Try (Austin Mahone Short Love Story / Fan Fiction)

Chapter Four

Song of the chapter:

Olive & An Arrow by Nick Jonas & The Administration

__________

     When the funeral began, everyone fell silent. Not a single thing was heard other than the soft cries from the people around me. Mary wasn't crying, but she was very tense. We weren't touching, but I could practically feel the tension radiating off of her body the entire time.

     Should I move closer? Should I hold her hand?

     I had taken so much time with contemplating that I didn't even have the opportunity to do anything because the next thing I knew, everyone was exiting the church and heading to the cemetery. I followed behind Mary, wishing I could easily touch her like I did before, but I couldn't. Those feelings had me second-guessing everything I did. So, with those thoughts in my head, I quietly followed behind her, close enough to let her know that I was there but far enough to be comfortable. I knew I would have been more comfortable with her hand in mine or my arm around her, but I couldn't. It wasn't right.

     We all gathered around the gravestone that lied above both bodies. I didn't know why they had them lay next to each other due to the fact that he killed her, but they did. If it were my family, I wouldn't want him anywhere near my mom but then again, I didn't know the whole situation. I couldn't be quick to judge.

     Mary stood beside me, her arm touching mine just barely. Her eyes were focused on the ground but not on the grave. She was in denial. She didn't want to believe it was all real.

     Looking down at her, I watched a single tear slip from her eye. I couldn't let her be upset without trying to make it better.

     Hold her hand, a voice hissed in my mind. She needs you. Just do it.

     The cool breeze tangled in my hair, making my body cold. If I was cold, Mary had to be too. But what if she didn't want me to hold her hand? What if she didn't think those things about me? What if she wasn't comfortable?

     Do it, it demanded again.

     Swallowing anxiously, I ran my tongue across my lips and found myself moving my arm closer to her. My hand brushed over her small, delicate one and her next action took me by surprise. She suddenly shifted closer to me and slipped her hand inside mine, slowly intertwining our fingers together. Her hand in mine gave me a feeling I'd never gotten before. Though I knew it was wrong, it just felt right.

     Her hand was cold and tense, giving me the urge to make her warm. I couldn't do much in the moment with everyone around, but I had to do something.

     I squeezed her hand once then began stroking her skin with my thumb in hopes to not only keep her hand a bit warmer, but to also calm her. She deserved at least a little tranquility after the week she had. I would do whatever I could to make her feel somewhat stable.

     She needed me and I was going to be there no matter what.

* * *

     As the weeks went on, Mary and I grew closer and closer. My feelings for her progressed as well. I didn't understand why I couldn't stop myself. She had this effect over me that seemed to be uncontrollable. Every second I spent with her, I liked her more and more. She didn't have a clue.

     She wasn't at school the entire week following the funeral, which was more than understandable, but I went over to her house everyday after football practice to see how she was doing. Not only did it seem like the right thing to do, but I really wanted to make sure she was okay. She came back to school a the week after, and I was with her as much as I could be. As we walked through the halls together, people stared at her with expressions of both sympathy and confusion, but I did my best to distract her from seeing them. I knew she saw them by the uncomfortable look on her face, but like I said, I did my best to draw her attention away from them. They weren't important.