Chapter Three

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The next few weeks flew by for both Emery and Austin. They met each other every day at the hospital and made sure to spend a little time talking to each other whenever they could. They even exchanged cell phone numbers and texted each other when they had spare time from doing all the other things they had going on in their lives.

***

“How come I’ve never seen you at school?” Austin sat down beside Emery at their hangout, the ice cream shop that only they went to. They’d decided to eat dinner before going their separate ways to practice and walking the dogs.

Emery took a small bite of her cheeseburger and swallowed before answering. “You have.” She looked at Austin, waiting for his response, as she took a drink of her soda through the straw.

“Oh yeah, how’s that?” Austin was dumbfounded. He didn’t think he’d seen her before in school, but maybe she’d only seen him because of football and all that. He needed her to explain more so that he could try to figure out the when and where.

Emery was becoming more comfortable around him, even though she never thought that to be possible. She knew what she was going to tell him might change the friendship they had. Either he would feel bad, or he would finally remember her from all the teasing and walk away.

“OH MY GOD, she's like a little fairy.” Emery tried to do her best impression of Apryl, the leader of the vicious pack of cheerleaders that followed the players around. She was Austin’s girlfriend or ex-girlfriend depending on what rotation of switching partners they all seemed to be on.

It wasn’t that Emery dressed or pretended to be a fairy, but she had to dress in clothes that fit, sometimes meaning they came from the 'kids' section.  She couldn’t wear the so-called slut clothes that Apryl and her crew did. Not only would she not be comfortable exposing herself like that, but she just didn’t have the body to fill any of it out.

Austin felt the blood drain from his face as soon as Emery said those words. It wasn’t him who had ever said anything to her, he didn’t even laugh at Apryl and her entourage’s attempt at humiliating others, but he did remember the teasing. “It wasn’t me.” He knew he sounded like a five-year-old trying to get out of trouble for something he was caught doing that he shouldn’t, but he played no part in the harassment.

“I didn’t say it was.” Emery saw that Austin was going to go the humiliated route, and he was doing it well. “It doesn’t matter who said what or who didn’t. I just ignore your girlfriend and the other—”

“Bitches,” Austin finished Emery’s sentence. He knew what most of the school, mainly the girls, thought about that particular circle of friends. “And she’s my long time ago ex-girlfriend.” He made sure to stress that he and Apryl were over even though most of the school thought they were still an item thanks to Apryl’s constant hanging on him.

Emery choked a little on her saliva when Austin announced that the girls he’d been hanging around with for the past three years were total bitches. She always thought they were a close-knit group, or at least, that’s how they seemed to those on the outside.

“You better eat.” Emery motioned toward his half-eaten dinner. “You’ll need it for the grueling practice coming up.”

Austin had been telling her what they had to do in all of their practices. She had much more respect for him in regards to what he put himself through just for football. Emery knew she wouldn’t make it five minutes in the weight training, cardio, and practice plays he had to do every day. No wonder he was in as good a shape as he was. Emery sneaked glances at Austin while he finished shoveling the triple cheeseburger and fries into his mouth. She took one last nibble and packed up the rest of hers to throw away.

Austin walked Emery over to her car. He still felt like shit after she announced how he should know her. “So…” He wanted to ask her to the party that was going on this weekend but knew that would probably be a big no-go since it was apparent she wouldn’t be comfortable around any of his group. “I’ll give you a call when I get home later.” He was asking more than telling her what he was going to do.

Emery nodded her head okay, which was a shock to Austin. He thought she’d say no about him calling. He bit down on his bottom lip and slowly moved his head toward hers. She looked panicked like she wanted to hurry up and getaway. He placed a tender kiss on her cheek.

“Sorry,” he whispered in her ear. He backed away and just about ran over to his truck. He didn’t want to see whether she approved or disapproved of the small gesture. It was for all the shit his so-called friends had put her through. And, also for the fact if he kissed her on the lips like he wanted to, he knew he’d probably get slapped across the face or chase her off for good.

Emery watched as Austin’s truck backed out onto the main road and took off in the direction of the school. Her hand was still on the spot that he’d just kissed. She didn’t know whether to think. Was it because he felt terrible for laughing along with his friends’ jokes all those times? Or maybe he just wanted to kiss her?

She let out a deep sigh and went along on her way to the animal shelter. At least with the pups’ kisses, there was no hidden meaning behind them. They did it because they genuinely liked her. It would be so much better if that were the reason why Austin had kissed her than him doing it out of pity.