This Town

“Are you ready to go?” Dave asked from the other side of my bedroom door.

“You can come in,” I replied as I sat down on my bed to put my shoes on. Dave had finally talked me into leaving the house. Considering the most fresh air I had gotten since I had been here was when I went to check the mail I supposed it was time I got out into the world. “Where are we going again?”

“I have a meeting with the band and our label and then I’m taking you shopping,” he chuckled. I rolled my eyes. That’s right. Dave was under the impression that I deserved a nice day out and new clothes. Apparently he thought shopping was the universal cure to any problem a girl was having.

“I don’t need new clothes,” I insisted for the fifth time. “I’m fine.”

“Is that why you’ve been moping around since you talked to Austin and the others?” He asked casually. I glared at him and he just smirked.

“I just don’t like having to lie. But I have to because I know they’ll freak out and make a big deal out of it.”

“Don’t dwell on it, we got it sorted out. Come on I’m going to be late.”
Dave lived twenty minutes outside of Dallas so the drive to the city was peaceful. It was just us, the road, and the countryside scenery. Every once in awhile we would see horses roaming around and my eyes would light up each time. I had never been near a horse before but I thought they were beautiful creatures.

“Here we are,” Dave announced. I stared at the giant glass skyscraper with mild interest. I wasn’t much of a city person hence why my family bought me a house outside of Huntington Beach. “You can come in if you want,” he offered, “or you can wander around. There’s a bookstore at the end of the block.”

“The bookstore sounds nice,” I decided. I really didn’t want to sit through a band meeting since I wasn’t apart of the band or anything relating to it.

“Okay, I’ll pick you up there when I’m done,” Dave replied. Before we got out he opened up the glovebox in front of me and pulled out a pill bottle. “Want one?” He asked and shook two lilac tablets into the palm of his hand.

“What is it?” I asked even though I was already reaching for one.

“Ecstasy.”

“Do you really think it’s a good idea to go into the meeting high?” Dave just gave me a bland look. “Yeah you’re right.” Together we placed the pills under our tongues then exited the car.

“I’ll see you in about an hour. If you decide to go anywhere let me know so I know where to pick you up at.”

“Yes Dad.”

By the time I got to the bookstore the ecstasy had full control over me. I was smiling and had a skip in my step, I said hi to people as I passed by them, and even a held short conversation with the woman behind the counter when I walked inside. So far leaving the house had proven to be a good idea.

I was wondering the comic book section when the idea that having Austin here with me would make this even more fun acquired to me. The longer I scanned the various comics the more I thought about him. I found myself smiling when I realized that the last couple times I had talked him were actually… pleasant.

The loud ringing of my phone was what pulled me out of my thoughts. Well more like scared me. I hurried to grab it from my purse to silence the ring but stopped when I saw whose picture was on the screen along with the caller ID.

“Hey,” I answered with a large smile.

“Hi,” Austin replied. Judging from the tone of his voice I knew he was smiling just as largely as I was. “What are you up to?”

“Thinking of you actually,” I replied. Immediately I realized how that sounded and hurried to explain. “I’m in the comic book section of a bookstore and it instantly made me think of you.”

“If you see anything good grab it for me,” he teased. I chuckled and grabbed one of the comic books. It was an X-Men comic. I regarded the cover for a moment then set it back. “Saint,” Austin started then trailed off.

“Yeah?” I asked curiously and continued to move through the store.

“Nothing, I forgot what I was going to say,” he lied.

“If you remember let me know cause I wanna know what you were going to say,” I replied. I was now in the young adult section and staring at the generic titles with disinterest. But one caught my attention. It was called Willow. The cover was a picture of a girl cut into strips.

“I will. So how’s the song going?” I almost asked him what song but stopped myself.

“It’s going good. I’m no Austin Carlile, but I’m not too shabby I guess.” Austin laughed and I smiled like a fool. I enjoyed his laugh.

“We’re going out for dinner you wanna come?” I heard Phil ask in the background.

