Diamond in the Rough
Chapter 3: Coal
A groan escaped Ally's lips as the pounding on her front grew louder. She pushed herself into a sitting position, allowing her eyes to adjust to the dark bedroom before swinging her legs over the edge of her queen sized mattress. Blindly her fingers searched her carpeted floor for her discarded shorts, sliding the short denim fabric up her long slender legs. She left the button undone before wrenching her bed room door open. The pounding grew louder.
" I'm coming, I'm coming," she called out to the silent hallway, knowing the person on the other side heard her. Her fingers wrapped around the brass knob before her other hand grasped the deadbolt. With a flick of her wrist she heard the tumblers slide into place before she wrenched her front door open.
" Mom, would you mind explaining to me why you are standing out front at five in the morning?" Ally growled, annoyed with her mother, whom only recently decided to make an appearance in the young woman's life.
She was drunk, she could see the obvious signs, yet she didn't close the door in her face like she should have. She leaned most of her weight against the door frame, her chestnut curls tousled from the long night of drinking.
" I wanted to see you baby," her mother slurred, her words mixing together. Ally shook her head, fighting her annoyance as she allowed her mother into her apartment.
" Mom, you're drunk," Ally stated flatly, watching as her mother giggled before tripping over air.
" No… Maybe just a little bit," she held up her thumb and index finger to indicate just a pinch. Ally shook her head, her wild curls, tousled from sleep, flying around her shoulders and face.
" Do you need a place to crash for the night?" Ally knew the routine, was so used to it, it was honestly pathetic. Yet she couldn't bring herself to turn her mother away, she was her mother after all. Penny nodded her head, smiling a crooked smile at her only daughter. Ally released a sigh, moving down the hall to the closet where she kept her spare blankets.
In a matter of minutes, Penny Dawson was fast asleep on Ally's low, black suede sofa. Ally released a breath as she ran her fingers through her wild curls once more before turning on her heel and leaving her mother in the living room of her apartment. She glanced at her alarm clock which she kept on her night stand once she entered her bedroom, noting that it was only a quarter past five. However, she knew she wouldn't be able to return to sleep, so she decided to go about her morning routine before heading to Sonic Boom early. She ran her fingers through her hair, lifting the thick strands above her head as her hips swayed to a song only she knew as she padded quietly across her bedroom carpet. She pushed her bathroom door open with a nudge from her hip before dropping one hand to blindly find the light switch. Her pristine white bathroom was illuminated by the tiny lights she had, causing a faint smile to dance on her lips before she shut her bathroom door with her foot. She glanced at her appearance in her large mirror, taking in the differences from two and a half years ago to now. Her cheek bones were more pronounced, her hair thicker, but she kept the length to her lower back. Her eyes told a story no one could comprehend, her bottom lip was still fuller than her top, but a delicate shade of pink. Her skin was ivory, pulled taut over toned muscles the showed her slender waist. She was still five feet six inches, yet the air around her made her seem taller than that. She shook her head, pulling the old, black knit top over her head and dropping it onto her tiled floor. She slid the jean shorts from her hips, allowing them to join the growing articles. She turned to her shower stall, twisting the knobs to allow the water to warm. She glanced at her naked body in the mirror once more, a slight smirk dancing on her lips as she caught sight of three tattoos. One on her left hip, one on her right wrist, and the final one just behind her ear.
Each held a meaning only she understood, one everyone was curious to know about. The black ink was a stark contrast against her ivory skin, each tattoo stood out. The one behind her ear was a treble clef, a piece for her father. The one on her right wrist were three letters, for her best friend whom she hasn't heard from in two and a half years. The final one, the one on her left hip was for her other best friend who wished to convince the slender brunette that she wasn't some lump of coal. Written in black ink, following the curving slant of her hip bone were the words, ' Diamond in the Rough, Diamond in the Sky, Shining brightly for someone to find,'. How she let Trish talk her into that one, she may never know. She shook her head before stepping under the scorching spray of water. She went through her movements on autopilot, her thoughts drifting to a certain blonde Super Star and her Alcoholic mother. She released a soft sigh before shutting off the water and sliding the clouded glass shower door open. She would deal with those thoughts later, right now she needed out of her apartment.
She wrapped a large towel around her small body, moving into her bedroom to dress quickly. Her cell phone blinking in the dark room caught her attention, however. She furrowed her brows in confusion as she silently padded across her bedroom to check it.
'When will you be at Sonic Boom?' The text message was from Trish, which only caused Ally to furrow her brows even more. Trish was never up this early.
'In about half an hour, why?' She typed her reply quickly before running the towel over her body to catch the stray droplets of water. She moved to her closet, pulling out a pair of black skinny jeans and sliding them up to her narrow hips. She pulled on a plain white shirt, sliding an ash grey half vest over it. She was pulling on her black ankle boots when she saw the new message from Trish.
'Just wondering if you wanted me to open or not. Seeing how you're going to be there early, I'll close tonight,' Ally couldn't help but roll her eyes. Lester left the store to Ally when he decided he wanted to retire. He spent his time going to conventions while Ally ran the store. It was funny, her father decided he wanted to leave while her mother decided she wanted to come back.
She shook her head as she ran her brush through her wild curls, chewing on her bottom lip as she glanced at her brown leather song book. She hadn't written a song in a few months, one was due. She grabbed the book, stuffing it into her brown messenger bag before leaving her bedroom. She was adjusting the strap on her shoulder when she glanced at her mother who was still sprawled out on her sofa. She sighed, shaking her head as she wrote a quick note.
'Going to Sonic Boom. I'll be home around five if you want to have dinner. Love you- Ally'. She pinned the note to her stainless steel fridge before leaving her quiet apartment. She loved her mother, she honestly did. But sometimes, she didn't like it when she would show up at odd hours drunk. She released another sigh before making her way to the complex parking lot where she kept her Kia Spectra. She slid gracefully into the driver's seat before pulling out of her space.
