OK, people, make up your mind! When I ask for 7 reviews, I get 6. When I ask for 5 reviews, I get 10. What the heck?! I mean, don't get me wrong, I love it! But it's just like, well, "What?" Sorry, sorry, that was weird. Keep reviewing please! I'm gonna raise the update-review quotient to 6. You can do it!
Oh, and this is a very cheesy chapter. It'll probably trigger some of your fangirling-ness (since the last one, I got a little on the fact 'Travis' is a jock), but it also sounds very awkward and not very in character as much as I'd like it to be. So, yes, not my favorite chapter and yes, the first part isn't really super important but I still need it to tit up some ends. Sorry if this sounds very awkward...
CHAPTER 6: Pretty Pretty Princess
The next day. I'm working at Sonic Boom, as usual.
"Hey Ally!" someone says near the front doors. I look up and see Austin standing there, or at least Austin's body. The past few days, it's been one of Dez's characters. Who knows who it is now...
"Hey...Austin?" I answer carefully as he walks up to front counter. He doesn't flinch so I'm guessing I'm right. He just smiles at me. OK, good. "I see you're back to your old yourself."
He smiles wider and nods once, "Mm-hm. I'm back, baby!" he says as he takes his hands off the counter, spins, and poses. I laugh as he leans on the counter again.
"So did Dez decided on his movie, yet? Since you're not 'in character'," I use air quotes around the last two words.
"Nah, not yet. I don't if he'll ever decide," he jokes and I huff out a laugh, "But seriously, no. I have no clue when he'll give me my next character."
"Eh," I shrug, "It's OK."
He laughs (and I have no idea why since it wasn't really even that funny) then starts trying to make conversation despite us already being in one, "So...Do you wanna do something while I'm free?"
"Sure! Let me just tell my dad. Watch the store?"
"Anything for you, Alls..." he says dreamily. Why did it sound dreamy? Why would he have that tone in his voice? More importantly, why towards me? I must imagining it. Though, why would I be imagining it? So many questions! I'm just gonna stop thinking about it. I'm just gonna drive myself insane and just standing here, I look insane.
I snap out my thoughts and walk to my dad's office, "Hey Dad?"
"Yeah, honey?"
"Is it OK if Austin and I work on our song? We haven't really written anything at all recently because of Austin having to be different people and I figured we should take the chance while we can."
"Yeah, I'll be down in a second. Can you stay there until I do?"
"Sure! Thanks Dad!" I turn around and walk back over to the front counter.
Austin must have sensed me or heard me or something because he turns around to face me. "Did he say it's cool?"
"Yeah, he just asked if we could wait here until he comes down. Shouldn't be too long."
"Mm-kay," he nods and leans against the counter and folds his arms, "Sooooo..." he awkwardly starts (Weird, we never really have this much trouble talking to each other...), "How's life?"
I give him a look but don't say anything, "Gooooood...You?"
"It's been fine... What's new?"
This time I do say something, "Really? Austin, we see each other everyday! You would know if I had something new going on!"
He sets his hands against the counter, "True, but since I've had to stay in character, I feel like I missed out on these past few days. I haven't really been able to be myself recently so I feel like I haven't really...you know...been there for you...? Usually we can spend hours talking to each other but we haven't really since Dez asked me to help him which was about..." he stops to think, "a month ago. I've missed our Austin & Ally Time..." he admits.
OK, that was really sweet! I smile, "Yeah, I feel the same... We haven't really talked..." I also admit, shyly.
It's quite for a few seconds or moments (hard to tell) before I stand up straight with my head held high. That gets Austin's attention and his head snaps back up to me. "You know what? I say we fix that!"
"How?"
"I don't know but we can. We're Austin and Ally. We've done harder."
"I don't know, Alls...-" he trails off as he turns on his side and leans on his elbow, but I interrupt him.
"Oh, come on! You can't do that!"
He looks at me alarmed and confused, "Do what?" I can tell he's thinking 'Turn?'
