Hi everyone! I'm so sorry that I've been on a 2 month hiatus but I've just been so busy. Between high school and baton and drama rehearsals and losing one of my friends to someone else, life has been a little hard and I've gotten so caught up in everything. I know I promised a mini sequel for Camp Heartache so it's finally here! I'm so excited to be writing again because it's very therapeutic for me and I've just missed you all so much! Thank you for your continuous support, I appreciate all of you so dearly. So I'll get to more stuff at the end but for right now I give you the first chapter of 326 Miles Away!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but this story, all rights reserved.
Chapter 1: How to survive long distance
I'm pretty sure that I've been staring at this math problem for a good fifteen minutes now and I have not even attempted to solve it. It's not that I couldn't do it because I love math! It's my best subject really and not doing my work was so unlike me. But lately I've just been too distracted. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't because of Austin. It's already been over a month since our last day at camp together but some days it feels like I haven't seen him in years. I don't know how I managed to not go crazy when we wouldn't see each other for six or seven months when we were just friends. I really miss him right now and not being able to see him is driving me crazy.
As if right on cue, my phone vibrated. A message box popped up on the screen and it was from Austin. I immediately I opened it up; a little too excited to be doing anything but this stupid math problem right now.
Are you free to Skype right now?
I smiled at my phone, a little relieved. I'm sure I could take a small break from my math to talk to him, right?
I didn't even bother to text a reply back. Instead I just went straight to it, opening up my laptop and pressing his contact within a matter of seconds. It didn't take long for my favorite blond to appear on the screen, his smile making me feel giddy almost immediately.
"Hey babe." He greeted from the other end of the screen.
It had been ages since I last heard his voice. It was still as pure and wonderful as ever.
"Hi." I giggled slightly.
"So how's my favorite girl doing?"
"Well I have three pages of math questions due tomorrow and I haven't started one." I stated casually although the situation should have freaked me out.
"What?! You love math. Procrastination does not sound like Ally." He replied.
"I know it's just that I can't seem to focus half the time!" I huffed out in frustration at myself.
"What's wrong?" he asked with concern flooding his voice.
"Call me crazy but it's like being homesick but instead of missing being away from home, I miss being away from you. I guess I'm Austin sick?" I laughed slightly at the last part.
For a moment it felt like there was no screen separating us anymore.
"If it helps I'm definitely Ally sick as well. I know that it's hard being so far apart for so long." He sighed.
"It just really sucks when I can't go and hug you or eat lunch with you or stuff like that whenever I want because you're not here. All I get is a stupid computer screen." I added.
"I'm really working on trying to find a good time to come up and see you. I promise you aren't going to have to go without me for much longer." He reassured.
"Good! Especially because my friends keep harassing me about wanting to meet you." I giggled.
"It's not like your dating some movie star or something. I'm not that special." He laughed.
"They think that you're pretty hot or something, I don't know. I tell them not to feed your ego so much." I teased.
"I do not have a big ego!" he quickly defended.
"We can discuss this another time. So how was your day?" I asked next.
"It was ok, just the usual. Went to school, boring, and then did my shift at the mattress store, yuck, and now that I'm talking to you, it's much better." He smiled.
"Well aren't you sweet." I blushed.
"It's just the truth." He smiled.
The sound of my text book falling off my desk pulled my attention away from him. I had probably just bumped it off with my chair on accident and didn't notice because I was so absorbed in Austin. It was no big deal though. I quickly bent down to pick it up and placed it safely back on the desk.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
"Sorry. My text book just fell." I laughed slightly as I got back in front of the camera.
"Ally." He groaned with his eyes suddenly glued shut.
"What?" I asked, suddenly very confused.
"I guess when you were picking up your book your shirt shifted a little bit and I don't how to say this without coming off like a horny twelve year old boy but it's making me feel a few things and if you don't fix it I'm going to have a problem." He explained through gritted teeth.
I looked down at my shirt to see that just a little bit of my black bra was in fact exposed like he had described. Immediately I started to laugh.
"Austin, you've seen me in a lot less than this. Why does a little fraction of my bra suddenly bother you so much?" I asked as I fixed my shirt back to its normal position.
"I don't know! I can't control those kinds of things ok. It probably doesn't help that I haven't seen you in forever and I can't even touch you let alone kiss you so I guess I'm just extra sensitive to that stuff right now." he groaned in frustration.
"Oh my goodness you are so weird sometimes." I told him.
