This Is Really Awkward...

[Austin Kirkland]

Alright, it was just another show. Yes it was with a slightly smaller audience than he was used to but it was still a show. If anything it was easier because he could connect with the people more. Little did the singer know that he was getting more than he bargained for that night. Well, either way he had to perform. He stepped out on the stage, not caring about how he looked. In honesty he just looked like a regular teenager. The lighting wasn't great in the club and he swore he could see someone... But who was it? It was one of those situations that you knew what they looked like, but you couldn't remember the name. If he did know her name, he didn't want to remember it honestly. Why? Well, her face carried some serious memories that he didn't want to relive. Austin sang for a little, not messing up a single move or line. It seemed that everything was good, but he still couldn't take his attention away from that girl.

Then it came to him. It was her.

Out of Character:

Sorry for the bad starter.

 

[Chantal Himmelreich]

It was just another normal day for Chantal Himmelreich. There were tons of homeworks to be done, and that had actually prevented her from leaving the confinements of her room. Sighing to herself as she started to doodle things out in her parchment, Chantal had overheard some of her classmates talking about this show being held in a club just near their school. Thinking that it would be better to go out and have fun since they were on break anyways, Chantal had immediately arranged her things back to her bedside drawer and he quickly changed into her casual clothes. Being a fan of music herself, she was excited to see who this performer was.

Entering the said place, Chantal sat on the coziest part of the are, the place where she could stay comfortable and the place where she could see the performers clearly. She was thoroughly excited, she had heard rumors that the performer was great, and actually, she was looking forward to meeting him. Yet, when the stage started to light up and the said singer had started his performance, Chantal had had this urge to stand up from her seat and move out. He was the last person that she had expected to see there. Not knowing what to do, she had stayed frozen in her place, her eyes fixed at the man's face, wondering how much time had passed since they had last met, and wondering whether he had forgiven her for what she had done.

 

[Austin Kirkland]

Austin finished the show finally, still somewhat upset. After all he hadn't actually ever gotten over Chantal. Well at least not when he saw her again. He couldn't help it. In honesty, she was the first girl he had truly genuine feelings for. It was the sort of event that just stuck in your brain no matter how hard you tried to get it out. Austin didn't really know what to do. If he approached her would it be to forward? If he stayed back would he be a coward? There were too many risks... What was the point of him going over there anyway? 'Oh hey, just wanted to let you know that...' He tried to think of what to say.

After a long while he just got redressed into regular clothing, then walked into the audience and right up to Chantal. His face didn't show anger, sadness, or any other emotion he was feeling. It was just... blank. "Hey... Chantal." He said, looking down at her and trying to sound cheery. He was probably failing, but that was the farthest thing in his mind at the moment. Why was he such an idiot? Austin should've stayed backstage and left that way. But no, he just had to say hello to her. "How have you been? I uh... I haven't seen you in a while." He bit his tongue. After all he hadn't seen, heard, or remotely come into contact with her at all.

 

[Chantal Himmelreich]

Chantal cannot help but to smile as she watched her long lost friend, performed on the stage, finally, he was doing what it was that he had longed for a long time. In all honesty, Chantal had really loved the said boy, he was the very first guy that she had treasured in her life, yet, she knew all too well that she cannot stay being with him, if she wanted him to pursue his goals, then she'd have to leave, though it had deeply wounded her. Another thing that had cause their separation was that, she had said that she wanted some space, and that she wanted to sort everything out, not that she had grown tired of the relationship, actually, it's the other way around, she had loved him so much that it hurts already, she had requested some space for herself so she'll be able to see how much she needed him in her life, she wanted to be independent of him, to be able to rely on herself, and not just in his help. And when they did break up, she had realized the things that she had given up, the things that she had lost when she had asked for freedom.

After Austin's performance, Chantal had decided to leave, she didn't know whether he had seen her, but it would be better if he hadn't. After all, she wouldn't want to be a bother to his life, especially now that it seems to be going fine. However, just as she was about to get up and return to her school, she had heard a very familiar voice, too familiar in fact that even with her eyes close, she would know who the owner was, and it was the least person she had expected to talk to her, it was him. "Austin.." She said, words betraying her. It wasn't like her though, for usually, she would be very cheerful, yet at the moment, she can't find the right words that she needed. "I'm.. doing fine.. you look like you're..enjoying now." She then added, this time, smiling at him. She had wanted to hug him to show that she missed him, yet she can't, after all, she didn't even know if she was still welcome in his life.

 

[Austin Kirkland]

Austin smiled a little, his insides were turning into a big, warm, pile of mush. Her smile was still warm, even in an awkward situation like this. It was little things like that that caused his feelings in the first place, but now those were long gone.. right? Well none the less he gave her a loose, almost forced hug and then pulled away as quickly as he could. "I am.. I wouldn't really expect you to be here." He laughed to lighten the mood, trying to seem as if he was perfectly okay with it. Well that was just adding onto the pile of lies he was telling himself that day. The only option that they had now was to stick it out through painful small talk and then maybe try to repair their broken relationship. Maybe they could even be friends again. Well Austin was getting a little ahead of himself. At least they were on talking terms, right?

