Chapter 26
Never Felt This Way
So guys, I think you will be disappointed with my news...first off, for those of you who do write fanfic, you guys know how hard the pull between pleasing your readers and pleasing yourself. So, I'm sending this story in the direction I see fit, please don't be mad guys, I honestly tried writing this chapter differently, but it just turned out to be crap because I wasn't putting my heart into it! So, please understand, this version will be much less crappy then the other one I write. Please review, tell me what you think!
Playlist
I Won't Say I'm in Love-Susan Egan
My Best Friend-Tim McGraw
Wind Beneath My Wings-Bette Midler
Roll To Me-Del Amitri
Because You Loved Me-Celine Dion
Once Upon A Broken Heart-The Beu Sisters
If You Only Knew-Shinedown
CPOV
The next morning I woke up, tangled in my covers. I had a smile on my face even though I was exhausted. That's when yesterday's events plastered, front and center in my mind. When will my indecisiveness end? I love Austin so much. Did I really just admit that? Man, my day is not off to a good start. Well Cassidy, its time to admit it, I am officially and undeniably in love with Austin; my best-friend, confidante, muse. The sound of vibrating wood next to my bed, ahh, speak of the devil. I looked at the caller ID, the image of the boy with the cocky smile I loved so much. I grinned and pressed Talk, holding the phone to my ear.
-"Hey Casey!" He shouted, to enthusiastically for my ears to handle.
"Ug, bring it down a notch, its too early to shout like that." I whispered.
-"Sorry Case, but its 11:00 and I thought you'd be up by now."
"Well you thought wrong and I'm going to hang up if you don't tell me what was so important that you had to disturb me."
-"I just wanted to make sure that you can still come to the art show tonight." Shit, that is tonight, I completely forgot, good thing I bought a dress a month ago.
"Oh, yeah, that is tonight isn't it, what time do I need to be ready by?"
-"Oh, I'll meet you at your house around 3:00ish, and then we can drive down to Seattle." Wait, did he just say Seattle?
"SEATTLE, but wait that's four hours one way! Both of us are going to be way to tired to drive home."
-"That's why I booked a hotel stupid."
"Wait, a hotel, my mom will never let that happen, even though we're just friends." I emphasized the friends part.
-"Don't worry, I already cleared it with your mom and Jake. They're both fine with it, actually Jake's the one who suggest we stay in Seattle because he knew we'd be tired." Oh, the one person who I was expecting to help me out, had already fed me to the dogs, great, just great.
"Guess I'd better get up, see you at three." I didn't wait for a reply, I just hung up, cause I had to get ready.
Turns out, mom knew about the whole thing, but she just couldn't wake me up. I ignored her as I drenched my Ego waffles in blueberry syrup. I practically shoved my waffles down throat, rushing around to get ready. Before I started my shower, I packed clothes for our night in Seattle. I smothered my hair in Root Awakening shampoo then dabbed Hohoba conditioner on the ends of my hair. I covered my arms and legs with sweet smelling Pomegranate and Mango body wash, then shaved my legs in a rush. I hurriedly jumped out of the shower and rushed to grab the hair dryer from the basket resting on the charcoal black granite. Unfortunately, my hair decided to be stubborn today, and took about fifteen minutes longer that normal to dry. I twisted my hair into a messy bun and pinned it to my head with a jaw clip. I brought out my chocolate brown eyes with four more shades of brown eyeshadow. I used my favorite pink lip gloss and rushed around the room, clad in only my robe. I yanked my dress from the closet and rushed to fit it over my head, it was already 2:45. My dress was a mix of black jersey and silk. The fabric had the flexibility of jersey, but the smoothness of silk. It was a halter dress that showed my skin from my neck to my hipbone. It ran down to my mid thigh then split and ended on the mid calf of my other leg. It was not one piece of fabric, a second was attached at my waist and the seam traveled down my thigh, accentuating my almost non existent curves.
The dress slipped from my finger tips and clung to my flesh. I tied the strings around my neck and slipped on my black stilettos. I took a good look at myself in the full length mirror, well I looked decent enough. Then I heard the doorbell ring. Why didn't Austin just come in, Jake gave him his own key due to the amount of time he spends over here? I grabbed my overnighter and slowly walked down the steps. The guy waiting for me at the bottom was not who I was expecting.
I looked up at the guest and froze on the stairs. "Um, Jesse, what are you doing here?" This is really awkward.
-"I know, I know, I shouldn't have come over here so unexpectedly, but I have to talk to you."
Oh no. "Now's really not a good ti-" I was cut off by the click of the front door. In walked Austin. He was attired in black slacks and a white oxford, untucked of course. His face lit when he saw me on the stairs.
-"You look gorgeous Cassidy." Hey, he finally used my name. Of course, my happiness didn't last any longer, because that's when Austin noticed I had company. "Oh, I didn't know you had company." Austin said, sounding a little put-out.
