Dreams Come True (Austin Carlile/Ben Bruce)

Chapter 24

I took a deep breath before opening the door to see Austin sitting on his bed. The rest of the band was in their rooms packing up to get on the bus, Austin seemed to have already finished. I spent most of last night finishing the last of my small packing. Austin shifted in his spot.

"Uhm. Hi." He sadly waved, "Would you like to sit?" And patted the spot beside him on the couch.

I grabbed the chair and moved it in front of him. "What should we talk about?" I fiddled my fingers. I knew what I wanted to say, I knew what I had to say, but I couldn't say it. I am a listener, I don't talk, I reassure and I am there when people need me.

"Us, Randi. I would like to talk about us." He fidgeted towards the edge. "I'm sorry, I was so drunk. I didn't know why, but you singing with Ben, and then hugging him, it angered me. I got so jealous, and I don't have any right to. I am used to girls saying they love me right away, I'm used to knowing that they don't really love me. And I mean it's been a while, and you haven't said it, which means you actually do... or did." He took a deep breath in. "It scared me. I should've been more understanding, with your parents and childhood, I shouldn't have drank like that and yelled at you."

I stood up, "Austin, I can handle the drinking, I can handle you not fully knowing what you're doing because you're intoxicated. I can't handle coming back into OUR room, to find you with another woman." I couldn't look him in the eye. "I can't handle the man of my dreams becoming this replica of my father. He drank and he cheated and you reminded me so much of him. I hated my mom for not leaving my dad when she found him in our guest room with my best friends mom. I hated my mom because she let him stay and she continued to love him. But now, now I understand why she didn't leave him, why she did what she did."

I got two glasses of water, "she loved him, the way I love you. I have an amazing guy who is sweet, caring, and funny waiting for me to say I'm over you. But I will never be over you Austin Carlile. I will always say yes if you want to come back."

Austin ran his fingers through his hair. "Randi, I love Ella. She wasn't this crazy bitch, well I mean she was. But the way you feel for me, I feel for her. She cheated on me, so many times. I still forgave her, I proposed to her, I was crazy for her. I am crazy for her. I'm sorry."

I felt the tears build up in my eyes, I tried to hold them back. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Thank you Austin. That's all I needed. I'm really simple, if you tell me the truth I'll be better off." I stood up drinking the cup of water in my hand. "Thank you." I set the cup down and started for the door.

"Randi." He grabbed my hand, "Please don't hate me."

I looked up at him, into his loving brown eyes, "Austin, I could never hate you. That's the problem." He let go of my hand and I walked out of the room. I waved at Emily, who was waiting for me in the living room area.

"Oh Randi. I'm so sorry." She wrapped me in a hug, "Alan explained everything to me, I wish I could just cuddle with you."

I laughed into her shoulder, " I don't want to ruin your shirt with my snot." I looked up to see Alan debating on whether to join or not. Emily released me, and Alan took his turn.

"He is my best friend, and you are my girl's best friend. I'm not choosing sides, but he could've dealt with it better. You're a strong woman, Randi. You don't need a man, you just need happiness. I hope you don't leave because of this."

I was released from his hug. "I'm not leaving, I love this band too much. I'm still your interviewer and photographer." He patted my back, "but I'm going to find another bus to ride with. So that Austin and I have our space, and I don't want to be near Ella right now."

Emily nodded, "I'll walk you to Ben's room."

We stepped outside of the room and started slowly walking to the room. "Randi? Alan has been acting sheepish."

"This is so cheesy. He's either going to break up with you or marry you. It's like this in all the movies. Just wait and see." I smiled at her.

"Ah you're so right. Well here's your room, I'll see you in Germany darling." She gave me a quick hug than skipped back to Alan who was waiting by the door with their bags.

I opened the door. A towel barely hanging on his hips, Ben was singing and dancing a little. His back was toward me. He'd find a shirt then shimmy to his suitcase, then shimmy to another spot. I stepped in quietly, closing the door behind me, trying to not make a sound. I sat on the chair, my knees pulled to my chin, I say watching him.

He turned to the chair still singing. "Oh." He stopped, pink graced his cheeks. "I didn't know you were back." He shyly smiled. "I'm going to get dressed now."

I nodded, laughing. He grabbed some clothes and went into the restroom.