"Damn it Dez," Austin slammed his pencil down on the table. "I can't do this anymore!"
"Oh come on Austin, we only have like five problems left." Dez replied.
"I'm not talking about your math homework Dez."
"Oh."
"I cant keep being just friends with Ally."
"Okay, but she writes your songs and we always see her at school and in the mall and at the beach. It will be weird when you guys see each other if you tell her you don't want to be her friend anymore."
"That's not what I'm talking about Dez. I still want to be her friend but I just…"
"Hi Austin! Hi Dez." Ally walked into the practice room, "How's the homework?"
"Its great!" Austin said, a little too excitedly, "We're almost done."
Ally looked at Austin, curious about his faux excitement. "well that's great Austin, when youre don't why don't you meet me at the theater? Trish got a job there and can us in for a free movie."
"Sounds awesome!" Austin and Dez said.
"Okay I'll see you guys later." Ally smiled and waved as she walked out of the practice room.
"Just tell her you love her." Dez said after Ally had left.
"What?!" Austin gasped, Dez's bluntness always surprised him.
"Seriously Austin, Ally likes you too. Just tell her that you love her and everything with be fine."
"Do you really think so?" Austin asked.
"Yes, now lets finsish this homework so I can pick up some peanut butter before going to the movies."
"Why do you need peanut butter?" Austin asked causoiusly.
"Who watches a movie without peanut butter?" Dez replied simply.
Austin shook his head at his best friend's simplicity but thought about what he had said about Ally. He was certain that Ally liked him too but never knew for sure. Hearing Dez say that Ally really did have feeling for him made Austin want to tell her how he felt. He knew once he made the first move Ally would respond right away.
"Dez, since we are stopping to get you peanut butter can we stop at my house too?"
"Sure Austin, what for?" Dez replied while looking over the last question of their math homework.
Austin tapped his pencil, thinking about the same question and answered. "I think I want to change before we meet Ally and Trish for the movie."
"Oh, okay." Dez smiled, knowing that his friend wanted to look his best for Ally, "Sure thing Austin."
The two friends finshed their homework and left the practice room on their way to the store, Austin's house and finally the theater.
God he looked awesome today. Ally wrote in her journal. He always does. I can't help but smile like an idiot around him. He's just always so much fun and so happy. I want so bad just to run my fingers through his hair. It always looks perfectly messy. Which is exactly how I'd describe him, perfectly messy.
"Whatcha writing about?" Trish asked from behind the counter at the movie theater.
"Nothing!" Ally exclaimed slamming her journal closed.
"Oh relax Ally, I already know you're writing about Austin."
"What?" Ally said in that high pithed voice she uses when she tries to deny something.
"Ally, come on, I see how you two look at each other. I don't see why you don't just date already."
"Austin and I are just friends. I don't know what you're talking about." Ally brushed off Trish's statement.
"If I were you I'd make a move." Trish said. "He likes you back you've gotta be blind not to see it."
Ally sighed. Her best friend was always so forthcoming with what she was thinking but she was right. Ally could tell that Austin liked her too she was just too shy to do anything about it. She may have overcome her stage fright with Austin's help but she was on her own this time.
"Here he comes." Trish said quietly. "And it looks like he dressed up for you."
That he had. Austin had changed into a dark pair of jeans with a black muscle shirt under a red dress shirt that he had left the top two buttons undone and his favorite red high tops. Ally tried not to stare but she couldn't help but keep looking in Austin's direction. It did seem like he'd dressed up for the movies tonight. She glanced at Dez, he hasn't changed. Maybe Austin had dressed up for her. That wouldn't be so crazy shed changed out of her blue jeans and yellow T-shirt into a pair of white skinny jeans and a flirty red tank top with matching wedge heels for the night.
"Hi Ally!" Austin almost sang when he was close enough to not have to shout for her to hear.
"Hi Austin, hi Dez. Ready for the movie?"
"Yupp got my peanut butter." Dez smiled proudly as he held up a jar of extra crunchy peanut butter and a spoon.
"Um ok." Ally said then turned to Trish. "Trish can we get some popcorn?"
"Of course. And drinks and some gummy bears."
