Never giving up on you - Completed.

21.

Caity

It was my fifth shift in a row, and I was tired beyond measure, but working was the only thing that didn't make me feel alone. Lillian had left three weeks ago, a few days after Austin went on tour. We had celebrated her birthday with her and my family, and she got on the plane the next day. I missed her terribly; she was my companion, my partner in crime and a second mom to Hailey, and now she was gone it felt like I had lost my other half. I missed Austin terribly too, but in another way. Lillian was my moon, watching over me and lighting the way through life when it got dark, always being there even when she was away. Austin was my sun and stars, igniting my fire within and showing me the most beautiful ways of love. And he would be back in three weeks, but Lillian wouldn't come home in another six months.

I sighed and scanned through some discharge papers I was about to hand to the old man in room 420. Room 420. I smiled at the thought of Austin, and how our paths had crossed each other once again in that exact room only months ago.

'What are you smiling at?,' Rob asked me, sitting down on a wheelie chair next to me.

'Nothing,' I said, flashing him another smile. He narrowed his eyes.

'Are you thinking about your man?,' he teased.

'Maybe...' I got up and slapped his head with the papers.

'Ouch!'

'Oh please, that didn't hurt, you dramaqueen.' He smirked.

'Hey Cait?'

'Yeah?'

'What about we go out tonight? You know, have some cocktails, have a nice talk. It's been too long.' Rob wiggled his eyebrows up and down, grinning. I pouted my lips and let the idea roam my thoughts for a moment. I was tired, but I was also alone. Hailey was staying with my parents anyway, and I had planned a sad, lonely night for myself with icecream, some blankets and a movie.

'I don't know...,' I said, ordening the papers in my hands and somehow craving to indulge myself in self-pity tonight.

'Oh come on, when's the last time you've been out?'

'I haven't gone out in forever,' I answered. 'But I am tired and I already had plans, so...' Rob cocked an eyebrow, crossed his arms over his chest and threw me a look.

'Let me guess; you're going to feel sorry for yourself for being alone, be lazy on the couch and watch a sad movie?' I chuckled and sighed, knowing I wouldn't get out of this one.

'Yeah, something like that.'

'Oh no, your pity party is off the table tonight. You're going out with me.' Leaning over the counter of the nurse station, I let my head hang in defeat.

'Ugh, you win. Just because I have nothing better to do,' I said, laughing at Rob's played agony at my words before I walked up to room 420.

&

I had agreed with Rob that he would pick me up with a cab at ten, and he even got Emma in for tonight. I had curled my hair a bit and put on some makeup; a little foundation, a light smokey eye that made my eyes even bluer and some blush on my cheeks. I never actually wore that much makeup, but tonight it felt like going out when I was still in college.

I put on my high waist skinnies and a cute black top, and found some black, open heels to match in the back of my closet. While I was twirling around in front of the mirror on the inside of my wardrobe door, my phone went off from a facetime call from Austin.