Benefits of a Broken Heart

Chapter 5 Their Opinion

---Austin's POV---

I walk backwards with Michelle pulling me away from Tay. I was so close to just asking her to hang out, just the two of us.. a date or whatever she wanted to do.. I think she is something different.. special.. intriguing.. she doesn't know how gorgeous she is, by her reaction when I told her I thought she was gorgeous. I don't want these people here to make her feel bad.. They just won't stop talking s**t about her and it is really starting to piss me off.

Lewis won't stop making comments to her either and I think it's just to piss me off because he was just saying outside before dinner, how he didn't think she was even pretty after all the girls said it first.. They were talking about how annoying and weird she is.. and I just can't see it, I think she is sweet, beautiful, adorable and smart.. I feel Michelle continuously pulling me as I just think about breaking her hold to go back, but right as I'm about to, Lewis walks right past me and to Tay. He wraps his arm around her waist and pulling her into his side. He whispers something to her as she rolls her eyes and shakes her head. He whispers more making her giggle but still shake her head as he states out loud for everyone to hear. "Come on let's go out by the fire that I just started.. just like this one between us." He smirks happily with himself and that comment as I internally groan at that. Lewis is such an i***t, but girls like him because he can be a little nice and smooth. Noah is already outside setting up the music by the fire that just a little bit further out in the clearing where it's away from the house, just in case.

We get out there to the area they have set up to relax by the fire with rocks and logs to sit on and enjoy the view.. I take a seat, just flopping down on the log as I huff out in defeat, not knowing how I'm going to get rid of Michelle. I look over and see Lewis sitting down as he pulls Tay by her hand and onto his lap as she squeaks out in surprise. She tries to get up as he pulls her right back into his tight grip. I feel my blood boiling at that sight, making me just want to rip his hands off. I feel Michelle's hands running rampant on my back and thigh to get my attention. I take her hands off, but she puts them back on, as if I didn't mean to do that to her. I look up and see Tay looking over at me as I watch her gaze lock on Michelle's hand that's on my lap as she huffs and looks away. I think that means she likes me. I don't know that for sure, but by the way she is reacting, I would assume so.

I keep staring over at her until I notice Lewis is wiggling his eyebrows at me as mine scrunch in return. He quickly stands up, getting her to her feet abruptly, as he starts to spin her around with his one hand then pulls her into his frame with the other, starting to dance to the music with her. Tay looks startled but still dances, probably out of automatic reaction since she used to dancing all the time. I can see Lewis saying something to her in her ear as she giggles again and pushes away, but he pulls her back into his embrace as he continues to dance with her.

She keeps dancing with him while pushing out of his hold but he just pulls her right back in.. Until her phone starts to ring. She lets go of his hands as she exclaims, "I have to take this Lewis.. thanks for the dance." She pulls her phone out and answering it while walking away from him as he huffs out and flopping to the log. "Man she is making me work for it." He spats in annoyance before I quickly reply. "Well I don't know why you would think that s**t would win her over right away anyways. she is a complicated woman. I don't know why you're going for her anyway, when before dinner you said that you thought she was ugly."

Lewis laughs before replying with a malicious smirk on his face that makes me livid just with his words. "I just want to tap that fine fat ass of hers because it looks like untouched territory if you know what I mean." He winks as I scoff out loud clenching my jaw in irritation, resisting with every last inch of my body to not punch him because he has been my friend for years.

"That's because she is ugly.. and annoying as hell." Michelle exclaims as the girls laugh and start responding one after the other but I don't know their names yet. "She is such a bore, and has no friends."... "Yeah and the only reason we bring her around is because she cleans and cooks everything for us like our little maid we don't have to pay."..... "Yeah but she just follows us around like a puppy.. or should we say mutt because she is mixed."... I jump up pissed off as I froze, because who do I see but the one and only Tay, standing frozen staring at us.. and by the heartbroken look on her face I would imagine she heard what everyone had said about her.

She sniffles and says softly. "All of you girls feel like that? Well, I will be out tomorrow. You don't have to worry about me again. I'm sorry for bugging and burdening you all." She turns around and walks back to the house as the girls mock her more, making me madder. I glare at everyone before saying. "I can't believe you guys would treat someone like this.. she went out of her way to make you all dinner and dessert, then even cleaned it up just for all of you tonight and you think you have any right to talk s**t about her.. come on where is your common decency. She is sweet and nice girl." They groan and roll their eyes at me as Michelle stands up next to me saying. "It's fine, she is not going anywhere because she has no where to go.. She will get over it.. come on." She reaches up and pulls my lips down into hers as she attacks my lips, but as bad as I want to shove her away I'm a gentlemen so I won't. I put my hands on her shoulders before guiding her back and saying. "I really hate the way you guys treat her.. it's not right I can't do this. Lewis you're lucky you're my friend or I would beat the hell out of you for saying that about her."

