Road trip

9- Just be Happy

"I need a shirt or something." I announced when we got into Austin's room. "I forgot my bag when the Clarke's showed up."

"Go ahead, you know where they are." He replied as he unbuttoned his shirt, pulled it over his shoulders and threw it into the hamper.

I carefully pulled out his favorite shirt, and then attempted to grab the zipper on the back of my dress. I had put it on backwards when I zipped it up but there was no way to do that right now, since I didn't have a bra and I didn't need Austin seeing my boobs.

"Dammit." I whispered as I continued to struggle.

"Hey, I got it." His voice came from behind me as I felt his warmth radiating onto me. "You know," his fingers brushed against my back as he pulled the zipper down slowly, "I meant to thank you earlier, for going to prom with me, I know you didn't want to go."

"Mhmm" was all I could muster as my brain short circuited and focused solely on his fingers brushing down my spine to the juncture just above my butt.

"All done." He whispered as I struggled to calm the racing in my chest. "I'll be back in a second.".

I took the moment he was gone as the opportunity to slip the dress off and throw his shirt over me. Usually I had pajamas when I stayed here and it was a little weird to know I was in a T-shirt and panties with nothing else.

Thankfully when he returned he acted as if it were nothing, Well after he stared at me for a few seconds that is. We settled in on his bed and turned on a movie like we usually did.

I shuffled under the blankets, the cold air in his room making me shiver - or maybe it was the fact I was practically naked in bed with my best friend. Still I cuddled into his side as the fast and furious movie began playing on his tv.

I couldn't really focus on the movie though, I was too focused on his fingers rubbing circles on my waist, the sound of his heartbeat against my ear, the fact that I was almost naked.

My whole life I had never felt so hyper aware of someone else, especially Austin. When the movie was about half way through I yawned and Austin pulled me tighter against his body.

"I can turn it off if you want to sleep?" He whispered, his lips brushing against my forehead.

I pushed up slightly and nodded as he cut the tv off, covering us in darkness. He brushed his fingers down the side of my face as I looked up at the shadow of his face.

"Anna?" He whispered, his breath fanning against my face.

If I tilted my face ever so slightly I could press my lips against his, but he's my best friend and I made a promise. I promised to take care of him, for molly. I couldn't betray her by falling for her man, my best friend.

It didn't matter how much my heart was racing, or that being this close to him and feeling his fingers brush against my skin was making me suddenly very hot. The truth was I couldn't act on it, I made a promise and I don't break promises.

"You okay?" He asked kissing my forehead.

"Yeah why?"

"No reason." He said before his fingers dug into my skin, igniting a new and unknown flame all over my body. "Does make me feel better about this though." He smiled against my head as his fingers began tickling me all over.

"Stop." I laughed as I began thrashing around. I rolled away from him in an attempt to escape, of course failing miserably when his big arms caged me in place, still tickling me. "Austin stop." I kept laughing and thrashing until I finally caught my breath and opened my eyes.

It was still dark, but due to Austin's tickling we were no longer cuddled up together. Instead he was straddled above me, his arms holding mine down as he leaned over my body.

I didn't have the time needed to process that his shirt had ridden up when he tickled me and that it was no longer covering my legs, nor did I have time to process the fact that there was a hum of electric energy passing between us.

I caught his eyes looking at me and I knew exactly what he was thinking- I was thinking it too, only I couldn't act on it.

I felt him kiss my cheeks, then my forehead and nose before he paused above my lips.

"What is it A? I can see you fighting with yourself?" He breathed in my ear and I swear I almost combusted on the spot.

"Austin we can't. I...I ..." I tried to protest but I couldn't find any reason other than molly to do it.

His hand cupped my face and rubbed my cheek. "Be happy for once Anna. We can forget it all tomorrow if you want, for tonight just do what you want to do."

It was definitely a disadvantage to have him as a best friend at times like this. Times when I needed him to say the wrong thing so I had a reason to stick to my guns, but instead he said exactly what I wanted to hear.

We could have fun tonight, go back to normal tomorrow. I mean it was only going to be kissing anyway. I wasn't ready for anything more than that, besides, molly had told me to take care of him and to be happy. This should count in some messed up way I guess.

He groaned in a slightly frustrated manner, as I considered his offer. It wasn't until he began to pull his face away that I finally decided to listen to him.

"Do what you want to do."

His hand was still resting against my cheek as I lifted my face up and did the one thing that would change it all for me.

I kissed him.