The Boy 3 Doors Down

Chapter Ten: Broken Bones and Broken Hearts - UNEDITED

Austin led me down our street towards the culdesac, "So you're really not going to tell me where exactly it is we're going." I couldn't help myself, the curiosity was killing me.

He shook his head in response, keeping his eyes forward on the road ahead.

"What if we get in trouble, or lost, or a group of thugs come out and shank us? My mom would have no idea where to find me." I pushed. I felt like a kid who had his favorite toy hidden by his mean older siblings, trying to persuade them to give it back.

"You have your phone right?" I nodded. "Then that's all you need. And if by chance we do get shanked by thugs in broad daylight then, I'm leaving you for dead Brown, good luck on your own." He joked. At least I think he's joking.

"Ha ha very funny. But, seriously at least tell me where it is!" I looked up to his face waiting for an answer.

"Wow, you're so persistent!" He laughed. "I knew there was something I liked about you." He looked down at me with twinkling eyes, a massive smile planted on his face, showing all of his teeth. Might I add they are glorious teeth.

I took this opportunity to push the subject so, I swallowed my nerves and babbled on, "Oh yeah, is that the only thing you like about me?" I stuffed my hands in my pockets and gave him a quick, childlike, closed-mouth grin hoping it would hide my desperation.

"Hm, let me think..." Even though it was obvious he was joking, I couldn't help but hope that he was really thinking of something serious he liked about me.

"You're really strong." He glanced at me. "Like, stronger than any girl I know our age." He looked back at the road ahead, with the corners of his mouth slightly turned up.

It had suddenly gotten really cozy, as if the autumn breeze was kicking in and I just want to cuddle up in bed, and feel warm. But I quickly realized it was the growing warmth in my stomach from Austin's words. But it was a lie; I wasn't strong at all.

"That's so not true." I scoffed, trying to lighten the weight of my words.

"Excuse me?" Austin stopped walking and turned his body to me, suddenly growing serious. "Lauren, you are probably the strongest girl I've ever met besides my mom. The way you handle yourself, and that whole thing with Chase doesn't make you weak, anyone would've freaked out." He took me by surprise, the tone of his voice sounded upset, frustrated even.

"Well sorry that you feel that way, but I don't." I stopped and crossed my arms over my chest, feeling defensive against his words. In no way did I ever think I was strong, if anything I was quite the opposite.

"That's sad Lauren," him saying my name gave me raw shivers up my spine, "you're so strong, and you don't even see it." He mimicked me crossing his arms over his chest with an expression that I couldn't read.

"You don't even know me." I laughed bitterly.

"Then tell me, and we'll see who's right or wrong." He challenged me as he uncrossed his arms and started walking down the road again. A car passed us, and I recognized the girl in the drivers seat. Her name's Aimee.

I continued walking also, silent. "Well, are you going to tell me the glamorous life of Lauren Brown or am I going to have to shake it out of you?" His lighthearted tone was back, and it made a tense weight lift off of my shoulders. We were coming to the end of the street now, stepping into the culdesac, Austin made a sharp right into the grass and behind the nearest house. I still had no idea where we were going exactly but, my curiosity was no longer bubbling. Instead the anxiety started kicking in and I searched for a way out of this subject.

"You first." I blurted. I mentally patted myself on the back for coming up with a save so quickly, he wasn't ready to hear my life, and I sure as hell wasn't ready to tell it.