"Austin, what are you doing here?" Ally asked, not being able to resist a smile.
"Well, I just wanted to come early today. I was hoping we could work on a song really quick before people start coming in," he replied, dusting off his pants.
"How long have you been waiting?" Ally wondered aloud, not wasting any time in unlocking the doors.
"Not long," he said modestly. Austin had waited two hours. Luckily, he fell asleep thirty minutes after he'd arrived.
They went straight to the grand piano by the checkout desk, sitting in their spots the way that it should be. It didn't matter who was on the left or on the right, only that they were beside each other. It had only been a week, but boy, had Austin missed this. He always loved the process of songwriting. Since he wasn't good at songwriting himself, Ally's work was magic.
They were in song-writing and playful jamming paradise for only thirty minutes before Austin suddenly stopped.
"Listen, Ally," he said, getting her attention with the seriousness in his voice.
"What's wrong, Austin?" She asked, a little nervous.
"I'm allergic to Elliot."
"...What?"
"Good Morning Al-" a familiar voice sang from behind them. Elliot didn't even bother to finish his sentence after realizing who was sitting beside Ally. He could already recognize the bleached blond hair of his rival from miles away. He knew he had on the nastiest scowl, but he couldn't help it.
Elliot watched the both of them turn around at the sound of his voice, catching the tiniest suggestion of a grin on Austin's face. Even though Austin's intentions were to keep Ally from being "infected" by Elliot's "allergicness", he still felt good about beating Elliot to her.
"Good morning, Elliot," Ally replied politely.
"'Morning," Austin said, triumphantly.
The appalled Elliot just stared at Austin, who had stopped smiling to match his intense gaze. Elliot broke the stare, turning to Ally.
"I thought I was going to show you how to triple bird knit."
"Of course!" She said excitedly, getting up from the bench. Austin unconsciously got up after Ally, following her protectively. "Wanna join us, Austin?"
He glanced at Elliot who looked like he was about to hurl from Ally's words.
"Sure!"
Elliot frowned and made his way beside Ally at the counter.
"Sorry, I only brought yarn for two," he apologized, not so apologetically.
"It's okay, he can take turns with me," Ally improvised, eager to see her friend weave.
Austin genuinely smiled at Ally's offer and accepted, making sure to place himself snugly between Elliot and Ally.
Ally spent a lot of time focused on Austin, helping his beginner weaving skills. Regardless of Elliot's rude snickers, Austin was enjoying himself with the help of Ally. Soon enough, Elliot became the third wheel. Austin went home that day smiling, holding a scarf that was half messed up and half neat.
Austin's POV
The next morning, I woke up early again. Normally, I would hate the idea of getting up in the morning, but this time was different. I've been feeling uneasy, almost threatened, by this allergy to the point where I actually look forward to the sun rising so I can head to Sonic Boom, which is the only way I've been able to cure my chest hurting. It really is a weird allergy, now that I think about it...
But hey, gotta do what ya gotta do.
So, first thing in the morning I got dressed and got out of the house as soon as possible to start on my 20 minute walk towards my destination. Even though the store didn't even officially open until 8, I wanted to make sure I was the first one there. Making sure Ally wouldn't get infected was my top priority, and I wasn't about to take any risks. I know it's pretty extreme, but I couldn't even sleep at night anyway. Besides, how would I be able to work and hang out with my best friend if I was allergic to her? I needed to be sure I was the first one there, that's the only way I'd be happy.
I couldn't help but feel like I was a spy on a life or death mission.
Well, no one is at the mall in the morning, so what harm would to do to roll around on the floor a little? I hid behind the next fake plant I saw, crouching low and looking around. Making exaggerated ninja noises, I tumbled for the next thing to hide behind: the Mini's cafe table. I continued tumbling, rolling, and sliding behind various mall furniture as I got closer and closer to my checkpoint. Scanning my surroundings again, I prepared to do another roll when I spotted someone at the entrance of Sonic Boom.
What? Why would someone be here at 6 am? Well, I'm an exception.
Feeling like an official ninja, I did another roll towards a spot where I could see the person better.
KHAKIS!
"Elliot?!" I exclaimed, getting up from behind the trashcan I used as my cover.
