A/N: What up! This is my second Austin & Ally fic. The other one is complete so check that one out. This one is basically what I think could be going on in the future episode called "Successes and Setbacks". There were rumors of an Auslly cheek kiss and I couldn't resist. ;) So first chapter is the setback. Next chapter is the success! Read & review! And I do not own Austin & Ally.
The Setback
Sonic Boom was empty. Ally stared hopelessly around the store. She looked at the clock and saw that she still had 30 minutes before closing. She was contemplating closing early when her best freckled friend walked in.
"Ally!" Dez said, a sense of urgency is his voice. "Something's wrong with Austin!"
He pointed to the entrance of the music store and she watched as a familiar head of blond hair slumped towards them.
"Austin?" she asked quietly. "Are you okay?"
He looked up at her and let out a sigh. He shook his head.
Ally looked at Dez worriedly. He mouthed, "I told you!"
She turned her attention back to the boy in front of her. "Austin, talk to us. We're your friends. You can tell us anything!"
Austin mumbled something. Ally frowned.
"Austin, come on. Just- just talk like a normal person, okay?"
Austin opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Trish.
"Guess who got a job at the Photo Hut?"
"Trish, something's wrong with Austin," Ally explained. "We're trying to find out what exact-"
"MY PARENTS SAID THEY DON'T WANT ME DOING TEAM AUSTIN STUFF ANYMORE."
The outburst shocked the others in the room so much they all flinched.
"But- but!" Dez stuttered.
"Oh I do NOT think so!" Trish snapped. "I am not getting fired from this job AGAIN."
Ally walked around the counter to comfort Austin. She rubbed his back and then suggested they all move up to the practice room. She closed the shop early and then ran to meet the others upstairs.
"This emergency Team Austin meeting is now in session," Ally said, looking at her friends. "First things first. Austin, why won't your parents let you do Team Austin stuff?"
Austin sighed again before answering. "They said music is just a distraction from any real possible career choices. My dad wants me to be a doctor." He shivered at the thought. "I can't even stand the sight of needles!"
Dez looked over to the blond. "You don't like needles? Since when?"
"Well, does anyone really like needles?" Trish replied.
"I do!" Dez answered. Trish looked at him in horror.
Ally banged her gavel to bring things back to order. "Guys, concentrate! We have to talk to Austin's parents about this."
"It's no use, Ally. They've never been a fan of my dreams," Austin said sadly.
"But Austin, you're going somewhere! You're all over the internet!" Ally persisted.
"We could make a new video!" Dez said. "And you guys should write a new song. No rush, though," he added, seeing the looks he was getting from the songwriting duo.
"Or we could get you a gig! Have your parents ever seen you perform live?" Trish asked.
Austin scratched his head in thought. "Not since I was in a school play like, years ago."
"Well there you go!" Ally said triumphantly. "We just need to get them to come see you perform. When they see how many people show up to hear you sing, they can't say no to Team Austin!"
Austin's face brightened at the thought and sprung out of his chair. "Yeah! And we should sell tickets so they can see that it's a good career choice. Money will speak to my dad."
"So it's settled," Ally said. "Trish, set up a gig for Austin either here at the mall or at the boardwalk. And Austin, you and I can write a new song just for your parents!"
"What about me?" Dez asked, a frown on his face.
"You should film the stuff we do to prepare for his gig! That way his parents can see how hardworking Austin is."
Dez whipped out his camera right there and began filming. He walked over to Austin. "Okay Austin, anything you want to say to your parents?"
Austin looked at the camera and said simply, "I can do this!"
Austin and Ally were sitting at the piano bench working on their new song. The melody was figured out, but the lyrics were proving to be troublesome.
"Ally, what if it was about, you know, chasing dreams?" Austin suggested.
"That's a great idea! Okay, how did you feel when you first got recognized?" Ally asked.
Austin grinned and answered, "Amazing! Like I was on top of the world and could do anything!"
"Okay, good," Ally noted, scribbling in her notebook. "Anything else?"
"Um, unstoppable. I don't know. I just really felt like I belonged on stage."
