Chapter One
You're Hand Fits In Mine Like It's Made Just For Me
What is the meaning of love? How do you know when your in love? How do you know when it's a friend love or a true love? Do you feel something? Do you feel different? I know I'm only fifteen, but I'm always afraid that I'm going to mistake a silly relationship with true love, or be in love and not realize it. Love is so complicated to understand.
I know I've never been in love before, and I hope when I do fall in love, that it is as clear as day to see it. I hope it's not oblivious to me. I hope as soon as I set my sights on the girl, I'll know.
I'm thinking about love when I wake up Friday morning to get ready for school. Yes, the Austin Moon does think of romance and such like that. It's just, love is such an interesting, intriguing topic and it's something that someday I hope I could find. I know my parents found it in each other. I just wonder how they knew.
I roll out of bed and throw on a simple pair of khaki shorts and a blue t-shirt. I like to keep it low profile when I go to school. I want people to get that I can dress and act like a normal person at school. Just because I'm a celebrity doesn't mean I deserve special treatment. If celebrities were to recieve special treatment, I shouldn't be the one recieving it. If anybody were to recieve it, it'd be Ally Dawson. If it wasn't for her, I'd still be trying to write one simple song. She deserves the credit more than anybody.
Ally Dawson is my partner and one of my best friends. She is your average short girl with brown hair and brown eyes. She's super shy, especially when it comes to performing (she has a case of stagefright) and meeting new people. She gets nervous a lot and chews on her hair. She is really insecure, always worrying if she isn't good enough. She likes really lame things, makes really bad jokes, stinks at dancing, and is a total nerd when it comes to school. She has A's in every subject. She is a total goody-two-shoes and a play by the rules girl. She is obesessed with cleaning and making sure things are always in perfect order, and sometimes she's so uptight about rules it makes me want to scream.
At the same time, however, she is this beautiful girl who can act crazy around her friends. She's super talented with the voice of an angel. Her lame jokes usually pass off as adorable, and on more than one occasion her follow the rules attitude gotten us out of trouble. She has a way of making everybody feel better and you can go and talk to her about anything, and she always understands. She's amazing.
I think about her as I prepare myself a quick bagel for breakfast. I eat it on the way to school. I walk there every single morning. On the way to school, I see Dallas Carson. Dallas is Ally's megacrush. She's crazy about him. She can text me for hours with Dallas details if I'd let her. I let her text me some stuff about Dallas, though, because she likes to tell me about her day, which usually revolves around Dallas.
"Hey Austin!" Dallas shouts at me. I cross the street over to the sidewalk that Dallas is walking on. "Hey man, what's up?" I say approaching Dallas. I'm not exactly the biggest Dallas fan. There is something about the guy that irks me. I don't know what it is. He's never done anything to me.
"So, um, I wanted to talk to you about Ally," Dallas starts. My heartbeat increased at the sound of him saying her name. Him saying her name made me angry, though. "Uh, let's hear it," I say. "Well, I want to ask her out, but I figured I'd ask your permission," Dallas says, awkwardly.
I look at him strangely. "I'm not her father," I say, confused as to why he'd be asking my permission. "Well, I know that, but you're her best friend, and your opinion means a lot to her," Dallas says. I nod, thinking that makes sense. "Well, I don't really see you as being a problem, and I know Ally likes you, so I say go for it," I say, putting Ally's best interest ahead of my own. Even though I don't want her going out with Dallas, I know she'll be so excited, and that means more to me than anything else, really. Also, the fact that Dallas had asked my permission makes him seem like an alright guy for her to be around. I'm always looking after her. She's so tiny and delicate. I promised myself from the second I met her, that I would protect her from anyone that hurt her.
"Thanks, Austin. I'll take good care of her. I know she means a lot to you," Dallas says. I nod. "She means the world," I say, "And I'm not trying to be intimidating or anything, but if you hurt her, you will not get away with it." Dallas nods. "I won't, man. By the way, is there anything I should know about her? I don't talk to her that much," he says.
"She's amazing. If you let her walk out of your life, then you're crazy," I say. Every word I'm telling Dallas is the 100% honest truth. Dallas smiles. "You're a good best friend to her," he says, "I can't wait to take her out. We're going to have so much fun." I gulp. For some reason, I don't like him talking about taking Ally out. It's really bothering me.
"Yeah, I'm sure you guys will have lots of fun," I manage to say. I feel a sharp pain in my chest. I can't imagine Ally out on a date with Dallas. Why do I care anyways? It's her life. Why should I care who she dates?
