Austin looked perplexed. He couldn't comprehend what I was trying to tell, because of two reasons, one being that due to my agitation I spoke really fast and second I was wheezing heavily.

"Wait. What? " he asked as he rubbed his skull

"Just go before you get us kicked out," I replied nervously

"What? Get kicked out? What are you talking about? Your class concluded fifteen minutes ago," he replied

I looked around and realized he was right. There was no one in class except for us. Mrs. Cortez was long gone.

"You fell asleep and lost your memory," he teased

I rolled my eyes and amassed my books into my arm. I walked outside and entered a busy hallway, just then my eyes met Jenna's frown and suddenly I become a thousand times more self-conscious. I felt uneasy. I didn't know how to react, so I just kept walking trying to ignore her glare.

Austin noticed the change in my attitude and realized its cause as well.

"What's with the ogling tournament going on between you and Jenna? Are you guys in love or something? " he asked motioning his index finger to and fro at both our direction.

For a moment I went blank I didn't know how to respond. How to tell him the truth. Thank the heavens that just then I saw Rose standing near my locker and she wasn't alone, she had Jake accompanying her.

Oh my God, that guy has been around her all the time lately.

"Hey, guys, what's up?" Jake asked as he saw us approaching them

He and Austin high-fived whereas I and Rose hugged.

"We were just talking about you guys," Jake said gesturing his hand at us

"Yeah? " Austin asked looking at him, "What about us?"

"So Rose and I were thinking of going out on a little trip, you know like a long drive or something," he said.

"Wow, that's a great idea," Austin replied

"What? No way, count me out," I said almost immediately.

"What? Why?" Rose asked

What the hell is wrong with this girl? Why is she acting like she was born yesterday? She clearly knows that I hate going out on long drives or trips with people. She knows how nervous I get and my anxiety strikes up.

"You know why," I replied looking sternly at her.

"Hey c'mon it'll be fun" Austin pleaded.

"Yeah, c'mon it'll be fun, besides, without you what will poor Austin do," Jake said teasingly.

"Yeah, he's-" Austin was about to say when he realized what Jake actually meant and he looked at him as if he was going to kill him immediately, covering up Austin continued "I mean, the four of us have never really hung outside college so it'll be fun"

"Four? We are five. Did you just forget Jason?" Jake questioned.

'What? Jason's coming too?" Austin asked losing all his excitement.

"Of course he's coming," Jake replied, "Why would you even ask that? Do you not want him to come?"

"No, no, it's not like that," Austin said trying to cover up, "Anyway, I gotta go,"

He zoomed out of the conversation so abruptly that no one even had the time to ask him anything

"What happened to him all of a sudden?" Rose asked looking at Jake

"I don't know. Anyway, you guys pack your bags we'll be leaving tomorrow morning," Jake said as he prepared his exit too

"Tomorrow? Rose, I'm not coming," I said turning back to Rose, "Please, don't insist me on this one. I really can't make it."

"But Hazel, it'll be fun," Rose pleaded

"I know, but I really don't wanna come," I said making a puppy-dog face

"Alright. I won't insist you. Don't blame me if you'd have to sit at home all weekend doing nothing whereas I'll be having fun," she said

"I promise I won't," I assured her.

********

I was sitting on my bed with my laptop watching Netflix when my phone rang. It had a cute picture of Austin with the enormous letter that spelled 'Blue-Eyed Monster'. I answered the call with a sweet hello.

"Yeah, hi, Rose said you weren't coming for tomorrow's trip, is that true?" Austin began to question the moment we started talking.

"Uh, yeah. Count me out. I can't make it," I replied.

"Why not?" he questioned.

"Because...I...uh...have some important work," I replied.

"Important work? Like what?" he asked.

"What is this? A CBI investigation? Well, I promise I haven't killed anyone," I said sarcastically.

"Yeah, I know, it's not you're fault, you're just incapable of it," he replied seriously.

I was offended by that statement of his. Was he trying to say I was weak? Was that a praise or an insult?

"Uh... what's wrong?" I asked keeping all jokes aside.

"I just want to know why you're not coming tomorrow," he said.

"Well, I'm really not interested. I just don't feel like coming," I replied trying to justify myself.

"Hazel, look, I know you don't like going on long drives and trips, Rose already told me, but this one is really special. We'll have a lot of fun, I promise. Please come," he said in an angelic voice that flattered me.

"Why would my presence matter to you?" I asked.

I didn't know what exactly I wanted to hear but, at that moment, I had a strong urge to ask that question.

"Because you're special Hazel," he said softly.

Those words sent a chill in my spine. I felt like I was being buried in ice. My brain went numb and I had no idea what to say.

"Hazel? Hazel? You there?" Austin called out.

"Uh, yeah. I'm here," I replied stammering.

"So will you come?" he asked sweetly

"Won't you come at my window and convince me this time," I asked jokingly.

"Do you want me to?" he asked

I laughed and said, "Sure. If you can make it in two seconds, I'll consider coming," I said.

I knew Austin's house was at least twenty minutes away from mine.

"Promise?" he asked.

"Sure," I replied knowing that there was no possible way that he could reach at my house any earlier that at least fifteen minutes.

"Well then, please do me the honor of walking to your window and look down," he said.

"What," I said taken aback. My smile instantly vanished and I rushed towards the window and to my utter horror he was there. He was standing outside my house.

Then he went down on one knee and said, "Hazel, will you please come to the trip with me?" as he looked at me

That was the sweetest gesture anyone has ever done for me and I was floored, completely. I couldn't help but smile.

"Uh, could you answer a little fast my knee is kind aching," he said pulling me out of my thoughts.

I laughed a little and said, "Yes Austin. I'll come with you on your trip,"

"Really? Thanks. You're the best Baze," he said getting up.

I smiled, "won't you be coming up?" I asked.

"Do you want me to?" he asked going back to his old, irritating manner.

"I'm going sleep now," I said completely ignoring his question.

"Oh, so that's why you wanted to invite me. But Baze, I'm a good, respectable man. I never do anything that I'm not supposed to so please drop all your twisted ideas," he said.

"Austin, Shut up. I'm hanging up now," I said sternly.

"Alright, bye. Sweet dreams. Also, be ready by eight. Wear something nice. Red is my favorite color, just sayin," he said and hung up the call.

I smiled at myself and threw my body on my bed recollecting all the moments I had spent with Austin so far. In no time, I dozed off into a deep sleep.

*******
A/N
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Until next time,
Toodles.