The rulebreaker ✔

Chapter 19: Never confuse your emotions

When I wake up the next morning, I decide to forgive Austin.

It was stupid of me to be angry at him, after all even I had gone for a date with Zack and Austin, and I were just friends. I had again been mean to him and I had to apologize.

Being the chicken that I am, I decided to text him an apology instead of saying it in person.

'Hi Austin, I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry for the way I reacted yesterday, and I honestly don't know what came over me. I understand that we're just friends and I'm sorry for all the fights we've had lately and for everything I've done to hurt you. I understand if you don't want to talk to me or be friends with me anymore,'

Just the thought of him not talking to me made my stomach clench, but I took a deep breath and pressed send.

Within minutes I get his reply, 'It's cool, n I told u already, u won't get rid of me that easily, P.S we're not just friends,'

Then, Austin bursts into my room and before I can say anything he pulls my hand and drags me along with him.

"Where are we going," I ask.

He doesn't reply but continues dragging me.

"Wait a minute," I say as my phone starts ringing in my pocket. I pull it out and the caller ID flashes Zack. A wave of guilt rushes over me as I realize that I never called him back after our failed date.

Austin raises an eyebrow, "Zack," I answer and hold my phone up before he can grab it again.

He smirks, "I'm taller than you Brown," and grabs my phone in one swift motion.

"AUSTIN NO!" I shout.

He ignores me and picks up the call.

"Zack," I shout, as Austin attempts to push me back.

"Heather," I hear the hurt in his voice and realize that it wasn't a joke to him.

"GIVE ME BACK MY PHONE!" I silently mouth at Austin who shakes his head and takes a step forward. I grab his wrist and attempt to prize his fingers loose from my phone but he has a surprisingly strong grip.

"Please," I beg, as Zack tries to figure out what's going on. I can't hurt a friend like this.

Austin rolls his eyes and hands me the phone, "I'm going then, you can talk to your lover whose obviously more important," His eyes are glassy and there's an edge to his voice.

"Shut up Austin, you know he's not; don't be like that," I sputter in confusion wondering where that came from. Wasn't this just a joke going on?

"What has this ass hole ever even done for you?" Austin spits.

"Why is everything always a fight with you?" I yell at him.

He takes a deep breath, "It's not a fight Heather, it's a choice,"

"Heather, can we talk?" Zack pleads from the other end of the phone as Austin walks out and I finally realize that it's a choice that I have to make, Zack or Austin.

Hating myself for this, I cut the call on Zack and rush after Austin. I can only pray that Zack doesn't like me the way Zara said, because if he does then god, I deserve hell.

I storm after Austin, my emotions all in a whirl as I grab his arm and turn him around harshly.

"I see you chose me Brow-"

"You shut the hell up, ok?" I jab my finger at his chest, "Why do you keep playing with my emotions like that. Do you think this is some reality show where I'm forced to choose between people, where you're trying to eliminate everyone else from my life? Especially when you know that I'm going to choose you because I don't have anyone else. Half the time I don't even know what I see in you, apart from the smug, no-good ass that you are. And I hope that hurt because I intended it to."

Austin places his hand on his chest, "Ouch. That hurt Heather, you're becoming meaner and meaner every day,"

I put my hand on his chest and lightly shove him away, "Can't you ever be serious?"

"Ok, listen I'm only trying to help you, I swear. Ashley was a bad friend. She was ready to tell me anything I wanted to know about you, including Aiden just for a kiss from me, which shows how desperate and untrustworthy she was,"

My heart collapses and my stomach crumples inside me. This can't be possible. Ashley was the only person I ever had through every tough time. Why does everyone do this to me? Don't I deserve even one true friend? Tears rush to my eyes and before I can help it they run down my face. Austin reaches out a hand to wipe my tears, but I move back suddenly.

"If-if you did kiss her, then did she tell you about Aiden?" I cough.

"I didn't kiss her Heather, it was her and no, I would never let her do that," he said and relief washed over me, "But you can trust me to tell me," he says.

"Austin, I can't. It's the worst memory of my life and remembering it is just painful," I say. Though it isn't really the truth. I do think about that night a lot and revisit it in my dreams often too. The real reason why I would never tell Austin about it is because I just can't risk him hating me or losing him.

He shrugs as if to say that it's fine.

The tears are still rolling down my face and I turn away ready to run away from here, go cry for hours and bury myself in my blanket but I don't get too far before Austin turns me around and wipes my tears.

"Why are you crying over that bitch? She broke your trust not the other way round so is she really worth your tears?"

I sniff and shake my head.

"Hug?" he asks, and I step back, "Hold on a second. What about Zack?"

"What about him?" he asks.

"What did he do?"

"Nothing, why?"

"Then...."
"Oh, I just didn't like that idiot, but you'll see I'll be right about him also," he winks.

"You're such an ass," I sigh.

"Anything else you want to say to me?" Austin asks raising his eyebrows.

"Thanks, idiot, for everything," I say grudgingly.

"No problem," he smirks, and he pulls me into a hug, as I shove him back.