So. Can I just say, I cannot write a one shot. That is what It was supposed to be, but then my fingers take over. I should donate them to science.
Anyways, this story is going to be very stereotypical so be warned!
I hope yall like it!
I don't own A&A!
Ally pov
I had never known that I could smile when I was at home. It wasn't an obvious privilege, and that is what smiling is. A privilege. On that I never understood I had. I didn't have the right to be happy because of how my family was holding on by a few fraying threads. I never understood that I could have friends because nobody ever told me that the fights my parents have weren't my fault. They both loved me very much. I knew that. But that always raised another question. Why would my mother do that?
I had decided long ago that it was most definitely my fault. My mother didn't know what she was doing and my dad was distraught, so who else was to blame except myself. And I did. For the longest time. In fact, I still do. But, you see, everybody has a person they work to be like. Everybody has a role model they work to be like. I don't. I just want to earn the right to smile. I want to earn that right to be happy. I wanted friends.
Everything started a long time ago, really. Before I can even remember. I was 18 months old and my parents got into a fight. In the end, he had broken her hand and slapped her a few times. By then, only one of them had cheated. But by then, my sister was already remembering. By then, she was four. My mom went to the hospital and when the doctors asked who did it, she said nobody. She hadn't seen the handprint marks on her face. She protected my dad against all odds.
She hated it in Miami. She couldn't stand the heat, but I think she just wanted to be closer to home. She always wanted to move to Seattle because that is where all her family is. I, however, love it here. My sister decided she hated it too, along with me and my dad. Do you know what it is like to know that your only lifeline hates you?
Years later, my mom was still stuck and so she retaliated. She met some guy over the internet and I caught her. I was the last one to know. My sister blamed me and my dad, but I knew better.
It was only me.
And that year, she went to Washington, missing my tenth birthday. That year is also the year I go really sick. I ended up with a heart condition. Rheumatic heart disease. I has never affected anything I do. But back then, I needed my mom. And she wasn't there.
59 times I had gotten in trouble with the police. Some good old fashioned scarring kids and getting arrested. It was the life. They said one more offense and I wasn't going to be given a choice. It would be three years in juvie. It would be worth it. My parents wouldn't have to deal with me anymore and I would still have a slight chance in life later. Maybe.
At age 11, we got new neighbors. My sister was ecstatic because there was a boy her age there, but I only sat in my room, watching out the window as the movers brought the furniture and stuff in. I remember hearing the front door slam and hearing my sister scream at me.
"Ally, get your lazy ass down here!" I sighed and walked to the door. I took a deep breath, put my middle finger back down, and walked out the door. I ran down the steps only to collide with a really tall boy that was probably Jollie's, my sister's, age. James. That is how I met James. He took me in right away as a little sister. He was the neighbors oldest and at fourteen, he was the perfect age for Jollie.
"What do you want?" I asked her. James snickered at Jollie, when she glared at me, and put his hand on my shoulder supportingly.
I felt James kneel down so that he was at my level. "I have a brother and Jollie and I thought you two would make good friends."
I could feel my dead expression settle on my face. "Not interested." I turned on my heel and walked back up the stairs to my room. About halfway up the stairs, I heard the door close again. I didn't recognized James, but of course, I did have the memory of a peanut.
I opened my door and screamed. Really loud.
"Who are you and what the hell are you doing in my room?" I screeched at him.
I grabbed my baseball bat of the wall and held it to his chin. He looked about my age. He looked a lot like James. I peeked out my window and saw the rope Jollie and the past neighbors had made so they could get from house to house without having to walk. Their lazy, I know.
"I was just checking out the rope! That's really cool by the way!" He said while bounding back to the window. Yes, bounding. "I have always wanted to have a really good friend as a neighbor so that I could do something like this!" He then turned to look at me. "This is going to be so much fun!"
I face palmed. This was the new neighbor? Kill me now.
"You can't just swing into someone's room! I don't even know you!" He looked up at me surprised.
"I'm Austin!" He said with a 'duh' tone of voice.
"I don't care." I mimicked his tone perfectly. He was about to open his mouth to speak when we heard a loud clutter coming from the room next to mine and then suspicious giggling.
"What was tha-," I put my hand on Austin's mouth and put a finger to my lips. He nodded.
"If you ever want to look at your brother the same way, I suggest you leave. Now." Austin looked confused but then I dawned on him and he blushed.
"Should I go and get him?"
I looked at him and smiled sympathetically. "No, I will."
