Distraction

Ten

"Okay, so you write a sentence down to put in the hat. When the sentence gets picked, whoever guesses who wrote it wins a point!" Avery laughed as she passed the hat around.

"Why do you have to play this?" Dylan huffed as his crinkled paper slipped into the hat.

"Because it was my turn to pick the game." Avery stuck her tongue out at Dylan before snuggling closer to Austin.

"I'll go first." Austin stated as his hands dug into the hat. He pulled out a perfectly crisp paper. "The best part of my day is stocking Michael Faudet's twitter. Easy, Lucky Charms wrote this."

"I'll try to make it harder next time." Clarence smiled as she rolled her eyes. Avery felt herself grip Austin's arm tighter.

"How could you tell?" Justin asked with jealousy easing in his stomach. Clarence leaned her head against his shoulder as Austin shrugged.

"You should know how she talks about Michael Faudet all the time." Austin felt the cold words run off his tongues.

"I'll go next." Noah stated breaking the tension floating in the air.

His blue eyes pierced her as Clarence opened the door. Clarence felt the uncertainty pile in her stomach as she watched him. Clarence opened her mouth, yet words were lost as Austin moved. He wrapped his arms around her waist before placing his lips on hers.

His lips pulled from her as though he was burned. He closed his eye for a moment before looking back into her eyes. His eyes were filled with raw emotion that burned through Clarence.

"You should go back home, Clarence." Austin spoke as he opened his eyes. "Justin will give you the life you wanted."

"I want you, Austin." Clarence felt her fingers tighten around Austin's arm as though he would slip away from her. Her hands crinkled the clean white shirt beneath them.

"After I left, I was so angry at you. I thought you were wrong for staying there with him, but I understand now. Clarence, you need someone like him." Austin smiled at her before shaking his head. "I'm no Justin."

"I don't want to be with him, Austin. He thinks I'm something that I'm not." Avery slipped her cool fingers to his warm cheek. "You know who I am."

"I'm not the same man anymore, Clarence. I doubt you are the same either." Austin spoke as he pulled away from her grip. His shirt was covered with wrinkles from Clarence.

"I will love who you became then, Austin." Clarence bit her lip as she felt tears pile in her eyes. She looked at the dirty floor beneath her before she spoke again. "I can't lose my best friend again."

"That's the problem. I'm still just a best friend to you." He sighed defeated. "I always thought we were more than that. I thought there was a part of you that dreamed about falling asleep in my arms instead of his. But I am still just the loser best friend there for the punch line."

His words spit at her like hot iron as she shook her head. She reached for him, yet he pulled away. He ran a hand through his tousled hair in frustration.

"Justin was only just my boyfriend. He wasn't my best friend." Clarence's words came out shaken and beaten. She felt a tear wet her cheek. "When something happened, my first thought was telling you. I only ever thought of Justin when you asked his thoughts on the matter."

"What is your point?" Austin asked as his eyes looked into hers. He felt his emotion rise as she looked at with through tears. A part of him wanted to ignore the past just for one blissful night, yet he knew he wanted more than just one night with her.

"My point is you were always my first thought. Justin may have been my boyfriend, but you were more. You were my best friend, Austin. My life revolved around making you happy!" Clarence yelled towards him. "I missed my six year anniversary for you! If you think I loved Justin more than you, you are obviously blind."

"I never made you-"

"February 24 is my anniversary with Justin. That day you broke up with Avery, and you were devastated. Justin didn't speak to me for days, because I stood him up!" Clarence felt her irritation rise. "I was holding you as you cried. You asked me if I needed to be somewhere, so I lied."

"I didn't know." Austin spoke with shook written across his face. His hands clenched themselves from a fist. His mind swirled with questioned. "Why would you do that?"

"So many reasons, Austin. I always picked you, because you were my best friend. You were always so much more. I thought you knew." Clarence sat on the couch as she sighed. She ran her hand through her shorten hair.

"I like the hair." Austin spoke before gently touching it himself. "It suits you."

Her hair was soft against his fingers just like before. He never thought he'd feel it again. He would try to forget about her with a string of relationships that never ended right. He could never get over his Lucky Charms.

"Does this mean you aren't mad anymore?" Clarence smiled at him as he sat beside her. She missed his golden hair tousled from the long day before him. She use to imagine what waking up to his face after a long night together.

"You know I can never stay mad at you, but this conversation isn't over." Austin smiled. "However, I would be willing to put it on hold."

Clarence raised an eyebrow as Austin kissed her cheek. "If you would be willing to that is."

"I think that is a marvelous plan." Clarence smiled as she kissed him.

Sorry for the wait. School and work has been crazy lately. However, I will try to post a lot more! Have a lovely day and if you are feeling generous, please leave a vote/comment!