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"I won’t," I said with ht you’re alone right now"

Austin’s fist sla a dull thud "I said leavee of the bench’s seat

The breath whooshed from my chest, but round "I will not leave you like this, Austin," I said, placating "I will not leave you in this state, dealing hatever it is you’re going through I aan to weaken, his elbows buckling with sorrow And around

I froze, and an instant swell of nausea slaut My hands lifted in the air as I felt Austin’s tears soak through the thinned material of my worn black jeans

One, breathe… two, breathe… three, breathe… I counted inHe’s--

I physically whie tattooed ar forward until his head lay flush against ht aroundthe thin material ofme… He could feel me, all of me… Feel the fat… too much fat…

But Austin never noticedtouched He was too consu h in pain, I reopened them to see his black shirt had lifted, a tattooed inscription running up his lower spine reading, Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death I tried to focus on the sentence just for soer

One, breathe… two, breathe… three, breathe… I repeated my mantra, over and over in my mind until--

"Lexi… Lexi…" Austin er, but then he whispered, "Holdstopped

The nausea stopped

My entire world stopped

My hands were suspended in the air as I stared at the strained cords in Austin’s neck, listened to the soft cries of pain that were slipping from his throat, and without intention, I lowered my arrown some in the last feeeks, and it suited him, made him appear less severe

As soon as hter, robbing me of my breath But my usual response to his touch had lessened I recovered quicker The hot flushes of fear were shorter, and I stared down in ae fraton You think Austin’s fingers are not tracing your ribs? Do you think he is not thinking how big you are for your height? For a cheerleader of the Tide? the voice taunted

I stiffened at the words of the voice, ripped htly to the side He drew in a deep breath "Lexi… don’t let go… please Fuck, don’t leave me alone with this shit I can’t deal…"

It was his needs versus uilt over that fact conflicted me But when Austin tilted his head and his dark eyesh a wash of peace had flowed through him at my touch

Spurred on by his reaction, I traced the small red tattoo of a fleur-de-lys on the nape of his neck I wondered idly what it represented

Lexington, no Do not get too close He will think--

No! Not right now, Idown the words of the voice

Pushing the voice to the farthest reaches of my mind, I refocused on the movement of my thumb, the circular motion, the act of a peaceful ht provided a hypnotic soundtrack, acco from the apple tree above I tried toI ith Austin Carillo, co Austin Carillo in the hospital, the place on Earth I hatedcal ers began skirting along my spine, up and down