Hey everybody! I know this is super late, and I'm sorry, but I've just been so busy lately it's crazy! This chapter isn't as good as I'd have liked it to be, pretty short and everything, but I just really wanted to update as soon as possible. So... here it is. Enjoy :).

Delicate

For some strange reason, he'd always thought of her as something delicate.

Fragile as a flower just beginning to bloom in springtime air. Frail as a glass vase reflecting the golden light of the sun. Vulnerable as an infant drifting to sleep in the arms of its mother. Just as dainty as one could imagine.

And who could blame him for thinking this way? When he looked at her—her soft, flowing locks of hair, the shining brown orbs she called eyes, her pale, angelic skin—it all screamed beauty. And he was taught, by his mother and father and nearly every book he'd ever read, that beauty was fleeting. That in a second, by one little act of selfishness or cruelty, what once was so shining and pleasing to the eye, would either be corrupted by the evils in the world, or dissipate on the very spot.

He just didn't want that to happen to her.

Ally was so stunning, he couldn't get enough of her. The way her eyes sparkled whenever she looked at him, flashing him that pearly white smile that just made his insides melt. The way her laugh would ring out through the room at the lamest jokes he'd ever heard, sounding more precious than any melody he could ever possibly play out on a piano. The way she blushed and chewed her hair whenever he'd be brave enough to lean forward and grab her hand in his, feeling the plushness of her skin as adrenaline pumped through his veins. It was only natural for him to want to preserve something like that. To want it to never go away. To stay with him forever.

That was why he had promised himself that he would do anything, everything, to protect her.

He had started with little things. Watching her back whenever she had a problem that needed solving. Handing her a few encouraging words whenever she was forced to deal with her stage fright. Glaring at Dallas whenever he remained oblivious to Ally's obvious infatuation with him. He liked to tell himself that he only hated Ally's crush because he was afraid that he would hurt her, but deep down he was worried that he might have been hiding some jealousy for the doe-eyed dimwit. But of course, he would sooner die than admit that.

Whatever reason it happened to be, all Austin knew was that when Ally had asked the kid to dance with her at Trish's party, and that idiot had said NO, he was angry enough to have gone up to him and punched him squarely in the face right then and there. Lucky for both of them, Austin's sympathy for Ally overpowered his anger any day. And so instead of punching Dallas as he would've liked, he had decided to just dance with the girl instead. So he had given up his performance, his chance at playing at a night club, just to see that beautiful smile stretch across her face once more. And he didn't regret it for a second. Once he had held her in his arms, so soft and pure, and gazed into her eyes, so kind and mysterious, he knew suddenly that he would do anything for her. Anything at all. And if Dallas didn't realize how beautiful, how perfect, she was, then that was his loss. His loss.

As time went on, and he felt himself falling deeper and deeper in love with the girl, he had worked harder and harder, did more and more, to protect her. He'd sneak out while grounded just so he could help her run her fundraiser. He'd coax her on stage and stand side by side with her as she faced her biggest fear. He'd even bungee jump off a bridge for her, for god sakes! Anything to keep her soul as bright and pure and untouched as it was meant to be. Anything to keep out the dirt and the scum, the corruption that entered her as fear and doubt, from infecting her beauty from the inside out. She was just so fragile, so dainty, so delicate. Delicate.

It was a very sunny morning the day he found out that he'd been wrong about everything.

Ally was in Sonic Boom that day, taking a shift at the cash register as Austin sat on a stool besides her, watching her scribble down lyrics in a songbook. She was just so talented, it awed him. Business was considerably slow that morning, as it often was on Sundays, and the two were just busying themselves, trying to keep the boredom from seeping deep inside their souls. As Ally whistled away a tune between her plush, pink lips, Austin had followed by tapping his foot to the beat, not taking his eyes off of the gentle curve of her hand as she wrote with perfect precession. He was mesmerized, and she was about as far from reality as one could possibly be without falling asleep.

It was then, at both of their most unprepared moment, that he entered.

The sound of his footsteps, sharp and fast and deadly, completely messed up Ally's light, gentle tune, and his mere presence seemed to shatter the perfect silence that had just so recently been covering them. Austin didn't even need to look up to feel the huge surge of confidence that emanated off of the boy's body and released itself with every step that he would take. He could have sworn that his ego was big enough to take up the entire room. It made them both feel a little queasy.

The kid's name was officially Douglas Tucker, but everyone just called him Dug. He was fairly new at the school, actually, and his midnight black hair was slicked back in a way that was supposed to look cool. His teeth were grimy and yellowed, probably from chewing tobacco so often, but other than that he was actually quite good looking. With a long, thin nose, matched by a pair of narrow gray eyes, and pulled together by a sturdy chin, few girls could resist his stunning charm. He was known as the school's 'bad boy' and Austin didn't like him one bit. Not a bit.

The kid had sauntered in as though he owned the place, chewing on a suspicious looking substance as he flashed his yellow grin. Even as the gross, sticky chewing sound hit her ears, Ally did not look up. She just kept gazing down at her book, acting as if she didn't notice. Unfazed, Dug had walked over.

