Room 116 (Austin Carlile + Alan Ashby)

IX

I didn't know what it felt like to hold a guy's hand. Nor did I know what it was like to wake up in a bed made for one person with someone else. It was unusual for me to have to notify someone where I was going before I did, because they'd be worried if they didn't know.

It wasn't normal for me to wrap arms around a guy for warmth. It wasn't normal for me to kiss a guy for love. It wasn't normal that I'd love a guy.

But for some reason, it felt normal because it was Austin. Part of it, at least. There was the slight case of paranoia, anxiety. A little bit of anger and frustration. Ah wait, paranoia.

Paranoia had never been a problem for me until I thought if Austin and I would last. If I was just being screwed around with. Surely Austin couldn't think this was entirely serious.. We haven't even done that stuff yet.

--

Austin and I had decided to go out to the more popular lake and walk down the bike paths. The only people we'd seen here were the people on the first day. We ran into these guys called Radley and Joseph on the way. They're really decent and nice. They rode slowly on their bikes beside us to just talk about how things were.

Joseph was a regular here so seeing him was like seeing that one person in your neighbourhood who you wont see for a couple of days but know they're there the whole time.

Eventually they'd rode ahead and seemed to be racing with one another. Usually, more people would come during the course of the few months. From all I knew, there were a majority of guys here and about two girls joined who ultimately mind their own business. That was of course until we found out that there was a new addition.

That new addition would have to be in Room 118 which was the one next to ours (117 being on the opposite side along the other corner). Austin and I were furthest away from the campsite now so it was okay for us to just relax.

We sat beside the lake and he wasn't afraid to let me hold his hand and rest my head on his shoulder. It felt calm and serene, his arm around my waist as his hand picks at the bottom of my shirt.

He slid his hand under my shirt and he squeezed my cold side with his warm hand. I closed my eyes and embraced the moment. "Hey, I like this." Austin suddenly whispered in my ear. I shivered again at the thought of us actually being together.

"I like it too." I yawned before subsiding into a complete rest on Austin at which he laughed softly. He stroked my hair as if I was a cat and held me while I buried my head deep in his chest. Austin hummed me a quiet song as my eyes drooped despite it just being the afternoon.

--
I woke up in my bed and I was utterly confused how I'd even got here. Tiredly, I rubbed my eyes and checked the time. It was 9pm? I slept for literally 9 hours. I yawned and stretched. I looked around the room after getting up and noticed Austin wasn't here. Must've popped out.

I wanted to thank him for bringing me back. Oh well, he shouldn't be long. I went to the bathroom to freshen up. I brushed my teeth and had a quick shower as if I'd just waken up in the morning.

Half an hour had gone past and Austin still wasn't here. I called my mom while I waited and she told me how one of her missionary circle friends' son graduated as a doctor and how Sophie (my cat) was doing. She asked me for updates on Austin and I told her it was going well. She said she'd run into his dad in one of the popular malls in Cali and recognised him from Junior High or something. Apparently Austin's mom passed away so its just him and his dad.

He didn't tell me that before but I guess it's just not an easy topic to just tell people. My mom told me herself and my dad missed me despite being glad to have free time without me and I told her the same but vice versa.

After hanging up the call, I checked the time again. It was now 10:00pm. Where was Austin? Usually he'd leave a note but I don't think he was sure of how long he was going to be. As if he'd gone out in attempt to take a short amount of time but ended up taking longer than he expected.

In boredom I checked my twitter just to see what everyone was up to. While I scrolled through my timeline, I noticed a tweet from Austin, 2 hours ago.

'Why is this happening to me?!'

Huh? What was that about? It couldn't have been about me, I'd been asleep this whole time. And he was absolutely fine with me before I fell asleep. Surely something happened while he was out and that's why he was taking so long.

Instinctively, I thought to go out and check on him. It was 10:00pm so he couldn't have gone too far because they usually block some places off at night to reduce health and safety risks.

I grabbed a hoodie and the room key, putting the hoodie on and slipping my key into my pocket. Just as I was about to open the door I heard minute shouting at the end of the corridor and it sounded like Austin, and a girl?

I opened the door and saw the back of Austin and slightly the front of a girl with long blonde hair and skimpily short clothes.

"You need to go!" Austin whisper shouted which he only ever does in frustration. "I do not need to go anywhere, Austin." she said arrogantly.

Austin sighed and said, "I've had enough of this." He turned around to see me standing at the door in utter confusion. "Alan! Thank God you're up." he said sounding relieved. I nodded and mumbled, "Wh-who's this?"

He sighed again. "This is Gielle." Subsequently she ran up behind him and linked her arm around his. What the hell is she doing? Nobody touches Austin but me... But then why aren't I stopping her. They obviously have some history.

"I'm his girlfriend from back home." she smiled and instantly I felt like I'd just eaten shot-puts which became spiked as the feeling reached my stomach. I looked at Austin and he shook his head.

"Ex." Austin grunted as he yanked his arm from her grip.

"What are you talking about?!" she yelled.

"We've already As their arguing spoken about this, I ended that."

"You're crazy, drowned out Austin. You did nothing of the sort."

"Oh my God, you're the lunatic. Why would I continue all I could think of was that dating someone like you?"

"Excuse me, you didn't Austin and I end anything."

"For crying could never last. out loud.."

(tbc)

--
Sorry for the long wait. I had writers block and also had exams. Apologies if it's pretty crap.