"Sweet! I love gummy bears!" Austin said happily jumping closer to the counter to claim his share of the colorful treats. Ally smiled to herself at his child like excitement.
"Theater 7," Trish said. "It's some zombie movie that's like 3 hours long. But no one will look for me in there and I'm sick of stand here selling popcorn and candy instead of eating it. Lets go."
"A zombie movie?" Ally asked nervously. "Is it suppose to be scary?"
"I hope so." Dez said.
"Yeah is suppose to be really scary. Like nightmares for years scary." Trish confirmed.
"Oh great." Ally groaned.
"It's ok Ally." Austin tossed his arm around her shoulders without thinking. "It won't be that bad. And if it is I'll be right next to you."
"Really?" Ally asked looking up at him. Omg he's got his arm around me!
"Of course." He replied. Holy hell! I'm damn near holding her!
"Thanks Austin." Ally placed her hand on his that was resting on her shoulder. "That's sweet of you."
"It's no big deal." Austin said.
"Come on guys movie starts in 5 minutes." Trish urged and she ushered them to theater 7.
"Aisle seat!" Dez called
"Fine." Trish replied and scooted down a row followed by ally then Austin then Dez. They all sat down and got comfortable before the movie started.
"Wow, Trish these seats are awesome." Austin commented
"I know right. I sneak in here all the time just to take a nap."
"It's amazing that you haven't been fired yet." Ally giggled
"I know, it's been like 2 days already." Trish answered.
"Shhhhh," Dez hushed them pointing to the screen. "The zombies will hear you." The girls rolled their eyes but turned their attention to the projection screen. Well Trish did, Ally was mostly focused on how close Austin was and the fact that he smelled like a summer day in July. She looked at him sitting there watching the movie and imagined what it would he like if he had his arm around her again holding her close. She would snuggle into him and breathe in his scent just so she could hold the memory forever. She would hold his hand in her and lay her head on his shoulder and they would just watch the movie together and he would keep her safe from the zombies. Even though they were not real.
Austin was trying to focus on the movie but Ally was so close he could smell her. She smelled like cotton candy and summer time. He wanted to lean into her and feel her lean into him. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and hold her close and keep her safe the zombie in the movie. He involuntarily shifted toward her slightly moving his arm closer to her leg. If only he could just put his hand on her knee.
About an hour later, Ally felt like she was going to explode. All she wanted to do was reach out and lace her fingers in his. She had tried to watch the movie but it could not hold her attention with Austin sitting this close.
All of a sudden Trish whispered, "I'm going for more popcorn."
"Yeah I need to pee." Dez added.
"Someone bring back more gummy bears." Austin whined.
God he is cute, Ally thought.
And within seconds Dez and Trish had left leaving Austin and Ally alone in the row of seats.
Ally tried really hard to watch the movie instead of Austin now that they were alone but out of the corner of her eye she saw him shift positions again and she turned to look at him only to find he was already watching her. She blushed quietly thanking the darkness for hiding it.
"Why did you blush?" Austin whispered
"What? I didn't blush." She whispered back.
"Yes you did you look down when you blush. You looked down a second ago." Austin grinned.
"You're crazy." Ally said blushing harder. Fuck he noticed.
"You're doing it again." This time Austin moved so he could look at her eyes and Ally could not help but smile widely. He always made her smile.
"How you doing? Scared yet?" He asked
Ally almost told him no but then she decided to say, "A little bit, zombies always creep me out." She faked a shiver of fear.
"Hey it's ok." Austin said and leaned toward her. He started to lift his arm and then stopped looking at her he saw excitement and hope in Ally's eyes. He was not sure how it would turn out but, You'll never know if you don't try, he told himself. So he again began to lift his arm. He placed it behind her and rested his hand on her shoulder. She shifted her position slightly so that he would be more comfortable with his arm around her and his arm moved to rest completely on her shoulders.
Neither of them had noticed Trish and Dez silently taking a seat near the exit.
"Finally," Trish said looking at her friends.
"I know. Took them long enough." Dez replied settling farther into his seat. He had no intention of rejoining Austin and Ally until after the movie.