"Hey, babe," he had said to her, "What's ya up to?"

"Go away, Douglas," she said to him almost immediately, still not looking up. Austin couldn't help the distressing thought that occurred to him, as if the girl had had problems with this kid before and he hadn't even known. He just couldn't believe that Dug was hitting on his girlfriend right in front of him!

"Oh come on, beautiful," the boy said slyly, reaching forward to touch her hair, "I just wanna talk, that's all. What ya doing in a dump like this?"

She pushed his hand away in a second. "My father owns the place," she said coldly, "And I work here."

He only shrugged and chuckled. "Well, this place is pretty freaking empty, if you ask me. Why don't you just close up for the day and come with me. I'll buy you lunch or whatever, sound good?"

Before Ally could decline, Austin spoke up, a wash of rage overcoming him. "She told you to leave her alone, Dug," he said as gruffly as he could manage, "So go."

Douglas just laughed, but now his laugh was cold.

"Oh, and who's this chump?" he mocked, "The great and mighty Austin Moon, I think. Does the glittery little pop star not like me messing around with his pretty girlfriend, is that it?" He turned to Ally. "Come on, babe, why don't you leave this little priss for a real man?" He winked at her, and Austin couldn't help but feel a well of jealously building up inside him at how charming and attractive this kid could be when he wanted to.

"Be quiet, Douglas," Ally said suddenly, her face going pink, "My life is perfectly fine without you. Just get out."

"Oh, is that so? Then why don't you look at me while you're talking, babe?" Dug reached to grab Ally's book away from her, so she had nothing to distract herself with, but just as he had wrapped his fingers around it's leather cover, it was snatched away.

"DON'T TOUCH MY BOOK!" Ally snapped at him, holding it to her chest as her cheeks burned a fiery red.

Dug only laughed. "What's your problem? Don't want me to read your little diary? Are you afraid I'll find out about how attractive you think I am?" The look of superiority in the jerk's eyes infuriated Austin. He opened his mouth to say something he knew he might regret.

"DON'T TALK TO HER LIKE THAT," he yelled, pounding his fist on the counter in front of him, "YOU'RE JUST A—"

Suddenly, Ally interrupted him. She turned her head to look inside his eyes, and then whispered as soft as the wind. "Stop," she said, letting the single syllable roll between her lips. After a moment, she mouthed the words, "I can handle this."

In an act that left him speechless, Ally turned around and beckoned Dug closer. Probably expecting a kiss, the boy happily obliged. But in an instant, she had grabbed the front of his shirt in her fist and pulled him closer, glaring at him straight in the eyes.

"W-What the hell are you doing, babe?" he asked her, his voice quivering in surprise.

"Don't call me that," she said in an unnaturally calm, quiet voice. This voice was not the one that belonged to his sweet, little Ally. It held venom in it. It was deadly.

Trying to regain control, the boy scoffed, though Austin could see the intimidation in his eyes.

"And what are you going to do about it?"

At this, the girl smiled. But again, it was not the smile that Austin knew.

"What am I going to do? Nothing," she said, not taking her eyes off his, "Why? Because I don't have to do anything. Life is going to do it for me."

The boy looked generally confused (he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed), so Ally continued.

"Look at me, Douglas. Where do you think I'm going to end up? In ten, twenty years, I'll probably be a famous singer, or at least a musician, right? And so will Austin. But you? Douglas, I hate to tell you this, but you have no future."

She paused, letting this sink in, before continuing. "You keep on treating girls like this, you never will. Because I for one believe in karma, and I know that boys like you just don't get happy endings. You go around acting as if you own the world, as if you're better than everybody else, when in reality all you are is just a stuck-up player, one without a talent in the world. So I won't do anything to you, because I know that sooner or later, life will get my revenge for me."

This, unlike everything else she had said that day, had an affect. The boy's eyes went wide. His bottom lip quivered. Austin had to stiffen a giggle as Dug pulled away, gasping for air.

"Whatever," he said, "You don't know anything! You're just a crazy little bitch! I don't care what the hell you say about me, anyway!" At this, he stormed out of Sonic Boom. He never came back.

After a few seconds of shocked silence, Austin looked at Ally's face. She gave him a very satisfied smile. Then, in almost an inaudible whisper…

"I told you I could handle it."

In an instant, Austin understood. He understood everything. And as he had went up to her, thrown his arms around her waist and planted a gentle kiss on the edge of her lips, a thousand of these realizations rushed through his head.

Beautiful did not mean weak. Because Ally, as beautiful as she was, was the strongest person he knew. He'd ever know. And she was right. He didn't need to protect her anymore, because she could take care of herself. With this realization came a wash of stunning pride.

Ally was strong. There was no denying it now. He couldn't believe he hadn't seen it earlier.

Who ever said beauty had to be delicate?

So. what did you think? I know Ally would NEVER say anything like that, she's too sweet and nice, but I just couldn't help myself XD. I just think a tough Ally would be so awesome.

Again, sorry for being so late! I've just been super busy lately! Hopefully it won't take me as long to update again, since I already have a pretty good idea.