1000 Miles - Chandler Riggs // Austin Abrams

Chapter Ten

June 8th

Summer Day 9

Today is my dare date with Austin. Everyone else is going to walk around pigeon forge and maybe go to Wonderworks, but we're going to this like game place that like has glow in the dark laser tag and indoor minigolf, and games, so it's pretty cool.

It's about noon when we arrive there, and we go to get in line for the minigolf. The two of us make small talk, and gladly enough it's not as awkward as I thought it would be. 

"How could you not like peanuts?" He asks, while shoving a few in his mouth. "I don't know, it's just the taste and texture I guess." I shrug with a smile on my face. "But you'll eat peanut butter." He says and I nod. "I don't really think about it whenever I eat it."  He laughs. "First bacon, and now peanuts. Dang." 

When it's our turn to go into the golf course, he hands me a putter thing and a ball. "Alright, whoever loses has to buy the other ice cream." I tell him and he laughs. "Oh you're so on. I have to warn you though, I have some pretty sick golf skills." Austin says as I place the ball down. "Oh I bet you do." I grin. I gently tap the ball and it barely goes up the small little hill. Sigh. 

After a couple more hits I make it in. It only takes Austin 3 times. We collect our balls and go to the 2nd hole. 

We have to wait a minute for the people in front of us to play. They have a group of like 5 and there's 3 little kids so it'll be a while. 

On the 18th hole, Austin says something that warms my heart.

"Hey, I just wanted to say thank you." Austin says looking at me. I turn to face him. "For what?" I ask, a slight smile on my face. We'd been talking about the smallest things, and this date is actually going pretty well, surprisingly. Somehow I've not embarassed myself, other than almost tripping on the course a dozen times but whatever. 

"For actually treating us like normal people and not celebrities. It really means a lot, and I've really enjoyed getting to know you guys." he says and my smile widens. "Yeah, and I want to say thanks for ya know, holding my hand on the ride." I say quietly, but then add more to it. "And all the other things we've rode together and everything." I tell him. I feel like I'm turning red. Who knows. I probably am. 

He smiles. "Oh yeah, that was nothing. That was actually probably one of the highlights of my day."

It's my turn to go and I place my ball down and hit it with the stick thing. I do this a few more times until the ball goes in. 

By the time we're done Austin had won. And no he didn't do the cliche arm wrapping thing to help me aim. That would have made it awkward. 

We leave the dim golf course and are blinded by the bright light of the gameroom/food place. "Since I'm such a gentleman, you don't have to buy my ice cream. But I'm buying yours." Austin says leading me over to the ice cream bar. I go to protest but he places his fingers on my lips. "Nope. I'm buying it." 

He gets chocolate and I get vanilla. We go and sit at a table near a window with the demon wheel in plain sight. Austin shoves a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth and stares at it. 

"This is probably one of the trips I will remember the most." He says and I smile. "Yeah. Me too. I don't really want it to end. I mean, with Kaylin going to L.A. and Elliot's mom and my dad, I don't know how I'm going to survive back home." I tell him. He reaches across the table and intertwines our fingers. "We'll keep in touch. You won't be alone, we can talk every day or something you know." He says and I smile. "Thanks Austin. This whole thing really means a lot to me." I whisper and he smiles softly. "Of course." 

After about 30 minutes of us just hanging out and playing a few games, we decide to wait outside for the others. This is where they said to meet them at. 

"I really had fun tonight." Austin speaks up causing me to smile. "Me too." He smiles too. 

"I would ask you out on another one, but you're right. That's kind of illegal here, and the distance but that's not as big of an issue." He mumbles and I feel my face glow red. "But, maybe one day when you're actually legal we can give it a shot?" He suggests and I nod. "Yeah, that sounds like a plan." I tell him and he holds out his hand. 

"Friends?"

"Friends." I tell him, and shake his hand. 

Today is honestly one of the best days I've had, and I wouldn't take it back for the world. 

A few minutes later the familiar van pulls up and we get in. "Soo how was it?" Kaylin grins. Everyone's leaning back to hear what we say. 

I shrug. "It was fun." I tell her honestly. Austin agrees. "And?" Nat urges one of us to continue. "It was a dare, we basically saw it as friends." I lied. Neither of us saw it that way. Or at least I didn't. I mean, he said he would ask me out on another one, if it wasn't illegal here. Ugh curse the hillbilly state of Tennessee.

The rest of the ride home wasn't as awkward as I feared everyone would make it. Thankfully. 

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[A/N: This chapter is shorter than like Lord Farquaad from shrek omg.]