Trouble

Chapter 2

She stood at the counter, thirty minutes before opening. Devon was sitting on the counter top to her left, coloring neatly as she wrote in her songbook, the very first songbook Austin ever bought her, the one he bought on her seventeenth birthday before he was signed. She didn't hear the door open, didn't notice the two males who had entered the still obviously closed store. One finally decided to clear his throat in an attempt to get her attention while the other watched the little boy curiously. Ally glanced up from her clean sheet of paper, every muscle in her slender frame tensing as she saw who was in her father's store.

" We're looking for Lester," the lank red head spoke once he met her cinnamon colored eyes. Devon glanced up at this point, blinking owlishly at the two strangers as they requested to speak with his grandfather.

" He's uh, he isn't here yet. He doesn't usually arrive until ten. I open the store for him ," Ally answered, knowing they wouldn't leave just yet as the blonde boy began to browse the instruments.

" Are you new here?" Austin finally decided to speak, not bothering to look at her. Devon was the one who answered for her.

" No, Mama has been here forever," he was small, but so very protective when it came to his mother. Ally smiled softly at her son, kissing the top of his head before glancing up. Both males were watching her, eyes raised in curiosity.

" You're much to young to be this little fellow's mother," Dez commented carefully, watching as the young woman's eyes narrowed to slits as her petal pink lips parted.

" I admit I was young when I was pregnant. However, I love my son dearly. He is my world, my life. I don't regret him, ever," she was defensive, something Austin noted as she wrapped her arms carefully around the small boy's shoulders.

" Where's his father?" the words left his lips before he had a chance to honestly think about what he was saying. Silently he was cursing himself, yet he couldn't take the words back.

" He… left before I was born. I don't know who he is," Devon answered sadly. Austin's heart honestly broke at the pitiful look on the boy's face.

He bit the inside of his cheek to refrain from saying anything else, as he glanced at the clock on the wall. Fifteen more minutes and then the doors would open and he would be focusing his attention on his amazing fans. He glanced once more at the single mother who was talking quietly with her son. She reminded him of someone, yet he couldn't decide who. Ally inhaled a deep breath, knowing she needed to remain strong, she couldn't break down in the middle of work, or in front of Devon. He hated seeing her cry. She forced a bright smile to her lips as she pushed away from the counter, walking towards the front of the store. She needed to flip the sign and possibly barricade Devon and herself upstairs in the practice room. She resisted the urge to run as she sauntered back to her place, watching her son as he colored until the first customer arrived who would actually need her.

" Mama?" Devon spoke, causing Ally to meet her son's familiar cinnamon colored eyes.

" Yeah, Baby?" she answered, curious as to what her son was going to ask her. She never noticed the interested looks both men possessed as they listened to the child, watching how both interacted with each other.

" Do you… Could you teach me how to play the piano. I mean I wanna play like you," he was eager, always wanting to learn something knew that involved music. She supposed it came from both her and Austin, however his talents always surprised her.

" Of course. You're my Little Man aren't you?" she teased, watching the wide bright grin stretch his cheeks as he nodded his head.

" I'll always be your Man, Mama," he answered before wrapping his arms around her neck.

A silent tear slid down her cheek as she hugged her son tightly, ignoring the two men in the store. She decided it would be easier to pretend Austin Moon wasn't there instead of trying to explain herself. She knew she had changed, just as he had. She wasn't the same girl when he left. Being a single mother forced her to grow up, however having her heart broken over and over again forced her to become…for lack of better words, a bitch. She didn't blame Austin, he had been her sunshine and she had made the conscious choice to push him away. However she did blame Dallas, she blamed him for breaking her already fragile heart and stomping it into the ground. She ran her slender fingers through her wild curls as she heard the front door open, a line already beginning to form as the eager fans waited for Austin Moon. She glanced around the crowded store, knowing most of these people were here for the famous star, not the instruments.

" Baby, do you want to go upstairs? You don't need to be down here," she offered, watching as he shook his head, nervously biting his bottom lip as he glanced around the store.

