Fledgling Read online

Chapter Two

  Austin doodled meaningless symbols on the back of her notebook, engraving one that seemed to be a cross of the letters G, C, an I, and a chair. She’d been drawing that one a lot lately.

  "Well you're popular," Dustin sat down at the table, empty save for themselves. He dug through his brown paper bag and pulled out something encased in plastic wrap.

  Austin shrugged noncommittally, "I don't like people."

  She had her own flimsy excuses to use, thank you.

  "What's not to like?" he asked, taking a bite of his standard peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He sounded genuinely interested, so Austin decided to answer genuinely.

  "People can be boring," she said, and opened her own bottle of Coca Cola that she had bought from the school vending machine. She would have rather gotten a red Gatorade, but this would suffice.

  “Your life is going to get significantly unboring,” he leaned across the table, his eyes deeper than his words, “I promise you that, Austin Johnson.”

  “Anders,” she corrected him automatically, “My last name is Anders.”

  "That’s what I said,” Dustin said, “Now, about that party…”

  "I've never been to one," she said dryly, coming to stand firm on her decision once again, "So no."

  "Never been to a party?" he gasped over dramatically, "That tears it. You're coming."

  "No," Austin took a sip of her soda. Her mouth curled into a smile around the rim as she watched the boy in front of her. She was beginning to realize how much she liked his reactions.

  "You have to have this experience," Dustin insisted, leaning towards her, "It's important for...uh, development and stuff. And people love you. You can’t just deny them the opportunity to see you.”

  "You're just making stuff up," she smirked at him, shaking her head. Dustin just grinned wider, unfazed.

  "And if I am?" he asked. Did the boy ever stop smiling?

  Austin took another sip of her soda, thinking it was best not to reply. The bell rung, signaling the end of lunch, and she stood up.

  "I'll see you later," Dustin gave her a lighthearted salute, and stepped into the crowd. Austin watched him walk farther and farther away -an easy thing to do since he was one of the tallest boys in the school- with an odd feeling in her stomach.

  She realized she was staring, and quickly turned around to head to her own science class. She made it to her own class right as the tardy bell rung, and she took a seat next to Chelsea.

  The blonde girl slipped a folded piece of paper into Austin's notebook. The note's top right corner was poking out, and Austin had an irrational fear of it. It was just a piece of paper.

  She unfolded it, saw that the address of Kai's was on it, and tucked it into her pocket, "I don't think I'm going to come."

  "You should," Chelsea giggled just a bit too enthusiastically, "It'll be so much fun!"

  "Why do you-" Austin cut herself off and blushed. It wouldn't be that great of a decision to make fun of her lab partner, "Never mind."

  "What? Tell me," Chelsea smiled softly, her hazel eyes sparkling.

  "You try too hard," Austin said all at once. She would blame her bluntness on Dustin later, "To act nice."

  Chelsea blinked a few times, probably processing the new information, then nodded, "Duly noted."

  Austin looked back down at her notebook, embarrassed, "Yeah."

  "What gave me away?" she chuckled, leaning back. Austin was surprised that Chelsea was taking it so well. Still, not about to press her luck, she didn't answer that question.

  "Your math is wrong there," Chelsea leaned over, pointing out the mistake, "You should have 126.3, not 126.5."

  "That is a three," Austin frowned and erased the badly drawn number. Her handwriting was usually neat, "But thanks."

  She rewrote the number and started to work on her conversions, not wanting to talk anymore. Stuck in the nervous mindset she had put herself in, she barely paid attention for the next period and a half.

  When the bell rung, signalling the end of class, Chelsea sat still in her seat. She was still waiting.

  “What gave me away?” she asked again, her voice suddenly softer and...the realest that Austin had ever heard it.

  “You’re always happy,” Austin said, grabbing the sleeves of her jacket as she spoke, “And you’re always so eager to help and talk to anyone. That can’t be real.”

  “You’re right,” Chelsea nodded, actually letting Austin see her smile falter, “It’s not real. I’ll see you tonight.”

  Austin just gave a sharp nod, not knowing what to do, and escaped from that classroom. She adjusted the strap on her backpack and stared at the worn toes of her boots as she started her walk home.

  Austin wasn't that surprised, though, when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

  "Hi," Dustin greeted her, that grin still on his face, "Nice to see that you were going to wait for me."

  "Was I supposed to?" she blinked in response. If she were expecting Dustin to falter, she would have been severely disappointed. He seemed to find her apathy to him amusing.

  "No, of course not," he scoffed, "It's not like we're friends or anything."

  "Of course not," Austin quipped, cracking a smile.