His head whipped towards my direction, looking up from a book the size of a dinosaur. Sheesh, I thought Ally was the only one who liked reading books heavier than herself. But more importantly...
"What are you doing here?" I interrogated. This guy keeps trying to take my spots!
"I came here early so I could get here before you," he stated simply.
"But I-.. That's my spot!" I argued, scrambling for a good reason to oppose him.
He got up and looked around, then sat back down.
"I don't see your name on it."
Third person
Austin crossed his arms and frowned.
"Don't be silly, my name doesn't have to be on it for it to me mine- What are we, in kindergarten?" he scoffed. He then gestured at a chalk line in front of the store that Elliot hadn't noticed before, "Everything past this line is mine."
Elliot stood up and glanced at the line, then back up at Austin who had stepped over the line boundary. He couldn't believe how childish this guy was.
"And everything over there," he said, pointing over the line and far away from Sonic Boom, "Is yours."
Elliot rubbed the chalk with his foot, easily fading away the sacred line of property.
"Hey!"
He rubbed away more and more of the line, ignoring the panicky Austin.
"You can't do that! That's cheating!"
The line was reduced to half when Austin spontaneously bent down and yanked Elliot's shoe off.
"Hey, what the-"
Elliot grabbed for his shoe and missed when Austin sprang back, clutching the footwear. A look was traded between them, initiating the game of catch me if you can. Elliot jumped forward, trying to swipe his belonging from him. Austin swiftly ducked and barely escaped from Elliot's grasp.
"Austin, give me my shoe!" Elliot furiously grabbed at him, who kept dodging and ducking.
"No!" He shouted, backing up. Austin glanced back and saw that he was cornered, and in a panic, blindly threw the poor shoe with a grunt.
"OW!"
"Mr. Dawson! What are you doing here?!"
"Are you trying to kill me?!" Ally's father exclaimed, wiping off some dirt on his face. Austin and Elliot saw the red imprints left by the shoe all across his cheek onto his forehead in shock and said nothing.
"Uh... No, sorry, I didn't see you," Austin nervously replied, rubbing his neck.
"I come early to check inventory every month... More importantly, what are you doing here? Who's that?"
"Hello sir, my name is Elliot," he said stepping forward with an outstretched hand. Elliot politely waited for him to accept his handshake before he continued, "I'm an old friend of your daughter, Ally. You're instruments are quite lovely, if I may add. Top quality, I can tell."
"Oh," he chuckled, obviously flattered, "Well, nice to meet you Elliot. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some instruments to count. Normally I'd make Ally do it but she's done enough, anyway. I want you two to go home. You can't be hanging around here in the morning. Alright boys?"
"Sorry, we don't do it again."
Obeying Mr. Dawson's rules, he two boys arrived exactly at 8 am, ready to greet Ally, who was glad yet confused to see them. The same cycle repeated for the next few days, Austin making sure he was always between Elliot and Ally.
"Austin, you're doing it wrong," Ally sighed, molding his hands into the correct shape, "Now blow."
He held his cupped hands to his mouth and blew, desperate to sound like a graceful Northern Cardinal.
Trish looked up from her magazine at the strange sound that resembled a dying animal only to see the strange trio.
"You sound like a female American Robin," Elliot joked to Ally with their bird knowledge.
Ally just smiled and barely acknowledged his joke, turning back to the pouting Austin.
"You're straining it too hard," Ally gently said in her lecturing voice.
Trish sat up and frowned, noticing that Austin had taken Ally's attention away from Elliot yet again. Austin has wedged himself between the two lovenerds (Trish called Ally and Elliot this) for days now. At first, she brushed it off. Now, however, that it has become a constant thing, it was starting to worry her and her plan to get Elliot and Ally together.
"But I've tried like ten million times and it always sounds the same," he groaned.
"Just take a deep breath and focus!"
He sighed and tried again, this time sounding a little better. Ally smiled approvingly while Elliot just stood by and watched. Trish couldn't take it anymore.
"Austin!" Trish yelled, making everyone in the store jump. She softened her voice to a sweet tone before continuing, "Can I talk to you for a 'sec?"
"Hold on Trish I almost got-"
"Sorry, I said that wrong. I AM GOING TO TALK TO YOU FOR A SECOND."