"No, Jesse was just leaving. I'll meet you in the car." Austin nodded, and headed toward the door, hesitant at first, but trusted my judgement and continued out the door. "Jesse, I really have to go, Jesse and I are going to be late, we can talk some other time."
-"Wait, where are you two going?" Oh gosh, here goes nothing.
"Austin's art show in Seattle is tonight and he asked me to come along."
-"But, Seattle's four hour's away, you are intending to drive all night?"
"No stupid, Austin reserved a hotel room for us." Shit, he's starting to shake. I shoved myself past him and out the door as fast as I could. Austin was waiting for me with the engine running and his head resting against the wheel. "Ok, time to go Austin." He put the car in reverse and we sped out of the driveway and away from Forks.
-"Hey, so, I made a playlist for the road trip." Good I need some music. I nodded and he put a CD in the stereo. And we sang along for most of the car ride. And, of course, I could count on Austin to put on songs all talking about friendship.
I never had no one
I could count on
I've been let down so many times
I was tired of hurtin'
So tired of searchin'
'til you walked into my life
It was a feelin'
I'd never known
And for the first time
I didn't feel alone
Well Tim McGraw was a good way to warm me up for the verses to come.
Look around your world pretty baby
Is it everything you hoped it'd be
The wrong guy, the wrong situation
The right time to roll to me
Roll to me
Ok, good, he hasn't given up yet. I think it would kill me if he did, he took me out of my lonely phase, brought me back into reality, a reality with him in it. Jesse was just one chapter in my life, Austin is the rest of them. Oh shit, I feel like I'm already planning out our improbable future, that might not even exist. For the rest of the car ride, we sang along to the playlist. When we arrived in Seattle, we immediately went to the show.
The building was white marble, in the same rectangular shape as the Parthenon, with out the pillars though. Austin and I walked through the glass doors with his arm around my waist. Even though he wasn't as warm as Jesse, I still felt protected. On the way in I kept my head down, and when I looked up, I was greeted with the faces of what seemed like thousands of people. Austin's arm dropped from my waist and he slipped his hand in mine, pulling me towards the realistic section. He guided me to a sketch of a girl, I know I've seen her somewhere before. Oh my god, Austin entered one of his sketches of me? I stood there, staring at it, awestruck with the beautiful lines that formed my image. Austin put his arm around my waist again and whispered in my ear.
-"Do you like it?"
I turned my body so that I was facing him. "It's amazing, but why me, why not one of your others?" I had to hear him say it, I had to know if he loved me.
He hesitated before answering me. "Because Casey, you're the best thing that has ever happened to me and I wanted to share this with you tonight." Ok, so does this mean he loves me or not? Uh, I'm so confused! I turned back towards the sketch and smiled and brought his arms around my shoulders, which he had no objections to. I let myself lean back into his warm embrace. We stood there for what felt like an eternity till he suggested we look at the other pieces in the exhibition. We only stayed in the Realism section, which did contain some amazing pieces, of course, nothing compared Austin's, but anyone in my position would say that, right?
We left about an hour before the show ended, and Austin drove us to the hotel. Turns out, all their double bed rooms were occupied or booked, so we had to get a room with on queen. This is going to be awkward. We decided it was better then nothing, so we took it, and went upstairs to change. I put on black skinny jeans, leather boots, one of my many gray thermals, and my favorite leather jacket. Austin wore Levi Originals and a chambray blue shirt unbuttoned with a plain white undershirt, and of course his favorite Chucks. We drove for about five minutes, until Austin pulled up in front of a karaoke bar.
"So, I assume you want me to sing tonight?"
-"That's the plan." He replied indignantly.
We walked in and sat down close to the stage, karaoke hadn't started yet, so we decided to order. I had a coke and the Salmon and Rock Shrimp Penne. He also had a coke, but had Basil Salmon Limone. Our food was at the table twenty minutes after we ordered. That was pretty fast considering how packed this place is tonight. Dinner was amazing, I don't think I've ever had that many flavors in my mouth at one time. By the time we finished, karaoke was starting, and I ended up singing fifth in the line up. I just hoped Austin realized I was talking about him in this song.
Once upon a broken heart
I was walking alone in the dark
Looking for a way to start again
What I wouldn't give for a friend
There was no love in my life
There was no light in my eyes
All the tears that I had cried and cried
Seemed like they'd end
I finished the song and smiled. I didn't announce who it was dedicated to or who it reminded me of or why I sang it, I just, sang. Austin of course, decided to sing one of my favorite songs, but I could tell it had a double meaning in it.
If you only knew
I'm hanging by a thread
The web I spin for you
If you only knew I'd sacrifice
My beating heart
Before I'd lose you
I still hold onto the letters
You returned
I swear I've lived and learned
I need to get out of here, now. I left the bar and stood on the frigid streets of Seattle.
So guys how'd you like it? I put the link to the sketch on my profile and here for those of you who are too lazy to check out my amazing sketch!
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