Apologies for the long wait! I'm glad many people are as excited about the story as I am! And I'm so happy that you all like the plotline so far! Even though it was only one chapter. Hope you enjoy!

**I rewrote this chapter about...3 times?**

Chapter Two: No Miss Damsel in Distress

After laughing for several minutes, Austin regained his composure and cleared his throat. "Seriously? Ally Dawson? Miss Valedictorian, the very poster child of Marino High? C'mon, man. Of all the girls, you want her?"

"You don't get it, man," Gavin shook his head. "She's a lot more than that. Besides, I need her to be my partner for our AP Chemistry project. All the other people in the class are total dimwits. I need this grade to get a scholarship for college."

"So basically, you just want to use her?" The blonde raised his eyebrow. Normally, he wouldn't give one less of a damn if someone had asked him to get a nerd to do his or her homework. He's pulled that stunt more times than he can count, to be honest.

"Sort of. But I really do have a thing for her." Gavin replied, shrugging his shoulders. What's there to even like about her? Austin thought. Needless to say, he didn't care.

"What's in it for me?"

"What?"

"C'mon, dude. You know I never agree to just any favor unless I get something out of it." Austin chuckled as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "If I get Dawson to go out with you, what's my end of the deal going to look like?"

The other eighteen year old have a slow sigh. "I'll buy you a new radiator cap for that pile of junk you got parked in your garage."

"Hey. My truck isn't a piece of junk. Marilyn is a instrument of precision and is a vision of vintage beauty. She just...needs a little tune up." The blonde scratched the back of his neck. "Fine. Deal."

"Great." Gavin smiled with the top row of his pearly whites and patted Austin on the back. "So, I kinda need the project by next month, so could you get her to fall for me by n-"

"Whoa, dude. I said I'd help you get her. Didn't say it was going to happen that fast. I'm not a miracle worker." And this is Ally Dawson, after all. He thought, but didn't say aloud. "If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it my way, with my own sweet time."

Allyson Dawson was the picture perfect image of their high school. She represented the model student, never causing a rebellion within the classroom walls, always showing up to school-come to think of it, as far as Austin could remember, Ally had not missed one day of school since kindergarten. She was kind to everyone and never had a problem with any student. Sure there were kids that did not particularly take a keen interest in her, but she always had her head held high. That was what people around her admired most about her. She had an undying aura of optimism and just pure joy. He was pretty sure she was incapable of frowning or negatively commenting on something or someone.

Austin had known her since he had moved to Miami the summer before kindergarten. To this day, they lived across the street from each other. Although the short distance from each other, they never had a full and real conversation. He didn't know if it was because he was too shy as a kid or vice versa. They merely exchanged friendly glances and nods whenever they crossed paths either on the sidewalk, park, or at school. He, himself, didn't know much about her. So how he was going to somewhat befriend her to indirectly push her to get in a relationship with Gavin? He had no idea.

"Austin!" His red-headed friend nudged him in the shoulder. The blonde came out of his trance and blinked several times.

"What?"

"I've been telling you about how my turtle threw up that doughnut I gave him yesterday, but you were just spacing out," Dez furrowed his eyebrows. If it were a stranger Dez was talking to, they'd get weirded out. But this was Austin. 'Weird' was a normal word to describe Dez.

"Sorry, buddy. I was just-"

"Thinking of how you were going to get Ally to go out with Gavin." The red-head finished for him.

"Um, yeah...how did-" Austin started again, only to get interrupted once more.

"I know? I ate this taco the other day and it gave me mind-reading abilities. That and you were talking out loud."

"Right." He closed his locker. "So lunch?"

The two walked to the courtyard where they typically ate their lunch. After several minutes, Austin mind wandered back to this new 'favor' he has to complete. Any other girl, the idea would have already popped up in his head by now, but for some reason, he was stumped. "What if I made notes and put them in her locker? They could hint that Gavin wrote them. Or I could get her loud Latina friend to nudge her in his direction or-"

"I don't think that's such a good idea." Dez shared his input.

"You're right. Those are really stupid ideas-"

"No, man. I meant this whole thing. Normally, I wouldn't care, but I don't know. This just seems like a bad vibe to me." The red-head stared at his turkey sandwich.

"What harm could it do, Dez?"

"A lot, actually." Dez mumbled, but Austin didn't catch it. Unlike Austin, Dez knew a lot more about his next little 'favor' for Gavin. Well...meaning the persons involved.

The next morning, Austin woke up with a plan conjuring up within his brain. He had to think of something, but what? How does one catch the attention of the busiest person in the entire school? He'd be considered lucky if he even got two minutes with her.

Damn. He did not realize how hard this was going to be.

While getting ready, he stared at his appearance. His usual attire. A casual v-neck t-shirt, ripped-at-the-knees blue jeans with a chain hanging from his left pocket, and his signature whistle necklace dangling from his neck. Every once in a while, he added a wrist watch or one of his leather bracelets and a couple of metal rings on his fingers. You know, typical rocker-bad boy persona.

