The Trench

Chapter 33 - Intentions

Austins POV

I was in bed when I got her texts. My phone pinged on my nightstand and cast a blue light into the room for a second until the screen went black, sending the room into shadows again.

I had rolled over, wondering who in the world would text me at midnight. That's when I noticed it wasn't just one text, it was multiple from a span of one hour.

I made up my mind about us.

I need youh...

Im drnk LOL :D

Somtngs wrng...

I've tried calling her multiple times since I got the messages, it rings and then goes straight to her voicemail. I got dressed and called Mae, who didn't answer, and decided to visit clubs seeing if I could find her.

After the second bar, someone finally picked up her phone and gave me an address. She told me to meet her out front of the frat house, however I instructed her to go back past the greenhouse and meet me in the unused alley behind the property. She seemed skeptical, but obliged.

I knew the alley was there, I used it plenty of times during my time at that frat house. I chuckle to myself at the memories as I speed towards the brick building, trying to distract myself from the knot in my stomach.

I'm almost there and my phone starts buzzing from the cup holder, I take a quick glance at the screen and grimace.

Fucking Val.

I swipe the screen and ignore the call, sending her to voicemail.

I get another call directly after my voicemail notification. I growl in frustration and snatch the phone from the cup holder, the piece of technology gripped tightly in my hand I bring it to my ear.

"What?" It came out more of an irritated demand more than a question, however the persistent woman on the other line merely chortled in response.

"Is that any way to talk to me, Austin?" If I didn't know her any better the voice on the other end would be sweet, seductive, and innocent. I know her all too well, unfortunately. She's like a tiger, with her light red hair and manicured claws. She's gorgeous from a distance, elegant even, but get too close and she'll manipulate you before ripping your throat out.

"I'm in the middle of something, Valerie. If you have something to say just spit it out already." My voice comes out strained due to my clenched jaws and I open my mouth wide trying to stretch the joints.

"I think you already know what I'm going to say so I'll get right to it. You broke our deal, and there are repercussions for that. I hope you know what you're doing." Before I could respond the line went dead indicating the conversation was over.

I toss my phone into the passenger seat and wipe my palms on my jeans as I near the house. I give my head a mental shake to clear my mind; I'm only focused on one person right now.

I pull up into the alley, it's lined in trees but there's a small walkway through them that leads straight to the back of the yard. A black haired girl stands there, shoulders hunched against the wind and waves hesitantly at the car. I park the car in front of her and get out, her eyes making a few sweeps over me analytically before speaking.

"Are you Austin?" She sounds tense, worried, and curious all at the same time and I nod. She gives me a weak smile and motions for me to follow her through the trees.

We walk through the grass, moist from the falling mist, towards the greenhouse. I could see her glancing back at me a few times and I prayed she didn't know who I was. I didn't believe so, she doesn't look familiar and I don't think she's one of my students. I glance around and let out a sigh, thankfully there aren't any students in back that could recognize me.

We get to the door and walk inside. I'm hit with a musty and stale smell of old dirt and I scrunch my nose in disapproval. The gardening tools aren't in the trunk and are scattered about in disarray, flowers pots aren't stacked and instead are broken and randomly placed. It looks like no one had taken care of this place in years, which is a shame.

My eyes land on the old cot sitting on the back wall and I let out a sigh. Riley was safe, sleeping underneath a blanket. I walk over and crouch down in front of her, grabbing her hand in mine.

"Riley, you need to wake up." I start patting her hand but she doesn't move, carefully I shake her shoulders and she twitches in response. She mutters something and then she's still again, the knot in my stomach slowly goes away and is replaced by anger. I stand up slowly and turn around, about to ask the girl what exactly had happened when I notice another girl in the room.

She looks at me curiously, briefly trying to place where she knew me before realization and recognition dawn on her face. Her eyes go wide and her mouth opens as if to say something, then clamps it shut again as she puts her hands on her hips. For a second we just stare at each other, the girl I previously met looking between us and scrutinizing our faces trying to understand.

"Alright, is someone going to talk and tell me what's happening? Because I'm fucking lost here." The black haired girl says as she waves her arms in front of her with emphasis, agitated at the situation.

The girl with the colorful hair finally breaks her stare and turns to the other one before speaking.

"This is Professor Michaels, he's Riley and I's Physics teacher," She turns to look at me again and cocks her head. "but apparently Riley calls him Austin."

The black haired girl takes a sharp intake of breath, eyes wide staring at me now. I feel like I'm an exhibit at an art museum the way I'm being picked apart visually. The girl starts nodding to the thoughts buzzing in her head as a slow grin starts spreading across her face. Before she could say anything I interrupt.

"Alright, I'll let Riley explain everything tomorrow. Can we just get her home? Please?" I plead quietly, they both look like they're about to burst with questions but they hesitantly nod in unison. I turn back around and carefully scoop Riley in my arms, the blanket falling from her back onto the cot. The black haired girl comes over and fixes her dress, just like Riley had done for Mae at the club weeks ago and I smile faintly.

We finally get her maneuvered into the backseat, the other girl whose name I think I remember from class, Aimee, climbs in back after her to make sure she's comfortable enough. Although I'm pretty sure she's not going to notice otherwise.

The black haired girl slides into the passenger seat and sits sideways, staring at me as I back out of the alley onto the side street. I avoid eye contact as I shift into drive and head down the wet pavement towards the apartment building. After a few moments I sigh in annoyance.

"Why are you staring at me?" I don't look at her as I maneuver the side streets, trying to remember my way back to the highway.

"Are you fucking my best friend?" She boldly states as a question, it catches me off guard and I brake at a stop sign a little too hard almost throwing Aimee into the dash. Which I had already considered doing, due to her leaning in between the front seats curiously watching me as the other girl did.

"What? No! Why would you ask me that?" I stumble over my words defensively, habitually running my free hand over my short beard. "There's nothing happening here." I stare out the front windshield in the unmoving car.

"Right, because any normal teacher would be calling their student at midnight. Leaving the house to come pick them up from a party, wanting to pick her up in back to be unseen, your FIRST name contact in her phone. Not to mention the few texts she had sent you this evening." She grinned wickedly, wiggling Riley's phone in her hand.

"So tell me Austin," She emphasizes my first name and pauses "what exactly are your intentions?"