This chapter contains factors that made me who I am. They are not necessarily bad or not necessarily good. They were just different. And sometimes different is good. Something new came into my life and it turned out to be fate. You'll understand later, I know you will. I used to be so outgoing. I talked to people, I performed in front of audiences, and I was writing more cheerful songs. This is where I wanted to take music seriously, as a career. And even though it wouldn't work out so well, I'm glad I did. Once again, fate had its ways.

Chapter 4: Sonic Boom?

Things started to cool off after my little meltdown. My parents scolded me for running off and I couldn't stop thinking about that boy who stopped to check up on me. I can't believe this was the second time I had seen him and I still didn't know his name. I had never seen him in school or maybe I wasn't looking hard enough. I had gone through all my yearbooks K-7 and I still couldn't find him. I know what you're thinking, 'desperate much?' No, not desperate, just grateful. It was August now and I wasn't looking forward to eighth grade. Well actually I was, but only academically not socially. As much as I deny it, I admit I don't have much of a social life. In fact, Trish calls me a bird locked up in a cage. Oh! That reminds me! Owen is doing awesome and is cuter than ever. I was still so new to the idea of having a pet so I was obsessed with him. He and music were my addictions. No wonder people think I'm crazy.

My parents were at the doctors meeting with my mom's oncologist. They were discussing treatment options. Luckily, they caught my mom's cancer early so there is a good chance that she will survive the surgery. So anyway, I was home alone with Owen and I was talking to myself like usual.

"What if they can't find treatment options? Ally don't be so stupid, they're doctors. But what if they aren't real doctors and they're only fake ones who bought their masters degree for twenty bucks on EBay? I think that was in a movie once," I paced in my living room, worrying.

"Ally stop talking!"

I froze. Where did that voice come from? "Mom? Dad?" They had only left seven minutes ago, there was no way they could be back that fast. I ran outside, but there were no neighbors in sight. It was probably just my imagination. I went back inside and sat on the couch. "I'm going crazy …" I convinced myself.

"You are crazy!"

There it was again! By this time I was freaking out. The only one here with me was Owen. I slowly turned to look at the bird and he stared back at me. It was almost as if he was reading my mind.

"Hi Ally!"

About an hour later I called Trish. I needed to tell her that my bird can talk. She rushed over to my house because I told her it was an emergency.

"What is it?" She ran through the door out of breath. "If it's about Robert Pattinson coming to Miami-,"

I put my hands on her shoulders to calm her down. "Settle down, Trish. It has nothing to do with Twilight."

Her eyes widened. "Does it have anything to do with Ross Lynch?"

"Uh no."

"Riker Lynch?"

"No."

"Rocky Lynch?"

"No, no, no … who is Ross, Riker, and Rocky anyway?"

Trish's jaw dropped. "Only the hottest singers, guitarists, and bassist from the awesomest band ever, R5. Though the drummer is pretty hot too."

"Trish focus, I brought you over here because I found out a major secret."

"Ooh! Gossip! I'm listening …"

"Okay don't freak out … but I found out my bird can talk!"

She looked at me deadpanned. "No, seriously."

"I'm being serious!"

"No Ally, you're being ridiculous."

I crossed my arms and walked over to Owen's cage. "Owen talk!" I demanded.

He just stared back at me. Let's just say, Trish never looked at me the same after that.

Eighth grade was awful. I was a straight A student but because I was such a nerd I didn't have many friends. Trish was actually my only friend. I was getting bullied, badly. I hid it from Trish and from my parents. I went to sleep crying because I was getting bullied both verbally and physically. I hid bruises and scrapes from being pushed around. I didn't understand why people were doing this. What was wrong with me?

Around Halloween, my dad bought the old empty building and turned it into a music store. We needed to pay off mortgage for the store and didn't have much business. Even though I was only thirteen, dad and I worked there. He didn't know what to name it, but we had found a name while I was watching my favorite cartoon, Sonic the Hedgehog. My mom, who was still in treatment, was paying bills in the kitchen. "Mom? What do you think we should name the store?"

"I don't know. But I know you'll think of something, one day something will come to mind and 'Boom!' instant idea."

I thought about this. Boom. I watched Sonic on the screen. Boom, Sonic, Sonic, Boom. That's it! Sonic Boom! And that is where most of my life began.

Sonic Boom had two rooms above the actual store. My dad's office and storage room and my practice room for writing songs. The store was popular at first and we got quite a bit of money. My dad knew I wanted to take music as a career so he signed me up for auditions for a music school in New York. If I was good enough I could get a scholarship. He actually offered to hold auditions at Sonic Boom. Which was very new. I knew that you had to be good … like very good to go to this school. But after seeing so many people go down who were better than me, I got nervous. So nervous that I hallucinated and got scared. I didn't get in. I failed. And because I failed, I got stage fright. I could not perform in front of anyone. Not Trish, or my parents, or anyone. Some may call it a curse but I actually found it a blessing.

Once eighth grade had passed, summer had begun. My mom had gotten through the surgery well and was out looking for work. I was working equally as hard at Sonic Boom. My mom thought I was working too hard and sent me off to an arts and crafts camp in Miami. I was scared at first because I had gotten bullied so badly. But I ended up making a friend.

I looked around the camp, which was more a table with glitter, yarn, toothpicks, glue, and all sorts of different things. I felt someone bump into me and sent me to the ground. I felt a hand help me up and a male voice ask me if I was okay. I looked up to see a brunette guy with hazel eyes, about a foot taller than me.

"I'm sorry! Are you okay? I'm Elliot" He had a brilliant smile and held out his hand.

I gladly shook it. Many of the guys that I have known are all jerks. "I'm Ally."

Elliot and I became best friends. We made arts and crafts together. He made me a lanyard and I helped him make a leather change purse. The counselors sometimes called us the arts and crafts rebels. Don't ask why…

Sadly, Elliot and I took our separate paths and we haven't seen each other since. But that was okay, because something more important would take place in my life.

Well here's the update for this week! I know its short but I typed this all in one night and on my friend's laptop. This was Ally's childhood. Spoiler Alert: The next chapter introduces Austin and Dez. Thanks for the reviews! Keep 'em coming! :)

-Evelyn