Rumba & Reverie

This one's for my daughter, who loves Austin & Ally. (I think it's pretty darling too.) And with fond memories for my best bud, way back in high school.

A little bit more serious than the show, and takes some creative liberties with what these kids' home lives are like for the purpose of some character development. Enjoy.

Chapter 1:

"Guess who got a job at Torpedo Tuxedo!" Trish announces in her sing-song voice, bouncing into the Sonic Boom. She was clad in a shiny black tux, her dark hair swept up off her neck and pulled into a tight bun.

"Oh, let me guess!" Dez leaps down from sitting on the counter, in his bright orange pants and contrasting shirt. "You?"

Ally crinkled up her nose and wiped down the glass counter with Windex and a rag, where Dez's pants had smudged it.

"That's right! Now, if I can just manage to keep this job for the next few days, I can get everyone discounts on formalwear," she said, handing Dez and Ally each a business card.

"Why would we need formalwear?" Ally shrugged, setting the card down beside the register.

"Because… next week is the Prom?" Austin offered intimately, coming up just behind Ally, making her jump from the sudden breath on the back of her head.

"Oh, my gosh, would you stop doing that? I'm going to make you wear this around your neck," she said, picking up a cow bell and ringing it at him. The blond boy just grinned back at her.

"Ally, hasn't Dallas asked you to the Prom yet?" Dez asked.

Ally began stuttering, "N-no. Wh-why would he? Like I'd say yes, anyway. I mean, the Prom! How lame is that? I could be sitting at home, in my pajamas, eating pickles, by myself, in the dark, all alone, watching sad movies, by myself…"

"Why don't you just ask him?" Trish rolled her eyes.

"Oh, I don't think I could do that…" Ally laughed nervously, chewing on her hair.

"Why not? It's easy," Austin said, leaning on her newly cleaned counter with his elbows, fluttering his eyelashes at her then raising his voice up an octave. "'Oh, Dallas. You're sooo dreamy. Would you be my date for the Prom?'"

"What? No! No, I can't. I can't ask him, I can't," Ally moaned.

"Oh! I have an idea!" Trish interjected. "We could hire a marching band, and a choir, and…"

"No! Oh, please please please, not again, Trish! Not ever again!" Ally exclaimed, putting her hands over her face.

"I have an even better idea. Oh, but first, Ally, can I borrow your phone?" Dez asked, holding out his hand.

"Sure, I guess so. But why…" She started, handing him her phone.

Dez pushed a few buttons and then waited until it picked up. In an eerily perfect impression of Ally, Dez says, "Dallas! It's Ally. I was wondering… would you be my date for the Prom? Uh huh… Perfect! I can't wait!"

"Dez! Oh my gosh! What are you doing? Did you really just do that?" Ally exclaimed, in despair.

"Chill out, Ally. He said 'yes,'" Dez shrugged, tossing the phone back to her.

"But that's not the point… wait… he said 'yes'?" Ally said, eyes wide.

"Yeah, he said his uncle does work for a limo company, so he'll get us a limo for free. Cool, huh?" he grinned.

"Oh my gosh!" Ally exclaimed, chewing on her hair and sinking down behind the counter.

"Wait… Us?" Trish chimed in.

"Yeah, it seats up to eight. We're invited too," Dez replied, obviously pleased with himself."Dude, that's awesome!" Austin said. "It'll be perfect, considering I'm playing a set at the Prom. I can arrive in style with my entourage!"

"Now I need a date," Trish frowned. "I'm only a sophomore. I can't go without an invitation."

"That is a problem," Dez said, scratching his head. "I can't think of anyone on the planet who'd be willing to go with you though."

Trish kicked him in the shin, and he howled.

Austin chuckled. "Don't listen to him. Trish, would you like to be my date?"

"Aw, sure! Thanks, Austin!" she smiled, then kicked Dez again for good measure.

As he rubbed his shin, he lamented, "Well, now I need a date. What do you think, Bro? Any of your fan girls willing to be my date just to get to hang out with Austin Moon, internet sensation?"

Austin shrugged. "Maybe."

"Say, why don't we do a fan contest for publicity? The loser of the contest has to go to prom with Dez," Trish grinned, pleased with her jab.

"I dunno, Trish. What if I have to spend the evening with some freaky stalker chick? Wait, that sounds awesome," Dez said, his face glowing.

Behind the counter, the trio heard Ally whimpering.

"Als? You okay back there?" Austin asked, peering cautiously over the counter.

"Uh huh. Sure. Just fine. Perfect. Terrific. Oh my gosh, who am I kidding? I'm going to the Prom with Dallas!" she squeaked, covering her face with her hands.

"I thought you liked Dallas? That's why you act so unbelievably weird around him? I thought you'd be happy going to Prom with him?" Austin asked.

"I do like Dallas. That's the problem. I can't dance, I don't have a dress, I take really awkward photos, and every time I talk to Dallas, I completely humiliate myself," she moaned.

"Ally, if you want to go out with Dallas, you've got to get over this hurdle. You need to get comfortable around him so you can be yourself, just like you are with us," Austin pointed out.

"Okay, but how am I supposed to do that?" Ally sighed.

"Leave it to me, I've got a great idea," Austin grinned.

"Oh no," she looked up, alarmed. "I hope this works out better than the idea you had to get me past my stage fright. You know? That publicly humiliated me on national television?"

"Don't forget the entire world, watching it on Mytewb," Dez chuckled.

"Thanks, Dez, that's actually helpful, in an awful sort of way. See? The entire world, Austin," Ally emphasized.

"But this will be completely private, I promise. In fact, it will be just you and me," Austin replied.

"Okay, but how is that going to help me? I'm not nervous around you," she shrugged.

"Exactly. So, we're going to go out on a few dates, and you're going to pretend I'm Dallas. That way, when you actually go out with Dallas, you won't be nervous, and you'll know exactly what to do and say," Austin explained, obviously pleased with himself.

"Austin, that's kind of brilliant. We could even do a trial run for the Prom," Trish said.

"I don't know. I mean, I'll still know it's you," Ally hesitated.

"You won't, I promise. I'll do a great Dallas impression! We'll consider it practice for the acting career I'll have after my music career takes off," Austin winked. "So, I've got some preparations to do, which I'll need Trish's and Dez's help for, then I'll pick you up here for dinner and a movie at 6?"

Ally just nodded, left with no other choice.