Would You Still Be There?

I felt sick. I was couldn't breathe, and I had a nasty cough. Elizabeth tried to get me up for school, but I was not having it.

"C'mon, get up!" Elizabeth shouted. I scrunched my face up and covered my face with my hands.

"Get up! You didn't go to school yesterday, so you're going today whether you like it or not," Elizabeth said, and she pulled my covers off my body.

"And put some fucking clothes on!" She shrieked, and she left my room with a slam of my door. I groaned and sat up, immediately getting the chills. I scrounged around my room, finding some clean underwear and putting it on. I then pulled on a hoodie, and I put the hood on, then I pulled on a pair of skinny jeans.

I exited my room and entered the bathroom. I grabbed a hair tie, and I tied my mangled hair up into a messy bun. I washed my face, dried it, and I put on my makeup; one thick black line of eyeliner on my top lid. I put some mascara on, and then I brushed my teeth.

I headed back to my room and grabbed a pair of black ankle socks, putting them on, then I put on my black on black converse. I grabbed my backpack, and I slung it over my shoulder. I retreated to the living room where Elizabeth and Anthony were located.

"Can I get a ride to school?" I asked. I grabbed my phone off the coffee table where I'd left it yesterday as I awaited an answer.

"Sure. You ready?" Anthony asked. I nodded, and Anthony stood up and went to grab his car keys. I headed outside, and my phone rang.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hey, Cassie! How are you?" Kylee chirped. I rolled my eyes.

"Why did you tell Austin what I told you? Why can't you ever keep any fucking secrets?" I growled into the phone. Anthony stepped into my view, and he unlocked the car.

"Because secrets are stupid," Kylee told me as I got into my brother's car. I put my seatbelt on before answering.

"Kylee, how would you feel if I told someone something that you'd never told anyone else but me, how would you feel?" I asked. Anthony stuck the key in the ignition, and he turned it, starting the car.

"I wouldn't care," she said, sounding like she was getting angry. Anthony pulled out of the driveway, and I sighed.

"Of course you wouldn't. But I would and I do, and I'd appreciate it if-"

"Shut up, Cassidy!" She yelled, causing me to pull the phone away from my ear about an inch.

"Maybe you should take your own advice and shut that pretty little mouth of yours from now on and quit talking to me," I growled, and I hung up. I stuffed my phone in my back pocket, sinking into the silence that filled the car.

"Soo..." Anthony trailed off as he pulled to a stop at a red light.

"So what?" I asked angrily, crossing my arms.

"What's wrong?" He asked. I sighed and scratched my left thigh.

"Just.. Kylee told Austin a secret of mine, and it upset me," I grumbled.

"Ahh high school drama!" Anthony said with a chuckle. I glared at him as he took off. He pulled into the school parking lot ten minutes later, and I got out, slamming the door behind me. I headed to the spot where I usually went to hang out every morning, and Austin was the only one there, showing I was early. I sat down next to him, and I put my face in my hands.

"Hey. What's wrong?" Austin asked, placing an arm around my waist. I looked up at him, tears brimming my eyes.

"I feel like shit, and I ended mine and Kylee's friendship," I sniffed, and Austin seemed at a loss for words. He only pulled me into him, and I buried my face in his chest, letting out a sob.

"Tell me what happened," Austin said quietly. I pulled away from him, and I wiped under my eyes.

"Well, she called me before school this morning, and I got angry because she told someone a secret of mine, and shit happened. She told me to shut up, so I told her to take her own advice and to stop talking to me," I said. Austin sighed.

"Was it about what she told me?" He asked. I nodded sheepishly, and he stayed quiet for several seconds.

"Hey Austin!" I heard Kylee say from above us. I looked up at her, but she pretended I wasn't there.

"You wanna go somewhere else? It's boring right here," she said. I looked at Austin, and he shook his head in disgust.

"Never in a million years," he said, and he stood and pulled me up with him. He grabbed my hand, and he laced his fingers through mine, making my heart leap. He pulled me down the hall and to the left, and he gently pushed me up against a wall.

"If you don't want to talk to her, I'll stand behind you, okay?" He asked, and I nodded.

"Can I tell you something?" I asked quietly. Austin nodded, and I brought my arms up to my chest. I let my gaze hit the floor, and I took a deep breath.

"I-"

"What the hell, Austin?" Kylee asked angrily as she rounded the corner. He turned to face her, and I averted my gaze completely.

"What?" He asked.

"Come hang out with me!" She whined, and I rolled my eyes. 'Stand your ground, Austin.' I thought.

"I don't want to, Kylee," Austin said. I heard her stamp her foot. Figures. She always did that when she didn't get her way.

"But I'm so hot, and you're so hot.. we're perfect for each other," she purred. Okay, that was low. She was taking advantage of the fact that I have a raging crush on Austin, and she was using it to get back at me for ending our eleven year friendship. It only made sense.

"I said no," Austin grumbled, and he grabbed my hand once again. He pushed past her, taking me with him, and we walked for like five minutes before entering a classroom.

"What's up, Mr. Joyner?" Austin asked, and I could tell he was smiling.

"Sup, bud? How are you?" Mr. Joyner asked. Austin approached his desk with me clung onto his arm.

"I'm good, How are you?" Austin asked.

"I'm great. What brings you here?" Mr. Joyner asked with a large smile.

"I was just wondering if we could sit in here and talk for a while," Austin said. Mr. Joyner raised his eyebrows.

"Of course you can. Have fun. I'm gonna go hit the staff room for a bit," he said, and seconds later he was gone.

Austin sat me down in a seat in the front of the room, and he sat down in the desk across from me.

"Don't let Kylee bring you down just cause you're not friends anymore. If I'm honest.. and I don't want to hurt your feelings... but you're both acting pretty stupid about it," Austin said. I nodded and bit my lip, but Austin took my lip out of my teeth with his forefinger and thumb. I smiled up at him, a blush no doubt covering my cheeks.

"You're beautiful," he whispered. I looked down at my lap, not knowing how to take his compliment, and I fiddled with my fingers.

"Why are you so nervous around me, anyway?" Austin asked softly. 'Because I have a massive crush on you.'

"I don't know," I shrugged. Austin sucked in a breath, and I moved my hair out of my eyes. Now it was getting awkward.

"What were you gonna tell me earlier?" He asked, but we were so rudely interrupted by the bell ringing.

"It's stupid. It doesn't matter anymore," I muttered as we both stood up. I picked up my backpack, as did Austin, and he grinned at me.

"Can I walk you to class?" He asked. I smiled.

"Of course."

Notes

Well hi. :)