(I feel like crying right now, but I can't. It's like The Fosters "I Do" all over again. And yes, I feel ashamed, because I watched it early on YouTube, but to redeem myself, I will watch and record it. So anyway, this is a two-shot from Austin and Ally's POV, during the end of Fresh Starts & Farewells.)
Ally:
I turn around, fully ready to leave. I have to get up early tomorrow, if I want to have my best singing voice. But all I really want to do is just stand there and cry. My friends are leaving me behind. But this is the right decision, an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I mean, RONNIE RAMONE, for crying out loud.
But what about Austin? I still like him. What would have happened if I had gotten on the bus—would I have told him? How I still feel, I mean. It's going to be a long three months—94 days: how did Dez get a better test score than me?—and who knows what will happen? Will he see Cassidy on the road, singing her own heart out, or Kira? She might visit her dad on the bus. And don't tell me that Brooke is hiding in the back with the luggage!
Feelings can change in three months—more like everything can. Austin could get a girlfriend, Dez could get smarter, Trish could get less lazy. And I, I too, can change. Maybe even more than I realize.
I take a step in the other direction, feeling empty. But then I hear the RV door squeak open. "Ally, wait!" Austin cries, as he rushes toward me.
"Austin—what's going…"
"Ally, I just wanted to say... Ally, I, well… Here. I was going to send you this if you didn't come." He holds out a envelope towards me. Curiously, I take it, and he walks toward the bus. The door closes, and as it does, it slams. I look toward the RV windows, just as Austin sits down. I look at him, and he looks back. I have a feeling nothing is going to change in 94 days. As the bus pulls away, I rip open the top of the envelope, and look at the card inside.
. . .
Austin:
Am I really going to do this? The door slams shut, and I stand there for a moment. No. I can't do this to her. It's a long 94 days ahead…and that was a lame goodbye, and she's my best friend, who deserves something more!
I look out the window quickly. She's already started walking away! "Ally, wait!" I push open the door to the RV. She turns fast, toward me.
"Austin—what's going…"
I cut her off. "Ally, I just wanted to say…" W-Wait, what? Am I really going to say 'I love you?' I love you. That's right on the tip of my tongue. "Ally, I well…" I'm not, am I? "Here." I pull the card from my back pocket, the one I wasn't going to have to send after all. "I was going to send you this if you didn't come." I hand it to her. I know she's wondering why, but I just walk back to the bus. I go to my seat. And I look out the window, at Ally Dawson. And as the bus pulls away, I keep looking, until I can't see her any longer.
