I Fell Sick in the Rain, But I Also Fell in Love

Chapter 6

I stopped walking and yanked my hand out of Austin's. I knew it, I should've trusted my instincts. A person can't be this nice after just meeting them unless it's fake. "Back there," I said, "when Jake was watching, honestly I wanted to get back at him, to show that I've moved on from him even before we officially broke up. You played along..."

"Ave-"

"...because you wanted one up on him."

"That's not true, Ave." I don't believe that. Austin made a move to get closer to me, but I turned away and sped walked the rest of the way home. Of course, he followed me.

"Avery, I would never use you like that."

I clenched my fists and kept moving forward without sparing a glance at him. "Be honest, when you found out who I was, did you only care because then you can brag to your enemy that you stole his ex-girl?"

"O-of course not."

"Don't lie to me!" I glared at him and walked faster. "Jake may have dumped me but you and I both know he gets easily jealous of his possessions, whether they are former or not. And especially after just one day, he would react to you being with me, as you just saw a while ago."

"Would you stop for one minute?" Austin grabbed my shoulders and blocked my path. His gray eyes were now stormy. "Fine, yes, I admit that I wanted to use you against Jake. But that was only at first! Then I realized in that short time, I like spending time with you."

My expression softened but my eyes stayed hard. I searched him for anything that could tell me the truth- body language, facial expression, eyes-, but even if I did find something convincing, I don't trust myself to believe anymore.

"I care about you, Avery," Austin spoke with so much sincerity.

I took a step back, tears pricking my eyes. "In a way..." my voice trailed "you're kind of like Jake."

"Don't you dare compare me to him," he growled, startling me. "I am nothing like that son of a bitch!"

I shouldn't provoke him more, but I can expose him if he keeps getting angry. "You two may hate each other, but you're both the same. You act like you care, but deep down you have selfish intentions."

"That's not true," Austin shook his head. "You know that's not true!"

"I can't trust myself to know anything anymore!" It hurt to scream those words, physically for my throat, but also mentally for my heart. A hot tear ran down my face and I tried to hold the rest of them in. I can't look weak now.

"Avery?!" Someone shouted my name, and it was a girl's voice. A car came up beside the road next to us. Immediately after it stopped, the driver came out and came running to me.

"E-Erica!" My best friend pulled me into a hug, seeing my teary face.

"What the hell is going on?" Erica demanded, looking between a hurt me and a guilty Austin. "You," she snarled, pushing me back to move towards Austin. "What the hell did you do?"

"Erica!" I held the taller girl back. "Please stop."

"I don't care who he is or what he did, but he made you cry!" Erica, as my best friend and protective sister, looked ready to murder. It even scared me! Austin stood there silently with his head down. I almost felt bad for him.

"Eri, just take me home," I said in a small voice.

Her rage calmed down a little bit seeing me. "Ok," she linked arms with me and opened the passenger seat for me. She glared at Austin, "When I find you again, you better have a good explanation or I'll twist your neck. Oh hell, I'll twist your neck anyway-"

"Eri!" Erica blew a fuming breath before stomping to her side. "Thanks, Austin," I said to him but with a little less feeling than before. He met my eyes and I saw a spark of hope in gray orbs. "But don't come see me again." Hurt flashed across his face and he visibly sagged with sadness. I remembered when that happened, only a few hours ago, when his face had deflated into a sad pout. It was cute and joking then, but now it's for real.

I tore my eyes from him and shut the door. Erica drove away instantly and fast, but I could still see his figure in the side mirror. I stared at it for as long as I could before he was gone. The ride home was silent, and I was grateful for that. Erica knew that I would tell her everything eventually.