Chance Encounters

twenty-eight

[a/n: even to me, this is a completely unexpected update because i didn't expect i'd finish this chapter anytime soon. however, do note that there won't be a lot of #ReStin chapters from here on out (but come on, give me a break. they've been together since, like, the third chapter or something), and these last few chapters will be dedicated more on reed trying to resolve her problems and all (hence, the latter part of this chapter). rest assured, those "problems" still include austin, so ofc she'll have to face him too sooner or later. 

in the meantime, i hope you understand that it's necessary for reed to grow up before she can find a way to resolve her feelings. thus, she wouldn't be able to actually make a move on the austin situation unless all these other non-austin-related things happen. thank you and enjoy reading!

sam xo]

Chapter 28

There was no hint of surprise in the look Austin had given me as soon as I broke away.

There was only disappointment.

And somehow, that made it a hundred times worse.

My cheeks were flushed and my heart still continued to beat wildly against my ribcage as I took in the expression on his face, never once daring to look away from his eyes.

He had seen it coming. That much was obvious. He wasn't surprised when I finally placed my hands on his chest to push him away, recreating the distance that existed between us. He knew me enough to anticipate it—so why was he disappointed?

Why had he expected otherwise?

He should have known better.

I straightened, swallowing past the lump in my throat. "I have to go."

For a moment, he simply watched me. His eyes were unreadable behind the lens of his glasses and something about the stillness of his expression tugged at me, making my thoughts falter for a second before scrambling to make sure my resolve didn't sway.

Just as I was about to turn away, he let out a breath and dropped his gaze. "The sad thing is that I'm not even surprised."

He kept his tone even, almost unemotional, and already, I could see his walls shooting back up, shutting himself from me, minimizing the casualties that this moment was sure to create.

"Why did you do it then?" I asked him, feeling a sudden and irrational surge of anger well up inside me. "If you knew I'd push you away, then why did you kiss me?"

"Why did you kiss me back?"

I fell silent.

Austin pushed himself off the car, taking a step closer to me, forcing me to take one back. "I did it," he said, not once tearing his gaze from mine, "because even though I knew you were going to push me away, I also knew you were going to kiss me back."

"That's ridiculous," I scoffed, drawing my own walls up, trying to mask the fact that my own emotions seemed to be slipping past my fingers; out of reach, out of grasp, and it was all I could do to contain them all without letting them spill for him to see.

"Why did you kiss me back, Reed?" he said. His voice was quiet, but there an undercurrent thrumming beneath it. "Look me in the eye and tell me why."

He took another step closer. I swallowed, ripping my gaze from his as I placed a hand on his chest to keep him from crossing what's left of the space that separated us.

"I have to go."

I turned to leave, heading for my car. His hand shot out to grab me by the elbow. There was no force in his grip, but somehow, it was enough to make me freeze on my tracks.