☀️ Part 2 of Leading Her From The Darkness ☀️
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Austyn is finally allowing herself to open back up to Dawson in a way she never thought she would be able to again.
But what happens when betrayal throws off their balance, while the man she's fa...
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(LUCA'S POV)
I've been holed up in my apartment, watching American football – which I hate – and chain-smoking for days after my run-in with Dawson. None of the guys have reached out since, and I can't say I'm surprised if I'm being honest. Although, I half expected, at the bare minimum, to get bitched out for being an idiot.
Austyn has called every single day since, though. I think she's floundering a bit, gutted by the fact that Dawson has cut her out as well. But, apparently Kol and Avery still reach out to bug the hell out of her per their usual M.O., so they have somewhat helped mask the sting for the grief she's suffering with – becoming a temporary band-aid for her wounds. I remember how she acted the night when she thought she was going to lose us all as friends. Even though she'll never admit it, it would absolutely break her heart.
She's beating herself up – and mentally, from my perspective, she's asleep at the wheel. I'm worried about her. All I want is to be there for her and make the pain go away, but she's been filling her time with schoolwork and picking up extra shifts. So, I reached out to Lily to ensure she's keeping an eye on Austyn while I can't.
It's taking everything in me not to point out why this is hurting her so bad... that maybe her feelings for Dawson were on the same equal playing ground as his. But I don't want to rock the boat for her. I think that would send her into a deeper downward spiral that she can't afford to go down at the present time.
So, I ordered five different flavors of ice-cream and several bottles of wine to get delivered to their apartment to assist in the endeavor, which earned me a very excited video call from the piss-drunk, binge-eating girls the same night, who were all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
It was nice to see a smile on their faces... Austyn's face more specifically.
Austyn and I have been beating around the bush when it comes to our feelings regarding what happened the night we kissed, and it's probably best that way. Nevertheless, she isn't blind. She knows how I feel about her, and I'd like to believe she cares about me too; but I'm also privy to the notion that she and Dawson belong together. So, I've accepted we're only meant to be friends, and I'm embracing it, because she's one of the best friends I've ever had.
Austyn has never once judged me for a single thing I've shared with her, and she never fails to make me laugh, no matter how down I may be. She's my light in this dark world, and I'm grateful every day that fate or sheer dumb luck – whichever it may be – brought us together. I needed her in my life more than I ever thought possible.
The ringing of my phone on the counter interrupts my aimless flicking through channels on the 70 inch, flat-screen television, unknowingly saving me from my misery. I forgot it in the kitchen after I finished cooking myself dinner, and I have been too lazy to get up and go get it ever since.