Austin jogged down the stairs, grabbed an apple from the kitchen counter and discovered that his parents had already left for work.

"Surprise, surprise," he muttered to himself. He picked up the note that his mother had neatly written and laid on the counter.

'Morning, sweetie! I'm so sorry we missed you at breakfast today,' And yesterday's breakfast. Don't forget last night's dinner. 'We'll make it up to you, I promise! Your father and I will be out for the Mattress Around The World Convention until Monday. We'll grab you a souvenir. Be good! Love, Mom.'

Monday. That was 4 days away. But it's not like they've been gone longer. His parents were crazy about their business and have gone to Europe, parts of Asia and South America, as well as around the country for their 'Mattress Meetings', leaving Austin alone for days or even weeks.

He used to mind at first, but by now, he was used to the feeling. When he was a kid, his parents would get him a baby sitter. Typically they were old ladies who always talked to him about their cats. By the time he turned 10, he practically could name every type of cat out there.

His phone buzzed from his front pocket.

'Hey, man!' Dez. 'Could you give me a ride? My sister spilled her perfume in my car. Don't want to smell like girl when we get to school.'

'Sure bro.' He replied. Grabbing his keys, Austin headed out his front door. What he found outside his door was the red-head himself.

"Whoa. Dude, I could've picked you up at your house-"

"I was already in the neighborhood." Dez replied casually.

"Okay?" Austin unlocked his car and out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a brunette. And not just any brunette. It was her. And she seemed to be struggling with opening her own car door.

'Go. Go now. This is your chance. Now or never.' He thought. Before he knew it, his feet jogged over to her driveway.

"Bro, where you-"

She must have not seen him approaching her.

"Um...looks like you could use a hand." His voice was not as strong as he planned it would be.

She jumped and nearly dropped her items. Austin took note. An AP Biology book, notebook, her lunch-he was guessing, and a box of cupcakes. "Ah!"

On instinct, he leaped down trying to catch her things. Luckily, he had caught the cupcakes and her lunch and she had her book and notebook.

"I didn't think I'd scare you-"

"Oh no no! You're fine." She replied, straightening her attire. A simple tank top and tight Capri pants and about two-inch wedges. "I'm typically this clumsy."

Noted. Austin scratched the back of his neck and offered to open her door for her. She eyed him for a moment, placing her things in the back seat.

"Thanks." She looked up at him and furrowed her eyebrows.

"Something wrong?" He asked. Austin was about to add a remark about her being dazed by his looks but he decided against it. She shook her head.

"No, it's just that I never would have expected the Austin Moon to lend a helping hand..." She blinked several times before adding, "Voluntarily, I mean."

'What's that supposed to mean?' He asked himself. He raised his eyebrow at the girl in front of him.

"It means, based on your rep, things always come with some sort of price. What's the catch?"

"No catch." Liar.

"Riiiiight. And I'm married to Harry Potter." The brunette sarcastically answered.

"Can't a nice guy rescue a nice girl whenever she needs him to sweep her off her feet?" He cockily smiled, trying to get through to her.

Ally let out small, knowing chuckle. "I don't need a hero."

"Says the girl who nearly got showered with buttercream frosting, Dawson." He smirked slightly. She raised her eyebrow at the perhaps over confident blonde and shook her head, laughing. "Trust me. You needed my help. No need for a 'thank you.'"

"Wow. They were right about you." She opened the front door of her car.

"That I'm devilishly handsome? That my smile just captivates you?"

"That your confidence just reeks with ignorance and an ego the size of Texas." Ally remarked back, taking Austin back. No one had spoken to him like that before. He had to give props to Dawson for that, but that doesn't mean he was going to hold back on his current mission.

"Well, I guess, I'll see you around at school," she slyly smiled at him, knowing that he had stunned him.

"Yeah. Right." He nodded. Austin backed up as she drove out of her driveway. He went back to his own car and got in.

"Since when did you volunteer to help damsels in distress?" Dez spoke from the passenger's seat. Austin had forgotten that he was giving him a ride.

"Trust me, dude. Even if that girl had a huge light up arrow that read 'HELP ME', she wouldn't need an extra hand." He buckled up and thought for a moment. If he wasn't going to be able to get Ally Dawson to let him be around her, he would have to bring her around him. She wouldn't have any other choice if she were surrounded by a ton of people. "Dez?"

"What's up?"

"What are the chances of the whole school coming to a party I'm throwing this weekend?"

Dez eyed him and smirked. "Pretty good."

"Perfect."

fin. Next chapter will be up ASAP!

P.S.: I may also be working on a trailer for the fanfiction! Tune in!

P.P.S.: also, just to clear things up a bit, Austin is the one that the grandfather is speaking of.

xx