"Want to get out of here? Maybe get a bite to eat?" He yawned a little bit and rubbed the back of his head. That way if conversation hit a standstill he could just cover it up with a comment about food or stuff his face. That was what he did during dates, and if he was eating with someone in general. It was a safe move, and it would be just what they needed. Either that or just to do something where there were a lot of things to do. Small talk was never his forte. After all it was just very forced most of the time, or just insanely awkward. He would usually be able to talk with Chantal so easily, but things were so much more different. He wanted to be friends but it was going to be hard at this rate..

 

[Chantal Himmelreich]

Chantal had had her eyes closed when she felt Austin hugged her close, really, she missed him. She missed the way that he would protect her before, and she missed the warmth of his body next to hers. Yet, everything, all of those things, she wasted them ,letting him go was probably the greatest regret that she had in her life now, but she knew that she cannot turn back time, she had to cope up, had to accept the fact that at the moment, she's just another normal person in Austin's life.

When he released her, Chantal cannot help but to feel a little disappointed, that even though they were already apart, the memory of the short quick hug still lingered on her mind. Even so, at least, he talked to her, at least, it didn't look as if he had forgotten about her already, despite all of the things that she had done to him, hopefully, they could still be friends. "I just tried to go here, heard about this event in school, so I decided to take a break from school works, and now here I was, talking with the least person that I had expected to see here." She said, smiling warmly again, though in reality, she wasn't quite sure if this meeting was a fateful one, one which is good for both of them, or if it was the otherwise, hopefully it's not.

Carefully tucking her hair behind her ears, Chantal nodded in agreement as her long lost friend had invited her to go out and eat. It's been a long time since he heard of him, and knowing him, she had the idea that he was doing this just so the seemingly awkward tension between them would vanish. How she wished that she can return to the past and change things out. "Sure, I would want to hear about you Austin, it's been.... quite too long since we had last seen each other.." She said to him, biting her lower lip to stop herself from saying ridiculous things that would remind them of their break up a few years back. Everything was just so easy back then, they can laugh with each other, tease, have fun, but at the moment, she doubts that everything will stay the same.

 

[Austin Kirkland]

Austin rubbed the back of his head and sighed, smiling. It was nice to hear that she had sort of gone out of her way to see the show. But before he got a swelled head, he remembered that Chantal didn't exactly know that it was him performing until now. And yet it was nice to be in her presence again, not having the questioning in his head that wondered if she was okay. Well, at least physically she looked okay. Inside Austin almost wanted her to be a wreck, but not in a mean way, just to know she cared.

"Right! You go to Durmstrang still right?" His mouth twisted into a smirk, remembering the very little time he had spent there. It was an experience to say the least. A part of him wanted to go back, just to be at school and with regular kids. Performing and singing had become a chore to him, and a horrid one at that. It was a job, not the passion that had once burned in his heart. And now that Amanda was there too, it seemed to be the perfect thing to do. The only hard part would be to convince his mum and father to send him away. Having two children away from the house was hard, but all three? That might be too much for them.

With that, Austin took her things for her out of instinct, something he hadn't done for quite some time. His cousin, when Austin and Chantal first began to see each other, had told him that girls liked that sort of thing. Ever since, Austin always picked up her things for her. It seemed that those sort of habits didn't die easily. He tried not to be surprised at himself, but was probably failing miserably. None the less he walked to the door and opened it for as well, thinking of where to take her. There weren't too many options this late at night, but that wasn't much of a problem. Right now he would just be happy with a cruddy food stand and bench if that meant talking to Chantal. He smiled, "Where should we go then? It's been too long."

 

[Chantal Himmelreich]

"Yes I do." Chantal said smiling as warmly as ever. It's been a long time since she had studied at the same school as Austin, ate together with him, and do homework together with him, all of those had vanished at the instant that she had decided to broke up, she had lost not only a lover, but a best friend as well. "How about you Austin? Are you planning to go back to studying?" She then asked, knowing all too well that that might be impossible, after all, Austin's path was that of a musician, that was his choice and she cannot really steer him away from that right? Yet, a part of her had wanted him to say that he's going back to study, just so she'll be able to spend more time with him. But at the moment, that notion was far from possible.

When Austin carried her things for her, Chantal cannot help but to smile once more, it was just like old times, back when they were still together. Austin had always been that responsible and thoughtful kind of man, he never let her do things on her own, and at that, she felt safe whenever she's with him. "I don't know, Your choice, I'm not exactly familiar with this place." She answered, touching his arm before she went out ahead of him. She didn't really expect everything to turn out this way, like everything was doing fine, that nothing had had happened between them, yet, she was thankful, thankful that he seemed to not bear any grudge against her, and thankful that at least, she was once again being welcomed in his life.