A New Tactic
With a sigh, Austin pressed the 'talk' button. He wasn't quite sure what she wanted, but it'd at least be interesting. "What do you want, Shelby?" he queried.
"I just want to apologize for the way I've been acting," Shelby told him. Austin's brows furrowed. Was he hearing right? Shelby actually wanted to apologize?
"Well, uh, that's really big of you, Shelby," he said. What is she up to? he wondered.
"Well, how can I be angry with you when you're not the one who did something wrong?" she pointed out. Huh? What's that suppose to mean? he wondered.
"You've lost me," he told her.
"Listen, Austin, I know the whole story. I mean, everything. I mean, how Sam tricked you and-" she continued.
"Shelby, it's late, I'm tired, and you're not making sense. I'm going to bed," he interrupted. Then, before she could respond, he hung up and turned off his phone. Then, he saved his work, and then shut down the computer. When he was finished with that, he went to bed. Before he knew it, he was being woken up by an alternative rock song. He groaned, but turned off the clock, and then got dressed and headed downstairs.
"Hello, Son," his father greeted.
"Hey, Dad," Austin acknowledged. "Listen, do you have a sec? I wanna talk to you about college," he stated. Mr. Ames looked at his son.
"Of course, son. I have the applications for USC right here," he said.
"No, Dad. I don't want to go to USC," the boy responded.
"Don't want to go to USC?" his father repeated. "Son, what are you saying?" he asked. Austin chewed his bottom lip nervously. Could he really do this? Could he really break his father's heart?
"Austin?" The boy blew out a breath. Here goes nothing, he thought.
"I got into Princeton. That's where I want to go."
"Princeton?" the man echoed. What was so great about Princeton?
"Yeah. It has a great writing program," Austin continued. The man blew out a breath. The writing again? he wondered.
"Austin, think about your future. Writing doesn't have a solid promise of security-" he began.
"You know, Mom was ecstatic when my acceptance came in. I understand that this isn't what you want for me, but I thought you'd at least be happy," Austin snapped. Then, before his father could respond, he stomped out the door. The man blew out breath. Way to blow that one, he thought to himself. Meanwhile, Sam was also getting ready for school while catering to the needs of whims of Fiona, Gabriella, and Brianna. Finally, she was ready.
"Sam! This Salmon's too salty!" Fiona screeched as the girl was almost out the door.
"Sorry! Gotta go!" she called and quickly dashed to her car, her stepmother's voice yelling at her. She picked up Carter, and then headed for school, where they were met by Ryan and Astrid.
"Austin's not here yet?" Sam queried. Ryan shook his head.
"But he'll probably be along shortly," he answered.
"Cool," she said. While this was going on, Austin pulled into the parking lot, parked, turned off the engine, and then walked into the school. He grinned when he saw Sam, Carter, Astrid, and Ryan. Man, this is gonna shake things up, he thought to himself and headed towards them. Without warning, Shelby was in front of him. Oh, great. What does she want now?
"Hi, Austin," she greeted, draping her arms around him.
"Shelby, I don't know what you're playing at, but it's not going to work," he told her, removing himself from the embrace.
"'Playing at'?" she echoed. Then, she laughed. "Austin, you're so funny!" Austin stared at her. O…kay. What kind of crazy pills did she take this morning? he wondered.
"Listen, Austin. We really need to talk," Shelby told him.
"Shelby," Austin said warningly. She's really starting to get under my skin.
"It's about Sam," Shelby insisted.
"Whatever it is, I don't want to hear it from you," Austin told her. Stop wasting your time, Shelby!
"Austin, she planned this whole thing and she played us both!" Shelby exclaimed. I have to make him see the truth, she thought. "She stalked you for months, broke us up, and then tricked and seduced you into falling for her!" she stated. Austin stared in surprise.