The Girl with the Blue Hat

Chapter 3

(Xavia's POV)

We pulled up to Austin's house and he stepped out. He was wearing the same dark gray v-neck tshirt and jeans he'd been wearing during school. Not that i think he's attractive or anything but it's a good look for him... A little girl wearing a bright pink shirt dashed out to hug him goodbye and his nervous posture softened as he hugged her. She signed to him... wait, she signed to him?! Whoa. I looked down as he walked towards the car and he sat in the back with Amanda. Carter quickly filled the silence with his happy chatter as we drove to the bowling alley. Where he comes up with these ideas i have no clue... We were two blocks away from our destination when in went bad. Austin tried to involve Amanda in the conversation.

"Uhm, Amanda right?" he said. she probably nodded.

"Are you good at bowling?" his voice was gentle and soft, it made you want to listen to him all day. I looked at the mirror and watched her nod.

"Do you go often?" She nodded again. If he knows that she's different he's not showing it.

"What's your favorite time to go?" he seems very genuine, like he really cares, "bowling i mean."

"We always go together, usually around 8." I say quickly. Austin turns his deep brown eyes towards the mirror to look at me, making me blush at the attention brought by my stepping in for Amanda.

"That's cool." He says and smiles warmly.

"Yeah, and this fool usually comes with us." I say, pointing at Carter. My jest is rewarded by chuckles and a soft tap on my upper arm from Carter as he parks the car.

I slowly get out of the car and walk to the door when Austin dashes past me, openning the door right before i could and holding it open for me. I look down and mutter a thanks, new to this kind of courteousy from a guy. We all walked in and got shoes and out bowling balls and began. Carter was getting all strikes or spares and was practically giddy about it and picked Amanda up in his excitement. Austin looked surprised when she did't laugh out loud like i had when Carter had picked me up earlier but her wide grin seemed enough. We went through the night with several situations that were probably unusual for Austin but routine for Amanda, Carter and I but he didn't seem to scare too easy apparently. When Amanda nodded toward the bathroom while the boys were messing around, i followed her.

"Is everything okay?" i ask. She smiled and nodded. She told me that she was uncomfortable though and that she wanted to go home. She had already texted Mom and she was on her way. I was supposed to tell the guys that she didn't feel good.

"Okaayyy... if you say so." i say reluctant to let her leave me alone with those two. We walked out slowly, with Amanda clutching her stomach. She's such a good actor, even without her voice. She walked out the door and i went back to bowling. Five seconds later i got a text from Amanda.

A: Now you get some quality time with C and new boy ;)

isighed and surpressed a giggle to prevent attention from the boys and went on with my night.

No sooner had i closed the door behind me than i was ambushed by Amanda. Her hands moving too rapidly for me to respond. I asked her to slow down, she smiled and did so. Tell me all about it.

"If you're hoping something sparked between Austin and I you're getting your hopes up for nothing. Nothing happened and nothing will happen Manda..." I say with a sigh as i walk past her and up the stairs. She stomps past me and glares at me.

"Glare all you want, even if i didn think he was attractive or anything like that, he wouldn't like me back like that. He's Carter's friend." I say, opening my bedroom door and looking over my shoulder at her. She just shook her head and hugged me goodnight.