Anger Issues

104

Austin's POV

A few days had passed since Jess' incident with her dad. She was still off, but it was understandable. There was no reason for me to question her.

"We have to draw it?" Jess sighed. "Just trace mine. I paid Becca ten bucks to do it for me," I smiled. "Must be nice to have a talented sibling," she held my face, pecking my lips.

"I love you," I said. "I love you too."

I was already done with my homework, so waiting for Jess to finish was really the long part.

"Shit, we have dance today, don't we?" I asked. "Mhm," she nodded.

"You're gonna learn your duo," she squeezed my face. "Jeez, okay," I rolled my eyes, pulling her hand away.

I put my hands around her waist and leaned my forehead on her shoulder, patiently waiting for her to finish the drawing.

"It shouldn't take you this long," I teased. "I'm trying to make it look good," she defended.

After a few minutes, she was finally done.

"Finally," I sighed. "We have two hours," she glanced at her phone. "What do you wanna do?" She asked.

"Lets just talk," I took her hand, playing with her fingers. "Can we talk on the couch? I'd be much more comfortable there," she said.

I nodded, walking over there.

"I'm gonna ask you a question, and I want you to answer it honestly," I said, making sure to keep eye contact.

"Shoot," she nodded.

"How are you?"

She paused, before furrowing her eyebrows and smiling softly. "Good, how are you?"

I sighed, putting my elbow over the couch and resting my head in my hand.

"How are you, Jess?" I repeated.

Her smile faded, and she copied my position.

"I don't know, Aus," she shrugged. "I can't tell."

"How do you feel right now?" I asked.

"In this moment, I'm fine. I really don't feel sad or anything, but then I remember my dad's a crazy alcoholic, my mom's hardly ever home, Noah's going through shit I don't even know about," she began listing.

As she spoke, her eyes wandered off. When they came back to mine, I could tell she was holding back on saying something.

"What?" I asked. "How are you, Austin?" She asked.

"No, you can't do-" "How are you?" She cut me off, smiling softly.

"I'm good, Jess. I promise. You're the only thing stressing me out," I teased. She gasped, sitting up.

"Seriously?" She asked. "What? No, no babe it was a joke, I swear," I let out a soft laugh, pulling her head to my chest.

I had to calm her down for another good minute, but she was fine after that.

Jess really deserved so much better. She's too good for the shit she's going through.

"I love you," I said. She gasped, smiling and covering her mouth.

"You love me?" She dramatically whispered. "You're such a child," I shook my head, turning away.

"A literal child," I added.

"No, stop," she laughed, grabbing my face. Turning me back towards her, she leaned in, pressing her lips softly against mine.

"I love you too," she said.