February 3rd
*Laurel's P.O.V*

I'm shaking. I'm legit shaking.

Megan, Riley and I went shopping but I couldn't focus on it even for a single moment; my mind was all about getting to see Luke on the 5th.

That was two weeks ago, and nothing has changed.

I open my small box of jewels. Some rings, necklaces, mostly family jewels. There's this incredibly beautiful ring made of white gold and a small diamond which I only wear in special occasions; it was my grandmother's, and she gave it to me when I graduated high school. There's also a topaz necklace that belonged to my great grandmother, and then to my grandmother, my mom and now me.

According to the tradition I'm supposed to give it to my daughter when she turns 16 or to my son as a gift for his fiancée.

Hopefully a blue eyed child. Well, considering genetics, most likely to be hazel. Maybe green, who knows? My mom's got blue eyes though...

I take out of my box the necklace Luke gave me for Christmas when we were in Australia; it had been several months since I last touched it.

I do my hair up and carefully clasp it. I look myself in the mirror and smile at the sight of the aquamarine pendant falling where my heart is. Amazing how objects are really able to make you remember a person and lots of memories along, like it was all kept there, in that small blue gemstone.

In two days I'm getting to see Luke again. Sometimes I catch myself nervously moving my legs up and down, the butterflies on my stomach and all those things I forgot how they felt for almost a year.

"Do you think we could get there earlier?" I shrug, trying to seem carefree. "just for precaution"

"We are most definitely getting there early, Laurel" Megan rolls her eyes. "Not that it matters though, we are going backstage"

Riley chokes, and her cough captures our attention.

"Are you okay?" I ask her.

"Uh, yeah" stutters Riley. "It's just that, I um... I didn't buy backstage tickets"

My jaw drops; so does Megan's.

"What?" She questions in disbelief.

"I'm sorry" Riley quints. "I was late and all backstages had been sold so I decided to buy normal ones anyway!"

"It's okay" I'm taken by surprise, but she doesn't need to feel bad about it. "I mean, I can find a way to sneak in"

Theoretically. I need to figure out how to, but I guess that's the easiest part: Jeff knows me, so I'd just need to do the same thing I did a year and a half ago. Despite this fact, I'm still worried that everything may go down.

"Are you excited?" asks Megan, passing her arm over my shoulders. "I'm so happy you actually agreed to this!"

"To be honest, I am too" I smile. "I think I need to solve things with Luke once and for all. No matter what happens, at least we were able to do it rationally and face to face. I'm glad I made all the works I had to for the week"

"I think you guys are going to--" The bell interrupts Riley, who frowns at me. "Are you waiting for someone?"

"Hum... no?" I stand up to answer the door. As I open it, my heart freezes.

"Oh... hey there, Rel" He greets, a shy smile eventually showing up.

"Austin... hi" I chuckle, embarrassed. "What are you, um, what are you doing here?"

"I was hoping you could go for a walk with me, we need to talk" He shrugs, with his hands on his pockets.

"And how did you get my address?"

"You gave it to me, but I was already expecting you wouldn't recall it; you were a little too much drunk"

I blush, staring down at my feet as I consider my options. I look over my shoulder to inside my apartment, where I've got one curious Riley and another bored Megan waiting for me to return.

"Do you think that's really necessary?" I question.

Austin groans.

"Listen, I'm a guy and I know that we are sometimes real douchebags, but what you are doing to me... it's pretty much the same; I never thought you would be like this. You slept with me and then simply got back to ignoring me! Gosh, you wouldn't answer my calls for weeks and when you did it was just to ask me to stop calling. No, Laurel, that's not the way things work, so yeah, you could say that I think it's necessary"

I clench my eyes, taking a deep breath. Listening to scoldings has never been my thing; I find it close to unbearable not to strike back. However, I don't want to start an argument with Austin and besides, I could really use a walk to take my head off of Luke for a moment.

"Okay," I respond, coldly. "let me just get my coat."

I focus my gaze on my door, avoiding eye contact with my friends. Quickly, I change into a blue sweater and walk towards the front door.

"I'm going for a walk, be right back" I tell them.

"With who?" Megan raises her eyebrows.

