what it feels like - Austin Butler

five - the call pt. 2

I sit, stunned for a while until I hear Austin speak again, "Hello?"

"Oh, uh yes. I mean, hi. Yes, this is Isla," I say, trying to keep myself as composed as possible.

"Hi Isla, Olivia gave me your number," his voice is timid, almost like I can hear him blushing.

"So I've heard," I respond, trying to sound calm and collected. My head tells me that if I pretend I'm confident this will go well.

"Um, anyways, I don't have a lot of time. If I'm being honest, i'm hiding in the bathroom right now. So I'll just cut to the chase. Would you want to grab coffee sometime?" he questions, sounding a little more sure of himself now.

"That sounds nice," I reply. I'm still trying to sound calm and collected, but inside I'm freaking the fuck out. "Tomorrow?" I ask further, keeping the confident act.

"That should work. Send me details?" Austin sounds much more self-assured. I hope that he's silently freaking out inside too.

"Sure." This is not happening. Oh my lord. "I'll see you then, Austin Butler." I say with a smirk on my lips.

His voice sounds confident, and I can picture the smirk also on his face, when he says, "See you then, Isla Dempsey," before the line cuts off.

That was so much easier than I thought it would be. This feels like the olden-days. There was no "talking stage," we were just going on a plain, old date. Unless this wasn't a date? Was it a date? I wasn't sure, so I did the only thing I knew how to do. I called my mom.

"You again?" she answers, with a fake disappointed sound.

"Yes. I need your help, Mom." I say, ignoring her comment.

Intrigued, she questions, "Sure, what's going on kiddo?"

"That's the thing. I don't know. I think I'm going on a date tomorrow but I'm not sure if it's a date."

"A date? Is this with the Austin guy Olivia was hooking you up with?" I can hear her voice change into a flirty tone.

"Yes mom, he called me. But I do-"

She cuts me off. "He called you?"

"Yes." I brush it off like it was yesterday's news. "Anyways, he asked if I wanted to grab coffee tomorrow and then said he was in a rush so I should send him details."

"So send him details, I." My mom makes it seem like the easiest thing in the world.

"Where though? And when? A time might be too early since he's literally at the Met Gala tonight but also after noon is weird to get coffee. I don't know, Momma." My head is moving at 100 miles per hour.

"Calm down, sweetie. One at a time. Where's your favorite place for coffee?" She puts her problem-solving voice on.

After some thinking, I say, "Beachwood, but we can't go there because there'll be too many people, so just someplace lowkey like Jane's Coffee?"

"Sure, Jane's sounds nice. And what time works for you? He wouldn't have let you pick if he didn't want you to."

"Okay, probably around 9:30?" I say, unsure.

"That sounds perfect, I. Now just text him and let him know. Easy peasy."

Before I hang up, I say, "Thank you, mom. I love you."

"Love you too, sweetheart," she responds.

I open my recent calls and save Austin's number into a contact that says 'austin...'. The "..."'s are there because I'm not quite sure how to feel yet. I send him a text.

me

hey, it's Isla. does 9:30 at Jane's Coffee work?

It's only a minute or two before I get a response.

austin...

Definitely.

Can't wait!

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sorry. ik this one was short but it is what it is :) anyways, let me know if you like the story or what i can do better!