Austin nodded and I walked out of the room. I heard a shuffle and looked back to see Austin gone. But, so was my favorite locket that I had left on my dresser. It was one that you put a picture in. I never put anything in it because nobody cared enough about me to deserve a place in it. I rolled my eyes, knowing that I would go and get it back later. I walked the ten steps to Jollie's room and shielded my eyes. I threw open the door and walked in backwards. I had done this so many times and she was only fourteen.
Without even waiting for them to realize they weren't alone, I spoke. "Guys, I don't know how you got in here so quickly, but me and Austin heard you guys. James, I think you scared him." I then walked out of the room and closed the door. That felt good. I waited outside my door and thought about Jollie's room. It used to be mine but not only last year, Jollie had decided she wanted mine so we switched. The door opened and James walked out blushing madly. He looked up at saw me and turned even redder. I raised an eyebrow at him, to which he responded with an embarrassed head duck. I walked back over to Jollie's room and opened the door. "When you get pregnant, I expect my room back."
I walked out and back to my room only to see Austin I his own window, laughing his head off. I walked ever to mine and when he saw me, he pointed down to the side walk. I looked down and saw James walking back home. I opened my window and shouted, "Welcome to the neighborhood," really loud at James in a very sarcastic tine of voice.
As James walked through his door, I grabbed one of the makeshift zip-line holders and set it onto the rope. I grabbed an extra and swung out of my window. Austin was right. This is so much fun. I pulled my feet up and immediately sailed the thirty feel between windows, laughing the whole time. Austin had seen me and opened his window. What he didn't know was that I was a pro at this. I stopped right before his window and looked down at him. I put one leg in and then the other. I was sitting on the ledge when he finally asked, "What are you doing here?"
I looked up at him and saw he was smirking, obviously thinking he had me in a hard place, but I smirked right back. "I want my locket back."
His eyes widened and he looked around for an excuse. "Ummmmm, I, ah, I can't give it to you."
"Why?"
His eyes widened even more. I could tell he wasn't expecting this. "Because, I, ah," he stumbled over his own words and I was having a hard time keeping a straight face. "I don't know." I scoffed and handed him the zip-line slider.
"It's safer. Use it next time you want to invade my privacy."
That night, there was a thunderstorm. I hate thunder. Don't ask why because I don't know why, I just do. I was curled up on my bed, crying softly. My window was shut tight and my curtains were drawn. Jollie knew I was terrified and when she used to like me, she would sneak past my parents and comfort me through the night, but now, after our relationship fell apart, she doesn't give a damn. I had my head buried in my pillow when I heard a bang on my window. I was already scared but now this? I shivered as I walked over to my window and drew the curtains. There he was. Austin Moon. Shivering his ass off and tapping my window. I pulled the latch down and unlocked it. The window swung open, allowing Austin to hop in. I decided to ignore the pools of water on my floor, compliments to Austin, and shut the window in time to slightly dampen the noise of a new wave of thunder. I crouched on the ground with my hands over my ears. When it was over, I pulled shut the curtains and looked at Austin.
"What are you doing here? You could be hypothermic!" He was soaking wet. What was he thinking!? It was storming outside. It wasn't exactly warm, and here he was, in my room, in a white T-shirt and shorts.
He looked up and met my eyes. He shrugged his shoulders and looked back at the floor. "I don't know. I just, got a feeling."
He met my eyes again, this time because I had been pulled to the floor by my fear. The rolling thunder was now accompanied my lightning that was closer than it had been before. I tore my eyes away from him and closed them. I sat on the floor, rocking back and forth to calm myself. I felt to arms wrap around me, and that was it. I was sold.
I woke up the next morning to Austin's back. I propped myself up on my arm and looked at my alarm clock. Thank god it wasn't school yet. Spring break was the bomb. Only one quarter left until I realize I don't want to be at home and start a whole new countdown. One until the day school starts again. Yay me.
9:00. I was always up by then, but it was the first Monday of spring break, so I figured my parents would leave me be for a little before they started bugging me to do the dishes and was Jollie's clothes. Helpless bitch. I laid back down and, for some reason unbeknownst to me at the time, I sniggled into Austin's back. At 11, he was still quite a bit bigger than I was. I closed my eyes until I realized what I had just done. So, instead of retreating to the other side of the bed or freaking out that there was a boy in my bed, I froze. Remembering last night, I remember telling him to stay. Not asking. Telling. I blushed in memory. I rested my head on the pillow with my stomach soaking up the warmth from his back. Until he woke up, I could pretend that it was a good morning. A happy morning. I opened my eyes.
"Who am I kidding?" I said quietly. I reached out and shook Austin. He opened his eyes and looked directly at me.
"Hey." He said while blushing. "I didn't realize I fell asleep. I meant to leave, but, I must have been really comfortable."
"It's fine. And thanks." I didn't have to say for what. He knew. "I really appreciate it. Really."