"Be all nice and sweet and say you miss me and want to talk again but as soon as I declare that we fix that, you disagree."
"OK, I wouldn't have called that 'declaring'-"
"Austin, stop! If I declared it or not doesn't change the fact that you can't do that."
"It's just..." He shifts so he's fully facing me, his lower back flat against the counter, "Dez is very indecisive and very imaginative," You're telling me "so I have no clue when he'll be done coming up with ideas let alone when he'll decide on his movie. That's why I'm very cautious to agree to his long term plans and try to not let you and Trish get roped into them. If he never decides, I'll never be done, it won't go back to normal, and we won't get our Austin & Ally Time. It just sounds impossible..."
"It's not impossible—"
This time he interrupts me, "—But it's something I can't control," he presses, looking strangely intense.
"Um...Of course you can't...Neither can I...You can't control another person," I laugh the last part, "I wasn't expecting you to control Dez, Austin," I say, still laughing slightly but I calm down, "But we can still strive to talk more..." OK, is it just me, or this conversation turning out weird and not quite like our normal conversations.
"I don't know if that'll work...It's relentless..."
"Yeah, but it won't go on forever. It will, eventually, get better!" I smile reassuringly (though I feel it was a little awkward) at him.
He looks at me for a second before sighing and lifting one hand in the air, as if waving it off, "You know what? You're probably right. It's not like I'm stuck with this..." he says and it has a tint in his voice that I can't quite explain, "Forever..." he mutters under his breath but I still hear it. Well, as I always say (or...think...), if they were saying it under their breath, they probably didn't want me to hear so I'm not gonna comment and just forget about it. I just hope he's OK, he seems stressed...
"OK, kids, sorry I took so long!" my dad starts as he suddenly walks over, "One of the things I was doing took longer than I thought it would. You two go up to your Practice Room, Ally, I'll take the store from here."
I smile at him, "Thanks Dad! Come on, Austin!"
"K, and yeah, thanks, sir," Austin comments as he passes my dad. We both get around the counter when he turns to me and says, "Race you there!" and starts bolting up the stairs.
My eyes widen, "Austin, stop! You could—"
"—OW!"
"Fall..." I finish weakly before rushing up the stairs to get to him. "Austin, are you OK?"
He faces me, "Yeah, probably. My knee hurts though," he rolls up his pant leg and his knee is not only bruised but bleeding, "Ah, dang it!"
"Here, let's get a Band-Aid. Do you need help up?" I ask him since some guys have a thing against girls helping them. I find it kinda silly but...
"Nah, I'm fine. Let's just hurry cause, well, you know!" he finishes not being able to find the right word.
"Yeah, I do," I stand up, "Here," I reach a hand down to him to help him up. He takes it and soon he's standing. You know, I expected for me to go plummeting down on top of him since I am not that strong that I could lift him up single handedly (literally!) but I didn't fall over so that's good!
We both walk up the rest of the way to the Practice Room and he sits down as I get the first aid kit. I walk back over and we both tend to it (Well, I do most of it but I can't take all the credit when I didn't do 100% of it). "OK, how does that feel?"
"OK, I guess..." he mumbles, sadly.
"Oh, cheer up, grumpy face! You'll be fine!"
"I know...It just hurts...And I feel really embarrassed and like I lost some of my pride because I tripped over stairs. I mean, come on! They don't even sneak up on you!"
I sigh, trying to think of something to make him feel better and suddenly I get an idea. It's very risky cause I don't know if we're in that spot in our friendship but it seems to always make guys smile in pop culture. Or, at least, distracts them. "Cheer up, Austin!" I lean over and kiss him on the cheek, "You'll be OK." When I pulled away he seems less mopey. I'm not sure happier but less mopey... "Soo..." I start carefully, "You wanna work on the song?"
Austin shakes his head, snapping out of it, and looking up at me, "Yeah. Sure," he stands up and stuffs his hands in his pockets and looks at me expectantly with wide, awake, alert eyes.
