What If Our Life Threads Bind?

Chapter 21.

"Who's Austin?" Lila asks all of a sudden and I shudder.

"That senior who helped in admission. Why do you ask?" I tried to sound calm with my heart beat sounding clearly in my ears as Lila narrows her eyes on me.

"Why is he calling you at eight in the evening?"

"How would I know? Gimme the phone." I reach out for her and she keeps it farther from my reach. I scowl. "What is your problem?"

"Don't tell me this dude you don't even know much of, is your best friend forever now? Is something happening between you two? Are you both in lo-?"

"So much for receiving a call from a guy? Seriously?" I give her a look and she rolls her eyes, giving me the phone.

"If you two are upto something, we won't be in dark for too long. We'll know and it won't be pretty." She said and left.

Why is she so dramatic?

I stare at my phone that stopped ringing the minute Lila handed me the phone. I was debating whether I should directly call him or simply message him what is up when my phone rung again.

"Hello?"

"Hey Martha." He speaks, his voice slightly hoarse and breathless. I breathe, trying not to think how hot his voice sounds.

"What's up?"

"I have a feeling we won't win this thing." He said in a low voice and my heart sank.

"Why?"

"I don't know. Just a hunch. Did you hear any rumor recently?"

I braced myself to confess. "Oh yes, about Robbie misusing the machines. Right?"

He hummed, so I kept speaking.

"I know it's just a rumor. Don't worry. I saw you and Robbie. You guys weren't alone." I told him and for a minute I think he didn't breathe."....I saw you with the officers. You couldn't cheat with them around." I said and he let out a low huff.

"I knew I'd feel better after talking to you. God, Martha I was so tensed."

I smile through the phone. "I believe you guys. Be positive. You'll win." I said and I heard him smile.

"Thanks. Uhm...so I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Sure. Bye." I said and was about to cut the line when I heard my name from the other side. "Hello?" I said, pressing the phone back to my ear.

"Yeah...uhm..I think I saw you in college when we were sending Samuel to the Dean but maybe, you ran away." He said his voice too low for a human ear to hear correctly. My breath hitched.

"Are you joking? Didn't it happen at midnight? My curfew is at five in the afternoon, for everyday. Its impossible."

I held my breath and he took too long to answer back, "If you say so....I thought..maybe..I don't know. See you tomorrow, then." He sounded unsatisfied but I let it not bother me. I was wearing a mask. He can't recognize me.

But he almost did.

But he couldn't see my face.

Yet-

"Oh shut up." I threw my face on the pillow and decided to block the voices in my head convincing me how Austin almost did know it was me behind the mask and otherwise.

I knew I'd feel better after talking to you.

My cheeks felt warm as I hugged my pillow and dozed off into a deep sleep, smiling with his voice ringing in my head.

...

The next day on the day of election, the time flew so fast between walking to the election ground, casting my vote for Robbie and going back home. Austin called an hour later. I told him that I had already voted and he thanked me numerous times.

He sounded weird though. Honestly, I never heard anyone say 'I wish I could personally pick you up from your spot and drive you back home after you were done voting' so many times in one conversation. That was sweet but slightly....too concerned.

The results came out at three in the afternoon. Turns out, Robbie won. I smiled widely at my phone and decided typing a quick congratulatory message to Austin. He replied in a minute.

Austin: Thanks but I am disappointed with you.

What? What did I do?

Me: I am sorry. What?

Austin: I thought you'd come to the party. ;(

Me: Am I missing something? There was a party?

Austin: Holy shit. I am sorry Martha. The above messages were not meant for you. Sorry. I got confused between your profile and someone else's. You both have green eyes on your profile picture.

Oh?

Me: Oh....nevermind. Its okay.

Austin: And thank you so much ;)

I slide the phone to the bed and reach for my nook, tapping the cover of a romantic novella I had been reading and zoned out.

...

Shiny, white tiles cover the floor and a number of chairs are collected around a large glass coffee table in one area of the cafeteria which was normal except for the fact that we almost never had balloons of several colors lying on the floor, music blasting through one of speakers and people dancing.

"What's going on?" I whispered to Reva when I took a seat next to him.

"Celebration for Robbie." I said and I spotted Austin instantly, sitting on someone's shoulders and moving his hands in a weird dancer-y move. I stifled a laugh and he looks at me.

"Hey." He smiles but his smile doesn't meet his eyes, uncharacteristically of him. "How are you doing?"

"Nothing new." I said and he nodded; nodded the way people nod when they aren't really listening or interested in other person's actions or words but they don't want to look impolite so they nod. I mirrored his smile and turned my attention to Reva, who was pointing at a guy who was dancing like his whole body was itching and he couldn't put a finger on it where the itch really happened. I laughed and felt a heavy gaze on me from the corner of my eyes.

I looked at Austin looking at me and then he looked away.

This game, again? I grinned and Reva said something but I wasn't listening anymore. He put the lit cigarette in his mouth and smiles at some girl, her hair towards me. I quickly look away, a feeling of sickness washing through me as smoke fills my nostrils. Words from past about Austin rush back to me like a flood.

You know, the kind who breaks your heart and forces you to believe that love doesn't exist. The playboy types.

They're players. They're not the right people you should be around with.