this,
Home cooked meals and a place to rest,
My troubled head when you're away,"
Ava stared up at the white ceiling as Austin's voice filled her right ear; she felt her eyes burn with tears but she managed to control them. Austin and Ava both lied on their backs in his bed, one ear bud in each ear while they listened to his iPod on shuffle. Zack had always hated this type of music, he said it sounded like someone was being murdered and would always tell her to turn it off. Ava admired anyone who could scream the way Austin did though, she couldn't even begin to imagine how much talent that requires.
Ava frowned as she continued to think about Zack.
"He says he loves me," Ava whispered, "But why would he hit me if he loves me?"
Austin moved his head to the side and gazed at the sad girl who continued to stare at the ceiling, "He wouldn't, Ava. You don't physically abuse the people you love."
"You don't think he loves me?"
Austin paused and thought about his answer carefully, "No, I don't think he does."
He continued to stare at her, noticing the lone tear that slid down her cheek. Austin felt bad for saying what he just did, but he knew it was the truth. You don't show someone your love for them by leaving bruises and cuts on their body; Austin knew for fact that Zack didn't love Ava. Zack couldn't give a shit if he hit her too hard or if he made her cry for absolutely no reason, he was a heartless human being who got off on injuring a vulnerable woman.
"But..." Her voice is shaky and Austin knew she was about to cry.
"What's wrong?" He asked softly and held her hand tightly.
"He told me that no one will ever love me the way he does," Tears started to pour from her eyes relentlessly, "What if I leave him and I never find someone who loves me? What if I end up all alone and he was right the entire time?"
Austin's heart constricted within his chest; how could she even think that?
"That's never going to happen Ava."
"How do you know?" She inquired, "I'm not the type of girl guys fall in love with."
'I fell in love with you.'
"That's not true," Austin argued, frowning at her sudden outburst. He hated it when she talked so horribly about herself.
"It's true," She huffed, "Guys like women who have good personalities and I do not have a good personality."
"I think you have a great personality. You're funny and smart and beautiful; you're so beautiful Ava. Everything about you is beautiful and you're such a fucking amazing person, so kindhearted and affectionate towards everyone you meet. You're such a good human being and I know for fact you aren't going to end up alone and unloved and I will make sure of it."
"You mean it?" She sniffled.
"Of course I mean it," He promised.
Ava wiped her eyes as Austin spoke so kindly to her, she was so grateful to have such an amazing friend. Austin reached over and kissed her cheek firmly, as if reassuring her that she's not alone.
Ava rolled over onto her side and Austin mimicked her actions; they both just stared at each other for a few moments. Tears continued to pour from her eyes, but Austin knew she just needed to cry it all out because sometimes that makes everything better.
"You know I got arrested back in April?" Austin murmured, surprising Ava, "I was at a club and this guy starting talking shit about a fan who had recently passed away, she was just a little girl who had cancer."
"You beat him up?"
Austin nodded, "I'm not an angry person Ava, I don't get mad unless someone hurts the people I care about. I would never hurt you and I just want you to know that; I don't want you to be scared of me when you start finding out about me more."
"I could never be scared of you," She spoke softly, "And what happened in the past doesn't make you any less of a person, you saved my life and I'm sure you saved hundreds more."
"That doesn't mean that I don't make mistakes though."
"Everyone does, Austin. Nobody can be perfect, not even you."
"I don't know," He murmured, "You seem pretty perfect to me."
"I'm far from it," She said in a low whisper.
"That's what makes you perfect to me."
Ava reached out and cupped his stubbly cheek in her palm, his eyes closed and she smiled as he tried to burrow the side of his face into her hand. She suddenly wished she had met Austin long before her and Zack had even known one another, she wanted someone who cared for her and would never hurt her. Ava pursed her lips as Austin opened his eyes and stared into her own, her vision became blurry as she thought about having to leave him again in the morning just to go back to a man who would relentlessly beat her until she could no longer stand up on both legs.
Ava wished she could just stay with Austin forever.
Update please!
9/27/14