Alan's POV

"Alan!" My mum shouts from at the bottom of the stairs. "Me and your dad are heading out now. Cousin James should be here any minute, ok?"
I roll my eyes and continue to stare at the laptop screen in front of me, which illuminates my face in my, otherwise, dark room.
I hear the door knob turn and my door creak open. My mum bends down beside me and kisses me on top of my ginger curls.
"Please be good." She says, almost begging.
I avert my attention from my laptop to her face when I hear the desperation in her voice. Her eyes are filled with worry and I can't help but feel extremely guilty for what I put her through.
"I promise." I reply, giving her a half-hearted smile.
She smiles back, a little more sincerity in hers and then makes her way back out of my room and out of the house, my father following suit.

My mum is worried that I'm falling into a void of depression again because I hardly leave my room. That isn't necessarily the case; I just prefer my own company than others. I'm not one for socializing and I don't have many friends. In fact, I have one. His name is Aaron. We've been best friends ever since we started high school. He was new at the time and had just moved into town and so the teacher decided to sit him with the most socially-awkward, geeky, uninteresting person in the class. Me. I did have one other friend before Aaron. His name was Austin. My parents are and always have been best friends with his parents. Both our families often go out together or have dinner at each other's houses and that used to be fun when I was younger, back when me and Austin were friends. Then we moved to high school and everything changed. He is tall, funny and extremely attractive. All the girls wanted him and all the guys wanted to be him. Therefore, he fit into the popular group of kids. Where as I am small, pale and extremely unextraordinary. I fit into the 'eat your lunch in a toilet cubicle because no one's going to want you at their table' group of kids. I must admit, I often find myself still fixated with Austin. I always admired him as a child. He was my best friend but also my role model. Anything he did, I wanted to do to. But when I started high school I realized that maybe my obsession with him was more than just admiration and something a little deeper. I never found myself attracted to girls but then again, I never found myself attracted to guys either. I've only ever felt this for Austin. Of course, I have never told him this though. I couldn't. I wouldn't. Aaron is the only person that knows and I trust him to keep it a secret until I at least move to college and get away from Austin. Admittedly, the thought of leaving him pains me slightly, which is kind of silly really since we never communicate at school anyways. Most of the time he ignores me and pretends I don't exist; just like the other thousands of people in our school.

I am quickly brought out of my daydream by the sound of knocking at the door. I sigh and drag myself down the stairs, using all my effort to pull open the door.
"Yo cousin. How's it hangin'?" My cousin James asks as he pushes past me and walks into the house, a six can of beers in his hand.
"I'm good tha-" I begin before he interrupts.
"Awesome. Look, here's the deal. I have some party to go to tonight. You know, one of those 'miss out and it'll ruin your rep' parties so I'm not going to sit around and babysit your scrawny ass so you're going to have to come with me." He explains to me at what sounds like five hundred miles per hour.
"Erm, okay." I reply, feeling myself becoming extremely anxious.
"You are not to make a sound or talk to anyone, you got it? I'm not having you make me look like a fool."
I nod quickly and follow him out of the house, locking the door behind me and climbing into the passenger side of his car.

The journey to the party was quick and thankfully so as it was filled with an awkward silence between the two of us. We pulled into the driveway of a large, bricked house. Numerous cars were already parked and the sound of rap music could be heard, even from outside.
I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, making my way towards the house, behind James.
"Remember." He spits just as we reach the door. "Make a fool of me and you're dead."
I nod and pull the sleeves of my hoodie over my hands and bite my lip.
The house was overflowing with students; hundreds of them. Some of which I recognized and many of which I didn't. I quickly made my way to a corner and sat down, placing my headphones in my ears and zoning the rest of the world out.

I don't know how much time passed or how long I would have to continue to stay here for but soon there was only a select few people left in the house. Most of them were either couples dancing together in the lounge or groups of friends chatting in the kitchen. I decided I would get up and search for James since it was getting late and I knew it wouldn't be long until my parents were home.
Since he wasn't in the lounge, where I was sat, I made my way into the kitchen. It was extremely crowded and I struggled to make my way through the masses of people. However, eventually I found myself at the end of the room, face to face with no one else other than Austin. My stomach flipped and I began to feel my heart rate increase.
"Oh, hey Alan." He shouted over the music. "What are you doing here?"
"I-I-um-James-w-where is he?" I mentally slapped myself at stuttering and for not answering his question.
Austin replied with a deep chuckle, which made my insides melt, and I had to bite my lip to push back the blush that was escaping its way onto my cheeks.
"He's upstairs with some girl."
I groaned and turned to walk back to the lounge when I felt Austin's hand grab my arm and pull me back around to face him.
"Do you need a lift home or something?" He asks, his brown eyes staring directly into mine.
I open my mouth to answer but no words seem to come out so I close it again and repeat but nothing seems to work. I just stand there awkwardly gaping at the boy in front of me.
Austin raises his eyebrow waiting for my answer and I manage to choke out a quiet "Yes."
"Well, I've not drank anything tonight so I can give you a lift if you want. Your house is on the way back to mine anyways."
I nod and he smiles at me before pulling his car keys out of his back pocket and signalling for me to follow him.

It is ridiculous how nervous I get around him. I mean, for God's sake, it's Austin. I've known him all my life and yet still he manages to affect me this much. I was surprised by his generosity though, since usually he doesn't even acknowledge my existence. But despite that, the drive home was pleasant. We sat in silence, but not at all like the awkward silence me and James shared on the way here. This was an enjoyable silence where I was just thankful for his company. Austin hummed quietly and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel the whole way and I smiled at how I used to love listening to him sing when we were kids. I'd love to hear him sing again but I knew that wouldn't happen so I just savored his almost silent murmuring until we arrived at my house.
"Here we go." He said, looking over to me and smiling again, his bright eyes glistening. Austin's smile was not a rare thing, in fact it would be unusual if he was not smiling but still it never ceased to make me smile back.
"T-Thanks." I whispered and began to climb out of the car.
"Alan?" He spoke just as I was about to close the car door. "I enjoyed this. We should hang out again sometime."
I stared back at him in awe wondering if what he just said was a figment of my imagination or not. I cleared my throat and scratched the back of my neck out of nervous habit.
He chuckled and stared back at me, a confused expression laid on his face.
"Why are you always so nervous?" He asked, never letting his gaze let go of me.
I shrugged and felt my cheeks heat up under his stare.
"I'll see you around, Austin." I said, almost inaudibly, letting his name slide off of my tongue. I had never spoken his name to anyone but Aaron and the last time I spoke to Austin himself must have been at least four years ago. Although his sudden interest in me confused me, it also excited me. I had truly missed him and maybe this was the first step to getting my old friend back. And as much as I hated my cousin James, I couldn't help but silently thank him for dragging me to the party, otherwise these few precious minutes with Austin may never have happened. Even if we never actually do 'hang out again', I was still grateful for this short time together.
"Bye Alan." He whispered as I finally closed the door.

Notes

This is chapter 1 of a new fanfiction me and my best friend have been planning on writing for a long while now. We hope you like it.
Feedback would be hugely appreciated.

-Georgia & Isabelle xx