No escape

Chapter five

I was the happiest girl in the world. I had the most memorable weekend of my life. Austin was amazing and he spent each and every hour of the weekend with me. He never let me out of his sight. The night he asked me to be his girlfriend, he took me to an isolated shelter amidst a forest. It had blankets and it looked like people went there often. It was decorated with beautiful flowers and it had the words thank you for saying yes. I felt tears roll down my eyes once again. Everything looked so perfect to be true. Austin played some music and moved towards me in a seductive way. I blushed of course. He turned me so that my back was facing him. He put his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him. He started swaying to the music and I followed his rythm. Everything felt peaceful with the fresh breeze from the trees. I felt like I could stay in this place like this forever. We stayed like that for a very long time but no one bothered to move. It seems Austin was devouring the moment just like me. I closed my eyes when I felt Austin breathing through my hair. He then sniffed my neck and drew a deep breath. "You smell so nice," he said his voice husky and deep. It sent shivers down my spine. He turned me slowly and pushed the hair away from my face. He brushed his lips briefly on mine and pulled me closer to him and continued to sway to the music. He asked me if I wanted to sit and I nodded. It had been hours now since we started dancing. He led me to where the blankets were and helped me down. He poured us some wine and we watched a movie till I slept.
I woke up earlier than Austin so I the chance to watch him sleep. He was so beautiful and peaceful, I didn't want to wake him up so I moved the hand that he had wrapped around my waist slowly and I went to prepare our breakfast. I saw Austin put some stuff at the back of the car so I went to check if they contained something to eat. I picked out milk and cupcakes and placed them close to where we had slept. He was still asleep and I didn't want to wake him up. I decided to first talk to my friends while he was still catching some more sleep. I had talked to to Lara and she warned me as always. She told me not to accept to sleep with him just yet. I then talked to Ellie and he was so happy for me. He told me about his girlfriend and his visit to his parents. I had just got off the phone with Ellie when I felt hands wrap around my waist. I leaned backwards onto his shoulders. He bit on my ear and whispered a good morning before going to the shower. I waited for him to get back before I served our breakfast.
After breakfast, Austin gave me a swimsuit and new clothes. I was surprised that they fit perfectly. He must have planned this for a long time. I wondered if it's the reason he was away. I wanted to ask him but we had all ignored this conversation. I knew bringing it up would ruin our weekend so I left it at that.
We spent the day at the beach,  where we built sand castles and ran around. I felt even more contented when Austin acted as a jealous boyfriend when he caught some guy staring at my ass. He told him off and promised to punch him in the face if he dared to make a move. I pulled him away and told him it was alright. He said he was tired and we should go get lunch. He was practically tired of seeing guys staring at me in that swimsuit. It showed way too much and I wondered why he even had to get me that. I had actually declined it but he insisted till I gave in.
We had our lunch and went on a long drive. "Where are we going?" I asked. "No where in particular, I'm just driving." Austin replied. "I just want to be everywhere with you. I want every place I could possibly go to to have memories of us." He said smiling. I giggled uncontrollably. I couldn't avoid it when he was saying such sweet things to me. It was getting late and we were just driving around making stops at some malls to have ice cream or just move around. I think we had taken a thousand photos already. He helped me in picking out my clothes for the next day. He called some friends and told them we would meet them at a club.
His friends were so much fun and easy going people. It felt like I had belonged with them all this time. His friends had not come with girls so they all hooked up with random girls. "Can I have one dance with my gorgeous girlfriend?" Austin asked pulling me to the dance floor. We danced till we were all sweaty and we went back to our seats. We watched people dance and Austin kept me by his side all the time. At some point he would pull me into a deep kiss and then kiss my forehead. His best song played and he pulled me to the dance floor once again. After the dance he pulled me so that I'm sitting on his laps. He kept kissing my neck and and whispering praises in my ear. He started moving his arms up my legs and I shivered. I felt him smile against my neck. He moved his arms higher and I jerked away. He laughed at me and pulled me back. He kept teasing me and kissing my neck throughout the rest of the night.