He nodded shyly and climbed off of my bed. He was just in his shorts because I had refused to let my bed get anymore wet than it already was going to get. I had made him take off his shirt, but after much thought, decided the shorts should probably stay on. He reached for my window curtains and pulled them apart. I was blinded by the sun. It was amazing how quickly weather can change. He pulled the latch to unlock the window. He then looked at me smiling.
"See you later Ally!"
I laughed awkwardly. "Bye." He pulled himself out of my window and expertly swing across the rope. I couldn't help but wonder how many time's he had done that in the past day. Had he done it while I was done at dinner yesterday? I watched as he opened his window and hopped in. Definitely.
Austin pov
I closed my window behind me. I looked out as she closed her curtains. What was this feeling? I felt like I should be at a sleep over, gossiping. Not in my room, staring.
I changed shorts in time for James to walk in uninvited and sit on my bed. "So." It wasn't a friendly 'so.' He knew something. Most likely something that either I didn't know about, didn't care about, or he wasn't going to tell me about. Cool. "Where were you last night?" He raised his eyebrow at me.
My voice got really high, a tell-tail sign that I was lying, "What? I wasn't gone. You… you need glasses!" I mentally put my head in one hand while shaking it at myself. Oh, Austin, you are so ignorant in the ways of James.
No, I'm not, I have lived with him my whole life.
And yet, he gets you every time.
Shut it.
"Oh, don't lie to me. Mom and Dad were out and you are so lucky that I needed to finish un-packing." It is true. I un-pack at the speed of light. Fort Lauderdale was just another stop, and my dad was finally considerate enough to let us live off-fort. Thank all things holy.
Like Ally?
Huh?
Never mind. Just know, I ALWAYS say I told you so.
False confusion passed over my face. "I was here the whole time. Are you feeling alright James?"
He scoffed at me. "Look, you're only eleven. Therefore, I get dibs on the Dawson gene pool."
"Excuse me?" I feel violated. Did my BROTHER really just say that to me? Wow.
"You heard me. I like Jollie and plus, we are much older than you. Ally is a sweet little girl and I don't need you and her ruining my chances with Jollie." This is ridiculous. Is he really saying this? I can't believe him!
"You may be older, but newsflash! You're still only fourteen. I don't even know who Ally is." I raised my eyebrows at him is mock confusion. He knew it to. He raised his hand to punch me. I so saw this coming. "I. Dare. You." I said very simply. I knew he would do it too. But, I would have proof of my side. He wouldn't. It worked.
"James Marian Moon, put your hand down!" I heard my mom's voice and couldn't help but snicker at his middle name. Man, Mom was so cruel when she had us.
He turned and glared at me. "Monica."
My mom grabbed him and pulled him out of the room. She peeked her head back in to look at me. She squinted in every way possible before smiling. "The little neighbor girl is here to see you. She asked me to give you money so she could show you the nearby ice cream shop. Do you want to go?" I was out the door in a few seconds, snatching up the money she handed me and yelling out a quick "Thank you," to my laughing mother. I opened the door and saw Ally.
"Hey. I thought I should show you something more besides a deathly rope connecting out bedrooms." I laughed.
"Yeah."
"Come on! Jerry always gives free ice cream to me if I get there before nine thirty!" I looked down to the money in my hand in confusion as I ran next to her.
"Then why did I need this?" She turned and smiled at me.
"Haven't you ever rebelled before? I have the title among the parents of this neighborhood as the soon to be stripper. I am very good at getting degrading titles. My job, one I have given myself, is to give every kid a taste of rebellion and also show them the bad stuff. Believe it or not, I will probably make you terrified of the idea of rebellion by the end of the day. Good luck!" Huh? What's a… stripper? I feel like it is bad, but I don't really know what it is….
We passed a couple of kids, all of them turning away from us as if we were scary. I was slightly offended, but as I looked at Ally, it didn't even faze her. I knew then, that my mom wouldn't approve of her for very long. Great. My first friend here and I already knew she wouldn't last long. Darn.
Ally just kept running. It was like she never ran out of steam. Like she was used to the exercise. Like she was used to…. Running. I looked up and saw a store with a big ice cream cone on the roof. Ally stopped sprinting and turned to me, laughing when she saw I was drenched in sweat. What can I say, I have a thing for avoiding gym class. I have perfected the art of making weird noises until my throat is red or going to the nurse with a really hot piece of food in my mouth and swallowing it right before she took my temperature. I thought I knew what rebellion was. I was only 11 after all.
I saw Ally look down at her army green wrist watch and curse under her breathe. Now, don't get me wrong, I had heard James curse all the time, but I was raised as a good Christian boy, so hearing someone my age say it was kind of surprising. I felt my mouth drop open.
