It's love that keeps fueling me(Austin Carlile fanfic)

Chapter 7: You said "Get to the point"

Austin POV

I was headed back to the spot where Audree was. I had found Noah and Roman hanging with a group of friends that happened to be there. Aunt Leah had gone to some little beach stores to look around.

I was going to go get her and bring her back. I was on a high. Even though just a few hours before I felt all that pain that I tried to hide for years again, Audree had brought me back down. We opened up to each other like we never did before and it had the best effect. I felt closer to here, which I didn't think was possible since we were already so close. I had a jump in my step and a grin on my face and I just wanted to be near her again.

As I walked back, I looked out to see and noticed the tide was pretty high.

My mind flicked back and forth between Audree and how I was happy. It was almost euphoric and it made me feel light-headed, this feeling. I climbed back down and landed on sand. I scanned the isolated stretch of land. I noticed where our stuff was, but I couldn't see Audree. Panic almost immediately got the better of me. I walked and started jogging when I stopped.

There was some dude that I've never seen before sitting down on the blanket. But that's not why I stopped. Next to him, there was something close and touching his side. It was rolled up and covered in a large towel. It was shivering. His hand was patting the shivering figure.

It was Audree.

I sprinted forward and barreled over him. Audree's face emerged from the towel. Her blue eyes were wide and she looked paler than usual. "Austin," she croaked. My heart plummeted. I scooped her up in my arms and held her like I was cradling a newborn. She still shivered.

I stifled a sob. What had happened to her?

Then I remembered that guy when I got there and how he was still in our presence. My head snapped up.

"What the fuck did you do to her?" I snarled. I would have jumped and ripped his throat out by now if I didn't have Audree in my arms. He looked calm.

"Hey, asshole, if you fucking did anything to her I am going to-"

"Austin, stop." I looked down at Audree. She reached up and laid a hand on my cheek.

"Stop, please. He did nothing wrong. I was stupid and tried to swim out by myself. I almost drowned but he rescued me." She looked so tired.

But now I was only frustrated. I sighed. "Audree, I told you not to. What were you thinking."

"I wasn't thinking, Austin. I'm so, so sorry I-"

"Shh. It's fine. As long as your safe, that's all I care about." I pulled her in closer. I was glad she was fine but did it so I wouldn't start crying. She almost died and I wasn't there to save her, but thankfully someone was here.

Then my mind went back to the guy still here. He was quiet the whole time. I looked up at him and he looked away. "Hey man, I'm sorry I snapped at you. I just thought you did something to her."

He kept his eyes averted. "No problem. I wouldn't let anyone drown. Glad I could keep your girlfriend alive."

"She's not my girlfriend." I blurted out. It was the truth.

He slowly made eye contact with me. He cocked his head to the left. "I had to give her mouth to mouth." WAIT, WHAT?

The fucking bastard kissed Audree? But I just grounded my teeth and smiled politely at him. "Hey, Austin?" Audree's voice was muffled below me. "Yeah?"

"Can you let me go? I can't breath." I slowly pulled away and looked at her. She was still a little flushed but she was starting to look like a healthy color again. I breathed a sigh of relief. I just went through an emotional roller coaster and I was gone for only 40 minutes. Terrific. Audree was now sitting up and she looked up at the mystery guy. He gave her full smile and went to kneel down next to her. He put his hand on her shoulder. Son of a bitch, hadn't he touched her enough already?