Chapter Nineteen: Rainy Summer Nights

"It's suppose to storm bad tonight, so don't be out to late." Jason said.

"I won't, I'm just going over to Josslyn's for a little while and then I'll be home." Austin smiled.

Jason nodded.

Three hours later, it was dark and it was pouring rain. Austin squinted to see the road, but it was useless , there was no chance she was going to be able to see the road in this weather.

She had to get off the road, it was too dangerous to drive. Austin saw where she was and made the easy choice of going to Clay's, it was right there and it was better than her possibly having a wreck, but something told her that her dad wouldn't see it that way.

She banged on the door as hard as she could. The porch was covering her from the rain, but it was blowing with the wind and soaking her anyways.

Clay opened the door. "Austin, what are you doing here?" He asked letting her inside.

"I was driving and had to go somewhere, I couldn't see the road at all." She explained.

"Why were you driving in this mess?"

"I was coming home from Josslyn's and it started pouring!" Austin took off her wet coat and handed it to Clay.

"I'm glad your here, you don't need to drive in this." Clay said sitting her coat on the chair.

"It's quiet." Austin walked into the living room. "Who's here?"

"No one." Clay walked behind her. "Dad's at a meeting and Mom's at Dante's."

Austin nodded and then felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.

"Hello?" She answered.

"Hey Dad, yeah I'm fine." Austin assured him. "I had to stop at Clay's, it was the closest house."

"I'll be home as soon as the storm breaks." She promised.

"Okay, I love you too, bye."

"I love this movie." Austin said with a tear rolling down her face.

She had talked him into watching the Notebook and even though he would never show it, Clay was actually enjoying it.

He stroked her hair. She was beautiful and this moment made him want to make the best choices, so that someday, everyday could be like this. Tangled in each others arms on the couch watching a movie. But it was a done deal, something he had to do and as much as he loved Austin, this buisness is dangerous and he would die before he would put her in harms way.

The movie was over and the credits were rolling before he finally got up the courage to tell her.

"We have to break-up." He said.

"What?" She looked up at him, not hearing exactly what he had said.

"We have to break-up."

She heard him this time and not only was she hurt, she was confused.

"What are you talking about?" She shot up.

"It's for your own good." Clay looked at her. He didn't want to hurt her, but it was better to hurt now and over him than be in a coma or dead.

"If this has something to do with the damn mob, I'm going to kill you!" She yelled.

"Better me then you." He said.

"Oh my God!" She stood up. "This is about the mob!"

"It's dangerous, Austin."

"Yeah, I know, Clay. I grew up in it!" Austin yelled. "I'm always going to be in danger, that's my life and I'm okay with that!"

"I'm not." Clay moved closer to her, but she backed up. "Austin."

"I don't need protecting, Clay. I'm a big girl, okay?" She looked at him. "If this is about something else, it's fine, but don't act like your protecting me by breaking up with me, okay?"

"I'm not, I mean, I am, but, damn it Austin, don't you know this is killing me?"

"Then why are you doing it?"

"Because, as much as it hurts me to let you go, I know it's better for you."

"My hero." Austin rolled her eyes. "I don't need saving and I don't need protecting."

Clay watched her grab her coat and walk towards the door.

"Austin, where are you going?" He yelled. "It's still storming!"

"I don't care!" She yelled running out the door and slamming it shut.

"Fuck." He kicked the chair and then ran after her.

"Austin!" He yelled running into the pouring rain.

She didn't say anything, she just kept walking to her car. Getting her door open, Clay reached over her and shut it again.

"Stop." Austin turned around, facing him.

"No." He said, water dripping down his face.

"Clay, you want to break-up, okay, I'm leaving." She said and Clay couldn't tell if she was crying or if it was just the rain.

"I don't want too, but I have to."

She looked at him. He wasn't tough, he wasn't hard core, he was Clay and she knew that he was doing what he thought was best.

"Just stop." She said putting her mouth on his.

Clay was reluctant at first, but he couldn't resist. The rain was pouring down and thunder was cracking in the background, but all he was thinking about was Austin.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up. She wrapped her legs around his midsection and he started walking towards the door, trying to find a way to get inside without having to seperate.

The foyer was soaking wet and they made a trail of water as they made their way back into the living room. Clay sat her onto her feet as he kicked off his shoes and jacket.

Austin unzipped her soaking wet jacket and then walked over to the stairs, giving Clay a come hither look. He followed her up the stairs and into his bedroom, where they had been months earlier, about to do the same thing they were about to do now.

Clay watched as she unbuttoned her pants and began tugging at them. It was harder to get your pants off when they're drenched with water, but they did it.

"Do you have protection?" She asked working on getting her top off.

He nodded and then pulled a condom out of his dresser drawer. Clay sat it down and began helping her pull of her shirt. He wrapped his arms around her tiny body, pulling it into his. They separated and she fell back onto his bed with a giggle and then he was on top of her, attacking her neck.

Her back curled up and she felt the chill bumps run over her skin. Austin pulled his face to hers, this was it, they were really going to do it.

"I love you." She breathed.

Clay smiled his dimpled smile and they began stripping the rest of their clothes off.