3 Hearts and a Beat

Prologue

Prologue

               I had my whole life figured out. It was as if I could see it and it was way within my reach. As I was moving my feet along to the beat of the song, dancing crazily to the music, Austin came into view with a grin on his face. My fourteen year old self couldn’t help the blush that was now on my face.

               “No one can stop you from dancing can they?” He tried to give me a disapproving sigh but his wide smile wouldn’t let him. As I stopped my feet from moving I looked in the mirror in front of me, and saw him approaching me, wrapping his arms around my small figure from the back.

               “Nope, no one.” I said grinning back putting my hand over his. I had a huge crush on Austin, he was my best friend and I knew he would never see me that way. Though he acted touchy at times-he still didn’t want a girlfriend and we both knew he had some sort of commitment issues.

               From the reflection in the mirror I could see a sad smile forming at his lips. I was wondering what that sad smile was for, but how could he be so sad? It was his birthday tomorrow.

               “What’s the matter Austin? You should be happy, you turn seventeen tomorrow!” I cried turning my head so I can get a better look at him.

               “I’m just going to miss you..” He trailed off leaning his head over mine. I was shorter than him at the time, though I still considered myself a giant; he was a few inches taller than me.

               Key word: was.

               “You’re not going anywhere, so why are you going to miss me?” I said snuggling closer to his side, afraid that he might have.

~*~

               I leaned my head back in the loveseat and closed my eyes, it’s been two years now since he’s left and I couldn’t stop the flashback’s from haunting me.

~*~

               “Is there anything else you remember?” A police officer says approaching me, “When was the last time you saw him?”

               “I-I don’t know,” I said between my sobs, with the rate I was going, I’d end up crying myself a mini river. “I just came and bloods-he’s ..” I sniffled shaking my head, “There has to be something you can do! Save him!”

               It was a Saturday morning, the same day of his birthday- and the same day of the horrid tragedy. I couldn’t help but cry myself to sleep at night after the depressing interview, though his parents didn’t seem affected as I was, they still answered a few questions.

               I glared at their direction, “Your son is dead and you don’t show the least bit of concern?!”

               His mom changed her attitude and burst into tears, “You know nothing!” She spun around in her heel and darted off to the door.

~*~

               “That’s all I can remember-“I say telling her the story and replaying it in my head. I was in a small office with a bright light in the room. It was a closed area and I was slowly growing claustrophobic with all these questions. Ms. Lipton tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and was writing down my answers on a clip board.

               Let’s just say, It probably said something like “Depressed girl coming here over and over about a tragedy of her best friend dying-how lovely.”

               “Uhuh..”

               “You know.. I really want to be a psychiatrist, so I get paid to just say Mhm, and uhuh all day.” I snapped standing up. “Thanks for nothing.” She gaped at me with her mouth open and before she could manage to get a word out, I stood up on my feet and closed the door.

               I sped walked down the hallway not noticing someone was in my way, I bumped into a strong chest and my eyes immediately snapped to his jaded green ones. The same ones Austin had..

               “S-sorry..” I stuttered looking at his face. He flashed me a grin and that only made my heart flutter.

               “Don’t worry, after you..?” He motioned around him and I grabbed my purse that I had dropped from the floor and stepped around him avoiding eye contact. That had to be the most embarrassing encounter I have had in a month. Last month being falling in a pile of mud-but yeah.

               As I made my way outside the chilly air, I waved my hands around like an idiot trying to stop a taxi. To my luck, no cars stopped. That was great, just great. I huffed and crossed my arms deciding to take a bus instead and made my way to the stop area wrapping my arms around my legs.

               I gave a loud sigh and started mumbling to myself lowly.

               “I hate this stupid place, I hate how he left me, I hate how my mom got me a stupid psychiatrist, I mean come on seriously? Why the hell do I need a psychiatrist for. I’m not crazy!”

               “Says the girl talking to herself,” A loud deep voice chuckled from beside me, my head snapped up so fast I got a kink. I put a hand to my neck and rubbed it gently keeping my eyes focused on his. “I’m kidding, mind if I sit?”

               I shook my head and trailed my eyes studying him carefully as he made his way beside me. “I know this may sound weird or come out as being rude, which honestly I don’t mean it that way…” I babbled, “But why exactly are you sitting next to me? A stranger?”

               He chuckled and stared back at me checking me out, my cheeks turned crimson under his gaze and I adverted mine unable to keep eye contact. “I never like to see a pretty girl sad-plus you were here and I thought why not brightened someone’s day? I got nothing to do.”  

               “Ooh..” from my lack of words he managed to grin, which was so contagious that made me grin back.  This stranger whom I never seen before had made my day.