I walk over to the piano bench with Austin behind me and we both sit down. I get my book out and flip to the notes for our new song. "OK, so we decided that we wanted it to be about past artists, right?"
"Right!"
"OK, so name some!"
"OK, well, there's uh... Mick Jagger...And Elvis Presley...And Jimi Hendrix...Axl Rose...Bob Dylan...Paul McCartney...Jim Morrison...Keith Richards...Christina Aguilera...Bruce Springsteen...John Lennon...David Lee Roth...Eric Clapton...Metallica...Kiss..."
"I don't think we should do bands, just solo artists."
"OK, then that's all I can think of off the top of my head."
"That's fine, I think we got enough. OK, next part, name things you do to instruments."
"OK...?" he sounds confused but goes with it, "You blow in them, strum them, tap them, rub a string against them, smack them-"
"-Smack them?"
"Yeah, you hit them. You know, like with bongos, cajons, drums."
"First, what the heck is a 'cajon'?"
"It's this obscure musical instrument. It's this, like, magical box that depending on where you hit it or how hard, it makes different sounds. It's so cool! {1}"
"Hm, OK. Second...'Strum' and 'drum' sounds good... Think of some words that rhyme with that," I insist as I turn to my song book. "OK, well, um...tum, mum, chum, fum, fun, lung, ton, shun, lunge, lump, lamp, wait I'm getting off topic. OK, back to drum, uh...Oh! Come, sum, scum, dumb, glum, hum, rum, run-"
"-That's it!"
"It is?"
"Yeah! Here, listen to this," I adjust my fingers on the piano, "'Strummin', drummin' / Slide across and runnin'. {2}"
"That's awesome! OK, give me more words to think of!"
I laugh at his enthusiasm and shake my head once, "OK, think of things you need to rock out on stage."
"OK! Uh..." he rubs his hands together and leans his head back, "OH!" he looks back at me, "Well, before you do anything, you gotta get into the beat. Whether it be slow and classical or fast and upbeat! You gotta pick out the drums, mesh it with the other instruments, absorb it, let it flow through your body, and then you can rock out."
"Really?"
He nods.
"Maybe that's why I can't dance," I mumble to myself.
"Hey, you're not that bad," Austin comments as he bumps my arm with his.
"Really? Say that to Past Austin who had a sprained ankle."
"OK...But you were nervous. We were fine at Trish's quinceanera, no one got hurt while we were dancing..."
"I guess so..."
"Yeah, you're darn right you guess so! Wait..."
"I got what you were saying. Anyway, what else?"
"Uhhh...Oh, what bugs me is when people thinks anyone can perform. I mean, sure, they may have a great voice but that doesn't mean they have a good stage presence."
"Like how?"
"Like they just stand there or something. You gotta get the crowd into it, make them feel the music with you, you know? These great artists never faked it so neither can you if you want to be as good as them. I mean, sure, people make mistakes, even the stars, but they had so much of a presence and so much swag, they knew how to make it work for them. You've gotta put your soul in it and sing your heart out!"
"Austin..."
"What? Why the saying my name all slow?"
"I think you just wrote an entire verse..."
"I did? None of that rhymed!"
"True but just wait until Ally D gets her hands on it," I crack my fingers and adjust them to the keys,
"Strum it, drum it
Slide across and run it
The stage is your home if you learn how to own it
Like the greats did
There's no way that you can fake it
You've gotta feel the beat before you can move
Even though you're not wearing blue suede shoes
And making mistakes
Well, that won't matter
If you can swagger like ol' Mick Jagger
If you've got a heart and soul
You can rock n' roll
You can rock n' roll" {2}
"That's it!" Austin jumps up but quickly settles back down when he realizes that his knee is still injured. He reaches a hand to me to high-five, "You're amazing, Ally!" he says as we do.
"Thanks..." I blush.
"Well," he starts, "am IIIIIIIII," he yawns then his arm settles over my shoulders and his head falls down to on my shoulder with the next word, "exhausted!"
