Hello there!
Welcome back to 'You're my Parachute.' and thank you for sticking with me this long. This chapter is pretty huge and i am not sure how it turned out this way. This chapter has a few swear words in it just a warning.
Boring legal bit: i do not own Austin and Ally or any of it's characters. Nor do I own the song that the chapters are based on, this is all owned by Disney Channel. Any characters or plots use within this piece are strictly fiction and are in no way based on real life.
Thanks and enjoy!
Nessa
xoxox
...
Afraid to fall, to be free
"I, uh, it's uh. I can't. I am going to Trish's." There, that was a good enough reason.
He scoffs and then suddenly the line goes quiet. Has he hung up on me? "Austin?" I whisper. Oh please let him have hung up on me.
"Yes kitten." No such luck.
"Did you hear me? I am not going out with you tonight."
"Why? Scared you might fall in love with me?" My skin heated again, which was obscured considering he couldn't have ever known that was my fear. I had Dallas back in New York and I didn't come to Miami to be frenemies with any one, let alone fall in love. It seemed like it was Austin's goal to make me fall in love with him.
"Psht. You wish. I told you I am going to Trish's with Dez and Carrie, you know your friends…" I really hate his cockiness.
"They'll forgive you. Come on Dawson my dad is pretty much making me get to know you. At least play along with it and stop making my life a living hell." He sounded tired, it kind of reminded me of my dad talking about the store. Did it really mean this much to him?
I sighed. "Fine, but you are telling Trish."
"Yes." He drew out the 's' so it turned into a hiss, "I'll pick you up in half an hour." Then the line actually went dead.
I muttered under my breath about egotistical jackasses and stomped upstairs to my bedroom. My closet had most of my old clothes but amongst it racks a few designer numbers has managed to sneak in, which was definitely a must tonight. Miami was pretty much hot all the time, which sucked when you are trying to cosy whilst Skyping your lover at night because you just look like a sweaty mess, but it did mean that a cute dress was not out of the question for tonight. I decided on a nautical dress with an anchor print top and navy and white striped skirt. Trying to find my wedges from my first day of school and curling my hair at the same time was difficult. Then I paused and looked in my mirror. Why the hell was I acting like this was a date? He has a girlfriend. And I… Dallas! I glance at the ring on my finger and smile with fond memories. I told him I'd wait for him. I haven't been here a week and already I am breaking my promise.
A knock at my door brings me out of my own thoughts and I sigh, no turning back now. When I open the door there's an arrogant jerk lazily leaning on the wall of my porch.
He whistles like the asshole he is and looks me up and down, of course my body betrays me yet again and I blush under his scrutiny. "Damn Dawson, you actually clean up well. You look hot." Oh how I wanted to punch him, instead I settled for a glare and locked up. "Down kitten, this is going to be the best evening of your life.
I laughed, " The best evening of my life, Austin Moon, will be the night I move away from here, from you." I knew it was harsh, I hardly knew him but he brought out such strong emotions in me that I just couldn't resist biting back. He just laughed and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, smiling down at me. He really did have lovely eyes, really brown and warm, the kind of eyes movie stars have. I couldn't help but feel warm and protected when I looked into them, they were knowing and I could see the knowledge within their depths, and yet they were childlike and curious. His mouth was… wow, he had the nicest mouth I had ever seen, one that pretty much every women would be jealous of and I had the strongest urge to kiss him. He really was quite attractive.
"Ally?" His voice brought me out of my thoughts and I rwalised I had been looking at hom all of this time, that made me blush again.
"I..uh..what?" I stuttered.
"I said do you like Italian?" he smirked and I know he knew I was checking him out. Well done Ally, just make his head even bigger.
"Uh, yeah I do." I murmured and he nodded then walked me down to his car. Of course he had a Porsche as well but his was larger and looked more like a Land Rover. It was actually quite comfortable and I got sunk right into the subtle leather seats, he had the air conditioning on and that made the car a refreshing break from the inescapable Miami heat. It was still light out, but that was expected from the constant heat and the never ending summer that was Miami. "So, how's Piper?" I asked, looking over at him and noticing that he had his shads on again, on the sides was a designer brand I couldn't quite make out in cursive writing, I had to admit that he looked pretty good in them. In fact his whole looked like he had just stepped out of a fashion shoot. His tight black jeans and red blaser made him look like he was dressed for a premier and his red high tops just made him look like a bad boy teen who definitely knew he was hot. My mouth went dry and I had this sensation that I ha never felt before, even when I was with Dallas.
