This past week have not only been excruciatingly slow but also miserable for Austin and I. Having gone through weeks of been together everyday of the week to now randomly bumping into each other took a toll on me. I miss him, can't lie about it. We only got to see each other at lunch or during our shared classes, nothing more. Hella frustrating. I was so happy when the week was finally over and we could continue our lives back.
“Where are you taking me today?” On a long drive, we sat listening his playlist connected to the Bluetooth of the car.
“You’ll see.” Taking a quick glance at me, he grins.
Exasperated, I huff. “Why do I bother asking? You never tell me anything.” He chuckles.
“Sweet right?” I groan a playful scowl on my face.
“I give up”. Watching the car zoom past buildings.
“You have reach your destination.” The navigator’s voice said.
Walking hand in hand into the building. “You brought me to an arcade house?” I muse hiding my excitement.
“Not just any arcade but the best in the state. We are going to play every single game in here so get your gears ready because I’ve never lost a game.”
“It’s on Mr. Hotshot.” He laughs dragging me to a new spot. “First let’s get loose. Keep up if you can.” He put a coin helping me up the stage, music playing. I laugh. The timer began, we look at each other smiling READY, by the time it was down on one and dance display on the screen we started dancing to the pattern on the board stepping on it accurately with smiles on our faces.
“That was fun.” I smile pulling my hair in a ponytail ready for more exciting stuffs to do.
“I know, come on, we got more games to play.”
Dragging me to another spot. We played basketball hoops, street fighter and many more challenging games and I tell you, he didn’t go soft on me. He won every single time even when I tried to distract him. He laughed in my face.
“You cheating son of a…” I glare at his hand pulling my hair free from the band. I don't think he realizes what he's doing as his hands fix my hair framing my face and cascading down my back. Or does he? I bit my lips trying not to look flustered by his sudden affection. There, I hear him whisper softly to himself finally done fixing my hair. That action alone made me loose focus, he threw me off-guard to realize the distraction early enough.
“Now, now, Snoopy. Just because you can’t play doesn’t make me a cheater.” His bike zoom past mine on the screen. I accelerate riding to catch up with him but he’s so fast speeding down the road of what seem like Chinatown. Finally, I caught up with him sticking my tongue at him. If he thinks that little touch will deter me from my course, he's up for a shocker. He grins deviously and next I know he hit my bike once, twice, thrice and down I went flying off- course and crashing into the water. “Player one won.” The writing lit on my screen.
“Oh come on! I hate you.” I groan. “You crashed me.”
“No I didn’t. You simply failed. Accept defeat, it hurts lesser that way.” I punch him on his chest; chuckling he pulls us to a booth where we sat having lunch. Austin got so quickly carefree with over the days that pass us by. Watching him smile more often had a soft side of me wish he never stops. He went from intimidating Austin the quarterback and dangerous bad boy flirt to carefree Austin, a playful boy who everyday with him seems like a mystery of fun to me, well he's still have his bad boy ways but not what I knew him for. It's nice been with him. I'm thankful for the beautiful memories he have given me so far and more to come according to him. I smile. When we got done he took me to the park for an ice cream and a walk.
“I miss hanging out with you.” He says. Licking my ice-cream, I smile.
“How have training been?”
“Hectic, tiresome, tedious. We have to prepare for the last season you know. Coach is on our necks but that’s because he wants us to win the game.” I nod in understanding continuing walking as he directed us to an empty seat.
“Will you come to my game? Not that I’m forcing you or what not, I’ll love if you came for my game.” He rushes the sentence looking tensed and nervous while scratching the back of his neck. I laugh.
“If you stop acting like I’m going to kill you then I’ll come.” Giving him a wink, he grins.
“Will you uh wear my jersey? For good luck.” He rushes out the sentence. I grin playfully.
“Austin are you trying to run when you can’t walk.” He sighs looking down.
“I need you there, that’s all and if you can wear my jersey, it will mean a lot to me.” slowly his eyes meet mine. How can I say no to those hazels.
“Of cause, I will. This will be my first game you know.” He lips form a grin slowly resting both arms that are clasped together on his knees.
“And I’m happy to be your first. Truthfully, I want to be all your first and I know that will be a huge pressure on you now so I’ll wait for you. I’ll wait till you are ready to have me and don’t tell me that shitty crap about you dying and what not. It’s my choice Snoopy. I want to make that decision on my own. I want you to be my girlfriend, to be mine and I, yours. I know we have only known each other for a couple of weeks but it feels like a forever for me and I don’t want to miss out on anything. I know you have doubts about me, about us, all I'm asking is for you to give me a chance to prove your doubts wrong, to prove I want to be yours. That I can be your Romeo, not perfect but right for you. I get that I don’t know what love is all about but I want to learn, to have it with you if you permit me. I’m not the kind of guy you deserve but I’m willing to be what you need. However it lasts, I want to share every moment with you if you give me a chance for my own selfish needs.” His deep voice pauses drawing closer to kiss me on the head. Selfish needs? Does he know how long I've been waiting for this selfish needs according to him
“Just give it a thought okay.” His gaze went back to the happy walkers in the park acting as if he didn’t say to me he wants me, he need me and he’s willing to wait for my decision. Those words I've been dreaming of for as long as I can remember.
Well that's Austin for you.
My gaze shifting from him to the clear night sky filled with stars. Is this happening? Austin is willing to sacrifice all to be with me even if it isn’t forever. He wants to have the Romeo and Juliet moment with me. He has deep feelings for me, just like I do. He knows my doubts and is ready to wait for me to clear it up. He doesn’t want a forever if that is what I’m scared of, he wants the now for the short time it will last. The quarterback is willing to put his heart on the line for a dying girl.
I smile, feeling the goosebumps on my skin when his hand covers mine. He have this powerful effect on me, even when I try to resist my body rejects me. I’ve pictured this moment for so long, now it’s here. As much as I want this, I'm too scared to hold onto the thin thread of hope. A hope for us. I lace our fingers together, stealing a side glance, I see a faint smile as he watch the stars with me. I wish I can read his mind right now, just to know what he's thinking. Joining him with my eye at the stars and a soft smile on my face. I guess I can finally rule out the most important list off my bucket turned wish list.