"How?" I laugh, "We haven't done much. I mean, we've been working on the song for, what?" I check my watch, "half an hour?" Wow...New record. Sweet!
"Seriously? Sweet!" he's temporarily distracted before going back to his original, "But it's just that. I mean, watching the store, scratching my knee, and writing a whole verse on a song. I mean just-Gosh, Ally, it's tiring."
I just roll my eyes at him. Not like, being mean or anything, he's my best friend! I wouldn't be like that, I guess more adoringly or playful (Actually, playful fits better).
"I've been looking for you!" I hear Dez say as he opens the door, I assume. "Ohhhh...Did I interrupt something?"
I slowly stand up to make sure I don't hurt Austin since he's still on top and leaning against me, "No, we were just working on a song and Austin was complaining that he was tired even though he hadn't really done anything. You know, you always ask that. What would you be interrupting?"
"Nothing. Just checking," he turns to Austin, "Austin, I got the game."
"Great." Austin states, standing up and next to me.
"What game?" I ask the boys.
"Black Ops 4," Austin says at the same time Dez answers, "Pretty Pretty Princess {3}."
"What?"
"OK, OK, fine...It is Pretty Pretty Princess..." Austin grumbles.
"What? Why?" I laugh.
"Dez and I got stuck babysitting his little sister last night and she insisted that we play."
"Mm-hm, and Austin really liked it and asked if we could play today." Dez continues.
"What? I did not! I asked if you could bring it so we could have a rematch."
"Because you liked it so much!"
"No! Because you cheated!"
"Nooooo...It's because you liked it so much..."
"I did not!"
"Whatever you say, Austin, what ever you say..." Dez turns back to me, "Ally, would like to play too?"
"Oh, sorry, I can't."
"Uh, yeah, Dez, she can't. It wouldn't be fair!" Austin shouts, sounding upset.
But he's not the only one, "And why wouldn't it be?" I say slowly as I cross my arms and lean my weight on one foot, "Is it because I'm a girl?"
"What? Heck no! That's so not the reason!"
"Then what is, Austin?"
"The game is called 'Pretty Pretty Princess' and we," he gestures to himself and Dez, "can't play against a pretty princess, it'd be too unfair! You'd have the advantage since you're already 2/3 of the way there while we'd have to catch up just to have a fighting chance."
"Wait...Did you just call me 'a pretty princess'?"
"Uh, yeah. I mean, look at yourself," I glance down as he said, "What else could you be?"
Awwwwww! "OK, that was really sweet. I'm not mad at you anymore."
"Good. Cause I hate when you're mad at me," he says as he pulls me into his side for a hug.
"OK, well, I gotta go work, you guys have fun playing OK?" I ask after he lets go.
"K!" they both shout as I walk out of the room.
"And be careful on the stairs! They're out to get people!" Austin shouts after me.
"No! It's just you!" I shout back.
I get to the front desk and walk up to my dad, "OK, I'm back."
"Great, honey. Can you just walk around the store for a bit, see if anyone needs help?"
"Sure," I agree then walk off, deeper into the store.
Five minutes later, I'm still just walking around Sonic Boom when I hear, "Guess who got a job a-Ally?" I hear footsteps and I suddenly see Trish walk out of one of the aisles. She looks to the side and spots me, "Ally! There you are! Guess who got a job at Twist-and-Shout? {4}" she singsongs as she strikes her pose.
"I'm guessing you. I...like your pretzel," I complement, gesturing to the pretzel on her headband.
"Thanks! This place isn't actually so bad. It's a cart so I can basically go anywhere I want in the mall. They said it's fine as long as I still charge them and remain courteous."
I give her a look, "Don't take this the wrong way, Trish, but are you sure you're gonna be able to do that. I mean, you can't even look at Dez without insulting or abusing him."
"That's because he gets on my nerves!"
"Exactly, what if a customer gets on your nerve and you can't be courteous and you end up dumping the mustard dipping on them? Or what if a cute boy buys a pretzel but he forgot his wallet. Are you sure you won't just give it to him?"