She yanked Austin's arm, causing him to nearly fall off the counter he had been sitting on before he quickly caught himself. Trish dragged him up to the practice room and slammed the door behind them.
"Uh-"
"Okay Austin, we can do this the easy way or the Trish way."
"The easy way, the easy way!" He immediately exclaimed, raising his hands up in surrender. He's been through the Trish way before.
He doesn't like to talk about it.
"Then stop butting in with Ally and Elliot," she stated simply.
"But-.. But I'm not butting!" Austin would've snickered if he hadn't felt so threatened by Trish at the moment.
"You're messing up my plan to get Ally and Elliot together!"
"Uh... About that, I can't let you do that," he sighed.
Trish paused, looking caught off guard.
"What? Why not?" She asked, nervous to hear the answer. Don't tell me... It can't be...
"I'm allergic to Elliot, so they can't be together because if Ally gets infected then I won't be able to stay around Ally."
"...what?"
"I saaaaid, I'm allergic to Elliot, so Ally and Elliot can't-"
"Nono, stop, I heard you."
Trish was quiet for a moment, squinting at Austin.
"Trish?" He asked anxiously.
"Austin," Trish put a hand on his shoulder, "That's dumber than Dez. And that's really dumb."
"What's so dumb about trying to protect one of my best friends?" he furrowed his eyebrows at her.
"Austin. You're not allergic to Elliot."
"How would you know?"
"You can't be allergic to people! It's impossible!" she shouted, shocked that she even had to explain that.
"Oh right, and now you're gonna tell me how zebras exist," he said sarcastically, crossing his arms.
"They do!"
"Do not!"
Trish grabbed his shoulders and shook him, "AUSTIN. YOU ARE NOT ALLERGIC TO ELLIOT AND ZEBRAS EXIST."
"Then explain why my chest always starts hurting when I see Elliot!"
Trish rolled her eyes.
"Austin, it's probably just a coincidence. Your chest is probably hurting because all those pancakes finally got to you," she sighed, "Don't worry. Ally isn't going to get infected. Trust me, I'm your manager. Have I ever let you down?"
Flashback
Exhibit A
Austin was hanging out with Dez in Sonic Boom when Trish came in.
"Hi Tri-"
"Hi Austin, I forgot to book you for Miami Beats tonight so you'll be playing at the Bailey Bayou Elementary School."
"Trish!" Austin groaned.
Exhibit B
"I couldn't get you a limo, but I was able to get a four-person bicycle," she shrugged apologetically. It was raining and the gang was already 30 minutes late to their concert.
"Trish!" the three of them whined.
Exhibit C
Austin was sitting at a table with Dez and Ally. The gang was hanging out at Trish's workplace, Breadzilla.
"Hey Trish," Austin motioned for her to come.
"What?"
"Can you introduce me to that girl? She's your co-worker right?"
"Who, Georgia?"
He nodded.
Trish headed towards the pretty brunette and started conversing with her. Moments later, she came back, but not with the girl.
"Trish? You were supposed to bring her back to meet me."
"Oh! She already knows you, Austin! She's a huge fan."
"Oh, sweet."
"Turns out, her little sister is an even bigger fan of you!"
"Awesome! So, did you get me a date with Georgia?"
"Yeah! Kind of."
"What do you mean, kind of?" Austin asked, raising his eyebrow.
"I got you a date to the amusement park."
Austin smiled approvingly.
"With her little sister," Trish added.
"What?"
"She paid me $40 for it!" she laughed, waving the two $20 bills in front of him.
"How old is her sister?"
"Like 8."
"Trish!" He moaned.
End of flashback
"Yes."
Trish opened her mouth in protest, thought a little, then closed it.
"Well, I won't let you down this time. I promise, Ally isn't going to get infected, okay?"
Austin shifted uncomfortably, frowning.
"She'll be fine. So quit interfering with them!" She snapped.
"Alright," he sighed.
"Besides, think of how happy Ally would be, especially now that she doesn't see Dallas anymore. Elliot is perfect for her."
Austin's heart felt a familiar stab again. Man, were those pancakes killing him...
"You're right. She deserves to be happy," he nodded with a sad smile on his face.
