Two chapters in one day? I must love you guys so much!
Enjoy!
Ally's POV
"She what?" I cried. Dallas flinched back away from the counter, his eyes wide.
"Your employee, a girl named Roxie? She fainted outside the slushie cart while I was getting one. I didn't know what else to do so I carried her back to her apartment. Did you know she lives alone?" I shook my head as I followed Dallas's story, for once to concerned about Roxie to be nervous around him.
"Oh…well thanks, Dallas, for taking care of Roxie." he smiled at me.
"No problem. Well I should get going, my shift will start at the library soon." I shivered at the way he said library. As he walked out I couldn't help but feel concerned about Roxie's living arrangement, no wonder she had to work two jobs. Dallas stopped before the exit. "Let me know when Roxie is ok," he said before turning and walking out.
Great. Now even Dallas likes her more then me. What was with this girl? I tried to push aside my resentment, choosing instead to focus on work.. I'm going to have to focus on work until Roxie comes back, then I can ask her what's going on.
Roxie's POV
I rubbed my eyes as I staggered home from the diner, having two hours until my shift started at Sonic Boom. Quickly grabbing a shower, I changed out of the uniform and into my usual clothes; a pair of short jean shorts, a guitar patterned shirt that I decorated with paint stains and a short sleeved grey hoodie, finished with a pair of black boots.
By the time I was done it was 2.30pm. Great, now I have to spend the rest of my free time getting to the mall to work at Sonic Boom. Even though that Dallas kid had helped me last night, I was still exhausted
I stumbled through the doors at 2.45pm, Mr. Dawson there behind the counter. "Ah Roxie," he said with a smile. I nodded tiredly. "Ally was wondering when you were going to get here. She asked that you could meet her in the practice room." I nodded, feeling confused. I thought Ally told me not to go up there? Oh well, it's up to her.
I clambered the steps, taking much more effort then they should before I went inside. My eyes widened in surprise at the figure sitting at the piano, playing the keys quietly and slowly.
"Oh, uhh Dallas right?" I asked and his head shot up to look at me.
"Oh hey Roxie!" he said, smiling at me as he stood up. "How are you feeling?" he asked in concern.
"I'm fine thanks," I said, smiling at him. "Have you seen Ally? She asked me up here," I asked. He shook his head, his hair swishing from side to side before he flicked it back.
"Uh no but she asked me up here as well," he said. "Hey can you help me with something?" he asked. I shrugged.
"Uh maybe," I said and he smiled.
"Great. See I've been trying a while now to write a song for Ally but I need a second opinion," he said, going to sit at the piano. He began playing some chords, four in total that sounded nice together but the pattern was kind of jumpy and not very well structured. It also sounded kind of...off, like it belonged to a different instrument. "How was that?" he asked, looking over his shoulder at me.
"Well…" I said slowly and his face dropped. I sighed. "I'll be blunt with you dude, the structure was random and hard to follow. I can't see you putting words to it yet without some work." he opened his mouth to say something but I quickly stopped him. "And I doubt I'm the one to ask because I…can't really play piano," I mumbled.
It was one of my deepest shames but there's no way I'd admit the others.
"Oh…well if I teach you to play, will you help me finish this song? I can't really ask Ally and Austin said he was too busy," he asked. That certainly caught me off guard, although I'm not surprised Austin turned him down.
"Uh sure," I said nodding awkwardly before choosing to sit on the couch. Dallas sat next to me and we sat in silence for a bit.
"Yes by the way," he said after a few minutes.
"Huh?" I asked, looking at him.
"Well you sounded confused about my name when you came in, questing it? It is Dallas, Dallas Grace," he said, with a smile. I smiled back, offering my hand.
"Roxie, Roxie Lyric," I said. Dallas looked down at my hand before grabbing it and pulling me into a hug. To say I was surprised was an understatement.
What shocked me the most? He didn't question my name, he's the only one not to ever question my name.
"Where I come from, we hug our friends," I heard him say from my hair. I was still frozen. "I'm not letting go until you hug me back," he said playfully. I laughed as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders in a loose hug.
"Roxie? My dad told me you were up he-" I pulled away from Dallas to see Ally standing in the doorway staring at us, hurt in her eyes and…tears?
"Ally?" I asked but she just turned and ran out the room. "Ally!" I yelled and ran out after her.
