Three: So Shabby Chic

(not edited )

All I want to do right now, in that moment was to go home. I miss my own bed, I miss my white duvet, my white walls that were covered heavily in photos of myself and friends. I miss the mess that cluttered my cupboard. I miss the vanilla scented candles that often overpowered the air in the room. I miss the sticky leather couch which would cling to my thighs whenever it became too hot in the summer time. I miss that chestnut cat that on occasion would come to my window at night and yowl, wanting attention. I would bring her in and cuddle at night whenever I felt lonely. I missed my friends, the Saturday nights wed spend together on the couch watching horror movies and attempting to throw and catch popcorn into one another's mouths. I missed home.

Yet, I remained unwittingly seated in the back seat of a gigantic car. The air was becoming slightly cooler as the sun disappeared bellow the horizon, the warmth and heat turning into a cool breeze. I tried many options to pass the time, singing quietly to myself, playing with my hair and even walking up and down the back seats. Boredom was closing in like a swirling storm, making me groan wanting, needing to be free.

Austin is, quit frank the biggest jerk ive ever met. And Id met plenty of jerks in my lifetime. I can't believe he left me in here. Raising my arm to my eyes and look to my wristwatch, I realise It's been almost half an hour of sitting all by myself.

It's quiet inside the car. Maybe the occasional cars engine driving pass or a bird that's decided to sing in the tree that hangs lazily over the car, it's yellow leaves brushing up against the window outside from a gentle breeze.

I can just see the sun in the distance beginning to set. I've never seen so much sky before, I wonder what the sunsets are like in the giants quarter. Guess I'm going to find out.

I gasp, my breathe catching in my throat as bursts of pinks, oranges and vibrant yellows explode across the sky like a bucket of paint. I've never seen anything so beautiful.

The human quarters is surrounded by a giant cement wall to keep all the unwanted giants out. So the sun would be mostly blocked out in the mornings and afternoons by the grey wall. I could only get glimpses of the pink sky from my room in the attic.

Never have I seen a sunset so beautiful before. My heart swoons at the pink clouds and the now peach coloured sky. I stand, trying to get a better look of the fading colours. The sun slowly disappearing from up in the sky and under the horizon.

The sky turns a darker shade of purple. The same stars that I stare at every night winking into existence, flickering and sparkling across the now pitch-black sky. And just like that, it's gone. The sun disappearing under the horizon and replaced by the two moons of Ristom and Andarla.

That was amazing and maybe the first time I've ever been breath taken. I have no words. A goofy grin unintentionally spreads across my face. Now I can say that I've seen a proper sunset. My best friend Melissa is going to be so jealous.

It's as if someone had slammed a door on my chest. The realisation hitting me like when a boy decided to throw his ball at my head in grade five. I got a concussion from that.

He's actually leaving me here all night! Oh my god! He has to come back and get me. He has to! He can't just leave me here all night, someone will notice that I'm not there and question him as to where I am. How has nobody noticed that I'm not inside?!

He must come get me.

My thoughts of being left alone are shattered and crushed under a giants foot, as my phone begins to vibrate and ring inside my skirts pocket. I scream, realising this whole time I've had my phone on me! I'm so stupid! I could have called Mum to come save me.

I shove my hand into my pocket and pull out my phone. The screen is lit up by an unknown phone number. I stare at the unfamiliar numbers at the top of the screen, my brain working over time inside my skull as I read the number once more.

It's a giants number. How did a giant get my number? Who is this?

I slowly move my finger down and press the answer button. Bringing my phone up to my ear I listen to the static of silence on the other end.

"Hello?" Immediately the guy on the other end of the phone yells as if there were no tomorrow. He's so loud I feel like my ear drums just exploded.

"Hey shorty!" I groan at Austin's nickname for me and his annoyingly deep, loud voice.

"Austin! What?!... how did you get my number!... Come get me now you dick!" I hold my phone away from my ear as he lets out a loud "ooooo".

"Errr... oh yeah! umm... would you be mad if I told you that I sorta, maybe, forgot that I left you in there and maybe, kinda fell asleep" he pops the p after the word sleep, "and I asked your mum for your number"

I nearly throw my phone across the car, how in gods name do you forget that you left someone in the car! Im about to throw my phone, but I wouldn't do that to my baby, she's to precious. I'd gladly throw my phone at Austin's face though!

I take a deep breath, trying to calm down before holding the phone back up to my ear and answering.

"No, I'm not mad" I hold in the anger that's about to burst out of me.

"Really?!" He squeals in confusion, through the phone I hear him whisper a "wow". I decide to just put my phone on speaker. I can't take his loud voice anymore.

I explode.