"Well...No... But I'm gonna try not to!"
"Wow, Trish, working hard on a job. OK, I'll support you in anyway I can," I state then backtrack, "Well, anyway I can without doing the work for you." Trish goes to say something but I keep talking, "Or any way where I'm doing any kind of work meant for an employee."
"Oh, fine!" Trish exclaims and I do a cross between a smirk and rolling my eyes. I walk a few feet and Trish follows, "So, Ally, what's been going on here? Anything new?"
"No, it's been normal at Sonic Boom."
"Nooooooo!" Trish shouts with zest, "I meant with you," she emphasizes as I face her.
"Like what?" I ask, walking again.
"You know...Like with boys!"
"Oh, no, not really... " I start, casually, "Austin and Dez are the same...I've still had no contact with Dallas...Elliot's not coming back to town...Got two phone numbers...Still don't know what happened to that Ethan guy...-"
"Woah, woah, woah, back the speech train up a stop, Ally," Trish says. What? "What did you say about phone numbers?"
"That I got two," I answer, still acting nonchalant.
"What?! Who?! When?! Where?! Why?!"
"'Why'?!" I exclaim, sounding a bit offended.
"Sorry, not that. But the other three remain."
"OK, well, they were both at Nikola Tesla High."
"'Nikola Tesla'? Who the heck is that?"
I give her a look and scoff indignantly, then continue, "And they were yesterday."
"Two guys in the same day, nice, girl!" she praises, "And who was it?" she asks getting excited.
"The first was Adam Johnson and the second was Brady, who I learned his last name is Matthews," I say as I take the numbers out of my pocket. I expected to have this conversation so I kept them with me.
She eagerly takes them and looks at them, "Oh my gosh! Do you think you're gonna call them?"
"Well, defiantly not Brady."
"Why not?"
"Because look, the number's not handwritten, it's typed. And it looks like a business card. If he felt the need to make business cards of his number, that makes me think he gives his number away a little too much. Plus, Dez said he's the most popular guy at Tesla, I'm not sure if I can handle that pressure. And, those added together, I don't want a guy like that."
"OK, fair enough, what about Adam? His is handwritten and on scrap paper!" she singsongs persuadingly.
"True...And Dez did say he's the top of his AP classes and the top student of the music department —"
"—See? That's totally up your guy alley."
"Yeah, but you didn't let me finish. He didn't give me his number cause he was interested in me, it was because he asked me a question and I needed a way to contact him cause I was about to run off."
"Yeah, but let's face it, you're lovable! Give it time and he'll come around."
"Sure, Trish, think what you want."
"I will because it's true! You are!"
"Suuuurrreeee..."
"Fine! If you don't believe me, we'll ask the boys," Trish insists proudly, with head held high. I would argue because asking the guys doesn't make sense but one does not disagree with Trish...
I sigh, "Practice Room."
She holds her head high again and starts for the stairs with me following. We both walk in and Trish starts, with her eyes closed, not looking at them, "Boys! We have a question for you!"
I turn to look at them and see both adorned in necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings, and Dez wearing a crown. They don't both have all of them but they each do have quite a bit of jewelry on.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Trish bursts laughing at Dez and Austin while I'm looking at them in shock, "Oh, this is rich! Smile for Tweeter, boys!" she singsongs, taking out her phone.
"Trish!" I shout at her, I doubt they want this on the internet, "No!"
"Oh, come on, Ally! Look at this!" she gestures to guys, "Tell me you don't want to remember this forever."
"Not if that requires a picture and Austin and Dez don't want one to exist."
"Yeah!" Dez shouts.
"Oh, please!"
"No! I will not let you post it!"
"OK, what if I just take a picture but keep it for my own enjoyment?"
"Can you promise only you will see it?"
"No."
"Then how will I know you won't post it?"
"Caaauuussseee..." she drags out, trying to think of a reason.
