Our Eternal Ruin (Auslly)

10. Let me Save You

Everyone gasped.

"Okay, so now they aren't staring." I nodded to Ally, "What happened in class?"

"Is he all right?" She pointed at James.

"Low blood sugar." I looked away for a brief moment and cleared my throat. "So class?"

"Should we, like, call someone?" She pulled out her cell.

I grabbed her wrist and shook my head.

"He'll be fine in about ten minutes or as long as it takes for you to tell me your story."

"O-okay." She kept staring at James but at least she was talking. "I raised my hand in class, but the professor reprimanded me for correcting him."

I winced.

"And I made two new friends."

I smiled.She didn't.

"Let's just say they're a bit more friendly than you."

I swear I saw two deaths by my hands.

"Who were they? Did they touch you? Hurt you? I'll kill them, seriously. I'll—" I stood and started frantically looking around the cafeteria for any punk freshman that was staring at her cross-eyed.

"Sit down." She pulled me to my seat and shook her head. "I told them I had a boyfriend, case closed."

"I meant friends who were girls." Blood roared in my ears. "Not guys."

"Well?" She threw her hands into the air in frustration. "They were the only two people that approached me."

"I bet they were," I grumbled.

"Austin?"

She called me Austin, just Austin. I could die happy. Most people called me Austin. Some felt the need to add my second name, like Ally did up until now. It's like a formal thing because of my dad.

I hadn't told her it was okay. It seemed natural. Like a sign our friendship was real, not something I've forced apon her. Not something, well, formal.

I was turning into a chick.

My smile grew as her eyes narrowed.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing." I grabbed her hand and kissed it. "Just happy."

"That I failed at your little list?"

"No failure." I shook my head. "You tried and that's what counts. You need to get out from underneath the cloud."

Her nostrils flared as she grabbed her bag and stood.

"I gotta go." She stated

"Sit."

"No."

"Sit." I jerked her down to the seat and softly held her hand in mine. I could feel her pulse in her wrist; it was erratic, angry.

"I'm not sorry."

"I don't know what you're talking about." she snaps.

"You remind me of my brother."

"Huh?"

"Coma. Died," I explained. "Overdosed."

"Gee, thanks," she said through clenched teeth.

I pushed back the dark thoughts of my brother's demise, barely holding it together by a thread.

"Depressed, talented, awesome, my favorite person in the world... he was all those things. And you — you remind me of him. I don't know why, but you just do. So yeah, I'm pushing a little, but I think you can take it. Tell me you're strong enough to take it."

"You don't know me." Her voice was hard.

It had an edge to it that I wasn't used to hearing from girls.

"I do."

"You. Don't."

I released her hand.

"Better than you realize. Look, I don't sugarcoat things, and I sure as hell don't have time to be that guy. The one who waits for weeks to finally crack all your defenses. I'm different. Maybe I'm too intense. I get that. My methods are crazy. But I'm drawn to you — and honestly, you need me."

"I don't need anyone," she whispered, sounding like she hardly believed herself let alone was capable of convincing anyone else.

"You do," I said. "And I'll wait until you say it to my face if that's what it takes for you to realize it."

With that, I got up from my seat and left her. I'd keep writing my notes. I'd keep pushing her.

Maybe if I could save her — I let out a rugged breath... maybe in saving her I'd be saving him.

I couldn't then, but I can now.

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So does she need him or not ? Read on to find out :) Vote and comment.