Madness

Part 14

Searching through my pockets, I realize I don't have my keys. Shit. And it looks like no one is home. How do I get in? I guess I'll have to go through the kitchen window. Making my way to the side of the house, I look around to see if anyone is watching. People are nosey and think the worst in situations like this. I pull on the frame of the window and wrap my fingers around it. Pulling it carefully not to rip the screen, I give it a forecful tug. Yes! It's out! I let the window screen down by the side of the house. I need a chair. My legs won't be able to go up that high. I see one sticking out from the small storage in the far corner of the backyard. Perfect! As I scamper over to retrieve the chair, I hear a car pull up into the driveway. I wonder who it is.

*Knock Knock* "Hello? Michelle? Are you there?" That familiar deep british accent rang through my ears. "Please open the door! I need to talk to you! Listen, I'm sorry about this morning! Please! Let me make it up to you!" I tiptoed to the side of the house, enough to see him but not enough for him to sense me there. I peak my head out of the side of the house to see if he was still there when suddenly, these two big hands caught hold of my waist from behind. I begin to scream, "Ahh! Let me go! Let me-" "Babe! Calm down! It's just me!" "Well, don't sneak up on me like that!" "Sorry love." "Its ok." He leans in for a hug but I deliberately take a step back. His face changed from happy to hurt. I don't want to hurt him like this.

"Um, Harry. We need to talk." I never liked the sound of those words. And saying them just made me feel completely awful. Hovering over me, he put his hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes. His eyes darkened into a deep emerald. It frightened me. "Ha-Harry, please let go of me." "Tell me what you are going to say. Just do it now." "Harry let go. You're hurting me." His fingertips where slowly sinking into my skin. "You were right, Harry. I have finally realised what you mean." His pupils narrowed and his shade of emerald lightened to a soft mint. His face went pale as he softened his grip on my shoulders. I'm sure that's going to leave bruises.

He took three steps back and lightly placed his hands on his head, "Wha-What do you mean?" He frantically asked me as tears rolled down his face. His despaired look gave it away. He's heartbroken. I don't want to do this! But, I need to. It's the right thing to do, right? He's more of a best friend. Sure me and Olly go way back, but he's like my guy best friend. I see it now. That's why I feel whole around him. He gets me and we have such a huge bond, not because of love, but because he's my best friend. Since Olly and I stopped talking, he was there. He helped me. He is my savior. But I will never be able to get over Austin. Never. He's my, uh, true love? Despite what we went through in elementary and middle school, he showed change. Because, well, he loves me.

"You said you wanted to know if it was real love, but, it's not. I love you. But, as my best friend. I'm sorry. I can't and won't be able to get over Austin." "What do you mean?" "Harry, before you can along and saved me, I was with Austin. He was the reason of why I was so depressed and somewhat going crazy. When he left, and I became anti-social, you came along. And saved me." My eyes shut as my hands covered my face. I'm so ashamed. I can't even look at Harry. I'm such a fool. I'm seriously crazy. "So, all this time. You didn't actually love me?" His voice was weak and brittle. "I did, I do, just not in the way I thought it was. I'm sorry, Harry. I think it's best for you leave." With that being said, he casually walked to his car, got in, started the engine and took off. I'm sure he hates me. But, I don't want to lose him. He's been through so much with me. I didn't even get to meet his mum and sister.

*Ring Ring Ring* Pulling my phone out of the sweater pocket, 'A private number? What the?' I thought to myself as the phone kept ringing. "Oh, uh, hello?" "Mitch, I need to see you. Can you come over?" "Yeah, sure. Wait, Austin why are you calling from a private number?" "It's my mom's phone. She's got like this big security issue. She's very protective." "Oh, ok. Well I'll see you in about half an hour?" "Great! See you at my house then. Bye, beautiful." Did he just call me beautiful? Well, I can't deny that it made my cheeks go from peach pale to crimson red in only a few seconds. I can't stop thinking about him. Those words replayed over and over in my head for another two minutes after we had just hung up.

I have no time in getting into the house now. Walking out of my driveway and onto the sidewalk, out of nowhere a black '64 Mustang pulls up next to me. 'I'm shitting bricks. Please don't talk to me. Go away. Leave me alone.' I think to myself as I continue walking rapidly up the street. "Hey there pretty lady." Sensing my fear, "Don't be scared. We aren't going to hurt ya." Wait, did he say we? Mitch, run! I stop walking and the hear car stop. I stand there for about thirty seconds when I suddenly feel my legs take off. I ran as far as I could and stopped to catch my breath. I hadn't realized until now that I was just a few houses down from Austin. He'll help me, right? I hope so. I turn around, no sign of the black car. I get to the end of the street amd right when I'm about to cross, the Mustang reappears. "Hey! You in the Trunkfit sweater!" I hear one of the mens voices call me from behind. I didn't stop then, and I sure as hell wasn't going to stop now. I began accelerating my speen until I reached Austin's house. Desperately knocking, "Austin! Michele! Anyone! Please! Open the door!" I continue to knock until footsteps were heard at a distance coming from inside the house.

*Click* The sound of the unlock calms me down a bit, the knob begins to turn, it feels like forever! I can't take it anymore! I grab the knob as I give it a forceful turn and burst the door open. "Hide me! Hide me! Hide me!" I say as I hysterically run around in the living room. "Michelle! Calm down!" Austin says in a soft tone which gets me to calm down. "Th-These g-g-guys w-were f-following me and I tried to r-run but they-" "Calm down! You're safe now. I'm here." He says as he puts his arms around me. His warm body instantly relaxing me. I felt safe in his arms. "I'm going to get you a glas of water, I'll be right back. Ok?" I give him a few nods, he hugs me tightly then heads to the kitchen.

I walk over to the shelves aligned on the wall, there are many pictures of Austin as a baby and a kid. He looks so adorable! The one picture that caught my attention was one where he looked around 7 months, he was wearing a blue shirt and had his index finger in his mouth while two small bottom teeth were fairly visible. His eyes were a deep blue. The picture right next to that one was of him at a fair or carnival. He had a white shirt with blue stripes some jeans, a big wad of cotton candy in his hand and some in his mouth. He looked so happy and innocent. I smiled like an idiot at the thought of him running around as a kid not having a care in the world. A hand touched my shoulder and I flinched to see Austin with the glass of water and a confused look. "What's wrong?" "Oh, nothing! You just startled me." "Oh, well what are ya looking at?" "Just, your baby pictures. You were so cute, what happened?" I say teasingly with a giggle. "Very funny, Michelle.", he says and laughs. He is still very cute indeed. I bet he knows that already though. I want to kiss those soft plump lips. He bites them as if teasing me.

I can't help myself. I pulled his face into mine colliding out lips together. Moving in sync, he gave in and began kissing back. I felt his lips slightly open and I slid my tongue into his mouth. He didn't mind, in fact, he did it back. In that moment, there was something I had never felt before. Fireworks began to burst around us. The butterflies in my stomach turned to sparks and the connection we had was stronger than gravity its self. The taste of his lips was sweet and mystical.