Chapter 76: Change It The bell rang and the school doors burst open. I joined the swarm of students into the parking lot. The first day of spring semester left a buzz in the air. I walked towards Luke's car out of instinct, until I remembered he was at practice. And someone else was meant to drive me... "Looking for your chauffeur?" Austin called out behind me. I turned around and saw him jog down the front steps of the school, one hand on the straps of his backpack. Like Luke, he didn't notice the looks people gave him when he passed by. They looked at me too, wondering why Austin Taylor was offering to be my chauffeur. I'm living life like Chad. "A guy of many talents," I replied, happy to be driven around by Austin. "That's what they tell me," he winked, pulling his car keys out of his pocket, and leading the way. Austin is the one friend I'd trust to have Luke's back until the very end. He has a way of making worries disappear. I slid into the passenger seat of Austin's car and slipped my backpack on the floor between my legs. An empty energy drink was in the cup holder beside him and he dropped his phone into the other holder. "This is fun," Austin said, rolling down the window for some fresh air. It was freezing outside, but he didn't seem to mind. I put my jacket back on and he noticed. "Should I not?" his finger stopped pressing the window button. He retracted his finger and then pressed the other button. The window zoomed right back up. ** We were so busy chatting that I didn't realize where we were going until I realized that it was nowhere near my home. "Uh," I stared at the street signs, "Luke said you were going to drop me off..." "Did he?" Austin asked, casually driving, "I didn't realize he sets the schedule." I laughed. I couldn't help it. He sounded so surprised. "Gloria makes amazing afternoon snacks," Austin explained as we drove onto his street, "She probably drops kush in them." He grabbed my backpack for me and took both up the front lawn into his house. Sure enough, Gloria was laying the table with some fantastic looking treats. "Gloria!" I exclaimed, not containing my excitement at seeing her. She took better care of us than my own parents. Gloria gave me a very warm hug and took my jacket. I picked a seat directly in front of the banana bread. "You look exhausted, Millie," Gloria noticed, as she placed a jug of water on the table, "Are you getting enough sleep?" "Not really," I said, trying to play it off, "Junior year is so stressful." "That's no good. Maybe Austin can give you some tips. He doesn't sleep either," she ruffled Austin's hair. Austin took a seat in front of me and started to cut us slices of the bread. "I wish I had the answer. I don't even know what I do. Aside from medication, I exercise or visit Luke." "Exercise?" I repeated. I don't exercise when I'm wide awake, so there's a negative chance anyone will see me running in the middle of the night. Gloria returned with a bowl of fruit and a bowl of buttercream for the bread. She then took a seat next to me and handed me a vitamin C. I chewed on it while buttering the banana bread and ventured into Austin's personal life, "You know how I'm dating Luke?" This was a weird way to start. Austin nodded, eating his banana bread. It wasn't news to him. "Should we do a double date sometime?" I asked. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I'm already imagining the four of us picnicking in springtime. "Who do you have in mind?" he replied. He isn't opposed to the idea. This is not a bad sign. "I'll have to think about it..." I said, pretending like I didn't have anyone in mind. Cearra! Cearra! Cearra! "OK," he drank his glass of water and poured some more for Gloria since hers was also empty. Austin thought we were moving on from the subject, but no... "After I think about it, do I give you some ideas?" I fished, "It sounds like you're open to the idea and that you're not dating anyone right now?" "I didn't say that," he answered. I sat there. If I asked him who he was dating that would really be prying and I didn't want to do that. I know what it's like to get the question 1000 times a day, and it doesn't feel nice. Gloria smiled and told me, "I call him the accidental heartbreaker." "Let's not bring that up," Austin said, embarrassed by it, "Millie, Luke met you and it was game over. I'm happy flying solo for a while longer." ** ~The next evening~ My bedroom had turned into a detective's den. Papers were lying around everywhere. I was writing down every memory, every encounter, every person I knew, to put together the clues that would lead me to the blackmailer. This house felt like a prison. It was freezing in the evenings, and I wore my jacket indoors. Cearra's mom had made extra cornbread for me, so I ate that for dinner tonight. I'd given up trying to call my family. I got up from my bedroom floor and let the pen fall from my fingers. I'd been sitting here for a couple hours now. My bones cracked a little as I picked up the plate and took it downstairs to the kitchen. A gust of wind howled against the broken window, blowing the black trash bag that covered it. It was a constant reminder of the fear that I lived under. And I needed to do something about that. I zipped my coat up and ventured outside, across the street. Luke was home by now, I could see his car parked outside the door. It was one of the rare reasons to smile today. Ding I rang the doorbell and waited patiently outside, admiring the flowers that Mrs Dawson had managed to keep alive during the winter months. Would it be too obvious if I took some home? The door peeled open and Mr Dawson stood at the threshold. He was tall, a trait both his sons inherited. Something delicious was cooking in the background and the smell was incredible. I was envious for a home cooked meal.