"NO, I'm furious! You left me in a stinking hot car for nearly two hours, are you retarded! How could you forget about me! You stupid piece of sh-"

"Hey! No need for that young lady" He cuts me off before I can finish my sentence. Can't he handle the truth? And once again he's speaking to me as if I were a baby.

"Look, I'm sorry okay! I had a game last night and I'm super tired. I forgot and I'm really sorry" I hear him shuffle and get up from a squeaky bed. His loud footsteps audible through the speakers.

"Your not forgiven" I grumble and begin picking at a loose thread on my skirt.

"Whatever shorty, Im coming to get you, so be ready" I hear a door open and more loud footsteps.

"I'm not shor-" before I can finish what i was saying about not being short, the phone call ends and I'm left in silence. He hung up on me!

I scream in frustration, stamping my foot like a spoilt child who won't get what they want. I hate this and I hate Austin! We are already fighting as if we have known each other forever. I'm going to get him back for leaving me in this stinking hot car. Just you wait, Austin Kay Taylor. I evilly laugh to myself, trying to think of something I could do to him at this size.

I shove my phone back into my skirt and wait for Austin's giant head to appear outside the pitch black window.

•••

He likes to take his damn time.

I hold in a snarl as the giants figure appears outside the window, a large smile clearly visible even in the dark. How long does it take to get from his room to outside!? I've been sitting here for ages! The back of the car lights up as he shines a torch through the window, its beam landing on me siting on top of the seat, practically blinding me. I have to cover my face with both my hands to block out the white light that burns my eyes.

I hear his muffled laugh from the other side of the car. I move my hands from my eyes and instead glare at his head and shoulders that are dark now silhouettes in front of the moons. His hand lifts up to the window and he taps his finger twice on the glass. I glare at him, wishing my eyes to hopefully melt through the glass and hit him smack bang in the forehead. Jerk!

There are multiple clicks and a loud thud before the door swings open, freezing cold air rushes in, causing goosebumps to erupt up my arms and legs. It's freezing outside. Without a word, Austin's hand shoots forwards, placing his palm facing up next to my legs. I look up at his face, an annoyed expression taking over his features as I just stare up at him. When I don't get on his hand he groans loudly.

"Just get on would you" I ignore him and just stare at his giant fingers, my gaze slowly moving to his palm and continuing up his long arm. I am not getting on that.

There's a loud (pissed off) sigh that comes from Austin. I look at his hand then up at his huge head, then back down at his hand again. Does he not remember back at the station when I passed out by just thinking about being picked up.

I step away from his hand, shaking my head up at him. I look down at my feet, my breathing becoming heavy and ragged. I look back up, straightening myself out readying myself to come up with a good comeback.

I stand motionless without warning as his hand moves, coming at me at the speed of light. He scoops me up in his giant hand and I let out I scream as I'm lifted off the ground and brought high up into the air. Gravity pulling at my stomach, my heart dropping to my feet. I'm raised into the air so fast i begin to spin out. My heart rate reaching an unbelievable speed. I feel my face drain of colour as I stare down at the ground. My mouth pops open and I attempt to scream. Nothing.

"Oh shit, are you okay?" I'm brought back to reality by Austin's voice. I squeal at his fingers wrapping around my small body. The cold night air whipping at my arms, my skin burning from the cold breeze.

"N-no" I stutter. I try squirming inside his tight fist, his fingers firmly pressing down against my chest and restricting my breathing. My heart hammers like it's trying to jump out of my chest.

Tess do not have another panic attack. Do you hear me!

"I've got you, don't be scared" his voice deepens, becoming extremely soothing. I'm still freaking out though at how high I am off the ground. He must notice this because his hand begins to move as he protectively holds me up against his warm chest, the soft fabric of his shirt wrapping around my cheeks. The warmth that radiates off him makes my inside feel like they melt.

"It's okay" he coos, making his chest vibrate against my skin. I shake with fear, my hands and arms violently trembling. I close my eyes and let myself slump into his chest. My hands continuing to tremble against his fingers.

Just go for it!

He must take it as his cue to go, because everything begins moving around me. My hair whips behind my head as his giant feet take us towards the house. I keep my eyes close, to scared to see how high I am off the ground. I focus on my breathing so that I don't pass out again.

In, out, in, out.

His feet hit wood and thud loudly against floorboards. A door slams shut behind me, Austin's long legs moving us forwards, further into the house. His feet loudly walking across the floorboards. I don't know why but my breathing quickens at the not knowing where he's taking me.

IN OUT, IN OUT!

My eyes flutter open briefly, just for a second. I regret opening my eyes because what I see shakes me to my core. He's thudding up stairs, Austin flying through the house towards his room or wherever he wants to take me. He's skipping every second step as he makes his way up to the second floor.