"Oh! I know! If you ever post it or show it to someone else without Austin and Dez's conscious, out of free will, consent, I will stop helping you with your homework or job."
"What?! But you're my study partner!"
"She's yours too?" Austin asks from the ground. We all look at him and he looks down at his lap and twiddles his thumbs, shyly, "Sorry."
"You couldn't come up with a reason why I should trust you, so I did," I state, feeling awfully like a lawyer, "So, ask yourself, is the picture worth it?"
She looks at me with a blank look, looks at Austin with a slightly amused look, then at Dez and starts trying to not laugh.
"Trish..." I urge.
"OK, fine!" she relents.
"Thankyou!" I turn to Austin and Dez, "Alright, boys, do you mind taking a picture?"
"But what if she finds a loophole, Ally?" Dez asks.
"Don't worry, Dez," I turn to give Trish an intimidating look over my shoulder, "I'll make her pay," I say dangerously and face them again with a smile, "So will ya?" I ask cheerfully.
"Yeah!" Dez quickly agrees.
"Thankyou!"
They both get up and pose for Trish to take the picture while I watch off to the side with my arms folded. "OK, give me happy," Trish demands.
They both smile with a thumbs up. I notice they don't argue with the odd request. Oh, well, they're smarter than I thought...
"Give me scary." They both make their own version of what they think is frightening.
"Give me hot." And, again, they do whatever they think is attractive but, honestly, they look like idiots.
"Give me nonplussed."
"Huh?" They look at her very confused and she starts laughing really hard.
"Oh, look at this Ally," she waves me over to look at her phone. They do look awfully nonplussed...
"Nice!" I say and we do our handshake while the guys still look at us confused. "Guys, 'nonplussed' means 'confused'," I explain to them.
"Ohhhhhhhh!" they exclaim as look at each other.
"Yeah."
"So, what question did you have for us?" Austin asks Trish and I as starts he taking off his blue earrings.
"Oh right!" Trish shouts, turning to look at me and I know I'm back in the spotlight, "Is Ally lovable?"
"Yeah," Dez and Austin both say without a second thought.
"Hoooow did this come up?" Austin asks again, confused, and takes off his necklace.
"Well, Ally and I were talking and she doesn't believe that this guy would ever like her. I told her they would because she's lovable and she didn't believe me so we came up here to ask your opinion and we came in on," she gestures to the boys and starts laughing again, "this! Man, it was worth it."
"Oh, and, um, who was this guy?" Austin asks again and this time he's slipping off his bracelet. We all look at him strangely and he must of sensed it cause he pauses and looks back at us, "What? Maybe I know him, it might help."
"His name Adam Johnson and he goes Tesla High-"
"-When did you go to Tesla?"
"When I was dropping off enrollment/transfer papers for a friend of mine and I bumped into him. He asked me about how you focus so much on both your music and sport careers..." I trail off.
"HAHAHAHA! Austin on a sports team! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Trish!"
She keeps laughing so I just continue, trying to shout over her, "Anyway, he gave me his number so I could contact him with the answer!"
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"OK, well, if you'll excuuuuuuse us, ladies, we gotta a game to play," Dez announces.
"Ah, but Dez, I just finished taking it all off!"
"Too bad! We're playing!" Dez drags Austin the few feet to the board and forcefully sits him down.
"Fine!" Austin agrees, pouting slightly, and starts putting his jewelry back on unhappily.
"OK, well, good luck, boys!" I say as I drag Trish out of the room before she can take anymore pictures.
"Hey Ally?"
"Yeah, Trish?"
"How is the new song coming?" Trish asks causally as she sits in the lounge area reading a magazine.
"Fantastic! Here, come see!"
She gets up as I reach under the counter for my Book.
It's not there.
OK, Ally, don't panic...it could just be a few more inches over than you thought...
I reach over as far as my hand can go.
Still nothing!
Calm down, it must be in the counter somewhere...
I duck down so I'm at eye-level with the compartment. I look everywhere in it.
No where in sight!
OK, Ally, now panic.
