I, R54EverAuslly, wrote this. After this chapter, we will be taking turns. This chapter will most probably be a long one, as they've only just met.
Teen-Idol and I do NOT own Austin & Ally at all, just this story line and some of the made-up characters in this story.
Chapter 2 - No Turning Back
Austin looked at the crying brunette beside him, and was confused. Should he inquire why she was suddenly in tears, or let her be, not wanting to invade her privacy? After contemplating what to do, he went with his first choice.
Just ask her.
But with girls that wasn't easy. Just asking could lead to even more crying, because he would be bringing up the upsetting subject. But it was worth the risk, he decided. He couldn't stand to see someone as beautiful as her in tears.
Austin took a deep breath, turned to Ally, then exhaled. "What's wrong? What it something I said?"
After wiping away the few escaped tears from her red, wet cheeks, she nodded, "My dad used to call me Birdie,"
Used to. Old, forgotten, never to be heard of again.
Except, the memory was still there. She could almost still feel the touch of his hands holding her own when they crossed a road, or when he tucked her in bed and put his warm, pink lips to her forehead to say goodnight. It's all still there in her mind.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Austin's voice was soft and gentle, something she hadn't heard in a while. It sounded safe, and she really needed to know that she was safe.
She finally leaned into him, accepting the embrace he had captured her in.
Taking a deep breath, she answered. "My dad died when I was 14. Bad car accident. I was really close to him ...his death basically killed me. I honestly don't know who I am anymore..." Ally paused and took a shaky breath.
"When he was alive, he used to call me Birdie. I hated it, as a new teenager would, because it was embarrassing. I always thought it was terrible that my own father was thinking I was someone you take, you know, since men call women their 'birds'. So it being my nickname, I hated it." She laughed a little before continuing.
"Now... not hearing it... it's a shock and it hurts. It hurts so damn much, you don't understand." A few tears fell but Ally quickly wiped them away. "It was basically a hate - love situation. I hated it so much, but loved it 'cause I knew it was mine, and no one could take it."
A moment of silence fell upon them. Austin didn't know what to do, let alone say. He had never heard such a moving, horrific story in his entire life. Especially for a girl like Ally. Even though he just met her, he knows she didn't deserve this. No one did.
"...I'm so sorry," Austin finally said, pulling Ally a little closer. He knew what he had to do. "Then, I'm going to help you with your flying."
Ally smiled up at him. Why was this boy being so nice to her? They literally just met and he was helping with a fear of hers. Well, besides being scared on stage.
That's a different story.
Austin then carried on with the little list of 'helping' that he was going to do during the plane ride. "Then we can discuss how you lost yourself," Her smile fell completely. "Hey – I'm not trying to make feelings be hurt, I'm just ...helping."
Three years of therapy were good for Austin - he had no excuses than that as to where all of this knowledge was coming from.
Not that he has said anything smart yet.
However, he liked the smile he put on her face. So, he'll do it anyway.
"Okay - so close your eyes." He actually made sure she did, and when he looked, her top lashes were tickling her cheekbones.
Austin smiled to himself at the fact that she trusts him. They've literally just met. But this meant that things were going well. "Good. So, you're a Birdie." Ally tensed beside him.
"That's good. Imagine the plane is a bird; imagine that the further into the air you go, the more your worries are being left behind. Imagine that, the reason your dad called you Birdie, is because he loved flying, and remembering what he loved most, when he saw the girl he loved most, was the best thing he liked coming home from work for everyday. Of course, he loved your mum. But, you're his little girl. Always will be."
He paused for a few seconds before continuing, "Imagine that why he called you Birdie, whether you liked it or not, was because when he saw your pretty little face - all his worries drifted away. Like yours should now."
Ally had a huge grin on her face, and just like that his stomach was in circles. Butterflies flying round everywhere. Being the one to make a girl like her, lost and scared, smile?
Big achievement.
"Keep your eyes closed," Austin whispered to her. He was so close Ally, could smell his vanilla scent, whether it was natural or not, she didn't care. She liked it. But his warm, minty breath that she felt on her cheek?
She likes even more.
Now that they had accomplished thing one on his list, helping her cope with flying, it was time for the second challenge – learning why she was lost.
"You're amazing—." He started.
"No, I'm not." She was arguing. He grinned, even though she couldn't see it.
"Hush!" He smiled at the smile that was tugging on the corners of her mouth.
Austin pulled her even closer— if that was humanly possible.
"So, you're an amazing, sweet, feisty," the blonde poked her cheek as she laughed. "Probably talented, very beautiful girl, that claims she's lost. So I'm asking you, what have you lost?"
"Is this a game?" Ally asked Austin as she opened her eyes.
However, Austin responded very honestly whilst looking straight at her, "Of course not."
"My soul," Ally exhaled out and looked down. "I lost my soul."
"How?"
"I told you. My dad died and—"
"And nothing. This is where the real truth comes out, even if you won't believe it's the truth. It may be hard, but it'll be worth it." He squeezed her hand and winked down at her, not caring if her eyes were open now.
They're flying, and Ally seemed to forget that.
"You say you lost your soul—"
"'Cause I did—"
"But you still have a little spark of life inside you that with one touch will be released. I can see it hiding inside of you," Austin stated.