                         ***
I was awakened by my phone ringing. I looked around but Austin was not around.  I stood up and tried to look for him but he was no where. I took the call which was from my mum. Austin came in while I was on phone. I smiled at him but he came straight to me and started kissing my neck. A mourn escaped from me and my mother asked if everything was alright. I told her I had knocked my toe. She said I should settle because she has so much to tell me. I tried hard to concentrate on the call but Austin was doing his best to distract me.  He kept tickling me and blowing into my ear causing me to shiver. He kissed my neck and I swallowed hard and mourned once again. "Harley?" My mother called. It sounded more like she was making sure it was me. I hit Austin using my elbow and pulled out of his grip. I ran to the bathroom and I looked it. I heard him chuckle and rolled my eyes.
After the call, I went out to search for Austin once again since he was not inside and I spotted him a few metres away from the shelter. I jogged to him and jumped on his back. Lucky for me he caught me like he knew I would do that . He turned his neck and blushed his lips on mine. Then he put me down and told me to sit. He had made a picnic for us. He had gone to bring us food and drinks. It was so quiet amidst the forest with only the sound of birds singing. We ate while listening to music. Austin told me he had something to do but he would be using his phone. He sat with his legs spread and I lay between them while I read a novel. We remained that way till even came and drove back to campus to prepare for school the next day.
                          ***
I woke up early the next day and left for college. I joined Lara and the twins at breakfast. She had not been at our dorm and I think she had stayed at the twins apartment. Austin came in while we were about to get done with breakfast. I thought he was going to ignore me like he always did but he smiled. I blushed and Sherry tapped me on the shoulder. I blushed even harder. He finished talking to one of his friends and joined us on our table. "Can I sit with you?" He asked politely. Lara nodded and he took the seat next to me. He laced his fingers with mine under the table. I tried to pull my hand away but he grabbed it even harder. It was so kiddish but very appealing as well. "I miss you already, I can't wait to hold you again." He whispered into my ear while biting it teasingly. I blushed harder and everyone on the table giggled. He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and left.
"Tell us everything," Sherry and Skylar giggled in unison. I told them everything that hard happened during the weekend leaving out the almost intimate details.
Class was shockingly fun today though it seemed long. In the evening, Austin walked me back to my dorm. He helped me while I made dinner but he didn't stay to have it with me. I was a little disappointed but I was glad he shared sometime for me. I wanted to go to bed early because I had hardly slept the past three days but when Austin called I knew that was not happening. "Hello beautiful," he whispered into the phone. I felt my body do the funny tingly things it always does when it comes to something to do with Austin. "Hello love," I replied. "Can we just text?" Austin asked. I said yes and he disconnected.
Austin: I guess you're missing me, right!😉
Harley: much more than you think.
Harley: kidding, I've better things to do than miss you.😅
Austin: really!😐
Harley: exactly
Austin: you're stubborn
Harley: little did you know
Austin: you know I can get those words out of you if I wanted to.
Harley: You wish.
Harley: You wish.
Harley: are you mad at me for not missing you?😅
Harley: you're such a baby.
Harley: why don't you reply
Harley: ok, goodnight😓
I kept checking my phone to see if he had texted back but in vain. I had the urge to text him again but I know that would stroke his ego. I knew he wanted me to say the words but I was not going to.
