Disclaimer: Don't own them. If I did, this wouldn't be fanfiction, it would be a script.

Thanks for the reviews, guys, Stand in Girl, you are my kinda gal! I'm glad you liked the part about Austin being in his element, wasn't sure if I was the only one that saw that, glad I'm not! Yeah, I think I spend way too much time looking into his eyes, as well!

Part Three

Carolyn turned to face the group of shoppers. They were minding their own business, mentally planning the next meal, or desert for Wednesday, or, in some cases, figuring out how to get out of the accusation of shoplifting. At least, they were, until she showed up with a gun.
As Carolyn turned, a gleam came into her eye. She advanced-away from the door--towards the shoppers. Towards one in particular. Julie was sure the whole room had stilled, and it was just her and Carolyn. Carolyn advancing to her. Her heels clicked on the floor.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Carolyn brought up the gun, aimed at Julie, and pulled the trigger.
BANG.
Julie Mayers shot up in bed, dripping in sweat and trembling all over. It was the second night after the hostage situation, and she hadn't been able to get it off her mind since. Last night hadn't been so bad--everything was a blur when she got home from the supermarket. Both Austin and Edie had offered her a ride home, but her mom wouldn't let her away from her side. Once she got home, she had been greeted by a whirlwind of people-Danielle, Andrew, Gabby, even neighbors she thought hadn't even known she existed! By the time she went to bed, she was exhausted. But tonight was different. She had dwelled on the event all day, and now she was dwelling on it in her dreams. Only, she was the one shot and killed, not Nora.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Julie froze. Maybe she hadn't been dreaming. Or maybe she had just been dreaming that Carolyn was really, truly dead. Maybe that was her, back to get her.
The irrationalness of her thoughts made her focus on the sound she heard, and she realized that it was coming from her window. She walked over, drew back the blind, and looked down.
Austin Britt was standing under her window. When he saw her, he deftly disappeared, and in a minute, he was precariously balancing along the roof, coming towards the window. He motioned for her to open it, which she did, and he took her hand as she pulled him in.
"How'd you do that?" she asked him.
He grinned. "I have a lot of hidden talents." he paused. "I take it you couldn't sleep either, then?"
"So you were scared." Julie accused, although a bit pleasantly surprised at the revelation.
He shifted, looked around a bit nervously, then met her eyes frankly, and said, "Not for me." His hazel eyes were so full of candor and seriousness that Julie couldn't help but believe him. Plus, it was a nice feeling to be worried about.
Austin kept her gaze for a moment, until she reddened and spoke up.
"You know, my mom would try to kill you if she knew you were here."
He flashed her his trademark grin. "Twice in two days--no where close to my record, but still, not too bad." he leaned closer. "She doesn't have to know I'm here."
"Why are you here?" Julie questioned. He was surprising her a lot recently, but she wasn't hoping.
"You look awful." he simply commented.

"Gee, thanks. Your delicacy amazes me."
"No, really--let me guess--bad dream?" Austin cocked his head to one side.
Julie blinked. This guy was good. "How'd you know?"
He shrugged. "That's how it always starts-eh, but don't worry, you'll get over it soon..." his voice trailed off, and he watched her face concernedly.
Julie took this as an invitation to start talking. "I just can't help thinking--what if? What if it had been me? Or Edie? Or...you..." something flickered in Austin's deep eyes, and she finished quickly, "...or Lynette?
"Hey, I told you I wouldn't let you die in there, and I didn't!"
"Well, as much as I'd like to say that's really reassuring, it's really not."
"Okay...umm...then..." he stopped. "You know, Julie, its hard not to let things like this get to you. But you can't dwell on the what ifs--'cause you can't change them. You're right--it could have been you--or me. But it wasn't. Now you just have to learn something from all this--live a little, Julie, and don't let there be any regrets in your life."
Wow. Julie hadn't expected something like that to come out of his mouth. Maybe the boy had learned something other than downing beer and flunking classes in his life. Something more valuable than any knowledge she had--and at that minute she realized they were more equals then they previously knew.
"How do you do that? How do you put it behind you? How do you stop thinking about it?"
Austin stiffened, and Julie would have sworn the look in his eyes was that of fear if she didn't know better. He composed himself, and traced her arm with his right hand, while taking the back of her head with the other. "Distractions." he whispered huskily, and pulled her face close to his. His hot breath beat down on her lips, as he narrowed the gap, closer, and closer, till...
"Julie!!!"
They sprung apart, almost guiltily, but both breathing hard as they shot glances at the closed door.
"You still awake, hun? I thought I heard you up?" Susan called through the door.
"Umm, yeah, Mom...I couldn't sleep, you know, so I turned on the radio." Julie answered.
"Do you want me to come in?"
"No!" she replied quickly. "I'm okay, really."
"Okay, you know where to find me if you want to talk."
Both teens relaxed as they heard Susan's footsteps going away from the entrance to Julie's room. Julie looked up at Austin.
"You should probably go."
He nodded, and disappeared the way he had come, without another word.

A/N: okay, I know the whole through the window thing is so clichéd, but I don't care. :P