"I wouldn't know. We broke up." We had pulled up at a red light and he took this opportunity to look at me, through the lenses of his sunglasses I could see his calculating eyes, gauging my reaction.
"Oh, I'm sorry." I looked down; those eyes did things to me that I really didn't care to admit. He just shrugged and pulled away again. Heading out of Miami and onto the highway. I was curious. Where were we going? Surely there was a nice Italian restaurant in town.
"There is, but this one is second to none… I wanted to take you somewhere better than an in town restaurant and Gino is a close family friend." I realise I had spoken my thoughts out loud and that embarrassed me. If he was going to be so observant I would have to start watching what I thought around him. He pulsed up to an authentic looking Italian restaurant about fifteen minutes later and the place didn't look like a bad place, I had to admit that it was actually pretty romantic. He walked around to my side of the car and opened the door for me, that was the most gentlemanly thing Austin had ever done for me and there was no remark about me falling over my own two feet after it. He held my hand as we walked in and we were welcomed by a middle-aged women who grabbed Austin for a hug whilst he refused to let go of my hand. She really did man-handle him and I couldn't help the giggle that escaped my lifts as she gave him a soppy kiss on the cheek. "Athena, this is Ally." He gestured to me and she came over to give me a hug as well.
"So pretty Austin," she pulled back to look at me, "much better than last one eh?" She smiled and I blushed again, she was referring to Piper.
'Oh no we aren't…"
"Yes, much." Austin interrupted me setting Athena straight and I looked quizzing at him. He pretended he didn't notice and led me to table in the back of the restaurant which was secluded and private compared to the rest of the tables.
"Do you take many of your dates here?" I joked.
"Only one girl and no it wasn't Piper." He looked at me and there was something in his eyes, was that pain?
"Austin… Are you okay? Do you want to leave?" I make a move to grab my purse.
"No, no. Ally, it's fine I just haven't been here since… Never mind." He grabs a menu, "what do you want? It's on me." I'm still reeling from the way he spoke my name and I can't possibly think about food but I make an effort to look down at my menu anyway. I wonder what has caused him so much pain, or who she was? I sneak a peak about my menu and he's back to being overly confident Austin, not a trace of emotion on his face anymore. I think he sensed I was looking at him and he looked up, a smirk on his face. "See something you like Dawson?" he raises an eyebrow, "I'm not actually on the menu but later if you'd like..." he chuckles.
"Screw you Moon." I manage to get out but it looses some of it's bite as I am blushing furiously at his bold suggestion. I bite my lip and give all of my attention back to the menu, looking at the pasta dishes and trying to calm my erratic pulse.
"Ally…" I look up and the look on his face does nothing to help my blushing situation, he looks like he wants to rip off my clothes right now. "Stop fucking biting your lip please, I am trying to actually be respectable here." He grinds his teeth together and I have no choice but to let my lip go as my mouth has practically hit the floor. I cross my legs and focus on the task at hand, just pick a dish for goodness sake Ally. I choose a lasagne because it's safe and I'm rushing and he's go for a mushroom tagliatelle with spinach and cheese sauce and orders a bottle of wine, which I try to protest to but he just looks at me funny.
"So are adapting well at school?" He asks once the waitress has gone and come back with our wine before disappearing again. I take a sip of the wine and am pleased to find that it is sweet not dry.
"I'm doing… okay. It's hard considering I am not used to such a large school, I went to a private school in New York and there was only like a hundred students." I smiled. Okay this felt natural, just talking to him, he's the type of guy I could see my self falling in… WHOA Ally no! Dallas, just think about Dallas.
"Yeah I suppose it can be a little daunting. At least you have made friends quickly though." He watches as the waitress puts down our food and then looks at me for an answer as soon as she goes. I look at my food and smile.