" I can't leave you alone, Mama," was his answer as he returned his attention to coloring, doing his best to ignore the growing crowd. Austin smiled brightly, signing his name on each poster and magazine that was brought to him, internally groaning at every pretty face who bated their eyelashes at him. Devon, the little boy, spoke, catching Austin attention as he signed another magazine cover.

" Mama, I'm scared," he whispered as quietly as he could. He listened as the little boy's mother exhaled a breath, obviously an annoyed sigh as she moved around behind the counter.

" Remember what I always told you Little Man?" Austin was interested, holding a pen between his fingers as he waited for the child to speak.

" Don't look down," he answered obediently, trying to remember the reason his mother explained.

" And why shouldn't you ever look down?" she tested, watching his brows furrow together as he thought over his answer. Austin was as still as a statue, shocked by what he was hearing. It wasn't a known fact, however when he was younger that was a secret between his three best friends and him.

" You can't get better if you look down, you just have to jump," he answered, offering his shy smile that very few ever saw. She nodded her head.

" Good boy. I know Sonic Boom is crowded more than usual, but Grandpa needs this for business. Do you want me to take you up to the practice room? Or do you want me to call Tia for you?" she asked, watching her son carefully as her eyes darted around the store once more.

" I want to hang out with Tia," he answered, watching as his mother nodded, smiling softly towards him.

" Alright baby. I need to call her, will you be okay for a few minutes?" Ally questioned, watching as her son nodded his head, shaggy strands of silver blonde moving with the motion.

She pulled her cell phone out of the back pocket of her jeans, moving to a less crowded corner of the store before dialing Trish's number. Dez bounced over to the child, grinning brightly at the little boy.

" Are you okay?" Dez questioned, watching as the boy nodded his head, noting how his lower lip quivered. He was scared, obviously he didn't like large crowds, yet he still sat beside his mother.

" You know, you're pretty brave. When I was your age, I wouldn't be able to stand without my mom close to me," he whispered loudly, watching as the little boy's eyes widened slightly, his lips parting to ask a question. Before the words could leave his lips, Ally had made her way back to them, her cinnamon colored eyes narrowing slightly when she saw Dez straighten his spine before pushing away from the counter.

" Tia Trish will be here in a few minutes. She said she'll take you for the rest of the day," Ally spoke, not noticing how Dez's head perked up at the mention of the certain Latina he still had a crush on. Dez hadn't been like Austin. When Ally had ended it between them Austin lost himself to every girl he met, his relationships lasting no longer than a week. Dez had thrown himself into the videos he directed, making them better than ever.

His ice blue eyes stayed trained on the front of the store, knowing it was futile and he would most likely not see her. He was right of course. Trish had entered through the back door, sneaking out with Devon who clung to her hand as she led him to her car. Ally released a breath she hadn't known she was holding as she made her way back to the counter. She glanced at the time on her cell phone, knowing she would be able to close the store for lunch, whether the fans wanted to leave or not. She ran her fingers through her hair once again, a habit she formed after she quit chewing on the ends. She rested her elbows on the glass counter top, her eyes lazily scanning the store before her eyes fell on a familiar face she wanted to avoid. She didn't notice how Austin had glanced up, or how his eyes were glued to what was being exchanged.

" Dallas," her voice was emotionless as she narrowed her eyes at the only other man to shatter her heart.

A smirk played on his lips as his eyes lazily took in Ally's appearance. She wore a plain white tank top with old worn jeans, the legs shredded.

" I wanted to see how you were doing," Dallas answered with an easy shrug. Ally rolled her eyes, refusing to show how much he truly effected her. Austin's chocolate brown eyes darted between the two, confused by the tension. Dez noticed his lack of attention, informing the fans that the star needed lunch. He released a breath as he shut the doors to Sonic Boom, moving to stand beside his best friend as they watched the young woman glare at their best friend's one time crush.

" Go away Dallas. I really am not in the mood to deal with you today," she informed him, crossing her arms over her chest. Dallas only smirked wider as he leant his weight on the counter top, inches away from Ally's face.

