Finding Hope {Editing}

Chapter 13

I fell asleep in Austin's bed. I really didn't want to be any where near him, but I also didn't want to be alone. Our backs were up against each other and I started dreaming of Stardust and then I jumped up breathing heavingly and said, "Stardust."

Austin felt me move, so he got up and put his arms around me giving me a hug and said, "Shhh... everything is going to be okay."

I was holding on to his shirt and I barely said, "I miss her." I was crying a little by this point.

He kissed my head and said, "I know you do."

We started leaning back down to the bed to go to asleep he let me go, so I asked, "Austin can you put your arm back I really don't want to be left alone."

He put his arm back around my waist and said, "You will never be alone as long as I'm here." We both fell alseep. Every morning I woke up hoping to find Stardust, but she won't be there, so I just painted and ate dinner than went to my bed.

Except one morning when I woke up to the sound of a famialiar horse, so I got up and rushed over to the window and saw Austin holding reins and they were connected to Stardust. I smiled and ran downstairs to Stardust and gave her a hug and then smiled at Austin and asked, "How did you get her back?"

"Let's just say I made someone an offer they just couldn't refuse."

"Thank you." I gave him a hug and then continued, "I don't know how to repay you."

"Oh I can think of a lot of ways you can repay me."

Week after week I trained Stardust and Austin and I hung out more than we use to and my feelings grow for him more each day. He always watched me train Stardust, so one day I walked over to him and asked, "Why are you always watching me and Stardust?"

"Because I like to see you ride."

"And why is that?"

"Because you always look happy when you ride like nothing can ever tear you down and I like that about you."

"You do?" He grabbed my hands in his and he nodded as he started leaning in. "What about Madison?"

"What about her?" He just smiled and started to lean in even closer.

Right when our faces were inches apart I pulled away and said, "I can't do this." I then walked away and left him by hisself. I didn't know what was wrong with me; I mean I really wanted to kiss him, but after everything in my life that's happened with my dad and mom. I just feel like if I let someone come anywhere close to my heart they will end up leaving me and I just can't handle that heartbreak again.

I left Stardust out in the fence while I went to where Mr. Turner was and asked, "Can I talk to you about something?"

"Yeah sure anything." He replied.

I sat down beside him and said, "It's about Austin. I just don't know what to do I mean I really like him, but I just have something inside of me saying to not let him get close to me because he will eventually hurt me and I just don't know what to do."

"Is it because of your dad and how he left you when you were a little girl?"

"Yeah, I really think that is it. I just don't want to get hurt like that again."

"Rose you have to take chances for the ones you love. You will have ups and downs, but you have to choose to get back up again. He may hurt you, but he will always love you. Just give him a chance I promise everything will work out the way God wants it to."

"So your saying I should just go for it and see what happens."

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Now I think you have somewhere to go."

I smiled at him and said, "Thank you." I gave him a hug and then walked up to Austin's room and saw him shirtless. I covered my eyes and said, "Austin I really need to talk to you, so could you please put on a shirt?"

"Are you nervous when I don't have a shirt on?"

"No I just don't want to talk to you until you put on a shirt."

"Fine, hold on." It took a few seconds and then he said, "You can open your eyes now." He had a shirt on now and I let out a small breathe and then he asked, "So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"I wanted to talk to you about earlier today."

"Oh you mean when you left me by myself. I felt really stupid afterwards I mean I thought you actually liked me, but I guess you were just pretending the whole time."

"I wasn't pretending I really like you." He looked at me surprised that I had actually said I liked him. He stepped closer and I finished saying, "I like you so much that I'm afraid of losing you or you breaking my heart and I don't want that to happen again. I just can't take that pain again. And after Jeremy I am even more afraid to like someone this much." He was now inches away from my face. I slowly said, "I'm just scared to lose you." A tear fell from my face.

He wiped it away and said, "I won't ever hurt you and neither will anyone else. I will always have your back." He kept his hand on my cheek as he leaned closer and closer. Finally our lips met and it was so sweet and passionate not like when Jeremy and I kissed, but I really liked it. We parted and he said, "I've been wanted to kiss you ever since I laid my eyes on you."

I smiled and said, "Well why don't you do it again." He kissed me again more passionate this time."Why me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why did you chose me over Madison?"

"Because I liked how determined you were and how happy you were when riding. And besides your not like other girls."

I smiled and kissed him again and then parted and said, "I better go."

I tried to leave, but he still was holding on to my hand and asked, "Do you really have to go?"

"Yes I do. I'm not just going to kiss you all night."

He laughed and asked, "Why don't we go look at the stars?"

I smiled and said, "Yeah sure sounds like fun."

We walked downstairs from the barn hand in hand and he sat down a blanket on the grass and we both laid down looking at the stars. I was laying on his chest and his arm was around me and his head on my head as we were looking up at the stars. We sat in silence at first, but I broke th silence by saying, "It's been a while since I've slowed down to look at the stars."

"Why is that?"

"Well ever since my dad left and it was my mom and me I spent all my time riding I never had time to just relax and look at the stars and it was kind a me and my dad's thing."

"What do you mean kind a?"

"Well before he left I remember we would always take breaks from riding and lay on the roof or the grass and just look at the stars and talk about everything."

"Y'all use to be really close?"

"Yeah we were and I miss it." I yawned just as a tear fell from my eye.

"I think it's time we go to sleep."

"Okay." I said as Austin kissed me on my head and we both fell asleep watching the stars.

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I hope you really liked this chapter. Tell me what you think of Austin and Rose's little moments and their kiss. I have special plans for them later on. Well vote and comment. Also tell others to read this story as well. well bye for now.

Song: Broken by Leona Lewis