Road trip

3 - Are we really doing this?

"Damn A, you look like shit!" Austin's all too cheerful voice said as I got into his car and threw my backpack into the back seat.

"Thanks, you don't look much better." I added noticing the bags under his eyes that always formed the day after we visited Molly.

"Don't look at me like that." He shot me a look of annoyance. "We can't change it, this is just how it is."

I took a deep breath and let it out as I gazed out the window. His hand came to rest over mine as he sighed and rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb.

"I'm sorry Anna, let's just try to enjoy the day. I brought the print outs for a couple of apartments for us to look at over lunch." He tried to change the conversation.

He did this every time I tried to bring her up. Unless we were standing at her grave he wouldn't talk about her and honestly, it hurt.

Each year she invaded my dreams, and yet the more time passed, the more blurred the image of her became. She was gone from our lives and I understood that, but I didn't want to forget her completely, not ever.

I decided to let it go for today, we still had a lot to prepare for with school ending, and planning our trip and I knew that him agreeing to go was his own way of remembering her, even if he wouldn't talk about it.

"Okay." I forced a smiled and continued to watch the buildings pass by until we pulled into the school parking lot.

He shut the car off and grabbed both our backpacks before we got out. We walked towards the school, him throwing his arm over my shoulder the way he always did. It wasn't a possessive thing in the sense that he wanted anyone to know I was his, but more a warning to the guys that I wasn't a toy to be played with.

We dumped our stuff in our lockers and made our way to class. We pretty much shared most of the same classes with the exception of history and physical Ed, although those were always last period classes so usually we would just wait for each other at the car.

Amazingly the first classes of the day flew by and other than Austin annoyingly tapping his pen on the desk, there wasn't anything out of the ordinary that happened. Then we went to lunch and grabbed some food before sitting outside under one of the trees.

He handed me some papers to look over, apartments in between our respective colleges. The first couple were nice, but I couldn't stand the thought of climbing up multiple flights of stairs with all our furniture to move in. Heaven forbid if the power went out and we had to take the stairs.

I quickly handed those back and made my way through the papers until the last one caught my attention. Two bedroom, open floor plan, townhouse for rent. Close to downtown.

"This one looks pretty nice. We would have to share a bathroom, but I think I can live with that." I grinned at him as I scrolled down the paper with pictures on.

It was modern and sleek with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and it came partially furnished with a reclining leather sectional and tv.

"Which one is it?" He asked leaning over to look over my shoulder at the paper I was holding. "Oh yeah, that's the one I liked too. Don't worry I think we can handle sharing a bathroom, I'm sure I get up before you anyway."

"You definitely do." I laughed knowing he was right.

"Okay, I'll have my dad call and set up a tour so we can check it out. I know we have the concert Friday night so maybe I can get it scheduled for Saturday since we will already be close by."

"Okay."

...

As expected the week flew by. We spent last night in a hotel after the concert and I'll admit that Austin almost died when he met Hailee Steinfield. I can honestly say that he had thanked me so much, I had considered killing him just to get him to stop.

She was nice and he had a cool picture of us with her that he swore up and down he was getting printed and framed. I swear sometimes I think he spent too much time with me and was developing teenage girl tendencies.

When we got ready this morning he was still in his post concert glow and was determined to make sure I had fun too. While I would usually be excited by his adventures, he had woken me up at seven to drive into town to look at the apartment and I was exhausted.

When we entered the apartment, escorted by some middle aged bald man I assumed to be the landlord or realtor, my decision was pretty clear. I loved it. The bedrooms were roughly the same size but the master had a larger closet.

"Don't worry A, you can have the big closet." He walked over and pulled me into a hug. "But I get at least two home cooked meals a week." He tried to bargain and I just lifted my head and smiled at him.

"Deal."

We walked around the rest of the town house until the bald guy walked out to give us a minute.

"So what do you think?" Austin asked as he walked into the kitchen.

"I like it."

"Okay and?"

"Are we really doing this?" I asked with a smile, slightly excited.

"Yeah, I mean if you still want too. You can always back out and live on campus." His shoulders slumped as if he was expecting me to chicken out.

"I mean a dusty dorm room with a stranger has to be so much better than rooming with my best friend." I teased. "Of course I want this."

"Really?" He asked as I took a step towards him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Really." I didn't need to explain that this was what Mols would have wanted. Aside from that it was what I wanted too. Me and Austin against the world forever.

"Thanks Anna, you're the best." He exclaimed kissing the top of my head gently. "Let's go sign the paperwork before someone snatches it up."

"Deal! Oh and Austin ..? I'm excited to do this with you. Best friends forever right?" I held up my pinky finger.

He grinned and wrapped his pinky around mine before tightening it. "Best friends forever."

We signed the paperwork after that, grabbed some drive through nuggets and milkshakes and headed back home.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow? We need to get that map out and start planning our trip." He smiled as he stood at my doorway.

"Just come over. My mom had been dying to make you dinner since the last time. We can start planning and eat."

"Okay."

"See ya tomorrow?"

"You bet."