Oh, my gosh.
My first story on my new account and I get over 300 views and some hugely positive feedback!
Screw one shot; this is now a story!
Thank you all so much for your feedback. I loved it so much, I wrote this instead of doing my homework.
You're welcome. ;)
Day One: The Inspiration
Ally Dawson was uninspired.
Which was a really rare thing for her to be.
But, there she was, standing behind the counter at Sonic Boom, looking at the blank pages of her song book.
In the corner of her eye, she saw a blonde flash of hair. She peered out the window to see a jaunty, carefree looking boy stride by happily.
Something inside Ally clicked.
One thing about Ally Dawson was that she could get inspired by the smallest little things.
A lady bug in her shower (which was VERY scary at first) had gotten her inspired for a song about fear and fragility. A monkey at the petting zoo had produced a melody about being trapped in a cage of life.
But the cute guy that had walked by her window? That had set her songwriting fingers on fire.
Ally snatched up her book and a pencil. Following words that seemed to pour out of her heart, she began to write.
"I don't know, know, know
His name, name, name
He'll want a girl, girl, girl
With game, game, game
But if he look, look, looks
My way, way, way
I'll make, make, make him do a Double take!"
The lyrics weren't finished yet. Ally could tell that this probably wasn't the final draft.
A hand crossed her line of vision, but she was too in the zone. Ally heard a voice, as though from a far away distance. The voice seemed muffled. She tried to tear her gaze away from the book and to the customer, but her fingers were still itching.
Ally began to write again when a thick, minty smell filled the air. Gum.
Ally hated gum. It was gross, and sticky, and customers were constantly leaving the stuff on valuable instruments.
She could feel her creative juices going down the drain. If she didn't get up to the practice room, she might lose the song.
Ally mumbled something to the customer about the 'no eating in the store room' and yelled for her dad to come help with the customer.
Ally sprinted up the stairs and burst into the room, out of breath. She began to bound over to the piano when something stopped her.
Dropping her precious book on the table, Ally rushed to the window, having to stand on the armchair to do so. She scanned down below, searching for a certain white blond head.
Discouraged, Ally plopped down on the armchair.
He was really, really cute! She thought disappointedly. Sure, Ally would have never talked to him because of her shyness, but still… she needed more inspiration. The brief glimpse of the boy had helped her, as though there was a light switch in her heart that he flipped on, turning on lightning…
Ally grabbed her book.
Flip the switch,
Turn on the lightning…
Day Two: The Day dream
Ally had spent all morning walking around the mall, looking for her inspirational boy who had helped her write the most of the first verse and the chorus. Now all she needed was another glimpse to give her the second verse and possibly the bridge…
Although, the chorus was super catchy. And since a bridge kept escaping her mind, maybe she could just repeat the chorus?
Most of the lyrics were down on paper. Ally was relieved they were out of her head and therefore couldn't get lost among the fantasies of the blond boy…
But now, she was back in the store, editing her song.
Hmm… I have written a lot of love songs. Maybe this shouldn't be about a guy. That way, if I ever sing it, both genders will enjoy the song!
Ally snorted. As though she would ever sing it aloud to anyone. No, every song would stay in her book.
Then why do you bother writing it down? A snide voice asked her in the back of her head.
Because Dawson's are dreamers! Ally thought defiantly, and then brightened up. Maybe the second verse could be about a dreamer? Nah, too wistful. This was an upbeat song, something she could dance to at a party. Not that she could dance…
Still, a vague shimmering sensation, like a silver bubble, gleamed in the back of her mind. It was itching and scratching, although there was an idea in the bubble just waiting to pop out. It was something about dreams…
Becoming famous? Ally asked herself, and it itched harder and harder.
Becoming an overnight sensation? She asked again, and she felt as though the idea would come any second.
CLANG!
The stack of golden cymbals, the ones that Ally painstakingly polished every Wednesday, had smashed to the ground, rolling everywhere.
A comical looking boy with bright red hair was splayed right in the middle of the display. Ally's cheeks flushed with anger.
"What are you doing?" She yelled, running out from behind the counter. The boy looked panicked.
"I'm getting a van made of donuts! What does it look like?" he shouted, eyes wide.