I followed her but she didn't go very far, just down the steps before sitting on the piano stall, her face in her hands. I slowly approached her, kneeling down in front of her.
"Ally? Are you ok?" I asked softly. She sniffled, shaking her head.
"No…I'm loosing everything I love," she snivelled.
"What? How?" I asked worriedly.
"Because of you," she snapped and I flinched back. "You with your super cool persona and amazing talent with music and now the ability to steal my friends," she cried through her tears.
"Steal your friends?" I asked in confusion. "All I did was make friends with them, how am I stealing them?" I asked.
"Because you're everything I want to be. Cool, confident and…tall!" she wailed. True I was taller then most girls but I never really liked it. Every cute guy I met was nearly always shorter then me or didn't like how tall I was. I hate that I'm shallow but I have rules if I'm going to date. "My friends will have no need for me now that you're here," Ally mumbled quietly.
"What? Ally I don't get what you're talking about," I said confusedly. She looked up at me through tearful eyes.
"Everyone already likes you more then me. You appeal to Austin and Dez's goofy, childish nature, you can keep up better with Trish's hectic lifestyle and you've even charmed Dallas," she sobbed.
Charmed Dallas? Keep up with Trish? Appeal better to Austin and Dez? This girl was crazy. So crazy it was actually kind of funny. I started laughing.
"What's so funny?" Ally snapped. I quietened my laughter.
"You are. Ally you've already proved to me how awesome you are." her head cocked to the side so I smiled endearingly. "You're an amazing song writer, you'd do anything for your friends and even someone you don't particularly like." she blushed red at that one. "You took me in, even when you were afraid I'd take your friends away from you." a smile found its way onto her face.
"Oh…well thank you Roxie. You really are a great friend, even when I didn't deserve it," she said. I smiled back before a smirk found its way onto my face.
"And as for Dallas?" Ally stiffened. "He's all yours if you want him…but what about Austin?" Ally blushed deeply.
"Austin…is just my best friend, it's better to be with Dallas." but Ally didn't sound to sure herself. I could tell right there that Ally was definitely a stubborn one. "Besides, I've liked Dallas for ages, ask anybody," she said.
I shrugged, it was up to her who she wanted to date.
"Alright then lets go get your man," I said, standing up. Ally's eyes widened and she jumped up.
"No, no, no!" she cried, grabbing my arm to stop me.
"What? Why?" I asked.
"Every time I try to talk to him it…goes wrong. Very wrong," she said.
"How wrong can it go?" I asked cautiously.
"I-I just get really nervous and start talking gibberish. It creeps him out, I can tell," she mumbled shamefully.
"Why do you get nervous? He's just a boy," I said, glancing up at the practice room. I could hear the piano being played again, a quiet rendition of Snow Patrols 'Chasing Cars' being played. I smiled at the thought of him playing, his eyes narrowed in concentration while his fingers danced over the keys. I mentally shook my head.
"But he's so cute and nice and funny and cute," Ally sighed.
"You know you said cute twice right?" I asked and she nodded. I smiled.
"Right…well your issue is confidence Ally. It's why you have stage fright, it's why you found me a threat and why you can't talk to Dallas," I said sternly. Ally stared at me with hurt eyes.
"Well you certainly know how to cheer someone up," she mumbled. I shook my head.
"Sometimes you need to be hit with the truth Ally. I hate to be the bad guy but, if you want to be a performer, we need to get your confidence up a little, even if it is just talking to a cute boy." Ally blushed brightly.
"Ok…how do I do that?" she said in a quiet voice.
"Well, first of all, you need to get pumped," I said excitedly, clenching my hands into fists. Ally shrunk back in surprise, looking terrified. I slowed down, sighing. I'm goanna have to take it slow for her. "Ok…what gets you excited?" I asked.
"uhh…music," she said. I nodded for her to go on. "Song writing, being with my friends, being here," she said, sounding calm the more she spoke. I nodded.
"Great. Use those feelings, let them fill you with confidence," I said but Ally still looked unsure. "Come on Ally. This is your world you're in, you own this place. This is your house!" I cried. Ally's eyes widened.
"Of course this is my place, my dad owns the store." I groaned, shaking my head.