IN OUT! IN OUT! IN OUT!!

I whimper, hoping, no wanting this all to be over now before I puke. It's like a never ending roller coaster. Once your strapped in there's no getting off. And there's a chance that if the teenage boy in control decides to open the safety belts and let me fall to my death.

Everything around me comes to a sudden halt after a door slams shut and Austin huffs above me. I keep my eyes closed, still to scared to see the height I'm being held at.

I feel Austin's hand move me away from his chest, away from the warmth and continue to move me through the air. My legs dangling in the air from his tight fist, my shaking arms firmly trapped by my sides. He's got such a firm grip on me I have to take quick sharp breaths so that I don't suffocate.

"You can open your eyes now" I don't open my eyes straight away. I don't trust Austin. His fingers slowly open and he lets me fall back into his palm and take shuddering breathes.

I hesitantly open one eye, seeing that he's placed his hand atop of a desk or bench. I open both eyes and quickly scramble off his giant hand onto the wood. Austin chuckles as he plonks himself down into a swivel chair in front of me.

IM NEVER DOING THAT AGAIN!

I fall to my knees, leaning down I kiss the wood. Over and over again. Relieved to be on solid ground again instead of being trapped in a hot sweaty hand! I collapse onto my stomach, pressing my cheek into the wood I let my heart rate slow down to its normal speed.

"Your so weird" Austin laughs, leaning forwards in his chair he folds his muscly and oversized arms over each other, resting his chin on top he stares at me. His green eyes watching me freak out on his desk. I back pedal away from his giant form. I don't want him anywhere near me after what he just did. My back hits a wall and I can't go anywhere else.

I look back up at Austin, whose smirking down at me. His emotionless eyes watching me cower in the corner, away from him in fear of being picked up again. I slide down the wall, crouching down into a small ball I hide my face in my arms.

I hate giants.

"Maybe if you gave us a chance you would like us" I look up from my hiding spot in my arms, seeing Austin glaring down at me. His brows twist together as they gain altitude up his forehead.

Did I just say that out loud!? Oh my god I did!

I'm about to apologise when Austin cuts me off with a grunt. Unfolding himself from his chair and standing to his full height. He pushes his chair away from him as he looks down at me laying on the bench. His green eyes travelling over me before looking back over his shoulder towards a cupboard. His body looming over me as he reaches down and begins to... oh sweet momma!

He holds the bottom of his shirt and then pulls it up over his head, his perfectly tanned body seeming to glint in the light. My eyes widen and I can't help but stare at his amazing six pack. My cheeks heat up as I can't stop drooling over his abs and muscles flexing and stretching as he walks over to his cupboard. He carelessly throws his shirt into the bottom of his cupboard, letting it lay on the ground while he reaches up over his head. He doesn't even seem to care that he's bare chested in front of me. I continue tostare at his back and arm muscles popping as he reaches up to grab something from the top of his cupboard.

Dayuum... playing Backnott has really paid off.

I notice now that we are in his room. I use his room for a distraction from him. I take my time to look around his giant bedroom, it looks like it would be big even for a giant. A king sized bed sits smack bang in the middle of the room, two side tables sit either side of the grey bed, a set of wooden cupboards hold his clothes off to the right, a black rug sits on top of the wooden floorboards and a L shaped desk, which I'm standing on at the moment is pushed into a corner. There are other unimportant bits and bobs laying around the room. I don't linger on those to much. They seem unimportant.

What stands out to me though, is the small cabinet that sits over his bed head. It's jam packed full of trophies and signed Backnott bats. He must be really good to have that many trophies.

I quickly close my mouth and check for any drool as Austin spins on his heels with, what looks to be a dolls house in his hands. He smiles at me and I'm surprised that there isn't a glint in his teeth. Wait... Wasn't he just pissed at me? Now he's acting like nothing happened. I'm really confused now...

"I'd like to say I'm a person who likes to forgive and forget. The truth is, I'm really not." I push myself further into the wall as he begins to make his way back over to me, "But... since you are my guest and will be living with us from now on, I'm gonna let you off with a warning and just forget that you ever said that" he drops back down into his seat, resting the dollhouse in his lap he pops open the lid. With his giant fingers he begins to fiddle with the inside of the dollhouse, carefully moving stuff around and placing what looks to be a couch inside one of the rooms. He then fixes the removable roof, popping its back onto its hinges. He smiles up at me before placing it right next to me.

