If Only

Chapter 26

Austin's POV

Jeremiah and I are walkingback to the dorm building. "How is life guarding going?" I ask him alreadyknowing that he got a job. "It's going great, I had the closing shift last nightat Hollow Memorial Pool, but that is only pool I am working at through thesummer." I look at him a little surprised because Jeremiah normally works atall the local pools. "What made you only take one life guarding job?" I had aguess at what might be the reason but never assume anything. "I just need to focuson my school work, and I like Hollow because they pay me 16 dollars an hour, Iam friends with everyone there and I feel like I am part of a family." Like Isaid never assume anything because that was the complete opposite of what Ithought.

Inod my head with a smile on my face, "How are you and Kelly doing?" Jeremiahtakes a deep breath but he can't hide the huge smile on his face just by me mentioningher name. "Kelly and I are great, we are planning a trip to Big Sur inCalifornia for our 3-week semester break." Jeremiah seems excited about thistrip which makes me suddenly realize that semester break isn't that far away. "Whatare you doing for semester break?" I sigh knowing that like every year I do thesame thing. "I will be doing what I do every semester break, I will betraveling with my parents to Montana so that I can spend 3-weeks trapped withthem on their island estate." Jeremiah laughs as he fixes his long curly blondehair that is in a man bun. "Sounds like an awesome break, I would love to havemy own island, but the way you sounded makes me think that you don't see howlucky you are to have privileges like that." I roll my eyes a little pissed offby that comment. "The reason I said it like I did is because we go there everyyear and the whole time my parents take turns picking an aspect of my life thatin their minds needs approving on." I snap at Jeremiah who senses that he mighthave crossed the line with his last comment. Suddenly Jeremiah and I run intoKatie and Jonathan who are walking in the opposite direction.

"HeyBoo." Katie says joyfully as she smiles at me before giving me a hug. "What areyou two talking about?" Jonathan asks slinging his arm around Katie and Katiesnuggles into the side of Jonathan. "We were talking about semester break andmy annual trip to Montana." Katie's face tells the story because she knows firsthandwhat goes on because I took her one year. "I am sorry in advance." I nod myhead giving Jeremiah a look. "Katie and I are thinking of going to the moviestonight, either one of you want to join us?" Jonathan asks looking from me toJeremiah, "What movie are you two seeing?" I ask him because knowing thiscouple it is either a horror movie in favor of Katie or an action movie infavor of Jonathan.

"Theyare playing a romantic double feature of 'After' and 'Five Feet Apart' in thepark tonight, it starts at sundown and ends sometime around midnight." I rollmy eyes in annoyance and only Katie knows the personal reason why, but that isone thing that I love about summer here, our city started this event back in2007 and it snowballed from there to the point that it has become a summertradition of movies in the park. "Kelly and I would love to come, it will makea better date than what I had planned." Before I can answer Garrett runs up tous and smiles at everyone. "Garrett? What are you doing here?" Katie asks and Ican see both Jonathan and Jeremiah both react instinctively to Garrett's presence."It's alright, nothing is wrong." He says with laugh as Jeremiah and Jonathanrelax and go back to their normal selves.

"Austinand I have plans." Everyone turns their attention to me all with the same expressionon their faces. "I just came to pick him up." Everyone looks from Garrett to mewaiting for either one of us to say something that would explain this crazy behavior."I guess I will see you all later." Is all that comes out of my mouth. "Followme." Garrett says as the two of us walk off leaving the group on stun silences.Garrett and I arrive to the parking lot and I see Garrett's car which is ablack 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, "Nice car." I say which gets Garrettto smile as he opens the driver side door, but I quickly walk up to him and Iclose the door and stare at him with a troubled look on my face. "What is goingon with you? You yell at me before class because you don't want people to knowthat we are hanging out but then all of a sudden you show up out of the blueand tell everyone that we are going to hang out?" Garrett bits his lip whichtells me that he is trying not to lose his tempt in front of everyone. "Wouldyou just trust me!" He snaps loudly getting the attention of a few studentsthat are walking nearby. "Keep moving or I will show what a real scene lookslike." I snap at them making everyone around hurry away before turning myattention back to Garrett. 

"Either tell me the truth or we can forget about hanging out." I see his grey eyes darken a little as he clenches his jaw and balls his hands up into fists. "Just come with me." Garrett says as he opens the driver side door and climbs into his car. I am not sure what to do because one part of me is telling just to run away but the other part of me is telling to give Garrett a chance and get know him. I let out a loud groan as I walk over to the other side of the car opening the passenger side door and get inside the car closing the door. "I knew you make the right choice." Garrett says with a sly smirk on his face as he turns on the car on, and as I look over at him I can't help the roll my eyes but what else I can't seem to help is the smile that comes across my lips as Garrett pulls out of the parking lot and starts driving away campus.