One Night (Austin Mahone Fanfic)

Chapter Nineteen - "Leaving"

Austin’s POV

I knew in my mind leaving Skyler for a month would be difficult but physically leaving was harder than I anticipated. The second I told her I had to go away I could see how much it hurt her. I could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice. She tried to hold it together. To an outsider she took it well, but the thing is I’m not an outsider. I know her the way she knows herself. She would never tell me how much it tore her apart to let me go, that wasn’t in her nature. 

Skyler took it for what it was. There was nothing she could do about it and she knew that, I had no option but to go. She knew if she showed how much she wanted me to stay it would kill me, so she chose to act like everything was okay. 

But little did she know I was still dying inside, because I knew how hard it would to be away. Not just for her but for me. Before I left for the night she had told me she needed me, but the truth was I needed her more.

Maybe that’s why I had waited so long to tell her I was going. I’ve known for a week I was leaving but how could I have told her then? We had just gotten into our relationship and she was happy. I couldn’t take that away from her right then and there. Every time after that would’ve been one more time before I went away. I didn’t want that. I wanted our time together to be about us, not about me leaving. 

That last hug and kiss goodbye, if she had turned to me after and told me to stay I might have actually done it. But she didn’t say it, she turned away and went to get ready to go to sleep. I understood why, she couldn’t watch me leave. Skyler didn’t want to watch me turn around and leave, instead she did it herself before I could. 

I drove back to JJ’s with my music blasting. I needed to block it all out. Letting my thoughts consume me would only make the situation worse. The sooner I leave tomorrow the sooner I can come back to Skye. 

I didn’t even bother trying to silently creep inside. I trudged up the stairs to my room and threw my shirt off and climbed into my bed. I needed to get some sleep before it was time for me to go. I tossed and turned trying to get comfortable but it was useless. The only thing that would comfort me was Skyler. I stared at the ceiling above me until I eventually fell asleep.

The next morning I woke to my alarm and gathered my things together. Once I was finished I grabbed my things and waited by the door for JJ. He had yet to tell me where I was going and why. All he had said was he had a job for me and I would be going away for a month. I didn’t question it, I knew better than to question it. JJ always told you what he wanted to know when he wanted you to know it. 

After about a half an hour of waiting JJ appeared in the hallway. To my surprise a familiar face followed behind him: Zoey. What the hell was she doing here?

“Good I see you’re ready to go. Now Austin, I know you’re already well acquainted with Zoey so introductions aren’t needed. She’ll be going with you on your trip.” 

Zoey walked out from behind JJ revealing the suitcase she had been dragging behind her. She smiled in my direction but I didn’t smile in return. I only glanced from her to JJ and nodded. 

“Cheer up Mahone, I thought you’d be happy I was sending her with you.”

Actually it was quite the opposite, I wasn’t happy at all she was coming with me. This would only complicate the situation even more. It was the last thing I had expected. Was she coming for a legitimate reason or was he sending her for my own needs? Truthfully, I didn’t want to know the answer. But I hoped it wasn’t for me, she wasn’t what I needed.

“And where exactly are you sending us?” I said with a straight face.

“Well, I see someone is all about business today… Okay then have it your way, I’m sending the two of you off to Miami. Now come along, I’ll explain on the way.”

JJ motioned for us to follow him outside where a black van was already waiting for us. Zoey and I climbed into the seats in the very back. As soon as all the doors shut the driver started the car and we were off.

No one spoke and I wasn’t willing to break the silence. Instead I stared out the window. I watched as we passed various houses and stores, it all seemed so peaceful.

I knew two ways to the airport: the first being the highway and the second used main roads. The highway was faster and in my opinion much easier but using the main roads was far more scenic and I could see the appeal. To my surprise we took the second way. 

Our car went right into town and continued to follow the main road. It wasn’t until we took a sudden right onto a street I knew all too well that I felt my heart start to beat faster. We were going to pass it in a matter of seconds. My eyes were locked on the window now. As I expected we passed it: Skyler’s house. Out of the corner of my eye I saw JJ look back at me through his peripheral vision.

I kept my gaze fixed on the window and held my composure, he was watching me. JJ knew. The driver didn’t take this route by chance, he was told to go this way. He did this to get a reaction out of me. JJ wanted to remind me who was the boss here and how little control I had. He wanted me to realize that he found out despite all my efforts to keep it a secret.

I couldn’t give that satisfaction, for Skyler’s sake I couldn’t lash out. If I did that could put Skyler in danger. No, it would put her in danger. Anything I did would be directed back to her from here on out. JJ wasn’t stupid. He knew the only way to hurt me was through her. 

I wondered how she slept, probably horrible. In a couple hours she would have to get up and go to school. She would be faking it the whole day. To everyone else she had to look like her normal self, nothing could seem wrong. No one would know what she’s dealing with on the inside. 

My thoughts were interrupted by JJ clearing his throat, “We’ll be at the airport soon. There are multiple tasks I need you to complete while the two of you are away. The first being you need to negotiate with a colleague of mine. You will be given instructions of where to meet him once you are settled into your hotel. He has some information I need and with a little persuasion he’ll give it to you. Once you have it report back to me and I’ll give you the next task.” 

JJ paused for a second to see if we were following what he was saying. Both Zoey and I nodded giving him the okay to go on. 

“I need both of your expertise to accomplish what I need done. You’ll realize that soon. I’ll keep in contact with you both. I expect everything to run smoothly. If it doesn’t, someone will have to pay.” 

Someone, someone as in Skyler. I wouldn’t let him hurt her. That was the last thing I’d ever allow. 

The car came to a halt and Zoey and I got out and took our things from the trunk. We watched as the van began to pull away. Once it was out of our range of vision we turned and went inside the airport. 

Zoey and I found our gate and within an hour we were boarding. Our seats were towards the middle of the plane. I had taken the window seat and Zoey sat in the middle. 

Everyone had finally calmed down and the plane started to move down the runway. Just as we were about to take off Zoey looked over to me and spoke for the first time today, “Are you ready for this?”

“I don’t have another choice now, do I?”

No, I didn’t and Zoey understood that, it didn’t have to be said. We were on our way to Miami for a month whether we liked it or not.  

A/N: Now what could happen on this trip? A lot can happen in a month you know. Guess you'll have to wait and see what I have in mind... Hope you enjoyed this chapter!