HERO

CHAPTER THREE: Do I have a crush?

        I walk back into the restaurant and slide in my booth. 

        "What happened?" Asks Kaitlyn, seeing my red, puffy eyes.

        "Nothing," I reply as I pick up my menu and begun to read.

        "Really? Fucking nothing?! Don't bullshit me! Look at your wrists!" He says, almost in tears for me. I look down to the the dark black and purple marks wrapped around my wrists. I look into her eyes one last time before breaking down.

        "I knew this was a bad idea. Let's get out of here," she says, leaving a twenty on the table and grabbing our things.

        "Where are you lovely ladies going?" Andrew walks up and puts a hand on my shoulder.

        "Nowhere," snaps Kaitlyn, pulling me away from him and glaring.

        "Then why leave?" He says, tightening his fists.

        "We have things to do Andrew," I say over my shoulder, pushing Kaitlyn through the door. She stomps out to her car, throwing herself around.

        "You guys aren't even dating anymore and he still thinks he has control over you?! NO!" She screams, throwing her purse in her car, hitting the window on the opposite side.

        "Just give him time, he'll move on..." I say, rubbing the bruising on my wrist.

        "You don't have time!" She shrieks. "This is just gonna get worse and worse!"

        "YOU THINK I DONT KNOW THAT!?" I yell at her. "I'M DOING WHAT I KNOW WILL KEEP OTHERS SAFE! I DON'T NEED YOU TELLING ME WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT DO!" With that I jump in my car and drive away with tears running down my face.

        When I pull in my driveway I take a deep breath to regain my composure. I slip a dark purple sweatshirt over my head and pull the sleeve down, making sure to cover my wrists. I wipe the running makeup from under my eyes and fix my hair. If my mom found out...I might as well be dead...I put on my happy face and trot inside. I force away my limp, trying to walk as normal as possible. I tremble with pain as I turn the door handle.

        "Hi honey! How was your last day?" wonders my mother as she brings me in for a hug.

        "It was great!" I exclaim, trying to cover up the red marks on my neck.

        "You're gonna like this," says my mother with excitement in her voice.

        "Oh God...what did you do now...?" I ask, afraid of my answer.

        "I invited Austin and his mother Michele over for dinner tonight! I figured, since it's just you and me in this big old house, so why not have company!" she squeals with delight.

        "Where are Libby and Bella tonight?"

        I have two younger sisters; ten and eleven. They drive me nuts...

        "They're at Maddy and Kennedy's tonight!" she responds just as relieved as I am. My mother always loosens up when my sisters are away. It's like she has less stress.

        I run upstairs to change into something with long sleeves. When I strip off my top I can see scratch marks from the buttons of my shirt.

        Damn you Andrew...

        A small tear runs down but I wipe it away. I pull on a coral pink dress, re-curl parts of my hair, and head downstairs.

        The door bell rings and it's Austin and his mother.

        "Mrs. Mahone, Austin, come in." says my mother welcoming them into our home. Austin walks in and sits next to me. He's wearing a light blue button up shirt with khakis.

        "How was the last day?" he asks with a smile.

        "It was great!" I lied to him. I pull down down the long sleeves of my lace dress and cross my legs. "How was unpacking?" I ask, changing the subject.

        "Boring as hell!" he says, nudging my ribs and laughing. I wince in pain from where Andrew had been.

        "Kenzie, come help serve dinner!" yells my mother from the kitchen.

        "Austin, you too!" hollers his mother from the kitchen. We both reluctantly get up and drag our feet to the kitchen. While we set the table I catch Austin looking at me several times.

        Finally I ask, "What? Is there something on my face?" I ask laughing. He smirks and shakes his head.

        "Nothing," he responds with a smile.

        We all sit down to eat and it's not long before the embarrassing childhood stories start flying. By the time dinner is over Austin and I have turned fifty different shades of red. He and I clear the table and head to the living room. We sit down at the piano and tinker around for a bit.

        "Play something Kenzie!" says my mother through slurs. I think she and Mrs. Mahone have had a bit to much to drink.

        I start to play 'I Won't Give Up' by Jason Maraz and begin to sing.

        "I love this song!" says Austin, smiling ear to ear.

        "Grab the guitar and play along, Austin!" says his mother through drunken slurs. He picks up the red acoustic guitar and starts picking along with me. I look at him smile and he does the same.

        I'm about to play the the big finish to the song when Austin begins to chuckle.

        "Hey, don't stop playing," he says with a trick up his sleeve.

        I go into the chorus and a glorious harmony passes his lips. His tone went perfectly with mine. Hitting every note, and making my heart melt. I can't conceal the smile slowly spreading across my face. I'm lying if I say i didn't want to stay like this forever. Just sitting and listening to his voice.

        When the song finishes the clock strikes twelve.

        "Well, we better get going," says Michele, trying to keep her balance.

        "I'll help you take her home," I say, laughing at the hysterical sight of two middle aged women leaning on each other for support.

        Austin and I walk across the street with each of us supporting half of his mother. When we reach his house she walks in and passes out on the couch.

        "Thanks for the help..." He trails off. He scratches the back of his head and laughs a little bit, looking down. "My mom must really like your mom, because she only drinks like that with friends,"

        "It was no problem! I got a kick out of it!" I laugh.

        "So hey, this might be a stretch, but I was wondering if you wanted to meet me tonight, outside your house?" he mumbles, shuffling his feet on the ground and burying his hands deep in his pockets. "I thought it would be a good way to get to know you better? considering we didn't get a ton of time this morning..."

        "Yeah...I'm sorry about that. I guess i lost track of time... But yeah i would like that!" I can feel my cheeks flush with pink.

        "Lets say...1:30?" he says, now with a full smile.

        "I think I can work something out," I giggle, blushing even harder. 

        "See you later then?" he asks, making sure I meant what I said.

        "Definitely see you later," I reply with confidence. "Good night, Austin." I end our evening with a smile

        "Good night, Kenzie," he says. He slowly shuts the door and I'm left smiling from ear to ear.

        Call me crazy if you want but I think I have a crush on the neighbor boy.