he's known cate and her family since they were kids and also went to school together, so they would have that connection for sure. austen was a little weird when he was in high school since, kind of obsessed with death and the macabre, and just floating by, since his dad died when he was a sophomore. but now he's very puppyish, loves to joke and play with people, basically super chill for the most part. it sounds like they'd get along well enough based on your description above!