Run from your problems, but you cannot run from yourself.

December air chilled our house. My mother went to go turn up the heat as I sat next to my sister. We were decorating sugar cookies in different patterns. There were tree shaped cookies and ornaments in our piles. Soft Christmas rock ebbed from the speakers by the computer the provided the tunes. The oven dinged above the tunes.

"Alan!" LP reminded him. The ginger looked up from the cookbook and went to go get them, under my sister's watchful eye. Austin Carlile mixed the frosting, helping us to spread them on the delicious treats. He moved over to my side as I finished up a green tree with white loops to strand the sugary plant.

"Boop!" He squeaked as he tapped my nose with the mixing spoon. A little dollop of red frosting dotted my nose. I scrunched my face and the feeling of the cold substance. He leaned down and kissed my cheek for forgiveness. I took the moment to place a tiny dot of green frosting on his cheek.

"Stop playing with food!" Alan swatted Austin playfully on the shoulder. LP handed her friend a plain, round sugar cookie as the ginger sat down to start decorating. As Austin moved away to finish up making our frosting. Along the way, he scooped up the finished cookies and put the on a plate for display-and maybe eating.

Austin Carlile and Alan Ashby came down to our house as often as they could. The last time they came down was for Halloween. Alan gladly took LP trick or treating. Lily-Pearl was dressed as Roo from Winnie the Pooh. Alan, of course, was Tigger.

Needless to say, their candy count was high this year.

I found myself smiling at the memory. While those two were out having fun, Austin and I stayed behind to hand out candy. Not many kids came down our secluded little street, but those who did received huge candy bars. They were mostly the neighborhood children. After the waves of children in costumes subsided, we both crashed on the couch, curled up into each other as we watched a horror movie. I didn't remember the title, but I recollected that every time I jumped, Austin tightened his grip around me.

It started to snow outside, with heavy flakes coating the once green grass. Within the hour, there was a foot of snow, and three dozen cookies decorated. Alan ate his cookie he decorated. It was a little green and red cat.

Austin and LP went upstairs to go play horsies again. It was beginning to become their favorite past time. As soon as everything was cleaned up, I let out a big yawn. The cold weather was making me sleepy, and it was only three in the afternoon. The sky was dark and heavy with grey clouds that weighed down the sky. The heavy flakes were starting to stack up even higher. My mom hadn't returned from turning up the thermostat. I figured she probably went off to do some work on her laptop.

Ever since dad left us, Mom had to go back to work. She took a job as an editor for the local magazine. It wasn't the highest paying job in the world, but it took care of the bills. I decided that as soon as summer rolled around again and my sophomore year came to a close, I would take a job to help pay for everything.

I let out another yawn at the thought. I was tired from all that cookie making!

Austin came up behind me, wrapping his large arms around my waist. He leaned down to kiss my temple. No matter how tall he was, I would never grow to be his height. I was about a foot shorter than him.

"Someone's tired." He whispered casually in my ear. I leaned into his chest and hummed in pleasure. I could feel his chest vibrate back.

"Me." I let out another small yawn. Austin picked me up, cradling me in his arms. We were downstairs in the blink of an eye. The sheets were tossed around on the couch downstairs. The big puffy couch, the size of a queen bed, was comfortable as he put me down and crawled up next to me. I pulled a pillow under my head, the fabric cold and comfortable under my head. As soon as he had settled, I wrapped my arms around his chest, leaning into him.

"You're beautiful when you're sleepy." He murmured into my ear. I blushed under his compliment. He rubbed my back slowly as I resisted another yawn that crawled up and threatened to escape.

When I woke up, it was a few hours later. Austin had fallen asleep with me. We had managed to turn sideways on the bed. I propped up on one elbow and kissed his forehead. His hair was tussled, as if he moved around a lot when he slept. He looked peaceful.

Austin started moving a little. I thought he was going to get up so I sunk back down onto the now warm pillow. He curled up into a little ball and started moaning a little as his face twisted into pain, and then horror.

"Austin." I murmured, slightly worried. He shook and shivered violently. I leaned against the back of the couch. His hands flexed into and out of fists as he let out a low sound of horror and pain. Tears dripped off his closed eyes

"Austin!" I shook him a little. I called his name time and time again, raising my voice each time. By the last time, he woke up with a start and a gasp. His breath was coming heavily. I looked him in the eyes as tears still flowed. Something was really bothering him.

"Rae." His voice cracked as he whispered my name. In the nervous fits, he managed to kick the covers to the foot of the bed. I took him in my arms. He curled his head into my chest. Wrapping my arms around him, I stroked his hair, pressing my chin on top of his head.

He sobbed quietly into my chest. I played with his hair, not sure if I was trying to calm him down, or me. He finally stopped, sniffing quietly. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into him. Austin had helped me time and time again, it was only fair for me to help him with whatever was eating him on the inside.

"Oh Austin, it'll be okay. It's going to be alright." I told him gently. I rubbed his arm lightly with my free hand.

"I hate nightmares." He sighed to me. I let out my own breath. I thought it was worse.

"Me to." I agreed. Eventually, I let go, staring straight into his eyes. I held them in silence for a minute.

"Honestly, I don't know what I would do without you." Austin reached up and stroked one stray strand of hair.

"I'm sure you would still be as famous as ever." I teased him. He smiled and grinned. I ruffled his already messed up hair. He shook it out after I was finished.

"You should come out to California with us." He asked me. I smiled a little but bit back an immediate agreement. I had family to think about.

"I have to think about my mom, my grandma, my sister." I remind him gently. His face fell a little.

A few weeks ago, my mom had told my sister and I about our grandma and her ordeal with Stage 4 Breast Cancer. She was only doing worse by now. It seemed like she was in and out of the hospital every other week. My sister had taken it surprisingly well, but it didn't come as a shocker to me. I told Alan and Austin a few days ago.

"Just for a visit?" He begged with a pout. I smiled and kissed the tip of his nose. He grinned and blushed until his entire cheeks were a burning pink.

"Sometime." I agreed. He pulled my down on top of his body and kissed me, his lips warming my cold skin, although they stayed connected to my lips. It didn't matter that a blizzard was roaring outside. This was all the heat I needed.

Life was going to get better, even with dad gone.

Notes

Hey guys! I'm glad you like it so far! Here's just a little peek into Raelyn's life without her dad.
(P.S. Here's a little more Austlyn for you!)
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