Hey guys! So you are all probably really mad at me for not updating in forever, but I had a lot going on. My brother made the allstar baseball team, so there was a lot of games going on and things I had to attend. I have also been busy with cheerleading. I made the Varsity squad at my school and I'm absolutely thrilled!

Anyways, I'll try to update chapter four quicker, although I'm not making any promises. I hope you guys enjoy chapter four. Trish and Dez make a brief appearance in this chapter, too! I think you guys will like this chapter. Austin starts having a change of heart.

Also, I don't own Austin & Ally, or McDonald's which is mentioned in this chapter.

Ally's POV

I finally make it to my bed after another harsh beating and a lot of cleaning. I had to clean puddles of vomit of our floor from my father's drinking. No matter how much cleaning I do, our house is still revolting filled with disgusting things and strange smells.

Tonight I also found a bag of weed. I assumed that my father did drugs, but I never seen him do drugs personally. I was kind of shocked, and a little scared, knowing that drugs in his system can make him crazier than he already is. I wonder if he does anymore drugs, like heroin and stuff?

I can't stand the odor, so tonight I decide to sneak out my window. I do this a lot. I have a tree right by here, and I'm capable of climbing out the window and onto the tree, which I just climb down. I take a few dollars with me, because if I can walk to McDonald's or something, I can eat. I haven't eaten tonight because my dad would not let me.

After I'm safe on the ground, I start walking in the direction of McDonald's. I'm so sore and exhausted that I fall a couple of times, but I manage to make it to the bright yellow arches. I only have three dollars, so I get a cheeseburger and some fries.

McDonald's is practically deserted, considering it's almost midnight, so I find a booth to sit alone in and quietly eat. It's so good that I practically devour it. It's the first thing I have eaten this week that I actually enjoy. After eating, I walk outside into the night and start for home. It's warm out tonight, so I sleep in the soft grass in my backyard, not wanting to go back into my disgusting house.

Austin's POV

Sneaking out at night has always been my favorite thing to do. I would meet up with friends and we'd go eat or sometimes drink alcohol. I'm not really a big fan of drinking, but being cool and having a reputation, it's something you go to do to maintain your social status.

Some nights though, I'd go alone. I like to walk around and look at the stars. If I can't sleep, going for a walk gives me some fresh air and gives me a chance to think about 's a bit risky, considering Miami isn't the safest place in the world, but the neighborhood I live in is good spot and I never travel too far away.

Tonight, I'm laying in bed, and I can't get what happened on the courts today out of my head. I'm so worried about Ally, even though I shouldn't be. I hardly know her, but I feel very protective of her. I should not have followed her home today either, because the sound of her cries coming through that door are continuously echoing in my head.

I shoot out of bed, and climb out my window. I need to get some air tonight. I walk around a little bit, and find myself walking past Ally's house. She lives really close by. I stop in front of her house for a second and see a man stumble out of it and walk down to the corner bar. I then hear some rustling in the tree next to their house, and see Ally hop out of it.

I immediately duck behind a parked car, but peek through the windows to see what she's doing. She looks around, making sure her coast is clear, and then heads off down the sidewalk, opposite from the way her father went. I follow her quietly, on the opposite side of the road. She falls a couple times, and she looks so much in pain that I almost go to help her, but I don't want her to think I'm a stalker. Finally, we reach McDonald's and she goes inside to eat. She looks like she has not seen food in forever, and devours it immediately. I can tell she doesn't eat that much, because she's abnormally thin.

I feel so bad for her at this point, starting to realize the kind of life she's living. It breaks my heart and I want to do something about it. The more I watch her suffer, the less I think about Kira and my reputation. Because none of that matters. Ally is a person too, and she deserves a happy life like everybody else. And the more I get to know her, the more I want to give that to her.

After she finishes eating, I follow her back to her house, making sure she gets there safely, but I'm shocked when she rests down in the grass beneath the stars to sleep instead of her room. I watch her sleep for a couple minutes, the moonlight shining on her soft face. She looks kind of beautiful. I cannot believe I just thought that.

She shivers in her sleep from the wind and I contemplate what I should do about that. I climb over her fence and up her tree through her bedroom window. As I look around her room and smell a terrible odor, I realize now why she wants to sleep outside. I grab her thin sheets of her bed, which seem to have some blood stains on them, as well as her pillow, and carry them outside. I climb down the tree and softly approach her. I place the sheet over her and gently lift her head and put the pillow underneath her head.

