If you say so. (Austin Rivers)

the call.

I waited until Anthony left for practice to call Austin.

Something in me was screaming  that this was a terrible idea, but I just needed to hear his voice, and more than just a dumbass voicemail.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

Come on dammit.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

"Valerie?" Austin's voice echoed through the phone all the way from North Carolina to Kentucky, and all I could do was freeze.

"Uh, are you there?" He said and my mouth was forming words, but I was inaudible.

"Austin." I managed to breathe out.

"Is everything okay?" He asked concerned and partially confused.

"I just, uh, wanted to see how you were. We uh, we play you next month." I said sounding completely foolish.

He stifled an airy laugh and then responded, "We do don't we, and I'm good. Basketball is going really well for me this year and the coach has been real impressed."

"I'm proud of you, I know that this is what you've worked your ass off for and to see you finally getting the recognition you deserve is, heartwarming." I said and then felt a breeze of relief hit me.

"How about you, how's school over there? Not breaking too many hearts are you?" He said with a hint of hurt in his voice.

"School's great. I've met some of the players over here and can't wait for the show to go down next month. And heartbreaking? Well once you get your heart broken, I guess its hard to know what a perfect one looks like, so you kinda keep to yourself." I stated dryly with my heart thumping in my throat.

"Ah, I see. Well I have to head out to the gym, so I'll catch you later." He said resentfully and then hung up. 

I just layed there under the warm covers on my bed which somehow seemed to turn a shallow, cold abyss. I felt like my body was being consumed by the sheets and pillows so much that the air became thicker than blood.

Sometimes you think that maybe you should have let some people go. Cut off all ties, ignore them, be free, but its hard because a part of them will always be with you. Maybe its that song that just played on the radio bringing back thousands of memories, or maybe its that one special piece of clothing you wish you could burn but can't bring yourself to ever do it, whatever it may be, its almost like a shed of your old skin you can't seem to fully let go.

-

I pulled the sheets off of my body and then made my way to the bathroom. I freshened up by taking a shower and then applying some light makeup to my face. I figured that I might as well go to the library and catch up on some studying, in college you have to always prepare yourself for a pop quiz.

"Hey, you look tired." Anthony jovially greeted me as I waved a hand at him. He watched me as I changed into some yoga pants and slipped on a hoodie. "I'm going to the library to study or something, you want to come?" I asked, taking my phone off its charger and checking my messages. "Sure, I have to go find some book for English anyways." He replied hopping off the bed and then leading me out the door.

It was dark outside but light enough to see. The wind was picking up and I folded my hands around the sleeves of my hoodie. "Don't you ever get cold?" I asked while looking over at Anthony who hadn't even taken notice of the chilly night air.

"Not really, I suppose I'm just naturally hot enough. Or maybe the air up here is just really warm."

"That makes sense, I mean warm air rises whereas cold air sinks."

"Oh, so now we got a meteorologist up in here?" 

I laughed as we made our way into the library. I scoped it out by looking around and seeing students half-asleep, eating, gossiping, bored, or making out, - not awkward at all. 

Anthony followed me as I approached the librarian at the front desk. "Excuse me ma'am, but do you by chance have the book Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes in here?" I asked as I watched the librarian stifle through the online catalog. "Yes we do, it should be on the last blue shelf in the back." She said and then smiled at me.

"You know for a librarian she does a pretty shitty job. Like, aren't they supposed to help you actually look for the book?" Anthony asked as he sat at an aged, oakwood desk in the very back of the library.  "I just want to find my book and get out of here, its all dark and gloomy." I said and then got on my tip-toes to reach the book I was looking for. 

"Ahem, need some help?" Anthony asked as he effortlessly brought the book down from the shelf and then handed me the book.

"Thank you, much appreciated." I smiled and then walked back to the front desk to check out my book.

As Anthony and I had made it back to the dorm I know that he could tell something was bothering me. "Is everything okay? You seem ... distracted." He said and then tried to study my facial expression. "No I'm fine." I responded and then plopped on my bed. 

I picked up my phone and then blankly stared at my screen.

Austin:

I'm sorry it was so awkward on the phone, this is in no way how I wanted our relationship to turn out. I should've said something the night before you left. Call me soon.

"Hey, everything okay?"

"What? Uh, yeah. Just my mom texting me and complaining about how I haven't texted her my plans for the holidays yet." I said as I avoided Anthony's gaze and put my phone on airplane mode.

I rolled over in my bed and then laid there with my eyes wide open staring at the white drywall. Maybe, just maybe, good things were to come.

"Goodnight Anthony."

"Goodnight Valerie."

His light turned off and I forced the thoughts rummaging through my head out.

A/N: Hi guys :) Hope you enjoyed this chapter. How do you guys feel about everything that's going on? Next chapter I'll try to make into Austin's POV, thoughts? Okaay bye, x love you all x