Things Aren't Always As They Seem

I woke up to a knock on the door. I walked over and unlocked/opened it. Austin was standing there, grinning up at me.

"Hey, what's up?" I asked, stepping aside so he could come on the bus. I hugged him once he was inside.

"Well... I talked to the BVB guys, and they're pretty worried about you. I don't have a show today, so I stopped by to see if you wanted to spend the day with me?" He smiled, hugging me back.

"Sure, I'd love to." I said, smiling back. "I took a nap, so I feel a little better. I'd have to get ready first, but what would you like to do?"

"They mentioned something about you not wanting to eat this morning, but I'm starving and there's this amazing little diner like.. five minutes away. Would you please go eat with me?" He pleaded, giving me the puppy dog eyes.

I rolled my eyes playfully, "I guueeesss... if I haavvee to." I smirked up at him. "I have to get dressed. You can sit down if you want. Or, you can stalk me back to the bunk area. Either one, I don't mind."

He shrugged and followed me to the bunk area. I grabbed some purple and black zebra-printed shorts, and an Of Mice & Men tank top.

"Turn around please." I mumbled to Austin. After I heard him shuffling around, I changed into the clothes I picked out and slipped some converses on. I turned around, "Alright, I'm done. You can turn around now."

He turned, and smirked once he saw my choice of clothing. "Love the shirt!" He said.

I giggled and shoved his shoulder softly. "Oh hush! Come on, let's go!"

I walked out to the living room area and grabbed a key to the door, and my wallet from a random table. I stuffed them into my pocket, then followed Austin outside and locked the door. We started walking, but stopped when we heard someone call our names. We turned around just as Vic and Jaime skidded to a stop in front of us.

"Hey guys, what's up?" I asked, smiling softly and gave them both hugs.

"Nothing much." Jaime said, smiling back. "We just saw you guys, and wanted to say hi."

"What are you guys up to?" Vic asked, smiling and acting as if last night never happened. Oh well.

"Andilena and I are hanging out today. We were just about to go get some food, you guys wanna come with?" Austin asked.

"Nah, we have to go do a meet and greet soon. Thanks for asking, though!" Jaime said.

"No problem. Well, we'd better get going, then. See ya later!" Austin said, giving then 'guy hugs'.

I laughed and hugged them too. "Bye guys!" I said as we started walking again.

You might be wondering why I'm not like, freaking out about what Vic did. Well, it's an easy answer. I simply just don't care. We're not dating, and it's not like I own him or something. He's a grown man, he can do what he wants to do. It might not be easy, but in the end, I couldn't care less.

"Andilena, are you listening?" Austin asked.

"Oh!... no I'm sorry. I got distracted, what were you saying?"

"I was asking you what was going on. You haven't been acting the same. I know you don't feel the greatest, but if there is something else going on, I want you to know that I'm here for you. And you can talk to me about anything, I won't tell a soul unless you're in danger or you want me to tell someone."

"Oh... it's nothing." I said, smiling up at him.

"Andilena, believe it or not, but I can already tell when something's wrong. And when your smile is forced. Your eyes are so sad sometimes... and even when you act more like what I'm assuming your actual self is, sometimes it's still like there's a war going on in your head. And you need to realize that you don't have to go through that alone." Austin said, looking down at me.

I looked away. "I actually do." I muttered. But, before he could say anything, I quickly changed the subject. "So, where's this 'amazing' diner at?" I asked, looking back up at him and smiling.

"Right there," he said, pointing at this cute little diner. The sign above the door said "Rosa's Diner".

"Cool!" I exclaimed, skipping to the door and holding it open for Austin. He jokingly curtsied like a chick and walked in, making me giggle. There was a sign that said "Please seat yourself", so Austin led me to a booth in the back. He sat on the side facing away from the door, and I sat across from him, facing the door. "You've eaten here before, right?" I asked, picking up a menu.

"Yeah, they have good burgers." Austin mumbled, picking his menu up too.

The waitress came by and took our orders. I ordered a bacon cheese burger with fries and a coke, while Austin ordered a cheese burger with fries and a sprite. She left to get our drinks and put our orders in.

"So... tell me. Who is Andilena?"

I looked at him weirdly. "What do you mean?" I asked, wary of where he was going with this.

"Basically, tell me about yourself."

"Well... I'm seventeen. Birthday is May 4, 1997. I was in the orphanage place thing for about five years. There really isn't all that much to tell." I shrugged.

"Tell me about the orphanage."

"Um... It was hell, for the most part. The only good thing about it was Jenny, our foster mom person, and that Andy and Juliet came and adopted me."

"What happened, hun? What's your story?"

"Why do you want to know so damn badly?"

"Because. I want to help you. I care about you, and it hurts to see you in so much pain all the time."

"You shouldn't care about me so much. You shouldn't get close me. Everyone that gets close to me ends up hurt. I'm sorry, but it's inevitable.."

"I don't care if I get hurt. Andilena... honey, you're like my little sister. I love and care about you. Honest."

"I love and care about you, too, Austin..."

Notes

Sorry guys! I know I already uploaded this, but my phone messed up and deleted some of the spaces.