Challenge :A.C.M:

32.

a/n: we're going to have Austin's pov for a little while☺️

:austin:

"So, when are we leaving?" Griffin asks, stuffing more things into her suitcase.

"Right after graduation" I tell her.

"Okay" She nods, closing her suitcase and zipping it. She puts it by her door and walks to her closet, closing the door and coming back out a few ,inured later with her cap and gown on "How do I look?"

"Gorgeous" I grin, and she walks over to me, standing between my legs, her hands on my shoulders "We're going to have so much fun on this trip" I chuckle.

"Who's going?"

"You and I. Alex and his girlfriend, Zach and his girlfriend and Rob and his pillow" I laugh and she rolls her eyes, shaking her head. I pinch her hip and she pinches my shoulder in response.

"Stop"

"Sorry" I stand up, kissing her lips as I pass them. She pushes me and I dramatically fall backwards onto her bed, pulling her with me "Mmm, I like this position" I grin and she rolls her eyes, burying her face into my neck.

"You're so weird"

"You're so pretty" I mock her and she rolls her eyes.

"Yeah, okay" She climbs off of me. I stand up after her and grab her wrist, pulling her into my chest.

"I mean it" I tell her, cupping her cheeks. I squish them together and laugh as she rolls her eyes.

"You're like a child" She mumbles, her words coming out jumbled as they pass through her squished lips. I let her go, and we walk out of her room and I carry her suitcase out to my truck, not having enough space for everyone in my car.

"Are we all riding together to your beach house?" She asks.

"Zach and his girlfriend are riding with us. I think you'd like her" I answer and she shrugs.

"Well, I hate most people so are you sure?" She raises an eyebrow and I nod.

"She's a very likable person" I put her stuff into my trunk. She shrugs and walks back into her house and I shut my trunk following after her, stopping when I hear her talking to her mom.

"You two aren't like, doing stuff are you?" Her mom asks, and I nearly choke on my spit.

"Mom, really?" Griffin asks in a monotone voice "What makes you think I am?"

"I don't know. You two have been hanging out a lot lately. And you stay over his house quite often" She says, her voice skeptical.

"Mom, he sleeps in the living room, nothing happens" Griffin lies "I don't like being touched"

"I know" She sighs "Well, you two can drive there and I'll meet you after" Her mom says.

"Okay, bye mom"

She walks out of the kitchen and stops abruptly when she sees me. I smirk and she rolls her eyes, pushing past me and walking out to my truck.

"Was she lying to me?" Laura asks me and I shrug.

"I wasn't listening" I lie.

"Well, I'll ask you. Do you and my daughter do things? You spend a lot of time together"

"No we don't. I know how she is and it's not necessarily getting anywhere" I shrug.

"Do you want it to be somewhere?" She asks.

"I want whatever Griff wants" I answer honestly "I'll see you soon" I smile, walking out towards my truck. I get into the front seat and drive to the place our graduation is being held. I wait until we're out of sight to Griffins house and that's when I reach my hand over the center console, placing my hand on Griffins thigh.

She shakes her head and wraps her arm around mine, laying her head on my shoulder. I kiss the top of her head and she smiles, kissing my cheek. We get to the venue and we walk to the back, everyone telling us what we have to do so that everything goes as planned.

***

I've sat through almost 3/4 of the ceremony, watching people walk on stage and get their diploma, waiting for it to be over so we can leave and not come back for a week.

"Griffin Margaret Stone" The principle calls, and she walks across the stage, I smile until the kid beside me leans over.

"She's so hot. Have you see her before?" He asks.

"Yeah" I nod "Heard she's got a boyfriend though"

"Oh man, who? I bet I could out do him" He snorts, and I look at him.

"Me" I answer and his eyes widen.

"Shit, I'm sorry" He mumbles.

"Just don't talk about my girlfriend like that" I roll my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. He stays quiet for the rest of the ceremony and once everyone is called I walk back to the part behind the stage, leaning against the wall to wait for Griffin.

"Hi" She drawls out, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.

"Hi Babe" I kiss her nose.

"Congrats" She winks.

"You too" I wink back.

"Let's go before my mom get suspicious and thinks we're touching each other" She rolls her eyes.

"But isn't that what we're doing?" I ask.

"Not those kind of touches" She mumbles "But before we go..." She trails off "Give me a kiss"

"Ooh, it's my lucky day" I grin, leaning down to kiss her. She giggles once I pull away, kissing my cheek and walking out and towards the stadium area, before walking through the exit, me following after her.

"Griffin!" Her mom yells and we walk up to her "Congratulations" She claps.

"Thanks mom" Griffin nods, and Laura looks at me.

"Congratulations to you too"

"Thank you" I smile, looking around while Griffin and her mom talk. I furrow my eyebrows when I see a familiar figure, and I lean into Griffin telling her I'll be right back.

"Mom?" I walk over to her and she looks up at me "What are you doing here? It's been two weeks. That's not long enough to let you out"

"I know. I asked them politely to let me come here" She says.

"Why'd you make an effort? You never did before"

"Because I've been a bad mother"

"Hmm, I know" I shrug and she sighs "I asked you multiple times to do simple fucking things for me, but you never did,Mao what makes you think coming to my graduation fixes anything?"

"I didn't think it'd fix anything, but-"

"But nothing, you've ruined everything. Just go back to rehab. I need to go" I turn around, seeing Griffin leaning against a pole not too far from me. I sigh and walk over to her, opening my mouth to say something but she cuts me off.

"You don't have to explain anything to me" She shakes her head "Tell me when you're ready" She shrugs.

"You're the best" I sigh out and she smiles "Well, are you ready to go?" I ask and she nods.

"Let's go!"