"Austin, I'll explain later"

"Oh, snap" I hear Riley mumbling.

Closing the door I sigh, crossing my arms over my chest.

"I'm ready"

Austin and I walk side by side around the neighborhood in silence. I look at the cars on the street, waiting for him to speak. It takes more than I thought it would.

"I'm not here to force anything" He says. "I am fully aware of the reasons why you are mad, and believe it, I would hate me too. I know that you probably went to my place searching for comfort but please. I ain't no toy, Laurel"

"Nobody said you were" I mutter.

"But you're acting like it. You know that I have feelings for you, I've never hidden them. Still, after all that happened that night you made sure to make me feel like crap"

I gasp, stopping to face him.

"What do you want me to say? That it meant something to me? Austin, let's be honest in here, I was feeling like shit that day, I told you so. And you knew I was drunk, why did you give in?"

"Because I am in love with you!" He holds my arms, looking deep into my eyes. "Oh my God, for once in your life, put yourself on my shoes! You think I'm an asshole because of what I did to you and that dude Lucas, don't you? Fine, I admit it, I really was an asshole, and I'm sorry, I've said that already. Now can you swallow your pride and recognize that you are also wrong?"

"Is it an apology that you want? I'm sorry, je suis désolé, desculpe, perdóname. All good?!"

"No! Because you don't mean it!"

I grunt, inhaling deeply to control myself.

"Austin, listen up" I start again, reorganizing my thoughts. "That night, I was really pissed off because I had some sort of argument with Luke. So I went to a bar with Megan and I drank more than I'm used to. I'm not making any excuses but when I'm sad I tend to do things I wouldn't usually do. After that, all I can remember properly is when I woke up on the other day next to you.
I was scared, okay? Because I simply don't know why on Earth drunk me thought that you were the way out of my problem, but it happened. I'm not good with dealing with those things, you know me. I usually run from every sign of obstacles and issues, and it was no different with you. So I'm truly sorry, and I mean it. I guess this is what you've been looking for."

Austin looks away and I watch as his hands contract in fists.

"So it was nothing? Was I just a tool for you to forget about him?"

"Sorry..." I scratch my nape, nervously. "That's my best hunch. I didn't want to speak with you again because I was still mad, regardless of what happened between us. I forgot about your feelings and I wish I could make it up to you"

He locks his gaze into mine and holds my hands, firmly.

"Laurel, I don't know what kind of guy you think I am. Maybe you don't believe that I'm able to understand what it is to be heartbroken, but I can totally relate to that thing you just told me. All you had to do was say. I think I should have brought you home instead of... you know" He blushes. "But we needed to make those things clear. I'm glad to finally know the reason why you looked for me that night."

"I'm sorry it had to be this way," I smile embarrassedly at him. "and sorry for 'using you'."

"So I don't stand a chance, right? Not even now that you guys broke up"

"The thing isn't about Luke and I, it's about you and I" I pull his chin up. "It doesn't feel right, you know? We just don't match, even though you are awesome. So I'm sorry that I messed with your feelings, it wasn't the intention... sometimes I forget that I've gone through the same thing" I sigh, remembering Sean.

"There's nothing left to be done other than that, yeah?" He chuckles. "Saying sorry... so, we're cool?"

"Let's just say we're even" I wink at him. "I need to go home"

"Okay, but I want a coffee first."

We stop at Starbucks and resume our walk. When we get to my door I realize that Austin's car has been there the entire time.

"Someday we could hang out, you know" He shrugs after hugging me. "When I'm over you and hopefully with a girlfriend"

I laugh.

"That would be awesome. You could finally teach me how to play baseball" I say as I remember him with a baseball bat, right back to when we met.

He chuckles and sighs.

"I'm so relieved this is over, now I feel like I can move on. So... goodbye, I guess. Oh, nice necklace by the way, I wonder who gave it to you"

"Thanks" I smile, holding the pendant. Austin winks at me and I raise my eyebrows. "All the hate is gone?"

"Not really," He replies, getting inside of his car. "but what can I do? It really is nice. See you"

"Bye" I giggle, waving as he pulls out.

Finally things are starting to get better, I think as I go back to my place.

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