I love you guys and I hate to disappoint you. I'm sorry this took so long. Please forgive me.

Chapter 8

Austin drove his ex-girlfriend to his place and wheeled her into his room.

"So, you live here," Cassidy said. It wasn't a question.

"Yeah, I do," Austin said.

"You live all by yourself?"

"Not exactly. I mean yeah, I have my own room but I live with Dez and his family," Austin said.

"So, who's the girl you've fallen for?"

"What makes you think-"

"Austin, please, it's so obvious," Cassidy said.

He let out a huff. "Ally and I... We're just friends."

"Right, just friends," she said sarcastically.

"What?"

"Austin, you should know better than anyone that time is something you can't rewind," Cassidy explained.

"Life goes on and besides... Do you really want to live in the past forever?" she asked.

"No, I guess not."

"C'mon!"

"Where are we going?"

"We're going to your girlfriend's place and you're gonna tell her that you love her!"

"She's not my girlfriend!" Austin exclaimed.

"Not yet," Cassidy said with a sly smile. She winked at him before wheeling herself out of his room.

Austin shook his head and followed her. Reluctantly, he drove to Ally's. He told Cassidy to stay in the car and reluctantly, she agreed.

Austin knocked on the door and waited. A few seconds later, Ally opened the door and smiled at him.

"You know.." Ally paused as she leaned against her door frame.

"I would throw myself at you if I didn't have any self-control," she continued.

"Why don't you?" Austin asked.

Ally leaned back and stood up straight. Her smile faded.

"Because I wouldn't let go," Ally said quietly.

Impulsed, Austin took her hand and gently pull her in for a hug. She buried her head in his chest as he rested his chin on her head. She wrapped her arms around his waist and he wrapped his around her shoulder.

"I can't stand it anymore, Austin," she said quietly.

He pulled away slightly but kept her within arm's length.

"Can't stand what anymore?"

"I can't stand the what ifs. Are we ever going to be together?" she asked.

"Do you like me or are you just playing me?"

"There's someone that wants to meet you," Austin said. He took her hand in his and interlock their fingers together. He walked her towards his car.

He stopped just a few feet away from the vehicle. He let her go and opened the door. Ally was confused when she saw a beautiful dirty blonde haired girl, with big blue eyes, smiling at her. Austin took out a wheelchair out and instantly, Ally knew who it was. It was Cassidy. Austin's ex.

Austin carried his ex-girlfriend and set her down the wheel car.

"So you're the girl that managed to bring that goofy smile of his back onto his face," Cassidy said as she eyed her from head to toe.

"I approve," she said.

Ally looked at Austin confusedly.

"I didn't bring you here for your approval, Cass," Austin said irritably.

"Right well, while us girls chat, why don't you make yourself useful and go and get my phone. I left it at your place," Cassidy said.

"But that's-"

"Bye, Austin!" Cassidy said as she wheeled herself towards the door.

Ally looked at him as he gave her a shrug. Reluctantly, Austin fired up the engine of his car and drove off.

"Why did you want to meet with me, Cassidy?" Ally asked once they were inside.

"You want to get down to business, I see. Fair enough," Cassidy said.

"It's just... I haven't seen Austin that happy in a long time."

"But you've been gone for two years," Ally pointed out.

"That doesn't mean I don't keep tabs on him," Cassidy said.

"The first time I saw him again, he looked crushed. Like he lost every will to live. Then I saw him smile that goofy smile of his when he looked at his phone. My guess was, he found someone."

"I wasn't sure until you called him. He tried to hide it from me but he couldn't. I know love when I see it. The way he smiles when he hears your voice? That's love," Cassidy told her.

"Austin loves me?"

"He does, though he's in denial. Probably still haunted by that fateful day," Cassidy said.

"I don't blame him. Even I still have nightmares sometimes. Then again, I'm reminded every day."

"I'm sorry," Ally said.

"Don't be. I've gotten used to it."

"How did he seem when you met him?" Cassidy asked.

"Honestly? He seemed a little weird. He came up to me and asked for friendship and when I said I wasn't interested, he smiled and left," Ally said.

"Typical Austin. He made an impression," Cassidy said.

"Anyways, Austin would appear and then disappear again. The only time he stayed was when I was alone. Then...," Ally smiled to herself as she recalled, "He would stay with me more often. He wouldn't leave my side. Especially after Dallas broke up with me."

"Wait... So he stood by you even though you had a boyfriend?" Cassidy asked.

"Yeah, he did."

"Wow. He must really love you then," Cassidy commented.

"Why do you say that?"

"Austin doesn't really wait around for the one he likes. Usually he'd give up after a month's top."

"How long?" the wheelchair bound girl asked.

"We've been friends for three months, give or take," Ally said.

"How long have you and Austin been together?"

"Two months," Cassidy said.

"Ally... Austin's head over heels for you."

"How would you know? You've been gone for two years!"

"So you keep saying," Cassidy said.

"Ally, the fact that you can't see it, means that you're also in denial," Cassidy pointed out.

Cassidy put up the brakes on her wheelchair and turned it.

"Alright, I'm done trying to convince you," Cassidy said.

Ally stood up but the blonde was already out of the already open door. Austin had just gotten back. He got out of the car as he saw Cassidy roll up.

"Is everything okay?" he asked.

"Shut up and help me," Cassidy said.

"Okay then," he said as he carried her out of the wheelchair and into the passenger seat. He folded the wheelchair and placed it in the trunk. He smiled at Ally before he walked around and entered the driver's seat and drove off. After he drove Cassidy home, Austin drove back to his place since he couldn't seem to face Ally. His phone buzzed. He whipped it out of his pocket and stared at the screen.

Austin, please call me

That was from Ally. Austin shut his phone and placed it on his desk. His phone buzzed again. He looked over and saw that it was his reminder. He sucked in a deep breath before walking towards his nightstand and opening the drawer. He took out several orange pill bottles and took out a pill from each. He downed each pill with water from a bottle. He walked over and stared at his reflection in the mirror. He didn't see what others saw. People saw him as a happy-go-lucky guy with no worries but when Austin looked at his reflection, all he saw was a broken version of what he once was. He gritted his teeth as he punched the mirror out of rage. The mirror shattered upon contact and blood trickled from his injured hand.

I hope that's okay! Leave a review and tell me what you think!