Discovery and Forgetfulness
Summary: Six years ago Austin was offered a record deal, and he took it, leaving Ally and Trish behind. Now, at the age of 23, a successful Ally and her best friend, Trish, are opening a new branch of Sonic Boom Inc. in Hollywood, California, and they run into a most unexpected celebrity. What will the two do when faced with their old flames?
Authors Note: Okay, so for anyone out there who is reading this, I just want to pre-warn you that this is not my top priority. As ashamed as I am to say this, I am sort of just trying to use this as a rebound to get out of my writers funk. I will make it a point to try to keep writing this, but there are no promises of timely updates. Any of you who don't like this, beware, and turn away now!
P.S-On second thought, please don't! Read on!
P.P.S- I could use a Beta, preferably an experienced one.
"-move along like I know you do! And even when you hope is gone, move along, move along just to make it through. Move along, right back what is wrong, we move along."
The music began to wane as Austin sang the last syllables. A wide smile dominated his face and he bent down to give a few of the front row fans a high fives. The fan girls promptly screamed and ran off giggling, but only after trying to pull their favorite artist off of his stage. Thankfully Austin saw it coming and pulled away quickly, deciding that maybe it was best to go and talk to his band for a while. Along the way he pulled Dez and Ally out of the crowd and drug them along with him. Trish, who was already on the stage, worked to keep the crowd from surging up the stage steps and was, surprisingly, managing quite well.
"That was awesome, Austin!" The blonde spun around and picked his girlfriend up in a fierce hug.
"No, you are awesome, Ally! I am just the singer; you are the real talent here." Ally giggled as he spun her around.
"All I do is write the lyrics, Austin. You make them famous." Austin just chuckled and set her down.
"Agree to disagree?" Ally nodded.
"Agree to disagree."
He smiled at her one more time before turning around and quickly making his way over to his band. The boys met their singer with wide smiles and high-fives, slapping him on the back and leading him backstage and into Ally's music store, to the practice room most likely. Ally watched them retreat with a wide smile, only turning away when they were out of sight. She was so out of it that when Trish came up behind her and tapped her shoulder, she jumped and nearly fell off of the stage in surprise.
"Uh, Ally? Are you okay? When did you take up extreme sports, because you don't normally try and dive off of the stage? Did someone slip you cocaine or something? Point me too them! I will kill them!" Ally raised an eyebrow as her friend began ranting.
"Trish. Trish!" The jabbering teen ignored her friend, continuing her monologue with growing fervor. Ally rolled her eyes and grinned at her friend before she reached out and lightly hit her on the cheek. Surprised Trish turned her attention back to her friend and stared at her quizzically. Ally stared at her, expectant. When the Latino girl didn't do anything but stare right back, Ally sighed and said; "You wanted to tell me something?"
Trish's eyes lit up. "Oh yeah, you will never guess what just happened!" Her voice was high; almost a squeal and she began bouncing on her toes, jumping up and down.
Her friend's excitement rubbed off on her, and when Trish grabbed her arms Ally couldn't help but jump along. "What, what, what?"
"Some dude came up to me while I was holding back the crowd and all that jazz, and guess what! Come on, guess!" Ally rolled her eyes, her expression something between amusement and annoyance.
"What, Trish?"
"He said he was from SME! Ally, Austin is goi-" Ally's eyes widened in realization.
"Austin is getting a record deal…" She breathed, "Oh my god, Austin is getting a record deal!" The excitement in her voice was palpable. "Trish, this is what we- I mean, all this time, and this is why we started! It only took two years! Oh my god, Trish!"
"I know! I know, I know, I know!" The two girls squealed and began jumping again, somehow managing to rotate in place while screaming and giggling. About five minutes into their display Austin ran up, beaming, and crushed them both in a hug. After three twirls Trish wormed her way out of his embrace and winked at Ally, who stood smiling up at her boyfriend and partner with joy shining in her eyes. Catching her friends wink Ally diverted her attention from her boyfriend just long enough to stick her tongue out at Trish, and then turned away and back to the blonde holding her.
As soon as he had her attention again, Austin began to babble at a speed Ally wouldn't have been able to catch, if she hadn't had just over two years to get used to. "Ally, guess what! I got a record deal!" His rant continued on and Ally, content in her position, leaned against his chest and rested her head on his shoulder, listening.
