The next morning it took the doctors an hour to finally release Austin. It seemed as if they wanted to do a million little tests on him just to make sure he was well enough to be able to leave. All I wanted to do was get him home and make sure that no one else could hurt him. Of course I knew Max and Darby were still out there somewhere and he had told me that this wasn't over. I wish I knew a way to keep Austin out of all of this, but he seemed to be insistent now that I not leave his sight. Stranger still was that on the ride to his place he kept playing with my hair and when I asked what he was doing, his answer was surprising.

"I'm just wondering what your hair would look like the morning after I have my way with you." He murmured and then dropped his hand in his lap with a distant smile.

I gave a hard swallow, trying not to physically show the effect his statement had on me. When we arrived at his home he gave me a sweet pleading expression before saying, "Stay with me, please."

I smiled softly and unbuckled my seatbelt, to which Austin gave a delighted cheer that caused me to giggle. Once inside we were ambushed by the herd of Austin's pets begging for attention. They settled down after lots of ear scratching and baby talk from the both of us. After that I quickly made Austin take a seat on the couch because I didn't think it would be a very good idea to have him moving around so much with his injury. I kicked off my shoes and then hurried over to the couch taking a seat on the right side of Austin, the side that didn't have a stab wound. I felt a sense of guilt rush over me, it was my fault that he was involved. I scooted myself under his arm and in return he wrapped it around my shoulder, pulling me closer to him as he flipped the channels on the TV.

"Why me Austin?" I question so softly that I was almost sure that he hadn't heard me.

He turned slightly so he could look at me, "What is it Tristy?"

I sighed, "I don't know, just think about it Austin. Out of all these girls you could have been with, why did you want me? I mean at first I didn't want to admit that I wanted you, then my brother tried to stop this from happening, and then my ex boyfriend has been making your life a living hell. So what's so great about me that makes you want to stay?"

"Tristan I would be lying to you if I said that dealing with you for so many years hasn't been hard, especially recently. At the same time having known you this long has let me see a lot of you as a person. I think that its the fact you've always been so open and honest with me was what made me fall for you. Like I told you in the hospital, you're worth all the trouble. You know exactly what I've been through and yet you've always managed to like me despite those things. It almost seems like you know me better than I know myself."

All I could think to do after that was kiss him, hard. I did just that until the stubble on his face began to tickle me and I had to let go of him to have a fit of giggles.

"What?" He asked laughing himself, "Oh is it this?"

With that he starts rubbing his chin against my neck making me laugh more and pull away from him. He grinned playfully as he pulled me back to him for a chaste peck. I leaned back from him to give him my own grin with a glint in my eyes.

Austin then groaned which went straight to my stomach before he said, "God don't look at me like that. It's giving me the worst ideas right now."

Out of nowhere there was a soft growling and I chuckled, "Does it involve eating? Because it sounds like that's what your stomach wants."

"Oh I could eat something, but I don't think it's what you have in mind." He murmured with a smirk.

My eyes widened considerably to the size of half dollars or at least it felt that way. All I could do was shake my head and laugh it off, "Whatever Carlile."

"Mm, say that again."

I raised an eyebrow, "Whatever?"

"No my name." He corrected with a mischievous look.

I shoved his shoulder gently, "Shut up."

He chuckled to himself before saying, "Yea I actually am starving I couldn't stand the idea of hospital food, so it's been a bit since I've eaten."

"Well what would you like to have then?"

"I would love to have some Chinese food." He murmured, seeming to be talking more to himself.

"Alright then, I'll be right back." I tell him patting his knee as I got up.

"What? No, there's no way I'm letting you go out by yourself." He states quickly in a worried tone as he grabbed my hand to stop me.

I rolled my eyes for a second then got an idea, "I'll just call Kasey and ask her to come with me. Will that work better?"

He slowly dropped my hand and nodded a bit. I smiled at him before leaning down to give him a small kiss. I quickly got ahold of Kasey and of course she practically drowned me in questions on whether Austin and I were alright. After that she began ranting at me about how I didn't tell her about what happened and how worried she had been when Phil had told her the news. When I finally got her to calm down enough where I could ask her my question all was right in the world for her after that.

"Sure I'll be right over to get you." She tells me with a brighter voice.

It takes her no time to pull into Austin's driveway, music blaring like usual. Yet again Austin surprises me, but not the same way he had earlier. When Kasey rang the doorbell he came along when I went to answer it. I had assumed it was to lock the door behind me or to say hello to Kasey, but after I told him I'd see him shortly he gave me a kiss goodbye. Kasey looked like she was about to explode from either happiness or disbelief.

"You can breathe now." I say to her with a laugh.

She let out a loud, girly squeak, "Are you guys dating?"

Austin laughed at her reaction before asking, "I guess you've been wanting this to happen for awhile now, huh?"

"Since our freaking senior year!" She cried with glee.

"Yea Kasey, we're together." I chuckle nodding.

"Since when?"

"Yesterday." We both reply.

"Why do you keep not telling me things?" She demanded, shaking me a bit.

I chuckled, "I wanted to surprise you."

"Yea, well you definitely did that."

After that Kasey and I finally headed out to get some food. Once we were away from Austin's she cracked the weirdest smile on her face.

I finally got tired of it and asked, "Okay what is it?"

She shrugged before saying, "You're about to have a great evening."

"How so?"

"I just have a feeling that Austin had a few plans for you when you guys are alone again."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, maybe he's plotting to finish what Alan had interrupted not to long ago."

I gasped loudly and whipped my head in her direction, "No! There is no way that can happen right now, he's hurt!"

"Tristy calm down. I'm not saying you guys are going to full on have sex tonight. I just think Austin is gonna have a little fun with you is all I'm saying. I mean did you even notice the way he was looking at you?"

I shook my head quickly.

She rolled her eyes, but kept that grin on her face, "He looked at you like I wasn't even there. Tristan I think he might love you now."

I felt my face flush at her remark as I replied, "It's too soon for that."

"Oh really? It's not like you two don't know each other. You both have been good friends for years."

"Well how am I supposed to know for sure?"

"Okay after he does whatever he has up that tatted sleeve of his and he's ready to go to sleep, if he kisses you anywhere other than your mouth and then pulls you against his chest that is a damn good sign. It doesn't a hundred percent mean love, but it could mean that you matter a lot more to him than most people."

I nodded slowly and murmured, "I'll keep an eye out I guess, but I don't think anything big is going to happen."

She gave me a disbelieving looking muttering, "Okay."

By the time we got back to Austin's it was dark out and I figured by now he had probably fell asleep, so I made sure to be quiet when I told Kasey goodbye before unlocking the door and was swarmed by animals begging for attention once again. Once they had calmed down I locked the door back and headed for the kitchen, sitting down the yummy smelling food. On my way to the living room I heard the soft hum of a laptop and what I found made my jaw drop.

Oh Austin hadn't been asleep, he had clearly been awake for awhile.

His gaze was fixated on the computer screen as he softly bites his lip as he fondled himself through his loose basketball shorts, it was plain to see that whatever he was seeing was getting him off. I couldn't help the small gasp that escaped my lips and he jumped slightly at the sound, he obviously hadn't heard me come in. He looked like a deer in the headlights. I rushed over to where he sat, a feeling of jealousy and rage coursing through out my body and saw a glimpse of a dark headed tan girl in a orange bikini on the screen.

I snatched it from his hands as he begged, "Tristan, don't..."

It was me.

Notes