"Is it bad that you've seen me in my bra before when we weren't even dating?" I asked.
Let's just say I did a few things to get his attention back at camp.
"Definitely not." He immediately replied and winked at me.
"I'm totally wrong person aren't I?" I giggled.
"Probably." he shrugged.
Just then my mom knocked on the door and came in.
"Ally sweetie, dinner is ready." She said.
"Ok I'm just talking Austin." I nodded.
"Oh hi Austin!" she greeted as she came up to the screen.
"Hi Penny." He smiled and waved.
"How are you? I see your still looking handsome as ever." she asked with a smile still plastered on her face.
"I'm good. How are you?" he asked back.
"I'm splendid! Isn't technology crazy these days?! You are in such high quality that it's like you're actually here." she said in amazement.
"Yeah it's pretty cool." He laughed.
"Well I'll let you two love birds finish chatting now."
"Mom." I groaned in embarrassment.
"Dinner's waiting on the table for you ok!" she said just as she was leaving.
As soon as she shut the door I immediately hung my head in shame.
"I'm sorry for that." I sighed.
"Don't be! She's so cute." He laughed.
"The cutest." I said, my sarcasm intended.
"But not as cute as you." he stated.
"I'd hope so!" I laughed.
"Well I should probably let you go now." he said.
"I love you."
"I love you more."
"Text me later tonight or something, ok?" I asked.
"For sure." He nodded.
I blew him one last kiss through the computer screen before hitting end and my favorite blond disappeared just as fast as he came.
My phone's call tone was going off and I'd rather have my ears bleed than continue to listen to it. I rolled over rather annoyed and still half asleep, not bothering to even see who it was when I picked it up.
"Hello." I yawned.
I put the phone to my ear, thinking it was a phone call only to realize it was a face time call. I brought the phone into eye view to see that it was my boyfriend.
"Were you still sleeping?" he asked.
"Yes." I dryly replied.
"Ally, it's ten thirty. Don't you usually wake up at like seven in the morning on Sunday's to get a head start on Monday's stuff?" He questioned.
"Clearly I was tired so no, not today." I said a little unimpressed.
"Well someone's very chipper this morning isn't she?" he smiled.
"Sorry, I just wasn't expecting you to call. It's a nice surprise though." I smiled back.
"Also sorry if I don't currently look super attractive. I'm not a cute morning person right now." I warned.
"No you look perfect and absolutely beautiful." He reassured.
"Thanks." I said a little quietly, blushing bright red.
He always made my heart melt.
"So is there a specific reason you called me?" I asked.
"Yes actually! Go and make yourself some breakfast and then bring it back into bed because we are going to have a virtual lazy Sunday together." He told me.
"Does cereal count?" I asked as I slumped myself out of bed, bringing the phone with me.
"Well it's not exactly the most romantic breakfast out there but yeah I guess." He chuckled.
"Fine I'll eat the healthy kind of cereal." I retorted back when I walked into the kitchen.
"Are you always this sassy in the morning." He asked as he flipped his pancakes that he was currently making.
"Apparently just today." I smiled at him.
"Ok I've got my pancakes do you got your cereal?" he asked.
"Yes. Now back to bed we go." I replied showing more enthusiasm now.
With a bowl of cereal in one hand and my phone in the other, I somehow managed got comfy under the covers again.
"So what else does this lazy Sunday consist of?" I asked as I took a bite from my cereal.
"Me getting to admire how cute you look while you eat your cereal in my sweater that you stole." He chuckled at that last part.
"It's nice and warm ok." I defended through a mouthful of cereal.
"But I do like getting to watch you eat like a seven year old and appreciate the fact that you didn't wear a shirt to sleep." I slightly giggled once I carefully chewed and swallowed.
Austin seemed to be wearing only a pair of sweatpants that hung perfectly around his hips. I haven't seen him in so long that I almost forgot what his chest looked like. I think it's gotten better too. Seeing him on my phone screen though did him no justice.
"Did you cover that insult with a compliment?" he asked with raised eyebrows.
"Not even. All of that was a compliment. You eat pancakes like they're going out of style and it's adorable." I smiled.
"Well at least I like a decent food! Who even likes pickles?!" he asked with his nose scrunched in disgust.
"Excuse me?!" I scoffed.
"Americans consume more than 2.5 billion pounds of pickles each year and more than sixty seven percent of all households eat pickle! So actually, many people like them. You're just weird." I argued.
