Is This for Real

Chapter 50: Mixing Beats and Mixed Emotions

Please read the Author's Note at the end of the chapter. Thank you!

TORI'S POV

Without a moment's hesitation, I leaned in and my lips attached themselves to his. Austin was taken aback, but then he eased up and kissed back. But, something about this just didn't feel right.

I put my hands on Austin's chest and broke the kiss. "Austin, I just got out of a poisoned relationship, and I'm not sure if I can handle more heartbreak."

"Who said that this will end in heartbreak?" he asked.

"It just always does," I told him, as if it were obvious. "I'm not the kind of girl who gets fairytale endings."

"You'll get a fairytale ending, you just need to wait for the right person."

"But, what if that person's right in front of me and I don't know if he feels the same way?" I asked.

"He does," he told me. "But, we can take it slow. We can be just friends for now until you're ready."

"I don't know how long it'll be until I'll be ready for another relationship, though," I admitted honestly.

"I'll wait," he said. "Just tell me when, alright?"

"Okay," I told him with a small smile. Then I remembered that Pattie was going to pick me up. I checked my phone. 1:13 A.M. "Oh my gosh Austin! I need to get home!"

"Don't worry about it," he said with a wave of his hand. "I already called your mom and told her that I'd bring you back home in the morning."

"How did you get my mom's number?" I asked.

"My mom and your mom have gotten close this past week, and now my mom has your mom's phone number. I told my mom that you'd fallen asleep so she just called your mom and told her that. She said that she'll just pick you up in the morning."

"Thanks Austin," I said, gratefully.

"No problem." I tried to get comfortable again, but it was kind of hard seeing as I was in a skirt, a tight tank top, and had a cast on my right leg. Austin must've noticed this because he stood up. He walked over to his suitcase and then came back to me.

"You looked kind of uncomfortable so here." Austin handed me a plain white t-shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants.

"Thanks," I said with a smile. He's so sweet! I hopped on one leg into the bathroom and changed into the makeshift pajamas. While I was in there, I also rinsed off all the makeup from my face.

I hopped back out and over to the hotel bed. That's odd, this hotel room only has one bed in it. I used my arm strength to push myself up onto the bed. Then, I snuggled under the covers and laid my head on the pillow.

***

I awoke the next morning to the sound of shuffling. When I finally rolled my body over to face the door, I saw Austin, digging through his suitcase. I stretched, causing a moan to escape my lips.

"Did I wake you up?" Austin asked while turning to face me.

"No," I lied.

"Are you hungry?" he asked. I was about to say no, but my stomach growled, giving me away instantly. "I take that as a yes," he chuckled.

I stood up by putting all my weight on my arms. "So what do--" I stopped in mid sentence when I saw his guitar. "You brought your guitar?" I asked.

"I bring it everywhere," Austin answered. "I'll post on my YouTube channel when I'm at hotels sometimes, so that's why I bring it."

"Cool," I replied. I grabbed my clothes from last night and walked into the bathroom to change. When I finished getting dressed, I realized that I didn't have a toothbrush, toothpaste, or hairbrush. I just rinsed off my face, I'll wash it when I get home.