“Sure, just give me a sec,” Austin replied. “I’m being summoned. I’ll um, talk to you later?” I heard the hope in his voice and couldn’t find it in myself to tell him no.

“Yeah, we’ll talk later. You can text me whenever or call or… you get the idea.”

“Bye Saint.”

“Bye Austin.”

After we hung up I held my phone to my chest for a moment and smiled. While it wasn’t perfect, Austin and I seemed to be on better terms. Granted our conversations were slightly awkward, it was nice to be talking to him again.

I looked at Willow again and snatched it up. Before going to the cashier I went back over to the comics and grabbed a large Deadpool comic. It was the complete collection of volume one. I wasn’t sure if Austin even liked Deadpool but I liked the cover so that was good enough for me.

“Is this everything for you?” The cashier asked. It wasn’t the woman I had talked to when I first walked in, but the young girl I was now talking to was just as nice. Then again it could’ve been the drugs talking.

“Yeah, thank you,” I replied with a smile. “Are there any coffee shops around here?” I asked when she handed me by bag of books after paying.

“There’s one right around the corner. They have really good danishes too,” the girl told me with a smile.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Have a good day.”

“You too.”

To: Dave 2:15 PM
I’ll be at the coffee shop around the corner from the bookstore

Once the text sent I made my way to around the corner. The coffee shop was a few buildings down and as soon as I walked inside I was nearly thrown off my feet by the amazing smell of coffee. To go with my latte I ordered one of the danishes the girl had told me about then sat down and engrossed myself with my new book.

From: Dave 3:34 PM
I’m headed your way

I glanced at the text then went back to my book. Being able to relate to Willow, the main character, made the book that much more interesting. When I heard a horn honking outside I looked up to find Dave waiting for me.

“How was the meeting?” I asked once I was settled inside the car.

“It was okay,” he answered distractedly. That was all I needed in order to figure out that meeting hadn’t gone well at all. It also made me wonder what the meeting was actually about. “Would it be okay if we rain checked shopping? I need a nap.”

“That’s perfectly fine with me.”

From: Austin 4:13 PM
Are you busy?

The text came in just after I had thrown myself on my bed. Once we got home I ate four slices of pizza and drank two sodas. To say I was full was a bit of understatement.

To: Austin 4:14 PM
No, what’s up?

A few minutes after the text sent my phone started alerting me that I had a FaceTime call waiting for me to answer. “Heeeeey!” I sang when the call connected.

“Hey. How’s it goin?” Austin replied tiredly.

“What time is there and where is there?” I asked curiously.

“It is 11:17 in Birmingham,” he informed me. I nodded and pursed my lips. I had come down from the ecstasy a while ago and was finding it hard to come up with things to say.

“I got you something today,” I said suddenly.

“Oh yeah, and what’s that?” I set my phone down and ran over my purse. When I returned I had a giant smile on my face. “That smile tells me it’s something good,” Austin chuckled. When I showed him the comic book his eyes went wide.

“Do you like it?” I asked nervously when he didn’t say anything.

“Like it? I love it. Thank you!” He said excitedly. I sighed in relief and set the comic book down.

“I had no idea if you’d like it when I bought it so I’m glad I did good.”

“You could’ve bought me the Twilight series and I would’ve liked it because it came from you.”

“I was actually tempted to do that.” We laughed and when it finally died down I found myself
with an elated feeling in my chest.

“I hate to cut this short but I need to go to bed. Tomorrow is our last show and we have a lot to things to get done before then. I just wanted to call and check in I guess,” Austin told me. His expression had a hint of sadness in it.

“I understand. You can call me when you get the chance. I know you’ll do great tomorrow.”

“I lo- I’ll talk to you later.” Austin disconnected the call a moment later and I sighed heavily. I couldn’t deny that I was starting to miss him.


Two months later

“You’ve been popular lately,” Dave teased when my phone dinged at me once more. I had been lying to him and saying it was Alan I was talking to but I think he knew that wasn’t true. In truth I had been talking to Austin. In fact, we talked everyday whether it was texts, calls, or FaceTime.

