This Rebellion Has It's Cause

As much as I didn’t want to go through with meeting up with Darby I again had no choice in the matter. I used map quest to find the address and it wasn’t that far from my apartment building. I spot her standing next to a black mustang and when she saw me too, she smirked. I parked my car beside hers and stepped out as I gave her a look that said I was not amused.

“What do you want from me?” I snapped.

“Now Tristan, be nice I don’t mean you any harm. I just want to ask something of you, nothing to large or difficult.”

“Like what?”

“Is the guy you were with Austin Carlile?” She asked with a grin.

“Yea?” I replied wondering why she would even ask.

“I can’t believe you two are still friends! But that’s not why I’m asking, I want you to hook me up with him.”

My jaw almost dropped to the ground, “You want me to what?”

“Introduce us, just through a party or something and I’ll just show up. If I were you I would do it unless you want Max to find out you two gave him his little kitty treat.” Darby threatened.

“He’s going to know it was us anyway.” I mutter rolling my eyes; did she really think I was that stupid?

“Not necessarily, I could say I saw two kids do it and I ran them off after it was too late to stop them. Let me help Tristan, I just need that one favor on your part, please?”

“Fine, I’ll do it.” I grumbled letting a sour look take over my face.

“Well Tristan, get to planning that party and text me when to be there.” She handed me a slip of paper with her number and she added, “You better do it unless you want Max to find out and take you both to court. You don’t want something like this on Austin’s reputation do you?”

“No, never.”

“Bye.” She called while getting into her car.

Now how the hell am I going to deal with this mess?

***

So I went about organizing a party on the beach not too far from my home, just like Darby had asked, but I had a secret weapon that would make it impossible for her to get to Austin, my brother. All I had to do was get Alan to come and see Darby, then he’ll flip his shit and make her leave; problem solved.

I dialed up Alan around the time he usually wakes up and instead of Alan picking up his girlfriend Maddie answered, “Hello?”

“Hey Maddie, its Tristan is Alan awake yet?” I greeted her sweetly, this girlfriend of his I actually liked.

“No sadly he’s still passed out in bed.” She tells me.

“Okay well either way I was wondering if you two would like to go to the party I’m throwing next Friday?”

She hesitated and spoke again, “Actually Tristy we won’t be in town then, Alan is planning on taking me on a trip for my birthday. He thinks he’s sneaky doesn’t he?”

I laughed, “Yea he always has thought that and he never will be.”

“You’ve got that right, well I have to jump off and head to work, it was nice talking to you Tristan!”

“Nice talking to you too Maddie, goodbye.”

“Bye.”

I threw my phone down on the table and groaned deeply, what am I going to do now? My plan just got thrown out the window and into direct traffic to face an untimely death. So now I can only rely on the thought that Austin isn’t into trashy girls and hope that Darby wouldn’t try to act proper around him. I begrudgingly text Darby about the details of the party before doing the same with a bunch of other people, maybe just maybe I can turn this party into a good thing for me and have some fun.

I hoped in my car a few minutes later to pick things up for the party, with slightly high hopes that the coming night will go my way. I was planning to make it a clam bake because who doesn’t love those?

***

I listened to the sound of the waves crashing as I lit the oil torches and Kasey turned on the stereo trying to find something good. After I was done lighting up the area the party was ready to go and all that was missing was the people.

“Tonight’s the night!” Kasey sang hopping around.

“What are you talking about?”

“Tristy look around the moon is full, the air feels wonderful, and the night is beautiful. It’s so romantic out here; it’s the perfect time for you to make a move on Austin because from all that you’ve told me he still wants you.”

I rolled my eyes and just nodded, if she had any idea what might happen tonight she would throw a shit fit. Suddenly there was a sound of multiple cars and voices up above the sand dunes and then I saw Austin at the top of stairs with a wide grin.

“You wanted a party, I brought you a party!” He shouted jogging down the stairs to where Kasey and I were.

He quickly grabbed me and pulled me into a hug, my face got pressed into his chest and I had to resist the urge to inhale his sweet smell because he would surely feel it. When he let me go there was a large amount of people around us and just like that the party began.

