Why Wait?

15

~~~Austin's dressing room~~~
"No," Austin says.

I look at Alex for backup. He just shrugs.

I groan. "But its the fair. Everyone goes to the fair. Plus I've never been."

"Have you taken your meds?" he asks.

"Yes," I snap.

He looks up from his notebook. "Find someone who can take you."

I take out my phone. "Sid has volleyball. Janessa is out with her boyfriend. Which is a total joke, by the way. Paisley probably could. But she'd have to bring her brother along and he's really annoying."

Both Austin and Alex were staring at me. "And what are you going to do?" Austin asks with a bored expression.

I look through my contacts. "I could call Cody," I say quietly.

"Absolutely not," Austin tells me.

I sigh. "He's the only one. If it makes you feel any better, he can bring his sister along. She's really sweet. And there's no way Cody can be a jerk while she's around."

"No," he repeats.

I pout. "That's so not cool. It's the fair."

"So I've heard."

It's been decided. I'm calling Cody. And Austin wouldn't know because he's too busy working.

"Okay," I say calmly, heading for the door.

"Youre not calling him," he calls after me.

I don't say anything back. Just walk across the hallway to Strike's dressing room.

Luke, Chance, and Ty were sitting on the couch staring up at the ceiling.

"This looks like fun," I say, sitting on the beanbag chair.

"Whats wrong with you?" Ty asks flatly.
I look up at them. "Austin won't take me to the fair. And I suggested going with Cody but he won't let me."

Chance and the guys have a silent conversation for a while before turning to look at me. "We can take you."

I look at them. "Seriously?"

They nod slowly, as if they can't believe they even made the suggestion.

"Are you sure? I mean, I was just going to call Cody."

Luke let's out a sharp laugh. "Now we're definitely taking you."

I smirk. "Jealous much?"

Ty chuckles. "Some more than others."

My eyebrows furrow in confusión. "What do you mean?"

"Never mind," Chance says quickly. "We should go tell your brother so he doesn't kill us whenever he can't find you."

Austin looks up as we walk in. "What's going on?"

I lean against the wall. "They're taking me."

He glares at me. "I said no."

I roll my eyes. "You didn't want me calling Cody. There's nothing wrong with this."

"Kelli," he says, sounding exasperated. "Can't it wait?"

But receive a message before I can answer him.

Cody: Meet me outside

"Actually, yes it can," I tell them. I turn to look at the guys. "Give me twenty minutes."

I head outside. Cody was leaning against the wall on his phone. He smiles when he sees me. "Hey, gorgeous."

I blush a little. "What's going on?"

He shrugs and takes my hand. "I wanted to take you somewhere."

I smile. "Sure."

"What are you doing here?" I hear Austin ask behind me.

I groan. "Austin, mind your own business."

He rips Cody's hand from mine and glares at him with a cold expression. "I suggest you walk away right now," he says in a low voice.

I push them away from each other. "What's your problem?" I demand.

He starts to talk but I don't let him.

"You won't take me to he fair, you won't let the guys take me, and now you feel like telling me what to do?"

He grinds his jaw but doesn't say anything.

"You are not my dad," I say harshly. "If he wants yo tell me how to live my life then he'd be here."

"I'm just trying to protect you, Kelli," he says frustratedly. "Dad isn't around to do that and--"

"I don't need you to think you got appointed," I say loudly. "I need my brother. Not an overprotective jerk who stepped in as my dad because he has nothing better to do."

His frown deepens and I can tell I crossed the line.

"I can just come back," Cody says awkwardly from behind me.

But we ignore him.

"You think I actually want to do this?" Austin demands. "I'm sorry if it seems as if I have no life but you don't exactly make it any easier for me to have one."

I roll my eyes. "I'd be perfectly fine without you, Austin. You don't have to control every single second of my life. I'm sure that everything you keep me from doing is things that you've done before."

"Which is why I know what to keep you away from," he says angrily, jabbing a finger at my chest. "Your stupid disorder is what keeps me from doing what I want. I'm constantly worried about every little thing you do because you'll probably end up killing yourself."

My eyes water and remorse flashes across his face. But just as quickly as it showed up, it was gone. "I never asked you to waste your time on me," I say, my voice breaking. "And if I would've known I was such a burden, then I would've probably stayed away and let you do your own thing."

"Kelli," he says, a quilty expression on his face.

I shake my head as a small tear rolls down my cheek. "All I wanted was to go to the fair. You're always so busy and these past few days we haven't really gotten to spend any time together. So I thought we could go together and do something. Like we used to. But now I know you just did all of that because you felt you had to."

"That's not what I--"

I cross my arms over my chest and look down at the ground. "You'll get what you wanted. I'll leave you alone so you can do what you want."

I let Cody grab my arm and lead me away. The tears were rushing more freely by the time we were in his car.

How did I not know this before?

I mean, I know I'm not easy to work with but I just figured that he actually wanted to try and help me.

"Do you just want to stay in a hotel room or something?" Cody asks.

I shake my head. "Lets go to a party."

He looks at me uncertainly. "A party?" he repeats flatly.

I nod. "Like the ones you took me to. I really need something right now."

He hesitates. "I'm not sure you're supposed to go partying like this."

Anger surges through me. "I don't care," I say, tears rushing down my face again. "Either you take me or I find a way to get there on my own."

Although he doesn't really want to, he drives off in the direction of was is hopefully the best way for me to forget everything right now.

HEY!! IT GOT A LITTLE INTENSE BUT I STILL HOPE YOU LIKED IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN AT THIS PARTY? WILL IT GET OUT OF HAND? WILL IT SUCCEED IN ALLOWING KELLI TO FORGET EVERYTHING THATS HAPPENED?

PLEASE COMMENT/VOTE.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS AND WHAT YOU THINK.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK!!