Bridge Jump (rewrite)

Chapter Three: Cigs

He walked into the corner store smiling at the young Caribbean woman at the counter that he had basically watched grow up. He couldn't help but smile back leaning on the counter as she reached for his usual Newport cigs, tossing the three boxes on the counter hand extended waiting for the money. Austin laughed handing her the money, he watched her place them in a bag along with an extra one before handing it to him. He couldn't help but laugh, he was about to thank her when his eyes landed on the magazine that She had picked back up to read. The woman on the cover, He knew her somehow, she was familiar. He shook it off, thanking the young girl before making his way out. Once he stepped out, he could help but pull a box out. His sister watched as he placed the cigarette between his lips and met its end with his lighter.

"Can I try?" she asked him as he walked her to school. The question got a laugh out of him. He shook his head wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He watched as his sister crossed her arms swinging them slightly. He knew she wanted to say something, he slowed their pace pulling them to the side away from the flow of foot traffic.

"What's wrong?" Austin asked pulling the cancer stick away from his lips. He leaned down a bit, so he and his little sister were face-to-face. She had refused to make eye contact with him, wrapping an arm around herself. She swayed her body, she chewed on her lip, fiddling with the necklace that he had gotten her for her birthday.

"I think I messed up." She whispered, "I'll tell you if I did."

After that, she bolted off. Austin groaned sprinting as he pushed through people to catch up to her. He frowned slightly at her but decided not to push, he didn't want to ruin their relationship by pushing so hard he pushed her away. A small smile adorned his face as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders pulling her to him. Dahlia glanced at him as he slowly veered off from the direction of her school, she was slightly puzzled opening her mouth to say something but nothing coming out. Austin pulled them to a small bookstore that was roughly half a block from her school. She smiled as he held the door open for her allowing her to walk in.

"you tell me what's wrong and I promise no matter what I'll control my feelings and get you whatever book that smartass brain of yours wants."

Dahlia squinted at him, pursing her lips, and crossing her arms. They had a stare off for a few minutes before Dahlia gave in, pulling Austin aside. They stood huddled in the back of the store away from the few customers roaming.

"Do you really promise?" she looked into his eyes.

"Pinky." With that, they wrapped their pinkies around each twisting their hands and kissing it quietly muttering 'promise. She could already feel her eyes prickle with tears and her heart hammer against her chest. She slowly began to shake, her voice quivering as she whispered,

"I think I'm pregnant." Austin's hands balled slightly, he was feeling a little angry. His anger was quickly squashed down when his sister picked her head up, the view of her tear-streaked face instantly putting his fire out.

"are you sure?" he asked

"No, but It's been about two months or so." She muttered, "and it doesn't matter, it's not that big a deal."

Before Austin could say anything else, she picked up a book and quickly rushed out "I want this one." He sighed as they walked toward the counter, he pulled out his wallet counting out the bills before handing it to the elderly Asian woman behind the counter. He closely followed his sister to her school hugging her and giving her a kiss on her forehead before whispering to her, "it's okay, we'll figure it out."

Dahlia pulled back a smile spreading on her face. She tightly hugged Austin before tightening her latch on the new book and bolting through the gates of her school. She ran from the gate to her locker.

Austin stood outside the restaurant, a cig between his lips as he typed away at his phone talking to an old kickboxing friend. After the text was sent, he pulled the cancer stick from his lips, puffing the smoke out. He slid his phone back into his pocket, he threw the cigarette to the damp ally ground, stomping it out as he walked back inside. He sighed returning to dishwashing, it was a slow day but that didn't mean he could slack on his duties. Austin quickly ran a hand through his already messy hair before turning on the water and beginning to scrub away. After his shift, he found himself at the bridge like most nights, a cigarette between his lips. He mumbled about how badly he needed to quit as he flicked open his lighter, taking a puff. The sound of footsteps drew his attention. He watched as the girl from all the other nights walked up. She was wrapped in a giant hoodie, the hood up. Austin watched as she climbed up on the railing spreading her arms wide. The wind pushed the hood down and whipped her hair. Austin could feel his heart rate pick up. His chest felt as if it was constricting. He pulled the cig from his lips flicking the ash off, the smoke flowed out of his nose. He found himself fidgeting rubbing his thumb against his ring finger. He wanted so badly to talk to her, He didn't know what was stopping him. He groaned tossing the cig to the ground and walking towards his parked car. He found his way back to the apartment of the girl from before. He rung her bell the intercom coming in.

"Hello? Who is it?" her voice coming through.

He pressed on the button replying "hey, It's Austin can I come up and talk to you?"

The door buzzed, he smiled pulling open the door and making his way up. He needed this.