Challenge :A.C.M:

17.

:griffin:

"I think you need to take a break" I suggest towards Austin, watching him hunched over, his breathing heavy from practicing. He took me back to the building he did not too long ago, practicing his running and catching.

"I can't" He shake his head "I have one month, and that's it"

"Exactly, you have a month of days you can practice" I walk over to him, leaning against the wall "Let's go get a milkshake"

"Griff-"

"Nope, let's go" I put everything he took out back, grabbing his gym bag and walking out of the room, leaving him no choice but to follow me.

"You're a pain in my ass" Austin shakes his head.

"Yet, you still hang out with me" I tap my chin "I knew you were into butt stuff" Austin only rolls his eyes in response, unlocking his car. I put his stuff into the back seat before climbing into the passenger seat, putting on my seatbelt.

"Where do you want your milkshake from?" He asks and I shrug.

"Can we find somewhere that's like just for milkshakes?" I ask.

"No" He says and I frown.

"Fine, I don't care then" I huff, crossing my arms. He backs out of his parking space and drives down the road, leaving me to wonder what's got him all pissed off. If it's because I stopped him from working out he should thank me. Physical activity isn't good for anyone.

Don't let people lie to you.

He pulls into the parking lot of a Shake Shack, and I smirk to myself, climbing out of the car. Austin walks behind me, hooking his fingers in the belt loops of my jeans "Thank you" I coo, turning my head to look at him and he rolls his eyes "Why are you upset?" I ask him, but he shakes his head.

"I'm not"

"Austin" I whine "Please tell me"

"I'm fine Baby" He says "Promise"

"Okay, what ever you say" I shrug, opening the door to Shake Shack, getting in line.

"You better get something that isn't vanilla" Austin says, looking at the large menu of flavors.

"But it's my favorite" I pout.

"Look at all those options" He points to the board "Tell me you can't find something better than vanilla"

"Nope" I shake my head.

"Griffey" He whines, and I laugh.

"I'll get their most popular" I compromise and he nods.

"Okay"

***

"I cannot believe their most popular was vanilla" Austin scoffs as we walk back out to his car, we waited in the line for at least 45 minutes, only for them to tell us their most popular is vanilla with rainbow sprinkles.

"It has sprinkles on top"

"It better be damn good" He gets into his car.

"Wanna try it?" I wave it in front of his face. He takes the straw into his mouth and takes a drink, and I look at him in anticipation.

"It's pretty good" He nods "But I still feel like there has to be one that's better"

"Nope, the guy at the register knows the truth, and the truth is vanilla is best" I laugh, leaning back against my seat and drinking my milkshake.

"What do you want to do now?" Austin asks.

"Make out" I say, my tone serious. Austin chokes on his spit making me laugh loudly and him glare at me.

"That's not funny"

"I'm sorry" I giggle "We can do whatever you want"

"So, make out?"

"Sure" I shrug "But wait 38 years"

"Why 38?"

"It was the first number to pop into my head" I shrug, Austin pulling into his driveway. We climb out of his car, Austin following me to his front porch, unlocking the door. We walk inside and up to his room, turning on a movie. About halfway through we stop watching the movie and just talk, both of us laying on our sides, facing each other. 

"I don't know" He shrugs "I mean, sure I'd like to be able to kiss you whenever I want, or like hold your hand and stuff, but it doesn't bother me really" He says.

"Why not?"

"Because I like you, for real. I like you for who you are as a person, not what you look like, what you have" He answers "Just you"

"I hate it" I sigh "It bothers me, but what bothers me most is it doesn't bother you"

"I don't let it bother me" He shrugs "Like I told you from the beginning, I want you to be comfortable around me. I don't care how long it takes because I want you Griffin, I want to be with you" He admits.

"You don't know me" I shake my head, getting out of his bed "There's so many things you don't know about me. You don't know what made me like this, you don't know why I don't tell anyone anything, you don't know" I shake my head "I think you need to find a girl that will actually let you touch her, and will fall for you" I whisper "You're wasting your time on me. I'm a lost cause" I sigh.

"No you're not, not to me" He shakes his head, sitting up in his bed "I'd take not being able to hold your hand, hug you, kiss you or even have sex with you over being able to do that with anyone else" He says "I like you, Griffin. I want to be with you" He emphasizes "Nobody else"

"But I can't be the girl you want me to be" I shake my head.

"You already are, you're everything I want. I just didn't know it until I met you. Don't push me away Griffin, please"

"Okay" I nod "I won't" I confirm and he smiles, laying back down in his bed.

"Now, will you come lay down with me?" He pats the spot next to him, and I lay down beside him, folding my hands over my stomach. After about ten minutes he's fallen asleep, so I grab my phone and open Dean and I's text conversation, sending him a message.

To: Dean
I need your help, meet me tomorrow morning. Under the bleachers.

From: Dean
I'll see you there, is this like last time?

To: Dean
No. It's not.

From: Dean
Good, I don't think I want to be slammed against the wall again.

I lock my phone and sit it on Austin's bedside table. I lay on my side, facing Austin wondering how in the hell I'm doing this.