Looks Can Be Deceiving

Pandora’s POV-
I drove down the road as tears spilled down my cheeks. My father’s eyes burned into me as I turned to look at Tino. His arms constricted around me as my fathers did when I was younger. Alan’s slurred words repeated in my head, making my heart beat out of control.
“God damn it!” I screamed. I pulled over and banged on the steering wheel before laying my head on it. I shut the car off and sat in the silence. “Don’t start, Pan,” I whispered, trying desperately to prevent the voices from shouting at me. “Please don’t bother me,” I cried. “I just want to be left alone…” I jumped as my phone vibrated. I looked down to see Austin’s name pop up. I ignored the call and watched all the cars pass me on the highway. “He’s going to get you, Pandora.” The little voice inside my head whispered, laughing as she did so. “No he’s not, you’re lying to me!” I screamed. “Don’t lie to me!” My phone vibrated a few more times. “Leave me alone! I don’t want to talk to you!” I grabbed my phone and threw it against the dashboard as the screen shut off. I unbuckled myself and pulled my knees up to my chest, running my hand through my hair. “Austin thinks you’re such a freak,” I whispered. “He really does.” I jumped when a knock came at my window. I looked up to Austin who was standing next to my car. I opened the door as he pulled me into his arms.
“I’m so sorry I ran out Austin-”
“It’s okay, Pandora, really I understand.”
“No,” I shook my head, burying it deeper in his chest as he held me closer. “You don’t.”
“But I do,” he pulled away and wiped away my tears with his thumbs. “Hannah and Oli told me everything,” he whispered, kissing my forehead. I put my hands on his shoulders and pushed him away.
“What? What did they tell you?”
“About your dad,” he gave a small smile, trying to make me feel better. Tears flooded my eyes.
“Are you kidding me!” I slammed my fist against the steering wheel and rest my elbows on my knees, putting my head in my hands.
“What? What’s wrong?” Austin put his hands on my knees and shook them.
“They really told you everything?” I looked up to him, crying.
“Well, just about your dad… It’s okay, I understand. You don’t have to be scared. I’m here for you, and I’m not going to let anyone hurt you again. I promise.”
“No!” I screamed, making Austin jump a little. “That’s exactly what I didn’t want.”
“You didn’t want me to understand?” he asked confused.
“No,” I shook my head, wiping the tears from beneath my eyes.
“So tell me what you do want. Whatever you want, I’ll give you,” he whispered, pulling me back into his chest.
“I don’t want you to promise me, Austin, because every time…” I squeezed my eyes shut. He rubbed my back, waiting for me to finish. “He always promised me that he’d never hurt me again,” I clenched my teeth. “And he’d always go back and do it again.”
“But I’m not your dad, Pandora. Look at me,” he tilted my chin up. “I’m Austin,” he stepped back so I could look at him. “I’m an awkwardly tall and skinny guy who has fallen hard for you, Pandora. I want to be here for you and make you feel like no one will ever hurt you again, because no one ever will. I’m not promising you just so I can break it. I’m promising you because I will never ever in my life lay a hand on you. There are men like your father and men like me… I’m not him.” By the end of his speech I was all choked up again, not able to control my emotions at this point. He took my hand and squeezed it. “Please say you believe me… you know I’m different. And I’m not just some guy who wants to make you feel good and tell you you’re pretty just so I can take you back my place and hook up with you. If that’s what my intentions were, I would have honestly given up by now. You’re a tough person to get to know, but I’ve stayed here the whole time because I want to know you.”
“Austin, that’s really sweet of you,” I shook my head, “But this whole commitment thing… I don’t think I can do it. I don’t like it.”
“Is it because you’re afraid of getting hurt?” he said softly.
“I know you said you’d never hurt me, but yes, I don’t like getting attached to people. I move around and things get too complicated. You really don’t understand.”
“Why do you have to move?”
“After a while… I just like to get out.”
“But I’m here. Does that make it worth staying to you?”
“Austin, really I’d love to say yes… I just stay around for too long and I end up hurting whoever is around me. You really don’t want to get involved in my life.”
“Tell me why. There’s a reason I know it…”
“It’s not important.”
“Pandora, really?” He raised an eyebrow. “If you have to move because of it, it’s pretty important.” I looked down at my thighs. “Do you have a crazy ex who’s searching for you? Did you murder someone?”
“Austin it’s really complicated… can we just not talk about it now?” He nodded, running his hand through my hair.
“Okay, okay… just please let me in… please.”
“Okay…” I nodded.
“Can I take you back to your house? It’s late and I don’t want you driving. Especially since you’ve been crying,” he said softly. I pulled the keys out of the ignition and grabbed onto Austin’s shoulder as he helped me out of my car.

Notes