  He elbowed her side, earning a wider smile, and pointed to a street vendor, "Do you want a cheeseburger? I'll pay."

  Yes, he was definitely friend material if he was willing to give her food, "Sure, if you don't mind food poisoning."

  "I'm taking that as a yes," he laughed and traded a few bills with the man in the food truck. He came back in a few seconds, holding two greasy cheeseburgers. He handed one to Austin.

  She inspected it closely, and asked with something akin to amazement, "Hey, how did you know I loved hot sauce on my burgers?"

  "Lucky guess," he shrugged taking a bite of his own and hummed in satisfaction, "This. This is just...it’s perfect."

  Austin took a bite herself and felt herself melt. She wouldn’t mind if this burger was the thing that killed her; it honestly would’ve been worth it, "Oh my gosh."

  "Exactly," he nodded, and they walked in silence from then on. Austin would have to thank him for the burger later.

  "This is where I live," she gestured towards her apartment building, "See you later."

  "Tonight?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

  "Tomorrow," she corrected him and with that, walked away. Once she was back in her empty apartment, she smiled and shook her head.

  Austin kicked off her boots and looked at the clock. It was 3:17, nearly fifteen minutes later than she usually got home. Thank goodness Uncle Demitri wasn't home, or he'd have been asking questions. Not that she had anything to hide, of course.

  The folded piece of paper fell out of Austin's bag.

  No, definitely not. She definitely would not look at the note again. She had no reason to.

  Ever since she could remember, she's hated social interaction with anyone but Uncle Demitri or Aiden. If Chelsea wasn't so good at science, they probably would never have talked to each other. Now this Dustin kid walks into her life and expects her to go to a party. That simply wasn’t happening.

  Then again, it could be fun.

  No, Austin crushed that small voice in her head. It would not be fun. What's so great about being in a house full of idiots?

  Her phone beeped, and Austin checked the screen: Austin, you forgot your science journal in the classroom, so I took with me. You can pick it up when you come to the party.

  Austin double checked her backpack and cursed. Her science journal, which counted for over ten percent of this quarter's grade, was missing. She couldn't turn it in late.

  It looks like her decision was being made for her. She opened the piece of paper.

  Along with the address, the note reminded her that most people would arrive once it got dark, but that was hours away. Austin shook out her jittery hands and, to try and pass the time, took a cool shower.

  Forty-five minutes later (she was excelle
nt at wasting time), she stepped out of her bathroom: clean, dry, and wrapped up in a thin towel.

  Fifteen minutes later, she was dressed in a white, short sleeved shirt (since it would probably get hot in a crowded house), and the jeans she had been wearing earlier. Austin was good at wasting time, but she wasn't that good. It was only six o'clock now.

  She found a problem. The party started as soon as it got dark, but Chelsea and Kai's house was a few miles away. She didn't think it would be safe for her to walk home. Sighing, she heavily considered taking a zero on the assignment. It was going to take more trouble than the grade was worth.

  Of course, it was just then that someone knocked on their door. Girl Scouts, probably. Uncle Demitri loved Thin Mints, so nine times out of ten, visitors turned out to be cookie bearing kids. Austin looked around and saw an envelope sitting on the kitchen table, thin enough for just one check (a check probably addressed to the Girl Scouts of America). She grabbed the envelope and stomped down the hall.

  She opened the door and what she saw confused her. The visitor was much taller than the average scout, and was definitely not a girl. Her eyes trailed up to meet a pair of blue eyes, “What? I, but, how? You-”

  "I figured you'd need a ride," Dustin leaned against the doorframe, still cocky as ever, "And I have access to a phone book, Austin. You’re one of the first names in the book.”

  Austin stared at him dryly and made a conscious decision to just give up on this, "Let me get my shoes. The party doesn't start for awhile, though."

  His timing was suspiciously perfect. If he had shown up a few minutes earlier or later, she would have flat out refused.

  "I'll probably get lost. After all, it’s only my third day in the city that never sleeps," he shrugged, "Can I come in?"

  Austin stood aside to let him in and when he stood in the middle of the foyer, he laughed, "Austin, you're so trusting. I could be a serial killer or something."

  "But you're not," she said lightly, grinning, "There's soda in the fridge."

  Since neither Aiden nor Uncle Demitri liked soda, all the unhealthy drinks in the fridge were hers to share. Dustin walked into the space that served as both a kitchen and dining room.

  "Do you have Pepsi?" he asked and Austin heard the fridge open, "Oh cool. Pepsi."

  Austin threw on her boots and ran a hand through her still-drying hair.

  She doubted that she would be able to back out now.