Ally looked up at me, "Look kid, nobody's running around butt naked so you can shut it." She snickered when I blushed. "Anyway, 9:28. Jerry's clocks are two minutes behind, so, we're good." She turned from me and I followed her, still beat red.
She slammed the door open, earning us a few looks from the other customers. I saw parents usher their kids away and look at me with sympathy. I glanced at Ally to see her ignoring them. Like she was used to it. Why?
I saw the man at the counter smile at Ally and me. "Who's he?" He said with a slight nod in my direction. Ally smiled at me and looked at the guy.
"Someone else who is going to free-load?" She said in a questioning voice. I watched as the guy's face split into a large smile. A large friendly smile.
"Okay." Jerry went to work without even taking Ally's order. When he finished over stuffing a waffle cone with every chocolaty substance that could pass for ice cream, he turned to me. "What do you want kiddo?"
I merely pointed at the vanilla. I was already feeling really bad about it. I never took free stuff. I glanced subtly at the tip jar and when Ally closed her eyes to taste the ice cream fully, and when Jerry was bent over getting ready to ever stuff my cone to, I slipped a five dollar bill in. I immediately felt better. I took my ice cream with a smile and a polite, "Thank you," and followed Ally out of the store.
"So, what did I need this money for again?" I said while holding the five dollars I still had, silently thanking my mom for being so generous with the cash.
She looked at me. "Well, given your mother's overprotective status, I say we have about a thirty minutes before she comes looking for us. How about we hit the arcade."
I could tell that it wasn't a question at all. She was telling me that we were going to the arcade. I nodded and followed her as she walked down the road. I looked around at the tall city buildings that were around us. Only a few under two stories. Even Jerry's ice cream shop had a second story. We reached a building that looked a lot less formal than the rest. Ally strolled right into it with no hesitation. I followed her, not wanting to be left behind. I looked around and saw a lot of teenagers. There were no parents that I could see. This was a major first. Ally went around winning every game she looked at while I failed miserably seeing as this was my first time ever being here.
After a bit, Ally looked at me, very obviously bored. "I am going to make good on my promise." Shoot. What is she going to do? She pulled me out of the arcade and placed me outside a shop door. She looked at me. "When you hear the sirens, run." She was smiling like a maniac. She walked into the store and walked around a bit. She grabbed a hat from the rack and made her way to the door. The shop owner saw her, but I saw the smirk she had on her face. I watched as it changed into a shy sorry face as she turned around to the shop owner. My eyes widened in surprise when the shop owner picked up the phone. A few minutes of gapping at Ally later, I heard the cue to run. So I did. All the way to the Dawson's front door.
I knocked and I was almost immediately met with previously said gene pool. She looked down at me with a look of disgust. She scoffed and started to close the door. I desperately tried to get her attention. "They've got Ally."
This stopped her. She opened the door with a mean smirk on her face. "What else is new? Don't get involved with her kid. She may be eleven, but she has been… arrested more times than you will probably ever be able to count. We quit counting at 47. The police don't know what to do with her. They are thinking about juvenile detention. I agree with them. So, thanks, but go away now." She slammed the door on my face.
I ran home and went to my room. I picked up the locket that I had stolen. I popped it open and got to work. I didn't know what was wrong with Ally, but I knew one thing.
I really liked her. That was a definite first. I just hope we can be friends until I am shipped off to some other Fort. I have four years here. Four years and chances to make memories. Four years.
That night, I heard screaming. I opened my window and saw Ally through the crack in her curtain. She saw me too and opened her window. Opening her mouth wide to yell she said, "Sorry Austin. Looks like you won't be using that rope anytime soon."
I didn't understand for a few weeks. I only knew her for a few hours and yet, I knew something. I knew she needed me. I didn't know why though. I just knew I wanted to help. But the next day, the day after I watched the van pull out of the drive way with Ally inside, Jollie told me something. A horrible something.
"She's going to be gone for three years. Thank god. I thought she'd never leave." In the weeks later, I figures it out. It was her family. Jollie didn't even seem upset about it. She went on with life. She started dating James. Life went on. I, however, didn't understand why.
Anyway, review if you liked it!
This is all the back story I am going to do for now.
Also, I don't know how the Army works, but I know that the Airforce is constantly moving people. I have friends in Belgium because I am a normal average kid that live in a normal average place that goes on base to school. Also, I don't know how long they can be in Juvie, but for my purposes, it is a long time.
Thank you!
Tell me what you hated or what you liked!
Hate is always welcome! (Somewhere else!)
Anyways, hope you enjoyed!