Dallas nods and we pretty much just walk in silence the rest of the way. I bet Ally is running through is mind right now. Well, now we know we have something in common.
We arrive to school. I walk away from Dallas and to my locker. I grab some books out and then stroll down the hallway to locker #3540. I stood at this locker many,many mornings reaching up to the top shelf and grabbing books down for the tiny brunette who could never reach. She's not there yet, so I sit down on a bench by her locker.
My best friend since kindergarten, Dez Worthy, comes and sits next to me. Dez is also my film director. It's amazing the things he can do with a camera and a computer. He can make an amazing video within minutes using old footage. He's great at anything technology. With other things, not so much. See, Dez isn't exactly the smartest tack in the box. Not that I'm smart or anything, because trust me, my grades are low.
"Hey man," Dez says. He's eating a corndog. That's what I mean with Dez. Randomness always finds him. "Hey Dez. What's up?" I ask. He smiles. "I have an idea for your next video," Dez says. "Already? We just finished No Ordinary Day!" I exclaim. Dez shrugs and then pulls out his phone to answer a text.
"No Ordinary Day" is a song Ally wrote. Dez recently got hired by Jimmy Starr to direct the music video. The video took place in an amusement park, and it was about First Love. Kira Starr, Jimmy's daughter had played my girlfriend. She was absolutely stunning, except for the fact that her breath reeked. I can still imagine it. I shudder at the thought.
"Okay," Dez says looking up from his phone, "I was thinking the new music video can be you and Ally. I mean I know she has stagefright, but you guys would look so good together, on screen," Dez says laughing to himself. I laugh nervously. "Look good together?" I ask. Dez laughs. "It's just your tall, she's small, you're blonde, she's brunette, I don't know..it works," Dez says, probably imagining a music video, "It'd be amazing if you and Ally both sung, but it's going to be enough work getting Ally to do the video, let alone sing in it." I shake my head. "Ally won't do your video Dez," I say, positively.
"What video?" a familiar voice asks from behind us. Ally is standing there at her locker, twisting in her combination. "Austin, will you get my math book?" she asks. I stand up from the bench and grab her math book. I grin down at her and she sticks her tongue out at me. "Curse my shortness," she says and then giggles. "You didn't answer my question, though. What video?"
Dez walks over to us. "Just a new video idea I had in the works, nothing major," Dez said, shrugging. "Cool," Ally says, "Have either of you seen Trish?" Dez and I both say no at the same time and then do our what up? handshake. Ally giggles softly. Just then the tiny latina girl approached us, holding a stack of papers.
"Hey guys, sorry I haven't been around this morning, I am passing out flyers for the winter formal," Trish Delarosa says, handing us each a bright blue flyer. Trish Delarosa is Ally's best friend and also my manager. She books my gigs and stuff like that. I guess you could say the four of us our like a "Pack". We stick together and we all became very close with one another. We call ourselves "Team Austin."
I take a look at the Winter Formal paper. Another dance that Trish will probably make me sing at. Not that I'm complaining, I love to perform. Sometimes though I just want to relax and enjoy the night. I'm sure Dallas is going to take Ally there once they hit it off at their date. I sigh. Who should I take?
I look at Ally. She's reading the flyer over. "Wow! There is going to be an ice sculpture there!" Ally exclaims. Of course, out of all the cool things about the dance like the dresses, the DJ, the chocolate fountain, the thing that impresses Ally the most is the ice sculpture. I roll my eyes at her, teasingly, of course, and she playfully hits my shoulder like she usually does.
Just then, Dallas comes walking over. He taps on Ally's shoulder. "Um, Ally?" Dallas asks. Ally spins around and sees Dallas. Her eyes light up and her hand inches toward her hair, meaning she wants to grab it and chew it. She gets really nervous around Dallas. "Hey Dallas," she says in this high pitched, fake sounding voice. Dallas smiles and pulls her away from the crowd.
"Where's he taking her?" Dez asks. I sigh. "He's going to ask her out," I say. Those words tasted like sour coming out of my mouth. Trish smiles. "Aww, they are going to be the cutest couple! Ally and Dallas...Dally!" Trish exclaims, giggling, "Well, I got to go. These flyers aren't going to pass out themselves!" Trish skips down the hallway. Dally? I gulp.