I nod satisfied, and then jump back over the fence, and start back for home. I'm going to try to be a different person. Starting right now.

Ally's POV

I wake up the birds chirping and the sun shining on my face. I frown into the light. Why am I outside?

I remember now that I had chosen to sleep outside instead of in the awful smelling house. I don't remember getting my sheets or pillow though, but I don't overthink it. The night was a bit of a blur. I sit up and climb up my tree through my open window.

As I put my sheets and pillow back on my bed, I notice something silver laying on my floor. I bend over and pick it up. It's a whistle necklace. I frown. How did this get here? It looks vaguely familiar, also.

I fiddle with it in my hand, and remember where I have seen it before. Austin Moon wears one just like it. I shrug and place it on my dresser, and then get dressed. I place the whistle in my pocket, so later today I can compare it to Austin's. I get washed up in my bathroom and then painfully walk down the stairs to my kitchen.

My father is nowhere to be found and that is a relief to me. I grab my backpack and walk out the front door. As I make my way to Marino, I think about Austin yesterday and the whole court scenario. He seemed to care, even through his constant protests. It must be my imagination though, because there is noway that Austin Moon, who had been bullying me my entire life, can ever care about me.

I walk into school and the first thing I see is Austin. He's leaning against one of the lockers talking to one of the guys. My eyes shoot to his chest to see his whistle, but it's not hanging off his neck. I frown, wondering why he's not wearing it.

I slowly walk past him and his eyes lock to mine, but I quickly look away. I saw a new look in them. It was not bitterness or hate like it usually was. It looked more like adoration or care. But that must all be in my imagination. I am feeling a little hazy today.

I continue walking to my locker, but I am intercepted by Kira once again. "Good morning Ally," she sneers in this disgusting voice. My chest tightens, and I try to walk around her but she blocks me. "Is that a new shade of makeup?" she asks, pointing to the purple bruise on my cheek. I gulp, remembering where that one came from. I don't answer and she starts laughing.

"Did you fall down the stairs?" she asks, making a pretend sad face. I roll my eyes at her and proceed to step around her, but she grabs my shoulder roughly. "Where do you think your going?" she asks her hand digging into my skin. "Let go of me," I say trying to sound aggressive, but it sounds like a soft whisper. "Where do you think you can roll your eyes at me?" she asks. I knew I should not have done that, but for once I was just trying to stick up for myself, act like I don't care.

Her sharp, perfectly manicured nails dig deeper into my skin. I probably have the most kid like terrified look on my face right now. This is starting to hurt really bad. I try again, "Please let go of me? I'm sorry." Kira makes a face, and doesn't let go.

"Let. go. of. her." a dark voice commands from behind me. Somebody's sticking up for me? I try to look around to see who it is, but Kira sharply pulls me back. "Why should I?" Kira answers, "You can't tell me what to do."

The person says it again. "LET. GO. OF. HER. RIGHT. NOW." Kira terrifyingly steps back, releasing me, and I feel relieved. I turn around to see Austin with a black look in his eyes. I look at him confused, and he's looking at me with the same look I swore I saw when I walked in this morning.

Kira steps in front of me. "How could you defend her? I'm your girlfriend. Besides we love messing with Dawson. You usually think it's funny!" By now, most students are watching, and I feel really awkward. I start backing away.

"Because, I just don't think you should take it that far. You know, she has feelings too," Austin responds and for some reason that melts my heart. Somebody, for once, actually considered my feelings. Kira shrugs. "What and ever. Maybe your sick or something. Let's just get to class. Carry my books." Austin rolls his eyes, but picks up her books and follows the diva down the hallway. He gives me one last look before turning the corner.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts and approach my locker. I grab my books and head to class.

It's time for gym class now, and I'm pretty nervous to approach Austin, especially after the court incident and now the hallway incident. Today, we have to compete against another partner team in basketball, and we haven't even practiced together. Also, I don't even think I'm in any decent condition to play a sport.

Austin walks up to me, with that same look in his eyes. "Hey Ally," he says softly, standing beside me. I offer a tiny smile to him, but I don't say anything. The air seems thick with awkwardness. After a moment of silence, Austin clears his throat. "Um, are you ready to play today?"

