Unedited...

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Marlyn blinked her eyes, sitting up straight on her bed. She looked at the clock.

7 a.m.

She still has time for school.She washed her face and brushed her teeth. She can hear the front door opening.Marlyn walked out of her room.

"Good morning," She said as her lips curved up into a smile seeing him. He looks exhausted.

"Good morning Mar" His voice husky as he smiled back at her. He walked straight towards his room.

"Can I make you something or coffee?" She asked biting her lips. She know what his answer will be yet she is trying again.

"No, I will just take a shower and sleep" He refused. She just smiled, when he walked away her smile falter. She looked down sighing sighing this was not the first time she noticed. She always does. He keep her at an arm distance. It's almost like a pattern where he refuses if she tried to do anything for him. She did not want to but she feel bitter about that.

The doorbell ring. She opened the door.

"Food delivery" John smiled at Marlyn. John, Barrie, Jasmine and Cassandra work together at a cafe, where Austin asked them to deliver food whenever he can not pick up. They know each for a long time so this is a special service only available to Austin.

"Thank you," She said taking the food.

"My pleasure," He said handing her.

"Would you like something to drink?" She asked like any other day.

"No thanks, Marlyn. See you at 4 p.m. and say, hello to Austin from me" he said with a grin patting her head. She nod her head smiling back. She putting the food on the table.

She worked at the cafe as a part-time job. Austin refused at a first but, later on, let her be as she insisted. Not only that the cafe is closer from here and he already knows the staff.

Marlyn get dressed for her school eating breakfast. She put his breakfast in the microwave and set the time. She wrote a small note and sticks it to the microwave.

The rest of the day went as usual. She was busy going through classes after classes.

At the lunch break, she and her best friend went to the cafeteria. They take a sit on the bench.

"You know the prom is coming, right?" Nora asked. She blinked her eyes.

"What?" Marlyn asked her who rolled her eyes.

"Are you even listening? Marlyn" Nora asked. She shakes her head in a no.

"The prom is coming, Have anyone asked you?" Nora asked.

"No" She looked away.

"Jordan wanted to ask you though" Nora grinned.

"I don't know, I need to ask Austin," She said sighing. She know there is no need for that. Austin... as much as she feel sad he would not care about her going to prom. She chuckled shaking her head. Nora stare at her.

"Austin?" Nora smirked.

"Who is Austin?" She asked raising her eyebrows.

"No.. no one" blood crept from her neck and flushed her cheeks.

"Don't tell me it's the same man who came four months ago?" Nora asked smirking. She was turning red at every passing minute.

"Ah! Is he the same man who was here? Too bad he is older then us" Nora said. They have not talked about her mental breakdown since then. Marlyn flinched when she heard those last words. It's something Austin reminds her every moment she lives with him though not vocally. Why does an outsider had to tell her that?

'Nora is not an outsider, Mar, you are making her that' Marlyn look down a little bit. Should she tell her? Would that be the right thing to do? While Nora stare at her changing expression. She know her to well.

"Are you by any chance crushing on him?" She asked raising her eyebrow. Marlyn stare at her gasping, turning even more red. She so wanted wanted to shake her head and deny but she can't. His smiling face always make her heart flutter.

"Me too," Nora giggled patting her shoulder.

"Let's go back" Marlyn stand up. After that, it went smoothly even but her thoughts were still stuck on Nora's word.

Too bad he is older than us.

Marlyn went straight to the cafe after class and worked at the counter trying to talk her mind off of those thoughts.

***********

It's almost 8 p.m. The last customer went out. Marlyn sighed walked to the staff room getting changed. She walked out.

"Here take the dinner" Barrie hand her dinner.

"Thank you Barrie" She smiled at the man.

Marlyn went back to the apartment, the moment she opened the door, her feet froze. Austin was sitting on the couch sipping his coffee from his mug.

"You are home?" She asked him shocked. He looked up from his paper.

"Yes, I have a day shift" he answers while his eyes trailed over the words in the document. She walks straight to the kitchen her eyes fall on the note she sticks in the morning, it was still there so was the food. She smiled bitterly.

Marlyn closed her eyes taking a deep breath before going to her room to freshen up. She walked back to the living room. Austin was still with his documents.