Ally continued writing Austin's words down. "This is really good, Austin! I could do something with this!"
"Thanks, Ally. I know your song will be great!"
Ally blushed but shook her head. "You never know. This song could be terrible."
"Nah. I believe in you! Okay, I have to go home for a family meeting." Austin rolled his eyes before continuing, "I'm sure it's about my music. So not ready for this."
"Don't worry! Team Austin will have this fixed soon," Ally told him with a smile.
"I hope so. See ya Ally!"
"Bye Austin!"
Ally sat at the piano when she suddenly felt inspired. She played a few chords before smiling and writing furiously.
The Moon family meeting had ended with Austin stomping upstairs and slamming the door to his room. He kicked his desk before wincing and sitting down.
His parents had basically lectured him for an hour about the importance of having a good career and living a comfortable life. They told him they only wanted what was best for him. For parental figures, they were awfully ignorant, Austin decided.
His phone buzzed on his bed and he collapsed on it before answering. "Hello?"
"Austin!" It was Ally. "Sooo good news/bad news. Which do you want first?"
"Uhh good?"
"Good news: I wrote a new song!"
"Ally, that's awesome!"
"Yeah, bad news: it came out super girly. Sorry Austin!"
He sighed. "That's okay, Alls. Save it for yourself. I have plenty of songs to sing at the gig. It's not a problem."
"I know, Austin, but I know how much you wanted a new one. We can try again! I could pull an all-nighter and do it."
"Ally, it's okay, no pressure. If we come up with a new one, sweet. If not, whatever. Austin Moon doesn't need a new song to be awesome."
"Oh, but other good news: Trish got you a gig! It's at the boardwalk next Friday. Make sure your parents can come!"
"I'll try my best. No promises though."
"Everything will be fine, Austin. I promise!"
"Yeah yeah, go to bed or something. It's late."
"Okay. Night Austin!"
"Good night, Ally." He hung up the phone and dropped it to the floor next to his bed.
Setting up gigs and writing songs suddenly seemed a lot easier. Compared to convincing his parents come see him perform, anyways. If he could pull that off, it'd be a miracle.
Despite the lack of a new song for him, Austin was impressed by Ally's new one.
"It's awesome, Alls." She smiled at him before he continued, "But definitely girly. I can't wait for the day that you can perform that for people!"
"If that day ever comes," she sighed. But she brightened up quickly and looked at him. "I really want to write you a new song. We have about 9 days. I'm sure we can do it!"
He laughed at her unshakable optimism. "That's great. But can we actually get smoothies or something? I'm dying."
Ally rolled her eyes but stood up to leave.
As they made their way to the food court, they ran into Dez who whipped out his camera when he saw them.
"Sooo Austin and Ally. What are you up to right now?"
Ally shrunk behind Austin, avoiding the camera. "We're getting smoothies, actually. Wanna join us?" Austin asked the ginger.
"Uhh, depends. Do they have banapple flavor?"
"Um, sure. Whatever," Austin replied.
"Sa-WEET! I love banapples," Dez said dreamily.
As they stood in line, they recognized one of the servers.
"Guess who got a job at the Smoothie Shack?"
Ally laughed at her best friend. "You, clearly. I'm surprised to see you actually working."
"Yeah, well, I'm mostly doing it so I can have the leftovers." Her friends laughed before they began placing their orders.
"Trish, I want a strawberry banana smoothie," Austin said, still reading the menu.
"Make that two," Ally said.
"And a banapple one!" Dez said excitedly.
"What is a banapple?" Trish asked him.
"Umm a combination banana-apple. It's only the most delicious fruit to ever grace this planet," Dez answered.
"Uh, right. So 3 strawberry banana smoothies?" Trish asked her friends.
Dez let out a grunt before stomping off and sitting at a table.
"That'll be fine, Trish," Ally said, stifling a giggle.
After getting their smoothies, Austin and Ally joined their best freckled friend.
"Trish said she found the banapples," Ally lied, handing Dez a smoothie. His face lit up as he grabbed it from her hands.
"Yepp. That's banapple!"
Austin and Ally shared a look before shaking their heads ever so slightly.
