Destined

Chapter 19

I walked out of my home, increasing my pace and combing through my wet, tangled hair at the same time.

"Good morning."

I looked up and my comb got stuck in an angry tangle. Austin stood near the lift, leaning on the wall with one foot resting on it.

"Morning." I replied with a smile and tried to get rid of my comb stuck in the tangle of my hair. I started to pull it out and it had started to hurt.

"Ow !" I winced.

"Can I help ?" Austin asked and took a step toward me.

"No !" I said and took tiny a step away. I shouldn't be too close to him. 

"I'm fine. Thanks." 

"Fine." He said and leaned back on the wall again.

I tried even harder to take out the small comb but I think it has found a comfy home. A scary thought it me. What if it doesn't leave ? I'd have to cut that portion of my hair out ! No ! I started to frantically pull the comb and I felt a sudden pain at that part.

"Ouch !"

Austin detached himself from the wall and walked up to me, carefully taking my comb in his hands. I let go of it and stood straight, ready to bear the upcoming pain. He untangled a few strands of my hair around the comb and I squeezed my eyes close. He gently tugged at my comb and it came out. It had hurt, but not as much as I was prepared for. He handed me the brush and I slowly combed through my hair and started to tie it in a high pony tail.

"Don't. You look much prettier with your hair untied." He said. I unclasped my hair around my fingers, letting it brush against my shoulder. He took a strand of my hair and twirled it around his finger once, a sly smile playing on his face. I gazed in to his brown eyes. I didn't know what to do or to say. I wanted my eyes to capture this moment properly, who knows if I'll be able to witness something like this with him again.

He tucked the strand of hair behind my ear and backed away.

Disappointment surged through me, wondering how awesome it would have been if the moment could have freezed. If he could have stayed close to me.

We chose to take the lift, not the stairs this time. We both stood in the lift in complete quietness and I made a little distance from Austin. I wanted to walk beside him so badly and pretend that nothing had happened yesterday. Just remember : Jess, Jess, Jess.

I had allowed him do whatever he wanted, without thinking of my best friend. Moreover, I felt satisfied, who am I kidding ! I felt more than satisfied, I felt extremely happy. I recalled how I was standing against his chest yesterday. He had completely shocked me.

"What ?" I had asked him and his smile grew wider, maybe because my eyes had popped out.

"Yeah . . . what if he's not wrong." Austin repeated, smiling and gazing in to my eyes.

"You mean to say that you like me ?" I asked, frowning but inside, my heart was pounding so hard I was afraid that Austin could even feel it through our contact.

"Or. . . maybe you like me." He said.

How did he know ?!

"I don't like you !"

"Really ?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Then I guess you're absolutely fine with how we're standing right now." He added.

I then remembered that I was glued to him. I tried to take a step back but I couldn't. He had wrapped his hands around me. I looked back at him and he shook his head saying that he's not letting me go.