Ally bit her lip. It looks like you're trying to ruin the store and scare away customers! Wait… a van made of donuts?
"Go, go, get out!" Ally shouted angrily, ushering the red haired boy out.
"Okay, cool! Can I bring my friend with me?" the boy asked, his eyes wide.
There's MORE of him? NOO!
"Both of you, just go!" Ally yelled, and she began picking up the cymbals.
At least they didn't scratch or tear the floor, Ally thought bemusedly. Then, her bright brown eyes lit up. She ran over to her book
"This could be an overnight sensation
You and me, tearing up the floor…"
That guy just helped me write part of the chorus… does that mean I like him? Ally wondered, staring at where the red haired boy had disappeared.
Do I get the urge to smile when he's around?
Nah… Only the urge to grab a bottle of pepper spray.
Trish walked in the door, wearing a headband with a book on it. Yes, a book.
"Guess who got a job at— what happened?" Trish asked, her wide eyes taking in the mess.
Ally sighed, her fingers itching. "Some stupid guys messed it up."
Trish rolled her eyes. "That's dumb. Hey, do you want to go to a party? Some people are going to the amusement park, and it has to be a group of 20 or the price goes WAY up. Wanna be number 20?"
"Sorry, Trish," Ally said, clutching her book to her chest protectively. "I have to clean up this mess, and finish this song in my book…"
"Oh, c'mon, Ally! Let it go! This party is up to you right now!" Trish exclaimed.
Ally's eyes widened.
"Let it go, this party's up to you right now…"
Day Three: The Melody
Ally wasn't allowed to leave the register until 3 o'clock, and it was 2:48. All day, she had been tapping out rhythms on the imaginary counter piano, and she didn't want to lose the groove.
Ally kept a sharp eye out for the boy, incase he came over and made her heart beat a melodious rhythm.
Oh, that's good…
Ally began to write down the lyrics to another possible song when a shadow crossed her face. She pulled her earphones out of her ears in case it was a customer.
"Welcome to Sonic Boom, how may I help you?" Ally mumbled, her head buried in her book.
"I need a purple kazoo with gold etchings in it. Do you have that?" someone asked.
"We don't have gold etched kazoos, but we do have purple ones— hey, you look familiar," Ally commented, looking up.
His bright hair seemed familiar, but after an all nighter editing her song, everything was a little hazy. "The kazoos are over here..."
She was showing the purple kazoos to the familiar stranger when a voice shrieked, "DEZ! THE PANCAKES ARE BURNT! THE PANCAKES ARE BUUURNT!"
The boy sprinted away, leaving Ally alone. She shrugged and put her earphones back in.
As she trotted back to the counter, she saw a flash of white blond hair. Her heart stuttered to a stop before beating again.
Ally was aware of her cheeks blushing bright red. Had the blond boy seen her with the crazy kazoo dude? Why was he running?
Ally absentmindedly tapped a tune out with fingers, as though she was playing out her thoughts.
A bright smile stretched across her face.
"Thanks," she whispered to the blond boy, who was now long gone.
"DAD! I'M GOING UP EARLY!" Ally hollered, and she ran up the staircase to her practice room.
Ally let out a happy sigh as she reached the piano.
Only, she wasn't thinking of the piano.
Day Four: The Polishing Up
Ally used to be very, very, VERY attached to her song book.
Now she was downright obsessed.
"Free it up, no matter how you play…
Free it up, no matter how you jam…"
"Ugh!" Ally shouted, before immediately putting on a sweet smile. A little girl was staring up at her with big eyes, holding her mom's hand. Judging from the smell of rosin and the violin brooch she was wearing, this little girl had to be a violinist.
"Sorry, sweetie. The violins are over here. I'm guessing you're a three quarter…"
After helping the little girl, Ally returned to her post at the counter. Seconds later, Trish strode in, wearing an adorable cheetah print dress.
"Guess who got a job at the—" Trish began, but Ally interrupted her.
"DRESS!" she shrieked, and she snatched up her book, her small hand cramping up a bit.
"Free it up, no matter how you dress that song,
Boy, you know, you've got a number one…"
"Yes, I got a job at the dress store. What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry Trish, but I'm in the zone right now! Can you go make sure the piano is free for Nelson's lesson? Thanks."