"Do you want another cup of coffee?" She asked gulping.

"No" Austin shake his head.

"Should I bring out dinner?" She asked. Austin sighed.

"No thanks," he again refused her.

Marlyn stare at him.

"Why?" She asked biting her lips. She had to ask him.

"Hm?" Austin looked up. She takes a deep breath and sighed.

"Do you hate me?" She asked biting her lips. Only to see him blink in confusion. Her heart ached at that.

"Why do you think like that?" She froze. Is he really asking her why?

He always rejects her and rejects anything she try to do for him. He treats her so coldly that she feels unwanted. Do I always need to break down to be in your arms? She looked down as tears filled her eyes at the bitter truth.

"Nothing" She looked at him forcing a smile. She turned away from him. Austin put down his document standing up abruptly.

"Marlyn? What happened?" He asked her voice soft and kind bringing fresh tears but she held onto that. If he refuses to see what is he doing? Can she really make him? No. The answer is simple as that.

She turned and walked away leaving Austin behind. She went to sleep skipping her dinner.

The next day she did not ask him for anything neither did she ask anything question. She wanted to pretend that everything is fine. Austin sighed.

"Are you avoiding me?" He asked after one day. Marlyn flinched for some reason she feel a chill run down her spine.

"No" Marlyn said staring at his neck.

"Marlyn I don't like when people ignore me" His voice has an icy edge which irked her for some reason.

"So, it's alright for you ignore them?" She stated, her eyes which was on him for a moment before she turned and walked away.

"When did I ever?" He frowned rolling his eyes. Teenagers. He shake his head.

************

Sunday.

Marlyn feel awful this days. Austin stopped talking to her and helped her ignoring him. She taking a bath and changing her dress before walking out of the room.

Door Bell Ring.

Marlyn opened the door thinking it was Austin. She froze at she stare at the beautiful woman who smiled at her graciously. She forced herself to smile back.

"Cassandra? What are you doing here?" She asked out which was a bit to harsh. She know very well how Cassandra and Austin's relation is like? Then why was there a twig of jealousy in her. She  should not feel like this.

"I bring breakfast," Cassandra said grinning.

"Where is he?" Marlyn froze.

'I don't know' but she did not want to tell Cassandra that.

"He must be sleeping" A lie, a lie she will know if she walks in and did not see him.

"What?" Cassandra sighed, she handed her the bags and walked straight to his room.

"Wait, Cassandra..." before Marlyn can stop her, she entered his room. Marlyn put the food on the table and rushed behind her.

"Austin wake up" Cassandra yelled.

Austin sit up even though his eyes still closed. Her eyes widen he was not even wearing a t-shirt. She turned around trying very hard not to blush.

"Austin?" Cassandra called him again, shaking him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked his voice heavy as he pushed her away.

"You invited me" Cassandra rolled her eyes.

"Come on if you want breakfast," She said threatening him. Austin sighed

"What was I thinking?" He mumbled out loud trying to fall back only to get a glass of water on his face which was on his nightstand.

"I am up I am up" He snapped, sitting upright eyes open this time. Marlyn was shocked again. It's not like this is the first time but it always shocked her at how close they are.

"What the fuck woman?" He wiped the water glaring at Cassandra.

She stares at them, what would he do if she wakes him up this way? She smiled painfully does she have the guts to throw a glass of water at his face?

Marlyn closed her eyes, why is she thinking like this. Since that day her thoughts were going on a roundabout ways.

"Come on, Mar" Cassandra called her, she blinked her eyes.

"Yes," she nods her head.

They set the table. Austin walked in freshly shower.

"You are going to air out my bed," He said glaring at Cassandra.

"Nope, not gonna happen" she shrugged her shoulder. He rolled his eyes takeing a bite of the sandwich which tastes good.

"Make me something, I am missing some good food" He said finishing his breakfast.

"Sometimes I feel like the only reason you invite me. So, that you can eat my cooking" Cassandra said annoyed.

"That I do" he admitted shrugging his shoulder before yawning.

"Why are you so tired?"

"I was on duty for 24 hours," He said sighing.

"That's not a new thing" Cassandra raised her eyebrows. He shrugged his shoulder, his eyes linger on Marlyn for a second before he turning to Cassandra.

