Blackout. [COMPLETED]

Winter.

Winter was shockingly cold and even my big, brown, sexual predator jacket couldn't withstand the temperatures. 'Reflects the warmth of your body' it said on the packaging. It would help if I had any body heat to begin with, I was surprised I didn't have frostbite. I was seriously worried for my life. 

However, tomorrow was the big day. The day I got my spot popped. The day of 'just'. The excitement was almost unbearable and I would leap into an embrace with Austin every time I saw him.

"Easy, tiger," he groaned, smiling and patting me on the back. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he stumbled out of his bedroom in his pyjamas.

"It's tomorrow," I whimpered into his ear. "Tomorrow I'll be all better."

"You will be," he said, kissing my cheek. "You'll be even more perfect than you already are."

"That's cheesy," I said, pulling away. "As is your breath. Brush your teeth, mister." He frowned, cupping his hand over his mouth and exhaling, before sniffing his own breath. He wrinkled his nose and nodded, quickly hurrying to the bathroom to freshen up. 

While he was cleaning himself, his phone rang. I hoped desperately that it was my mother, wishing me luck.

"Hey!"

"How did you know it was me?" Davids groggy voice greeted me from the other end of the line. I wasn't disappointed, I was just a little... surprised.

"Oh, uh, caller ID," I lied, sliding up onto the kitchen counter. "It's the big day tomorrow."

"I know, I can't wait," he replied. I could hear the smile in his voice. "So, did your mother call?"

"Yeah! Thank you for that."

"How're things with you and Austin?"

"Yeah, they're good," I said, running my fingertips in small circles over the marble. "He's kept me alive, anyway."

"Well, that's easier said than done. I'll give him a pat on the back for it tomorrow." I'd forgotten he was coming to the operation with us. It would be the first time I'd seen him in a few months. "I can't wait to see you."

"I know, you too. Even if I have a bald patch and needles in my arms. It'll be like the punk reunion you've always dreamed of."

"Yeah," he said, with a sigh. "I've always loved punks. I had a mohican once, you know. I doubt you remember. It was blue. I looked gnarly."

"Did you just say gnarly?" I laughed for a while, a good long while, before Austin tapped me on the shoulder and pushed a steaming cup of fresh coffee into my hands. 

"What's wrong with gnarly? It's what all the kids say. I heard them say it on the beach. Gnarly waves, gnarly mohawk."

"Shut up, good God. I'll talk to you later," I said, finally restricting the laugh to just a smile.

"Okay, love you," he said, before hanging up. He was used to me never saying 'love you too' back. It seemed different now I knew he had been in love with me for years, my love seemed weak and inadequate. He understood, thankfully.

I took a deep sip of the coffee and licked the foamy milk from my lips. "Thank you Austin," I cooed as he sipped his own. He gave an enthusiastic thumbs up without parting his lips from the rim of the mug. 

"So," he said, after finally finishing his coffee and using his finger to get the last bits of foam at the bottom of the cup. "You can't eat before your operation tomorrow, correct?" I nodded.

"Or drink."

"So we best eat like kings today," he suggested. I nodded eagerly, feeling hunger creep into my stomach already. I suggested the pizza place, but he waved his hand dismissively saying that it wasn't 'royal enough' for us. He opted for a large, grand restaurant in the center of the town that I'd never seen before until we stood before it.