A couple minutes later, Ally walked over to the piano, her nerves jittering.
Just one hour. One hour with Nelson, then you can get back to writing the song.
"Hey Nelson. What's up?" Ally asked, reaching for cool and landing somewhere around dorky.
"Nothing, Ally. Trish pushed a boy off the bench and made him fall!" Nelson said, grinning adorably.
"Trish pushed a little boy off the bench? Well, that's not nice," Ally said disapprovingly.
Ally heard a rustle behind her. She turned to look and saw a familiar blond head walk out of the store.
He had been right behind me. I think my heart stopped beating.
"Ally? Hello, Ally?" Nelson asked, waving his hands in front of her face.
"Was that the boy Trish pushed off the bench?" Ally whispered.
"Yup! I think he likes you. You got him where you want him!" Nelson exclaimed, and flashed a pearly grin.
"Um… why don't you start the song, Nelson?" Ally asked dazedly. Nelson frowned comically.
"I always drop a beat! I need to hear your sound first, Ally."
"Okay, Nelson. Let's play this up!" Ally said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "But it comes down to you right now to pay attention and listen."
And the final part of the song clicked together.
"Go with it,
you've got them where you want them,
Drop the beat, they need to hear your sound.
Play it up, it's coming down to you right now…"
Day Five: At long last…
Ally was disheveled. Her pretty flowered dress was wrinkled, her hair was frizzy, and she had eaten a cupcake.
In the store.
Ally loved rules. They were there to keep order and safety within a structured society. The fact that she disobeyed a rule meant that she was really frazzled.
But the song was done.
She had finished it.
Looking back, Ally would remember a faint sense of loss, as though finishing the song meant a goodbye. In a way, it did. The song would now be forever tucked away in her book, never to be heard.
Gazing lovingly at the tattered leather book, Ally smiled. Her big project was done.
And then her thoughts were interrupted.
BOOM BOOM CRASH BA-BOOM BOOM BANG!
Ally jerked her head up in shock to see the blond haired boy.
Any feelings she ad for him were immediately thrown out the window. He was playing drums.
He was disobeying rules.
He was drumming with corn dogs!
In a flash she was over there, and she whistled as loud as she could in his ear.
The boy stopped, and he looked at her with warm, richly colored eyes, the color of the earth. He grinned at her, a beautiful smile that lit up her heart.
Struggling not to swoon, Ally frowned at him.
"Did you not see the 'Please do not play the drums' sign?" she asked. The boy looked confused before another smile brightened his face.
"It's okay. I'm an awesome drummer!" he says, pleased with his answer. He begins to drum again.
Ally grabbed his wrists and scolds herself for it.
Why are you being so bold? He's a rule breaker!
"What you just said has nothing to do with what…"
The conversation continues. The blond boy, Austin, jumps around the room, playing instruments and having his friend almost cause an old lady to choke.
One half of her (the strangely bold, excitable half) wants to stick around and flirt a little. But the other half kills that half.
C'mon! Go upstairs and play your song!
Ally slaps a spitty harmonica in Austin's hand and trots up the stairs. She sets the lyrics down and begins to play.
"Double Take"
Flip a switch
Turn up the lightning
Get it right
Show 'em how it's done
Ally hears the door creak open, but she's way too into it now. Probably just the wind or something.
Free it up
No matter how you dress that song
Girl you know you got a number one
Go with it
You got 'em where you want 'em
Drop the beat
They need to hear your sound
Play it up
It's coming down to you right now
They wanna know know know
Your name name name
They want the girl girl girl
With game game game
And when they look look look
Your way way way
Your gonna make make make
Make 'em do a double take
They wanna know know know
Your name name name
They want the girl girl girl
With game game game
And when they look look look
Your way way way
Your gonna make make make
Make 'em do a double take
"GAH!" Ally screams when she sees the dimpled face close to hers. Her hands are shaking.
So after some banter and some gross saliva, she kicks him out. She thinks it's the end of it.
Two days later, he's an overnight internet sensation.
And finally, they become partners.
He's a wild, goofy rock star who's on his way to fame; she's a shy songwriter who wants to be free, like him
How could they not be a perfect fit?