Chapter 2

Freckles on Your Cheeks

After spending a few hours working on the song with Ally, I walk home. As soon as I'm in my room and changed, I collapse on my bed and drift off to sleep with thoughts and mixed feelings about Ally. I'm exhausted and confused. Sleep is the only thing helping me right now.

I have a lot of dreams. They're about a lot of people, mostly Ally though, but that's not surprising because I always dream about her. I know it sounds creepy, but it's the truth. At about 1 AM, my phone beeps, waking me out of my slumber.

I sigh and sit up, rub my eyes, and grab my phone off the bedside table. It's a text from Ally. At 1 AM? Is she okay? I read it.

Hi Austin :(( Are you still up? I can't sleep. :(

I smile at her text. Even though she has woken me up at one o'clock in the morning, I can't stay mad at her, even for a second. I sigh. Time to go into best friend mode and stay up while she vents to you. Goodbye, sleep.

What's wrong? I text back.

Nervous :(

About what?

Dallas. Our date is tonight! I'm scared.

Don't worry you'll be fine :)

What if I say something stupid?

You always say stupid stuff around Dallas and he still likes you, so don't worry about it.

Yeah, but this is different.

How?

Because this time we're on a date. I want him to think I'm cool and thinks I was only acting weird because I had a crush on him. He's not going to look for that in a relationship.

Maybe he likes you just the way you are :)

Yeah, okay :( How can you like hair-chewing and stuttering? It's embarrassing.

Yeah, but it's you :)

I don't what it to be me though :( I want to be like the other girls.

Maybe Dallas likes you because you aren't like the other girls.

No, all his previous girlfriends were like cheerleaders and stuff.

Don't overthink it. Just relax. You're perfect the way you are :)

Thanks Austin! :D That made me really happy :)

That's what I'm here for :P

I'm going to try and go to sleep. Thanks for talking to me :) Goodnight

No problem. Good night Ally. x)

The poor girl was up all night obessessing over her insecurities. I can't believe she thinks she isn't good enough. She's perfect! She's funny, she's adorable, she's beautiful...oh my gosh.

What I have telling myself since Day 1 not to do, I am doing...or have always been doing...I'm falling for Ally.

The next morning I walk to Sonic Boom. Ally is there working behind the counter. Her hair is tied back in a pony tail and she's wearing a white tanktop and jean shorts. She looks so cute it's unreal. Get a grip, Austin.

I walk up to the counter. "Hey Alls," I say as I approach her. She smiles this warm, beautiful smile. "Hey Austin," she says. "How are you feeling?" I ask her, remembering how nervous she was the night before. "I'm excited, but still nervous," Ally says. She grabs a chunk of hair and is ready to chew it. I grab her hand and pull it away. "There's no reason to be nervous. You'll be fine," I assure her. She takes a deep breath and smiles.

"Guess who got a job at Caroline's Bakery?" Trish asks walking into the store wearing a cupcake on her head. Ally smirks. "Can't be the girl with the cupcake on her head," she says sarcastically. Trish smiles. "I love it! I get to taste all these delicious desserts. It's paradise," she says, spreading her arms wide to show affect.

Ally laughs. "So, who are you going to the winter formal with?" Trish asks, turning to me. I shrug, feeling awkward. "I don't know yet," I say. Trish smiles, "Well I got a date. It's Marcus, a cute boy from my history class." Ally and her do a little girl bounce. "I think Dallas is going to ask me!" Ally adds to the excitement. They squeal and jump.

I am happy she's happy. Really, I am. If Dallas makes her happy then that's what's important. It doesn't matter if I might like her or whatever, it's about her. I'd much rather her be happy. And right now, she's dancing around like she's queen of the world, and to see her smile like that...priceless.