I stand up and look at Trish, "My Book is gone!"
"What?! Are you sure?!"
"Yeah, pretty sure! I specifically remember putting it under the counter and, look, now it's gone!"
"OK, Ally, don't panic!"
"Trish! It's my...Book... It's like if you lost your phone! Except it has secrets!"
"Oh..."
"Yeah...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I scream.
The door to the Practice Room slams open a second later and Austin and Dez come rushing down the stairs. "Ally, what's wrong!" Austin shouts as he slams his palms down on the front counter to stop himself from running into it.
"Code Brown, guys! Code! Brown!"
Dez adopts a confused look, "'Code Brown'? You mean-"
"-No, not that Code Brown! Ally Code Brown! Her book is gone!" Austin explains.
"Thankyou!" I shout, grateful that he seems to grasp the dire of this situation.
"OK, let's split up gang!" Dez shouts.
"Dez! Don't say that! If we are in Scooby-Doo, that means there's a evil guy in a mask doing this and frankly, I don't want to deal with some stalker focused on our demise!"
"Fine! But we should split up!"
"OK!" Trish starts, "You two go look upstairs, we'll look down here!"
"No! You guys look upstairs! There's a lot more ground to cover down here!"
"What're you trying to say, Moon?!"
"Guys! Times for arguing: debates, elections, trials! Times not for arguing: a funeral, a birthday party, and WHEN I'VE LOST MY BOOK! Come on, people! My secrets are in there! And we all know what happened last time I lost my book!" we all look over at Austin.
"Yeah, we do! And I said I was sorry! But standing here and reminiscing about the past isn't gonna help the situation!"
"Right! We'll take the Practice Room! Boys, take the store!" I shout and with that I run up the stairs.
"Ally!" Austin shouts behind me.
"I know! I'm being careful!"
"Any luck?" I ask Trish a half hour later after we've torn apart my Practice Room.
"Nope, you?"
"Yes, Trish, I already found my Book and just wanted to check in with you! Of course I haven't found it!" I stop as I realize what I just said and the tone, "I'm sorry, Trish, I get snarky when I'm stressed."
"I thought you cleaned."
"That's when I'm nervous, I'm stressed right now."
"Makes sense."
We both rush out of the room and unto the balcony. "Austin! Dez! Any luck!"
"Nope! Sorry Alls!" Austin shouts up to me, looking honestly apologetic.
"Wait!" Dez shouts from inside a tuba. My hope counteracts any questions of why he, or my Book, was inside there.
"Dez, did you find something?!" I rush down the stairs once again and I can feel Austin's eyes watching me carefully. Man, that fall really spooked him...
"Yeah!" he retracts his hand and my hope rises until I see the object in his hand.
"Dezmond Malone Shockley..." I start, with gritted teeth and I see him wince as usual, "What...is that...?"
"A hockey puck," he says proudly with a smile. Wow, he bounces back quick.
"Dez...Why...would that...be helpful...?"
"Cause you asked if we had any pucks."
"I...said...luck...Dez..." I says carefully, trying not to explode. I feel hands on my arms and guessing by the size of hands and my friends' personalities, I'm pretty sure Austin's pulling me back. I'm a few feet away from Dez when Austin lets go and rubs my back, trying to be reassuring and calming. I takes a deep breath and I feel myself slowly calming down.
"Don't worry, Ally, we'll find it," Austin says in a careful and soothing tone, still trying to relax me.
"Yeah..." I say, a bit dazed from how good him rubbing my back feels, "We will!" I state, getting back to business, "We need to spread out! Clearly, it isn't in the store since we tore apart my Practice Room and I trust you guys looked everywhere you could down here. We should check other places in the mall. Maybe someone picked it up by accident. That means a stranger could have all my secrets and songs and my personal info!" I start freaking out.
"Calm down, Ally," Austin starts, putting a hand on my back again, "Luckily, it doesn't look like a normal book, it looks a lot like a journal. And anyone with any respect and kindness in them won't read it and, in fact, probably turn it into the mall lost-and-found."