"Ally why do you know so many facts about pickles?" he asked in all seriousness.
"So I can prove a point!" I replied through another bite of cereal.
"Is it weird that I find your passionate talk for pickles kind of hot?" he chuckled.
"I can't help it that I'm so attractive." I joked.
"Stop being all cute and adorable."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because it's making me want to kiss you and I can't." he replied sadly.
"Just think of it this way; it'll make our next kiss a thousand times better when we actually get to see each other." I pointed out.
"Long distance relationships suck." He frowned.
"Tell me about it." I sighed.
"I just want to show everyone that you're my girl but I can't!" he groaned.
"Don't be upset, for me, ok?" I asked.
"I'll try my best." He replied.
I was about to say something when another voice could be heard in the background. It sounded like Austin's mom and she seemed a little mad.
"Shoot. I forgot we were having company over today and I was supposed to clean downstairs for my mom. I got go ok baby." He said.
"Ok, I love you." I sighed through a smile.
"I love you too."
"ALLY!" the girls giggled from the other room.
"What?" I called back suspiciously from the bathroom.
We were getting ready to go to a party tonight because apparently the girls think I'm being all depressed and need to cheer up. But a party is the last place I wanted to go.
The dress they had put me in was short and tight and made me want to just go in my pajamas. My hair was perfectly curled and I had just finished the last touches of my makeup when I walked out into my room to see what was so exciting. Trish, Kira, and Piper were all seated in a circle on my bed and the looks they had on their faces scared me.
"Guess who just texted?" Kira asked me, practically jumping up and down.
"Who?" I replied cautiously.
"AUSTIN!" they replied in unison.
"Well what did he say?" I asked next.
"He's asking what you're up to." Piper answered.
"You guys didn't say anything did you?" I groaned.
"Not yet but you should probably answer your boyfriend!" Trish giggled while wiggling her eyebrows at me.
"You guys are so weird." I said while shaking my head.
"You should call him!" Piper suggested.
"Yes Ally, do it!" Kira nodded in agreement.
"Why? So you guys can listen to our conversation on speaker?" I asked even though I knew the answer was yes.
"Oh just do it already!" Trish told me.
I don't know why I listened to them but I did it anyways. I dialed up Austin's number and put it on speaker.
"Hello?" he greeted over the phone.
"Hi baby." I greeted back.
Instantly the girls started screaming.
"What was that?" he asked.
"Just the girls." I laughed.
"Oh what are you guys up to?"
"They're dragging me out to a party." I told him unenthusiastically.
"Because she's been sad for two weeks! It's getting annoying!" Trish exclaimed in their defense.
"Why are you sad?" he asked slightly chuckling.
"Why do you think?" I replied.
"All she does it talk about missing you!" Kira added in.
"That's not true!" I quickly defended.
"Don't worry babe I miss you too."
"Awe!" The girls gushed together.
"Just ignore them." I laughed.
"Should we just talk later?" he asked.
"NO!" They shouted.
"Guys! You are worse than my mom right now." I told them.
"Austin, when are you coming to Miami so we can meet you?" Kira asked.
"Soon." He chuckled.
"You should also see how hot Ally looks right now!" Piper giggled.
"I bet Ally looks stunningly beautiful as always and is going to break every heart with her looks tonight." he replied.
"Wow can you be my boyfriend?" Trish sighed.
"Thanks Austin." I smiled and could feel myself blushing.
"Don't have too much fun tonight ok." He reminded.
"I won't." I replied.
"Have a good night, I love you."
"I love you too, bye."
And with that I ended the call.
"You guys are so cute!" Piper gushed.
"He's a pretty good guy." I nodded.
"Ok now can we get going? I want to be at the party tonight not by next Thursday." Trish asked rather annoyed with sitting here any longer.
"Oh fine." I groaned.
Prepare for a night of hell.
Line break
"Who do you think loves the other more, you or me?"
So it was serious question time now, was it?
"Oh definitely me! That's a no brainer." I replied.
"What?! No way!" He argued.
It was another Tuesday night but what made it different was that Austin and I were talking about all sorts of stuff over the phone and he was definitely wrong about this one.
"Um may I remind you of this past summer? You were dating Cassidy aka the wicked witch of the west and I still put up with her for you! I loved you even after you were an asshole to me so I think I win here." I defended.
"Did Ally Dawson just cuss?" he asked in a mock shocked voice.
"Austin, don't avoid my question!" I huffed loudly.
