SUMMARY:

Ally Dawson is an aspiring songwriter who absolutely loves love. She's a hopeless romantic, spending most of her time writing songs in bars or cafe's, beaches and parks, any place where she can catch a glimpse of love. She's dreamed of finding "the one" ever since she was a small child. She's only ever dreamed about feeling wanted or loved by somebody unconditionally. On the other hand, Austin Moon is a wild child, dreaming of doing nothing other than travelling the road with his trustee guitar. He doesn't have time for love and quite frankly, has never dreamt of the feeling. Only believing that love is cliché and hopeless. Could a pretty girl in a coffee shop change his mind?

P.S. This Chapter is very introductory to the story, so it's quite short.

. . . . . .

I think that the best feeling you could ever experience, is being in love with someone. There is nothing greater in this world than feeling all of the emotions that love brings; happiness, anger, jealousy, hurt. I think being in love is one of the most honorary things to ever have happen to you. Love has power over all; it damages you and it heals you. There is no in between. I think the time when you're experiencing the most emotion is when you're falling in love or you're losing it. Needless to say, I am definitely one of the biggest hopeless romantic's you will ever be given the privilege to meet.

My name is Ally Dawson, daughter of Penny and Lester, honored by words, and lover of, well, love. Oh, and maybe some pickles, too. I believe that you have a right to live freely, love should never be taken for granted, and cat's should always be your best friend. I would tell you to pull out a note paper, grab a pen, and jot things down for memories sake, but right now I am distracted.

21 years old and I'm ready for the fall, perhaps not the break. But you have to be fearless to get what you want, don't you? To find the one thing that you've always been searching for, to get that fairytale ending you made up when you were nine years old painting pictures of hearts on the kitchen floor.

Do you ever find yourself slipping into your mind? When you do, you start thinking and you're thinking hard. Maybe you're thinking about the meatloaf that you didn't toss in the oven, or the eyeliner you forgot to apply, or maybe you do what I do: You dream of that wedding day. When there is one man standing at an altar, waiting to promise you all of his forever's, and only looking at you in a way that you'd always wanted to be looked at. This time you won't be tucking strands of hair behind your ear because you're nervous that he's checking out your best friend or you won't be picking at peeling nail polish because you wish he'd notice you and only once would be good enough for you. You won't be doing that, because you have his heart already. He's promising you the entirety of his being, he's looking at you with nothing but love in those eyes of his, waiting to be yours, and only yours, forever. And you will know that he's not interested in your best friend or looking the other way as you make your way down that aisle elegantly. He'll take your hand and suddenly...he's yours forever-

I gasped when a hot sensation ran down my chest and along my stomach. "I am so sorry!" the apology totally walks past me as I look down at my white shirt. Of course I'd worn white today! I was too busy shaking out my shirt to look up at the perfect stranger. "Here, here, take a napkin," he suggested, shoving napkins into my hands. I took them, dabbing my shirt. My cheeks were going a cherry red when I knew the customers around me were watching the scene unfold. "I did not see you...I grabbed my coffee and I just turned around and you...you were just there and...I am just so sorry," the stranger babbled.

I shook my head. I wasn't one to be angry at a small accident. I gave the man in front of me a smile, "No, it's fine. I wasn't paying attention. That was on me. Don't apologize," I said. He looked at me with guilt.

"God, you're shirt..." he said, sighing. I looked down at my shirt which has a big, brown coffee stain. But while he was reeling over what he'd just done and the embarrassment, I found it funny. I started to giggle. He looked at me, surprised that I was laughing.

"It's fine, really," I said, "I can go home and change it. Throw it in the wash. No biggie. Plus, this was just a silly hand-me-down anyways."

"Are you sure?" he questioned me, unconvinced.

"Oh, sure!" I said, grinning. I felt bad for making him feel bad. It was a simple accident and it wasn't like I had anything important to do today. After all, he did explain that he was only turning around and hadn't seen me. (I don't like to admit it, but I think it's appropriate to add that I'm not exactly the tallest person in the world.) He was biting down on his bottom lip, not thinking any of this as amusing. I held out my hand, "I'm Ally."

He sighed, shaking my head, "Austin. I can buy you a new shirt. Wal-Mart is just around the corner, I could give the money and you could buy yourself a shirt-"

"I told you it's fine," I replied, smiling slightly.

"I really am sorry," he said again. I laughed slightly. "I've got to run," he said, "Again, so sorry," he called over his shoulder before he was out of the shop. I watched him leave before shaking my head. I realized my drink was on the counter waiting for me. I grabbed it and left the shop.