Ally groaned in frustration. "That's all that's there!"
Ignoring her, the blonde said," I think you just gave up. You didn't want to, but you did."
Now Ally had nothing to say. She had told herself she was never good enough, it wasn't worth it. But, until now, she never really realized what she had been blocking out.
She really did let it go— not give up. She hates that word.
"Music," she answers, short and simple, again.
A woman of no words was what she was at the moment, Austin thought.
"Drumbs, piano, guitar?" He prompted more out of her.
Without allowing the smile to form on her lips, she told him. "Piano, guitar ….singing," she went a little quieter at the end, "writing."
Austin nodded. "So, you play instruments, sing, and write your own songs?"
"Pretty much."
"So, then why'd you give up?"
She didn't like the words give up. Ally Dawson never gave up. Give up. It made her feel like a failure, and Ally Dawson definitely wasn't a failure. She was anyone but someone who simply gave up.
"I didn't give up!" She was now angry. Not at him, at herself. She didn't give up, but it sure as hell started to feel like she had and she didn't want to admit that.
She leaned away from him and rested her back on the airplane wall where the window was, pulled her legs up to her chest and bringing her head to her knees.
Austin nearly died at the sight. She really was lost, and then put back together as one again within seconds.
He couldn't work her out.
"I just ...had things on my plate." Ally sighed, finally speaking up once more. "Plus, I didn't forget all of it," she whispered.
"What have you not forgotten?" As much as he knew it was private, he wanted to give it a chance. It could help him to help her.
"I play my piano and write songs," she was muttering, to herself now.
Austin looked at her, "Sing me one."
"No!" Ally practically screamed.
"Ah." He knew it now.
"What?"
"You write songs about how you feel." Austin smirks. "That's the little sparks I see inside of you."
Ally closed her eyes and shook her head. "Can we stop talking about this now? Please?"
She wanted to talk about anything— but this. It was too much, especially with someone she had just met.
"Yeah... but, just …...don't forget what you do know. Never forget or lose the little sparks in you, whether they grow or not. That's the wrong path to take." That made sense. She did need to keep some part of her past with her.
She hugged him so tight. He basically needed an airbag; you know one of those things the air hostess' show you in case there was an emergency.
Well this was an emergency— and he needs one quick.
"Thank you..." She realized she didn't even know his name. "Stranger."
Without even thinking, Austin hugged her back, even tighter. But without breaking her thin body of course, "Your welcome,"
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have just arrived in Florida, we will be landing shortly. Please put your seatbelt on, turn off all electronical devices, and enjoy the ride. Thank you for flying with American Airways."
"You made it," Austin whispered into Ally's ear full of pride, in himself and her.
"Wasn't that bad."
Austin smirked. "Told you so."
After getting through the baggage claim part, finding a cafe to get a drink, and then sitting down waiting for people to clear the hallways, Austin and Ally finally made it outside.
When they departed, they both felt as if someone was missing. It started to get cold, and Ally felt sad again. She didn't think she would, but she missed the blonde's presence. And she still hadn't even gotten his name.
She laughed at that. Three hours on a plane ride with him, and she still had no clue what he was called.
"Stranger!" Ally turned around to see Austin running to her. Her eyes lit up.
She smiled, "Yeah?"
"What part of Miami do you live in?"
She laughed. "The West coast part, why?"
"Me too," He grinned. "My dad sent someone to pick me up. Do want to come instead of getting a cab?"
Normally, she would have declined a ride from someone she hardly knew; she didn't even know his name. But she felt so close to him, it was unreal. "Sure."
As they were walking, she stopped still. "How much do you want?"
"Nothing. Don't be silly." Austin said, taking her hand.
People walking last would've mistaken them for a couple that knew each other for years. Wrong. They met on a plane, talked for 3 hours, then instantly became what felt like best friends.
What a great story to tell people.
Once they got into the black car Austin's dad had sent him, they talked about anything and everything. They didn't care. For people who only just met, they could talk about truly anything.
"Thanks for the ride. Are you sure you don't want any money?" Ally asked Austin.
Austin shook his head, "Nah, instead, you can tell me your name. At the moment, you're still a stranger with no identification what so ever."
Ally grinned. "Ally. My name is Ally,"
"Austin. Nice to meet you, I'm gathering you're joining Marino High soon?"
Ally nodded. "In a week. It's going to be hard. I left two years ago. I doubt people will remember me at all."
"You have me, Trish and Dez," Austin told her.
"Who?"
"You'll see. Anyway, as much as I love you— I'm going to have to leave you. My dad needs me, for some unknown reason. Pass me your phone so I can contact you." Ally did as she was told and threw Austin her IPhone 5s.
"Nice." He commented. She shrugged. She got it for her fifteenth birthday from her mum. It was delivered, obviously.
He gave it back to her and pulled her into another hug, "So, see you soon. And don't forget, if you need anything just text me."
She hugged him back before replying with a simple, "Okay,"
As she watched him walk down the street, she saw his house.
Wow, she felt like an absolute stalker. Shaking her head to remove her thoughts, she knocked on the red door that led to her childhood home.
When the door opened, Ally smiled nervously at the woman in front of her.
"Hey, mum…."