"You're right...We should look there! Trish! Come with me!"
"What about us?" Dez asks.
"I don't know, but look somewhere. I trust that you won't waste time and actually look. Don't let me down," and with that Trish and I head out the store.
Things To Know:
I have a feeling I forgot a few so sorry.
{1} Cajons are cool. My sister is the one who described it as a magical box.
{2} "Heart and Soul" by Jonas Brothers
{3} OK, there's actually a pretty funny story that goes with this and why I made them play it. So, my sister's boyfriend and brother were over at our house and I was, like, 7 or something (I honestly don't remember) and I really wanted to play Pretty Pretty Princess because I had gotten it earlier that day and only played it once. My sister and mom were all, "Oh, no, _ (I'm not telling you my name), they don't want to play" but I was, like, adorable or something (I know, it's so hard being me. :)8 ) and so we ended up playing and the boys got really into it. There was smack talk and everything. The brother ended up winning and was like, "I AM THE PRETTIEST PRINCESS!" and did a victory lap around my house while we sang "We Are The Champions". They posed for a picture in the jewelry and the brother was bragging about it the whole rest of the night and for a while after that. I imagine that Austin and Dez's game went something like that.
{4} I made this place up.
Disclaimer:
I do not own Austin & Ally, Band-Aids (I believe that's a brand), all those artists I mentioned (I do not want to type them out), Black Ops 4, Pretty Pretty Princess, Scooby-Doo, and probably some other stuffs...
Reviews:
-:- Reviewers who are members and should be expecting or have already gotten PMs from me -:- alishanasim21 -:- RexLuna -:- K-Cat14 -:- BunneybearXD -:- Trying2StayHopeful -:- GabbyBustsYourButt -:-
-:- Guest -:- Mm-hm. I love Warehouse 13. I was thinking of having that as my birthday party theme but it would've been so much cooler for my 13th birthday. I like the Teslas. I'm thinking of going as Claudia for Halloween. Do you have any ideas on what you're gonna be? Or do you not dress-up? Cause if you do, that's fine.
-:- Hazel -:- [[[CHAPTER 4 ]]] I'm glad you'll read til the end. It's gonna be a doozy (probably. I haven't actually planned out my ending yet...) but later on, you guys are gonna hate me so much! I'm actually kinda excited. Is that wrong? I'm glad you like the references. Yeah, me and my sister (I have 2) have been watching all of the Harry Potter movies since I hadn't seen them since I was little and because of that, I keep making these Harry Potter references. It's just a thing that happens when I'm listening to a certain song or watching a certain show and I'll make references in my stories. It's weird... [[[CHAPTER 5]]] Yeah, I guess so. I hadn't really even thought of that. If he sucks at sports which is usually caused my lack or coordination then shouldn't he not be able to dance? Well, I figure it's just one of those weird things of nature. One of my sisters, clumsy as heck, but only with stuff that normal can do normally. If it's something that a lot people would fail at, she's graceful and doesn't hurt herself at all! I can dance pretty well (people have told me I'm a good dancer but I don't what that says), but I SUCK at sports. I am not athletic at all! I can't really run super great and I kick weird. I think it's because on most people's toes, theirs face forward, mine turn slightly outward, therefore messing with the aim and everything. Plus, everyone makes Austin great at practically everything. I wanted him to be bad at something to level it out. Something he struggles with that a lot of people can do, no problem. I feel like it deepens the characters a little bit more if you do something like that. Agreed, Kurt Schneider is awesome. :)8
-:- EmotionLotion -:- You love it? Fantastic! I'm glad. :)8 And thankyou! :D8
JoeyJar99's Message:
Hey, please let me know what you thought. As I said, this chapter is not my favorite or the best written and really cheesy but it ties some things up, foreshadows, and sets up the next chapter. Let me know what you think and PLEASE let me know what you think Austin's secret is.
Later. Over-and-Out. Live long and prosper.