Along With Austin

Chapter One

How do I explain Austin Joanne Lewandowski? She's not someone who can be described in words. She's someone that pulls you along for an adventure at two in the morning. Someone who you can watch the sunrise with while sitting on a billboard so there aren't any obstructions. Someone who will listen to everything you have to say about something and then tell you what you need to do about it.

Austin Joanne Lewandowski is someone who lets you cry all your sorrows away and then reassures you that everything will be okay. Even if you know that it won't. Austin is my best friend.

I don't think I would have been where I am now without Austin. Looking back on all our adventures, I see that what happened didn't happen because of anything I did, and I couldn't really stop it from happening.

The life that we live with each other was just about to start. Before I get into anything serious though, I should go back to the beginning. Back to when we first met.

**************

I was new in the small town of Morrisville, Alabama and it was my first day of second grade. Everyone in the class had known each other for years before, having had play dates. I was sitting alone in the classroom at recess while all the other kids played outside. The teacher, Ms. Hennessy, tried to get me to go out and play with the other children, but I was really shy.

Then, a small girl with carrot red hair rushed into the room. She looked over at Ms. Hennessy, then her green eyes locked in on me.

The small girl marched over with her hands on her hips and looked me dead in the eye. "Why are you in here, when you could be outside playing?" The girl started to gesture wildly with her arms.

"I-I don't know," I mumbled.

The girl placed her hands back on her hips and pursed her lips. "Well, you are coming outside with me. We are going to be friends forever, got it?"

Nodding, I hesitantly took her outstretched hand.

"Good. My name is Austin Joanne Lewandowski, but you can call me Austin." She smiled at me.

I just nodded.

"Well, what's your name?" Austin demanded to know.

"Raeleigh Marie Lucas, but you can call me Candice." I smiled shyly.

Austin nodded and then began to pull me outside to the playground.

Austin didn't let me be alone for the rest of second grade, or the years after that. She would come and grab me from the classroom each day and we would play games at recess.

Austin Joanne was my best friend from the moment she placed her hands on her hips and demanded of me to come outside.

**************

"Raeleigh, are you okay?" My manager Allison asks, placing her hand on my shoulder.

"Huh, oh, yeah, I'm good. Sorry, lost in my thoughts, I guess," I chuckle.

Allison nods then moves away from me. I focus back in on my task of stocking the shelves of the small general store.

The general store, located in the middle of Morrisville, is a quaint store has been in town square since the beginning of town. Save for a few minor renovations, the store looks exactly as it did when it was built.

The bell over the front door rings out, alerting me that someone has entered the store. I look up, in vain, to see if Austin is the one that walked in, even though I know it won't be.

Looking around for Allison, and not seeing her, I make my way behind the counter.

Just as I reach my designated post, a hand comes up over the counter and drops a chocolate bar.