“You know Alan, always wanting attention,” I replied distractedly and replied to Austin.

“Yeah that’s true. Hence why I’ve been on the phone with him for the past twenty minutes.” I looked up to find Dave holding up his phone and Alan’s face on his screen. I felt the color drain from my face and both of them started laughing hysterically. “Tell Austin I said hi,” Dave said casually then disappeared upstairs.

I erased the text I was about to send to Austin and replaced it with a new one.

To Austin: 1:27 PM
Whelp, I’m about to get the teasing of a lifetime

He responded a second later.

From: Austin 1:27 PM
Same

Apparently Austin had been telling Alan that it was Dave he was talking to all the time. It wasn’t that we didn’t want anyone knowing that we were talking, we just didn’t want anyone to make a big deal out of it. There was only one real downfall from reconnecting with Austin.
I was falling in love with him. Again.

Well I guess never really stopped loving him. I just kept myself from feeling it. But now, everything I had ever felt about him before poked at the back of my mind each time I talked to him. And no matter how much I told myself I needed to stop it while I could, I didn’t want to.

“Tell him.”

“Huh?” I jumped and over the couch at Dave who was standing behind me. He placed his hands on my shoulders and squeezed them gently.

“Tell him,” he repeated.

“Naaah,” I sighed and leaned back into Dave’s touch with my eyes closed. He continued to massage my shoulders and gradually I was falling asleep.

“I think you should tell him,” he continued. When he stopped rubbing my shoulders I opened my eyes and turned sideways so I could look at him.

“Why?” I questioned suspiciously.

“I just think you should tell him,” he insisted.

“You’re being weird,” I informed him with narrowed eyes.

“Just. Tell. Him.” Dave hurried into the kitchen and I was left sitting on the couch with a confused expression on my face. However, I couldn’t deny that Dave was right. Maybe telling him was the best thing to do. Then there wouldn’t be any confusion between us.

I picked up my phone and went to Austin’s contact. As the phone rang I mentally prepared myself for when he answered. “Hey Saint,” he answered cheerfully.

“Iiii need to talk to you about something,” I said awkwardly.

“Uh oohhhh,” he teased but I hear the underlying worry in his voice.

“I… weeellll…” I struggled to say. Sighing I decided to just come out with it. “I love you. I’ve always loved you. I probably always will and I just thought you should know.” As soon as the words spilled out of my mouth my cheeks heated up and I immediately hung up.

“Why’d you hang up?!” Dave asked incredulously.

“Were you listening the whole time?!” I asked in the same tone.

“Well duh! Call him back!” Dave yelled.

“What?! No!”

But I didn’t have to. Dave and I got silent and stared at my phone as it rang. I looked up at him and he gave me a look that said to stop being stupid and answer the call. “Hello?” I said nervously.

“I love you too. And if you hang up on me again I’ll call you again and tell you again. I’ll keep calling and telling you until you agree to let me call you mine. Everyday. Single. Day I’ll call and ask,” Austin wasted no time in saying.

“Then I’ll save you the trouble,” I replied with newly found confidence, “I’m yours but I hope you know what you’re getting into Carlile.”

“So does this mean you’re moving out?” Dave asked after I hung up.
I rolled my eyes playfully at him then went up to my room. While I prepared a bath I found myself smiling like an idiot. For once things were falling into place.

When my eyes landed on the mirror and small baggy of coke Dave had given me on my sink my smile faltered slightly. I shook the negative thoughts from my head and submerged myself in the hot water.

I had everything under control.

Notes

Guys I am so sorry for making you wait. I ended up going to Vegas (I went to Warped Tour and had a blast) and totally forgot to post before I left and didn't take my laptop with me. But better late than never right? I hope you guys enjoyed chapter sixteen. Miss Lady and I have so much more in store for you guys so keep an eye out.

Much love,
perpetual xx