I turn away from Michelle and walk towards the house, just wanting to make sure that Tay is ok. I can't believe they would be like that with her openly and not care.. I thought they would try to hide it but none of them did.. I'm completely shocked and appalled at the sight before me, especially when I saw the heartbreak in Tay's eyes. I get to the house pretty quickly as I see her running up the stairs, so I try to quicken my speed to keep up with her. Once I get up the stairs, taking them 3 stairs at a time, I looked down the hall to see her turning into the middle room., slamming the door behind her.

I get to her door pretty quickly as I rapidly knock on the door. She doesn't open the door, but I can hear her sniffles on the other side of the door. "Hey beautiful, are you ok?" I ask her as she sniffles more and states. "I don't want to talk about it Austin.. you were right and I was stupid for thinking they were friends.. I have been embarrassed enough tonight and I don't need your pity to be the cherry on top for my night. Please just leave me to be alone."

I groan out not wanting to leave her alone until I know she is going to be ok.. but I want to respect her wishes. "I bet if you opened the door for me, that I could make you smile?" I offer her as she sniffles and says softly. "Thank you for the thought but I'm just going to go to bed.. god night Austin." I get sad at that thought as I huff and say softly through the door, "Good night Tay.. Message me if you need me."

I turn around and walk away in a huff. I understand why she wants to be alone, but I bet I could make her feel so much better if she gave me the chance.. I storm down stairs and grab my bag as I hear from behind me. "Where are you going Austin?" I turn around to see it's Michelle looking concerned for some reason. "I'm going to bed before I do something I'm going to regret." I spat, turning back around going up the stairs and taking the room right by Tay's just in case.

I lay down on the bed in a huff as I stare up at the ceiling, hearing her cry in the other room. I hate that this is what I'm hearing because I just want to help her feel better. I keep staring at all the details of the room around me as I hear my phone beep. I get excited, wondering if it's her. No it's not Tay, it's my mother. 'Hey my Tinman.. I just found a roommate for you.. He just applied and everything looked good.. He even paid in advance to be able to be there tomorrow morning.. but if you don't like the guy, then let me know and we will figure something out.. his name is Taylor Jacobs.. He already has a job and goes to the same school as you.. so maybe you guys will really get along.'

I shrug as I think about that.. it's been nice having the place to myself. My mother said she was getting me a roommate for this place a while ago, and it just hasn't happened, so I never thought this day would come.. It's kind of weird to rent out a room.. but I guess maybe this guy will be cool.. only time will tell.. I just hope he is nothing like my last roommate.. he was creepy as f*#k, staring at me a lot while taking some of my clothes and items, but luckily he changed his major for school, so he transferred to another school that specialized in performing arts. So I don't think whoever this guy is that he will be as bad as that guy.... Ugh.. I'm such an idiot.. I should have offered that room to her, since she doesn't have a place to live.. but maybe I can still offer her my couch.

I message my mother back saying quickly, 'Ok sounds good mama I'll make sure I'm up bright and early for this guy.' I quickly go from that message to Tay's number. I stare at it for a moment before I send her a quick message. 'Hey beautiful, if you need a place to stay for a little bit, you can stay with me.. I don't have an extra room, just a couch because I just got a new roommate or I would offer the extra room at my place.. but just let me know.. it's not a problem.'

I sit back as I hear her phone beep on the other side of the wall. I wait and nothing happens, I can't hear anything going on. I keep waiting for a minute but nothing happened so I just rolled over on the bed, not even caring to change. I pull my shirt off and slip my pants off, throwing them to the floor before setting an alarm for early so I can get my s**t together.. then leave as soon as I can. I shut my eyes as I let out a deep breath, trying to forget about those assholes tonight. I huffed, flopping over on my side, only thinking of her eyes.. her gorgeous star-speckled doe eyes. I keep tossing and turning until I hear my phone beep. My eyes shot open so I can read it. It's from Tay making my heart do flips at that thought. 'Thank you for the offer, it's very sweet of you. I would say yes if I didn't already have somewhere to go.. but maybe I'll see you some other time.. but don't worry about me.. take care of yourself.' I huff in understanding but at least she appreciated it.. but I don't know what to say back, so I just roll over and say quickly. 'The offer always stands.. sweet dreams.' I close my eyes and let the sleep consume me after that very exhausting night.