9. Of dreams and nightmares

Shortly after that, Austin and I were laying in my room.

Luckily my new family wasn´t home tonight and were staying with some friends, or the sleepovers with Gab and Austin wouldn't have been possible.

Austin was taking a shower right now and I switched through the TV channels to search for something good to watch.

"Thanks for letting me stay over and for the change of clothes ..."

Austin stood in the doorway, looking funny but also sexy in my way too tiny top and shorts.

My top was too short on him and showed his belly and therefore his packs.

Sadly it was embarrissing for him, so he pulled the top down.

"Hahahaha, your way to big for my stuff!"

"Thats not funny! I can't do anything about it, that I'm taller than you." The shame set his face on fire. "Thats the biggest stuff you have?"

"Sorry, I didn't meant to be rude. I don't like it if my stuff is too big for me, so I don't have many wide shirts."

He accepted that and just hide under the blanket.

I set up a mattress on the floor, but hot soccerguy cuddled up next to me on the bed.

For now, I let him be, because I was tired after a long day and didn't want to fight anymore.

Tired I grabed the remote control and started my favourite disney movie, the djungle book.

After a few minutes into the movie, Austins head started to fall forward. I couldn't watch this any longer, so I grabed his cheek and put his head in my shoulder.

"If your sleepy, you should lay down and go to bed for tonight."

"No, I'm not ti-ti-tired!", he yawned.

"Sure, sure."

Austin put an arm around me to hug me, so that he half layed on me.

"I forgot to ask you that before, but how did you know these bullies today?", I started an conversation, eventhough he was half asleep.

"Huh? Oh, them. ... I had a bad phase when the school started. My parents just got a divorce back then and I rebelled, so I run into the wrong friends. The guys, I knew from back then. It really helped me when I joined the soccerclub."

The whole I just listened and was pretty surprised to hear the story of Austin being a bad boy. Especially when he cuddled me like a baby.

"I see. You didn't had it easy either, huh?", I said while patting his head.

"Yeah. But thats why you don't need to worry that I would leave or forget you."

When I looked over to make eye contact, Austin was sound asleep.

The rest of the night was peacefull for the most part, except the occassional snore of Austin.

With the exception of me whitnessing a scary, weird shadow sitting in the tree right in front of my window, followed by loud noises and a pungent screech.

When the shadow noticed my movements and me getting up, it jumped out of the tree and it was dead quiet again.

You can imagine, that I didn´t sleep for the rest of the night.

The next morning was quiet between us.

We ate breakfast in silence and went to school without any incidents.

Or should I say that I didn´t tell him that I could tell, that someone tried to break into the house. 

And I was almost certain who that someones could be.

But I noticed, that Austin eyed me out of the corner of his eye.

Not, that I didn´t do the same!

I was startled when suddenly a hand touched mine.

Austin carefully linked our pinkie fingers together.

All that I did, was looking to the side and acting like nothing happened.

Arrived at school I let go of his hand.

As soon as we entered the school grounds Austin was surrounded by his friends and soccerteam members.

So I sneaked past the crowd to find Gab.

I almost wasn't surprised when I found him with JD sitting in our classroom.

"Gab, how are you? Are you sure you should be at school today?" He got a big hug from me.

"It's ok, Ash. Thank you for your help yesterday, buddy." He actually sounded cute calling me buddy. "I had a good nights sleep and I feel better now."

"It's good that your doing better now, buttercup. But I also think you should have rested more." JD looked genuine worried for little Gab.

Of course it was obvious since yesterday what JD was doing with the redhead, flirting for a while.

Still, it was crazy to think how much JD had changed since yesterday.

"Jonathan, calm down. Seriously, I'm fine, I wasn't hurt.", Gab tried to convince him.

"Jonathan?"

"Yes, thats his name. Why, is something wrong?" The little redhead didn't even know why I was confused.

"Nothing. I'm just surprised that you two get along so well after everything they've done to you."

"Don't say that Ashley, Jonathan and Jacob were actually never that bad to me. It's only Daniel that started picking on me. Jonathan and Jacob always tried to go easy when they could without being too obvious."

"Thanks, buttercup, your too sweet! But I told you I will make up for my mistakes, so you don't have to stand up for me." JD/Jonathan ruffeld Gabs hair.

Still confused by the whole situation, I looked from to another, not knowing what to do with them.

Gab also seemed overwhelmed by JDs new behaviour, but also looks to enjoy the attention he got from his new admirer.

And maybe some good feelings were, what Gab needed after such an bad experience.

The school bell put an end to this strange situation and JD wanted to leave.

"See you later at lunch, buttercup. Have a nice time and stay safe, ok?" JD, the big guy, gave the little one a soft hug and you couldn't see any bad emotions in that.

When the tall blackhaired wanted to leave the room, I held him back and whisperd something  to him.

"You hurt Gab way too often. Make sure not to let it happen again. Gab needs someone who makes him happy!"

Now JD seemed really hurt, his face darkened.

"I know. Thats the reason why I started to work on myself in the first place."

The lessons started, but I couldn't focus on anything at all what the teacher was saying.

One look at Gabriel and seeing him playing with his pen, you could tell he couldn't focus either.

So I ripped paper out of my notebook and wrote him a message.

"What happend yesterday after we left?"