I shrug. "I-I don't really know how,"I admit, embarrassed. "Well, try your best. Remember the grade is not based off of winning." I'm shocked he said that, considering yesterday how badly he wanted to win. "You mean, you won't be mad if we loe?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "No, I guess that's not a big deal." I nod, relieved, and the silence comes back. Coach Cobb blows his whistle then and I'm grateful for something to break the tension. He starts calling off partners and who they will be playing against. Finally he gets to us. "Ally Dawson and Austin Moon, you will being playing against Dez Parado and Trish Delarosa."

Austin and I make our way over to a tall, lanky redhead boy who was dressed in colorful clothing, and a short Latina girl dressed head to toe in cheetah print. I have never talked to either one of them in my life. I was hardly aware they were even in this class.

I can tell Austin has never talked to them either because he doesn't say a word to them. They must not be that popular if Austin Moon doesn't talk to them, and they must be not that big of losers if I don't talk to them. They are in the normal student body population, I suppose.

Trish offers me a small smile, and that makes me feel good. She seems like a nice girl, but by the way she is dressed you can tell she also has a fiery side. Dez and Austin start up a small conversation and it seems they like each other instantly. I can't believe Austin is actually talking to somebody dressed and acting as strangely as Dez. When has he had this sudden change of heart?

Coach Cobb blows the whistle then, and we have to start playing against Trish and Dez. Much to my relief, Trish isn't good at basketball either, so it's basically Austin vs. Dez. At one point, Austin tosses the ball to me, and I have no idea what to do. "Ally," he says, "Shoot. You can do it."

I look at the basket and shoot. It bounces off the backboard and swishes through the basket. I feel an immediate pride in my heart. Austin punches his fist. "There you go Ally!" He gives me a high five, and it's the best I felt in a while. As soon as his palm touches mine, I feel a shock zap through my entire body. I pull away as soon as I feel it. Austin just smiles at me.

Throughout the game, I make two more baskets, Austin giving me a congratulation ever time. The game is almost over, when suddenly my knees give out, and I become weak. I fall to the pavement and the game suddenly stops. "Ally!" Austin shouts, rushing over to my side. "Are you alright?"

I nod and he lifts me up into his strong arms and he carries me to the fence. He sets me down and looks me in the eyes. His face is literally inches away from mine. "Me and you are talking after this is over." I nod weakly and search for a water but I don't have one. "Drink mine," Austin offers and I gulp it down. Austin goes and continues playing against Trish and Dez.

Austin ends up winning, so he tells Coach Cobb we both won. Luckily, Coach Cobb inspected our game at the beginning, so he didn't see me sit out the last couple minutes.

Austin comes over to me and sits down beside me. Trish and Dez exit the court and walk towards the locker rooms with the rest of the class.

"Look," he starts, "Please tell me what's going on. It's really starting to freak me out."

I shake my head. "I can't tell you," I whisper, salty tears brimming in my eyes. He looks anxious. "I won't tell anybody, I swear. I won't tell Kira or Dallas or any of my friends. I promise."

I shakily sigh. "How can I be sure this is not a trick?" He sighs. "I know- that in the past I was a bit...rude and everything, but I'm starting to change. I'm starting to realize the friends I have now aren't really my friends and I'm starting to care about other people. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything I did to you. I'm sorry for making fun of you, I'm sorry for embarrassing you. I never meant it to be hurtful, and I didn't want to hurt you. Please forgive me, and tell me what's wrong. Please."

I can't believe Austin just apologized to me. After all these years of ignoring me except when making fun of me, he decides to apologize. The look in his eyes seems sincere though, so I offer a small smile and respond, "Okay, I forgive you." Austin smiles a genuine smile back, but then his face turns serious. "Will you tell me what's going on?" he asks then.

I gulp, remembering my father's warning. "I'm sorry, I can't," I whisper. I shakily stand up and exit the court, my tears spilling the whole way. I so badly want to tell him, to let somebody in. But I can't. It's too risky, for myself and for him. Austin has no idea what my father is capable of.

"Ally please! Wait! I just want to help you!" he calls out from the court, but I continue walking towards the school, feeling more alone than ever.