The Unforgettable

Pt. 14

~CHAPTER 14~

My dad was my best friend. He and I got along with everything. When I heard about his death, I didn't know how to control my anger and neither did my mom. I wanted to kill myself just to be with my dad, but Austin helped me get through it. He was the only one I could really talk to about it. No one else.

"Hey," said a voice that surprised me

I turn around and saw Austin a few metres away from me. Casually leaning on a tree with both hands in his pockets.

"How long have you been there?" I stand up

"Just for a bit," he starts walking towards my dad's tombstone

"Did you hear-" I ask

"Some of it," he shrugs

"What are you doing here anyway?" I ask

I already knew the answer to my own question. Austin and my dad were very close. Ever since we started dating, my dad insisted he should get to know him first, before things get serious. I didn't really have a choice. After a while, they've gotten closer than ever. They would often go out on a Friday night or just hang out at my house. So, I guess I asked him that question just so I could hear his answer.

"Because I care. You know that. Just cause we broke up, doesn't mean- " I stop him

"Okay okay I got it. That's enough," I sit on the ground, facing my dad

"Sorry," he sits next to me "how are you holding up?"

"Fine," I lied. Not just to him, but to myself too. Tears came rushing down my cheek. I thought I was fine. But I'm not. How could you forget someone who has been there your whole life? You just can't.

"I'm so sorry, Jen. You don't deserve any of this. Your dad was a great guy," he positions his right arm on my shoulder.

"But it did happen. To me. To my family." I started crying even more

"That's why you impress me. After everything that you had to go through, you're still here. Right? Things will get hard, but I want you to know that I'll be right here. Always." He looks me in the eye and I bury my face on his chest, trying to avoid eye contact.

"I never got to thank you for that. I'm sorry things ended bad between us, I never wanted it to-"

"It was all my fault, I shouldn't have-" I cut him off

"It's okay. I've forgiven Heather," I pause "and you too,"

"Are you being honest this time?"

"Yes." I look into his light green eyes and so did he

"Enough for you to give me another chance?"

"Don't even start," I pull away from him

"I think I heard your dad say 'don't you let Austin go'. Was that what he said?" He smirked

"Oh shut up!" I laughed "that was 2 years ago. Things have changed,"

"Nothing's changed except for 2 things. One, we aren't together anymore. Two, you met someone new in your life; Kyle."

"What are you saying?" I say

"If you like him, you can just tell me to back off. That way I'd stop getting my hopes up for nothing," he gets up and walks back to where he stood before "or do you like it when guys crawl on your feet and chase your tail?"

"NO I don't," I groan. Something about what he said offended me in a way. "God, Austin. I care about you. And I admit, I do think I have feelings for you. But I have feelings for Kyle too. And I don't know what the hell I'm gonna do. You're both great, and I don't want to hurt any of you."

"Oh. Since when did you start liking Kyle?" He asked

"I don't know. But I only found out at Michelle's party. After seeing him in that closet. And-" I take a deep breath

"AND?" His eyes widen

"After that kiss," I whisper, even though I knew he could still hear it

"You guys- kissed?" He looked down, too embarrassed to look me in the eye

"Yeah," I walk over to where he stood "well right after Michelle threatened to ruin my life,"

"She did say that nothing gets in her way. And if something does, she'll run 'em over with a car,"

"She's kinda scary sometimes," we both laugh

"So what are you gonna do? Fight for him?" He raises his eyebrows

"I don't know. I don't think I should," I say

"Well why not?"

"I just don't think I would do that to someone desperately in love with a guy. It'll ruin her. And I don't want that."

"Wow, wise words." He laughed

"Hey, let's talk somewhere else. I kinda don't want my dad hearing all these- things"

We walked around the plaza near my house until sunset. We tried avoiding topics about our love lives. We both knew it would just make things awkward between us. I missed him a lot. Just the thought of him beside me somehow makes me feel safer and relaxed. Like my world is problem-free.

"I have to get home. My mom's probably looking for me so,"

"Oh yeah. Sure. I'll walk you home."

I remember having these walks with him in the summer. After hanging out, he would always walk with me to my house. He would never leave me alone at night. He stood with me at my doorstep as I took my keys out of my bag.

"Shit," I said as I dropped my keys on the ground. We both bend down to reach for it. Our fingers touched as if they were a puzzle made to be together. We stare at our touching hands for a couple seconds and we both get up.

"Here," I take the keys from his hands. Once I've unlocked the door, I returned the keys in my bag.

"Thanks for bringing me home and for spending the day with me,"

"No problem, anytime." I nod and before I could open the door, he spoke again "oh! You forgot this,"

As I turn around, his soft, warm lips came crashing onto mine. Something about this kiss made me want him even more. It was different from the kiss Kyle and I had. This one seemed more passionate, and full of love.

He pulled away, leaving his forehead on mine.

"Now tell me you still don't have any feelings for me," he says while trying to catch his breath "because I know you do."

I know too.