To me it's the size of a normal house. It actually looks like a real house. I think it is? I push myself up off the wall, slowly making my way around to the front porch. It's so cute, like one of those small forest cottages you see out in the country. It's a light blue with white window frames, white railing and a big white door. It's a one story house with a cute little chimney on top of the roof. I love it! It's so shabby chic.

"Your new home sweet home, chosen by yours truly" I look behind me to see a shirtless Austin beaming down at me. I feel my cheeks heat, embarrassed I quickly turn back to the even more adorable house.

"Seriously?" I make my way up to the front porch, gliding my hand over the railing as I step up onto the dark wood porch. Leaning against the white railing I look back up at Austin, lifting an eyebrow at such a perfect choice.

"Yeah! Of course I did. Do you like it?" I smile and nod up at him. This is perfect! How did he know that I have an obsession with country cottages and shabby chic stuff. I excitedly clap my hands at a white hammock and a straw rocking chair. I head over to the hammock that is swinging slightly back and forth. I hold onto the edge of hammock so that I don't fall out and carefully lower myself into the soft fabric.

I sigh and close my eyes, " I could get use to this" I admit. This is so cute, I could sit in the hammock all day and just read a book and then sleep then read some more then go back to sleep again. It would be so relaxing!

"Would you like a tour?" I open my eyes and turn to see Austin leaning down on the table to look at me. A smile on his lips, enjoying watching me enjoy myself. Maybe Austin isn't that bad. Maybe... I should give him another chance to prove himself to me. I push my anger down and try to seem super excited. Cause I sort of am.

"Sure!" I excitedly jump up from the hammock and walk over to the giant white door. I place my hand on the door handle, noticing that the handle has been carved out of wood, intricate designs swirling around the door knob. I smile at the dedication that would have taken to make. It's as if Austin knew exactly what I like. That's kinda weird... oh I don't care! I'm to excited to see what the inside looks like! I turn the handle, dramatically letting the door swing painfully slow open to reveal the inside.

My mouth drops to the floor. Everything is so... so... so PERFECT! I look back at Austin, my mouth gawking open at him. He nods for me to go inside and I happily except. I step inside, spinning in a circle to take in all my surroundings. It's a very open plan house.

Everything has a shabby chic, coziness and warmth about it. The wooden kitchen and dining area are connected, a beautiful chandelier hangs over the eight seater dining table. The lounge room is the cosiest, a big L shaped couch covered in square pillows, sits on top of a white fluffy rug. A giant flatscreen Tv sits on the wall pointing towards the couch. A lamp sits in the corner with a big chair next to it. That would be a really good place to read. Next to the chair is a giant bookshelf, empty for me to fill. There's a hall opposite the lounge room, it probably leads to the bedrooms and bathroom.

"Brace yourself, I'm opening her up" it takes me until the roof is actually lifting up off the house, for me to realise what he means. I stumble forwards, grabbing hold of the couch to stable myself as Austin's face appears over the house, still with no shirt on.

He smiles at me holding onto the couch, his eyes looking around the house again. He reaches inside to one of the rooms down the hall, I can hear him moving something in one of the rooms before taking his hand back out and his eyes land back on me. I let go of the couch and stand back up to my full height, brushing the imaginary dust off my skirt.

"You like it?" He leans closer to the house, his eyes looking right at me. I smile brightly back up at him, trying not to show how uncomfortable i feel with him looking down at me, Twirling in a circle I take everything in again.

"It's amazing Austin! It's so cute and perfect and... ahhh!" I laugh, looking up to see a wide smile spreading across Austin's lips, "How... how did you know what I liked?" I stop spinning and fall onto the couch, snuggling into all the pillows. it's so soft!

"Well... your mum told us what you liked so dad ask his friend who's actually an interior designer. She helped out with the shabby chic look and your mum helped out a bit to set it all up. I just chose the house to go with it" i can't believe Brian and Austin would go to so much trouble to make me feel at home. It's so perfect! It's like my dream home times ten! Austin has changed from being a total jerk to someone id actually like to hang around.

"Thank you Austin" I awkwardly stand back up from the couch, looking up to Austin I see his cheeks slightly turn pink. He's blushing! His cheeks tint just a bit pink but he still turns away from me, looking down to his lap he smiles at himself.

"I'm glad you like it. If it makes you happy, I'm happy" he looks up from his lap and it's now my turn to blush. I look down at my feet, hiding my now red cheeks from view.

"I'm more then happy" I look back up and we both smile at each other. I think I'm starting to warm up to Austin. He's not that bad, just a bit annoying sometimes.

•••

Wow! I got a lot of positive feedback already on this story! Thank you guys! I'm giving you an update for being amazing and actually reading my story! I don't know about this chapter. It

I don't know about this chapter. It's okay I guess.

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