A week before their high school graduation, Ellie's boyfriend walked her to her door and kissed her goodnight, just like any other night. But there was nothing ordinary about what followed. Austin disappeared without a trace, never to be seen again...
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A lot can happen in one day. We all knew that. What I learned was that it could start out as of the best days of your life, just to turn around to become one of the worst.
The way mine began was the best way possible. I awoke with a smile on my face, all wrapped up in the man of my dreams. It didn't even matter that it was before four in the morning. I was with him. With Austin.
"Good morning, beautiful," he whispered, and pressed soft kisses on my forehead, my nose and finally to my lips. He was on his left side with his arm wrapped around my stomach and his leg half on top of mine, where I laid on my back with my head nestled up against his bare chest.
"Good morning," I responded with a smile and rolled to my side so I could snuggle closer to his warm body.
Even in that in-between awake and sleep state, I knew what I wanted. To be as close to him as possible.
Austin let out a small chuckle when I threw my arm over his hip. "I'd love to stay here with you," he said and pressed a kiss to my lips, "but we gotta get up."
I groaned when he disentangled himself from me and received a teasing slap on my ass in response.
"Hey," I complained, but Austin just smiled.
I curled up on my side and watched him get out of the bed and stretch. Maybe having to get up that early was annoying, but there was absolutely nothing to complain about when it came to the view. Austin, with no clothes on, was a sight to be seen. And one I wanted to keep all to myself.
"Come on, lovebirds," Alex yelled from downstairs, sounding a little like my grandma. "Time to get moving."
"Ughhh." I pulled the comforter over my head while Austin just laughed. As embarrassing as it was to know his brother was fully aware of what we'd been doing, it was nice to hear Austin's laugh as finished dressing before he bounced down the stairs.
I was still smiling as I got out of bed, but the smile disappeared off my face when I heard Alex start to tease Austin. I wasn't ashamed of having slept with him, but it embarrassed me that Alex had heard us.
Austin just chuckled like it was no big deal.
When Alex left to take Bear for a quick walk, I went downstairs and helped Austin finish up in the kitchen. He smiled when he saw me and gave me a quick kiss on my lips.
"You look cute," he said, which made me smile even more. I'd dressed in the leggings and Maine hoodie that Alex had gotten for me.
"I'm supporting the local supermarket," I responded, since I had no idea exactly where his brother had gotten me the clothes.
"Fashion at its finest," Austin agreed.
A half hour later, Alex and Bear were back. We ate, packed up the car, locked the cabin and were on the way.
Austin drove with Alex as his front seat passenger while Bear and I were crammed together in the backseat together with bags of stuff. I was tired from the lack of sleep, so even though it was a tight fit among all the luggage, it didn't bother me. Bear's head was on my lap while the rest of his large body laid curled up next to me. I felt his warm breath on my leg every time he exhaled.
In that moment, despite everything that was going on, I felt safe in the care wih Austin and Alex, tucked up next to Bear.
It was dark outside, and radio played some soft kind of elevator music. The rocking motion of the car and my warm, cozy clothes made it impossible for me to keep my eyes open. And maybe it was better that way.