“So what made you want to have a party?” Austin asked as he took my hand and led me to the shore line.

I shrugged staring out at the water because I knew if I looked at him I would tell him the truth, but I had to say something; so I replied, “I just need something to cheer me up and this is what I thought of.”

“I could’ve done that.” He says with a smile.

‘Yea, but you know just the right way to bum me out too.’ I think to myself, but on the outside I chuckle and nod.

“So about the other night, when we messed with the camera at Max’s place I just wanted to tell you that kiss was…”

Suddenly he is interrupted by a loud voice yelling my name, “Tristy! I have seen you in such a long time!”

Darby ran up to me, giving me a tight hug and knocking my hand out of Austin’s as she whispered in my ear, “Good job girl, you did even better than I imagined.”

“It’s good to see you too Darby!” I cheered, wanting to vomit as I did it.

She gave me a look that said leave and I began to feel knots in my stomach at the thought of leaving Austin alone with her.

“Alright, I have to go make sure Kasey is getting the drinks ready. I’ll be right back, Austin, will you keep Darby company?” I lied and began walking away, not giving him a chance to say no.

I actually went to do what I said I was going to do and had Kasey get on me for not being with Austin, so I made my way back to where I had left Austin and Darby. I stayed up by the dunes since it was almost pitch black there and they wouldn’t see me that way. Suddenly Darby leaned against Austin’s chest, placing a hand on his shoulder and I felt my mouth get dry from fear of what would happen next, but to my surprise and delight he gently pushed her away from him.

After a few minutes Darby walks away and I get a text that says, ‘So Austin is a prude and I guess fair is fair. I’ll cover for you with Max, you may not like me but I know how to keep a bargain.’

‘Thank you.’ Was all I wrote back.

I put my phone back in the tiny pocket of my dress and made my way to Austin, faking a confused expression, “Where’d she go?”

“She left because she got pissed off that I wasn’t immediately attracted to her, where did you find a friend like that?” He asked with a look of disbelief.

I shrugged, “I guess she couldn’t resist.”

Austin shuddered slightly and I couldn’t help but laugh and then I said, “Come on lets go enjoy the party.”

On the way back I saw that almost everyone was dancing or having a drink. I began to head for the pot of fish and other foods to eat, but I was stopped short from being grabbed by the waist. I quickly turned twisted around to see Austin grinning at me and I raised an eyebrow at him.

“Aren’t you gonna dance?” He asks.

“Maybe later.”

“You mean probably not.”

“I don’t like dancing by myself.” I explain with a shrug.

“No one said you were going to be.” He tells me as a new song starts up.

We began dancing around to the beat of Breathe Carolina’s song Riot. It was awkward for me at first, but I eventually I relaxed and started to have fun. Austin surprises me when he puts his hands on my hips, pulling me closer to as the music picked up tempo and shockingly I really didn’t mind it. I had to admit for a fake party I did really well and everyone seems to be having a good time; including me. Out of nowhere a slow song starts and I began to walk off the dance floor, assuming that Austin isn’t going to want to slow dance with me, but yet again he pulls me back to him. I make sure this time that he can’t get me closer to him by pressing my hands to his shoulders as he wrapped his arms around my waist. Half way through the song he manages to somehow pull me closer to him and he just smiles at me as I roll my eyes.

“Tristan can we talk?” Max’s voice interrupts my blissful moment, what is he even doing here?

“She will when this song is over.” Austin replied for me, turning me slightly away from Max.

For some reason I felt a bit guilty and I guess Austin could tell because I was distracted and he pulled me against his chest and laced his fingers together on the small of my back. I started to relax again, feeling safe in some way as I moved my hands from his shoulders to around his neck. Another slow song came on and Austin made no move to let me go and I honestly had no desire to talk to Max or even let go of Austin. I laid my head on his chest, listening to him breathing as I felt my heart slowly except that after all these years I still felt the same, I still wanted him as much as ever, but this had a more deep emotion and that part scared me. Do I love him now?

Notes