Like Strong Poison

Austin Mitchell

Chapter 2

I couldn't believe what i was seeing. It was Austin... Austin was at my house! He glared at me and then smiled! I couldn't believe it. I was so scared I froze and probably looked like a complete fool!

While our parents were talking and laughing and greeting each other, I was standing on the last flight of stairs.

"Hi." said Austin as he walked over to me.

As usual I didn't say anything. I just smiled like an idiot and looked down at the ground like a silly six-year-old!

****

Later that evening we all sat together in the dining room. My mom and dad were at either end of the table and Austin's parents were beside each other leaving Austin and myself to take up the two remaining seats on the opposite side. All of the adults seemed to be getting along nicely with all of their chatting and laughing but from Austin and I there was not a sound. He smiled over in my direction a few times but I was afraid to talk him because I thought that I would say something stupid.

The scent that he wore seemed to put me in heavenly trance. I couldn't work out what it was but it was at that moment all I wanted to do was hug him although I knew that I never would.

"Hey mom could you pass the peas please" I asked, trying to focus my mind on the meal.

"Oh yeah, sure hun," she replied handing them to Austin.

"There you go," said Austin as he placed the peas to the left of my plate.

"Err, th... thanks," I stuttered feeling quite dumb with my silly half smile.

****

When everyone had finished eating mom, dad and Austin parents went to living room to finish their conversation over drinks while I was stuck doing the dishes and clearing out the table. I was shocked when Austin volunteered to help. For some odd reason he had never struck me as the kind of guy who would dry dishes. An uneasy silence hung over us as we worked and I wondered if he had felt uncomfortable too.

"Did I do something wrong?"

Austin's hushed voice shocked me after the silence and a thousand butterflies coursed through my stomach at the sound of it. I dared to flash a quick look at his eyes before I moved my gaze back down to the kitchen sink.

"Wh... why d...do you ask th...that?" I felt like such an idiot as the words tumbled out of my mouth. Prickly warmth grew in my cheeks and I knew that they must have been as red as a stop light. I chanced a glance at his face again and realized that he must have noticed because his grin grew to twice the size it had been.

"Well, I've been here for about three hours now and the only thing you've said to me so far is 'thanks' when I passed you the peas."

"I... I... I...!" The words wouldn't leave my mouth and I felt like an even bigger idiot. I took in a deep breath to try to calm the adrenaline that rushed through me but all I got was a nose full of his wonderful scent.

My throat had dried out so I quickly rinsed out one of the wineglasses and filled it with water. I must have broken the world record for drinking water from a wineglass because in less than a second the glass was empty.

"Wow girl, that's some thirst you've got there," he laughed as he took the glass out of my hand and dried it.

"You didn't do anything!" Again the words just fell out of my mouth but the water seemed to be doing its job.

"Then how come the cold shoulder?"

"I... I don't know! I mean, I didn't mean it to seem like that if you know what I mean." What a fruit loop he must have thought I was as the words just blurted out of my mouth. I took another deep breath and continued. Thanks for trying but in case you didn't know guys you don't talk to girls like me!"

"Sorry... 'a guy like me'? What's that even supposed to mean?" he laughed.

The steam from the hot water in the sink had steamed up my glasses but looking through the haze made it easier for me to look at Austin.

"W... Well," I knew that I had to choose my words carefully. "Shall we say a popular guy?"

"Oh, I see! You're very kind but I'm not like that!"

"No, I didn't mean it like that!" Through the fog I couldn't make out if I had really offended him or if he was teasing me.

"You see I'm a very good person..."

"I... I'm sure you are!"

"And what's a girl like you?"

Again I picked my words wisely.

"A stupid dork... I guess." I picked up a tea towel and wiped the condensation from my glasses without taking them off and through the clear lenses I could see the huge grin plastered over his face.

"I like to have fun and party and drink you know!" His smile grew.

All that time I had been worried that I had really hurt his feelings and there he was acting the jerk.

"Let's just finish cleaning up so I can at least finish half of my home work!" I said rolling my eyes

"Hey, hold on a minute, we're two weeks into summer break you've got plenty of time to do that." His hand was on mine and even though I wanted him to touch it, I moved it away. "Do you think you would be allowed to come to a party with me Friday night? I'll come by your house at seven" he said with his perfect smile.

Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait! But here's chapter 2 of part 1, part 2 is already up! Make sure to vote comment and tell all your friends!!!!