I stare Austin out for a few seconds, did I just hear him correctly? I stand there at a lost for words, has he just walked in the room and forgotten about Roman all of a sudden?
"What do you mean we need to date, if you haven't already realised, I've been dating your best friend for years now!" I exclaim not really understanding why I would need to remind him, Roman's only been gone for not even 24 hours, he can't have forgotten about him."I know but just let me explain, my boss has hated me for the longest time, whatever I do he strikes me down and I never knew why. But a few weeks ago, I was sat having my break when he walks over and starts having this weird conversation with me. He starts asking me questions about life and if I was with someone, I didn't want to feel lame in front of my boss so I said I had a girlfriend" he starts to ramble not really explaining his point really, just because he told his boss he has a girlfriend doesn't mean I become her! "He started asking me questions about her and what her name was, I panicked and accidentally said her name was Payton. Now if that wasn't bad enough, he asked to see photos of you just in case he knew you" he says walking around the house but was really starting to bother me, can't this man get to see the point?!"Austin, please just get to the point where you want me to date you!" I exclaim having enough of him telling me this huge story, just get to the ending!"That was him on the phone asking if we wanted to go to dinner, I was about to say no but he told me it's there he'll go through the new promotion he's about to give me" he says while I just roll my eyes, this is such an Austin thing to do."I'm all for you getting a promotion and moving up in the world, but as I've just said I've been dating your best friend for years now, who probably won't take the little fact of me acting like your girlfriend too kindly" I tell him point blank, Roman's always been very protective over me, whenever I'm around a guy he constantly pulls me away. funnily, the only guy he doesn't is Austin, maybe he should have done."Roman isn't here, what he doesn't know can't hurt him" he shrugs like this was nothing, but I was seeing this as quite a big deal."That means I'll have to lie to him, Roman and I don't keep secrets" I say crossing my arms, he mumbles something under his breath before walking over to me."We won't have to lie to him if he never finds out" he awkwardly says coming to stand in front of me. "Please Payton, I really don't have any other choice, if I tell him the truth he'll be pissed that I lied and will go back to hating me. Please, I could really do with this extra cash every month" he pleads with me, something was different this time though.It was an expression that I'd never seen on his face before, he was generally asking for my help and looked so worried that I was going to say no. I sigh a little taking a look down at the floor, I didn't want to have to lie to Roman but I knew how important this was for Austin. I did tell Roman I was gonna look out of Austin while he was away, if Roman does find out I can just tell him I was doing what I said I would."Okay, but we can't let this drag on for too long in case Roman comes back and finds all this out" I say with a pointed look, before I knew what was happening he picks me up and twirls me around."Thank you, thank you" he says over and over again before placing me back down on the floor, where I was a little dizzy not going to lie. "I owe you one, now the dinner is tomorrow" he says before running back into his bedroom, well that just happened.The next morning was spent with Austin telling me what he's told his boss about us, apparently we'd been dating for a year and met at a market. No idea why he choose for us to meet there, couldn't he just say we met online or something? One little thing Austin forgot to tell me was this dinner wasn't just with his boss, the whole company are getting together in this huge mansion for a fancy party. If he would have told me that last night I probably wouldn't have agreed, the thought of the whole company being there was intimidating. What if me or Roman know someone that someone else is bringing? They'll either think Roman and I broke up and I've moved on rather quickly, or I'm out cheating on Roman while he's away. I've been accused of that fact already anyway! Austin told me this wasn't a big deal and the time is just gonna fly by, I was hoping what he was wishing is true.I walk out of my bedroom ready for this fancy dinner/party, I wore a black skater skirt mini dress, with just normal black heels. I didn't know how much effort I really needed to put into this, let's be honest all these people are just car mechanics. Austin was stood in the kitchen in his black suit, I've never saw him this dressed up before."Come on Payton" he shouts whilst turning around where he spots me, he immediately freezes just looking me all over, which does make me paranoid."Am I wearing the wrong thing, I didn't know what I should wear?" I ask nervously looking down at myself, yes I didn't want to be associated with these people but I still wanted to make a good impression, what if I want my car fixed in the future? But I guess that would need to involve me owning a car and knowing how to actually drive."No, you look perfect" he says looking at me once more before smiling, woah that's the biggest relief! I thought he was gonna demand that I go and change or something! "We-um need to leave now, the place is about about half an hour away" he says picking up his keys from the counter, I smile making sure I have everything before walking towards the front door.Austin was close behind me as we walk down the steps of the apartment, the neighbours smile at us as we walk down the stairs and towards Austin's car, which was parked in Roman's space. I don't know why, but it kind of upset me to see it there. I know it's just a parking space but it just confirms that he's not here, I know he hasn't died or anything but I'm still gonna miss him. He hadn't called me from his trip yet which was worrying, but he's probably so busy making everyone fall in love with his product."Now I understand why Roman likes to park here, it's so much easier" Austin laughs unlocking his car, I laugh opening up the car door and climbing in beside him. "Now it's time to act like a couple" he smiles switching the car on, yeah a sentence I never thought he'd say.We were soon pulling up at the huge house the party's being held in, Austin keeps calling it at house but you could fit our apartment a hundred times over in this place. In my mind I knew this was a company event, but I didn't anticipate how many people from the company would turn up. There were cars and people everywhere, which does make me rather nervous. "It's gonna be okay, I'll be with you the entire time" Austin smiles pulling the car up in an empty space, which were really hard to find in this huge courtyard. "What if someone asks me a question that I have no idea how to answer?" I ask while he takes his seatbelt off fixing his suit, I didn't want to look dumb by saying something that was the total opposite to what he's already told them! "Hey you're gonna be fine" he smiles taking my hand in his smiling, I nod my head taking a deep breath in to get my head in the game. "Thank you for doing this Payton" he smiles before opening up his door, I nod my head about to reach for t