"Well don't avoid mine!" he rebutted.
"Ok fine. Ally Dawson did in fact cuss but because it was well needed at the time!" I defended myself.
"And how could I forget when you never stop bringing it up! I was an idiot ok I don't think I should be punished for this anymore!" He said in response to me.
"I still love you more though. If it weren't for me you'd probably still be with Cassidy." I cringed at that last part.
"With all the teasing you were doing, I don't think so. Remember Cody? Because I do! Or how about those things you called outfits? Oh and my favorite was when you tried to seduce me with sunscreen! And don't forget that one day where you literally weren't wearing a top in front of me. Like what were you trying to achieve woman?!" he exclaimed with a loud sigh at the end and I almost giggled at his antics.
"Ok are you ever going to get over that guy? It was ONE TIME and all we did was dance for five seconds until you cut in because you were jealous!" I pointed out.
"Ok that's not important. You still did all that other stuff to me though!"
It's a good thing we were just talking on the phone because I was starting to turn red.
"To be fair most of those ideas were Megan and Bea's so I was technically forced into it ok. But yeah I'm not sure how good I feel about seducing you with sunscreen these days." I admitted.
"Well at the time I was very confused and scared but now I think it's so cute and adorable! You really liked me that much to do all of that?" he chuckled slightly.
"No, you were just that clueless!" I argued.
"Well I clued in eventually didn't I?" he asked.
"Smartest decision you ever made." I smiled through the phone agreeing with him. He couldn't see it but I knew he could tell it was there.
"I still think I love you more though." he said softly.
"Why is that?" I asked curiously.
"Because I love you so much that you make me a whole new person. You make feel all these wonderful things and despite everything I've done you still don't want to be with anyone else but me. You make me so happy and all I want for you is to feel the same things I feel, but only a thousand times better! I will love you longer and harder and better than anyone else in the entire world could because that's what you deserve. I promise. And you should not settle for anything less than what you deserve."
There was a moment of silence on the line. The only sounds were our heavy yet perfectly matched breaths that we made.
"Austin."
"It's true." He said.
"Why must you always be so sweet? And how can you manage to always say the perfect things to me?" I gushed.
"Because it's my job. You make me feel the same way." he replied.
"Austin Moon you make my heart melt."
"And you Ally Dawson are the reason my heart beats."
"Can we agree that we love each other equally?" I giggled to myself.
"Agreed."
"Oh my gosh!" I gasped.
"What?" he asked in a panicked voice.
"It's almost three am! We've been talking for five hours." I told him.
"I guess we should go to bed soon huh?" he asked even though the answer was obvious.
"Yeah I've got that essay due tomorrow- or- well- technically today now." I corrected myself.
"Wait, before you go I have something to tell you." he said.
"What is it?" I asked curiously.
"It's official. I'm coming to see you in one week."
I got so excited I almost threw my phone.
"REALLY?!" I shouted happily.
Suddenly I covered my mouth with my hand, remembering that my parents were both still asleep at this late (or rather early) hour.
"I mean, really?" I asked again only in a whisper this time.
"Yes really! I mean if it's ok with you and your family that I come on fall break." He replied.
"Of course it's ok! This is amazing babe!"
"The first thing we do when I get there is cuddle or something ok." He ordered.
"Why cuddle?" I laughed.
"Because wrapping my arms around your teeny body under a blanket with your impossibly cold feet tangled with mine is the thing I miss most and probably my favorite feeling in the world." He confessed.
"I think I can make that happen then. And I can't believe this is really happening, I'm so excited!" I replied cheerfully.
"Me too. We've been apart for way too long. I need my Ally." He stated matter of factually.
"You're the best, I love you so much." I smiled.
"I love you too baby. But I should really let you sleep though so I'll talk to you in the morning ok. Goodnight." He whispered to me.
"Wait." I interjected before he could hang up.
"I'm way too excited to sleep now. Don't hang up just yet, ok?" I asked.
"I won't."
The last thing I remember was falling asleep to the sound of Austin's voice and it left me with content dreams. That was the first decent sleep I had gotten in weeks. And soon he and I would be falling asleep in each others arms once again.
So I'm actually not sure how I feel about this chapter but I'm really excited for the next one! I have a five day break so I finally found some time to start this for you guys. I will probably update once a week just because I'm so busy but if I can I will try to get chapters up sooner. Please leave a review on this chapter and tell me what you think about this sequel! I love you guys so much and thank you so much for reading!