Dez finished his in a matter of minutes and whipped out his video camera yet again.
"Okay, we're here with Austin and Ally, the musically inclined half of Team Austin. So tell us about what you two do."
"Well, Ally does most of the songwriting. I help out sometimes but I'm helpless when it comes to lyrics. But I do love being on stage, so I get to perform the songs!" Austin said excitedly.
"Yeah, what he said," Ally answered nervously.
"Okayyy. So what inspires your songs?" Dez continued, pointing the camera towards Ally.
In response, she began chewing her hair and shrinking underneath the table. Dez returned the camera to point at Austin who shot his ginger friend a worried look.
"I think what Ally was trying to say is that life inspires her songs?" Austin smiled sheepishly while shrugging.
Dez shut off the camera.
The days leading up to the gig passed quickly. Austin and Ally tried to write a new song, but with no luck; Trish had gotten 7 or 8 new jobs; and Dez had captured awkward footage of all of them trying to get ready for the gig. Austin even convinced his parents to come see him perform.
It was Thursday afternoon when Austin walked into the practice room and began pacing back and forth. Ally turned around from the piano to observe him.
"Uh, Austin?"
He stopped pacing and looked at her. "Yeah?"
"What's up?"
"My parents are just so- so- UGH!" He threw his hands up in agitation before taking a seat next to Ally. "I just want to be honest with them about my dreams, but I feel like I'm letting them down. I'm not trying to be a disappointment. I just want them to want this for me."
"Austin! Austin!" Ally shook her friend excitedly. "I can write you a new song! A new song that's not girly!"
The blond boy's head shot up in surprise. "Really? Now?"
"Yes!" She began scribbling in her notebook. "But this might require an all-nighter..." she thought out loud.
"I'll stay up with you!" Austin said, bursting with excitement.
"But you have to perform tomorrow!" Ally frowned.
"No big deal. I've done it before. Come on, Ally, we got this!"
The two settled down for a long night of songwriting.
The next morning, Ally woke up to find herself drooling on the piano. Austin had fallen off the bench and was curled up in a ball on the floor. She leaned over to shake him awake.
"Austin. Austin!"
The boy shot up and looked around hurriedly. "Wha- What's going on? What happened?" he asked groggily.
"I think we finished the song. You have your gig tonight!"
They both attempted to wipe the sleep from their eyes while yawning.
"Thanks, Ally," Austin said, standing.
"No problem, Austin! But we should both get at least a little sleep."
"Sounds good. See you in a few hours?" Ally nodded in response before crawling onto the couch and passing out.
Team Austin was huddled together backstage. Austin had his guitar slung over his back and Ally was perpetually gnawing on her hair.
"Did you see them?" Austin asked.
"Your parents? Not yet..." Dez said, looking over his shoulder, trying to get a glimpse of the audience.
"But it's a huge crowd," Ally noted, observing the look of concern on Austin's face.
"I sold 200 tickets!" Trish said, trying to back Ally up.
"I'm sure they're here," Ally said with a smile. "Now, group hug?"
They all tightened their circle and began laughing.
After separating, Austin made his way to the stage.
He began with A Billion Hits and made his way through the setlist. All of the songs went great without a hitch. Team Austin had decided to close the concert with the new song. Dez walked a stool out for Austin to sit on since it was a bit more chill than his usual songs.
Austin looked out into the crowd and frowned. He hadn't managed to find his parents yet. Had they even shown up.
"Hey everyone! So this is a new one that my partner Ally and I write. It's called The Truth."
He played the song, his heart sinking.
At the end of it, he was greeted with a standing ovation. He smiled and waved at the crowd before taking his exit.
His friends were waiting for him, all looking excited.
"Austin, you were great!" Ally yelled, hugging him.
He shook his head at them. "They didn't show up."
Ally let go of him and backed up. "How do you know?"
"I didn't see them in the crowd, and I just have this feeling..." he trailed off.
"Group hug?" Dez suggested to the somber circle of friends.
But no one moved.
A/N: DUN DUN DUN. Anyways, read & review! Ch. 2 will be up soon? :)