The rulebreaker ✔

Chapter 22:

The next morning, I am mysteriously back in my dorm, with Austin's jacket and my hair braided down my shoulder.

I wake up with a small smile and get dressed.

"Heather?" A senior calls to me in the hallway. I turn around. She's tall; about five feet ten and has a short pixie cut.

"Yes," I reply

"I'm Stephanie from the christmas committee and I heard you're a good artist,"

I nod.

"So would you mind making a few paintings depicting Christmas, that we could hang up in the hallways?"

"Sure," I smile.

"Good, my dorm is 890, feel free to drop by and keep me posted," she tells me and then heads off as another senior calls her.

I go back to my dorm and begin working on my paintings. I'm so glad for a distraction, that I don't have to think about my confusing feelings for Austin. However, I am just getting finished on my second one when Austin comes in holding a box of doughnuts and eating a chocolate one.

"Gimmie one," I tell him, but he shakes his head and sits down on my bed.

"Please?" I pout.

"Woah, did you make that mistletoe?" he asks pointing to my painting. I nod, "Who do you want to kiss Brown?"

"No one, it's for the Christmas committee," I say.

"Make one for me too, then I can get you to kiss me," he says.

I turn visibly scarlet, "Shut up you perv,"

"Okay, if you make me a mistletoe, I'll give you this box of donuts," he says holding it up.

I think about it. It takes me only ten minutes to draw and paint one. "Okay," I say.

"Good," he says handing me the donuts, "I have to go swimming with Abbey right now. You can also come."

"No thanks," I tell him.

"Just sit there and draw," he says.

I sigh, then grab my pens and get up, following Austin out.

Abbey is there when we get there. She frowns a little seeing me but smiles quickly to cover it up. She's wearing a polka dot bikini that shows off her flat stomach, wide hips, and fair skin. Her long blonde hair hangs loosely around her shoulders and her eyes twinkle.

I sit down on the table and begin to draw but am distracted as Austin takes off his shirt and dives in. His muscles glisten in the sun as he swims across the pool. Abbey sits on the edge and refuses to get in, claiming she is just sunbathing on the edge. Austin grabs her legs and tugs her in.

Momentarily submerged, she comes up gasping for breath and screams at Austin who pulls her onto his back as she wraps her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his waist.

"You are such asshole Austin," she says as she rests her head on his back.

I suddenly feel a clenching feeling in my stomach and mild irritation as I grab my things and get up. Austin is too busy messing with Abbey, to see me leave.

I go to my dorm, bang the door shut, then crawl into my bed and cry. What does Abbey have in her that I don't? After a while, Austin comes in.

"Heather?" he calls then climbs into my bed beside me. I don't turn around. He lies down next to me and wraps his arm around my waist. I push it off.

"Where did you go?" he asks.

"Oh, so you done with Abbey, to finally notice?" I retort.

He pauses for a moment, "Seriously Brown?"

"Oh, fuck off," I tell him and push him off my bed. He climbs in again.

"Are you jealous of Abbs?" he asks me.

"What for?" I snap.

"Because of how close we are?"

"I couldn't care less," I lie.

Austin shifts in bed and lies down next to me again. "Because even if you are, let me tell you, you mean the world to me and I like Abbey too, but not as much as you,"

It feels as though someone has scooped out my icy insides and replaced them with hot chocolate. My face heats up and I can't help but smile.

Then suddenly the door opens and Abbey bursts in; again. Austin leaps off my bed and I don't move, pretending to be asleep.

I hear Abbey whisper, "What were you doing?"
"Nothing," Austin replies.

"Anyways, I was thinking let's go for a movie tonight?" Abbey asks

"Can't Abbs, I have to um.. finish a biology paper,"
"Oh, ok cool," she says and even though her tone is off-hand I can sense the hurt in her voice.

Austin follows her out of the room and I sink into my covers and sleep.

"Hold the ladder, Austin!" I shout as it wobbles beneath my shoes as I hang up the mistletoe painting. Austin is back to checking his phone.

"Sorry," he mutters then holds the ladder with one hand. I reach up for the next one and the ladder wobbles again. I look back and see Austin against the table. Before I know it, the ladder falls back, and I land on Austin, screaming.

We both fall to the floor and a crowd gathers snickering. I turn bright red as Austin helps me up and I glare at him. He holds out his hand and I grab it and stand up.

I head back to the ladder and am just about to climb up when Austin grabs my arm and pulls me. I stagger and face him, "What?"

I see everyone staring at us as Austin pulls me closer. Abbey is right in front staring right at Austin.

He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me even closer, close enough to see my reflection in his deep grey eyes.

'Austin w-' he places a finger on my lips and stares at me. Then he leans forward and slowly presses his lips to my cheek. My heart skips a beat, and I felt the blood rush to my face as my stomach turned into a butterfly garden. My heart is pounding so hard that it must be denting my ribcage.

'Anything wrong?' he smirks.

I stare at him dazed and slowly shake my head.

He points up, "We're under the mistletoe, you have to kiss me back.

He points to his cheek as everyone watches with bated breath. "But Aust-"

"No buts," he says. I lean forward to kiss his cheek and at the last moment, he turns his head. Before I can kiss him, Abbey strides up to the front and pushes Austin against the wall, and presses her lips to his thirstily.

I feel the balloon in my stomach puncture and all the air leaks out as Austin gently pushes Abbey away.

"Abbey!?? What the heck, we're just friends," he looks bewildered.

Abbey looks at him, tears streaming down her face her mascara spreading and leaving black tracks across her cheeks, "And what if I want to be more?" she pleads as Austin looks helplessly from me to her and the crowd keeps watching.

"But Abbey, we agreed tha-"

"So, what Austin? We could've been wrong, and I love you and I know that I want to be with you." She bursts into tears and Austin hugs her and carries her up the stairs to his room as she hysterically breaks down.

I'm left alone there biting my lip and trying to control my tears. Chris and Lexi make their way to me and hug me, but I just want to be alone.

I head back to my dorm and ignore everyone else when Olivia comes and tells me the next morning that Austin slept with Abbey.

I feel like someone has hacked my heart in pieces as I get dressed and head down for my class.