A short chapter, but it gives insight on Austin's pain and hate towards Ally for right now. Enjoy. Next chapter will be up shortly.
Back in Miami, Austin Moon sat at the familiar red piano in his very own practice room.
His heart hurts a little because it feels like it was just yesterday when he and Ally were both sitting at this stupid piano.
But it wasn't just yesterday that she was here because that would mean she never left.
But she did leave, and oh, god, did she take a piece of his heart with him.
And today is the anniversary of her departure from Miami. And it hurts a lot. Because five years sure does go by fast.
"Say something, I'm giving up on you," he sings, his voice almost a whisper as he hits the white keys. "Anywhere I would have followed you."
"Does it still hurt some days?" he hears a voice ask from behind him.
He jumps, startled by the sudden presence. The blonde turns around to see his curly haired best friend. "Trish," he says, his voice hoarse. "How'd you get in here?"
"Your front door was unlocked. And I heard your piano."
A beat passes.
"Does it?" she repeats.
"Y-yeah. I mean... Yeah. It does. Some days I don't think of her at all, but when the stupid anniversary of her leaving comes around...," Austin swallows hard, trying to stay strong in front of Trish, because he knows it still hurts her too. "It hurts so much. It's the only day it really hurts. And I mean, really hurts."
"I know," the Latina whispers, taking a seat next to her childhood best friend.
And normally, Austin would be annoyed with someone for trying to sympathize with his pain, but he doesn't argue because he knows Trish is hurting just as much and she really does know.
"I don't get why it hurts so much still, you know?" Austin says abruptly after a minute of silence. "Today makes five years. Since she left, that is."
Trish doesn't say anything, because she knows April 9th is always a hard day for Austin.
"It's been five years. I don't need to be upset about this anymore. She's never coming back. I've accepted that. I don't want to see her ever again, because, man, did she hurt me... but why does it hurt?" he asks, this time looking at the woman next to him.
"Maybe because a piece of you wants her to come back, despite the pain she left you with. The pain she left us all with," Trish offers, knowing this isn't what Austin wants to hear, but it is the truth.
Ignoring her words, Austin continues. "I hate her. I hate her so much, Trish. I hate myself for loving her. I hate her for leaving me. I hate her for not saying goodbye."
Trish just nods, knowing his words are just out of anger and they're far from true.
And he blinks a few times before turning back to the keys and he plays a few tunes for Trish.
"Maybe it's crazy, but maybe she never meant to hurt you. Or us," Trish says after a few minutes.
Austin keeps playing. "Huh?"
"Austin, you know Ally would never hurt anyone intentionally. And I'm not trying to justify her actions, because what she did was wrong," she takes a sharp breath. "But maybe she honestly thought she was doing something right."
And Austin stops playing. He doesn't say anything, because it hurts to think that Ally only saw good in leaving him, because did that mean she didn't see the good in their relationship?
"I hate her," he mumbles in replying.
And Trish isn't sure if he's trying to convince her or himself.