"Yeah Dez's friends have really opened their arms to me. I am thankful to them." I feel something warm on my hand and look at it to find his tanned hand covering mine, I look up at him in question.
"Ally, you know I am your friend too, right?" oh those eyes. They are so sincere I almost sink into them and lay across the table just to get closer to them.
"I know." I whisper, almost in a trance and for a few minutes and we just sit there, looking at each other until he coughs and lets go of my hand to concentrate on his food. All at once I feel the loss of his warmth and I am yanked back into the present. The food really does look delicious and as I take the first bite I am glad I went for something so simple, if I had gone for something like Austin's dinner I would have combusted with the flavours. He was right, this was the best Italian food I had hever tasted.
"So have you been to Italy before?" he asked as he took a sip of wine.
"I've not, but I would really like to visit Rome, it's one of the places on my bucket list." I mutter and I start to day dream of all the historical places and memories that great cities like Rome hold.
"Maybe one day I'll take you there." I almost choke on my wine and give him an amazed look. "Ally breathe, it's not like I am saying we'll go tomorrow, just someday."
"I… right." I flush at my outburst and go back to my food.
Once dinner is over Austin and I split some ice cream and then he picks up the check. I beg to pay for my meal but he isn't having any of it and then he holds my hand as walk outside. It's only just gone nine and I don't want the night to end so we decide to take a walk along the beach. It's still warm but there is a slight breeze in the air that blows my hair in my face and gives me goose bumps. I never thought to bring a coat, with it being summer all the time in Miami but the sea breeze brings a chill to the air. Austin, noticing I am cold, shrugs off his jacket and wraps it around my shoulders. I smile in thanks and inhale the scent of him. There is a slight lingering scent of cigarettes but mostly it just smells of Austin, I tug it tighter to me and imagine that is probably what hugging Austin would be like, plus the feel of his strong arms on me. He's holding my hand and I can feel his soft hands that definitely have played a few instruments before, I recognise the hard callouses that you get from playing guitar for too many years. I voice this opinion to him.
"Yeah, I've played pretty much my whole life. I can play any instrument but I don't know, I guess my parents expect too much from me and it just sucked the fun out of it." He looked at me and I knew rightthen that this was the real Austin. Gentlemanly, insecure and so sincere that I could believe he would shield me from the world.
"I know what it's like. My father owned a music shop back in New York, I've been playing since I was two but I have always had this crippling stage fright that means I can't perform like I want to, instead I wanted to be a music teacher but then we moved here." I looked down and tried to hold back tears.
"That's why you always look so sad." I don't think I was meant to hear it because he said it so softly but it just made me realise that Austin must have been paying more attention to me than I thought. He looks at me with warm, sad eyes and offers me a reassuring smile. "C'mon. Let's get you home." He tugs my hand and we head back up to where he parked his car.
Soon we were hitting city boardrs and I could see the lights of Miami shine ahead of us. Soon tonight would be over and I would be left alone with my thoughts, there was so much to think through after tonight and I knew it would get me into trouble. I had seen the real Austin tonight, the Austin that was sincere and heart felt and actually human.
He opened my door for me again and walked me to my porch where he dropped my hand only to place his hand on my cheek. "Thank you Ally, for listening and not asking questions, for being you." Then slowly he leant his head down. Oh god he was going to kiss me, what was I meant to do, I mean I had a boyfriend but I really did want to kiss him. He was Austin, arrogant and stuck up Austin and yet I wanted him to kiss me so bad. No, I couldn't, I had to tell him no, but by the time I worked up the courage his lips had already met mine and my heart exploded. His lips were soft but hard, the pressure was perfect, he smelt amazing. God I couldn't think, I needed to breathe, I needed to push him off.
All to soon the kiss ended and he smiled. "I'll see you around Dawson." He gave me one last wink and then sauntered to his car, leaving me flustered in my porch and wandering what the hell had just happened.
I was so confused in this moment and I wasn't really sure what had just gone down, but there was one thing I was sure of.
I was falling for Austin Moon.
