How To Stay Afloat (BxB)

Chapter 121: last ride

Thursday and friday go by quickly. I stick to ignoring Austin, but slowly I'm starting to think about making up. It's not like I've never lied to him. I shouldn't hold a grudge.

So, after the 6th and last lesson of the week I turn around to Austin.

"Hey." I say softly. He looks at me surprised, like he didn't expect me to talk to him at all.

"Oh hey!" He says, looking at me hopeful.

I let out a sign. "Sorry for being so mad for so long."

"I understand it, I just would like to know where I'm standing because right now I feel like a dead man walking, desperately waiting for the moment you finally end our relationship for good." He says.

I frown at him. "I wasn't gonna break up. That was never even an option. Did you think that?" I ask him surprised.

"What? Of course I thought that!" Austin exclaims. "I thought you're thinking about whether you wanna end the relationship."

I shake my head slightly. "No, I'm not breaking up. And I've had some time to think about it. I guess I forgive you." I say to him.

"You- oh, seriously? That's awesome. Wanna hang out tonight?" He asks me excitedly.

Austin used to remind me of a cat with his changing emotions. But he also kind of is like a dog.

I nod my head. "Yeah. Can we go to your place? My parents are kinda annoying right now." I explain.

"Yeah. Sure." Austin says with a smile. "I could pick you up. Is that a good idea?"

"That's a very great idea." I tell him. "I can text you when I'm home and you can come pick me up?" I suggest.

"Yeah. Sure. Can't wait." Austin agrees.

_____

After I pack my things I go to the group meeting, like the good old times.

Dylan isn't there and it makes me wonder whether he managed to stay clean after all.

Caleb is already waiting with his car as I get out of the building. We go straight to his garage.

"So, Austin and you are fixing things?" He asks as he starts driving.

I shrug. "Yup. I forgive him." I explain.

He nods. "That's good, cause I wasn't sure if he's maybe here to work on his bike today."

"Oh. He's fixing his motorcycle at the garage?" I ask surprised.

"Yeah. He helped me with my car and in return I help him with his bike." He explains.

"That's cool." I say with a smile.

"Yeah. I was scared you'd be mad that I stayed in contact with him." Caleb admits.

I chuckle. "Just because we were broken up doesn't mean none of you can talk to him anymore." I point out.

"Yeah. Okay. Good to know." Caleb says and then brings his attention back to the street.

The afternoon with Caleb is actually really cool. We order pizza and drink coke, listen to music with Ryan and we talk a lot. Caleb explains his car to me. The engine had a problem and they took it apart and are now fixing all the little details in it because he's hoping to be able to get more horsepower out of it for the next season. 700 is what they're going for.

Is that a lot? I have no idea.

Anyways, that was a lot of car talk for one single day.

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