Unbroken

Story by Scopsowl

Harmonicas & Cashiers

Summary: Stress is getting the best of Ally so her father hires a young man to help out at Sonic Boom with her. Ally is infuriated that she now has to spend more time with the boy who she had grown to loathe so quickly despite barely knowing him. When that boy climbs the walls she had around her heart, will she see that he isn't such a bad guy after all? Can Ally love like's she's never been broken?

The red miami sun was lifted into the sky as night transitioned to another hot summer's day. I hardly had gotten any sleep last night. The tossing and turning underneath the covers lasted for hours, and when my endless thoughts sifted into level one sleep the nightmares woke me up in a sweat. I would stay in bed just a few more minutes...

My whole body snapped up into a sitting position when I heard a man's voice calling my name. My heart was beating me senselessly again. It wasn't until I realized it was my dad that I calmed myself down with a few deep breathes. As quickly as I could I grabbed an outfit from my closet to begin my morning regimen, which has only gotten shorter recently.

"I'm up, dad!" I called out while glowering at my reflection in the mirror. I ran a wide toothed comb through my loose curls before I put the anti-frizz serum into it, adding some shine. Ignoring the fact my hair still had some frizzies I get dressed for the day. I hurry to my room to get my songbook and feed my pet cockatiel, Owen, who turns to look at me with one loving eyeball.

"Good Morning, Ally. You'd better hurry up and eat something. Today's Saturday so you'll be busy."

'You mean we will be busy,' I corrected my balding father in my head, as I enter the kitchen. I wish I was right, because work has been getting to my last nerve lately. If it wasn't work, it was school, and if it wasn't school it was work again because my father had left for another music convention leaving me with more responsibility than I initially had. I sidled around the table, stopping in front of the kitcen window, peering outside. I turned around when I heard my father clear his throat dramatically.

"Ally, you're eating today... No more skipping breakfast. Just look at your grades! Speaking of which, I have to talk to you about that..."

I didn't miss that my father hardly glanced at me as he lectured me. People were supposed to make eye contact with the one they were conversing with, and why my father didn't was beyond me. It was something I didn't like thinking too much about.

"I'm really trying dad... It's just I have been having such a hard time focusing lately. And it isn't as though I have the time for getting extra help. Me, needing extra help? I don't think I need extra help, do you? It is just..." I trail off as I realize I was having a nervous outburst, one of which recieved my dad's full attention for a brief moment. I watched my dad's contenance become a thoughtful one as he reached for a gala apple and handed it to me.

"Here..." He said, as I take the apple into my own hands, swearing I heard him mumble something about if I could eat as fast as I could talk. I took a bite of the succulently sweet apple, watching as my dad retrieved the car keys. I follow him to the car, opening the door to the passenger's side sliding into the vehicle, buckling up without any trouble today. By the time we reached Sonic Boom I had nibbled my apple to the core.

When my dad worked with me in the mornings, I always let him make up the morning drawer for the register. While I awaited for opening time I absentmindedly leafed through the pages of my songbook. When the lights turned on I put my songbook behind the counter where it was out of view.

"Ally, I am heading to the food court. They are having an all day build a sandwhich bar!"

"Wait, dad!"

I gravely watch as he disappears out the door. This was just fantastic...

That first week of September always brought in more customers who were buying instruments for their children who took up a band class. I felt like I could be pulled a part into pieces by the questions coming at me in all directions. I answered their questions as best as I could as they were asked, all while keeping my hawk eye on anyone who looked supsicious or left without buying anything.

"Ma'am, that keyboard is not going to work for your computer! This is a musical instrument store, not a electronics store. I thought that would be, well, obvious." I whirled my hands together as if my hands were the magic to getting people to understand what I was trying to say. The elderly lady under the big blonde floppy wig she wore looked as though she had a sour taste in her mouth.

"Obvious that a women like you would want the best keyboard for your computer! Go try Best Mouse, just past Den's Tours." I persisted, wishing I could have my break already.

"I have them in already." The lady's voice cracked, which racked up a clueless expression from me. The lady's shaking fingers grasped something from the inside of her mouth, pulling out her... detures. I watched is disgust as a huge rope of thick old lady spit hung off from her teeth.

"Well, now they're not. Ma'am... I'm going to have to ask you to leave." I pleaded her, hoping she would leave already. From the other side of the store I heard a cacophony of drum sticks against guitar chords, sending me marching in that direction, as the old lady put a harmonica in her mouth mistaking them as her dentures.

"We have a strict store policy that only employees handle the displays." I exasperatedly explained to the kids who caused all the ruckus. Thankfully they left the store without another word, and the store was finally clearing up as people left to go to the food court.

"Miss, that lady just walked out with this. I got it back for you though." I turned around to see a boy with tousled blonde hair, holding a harmonica inbetween his fingers.

"Give me that." I snapped, grabbing the harmonica from him. I gasped in disgust at the slimy clear fluid that covered it that now clung to my fingertips. Quickly I flung the harmonica onto the counter and glared at the boy.

"What was all over that?" I hissed as he inched away from me, though I didnt' move. Suddenly he threw his hands out infront of himself in mock surrender. My entire body flinched at his simple action, and when nothing happened, I looked down walking inside of the cubical counter.

"It was old lady spit. I gave her teeth back to her and got the harmonica back." The boy takes the harmonica and plays a classic blues tune you saw prisoners play in jail movies. In disgust, I watch his face light up, as he quickly held the harmonica up to my face, and some old lady spit splattered onto my face.

"EWW!" I exclaimed, putting heavy consideration going home and taking a shower during my lunch break.

"Since there is still old lady spit in this, I can get a discount, right?" He asked with a boyish grin plastered on his goofy face.

"NO! Get out of my store!" My voice booms, pointing a finger to the door. The boy nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, put the harmonica back on the counter, then left the store. When I am sure he is gone, I grab my song book, then literally I run to the door before anyone else can enter the store. I lock the doors relieved to have my thirty minute break that I would apparantly be spending taking a shower.

Please give me feedback on what you think. :) And yes, this story's title is based off of Demi Lovato's song, Unbroken. However I had this story brewing in my mind for quite a while. What do you think about seeing a chapter in Austin's POV?