It was the morning after that weird party, Austin ordered us pizza where he would avoid any question I would ask about the party. If he was trying to be inconspicuous about the whole thing, he wasn't doing a great job by avoiding my questions. I don't know why but before Austin literally made us flee the scene, something was still standing out to me. Now I'm not one to categorise someone, but no one at that party last night looked like the type of people who would lay under cars all day and fix them. Again I know people can dress up and make themselves look totally different, but it wasn't just that. The type of cars these people were driving! Now I admit, I'm not someone that's into cars or knows anything about them, but these cars looked expensive! I would have to save money for my entire life to afford to buy ones like that, I don't think they'd be able to buy those cars on their salaries. But it's not only what those people looked like or the cars they were driving, but they way
I was sat in my bedroom for around an hour, I knew Austin hadn't left the house as I would have heard the front door open. This meant he was waiting for me to come out of my bedroom, but I didn't know if I wanted to have a sit down conversation with him about this all. I knew from that party that something was off, it was actually a feeling that I couldn't shake the whole night, well the little time we were actually there. What if we hadn't left when we did, could we have been one of those sixty people that lost their lives? My bedroom door knocks twice before it's opened, where Austin stood in the doorway holding a plate of food. I turn my head looking at him without talking."You never finished making your lunch, so here" he smiles walking over and handing me a full plate of food, way more than I could eat on my own. "I know you probably don't wanna talk to me, so how about we just eat?" He smiles looking down at the food on my lap, now I know why he gave me all this food, I have t
As soon as my shift ended I clock out and leave the building, I didn't even stop to have another heated conversation with Brooke, not that I wanted to stop and have that anyway. I walk down the road with the white envelope in my bag, I of course wanted to open it but didn't want to see the horrors that may be inside. Once I was down the street I pull my phone out, where Austin's missed calls light up the screen. He told me I had to ring him once I arrive home, why has he been ringing me? I click on his name pulling the phone to my ear, it rings twice before he picks up. "Payton are you okay, Markus dropped by an hour ago and told me he went to see you at the café?" He asks worriedly down the phone, if Markus was going to go and see Austin anyway, then why has he sent me to give him this? "I'm okay, he had lunch and gave me a white envelope to give you, I'm on my way over to the garage now" I inform him while crossing the road, I knew the walk to there would take around ten minutes.
We arrive home in no time, where Austin begins to make dinner. He wasn't kidding when he said he ordered some shopping, the whole kitchen area was full with shopping bags that were also full with food. I offered to help him cook and put the shopping away, but both times he told me he had this and I should go and have a bath to destress from work. I did really appreciate this and thanked him before getting all my stuff rounded up, where as I pass to go to the bathroom I see him unpacking the shopping doing a little dance as he went. With a shake of my head and a smile, I walk into the bathroom to have my well deserved bath. Once I was finished in the bath, I leave the bathroom with wet hair to see Austin had unpacked the shopping but was still cooking. I was in the bath for over an hour, what could he possibly still be cooking? "Are you sure you don't want any help?" I ask drying my hair with the towel, now it was wet my hair was mega curly. "As I've said dear Payton, you can relax
The gunshots continue for what feels like a lifetime, shouts and screams were also filling the air as people began to panic. Austin kept whispering in my ear that everything was going to be okay, he seemed calm though this whole ordeal which made me also calm down. My head didn't move from his chest as they continued, but in a single second they stopped. What followed was complete silence, the screaming or shouting that once was very evident was gone. With a scared expression, I look up at Austin who was looking down at me. Did we actually just survive that?"It's over, you're okay" he smiles hugging me slightly as I tried to calm down, I stare at the bedroom wall wondering what happened. One minute we were sat making dinner and joking around, the next complete chaos with Austin dragging me to my bedroom. "You saved my life" I say turning my head slowly to look up at Austin, while he shook his head with a smile. "I can't let anything happen to you can I?" He smiles looking me in t
I wake up the next day with a plate of breakfast from Austin, he told me he had already called my work to tell them what happened. He managed to bag me a day off work! I thank him taking the breakfast where I realise, I was in his bed. For a second I totally forgot that I fell asleep here, he said he also managed to get a day off so we could do something to put my mind off of what happened. I thank him before finishing my breakfast, I jump in the shower and start to get ready for the day. I wanted to take a look out the window to see what the scene looks like now, but I hadn't actually gone to the front of the house yet as my bedroom is at the back. I had finished getting dressed when my phone rings on my dressing table, hanging my wet towel up I walk over to see Roman FaceTiming me. I answer it while taking my seat, it connects for a few seconds before his worried face fills the screen. "Payton, are you okay I just saw the news?" He asks worriedly, but I did see his face flash an e
I remain where I was standing, as Markus walks passed Austin and arrives in the living room. He looks straight over to me sending me a smile, where I have to try my hardest not to show how scared I really am. "What can we do for you?" Austin asks walking passed Markus slowly, where he comes to a stop beside me. "I heard what happened last night, when I saw you both weren't at work I'd thought I'd come over to see how you both were" he smiles placing his hands in his pockets as he went, I take a look up at Austin for a split second. Yes of course he would know if Austin didn't show up to work, the dude is Austin's boss! But to know if I wasn't in work, he would have either had to ring my work asking if I was in, which I know Brooke was probably eating it all up. Or he went into my work to see if I was there, why would he go out of his way to check where I was?! "Payton and I are fine, we just thought it would be better to take a day off today" Austin smiles wrapping his arm around