It's five o'clock now and Dez, Trish, and I are all at Ally's house. Dez and I are lounged out on her couch watching football reruns and eating potato chips, and Ally and Trish are upstairs getting Ally ready for her date. We all came over to give her support since she's beyond , of course, isn't going to know we're here. We are going to go upstairs and watch her leave from the window. She doesn't want Dallas to think she's emotionally unstable or makes a big deal out of a date that she needs to call all of her friends. She wants to look like she's been on so many dates she can't even count.

Suddenly, Trish appears at the top of the stairs. "Our master piece is complete," she says, "Drumroll please." Dez and I drum on our legs. "Okay! Here she is! Allyyyyy Dawson!" Trish brings out Ally. They walk down the stairs together. Ally's blushing like mad.

I can't do anything but stare because she looks gorgeous. She has on a pink summer dress and high heels. I see her all the time dressed up, but it still leaves me speechless everytime. Every curl on her head looks perfect. She's perfect.

"So, how do I look?" she asks Dez and I. Dez smiles. "You look great, Ally," he says. She looks at me. I can't even say anything because there is no words to describe how beautiful she looks right now. Dez laughs, "He's mesmerized Ally, he thinks you look guh-orgeous, trust me." He nudges me. I push him. "You look beautiful, Ally," I tell her. Dez smirks.

"Thanks Austin," Ally says and blushes. Trish nods, "They are both right, you look incredible. Dallas is going to be cuh-razy for you." She laughs and then walks into the kitchen. Trish plops on the couch next to Dez. I stand up and go walk into the kitchen to give Ally some support. I know she went in there because she's hyperventilating. Nobody knows Ally like I do.

I walk into the kitchen and Ally is pacing back in forth, tugging on her hair, fighting the urge to chew it. "Ally," I say walking up to her,"You look amazing." Ally sighs. "Save it, look at these freckles on my cheeks. I got them from the sun," she scowls. I laugh. "You can't even see them, Alls. You look gorgeous," I say. She blushes. There's a moment of silence where we just stand there staring at one another, awkwardly. Then, we hear a knock on the door.

"Dallas," Ally says nervously. She chews on her thumbnail. I give her a hug. "You'll be fine," I say. She smiles and Trish, Dez, and I run upstairs. Ally invites Dallas in while she runs upstairs to grab her coat. We are all sitting in her room.

"Thanks guys, I love all of you," she says as she grabs her coat and then rushes out to our chorus of whispered "Good lucks." She runs downstairs and we watch them walk to Dallas's car out the window. He opens her passenger door for her and she smiles with delight. At least he is respecting her. I watch the car until it drives out of sight.

"Are you staying here until she gets back to hear the details?" Trish asks, "We can make some popcorn. Ally left some out for us. I shake my head. "Nah, I'm gonna split. I'm not feeling too hot," I say. Dez shrugs. "I'm going to hang around to here about Ally's date," he says. Trish looks at me with pleading eyes. "Don't leave me alone with this Bozo," she begs. I roll my eyes. "I'm leaving guys."

Dez mumbles something under his breath, but Trish and I don't acknowledge it. "Alright, then," says Trish, "Talk to you later." Dez says, "I'll text you later on. I think we have to talk." I sigh. I know what he's talking about. Trish is superstitious though. "What?" she asks looking between me and Dez. "Nothing," we both answer at the same time. Trish shakes her head. "Something's up," she says, "And I'm going to get to the bottom of it."

I just shrug and walk out of the room. I'm frankly too upset to care. I walk downstairs and outside where it starts to rain. Just my luck. Hopefully Ally and Dallas go somewhere indoors. I don't want her date to be ruined.

As I walk alone in the pouring rain, I think I realize something. I care genuinely for Ally's feelings above my own. I let her go with Dallas because I know she's happy. I care about her safety more than my own. I'd do anything for her, anything at all doesn't matter when. I think everything she does is adorable. I think she's beautiful...beyond beautiful. Everything she does is literally perfect. I realize something that I haven't ever realized before, even though I've been feeling this way for a long time.

I'm crazy in love with my best friend.