Chapter Text
My name is Austin. I’m 22 going on 23 pretty soon. I’ve just gotten off from work, and was more than ready to head back home and rest before going out to hang with a few friends. Besides getting up early, I didn’t mind having the morning shift. I looked forward to spending time taking a nice long nap. But more than likely, there’d be someone inside my home to keep me on my toes. I always kept my doors unlocked. Yes, I knew it was a risk, but it was a risk I was willing to take if it meant my friends would have somewhere to stay… in case they got into a bit of trouble.
They could all be considered family, even if not by blood. We stuck together like glue. I’ve pretty much known most of them since grade school, but out of everyone, I’ve known Ashton since we’ve been toddlers. I don't know what I’d do without him, or any of them for that matter.
I wasn’t much of a looker compared to a few of them, but my looks were about as decent as they could get. I had reddish-brown wavy hair, and hazel eyes. I was sorta skinny for my age, and I glanced wistfully at my arms wishing I had more muscle. But I couldn’t bother to try and work out or anything.
Sure enough when I got home, Anthony was there laying on my couch reading the newspaper that I’d gotten earlier this morning. His eyes flickered to me when I came into view.
“What’s up AJ?” He flipped through the pages of the newspaper.
“Nothin’ much. What’s got you here now? Did you fight with your old folks again?” I leaned against the frame of the wide opening that led into the room. “Or did ya do somethin’ to upset the fuzz?”
He scoffed and tossed the newspaper on the coffee table. “Nah, I'm just here to bother you for no real reason.” He gave a toothy grin. “And even so, whether I did something or not for the fuzz to show, I wouldn’t turn up for nothin’ ya hear? No way I’m gettin’ sent back to the slammer again.” He put some emphasis on the word again, and I couldn’t help but smile. But I did decide to change the subject.
“Well, that's that. I hear ya. Now how’s your relationship with your sister? The wedding is soon, right?”
“Y’know that chick ain't my sister, and you also know I wouldn't dare to stoop that low.” He rolled his eyes and leaned back.
“She sure looks it though. Maybe she’s a distant cousin?”
“We all know she ain’t from ‘round here, nor related to me of all people. Besides, she’s not gonna be in town for very long, no one ever is. Especially around these parts of town. But she sure is a doll.”
I dramatically placed a hand over my heart “But I’m sure it’s destined. Love is love after all, you both are practically fated to be with each other!”
“Oh for the love of god.” He groaned, “I don’t even know her name! We ran into each other once. Plus I already got someone else in mind”
I shook my head. “Oh well, there's still plenty of time for your romance to bloom.”
“Close your head AJ.” Anthony picked up a pillow and threw it at my face. Or at least tried to. His aim is pretty terrible. Well, that is unless he’s trying to slug someone in some fight.
Anthony Foster. He's a pretty tall guy with slicked back brown hair, tanned skin, and brown eyes. He has many sharp features, and right now he’s trying to grow out a beard. That guy has got himself made. He’s been in the slammer a few times, and when he was younger, he had been sent to a boys reformatory. But it's not like it changed him much. He’s most known for theft, and loves nicking every little thing he sees in a store for the fun of it. His crimes aren't too dangerous though. Really his only serious crime that I know of, involved his switch.
I grinned, “Well, make sure you're on your best behavior later tonight.” He cocked one eyebrow up.
“Why’s that?”
“Cuz my kid sister is comin’ to hangout with us n’ the others.”
“Vanessa? Shoot, I’d better get home and make myself look real pretty.”
I looked at him mockingly, “But what about your other side chick? The one that looks like she’d be your cousin?”
“I already told you, she ain't related to me, and she ain't my side chick.” He scrunched up his face. “And we’ve never really talked.”
I shrugged then thought, “Well on a serious note, isn’t Vanessa too young for ya? She’s what.. 18?” I pretended to study him. “And you're 22. That's a huuuuuge difference buddy, even if you’ve been stuck on her for a while.”
He mockingly got to his knees and pleaded with me which I thought was pretty amusing. “Oh c’mon AJ,” he said and gave me his best puppy eyes. “18 and 22 ain’t a big difference.” I tapped my chin a few times.
“Well, fine. Maybe I’ll approve if you manage to win her heart, Foster. And if you do, treat her right, would ya?”
“Of course I would. I treat all women with respect.”
“Good, keep that up and you’ll earn more points from me.”
Anthony got up off his knees and slumped back down on the couch, “Points? Points for what?”
I grinned in response, “Well, if you get lots of points from me then I might be more inclined to let ya date my kid sister.” I started backing out of the room.
“I didn’t know I needed a point system as your way of approval. And where are you going?”
I raised both eyebrows with a sheepish smile “I want to go take a nap before we go out tonight, y’know?” Anthony groaned in annoyance.
“Well what am I supposed to do while you’re sleepin’?” I shrugged when he asked this. I picked up the remote to the tv and tossed it to him.
“I dunno. Whatever you were doin’ before I got here I guess.”
“Or how about you just relax here, and we can listen to some jazz music? Just a suggestion, you can choose.”
I decided to weigh the options. Taking a nap sounded nice, but listening to music also sounded like a pretty good choice. “Hmm… Y’know what, sure. We can listen to music, but don’t bother me ‘cause I’ll be busy resting my eyes.” I went and sat next to Anthony on the couch.
“You betcha.” He brought my radio a little closer to the coffee table and switched it on. He started turning the frequency knob, “Whaddaya wanna listen too?”
I waited a few seconds to listen to what was on, and when I heard Louis Armstrong’s song called “Georgia On My Mind” come on, I had Anthony stop on it. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, and before I knew it, the time had gone by in mere seconds.