Alone

16

The sun shone bright through Parker's window as Austin woke up and stretched his arms, yawning. He looked down to find Parker still asleep next to him. He sat up quickly, not remembering why she had allowed him to even touch her. He rolled out of the bed, trying not to disturb her and hopped around the bed, using the mattress to keep his balance as he made his way to his room where he painfully showered and changed clothes. When he came back out Parker was showering and he made the bed with some difficulty and was finishing by the time she emerged from the bathroom wearing jeans and an oversized sweater.

"You really shouldn't be putting any weight on that."

He smiled at her and sat down on the bed. She sat next to him and he spoke.

"So I was thinking. You should meet Vanessa. I think you would really like her, and vice versa of course."

Parker smiled at him, loving the fact that he was finally opening up to her and beginning to see her as an equal.

I'd be delighted to meet your friends! But how would that go? I mean me being...well me."

"Oh...I hadn't thought of that."

The two sat in thought for a couple of moments before Austin spoke again.

"What if you weren't you?"

"What do you mean? How can I just become not me?"

"Well we could introduce you as another slave of Parker Ryan. Then you would meet them all as one of us."

He shrugged, just thinking out loud. She laughed and gave him a hug.

"You're absolutely brilliant. I am curious though. Why the sudden change in character?"

"After yesterday, I feel like I can really trust you, and that the most I can do to really respect you is think of you as a friend."

"Thank you so much Austin. I can't begin to tell you how much that means to me."