When he quieted, breathless, she looked at up and murmured, "I know. Congratulations honey." As Austin stood grinning down at her she leaned up and captured his lips with hers, moving slightly to a more comfortable position as she pulled his face down to hers. Austin smiled into the kiss and twined his fingers into her hair. For a few moments, everything was right, everyone was happy, and the night was perfect; until they pulled away. They were both radiant with happiness and contentment and Ally rested her head on his chest and he just held her, his eyes closed and a desperately sad look on his face.
His eyes slipped closed and he pulled her closer, tightening his arms around her as if trying to merge them into one being. A single tear slipped down his cheek as he buried nose in her hair and breathed deeply, taking in the smell of honeysuckle and cinnamon and polished wood before pulling away stiffly. Ally looked up at him worriedly and reached up to cup his cheek.
"Austin, honey, what's wrong? This is great news, you should be happy." Her brow furrowed. "Why aren't you happy?"
Austin took a deep breath. "Alls, they-" His voice broke, and when he next spoke it was in a whisper so low that she had to strain to hear it. "I can only bring Dez, and even he can only come because he lives with me now. Ally, I can't… I can't leave you and you can't come with me and I just, I don't know what to do!"
By the end of his speech his voice was raw with emotion and Ally stood stiffly, her back straight as her boyfriend buried his face in her neck. She stroked his back and ran her fingers through his hair numbly, shock and despair and utter determination all battling for dominance in her heart. Tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her face and she turned her head into Austin's golden locks. She was dimly aware of his own tears running down his cheeks and dripping down onto her own neck, only to be absorbed by the fabric of her shirt.
She held him until both of their tears dried. As he pulled away she schooled her face into a look of stern indifference. "Austin." At the sound of her voice he looked up from the floor, which he had been steadfastly staring at since he pulled away, to stare at her with sorrowful eyes."Austin, I want you to take the record deal. This is the only shot you're going to get, and I don't want you doing something you are going to regret." He opened his mouth to retort, but Ally cut him off. "No, as much as you say you won't, you will, and it's only going to cause problems if you don't take it."
"But Ally, I-"
"No, Austin; just… just don't. Take the deal, become famous. You deserve it."
"So do you! So do you, Ally, you deserve it too!"
Ally sighed and closed her eyes; she moved a hand up to cover her face as she steeled herself for what she was going to say. What she was going to do. Good lord, she didn't want this; she didn't want to lose him. To lose what they had. A single tear escaped her eye and she prayed, she prayed with all her heart that he would forgive her for what she was about to do.
Her words were short and terse. "Then I am breaking up with you."
Austin froze in place, eyes wide. "What?"
"If I am what's holding you back, then I am breaking up with you." She turned abruptly mad began walking away, desperately trying to stem the tears that were flowing down her face like a waterfall.
Austin looked panicked. "Ally, wait! Ally, please don't do this! Ally!" When she didn't so much as pause, he did the only thing he could think to do to make her stop, to make her pay attention. The words escaped his mouth in a rush, and as thoughtless as they were, they were true, every single bit of them. "I love you, Ally!"
The woman froze, and even froze this distance Austin could see her shoulders shake.
"Ally, please …" Neither of them noticed the crowd that was steadily growing around them. Ally turned slightly, just enough so that she could see him, and he could see the river of tears that cascaded down her face, and the heartbreak in her eyes.
"I love you too, Austin. Enough to let you go." And then she was gone.
Update Schedule:
7- 1 day or less
4-3 days
2- 1 week or less
Authors Note:I am not trying to pressure you all, I promise you. It is just, hopefully this thing is going to work out, and if it does I may not be able to write for this as much as I may wish to. Bear with me, please. And if you liked it, Review! If you didn't... Reveiw! Either way, tell me what you like or disliked, and what I could do to improve. Or just write a little something. Whatever works.
P.S- Anyone who offers to Beta for me, I thank you in advance. Just shoot me a PM and/or let me know through Reveiw. I will get back to you one way or another, and let you know what I decide officially through the next update. Oh, BTW: That is already half done. Reveiw away!