The next day at college was really funny. Austin sought for my attention all day. He knew where I spent most of my time and made appearances there. He kept flirting with loads of girls. I was really feeling jealous but I knew why he was doing so. So far I was succeeding with ignoring him till I saw him hanging out with Tirzah. It's not because I was jealous but I was really insecure when it came to her. There was something about her and Austin that didn't add up. Austin was always flirting with girls but with her it seemed different. It seemed like she was more than just a girl he flirted with. My mind raced back to what Lara had told me. Could there be a chance that Lara was right. I watched as Austin pulled Tirzah to him and then flashed me a cocky grin and winked. And then he did something I never expected him to do. He kissed Tirzah right in my face. I didn't care about stroking his ego anymore. This crossed all lines. He can't kiss a girl right in front of me and he thinks I'll just let it go. I stormed towards him angrily. I could feel the anger blowing off my face. I pulled Tirzah away from him and slapped her yelling slut. "Your a slut Tirzah, how dare you kiss my boyfriend back." I yelled. "It's not like you don't know that we are dating." I added. She giggled an evil laugh escaping from her throat. She was still massaging the area of her cheek where I had slapped and turned to Austin. She leaned to him whispering loud enough for me to hear. "I'm not going to be caught in this drama, get back to me when your done with her," with that she turned to me. "I really pity you," she said and walked away.  I turned to Austin furious and he was still grinning. He had the nerve to smile even after what he had done. I stared at him for a moment and I decided I really had nothing to say to him. I walked away without a word. I thought he would at least run after me but he didn't. I felt so hurt at the moment. I felt worn out and tired. I didn't even want to attend class anymore. I was glad I had one class left and I would easily skip it without missing so much. I called Ellie and told him I was not feeling well. Then I walked off campus. I felt relieved when I found Lara on her bed. I was upset and I left college hoping I would use some alone time but I could use some distraction too.
We played Monopoly till it was dark. We ordered for our supper and I watched movie till late while Lara completed her assignments.
I didn't feel like going to college the next day. I was feeling exhausted from the events of the previous day. I had stayed up late at night mulling over everything. I had switched off my phone because I didn't want to talk to anyone. I stayed in bed till I heard someone knocking. I pretended like I didn't hear but the person insisted. I opened the door thanking heavens that it's not Austin. I was really not ready to deal with him yet. Ellie smiled as he placed the takeaway he had brought with him at the table. He must have figured out that I had not eaten since morning. He was such a darling and I love my best friend so much. He brought the plates and served us. We ate while he filled me in on what I had missed in class. He promised to explain it to me in detail once I was feeling better. I smiled because I was already feeling better. Besides Leah, Ellie is the only person who cares so much for me. "There no classes this afternoon and that's why I'm here," he stated. I felt saddened because he was only here because he had no choice, I couldn't help frowning. "I was going to come here after class. I would have come earlier but yesterday I knew you wanted to be alone and today I couldn't skip class because I wouldn't be able to explain to you then. That's why when I learned that there no classes, you were the first person who crossed my mind and I didn't think twice," he added quickly. He must have seen my face drop so he offered an explanation. I stood and walked to him and hugged him so tight. "I love you so much Ellie." I whispered. I suddenly felt so emotional as the events of the week came playing back. Ellie pulled me towards the coach and comforted me. "I know what happened yesterday Harley. I'm sorry I couldn't stand up for you," he muttered. He listened as I mumbled endless curses and complaints. There is no single time he stopped me. He only said he understood. I cried myself to sleep. He was there all the time till I woke up. He smiled at me and got me some milk. Lara joined us and they both tried there best to calm me and lighten the mood. I was really thankful that I had met these people. I don't know how I would have survived this long with all the hurting I was going through without them.
                         ***
It has been a fortnight since Austin kissed Tirzah right in my face. I was still mad at him regardless of all the things he had done to make it up to me. He had been sending me flowers everyday with breathtaking poems and seemingly sincere apologies. He had offered to take me for dates too but I turned them down.  He made some attempts to talk to me in person but I would leave each time I saw him approaching. I spent most my time with Ellie. I often asked Ellie if I'm doing the right thing. He always told me I should follow my heart but if he were to give me advice, he would advise me to leave him. I was seated in a park that evening when I saw Tirzah walking towards me. I wanted to run away but it was too late. She was already close enough by the time I saw her. She smiled at me like we were great acquaintances. I didn't want to be rude to her because I didn't think what had happened was her fault. I managed to get a fake smile plastered on my face. She joined me on the bench I was seated on.