"Are you okay, man?" Dez asks me. I swallow. "Yeah, Dez, I'm fine. Don't worry bout me," I say, as covincingly as I could, but Dez is my best friend and he can see right through me. "I think something about 'Dally' is getting you all worked up," Dez says. I shake my head. "Nuh-uh. It has nothing to do with Dallas or Ally," I lie straight through my teeth. Dez shrugs. "Yep, let's just keep pretending that you don't have a crush on Ally," he says, casually and smirks. "I DON'T have a crush on Ally!" I exclaim.
Dez laughs. "You can't even make it sound believable," he says, and then goes into a fit of laughing to the point where people are staring at him. "Dude, chill with the laughing. And I do not, and I mean do not have a crush on Ally," I promise, matter-o-factly. Even though I'm telling the truth, I feel like I'm lying. Dez controls his laughter to say, "Sure, sure," before having another spaz attack.
Ally comes skipping over and sees Dez laughing hysterically. He looks Ally and he starts laughing even more, looking from me to Ally, me to Ally. "You-guys," Dez says breathlessly, hunched over. He is seriously crying now and clutching his stomach. "Is he okay?" Ally asks me. "Yeah, just being Dez," I say. No need to tell her why he's laughing.
"Anways," Ally starts, "Dallas asked me out! On a date!" she exclaims. I give her a big hug. "That's great Ally," I say, forcing a smile out. Just because I'm not happy, doesn't mean she can't be. And she definitely is. She has a smile on her face that his huge and her eyes are sparkling brightly. She looks beautiful, really, and the smile on her face is priceless.
"I'm nervous, though," she says, her face turning serious, "What if I mess everything up and Dallas won't like me anymore?" I smile at her worried expression. "If he really likes you, it won't matter," I say, "Just be yourself, don't change any part of yourself for any boys." She sighs. "But what if myself isn't good enough?" she asks. I shake my head. "Then he's not the right guy. But if it's not Dallas, it'll be somebody else, don't worry, Alls," I say, trying to reassure her.
"Thanks Austin," she says. She says good-bye and then darts off to class, as do I.
After school, I enter Sonic Boom. Dez is sitting on the counter eating marshmellows from his backpack, Trish is perched on the staircase leading to the practice room, engaged in a fashion magazine, and Ally is serving customers. Sonic Boom is a music store that Ally's dad owns. Ally basically has to work there part time whene her dad is unavailable.
"Ally," I say walking up to her. She smiles at me when she sees me. "Hey Austin. What's the plan for your Friday night?" she asks smiling. "Well I was hoping to work on a song with a certain somebody," I say and wink. She laughs. "I'll be done in about twenty minutes. I'll meet you in the practice room, unless you want to help me work," Ally says and shrugs. I smile. "If you honestly need some help, I won't mind helping you," I tell her and shrug back. "Well, we have some tubas and such in the practice room closet, so if you could carry those down, that'd be great," Ally commanded. I nodded and rushed upstairs to retrieve the instruments. I see Ally's book sitting on the piano bench, and I'm tempted to grab it and read it. But I don't. I'm actually proud.
I carry a tuba at a time down. Ally is certainly relieved she wouldn't have to cart anything heavy down the steps. She smiles in thanks. We do a couple more things before Ally switches the open sign on the front door to a closed sigh. Trish and Dez are arguing in the store so we just dart past them and up to the practice room.
"Austin, I'm scared for my date with Dallas," Ally blurts out as soon as she's in the practice room. "Ally we already discussed this," I say and roll my eyes, jokingly. "I just have a quick question for you," she says. I look at her standing by the door looking sheepish. "I want to hold his hand, but what can I do to show him I want to hold his hand if he doesn't hold mine?" Ally asks. "Where are you going anyways?" I ask. She shrugs. "I don't know he didn't mention it," Ally says.
"Okay, come here," I say. She stands beside me. "Bump into my hand gently with yours," I say. She brushes mine lightly. I grab it and intertwine our fingers. Her hand is so soft and feels warm. It feels really good and fits so perfectly into my large hand. She blushes and then pulls away. Her hand fit so good in mine, it's like it was made for me.
"That's it," I say to Ally awkwardly. She smiles a thanks and then walks out of the practice room. "I'll be right back, I forgot something," she says on her way out. I laugh. She's probably going to go downstairs and text Trish or something, wanting to be less embarassing when it comes to her love life convos.
I watch her walk out. She's so pretty. Well, pretty to me. And to Dallas, apparently. There's just something about her that I can't seem to figure out, but it's driving me crazy. All I know is that if I don't have a crush on her now, I probably will very soon.