Road trip

17- Austin

Austin was gone when I woke up and as I checked the bathroom and closets to make sure it wasn't a prank, I began to internally panic. If he left me here, after last night, I would be screwed. More than that, I would be devastated.

I took a shower to calm myself down, and then put on my denim shorts and white off the shoulder top. Once my hair was dry I combed it into half a ponytail and went to pack my clothes. At the next stop we would need to do laundry, but since we would be there for more than a couple days and it was Austin's Aunts house, I figured it would all be okay.

I put my clothes into the suitcase I had brought just as the door clicked open and Austin walked in carrying a white plastic bag.

"Hey." I smiled, relieved that he didn't in fact, leave me here.

"Hey, I got breakfast. I figured we should eat before we hit the aquarium." He motioned to the bag in his hand before setting it on the dresser and pulling out two take out containers.

I could smell the sweetness as it filled the room before I even opened the container. The blends of sugar and maple blending together perfectly, causing my mouth to salivate.

"Pancakes!" I grinned as I opened the container and moved over to the table in the room.

Austin grabbed the other one and then sat opposite me as we quietly, but flirtatiously, ate our food. I hadn't forgotten our conversation last night, but I wasn't in a rush to bring it up either.

"You ready to tackle the Aquarium?" He asked with excitement.

A lot of people didn't know that underneath Austin's Cool and calm demeanor, he was secretly still, a child. One that loved all boy things like skateboards, race cars, electronics and most importantly, big tanks of water full of sharks.

"Yeah, do we need to bring anything or are we coming back here?" I asked.

"Bring a jacket for later and we can leave it in the truck." He smiled as he grabbed his keys from the dresser and twisted them on his finger.

....

The aquarium was great, not as much fun as swimming with dolphins, but it was really cool to be in complete darkness, surrounded by water and different types of marine life.

I think my favorite part was seeing how excited Austin was when we stood in front of the floor to ceiling observation area, watching whales and jellyfish swim by.

"I have one request." He smiled as he held my hand in the tunnel surrounding us by water.

"Okay?" I side glanced at him, sensing the catch coming from a mile away.

He turned to face me, placing a soft kiss on the top of my forehead, "I get one date,"

I swear if it wasn't dark my face had paled several shades with my cheeks reddening. "Austin we..."

"Hear me out Anna." He urged and waited until I finally decided to brave the topic head on and nodded. "Give me one date, tonight even. Let me take you on a date and if you still think that we should be friends after then that's what we will be. Just please," he pulled me closer to him until my face was buried in his chest, "please let me have one chance to show you that you're wrong."

I stood, kind of motionless for a while as I absorbed his words. Thankfully this was the last exhibit before the gift shop and when I didn't immediately respond, he simply bounced back and we bought souvenirs.

"Okay." I half whispered as we sat in the truck waiting for the light to turn green. "One date. But I swear if this doesn't work, you have to promise me not to get mad about it." I pleaded as I stole a glance at his overly excited face.

"I can do that." He grinned like someone had tattooed the damn thing on his face.

Soon after, we were grabbing a basket in the back of his truck and climbing some stone stairwell to the top of Mt Bonnell.

The sun had began to set after we spent most of the day at the aquarium, and the hues of blues and purples, pinks and oranges, cascaded the skyline over the river causing a silhouette of buildings among the backdrop.

Austin laid a blanket down on the rock face and opened the basket, pulling out two BBQ Sandwiches with some soda and chips.

"How romantic." I teased taking a bite of my sandwich.

"Of course, I mean I figured this was better than the five star overprices restaurant." He smirked as we ate and watched the colors disappear from The skyline, slowly being replaced by the sparkle of the stars.

"So how long are we staying with your aunt?" I asked as I placed my trash back in the basket and cuddled into his arms.

"I was thinking a week? I mean if you want to? You'll have your own bed at her house and I know we have a few places to see in California so at least this way we don't have to keep moving stuff around."

"I think that would be fine." I sighed letting myself sink more into his arms.

"So how is this date rating so far?" He asked as he wrapped my jacket over my shoulders.

It was amazing, and I wanted to be more so badly it actually might kill me, but betraying Molly wouldn't leave my head.

"It's undetermined." I flirted. "I mean you still have to drive me back to the hotel before I rate the experience."

He gave me a challenge look, which I happily returned, before I stood up and started walking towards the steps.

"Anna, at least help me for a second." He laughed as I turned back to help him load everything back into the basket.
I was about to turn back around again when he took my hand in his and turned me to face him. What followed was wrong, but everything about it felt perfect and I never wanted it to end.

His mouth was on mine, gentle at first, gradually becoming more urgent as I struggled to catch my breath over the butterflies and pounding in my chest.

My body ached all over, ached for his touch and more of him in ways that I had never once considered before.

I wanted so much more from him, with him, for us, and yet the only words I could formulate through the smile on my face , and when we finally returned to the hotel, didn't do any of the experience enough justice or answer the question I knew he wanted an answer too.

"Austin?"

"Hmm?" He mumbled as I laid in his arms.

"The date was perfect."