"No Ally…what I mean is that you are the boss here. No matter what happens, you're going to be in control so you don't need to be nervous." Ally's face was slowly brightening,
"Ohhhh…I get it," she said slowly. I nodded.
"Exactly. Now go up there and show Dallas what you're made of!" I finished.
Ally nodded before turning and racing up the stairs and right into the practise room.
"Where's Ally going?" a voice behind me asked. I turned to see Austin and Trish standing behind me, both looking confusedly at the door to the practise room.
"To show Dallas what she's made of," I said gleefully. Trish and Austin's eyes widened, Trish's with a smile while Austin went pale.
"What?" they said together, Trish sounding substantially happier then Austin. It didn't go unnoticed by me but I feel I should ask him about it in private.
"Yep. I got her pumped up and now she's up there, hopefully, asking him out," I said with pride. Trish was grinning brightly.
"You go girl!" she said, high-fiving me. We heard a door opening and turned to see Ally walking out of the practise room, a massive grin on her face.
"How did it go?" Trish and I asked together.
"Well…" she said in a high voice and Trish's smile instantly dropped.
"I know what that sound means," she groaned. "You chickened out didn't you?" she said.
"What? You didn't, not after we talked!" I said. Ally was still smiling.
"I got him to say 'we should hang out sometime'! before he gave me a hug too!" she squealed before she started doing something that resembled jogging mixed with the Macarena.
"She's seriously happy about that?" I asked. Trish nodded, Austin watching Ally with a slight smile.
"You'd be surprised how big a step this is for her," Trish sighed before wrapping an arm around Ally's shoulders. "I say we all go get a victory smoothie," she said, guiding Ally to the exit with Austin following. I stayed behind, smiling as the three friends walked out before going to the counter. I jumped when I heard a door shut and looked up to see a dazed looking Dallas leave the practice room.
"Oh hey Dallas," I said with a smirk. He blushed slightly when he noticed it.
"Ally told you?" he asked and I nodded. He chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah…she's certainly something," he said with a smile. I shook my head, happy for the awkward couple.
As I continued to work I suddenly felt a presence behind me. I turned to see Dallas standing right behind me, barely having enough time to blink before he engulfed me in another hug.
"Thanks for talking to Ally," he mumbled in my ear as he pulled back. I was blushing like crazy but smiled anyway.
"No problem," I said. Our eyes locked for a second and I could feel my heartbeat speed up. It was probably just a side effect from last night, considering we were so close.
"Hey Roxie!" I turned to see Ally running back into the store. I quickly stepped away from Dallas, not wanting her to get the wrong idea again. "Come on, we're waiting for you," she said with a big smile.
"But my shift just started," I said. Ally shrugged.
"I'm sure closing the store for ten minutes won't harm business. Come on, the whole gang is there except you."
I was part of the gang now? I couldn't stop the smile as I walked out, grabbing Ally's hand as I rushed past, to excited and happy to stop.
"Yeah lets go," I giggled.
Austin's POV
Ally…talked to Dallas? By herself? I can't believe it.
Maybe Ally was right, Roxie's intrusion on our gang might be bad after all, especially if she's encouraging her to pursue Dallas. Yeah I know I should have asked her out but she's always so obsessed with Dallas that I knew she would say no to me. I'm just scared in case she says no. I can't loose her now, we're just getting close to making it in the music business and Ally's even coming out of her shell a little.
I can't blame Roxie for this, she was just trying to help. It's not fair on her.
I watched as Ally and Roxie ran towards us, giggling like two school girls…which I guess they were when you think about it. I smiled at Ally's beautiful face, lit up by her smile. Damn I can't get over this.
I noticed Dallas walk out of Sonic Boom, his eyes following the girls. I glared slightly before I noticed something. Just as Dallas turned off towards the Library, his eyes lingered on Roxie for a second longer then Ally.
Roxie laughed at something Trish said, looking over her shoulder slightly. I noticed her eyes dart to Dallas's retreating back, a more genuine smile lighting up her face before returning to us.
Maybe I can use this…
Ohhh Austin is Jealous...or is he? Do Dallas and Roxie like each other? Or is it just a passing flirtationship? (Copyright Ruby Bullock ;D)
How is Austin goanna pluck up the courage to ask Ally out and get Dallas to back off? This story is only just starting, we have more characters to introduce after all ;)
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