Closer Than Strangers

Chapter 2

Drops of water land on my shoulders before gathering speed and rolling down my bare arms. I was stood in the shower, water lazily trickling out of the shower head where I hadn't quite turned it off fully. I wanted to relish in the warmth it brought a little longer before I had to open the door and the let the cold air into my bubble. I had been in here long enough that my fingers had wrinkled and the cuticles I had been picking at had turned raw. A stupid habit I had developed when I was anxious along with constant lip biting. I nibbled at them so much these days that they were constantly cracked and bleeding. Leading to the running joke between me and Austin that his lips were softer and more kissable than mine. 

A loud bang followed by a series of yells from outside reminds me of where I am and I hastily turn the water off and step out of the shower. Reaching for my towel I realize I had taken it to the beach earlier and was currently stranded in the bathroom, dripping wet. Letting out a sigh I gather my clothes into my arms before making a quick dash down the hallway towards my room. Slamming the door behind me I bite back a scream when I see Austin sitting on my bed, thumbing through his phone.

"Oh hey," he mumbles not looking up and I let out a shaky breath, relieved it was only him and not one of the twins.

"Thank god it's just you," I say, collecting my damp towel off the floor and wrapping it around me as I step into the wardrobe.

"Mm," is the quiet reply I get, making me turn on the spot.

"You okay?" I ask, confused by his unusual response, normally I would have received at least two smart-ass comments by now and some cheek for running into my room naked.

"Never better," he says, finally looking up and seeing me standing there in my underwear, t-shirt in hand. A blush forms on his cheeks then and he quietly tries to clear his throat. "Uh I can leave if you um, want me too?"

"You're fine," I say shrugging on my shirt before moving to sit beside him, "what's going on?"

He takes a deep breath and snakes an arm around my waist, "Mum called me, she wants me to come spend time with her and dad this summer because-" he stops himself, guilt flooding his features.

"Because?" I prompt slowly not allowing myself to say anything more.

"Because my sister's run off to England," he says bitterly, spitting out the last words.

I've only ever had that sinking feeling of sadness once, it's raw and instead of fulling you up it makes you feel hollow. The last time I felt like this was when I spent 3 days sitting in that hard plastic chair in New York waiting for my younger sister to wake up and it sucks. Austin was leaving in four days back to Nashville to spend a couple weeks with his family, something I couldn't argue with. I just wish for once I could spend quality time with my so-called boy friend without any interruptions.

I was fully prepared to continue my pity party but a possible call from Ed Sheeran had left me slightly jittery. Perhaps he would be with Taylor and I'd finally get to tell her about everything that had happened to me over the past semester. How I had aced all my end of year exams and had been accepted into a creative development course for photography and writing. Maybe I would get to gush over how many friends I'd made and tell her all about the road trip me, Austin, Clara and her boyfriend took at midterm to Las Vegas. I was fizzing with the possibility of so many conversation topics and Austin could tell.

"Hey settle down you," Austin whispers nudging me at the dining table after I'd been told off twice by Mum from bouncing my knee, consequently shaking the table and spilling her drink.

"Don't you want to speak to Taylor too?" I question, glancing at him, "I mean she is your sister after all."

Austin swallows hard and replies slowly lowering his voice ever so slightly, "I'm sure if she wanted to speak to me she would have."