"I need to talk to you about Austin," she said in a serious tone. I wanted to roll my eyes at that. The way she was saying it as though she was the only one who cared about him. "I don't know what you think you and him are but I'm the only girl who will ever be able to handle him. In the end you will only be another girl he screwed. He does that every year, gets a toy to play with to kill the boredom but in the end he comes back to me," she added coldly. I felt terrified and speechless not because I was frightened by Tirzah. So many people had said the same but I turned a deaf ear. I was scared because if these words were true, I will die probably because I couldn't imagine my life without Austin. I loved him with everything I had. I looked at her feeling dizzy and nauseated with each word she added. "Harley, I'm not competing for Austin's affection because I know he always comes back to me. I didn't do this everytime he has a girl to play around with and toss her away like trash. I feel sorry for you. Unlike other girls, there is something about you that communicates innocence and you seem to be a very good person. I bet I do say I like you if we were not after the same guy," she paused. She then held my hands and continued,"you are a very beautiful girl Harley. Don't let him get what he wants or else this will go on and on. Unless he gets someone to deny him, he will never stop. I too love Austin but I'm not saying this to you to freak you out or to keep you away from him. I'm saying this to protect everyone including me. He knows I'm obsessed with him and that's why he does anything he wants yet we are a couple. If you deny him what he wants, he will stop this game and may be will learn to love. You shouldn't think that you can make him love you. He will never love you because to him, your just another challenge for him to get," she stated. With that she stood up and left without another word. She didn't even look back.
I had never been so puzzled in my life like I'm right now. I remembered each and every word Tirzah had told me. I wanted to believe her but I had a benefit of doubt. What if she was only tricking me into a way which will make me lose Austin. What if she was right? I would never know unless I tried to find out. That meant that I had to give up avoiding Austin and pretend like we reconciled. I immediately picked up my phone and I texted him. He replied immediately and I was surprised. He must have been waiting for me to text. I recalled what Tirzah had told me and I started second guessing it. There is no way he would be eager to receive a text from me unless he felt something for me. After talking to Austin, I decided to call Callie and ask for advice. I know it sounds insane but apart from Leah she is the only person I could ask and wouldn't be biased. I didn't want my parents to know about Austin yet so I made her promise she would never even utter a single word about him at all. I knew she respected my secrets and I didn't have to worry at all. "Harley, if you don't see that kind of person in him and you believe him, then why worry," Callie had said. We talked about home and she told me how she was disappointed because the boy next door was so hot but since I already have a prince charming she could step in for me. I promised to pull her ears when I saw her because of her madness and we said our goodbyes. I was in a much better mood after talking to my little sister. She was another magic to brighten my day.
Austin had sneaked up on me and blind folded me. I had guessed who he was right away because I knew the feel of his skin. I knew the way he smelled and I could tell by the sound of the strides that it was him. I knew everything about him like the back of my hand. I didn't have to feel his touch to know it's him, my body reacts to him when he is metres away from me. He kissed my hair when I had guessed him. "You smell amazing Harley." Austin said. I blushed as always and he pulled me into his chest. We sat on the bench in the park while watching the sun set. It had been weeks now since we reconciled and everything was smooth. Tirzah had stopped seeking Austin's attention and Austin tended not to flirt with any girls again. I saw Sherry jogging from across the park towards us. She was giggling like a kid. She stopped breathlessly and pulled out her phone. She started taking pictures of us. I panicked at first since I thought Austin minded but wen he pulled me onto his laps I knew he didn't.
Ellie joined us too on the bench. It now had no space left and I saw Skylar coming too. Austin pulled me back to his laps teasing me about how I have no way I'll run from him again. I had got off him after Sherry was done taking the pictures. Skylar handed each one of us cookies which we ate quietly as we watched the night creep in. I looked at each of my friends and finally turning to look at the love of my life. I couldn't see enough of him while he carried me so I left his laps and I squatted in front of him. He smiled at me and I knew I didn't care what his past was and what he wants to do with me. I knew that however much I try to leave him. I can never because looking into his eyes and him watching me with all that intensity is something I'm going to fight for.
     

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