"How is college going?" He asked taking a sip of his juice which Cassandra handed him.

"Do you want some?" She asked Marlyn who shake her head.

"Great," Cassandra told Austin with a sparkle. He relaxed and smiled at her.

"How are your friends?"

"Great" she grinned.

"I like seeing your smile," He told her. Cassandra nod her head. He pat her head. Marlyn stand up slowly something pierced her and tug in her heart.

"So, Marlyn?" Cassandra turned towards her.

".. I have some work to do.." She said with a forced smile trying to get away from them. Cassandra frowned staring at her.

"Is she alright?" She asked as Marlyn walked away. Austin sighed rubbing his face.

"I don't know" He said. Cassandra stand up walking towards the kitchen. She opened the fridge.

"What would you like to eat Dr.McGregor? Fried air or streamed?" She asked while she glare at him. He shamelessly shrugged his shoulder. Not bothered at all. Cassandra sighed.

"You know I can't cook," Austin said.

"You are lucky I am not punching you"

"Oh! Please" He rolled his eyes.

"Let go shopping" Cassandra with a sickening smile.

"No" Austin shake his head annoyed at her suggestion.

"If you want to eat then you will," She said narrowing her eyes determined.

"We can order" He said calmly.

"Austin," Her voice held a warning.

"Okay," He sighed pinching the bridge of his nose annoyed.

"I will grab my keys," He said standing up.

"Marlyn, Can I borrow paper and pen?" Cassandra knocked on her door. Marlyn opened the door and bring her a paper. Her eyes stare at her puffy eyes while the younger tried to smile. 

"Thank you," Cassandra said and wrote something.

"Let's go," Austin said.

"Here," Cassandra handed him a piece of paper.

"What?" He asked as he looks through the content.

"Come back soon"

"But.." He did not get to complain much as she pushed him out of the house locking him out.

Marlyn looked at her eyes widen.

Cassandra turned towards Marlyn who was still standing at her door. The smile drop as she stare at her.

"Marlyn do you hate me?" Cassandra asked her face neutral. Marlyn froze her throat dried up.

What kind of question is that?"

"No. Why do you think like that?" She asked looking at her earnestly. With a desperation Cassandra could not understand.

"I know when I am jot wanted or need. I guess" Cassandra said her voice coldly. Her heart thudded. Austin already hates her, she did not want to give him more reason to hate her.

"I.. I am sorry" She said tears pricked her eyes.

"Please don't tell him. I will do anything" Seeing the girl going pale as she apologized.

"I.. am sorry" her face went white as she stare at the floor.

"Do you think hating me will help with Austin?" Marlyn flinched at her voice. She could not contemplate what is going on.

"I don't hate..." She whispered for whom Cassandra could not tell but she her making herself as small a possible somewhere hurt her.

"I.. I am just jealous of you" Marlyn bite her lips. Cassandra could not help as a smile flutter on her lips. Someone who could readily accept her emotion. She pat her head.

"You love him, don't you?" Cassandra asked. Marlyn stayed quite for a long time.

"Can you tell me why you are avoiding him?" Marlyn sighed looking down at her foot.

"It's alright for now but if you want to go through Austin you need to be upfront. If you think cutting him off will help. It won't. Rather you are just pushing him away" Cassandra walked away after saying that. That's all she could tell her for now.

Marlyn stared at Cassandra her words ringing in her head.

After that everything went silent.

Austin return back after an hour glaring at Cassandra. She rolled her eyes and ignored him.

"I can help you" Marlyn said standing up.

"No, don't, She needs to pay for locking me out" Austin said annoyed at Cassandra.

"But.." Marlyn looked at him who was glaring at Cassandra. Even though he seems angry for some reason he till went down and bring grocery.

"Do you want your food more spicy and salty?" Cassandra asked glaring back at him. He glared back.

"No" He mumbled.

"Good, "  Cassandra give him a pointed look as a warning who tried not to roll his eyes.

After that everything went quite smoothly. They have a silent dinner. He could feel the tension between them.

"Did something happened while I was away?" Austin asked neither of them replied. Cassandra went back home after dinner while Marlyn washed the dishes with Austin's help.

Mrlyn stayed silent as she pounder over her words.

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