secret love song // austin north

♡eighteen♡

the plane touched down in brisbane international airport just after 10am in the morning, and the jetlagged group of eight, the band plus austin, nick and kiara, began to make their way through the airport security and customs and headed to baggage claim.

"i'm not ready for how hot it's gonna be when we get outside." athena complained lightly, her hand linked tightly with austin's.

"is it hot today?" he asked. she checked her phone, nodding.

"38° celsius right now." she said. he frowned. "100°."

"is that normal?" he questioned. 

"welcome to a queensland summer, north." lachie laughed, patting him on the shoulder. "prepare to be suffocated by humidity and heat."

"it'll be fine. our house has aircon." athena assured him. 

"mum!" lexi interrupted, sprinting away from the group, the boys and andie hot on her heels.

"here we go." athena mumbled under her breath, following her bandmates over to where their families were stood.

athena scanned the group, a wide grin appearing on her face when she noticed her grandfather stood next to lachie's mum.

she let go of austin's hand, rushing over to the elderly man and throwing her arms around him.

"hello lovie." he greeted. "i missed you."

"i missed you too pop." athena sighed, letting him go after a moment. "everyone else too busy?"

"your sister isn't here, went to sydney with her friends. and your parents..." he trailed off. "they asked me if i'd like to come instead."

"well i'd much prefer you." she admitted, turning to find austin, who was awkwardly stood with their carry on luggage. she gestured for him to come over and he did.

"pop, this is my boyfriend austin. aus, this is my pop, jack." she introduced.

"a boyfriend?" her pop raised an eyebrow and held out his hand for austin to shake. "you looking after my granddaughter?"

"yes sir." austin nodded, shaking his hand. "although she doesn't really need me to protect her."

"that's my thena, never needed anyone to protect her." he smiled. "it's nice to meet you austin. i look forward to getting to know you."

"you too sir." austin replied politely. her grandfather shook his head.  

"please call me jack. or pop. whichever you'd prefer." he said, before turning to athena. "you have somewhere to stay lovie?"

"i assumed we'd just go home." athena shrugged. 

"you want to come stay at beechwood?" her grandfather suggested. 

"really?" athena's eyes widened in excitement, turning to austin. "nan and pop have this really nice beach house that we used to go stay at all the time."

"since your nan passed i've lived there full time. your aunty george is there with the wife and kids at the moment, but there's definitely room for two more. your room isn't even taken." her pop explained. 

"sounds good to me." austin shrugged. "up to you teeny."

"please." athena grinned.

"it's a done deal then." her pop grinned. "introduce your boy to everyone while i get your bags, then say your goodbyes and we'll get going."

athena nodded, linking her hand through austin's, and with a quick description of their bags her pop was off, leaving athena to make the introductions and greet the families of her band mates that over the years had become like her family too.