My Little Mate *Austyn and Zeus*

two

Austyn

I freeze. Why the h3ll is Zeus talking to Beau Miller? I watch as my cousin's bully friends walk up to them, and she whispers something to them. They all giggle, then she turns to Zeus. She says something, and when he replies, they all laugh. She twirls her hair around her finger. I have seen enough. I should really punch her now. Maybe I should shave her head bald so she doesn't have hair to twirl around while she looks at Zeus anymore. Ugh, I could poke her eyes out. Unfortunetly, if I say or do something, then I would have to answer questions.

"Can we go home? I'm tired and want to go to sleep," I say. "Austyn, are you alright? Are you feeling sick?" mom asks. She even puts the back of her hand on my forehead. So dramatic. "I am fine. I just want to leave...Now!" I snap. "Okay, okay, but, we still have the party," mom pouts like a child. Mom loves to celebrate everything. "I will just take a nap then, mom. I just need some alone time," I say. Mom and dad are big on time alone, so this does the trick. "Done," dad says and swings his arm around my shoulder, and we walk towards the parking lot. I know I was sad about Beau and his cr@ppy flowers, but dad really made up for it. I look over at my sister, and neither she or anyone else seemed to care that dad was giving me attention. Everyone just seems to be happy today, and that is good enough for me.

Mom has everyone pose with me before we load up in the cars and leave for home. As I pose, I see some kids who were nice to me. They were study buddies. One had her locker next to me. One guy, Julio was always really nice to me. He was a football player and more popular, and he didn't care about what others thought. He always talked to me. He would always say he loved my style, and some girl said he admitted to having a crush on me, but he never openly told me. Although he would try to hang out often. I was just always busy, and I am more shy and reserved. I know it is hard to believe with who my parents are, but I am not one for all of that attention, but I am used to it, I guess. "Austyn, come take pictures with us," Julio waves me over and mom almost launches me at them. She shoves me so hard I nearly fall. On my way over, I see Zeus talking to uncle James now.

I pose while the parents snap away. They make silly comments. Julio eventually asks for a picture of just us 2. He wraps me in a bear hug. I smile and look up and see Zeus standing behind mom and dad, and he is frowning. He is probably bored and doesn't want to be here. I hate that he has to do what mom and dad want all the time. I am sure he has better things to do than to be at a high school graduation.

"We are having a graduation party for Austyn. Why don't you all come? Invite all of her friends," Mom tells them, and I feel my face heat up. I have never invited anyone to the farm. It was always my safe space, and I have always tried to be mindful of who my parents are and I know how this works. People will try to use me to get to my parents. "I will be there," Julio says quickly. "Me too," my dearest cousin says. Where did she come from? The others agree. Mom talks to some of the other parents while I watch her all over Julio. "Oh Austyn, sign my yearbook," Julio tells me. I reach for it, but she snatches it, and signs it herself. She then wraps her arms around his neck and poses for pictures. She takes all of the attention away like the attention seeker she is. I am not interested in Julio in that way, but I hate that my own cousin always flirts with any boy who even looks my way. This is why I have never mentioned Zeus to anyone. Plus, my parents would flip out. I don't bother saying anything, instead I just walk away.

I lean back on the hood of the car and I can feel someone looking at me. You know that feeling you get, and you just know. I look around and everyone is in their own conversation. I finally spot him. Zeus, standing under a tree, staring right at me. I finally get a good look at him. He is wearing gray pants and a light blue shirt with a tie, and black shoes. He puts on the shades he is holding and begins walking my way. Oh my god. I begin to panic internally. Do I look good? Smell good? What do I do? What do I do? Act cool. He gets to me quickly and hands me a small box. "Congratulations," he says. His voice makes me feel tingly inside. "Thank you," I say. "You can't open it right now though. This is part 2 of your surprise. Part 1 is right outside your bedroom window. It was way too big for me to bring here, so I set it up there," he tells me, and now I have to get home right away. "Okay, but you really didn't have to. I'm sure this is the last place you want to be today," I say, trying to sound cool. "Actually, this is the only place I want to be today," he tells me. I'm melting with his words. It got 1000 degrees hotter. "Baby girl, come here," dad calls out to me, making me feel like someone threw cold water at me. I snap out of it and realize that this is my sign that this can never happen. "Well, I should go. Thank you, again," I say, slipping the box into my gown pocket, and making my way over to dad.

"I love you so much, Austyn, and nothing will ever change that. I want you to know that I have eyes, and I see what is going on, and I don't want you to ever feel inferior to anyone, ever sweetheart," Dad tells me. "Austyn, wait," I hear running behind me. I turn and see Beau Miller again. "Baby girl, why didn't you take the flowers? I know they look a little crushed, sorry about that. Your sister accidentally sat on them," he says. "She is not my sister," I tell him and walk away. I am so done with this man. "You really have some nerve, Miller," I hear dad tell him as I get in the car and slam the door shut. We should have left the first time I said I wanted to leave. This is stup!d. I hate having to take pictures and saying goodbye to people I probably will never see again. I guess that's the point.

Zeus

"I didn't even do anything, Browne." Beau Miller tells Tyler. I have no idea what is going on. Cat and Valen had an emergency at Black River, and I ended up having to take over, so I ended up getting here just in time to watch Austyn receive her high school diploma, and find out that she really is staying here for college. I already knew that. Of course I looked into it. I was ready to transfer wherever she went, but it's great that it is out there now. I rushed over to her when the ceremony was over, but she was surrounded by her family, and her real father pulled me aside to tell me he needed a lawyer for his new business venture. We talked a bit, but I can feel how bothered Austyn is, and I need to figure out why. She has so many emotions floating through her right now. I feel happiness, annoyance, anger, humiliation, loneliness, but most of all, sadness.

"That's the problem @sshole. You never do anything. Don't show up to her party if you aren't going to make this day about her," Tyler tells him. "I have two daughters graduating today, Browne, you wouldn't understand it," he says. "I have twins, but I know how to give each kid their place. You should do it sometime. No, actually she will be 18 in a couple of days, and when she decides not to want you in her life anymore, then leave, go away quietly. The same way, you go away for the holidays and go on your family vacations, and you don't include her. How quiet you and your family get then, that same way." Tyler tells him and walks away. "Can you believe that guy?" he asks me. I turn to him, not believing that he just asked me this question. I have seen and felt the disappointment he makes my mate feel, so yes, I believe Tyler, and I agree with him 1000%. "I can, and he isn't wrong. Look for legal representation elsewhere. My firm is not interested in working with you," I tell him and walk away. I would never hurt my mate by working closely with her father. This man's actions have hurt her enough. Whether intentional or not intentional, and I can finally do something about it. Starting with never allowing her to feel sad and disappointed again. I plan on making my little mate the happiest girl in the world.