The drive to Sonic Boom was quiet, only filled with the music quietly drifting from her speakers. The driver ended sooner than Ally wanted, forcing her to park her car and cut the engine. She sat in the driver's seat for a few more moments before deciding she needed to go to Sonic Boom before some one called security to check on her. She closed her eyes as she slid the key from the ignition, grabbing her messenger bag from the passenger's seat. She slipped out of her car and made her way to the store with ease. It was only six thirty, however business owners were already arriving to settle things before opening their stores. Ally wanted to write down a few song ideas before opening Sonic Boom for the public. She worked better when she was in her practice room, her sanctuary of sorts.
Ally's fingers danced over the ivory keys of her baby grand piano, the notes filling the silent store. A gentle smile played on her lips as she sang a few words she would use for the chorus.
"Ready or not
Here I come,
Where you at?
The night is young
In the crowd, the music's loud, but I will find you
Ready or not
Here I come
I like your face
Do you like my song?
Just sing it la, la, la, la, la, la and I will find you
Ready or not (Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh)
Ready or not (Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh)," She paused, quickly writing down the lyrics with a gentle smile on her face. One person came to mind as she sang the lyrics, the one person she had been trying to forget. Yet he always haunted her, no matter what she did.
She released a sigh, quickly closing her song book before making her way to the double glass doors. She twisted the dead bolt before flipping the sing over to 'open'. She moved across the tiled floor, sliding behind the counter and resting her elbows atop the glass display case as she waited for customers to make there way to the store. Her cell phone's shrill ring forced a groan from her lips.
" Hello?" she wasn't annoyed, however she didn't condone cell phones in the work place, even if she was the owner.
" Hey Ally, are you at the store yet?" Trish questioned, sounding much more awake than normal. Trish was not a morning person, this was something Ally knew very well.
" Yes Trish, I am at the store. And I just opened it, why?" She was beginning to get suspicious. She didn't enjoy it when her best friend asked her a million and one times if she was working or not.
" I was just wondering. I think I'll come keep you company," Trish said, ending the phone call before Ally could argue. She shook her head, sliding her cell phone into her back pocket. The bell above the glass door jingled, alerting Ally of a customer.
" Welcome to Sonic Boom," A little girl's squeal filled Ally's ears once she finished her greeting.
" Good morning to you too, Elena," Ally greeted with a chuckle, glancing up to see the brother of her blonde best friend.
" Ryker, is there a reason you've brought your daughter to my store so early in the morning," The blonde male shrugged his shoulders, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
" I tried to call last night, but you refused to answer. I was wondering if you would watch your favorite God-Daughter for a few hours. I have to go to the air port to pick some one up. Ma refused to disclose any names. And Elena's a five year old little girl. She's fantastic most of the time, however waiting in the airport is not a memory I want to revisit," Ryker spoke, his familiar chocolate brown eyes widening slightly as he pleaded with his daughter's God-mother. Ally shook her head, releasing a huff of breath as she crossed her arms over her chest.
" Alright, alright. I'll watch her for a few hours, but no longer," Ally warned him. He nodded, sighing in relief before kissing the top of his daughter's head.
" Behave for Auntie Ally, Lena," Ryker told his daughter before leaving. Elena moved around the counter, extending her arms towards her only aunt. Ally smiled gently at the five year old before picking her up and placing her on the glass counter.
" You know, your Uncle's favorite spot was on the counter too?" Ally stated randomly, listening to her god-daughter chuckle.
" Do you think I'll get to meet my uncle Auntie Ally?" Elena questioned, blinking her chocolate brown eyes owlishly. Ally chewed on her bottom lip as she shrugged her shoulders.
" I'm not sure Baby Girl. I hope so," Ally answered, watching the hands on the clock slowly tick by.
" It was hilarious. I've never seen a grown man get his head stuck inside a tuba before," Trish was informing Ally and Elena about the adventure she had yesterday when Ally had gone home.
" Now you understand why I tell people not to touch the merchandise," Ally stated, rolling her eyes skyward before she heard a familiar voice fill the air.
" I honestly had no idea. Ma refused to tell me who I was going to be picking up," Ryker stated as he pulled open the glass door to Sonic Boom. A familiar chuckle reached Ally's ears, a chuckle she hasn't heard in over two years. Every muscle in her body tensed as Ryker entered the store with his younger brother and his best friend.
" You're joking, why wouldn't she tell you?" Austin questioned, not noticing just where they were yet.
" I probably would have refused. I didn't want to see you after I heard you were going on tour. You missed my wedding and the birth of my daughter," Ryker stated crossing his arms over his chest. Austin rolled his eyes before looking apologetic.
" I said I was sorry," he mumbled before he finally saw where he was. His chocolate brown eyes widened fractionally when he saw three girls behind the counter.
" Ally?" her voice was barely above a whisper, yet her amber eyes were wide with shock, fear, panic. He didn't know if he should be worried or not, however his eyes landed on the little girl sitting atop the counter beside her. His jaw clenched as he glared at his older brother, watching as Ally hugged the child to her chest.
" You didn't tell me she was the mother," Austin accused. Ryker took in the direction his brother's gaze was before rolling his eyes.
" I told you she was a god send, Aus. She practically raised Lena," that was all Ryker could say before his younger brother's fist connected with his jaw. Ally had certainly changed, and Austin was still just as protective over his piece of coal…
A/N: I'm not sure if I really like this chapter or not. I like how it started out, but the rest, I'm a little ify on. Let me know what you guys think. If you don't like it, I may just rewrite it for you… Enjoy!