"He did what? Who the hell is he?!" Austin shouted, getting up from the couch.
"Austin, I…" she started, but pulled her knees closer to her chest.
"Ally. Who?" he said, tone quieter, but serious.
"Smith.." she said, burying her face in his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her. "God, I'm gonna kill him."
She sobbed harder. "This is all my fault. I let him do this. I.."
"This is not your fault, Ally. He took advantage of you," Austin said, stroking her hair. It usually calmed her down, but now it just reminded her of Mr. Smith. She pulled away. "Stop. Just, please, stop.."
He sighed. "Ally, I'm sorry. What can I do?"
"What…what am I going to do? I can't go back to work. I don't know..please help me," she said, falling back on the couch. She never asked for his help.
"Okay. First thing tomorrow, you and I. We're going to the police station," he said.
"I can't, Austin," she said, into his shirt.
"Maybe you can't, but we can," Austin said. "Let's get you cleaned up."
She didn't argue. She just let him carry her up to his room.
God, did she look hideous. She wiped the runny eyeliner and mascara off her face. She had a purple bruise mark on her neck, and the feel of it sickened her. She felt dirty. Disgusting.
She had no idea where to go from here. She couldn't step foot in that building again. What about Jo? What about Dez and Trish? There were so many questions running through her head. How was she even going to explain this to her friends? To her dad? Oh, her dad. What would he think?
There were several scratch marks just above her stomach and on her thighs. She cringed, running her hand along them. They burned, as if someone was just taking a lighter and leaving the marks. She dabbed at them with medicine, feeling tears well up in her eyes. She blinked them back, realizing Austin was behind her. She saw him in the mirror, arms folded, pressed against the bath tub. She put her hand to her mouth.
"Oh my god, Austin, what if I'm pregnant?"
He wrapped an arm around her, nestling his face into her shoulder. "Ally. One step at a time."
"I can't go one fucking step at a time! I don't know which step to go to!" she said, sinking down to the floor.
"Ally, you've got to calm down. You just said the f word and you're practically a saint. Just please, calm down."
"I can't calm down, Austin! I feel sick! I'm sick!"
"You are not sick - he is sick. I don't want you to say that. Got it?" he said, wiping her tears away with his thumb. She nodded, and he gently put a hand on her back, leading her to the bedroom. She couldn't sleep, even if she wanted to.
They had already been to the police station. The next step would be going to Clef Records. She walked in the double-doors, gripping onto Austin's hand like her life depended on it.
They had a federal officer with them. For protection, mostly. Also to do some explaining, because Ally certainly wouldn't do that. He knocked on Mr. Smith's door, handing him the papers and the licenses. His face turned from business to frustration, and the sight of Mr. Smith's face alone made Ally sick. The officer tipped his hat and left, leaving Mr. Smith alone with Austin & Ally. Greyson took a shot from his canteen and walked over to Ally.
"You think you're really smart because you're pressing charges. Like anyone's going to believe a little whore."
Austin grimaced. "She's not a whore, and I'd watch it if I were you."
"Is your boyfriend going to beat me up, Dawson? Isn't he jealous," Greyson said, taking another shot.
Austin was full on ready to lunge at him. He scowled and pushed Ally out the door, slamming it behind her. She could feel hot, salty tears streaming down her cheeks, but she didn't say anything. Neither of them said anything, because there was nothing left to be said. They walked out of the building, people staring at both of them. Ally nuzzled into his chest.
"Thank you," she said, wiping off her face.
He kissed her forehead. "We're going to get this guy. And if we don't, I am."
Usually she'd feel safe around Austin. He'd be here, and everything would be okay. Ally guessed that's what she thought would've happened when she came to his doorstep, but it wasn't. Nothing's okay. Everything is practically crashing down and she's sitting here letting it.
About a week later, she bought herself a pregnancy test. Just something to reassure herself, or send her spiraling out of control - either one. She was going to take it alone, privately, but Austin wouldn't let her. What they had settled on was him standing outside the bathroom door. She had taken it and walked outside the restroom.
"Are you sure you did it right?" Austin said.
"Austin, it's not that hard. You pee on a stick. And now we wait fifteen minutes."
He held up both hands as a gesture of defense.
Waiting was probably the most awkward thing she's ever done. Her and Austin kept glancing at each other when they weren't looking, then when one looked at the other, their eyes swiftly move to a random object in the room. When the timer dinged, she almost jumped out of her skin to check.
She looked at the stick, analyzing the results. Austin walked over, leaning over her shoulder.
"Well?"