Bruises ↛a.c.m

five.

word count: 2038

| A Q U I L A |

❁77 days before❁

I hadn't notice the cycle between Austin and I's routine until now. it was practically the same. we would go to school, go out, go back to his condo, have sex and I'd leave the next morning. I had learned to realize that maybe this wasn't a relationship to Austin except for nothing more than a simple way to get laid.

I, quite frankly, didn't care. did I feel used? of course but I had learned to grow attached to the boy and I loved him. maybe not in the sense that I was madly in love with him and I'd cross oceans for him but I loved him in a way that I cared for him. if anything, we were nothing more than just friends with benefits.

the next morning, on the first day of October, I got to school earlier than expected, with books in hand and a cup of coffee in another. same as always, I waited for Austin by the bench beside the library and I read my history book, realizing I had an exam just a few days away.

we focused on nothing but the religious leaders of the Buddhist times and I began to grow fond of the class. professor Jackson had grown on me, even though I'd learn to hate the old man. seriously, I hated him.

"I didn't hear you leave this morning." I heard come from above me and it was the same voice that sent chills down my spine every single time.

"you were asleep and I decided to go home, I have an exam and I need to study later tonight." I sigh, looking over at him once he sits down beside me and I lean my head on his shoulder.

"come over to study with me at my condo." he offers, nudging my side and I laugh a little. I knew what studying meant but surely I had to decline such offer even if it was intriguing.

"I can't, I seriously need to study. Jackson will kill me if I don't." I say, lifting my head from his shoulder and he pouts when he looks at me.

"please? I'll help you, seriously. I will." he promises and I debate it briefly before I give him a nod and he smiles, pressing his lips to my forehead and he lets them linger there for a few seconds.

I pull away from Austin and I watch Hollis pass by and he waves at me lightly and I give him a smile before I return the wave.

"who's that?" Austin questions, pulling me into his side and his grip is tight and rough. I burrow my eyebrows at his sudden reaction to Hollis.

"he's in our world religion class." I huff, pushing myself off of him and he clears his throat, nodding his head.

I play with the edge of my cup as we sit in silence and I look over at him as he leans forward, his elbows at his thighs and his knuckles under his chin.

before I can even initiate a conversation, the bell rings and Austin grabs his things and I follow, swinging by bag over my shoulder and he waits for me.

we walk to my next class, he kisses my forehead without saying anything and I give him a brief smile before I disappear into class and I watch him walk off. his hands in his pockets and his head low.

his sudden actions began to make me question the kind of person Austin was turning out to be. I didn't want to believe that he was doing it out of anger or jealously, we weren't even together.

I shake off my chain of thought and I sit down, right as class begins to start and I take a sigh, hoping that the subject would keep my mind off of the situation.