Chapter Thirty-Three

We walk around the different stalls for around an hour, I could not get over the beauty of this place and how it is not really known to the public. Now I know about it, I hope Austin is telling me the truth when he tells me we can come here often. The people were also so nice, they were just generally grateful that we were there walking around. I must have thanked Austin like a thousand times for taking me here, this was truly a beautiful place! We soon stop at a stall that was selling handmade jewellery, you could just tell by looking that these were made with such love and care. Every piece was dramatically different to the other, so if you brought this you were really getting a one-of-a-kind piece of jewellery. My eyes scan the pieces when they land on one, it was a beautiful locket that was sat on its own. 'Do you like it?" Austin asks once noticing my eyes had not moved to any other piece, I nod my head with a little smile as I went. 'It looks nearly identical to the one my grandmother used to wear" I smile turning to look at him for a second before my eyes move back to the necklace, a whole load of memories filling my head as I did so. When I was growing up, my grandmother would wear the same necklace, I'm unsure if I ever actually saw her without it. I would constantly ask her where she got it from, but she would always reply that someone special got it for her. She never did tell me who that special person was, I always assumed it was my grandfather before he died. Austin smiles pulling his wallet out, I ask what he was doing where he just smiles at me, this telling me what he was doing alone. 'No Austin, you don't have to buy that for me" I tell him reaching over to stop him pulling money out, yes it was so nice of him to offer, and I really appreciate that he would even think of me, but I didn't want him to feel like he had to because I spoke about my grandmother. 'I know I don't have to, but I want to, I'm gonna make sure you remember this day for the rest of your life" he smiles before handing the money over to the woman, who takes it with a smile while handing the necklace over to Austin. 'Turn around" he smiles unclasping the necklace, I smile turning around whilst holding my hair up. The necklace is soon placed around my neck, as I look down tears want to prick my eyes as I picture my grandmother wearing the same one. Before too long the necklace was securely around my neck. I turn looking over at Austin who was smiling down at me, in seconds I wrap my arms around his neck as a thank you. He wraps his arms around me holding tightly as he went. 'You have to be the cutest couple I have seen in a long time; you hold onto that one" The woman behind the stall smiles right over at me, I didn't want the encounter to get awkward, so I just send her a smile nodding my head. We both thank the woman before starting to walk away, my beautiful new locket hanging from my neck. As we begin to walk away, Austin's hand slowly touches mine, I look down where I discover he was trying to hold my hand. With a smile, I reach over and take his hand in mine which I know took him by surprise. 'I don't know about you but I'm starving, lets head to the food court before I shrivel into nothing" he says dramatically, whilst pulling me over to where the food was being sold, I just laugh allowing him to pull me over. We soon get our food and head over to this open field to eat, it was such a lovely day that so many other people were also eating. Austin told me how this town is known for its pastries, so we both got a few of each to share. We sit there and make small talk for a few minutes; I was just loving the piece and quiet. 'I do have a question, what are you going to do when you're finally free of Markus?" I ask taking a little bite out of my food, Austin just sighs placing his own food back on the paper it came in. 'If I am being honest, I've never really given that idea any thought. I know what type of man Markus is so I know what he would do if I ever tried to leave. But now you are a part of this and keep telling me you'll find me a way out of this, I'm slowly starting to believe it myself" he says looking over at me slightly, this does make me smile as that's all I wanted, now I'm working with Jacob to get Markus dealt with, he'll be free in no time. 'I just want a peaceful relaxing life with the people I care about most, I want to be at a place where I can sit down in silence and not have my mind racing with scared thoughts about Markus, and what might happen down the road. Trust me I know how girly that sounds" he laughs looking over at me feeling a little embarrassed, but I totally understood where he was coming from. 'I don't find that girly at all and I definitely have experience with girly things. Your life has been so hectic these past few years because of Markus, now you want time to relax and not have to worry about anything, I think that's a justified way to think" I say putting on a smart accent as I went, this does make Austin let out a laugh as he looked over at me. 'Thank you, Payton, at times I feel like you're the only person who really gets me" he says looking me deep in the eyes, due to the conversation we had last night I knew what he meant by that, which I knew meant I had to try and change the subject. 'If you really want to do something girly, follow my lead" I smile before laying down on my back and staring up at the sky, it was such a clear and lovely day. 'On days like this, its perfect for cloud spotting, now join me" I say in mystic voice whilst patting the spot beside me, this once again makes him laugh but he does move over and lays right beside me on the grass. We lay for a few minutes just staring at the beautiful sky, I love times like this where you can just lay down and hear the world going on around you. With all the chaos that has been happening lately, this time was needed for me to keep the sanity that I had. 'Look, that one looks like a tree!" I exclaim pointing at a cloud that was going by, Austin looks closer sending me a confused look which told me he wasn't see what I was. 'I don't see a tree, but I do see a heart" he tells me which as I look closer, I also start to slowly see the heart which he was talking about. 'See! I knew you wouldn't find this cringy but start enjoying yourself!" I smile happy that I was right for once, I knew he would once he let his guard down and didn't have to act like a tough man which he has been lately. He nods his head whilst his hand begins to slip in mine once again, I didn't mind that much and just focused on the clouds. Enjoying the last peaceful day that we would have for a while.