" Dallas, I believe my daughter told you to leave. I suggest you do as she says, she is part owner of the Sonic Boom," Lester's thin voice drifted from the landing, his eyes narrowed as he glared at his daughter's one time boyfriend. Dallas glanced between Lester and Ally before huffing and moving out the doors. However he did take the time to glance at the only two others still lingering in the store.

" Well, if it isn't Austin Moon. I thought you were tired of Ally?" Dallas taunted before pushing open the doors and leaving him confused. His eyes darted to the young woman behind the counter, eyes narrowing as he began to notice the similarities. He should have realized it sooner. The differences were very slim. Her hair was longer, her eyes lacking their usual warmth, and her body had filled out.

" Ally?" he spoke, his voice containing his disbelief. She growled in frustration, pivoting on the balls of her feet before sliding out from behind the counter.

" I'm beginning to regret not taking Trish up on her offer," she muttered, her voice low. The words caused her father to chuckle as he shook his head.

" Now Ally, you know you couldn't live knowing your best friend was in prison. Think of Devon. He would have had to grow up knowing his favorite Aunt from behind a sheet of glass," he had commented, watching his daughter's shoulders sag in defeat.

" The only reason," she spoke quietly, ignoring the two men and making her way up to

the practice room. Lester cleared his throat as he was left alone with his daughter's two friends.

" Dez, you were telling me how you wanted to film the store in one of your videos, Austin did spend a lot of his time here, didn't he?" Lester spoke, jerking his head in the direction his daughter went. Austin took that as a hint, slinking off up the old staircase and gently pushing the door open.

Ally's fingers were moving delicately over the ivory keys of her piano, the notes unfamiliar to him. She was humming the song, oblivious of the fact that he stood in the door way, watching her. He had always thought she was most beautiful when she was lost in her music. That was the one passion both of them had held as teens. However, he lost his focus and he broke her heart. He still remembered the phone calls with Trish, knowing she was hiding something from him.

" She thought you two were a couple now Austin. How can you be so blind," the angry Latina had scolded, muttering curses in her native tongue. Austin sighed, shrugging away from the groupie who was clinging to his arm.

" That isn't my fault. I thought she had loosened up, Trish," Austin defended himself, and even to his own ears he sounded weak. He had taken advantage of his best friend, his partner. And now he was paying the price, touring the world without her.

" Look Austin, you're my friend. I love you like a brother. But you can be such an idiot sometimes. You broke her, Austin. She isn't the same girl you know. I suggest until you straighten up, stay away from Miami. When you come because of your tour, don't come to Sonic Boom, and stay the hell away from her apartment," with that Trish had disconnected, leaving Austin with the busy tone.

He would never tell anyone, but Ally was the only girl he had ever truly considered to be beautiful. A stray thought drifted through his mind, his eyes narrowing as he finally decided to speak. " Who's the father?" She jumped slightly at the sound of his voice. She had dreaded this ever since he had told her he was signed. She inhaled a deep breath, preparing herself for the lie that was about to slip past her lips.

Her phone rang before she had to force the words out. She quickly answered it, the blood leaving her already pale face even paler.

" You did what!" she screeched into the receiver, her free hand clenching into a fist. Austin watched the anger drift across the woman's face, amused by how tempting she looked.

" No, Trish, I will not calm down. Do you know what you just did? My son won't go to bed at a decent hour tonight because you decided you wanted to pump his small body full of sugar," Ally scolded, shaking her head.

An amused smirk danced on Austin's lips as he listened to just how maternal Ally could be. He knew between the two girls, Ally would always make the best mother, Trish being to wild and unpredictable. Ally offered stability, patience, he was proof enough of that. He felt a tightening in his chest as he continued to listen to her rant, unaccustomed to the feeling as he fell back against the wall, watching her. He had really missed his best friend, his partner. But she had been avoiding him the two days he was here, going out of her way to pretend she didn't recognize him. He couldn't help but feel… abandoned.