Skylar's pov :
I'm in the barn grooming majesty trying to not think about Noah and what happened the day he was supposed to meet me at our favorite diner when Austin walks in
a:" hey princess "
s:" hey Austin "
I turn back to majesty and continue grooming her, I'm trying so hard to act like I don't care about what Noah did, my siblings and my parents keep asking me about it and I hold back the tears every time I hear his name, they all seem to believe me when I say I'm fine except Austin, I think no matter what I tell him he can take one look at me and know when something is wrong, quite frankly, it kind of scares me, we barely know each other but it's like he knows me better than I know myself.
a:" you ok? "
s:" yeah, I'm fine, why wouldn't I be? "
a:" sky, your not fine, I can see it in your eyes "
I look at him confused, how could someone you barely even know see straight through your act?
s:" it doesn't matter Austin, I'm used to it "
a:" no, it's not sky, no girl should ever have to put up with being treated like shit "
s:" well, it's all I got Austin "
I turn back to majesty trying not to cry
a:" hey sky, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have blown up on you like that, it's just something that really gets my blood boiling "
wow, is he actually apologizing? Noah never does that
a:" tell you what, I know riding calms you down so why don't we go on a trail ride? Just you and me, we could get to know each other a little better "
I turn around shocked, he sucks at riding but he's willing to put up with it just for me
a:" what do you say sky? "
for the first time in a long time I smile a genuine smile
s:" I'd like that "
he smiles the most beautiful smile I've ever seen, God, he's so handsome, he could really make something of himself but here he is, on probation living with strangers, I wonder where it all went wrong for him to end up here
a:" ok, no laughing though "
I giggle
s:" ok "
he chuckles and we start saddling up the horses
* time skip to when they are about ready to leave *
a:" let's go to your favorite place "
just hearing those words make me tense up and start breathing faster, flashbacks from that day start going through my head, the day my life changed forever, in a way, I feel like a part of me died with... Her
a:" hey sky, you ok? "
I snap out of it and quickly regained my composer
s:" yeah, I'm fine, let's go "
I could tell he didn't believe me but I was thankful he didn't push further
s:" follow me "
a:" ok "
we start riding into the woods and the closer we get to the place we're going the more I dread it, I haven't been there since... She died, I swore that I'd never go back to that place, yet here I am bringing a boy I barely know to the place that brought me so much joy, but also so much pain, there is just something different about Austin that I can't put my finger on.
s:" we're almost there "
a:" alright "
we ride for a few more minutes until we reach the clearing and go through it
(as shown in the picture above)
a:" wow, sky, this is beautiful, I don't even know what to say "
s:" I know right, it's gorgeous here "
he looks at me and smiles
a:" yeah, it sure is "
I blushed and turned away when he said that, he was staring at me like he was talking about me being gorgeous
we get off our horses and sit by the lake
a:" I know this place is beautiful but why is it your favorite? "
I start debating with myself in my mind about whether I should tell him or not and before I even realize what I'm doing I start telling him
s:" every summer my whole family would come camp here for a week, my cousin and I looked forward to it the whole year... "
I look at him and he gave me a smile and a nod to continue
s:" we were born six days apart, we were best friends, but I haven't been back here in two years... "
a:" why? "
I could tell he wasn't trying to pry, it was genuine curiosity
s:" summer, two years ago, my family and I were camping and our families went to go search for wood for a fire, it was almost completely dark and we would usually go with them, but we decided to stay back and continue swimming, there was a rope swing hanging off a tree, because we were both dancers we decided it would be fun to swing on the rope and see who could do the coolest flip into the water, I just finished my turn and she started swinging, there was a huge boulder in the lake, she swung, the rope snapped, she didn't get enough rotation and when she landed in the water she hit her head and knocked herself unconscious, when she didn't come up right away I thought she was playing with me, when I realized something was wrong I immediately jumped in to save her, but the currents were pretty strong that day and it was nearly pitch black outside so by the time I found her it took all my strength to get us both back on shore, I realized she wasn't breathing and I started screaming for my family, I was trained in cpr but in that moment I froze, eventually a water patrol officer heard my screams and started helping her, but it was too late, she was gone, and it was all my fault... "
by now tears were pouring down my face and I just felt a warm embrace around me
a:" shh shh shh it's ok, let it all out princess "
I cry on his shoulder for what felt like hours but it was probably only minutes, I don't know what has gotten into me lately, I don't let people see me cry, I don't talk about her, but with him, I feel safe
I stop crying and wipe my tears
s:" I'm sorry "
he grabs my chin and gently turns my head so I'm looking at him
a:" don't ever be sorry for crying sky, it's normal "
I smile
a:" I'm really sorry that happened to you Skylar, I really am "
before I can even think I'm saying something I never thought I'd say again
s:" would you like to see her? "
he nods
I grab his hand and take him to the big heart shaped rock with my name and her name with a picture of her on it
a:" grace, was that her name? "
hearing her name again made me tear up again
I nod
a:" she was beautiful "
s:" yeah, she was, she was just thirteen, sometimes I think it should have been me, she had so much going for her, so much left to do in this world, yet she's gone and I'm still here "
he cups my face in his hands and stares into my eyes
a:" listen to me sky, I never want you to say or think that ever again, it's not your fault sky, you have just as much to live for as she did, if not more now that she's gone, do everything she didn't get to do not only for you but for her, yes, it was a tragic accident that ended a person's life far too young but she lives on in you sky, ok? "
s:" ok "
he starts looking between my eyes and my lips, my heart starts racing, I think my first kiss is about to happen but people come and we break apart
s:" let's go back "
he nods and we ride back to the ranch
that night I couldn't sleep no matter how much I tried, I kept thinking about what his lips would have felt like on mine and wondering if he was lying awake thinking about the same thing.
a/n: guys, whooo it has been a hot minute since I have updated, I'm sorry for that but between school and writers block I haven't really been able to write, but I'll try to do better. Since today is Austin's twenty fifth birthday I thought I'd update, happy birthday Austin, we love you - Kayleigh 💜