Not Gone

Chapter 7

I looked at him in shock.

I felt tears coming to my eyes. Austin's expression was of sadness and sorrow.

I choked on my tears and ran out of the room as the spilled all over my face.

I ran down the hallway not knowing where I was going.

I heard the door open as someone came running after me.

I ran outside and kept running.

When I stopped, I had no idea where I was.

I looked like a forest but I honestly didn't care. I sat down against a tree and continued crying.

I heard footsteps behind me and jerked my head up.

"Oh, it's just you," I said as my voice cracked from the tears running down my throat.

Austin sat down next to me and gave me a hug. I buried my face in his chest and sobbed. We stayed that way for a while.

"Britney?" He said softly.

"Yes?" I answered lifting my head slightly.

"Why did you ask me what happened to your dad?"

What was I supposed to say? That yesterday my life was normal and today I'm two years older go to a different school and suddenly my dad is dead?

"It doesn't really make sense. You know what happened to him." He said to me.

"Ya, definitely. Today was just an off day." I said to him and then stood up.

I brushed the leaves and dirt off my jeans.

"What happened?" Austin asked.

"What do you mean?"

"What happened to your dad?" He asked as he stood up.

"You know already," I said force laughing. He turned facing away from me and started walking.

"All I know is one day your dad was calling me son and the next day you come to school and won't speak with me."

Austin kind of laughed and started tearing up.

"Then all you say to me is..." Austin started crying and that made me cry even harder.

____

I was walking down the hallway to nowhere. I couldn't take it anymore. Austin hugged me out of nowhere.

"She didn't say anything. It wasn't my fault." A voice said. "He's dead."

There was something about that voice I didn't remember. Then I did.

It belonged to me.

____

"He's dead." I finished Austin's sentence.

"Yeah," Austin said. "But how?"

I looked down. How was I supposed to answer that? I guess the truth is the best. That's what everyone says.

"I don't know."

"How do you not know? If you don't want to be together that's fine but you just need to be honest with me." Austin responded with growing anger.

"I honestly don't know."

"How the Hell do you NOT KNOW how your own FATHER DIED!" Austin yelled at me.

I didn't want to get in this fight I was in.

"I don't remember!" I said slumping onto the floor.

"THAT IS NOT SOMETHING..."

"I don't remember the past 2 years!" I cut him off.

That made him go silent. Austin wiped the tears from his eyes and looked at me.

"Then how do you remember what you said?"

"I had some kind of flashback."

"What do you remember?" He asked.

"Yesterday I was a freshman, I mean two years ago I was, at Stanley High. I lived in a different house, my dad was alive and I didn't know you." I said.

"Do you remember last night?"

"No" I whispered.

Austin grabbed his hair and bit his lip. His face was full of frustration and looked as if he was about to cry.

"What happened?" I asked.

Austin stood there then faced me.

"Let's just go back to class."

"Please tell me!" I begged him.

"No. I am returning to class."

His sympathy was gone.

____

As we walked back to class, Austin told me about my current life. Who were my friends, who to avoid, where to eat, where to park, and how my attitude is towards people.

When we finally reached the school building (which took a lot longer than I thought) I really needed to use the restroom.

But before I could pass the first classroom, my English teacher called us out.

"Britney and Austin! Get over here NOW!"

I awkwardly went with Austin over to his door.

"Why the hell do you think you get to skip my class."

"I was having girl issues," I answered before Austin could say anything.

"Britney, you are dismissed." The English teacher said to me and then said: "Why did you leave Austin?"

"She forgot her..."

"Pads" I finished and literally had to drag him to his next class.