"So, Dez."
"So, Austin."
"What's up with you and Trish?" he asked the redhead one morning while making shipments.
"Me and Trish? What do you mean?" Dez asked.
"You courting her or something?" he grinned.
"Me and Trish?! HAHAHAHAHAHA," Dez fell into a fit of laughter. "NO," he finished seriously.
"I'm just saying," Austin defended, "You two have that back and forth, but a girl or guy wouldn't want to be around someone that they pick fights with so much if it didn't mean anything."
"Uh yeah dude, it's called best friends. Trish and I knew each other since we were 5. Dude we're just best friends, trust me. She's to scary to be someone I like romantically."
"Alright, alright, chill, dude. I'm just saying…"
"Uhuh, and what about you Mr. Suave?" Dez quipped an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about, bro?"
"Don't play dumb with me," Dez said. "Wait, unless I really don't know what I'm talking about…"
"Dez," Austin chuckled. "What's your point?"
"Oh!" Dez remembered. "What about with you and Ally, huh?"
"What about me and Ally?" Austin was amused.
"So you can accuse me of having feelings for my platonic female friend, and I can't make inquiries of the same thing?" Dez quipped an eyebrow.
"No because she and I are just friends, Dez," Austin chuckled. "Don't take this the wrong way, but that was very clever, dude."
"It's cool. I get that a lot," Dez said unaffected.
"Well Trish was talking to me the other day and-"
"Yeah, she tells everyone I'm an idiot," Dez told him.
"Sorry, bro," Austin tried apologizing.
"Oh, no she's right. I'm an idiot," Dez said non-chalantly. "But at least I'm not blind," he smirked.
"I have a girlfriend," he told the redhead.
"And Ally had a boyfriend. Thanks to me and Trish convincing her he was no good. Want us to take care of your problem?" Dez asked.
"Hey, hey," Austin feigned hurt. "I don't have a problem with my girlfriend, dude. Why are you guys so into Ally and me getting together? Why, did she say something?" he asked.
By this time, they got back to the diner.
"Well, if I'm not mistaken, you seemed kind of eager to know if she did say something. And if you've got a girlfriend, why would you care, Mister Moon?" Dez questioned.
"You're so evil, Dez," Austin glared. "Look, Ally and I were close back then. Yeah, we may have been young, but I always wanted to protect her and I may have also had a small crush on her too. But that's over 10 years ago. I'm just glad that we're friends again."
"So you did like her?" he squeaked.
"Ten years ago, Dez. Ten years ago… Why… does she, uh…"
"DEZ! Come help me lug this delivery out back!" Trish yelled from inside.
"Saved by the Trish," Dez said to Austin. "We'll talk more later."
"Wait, Dez!" Austin said before he left. "Can we uh, keep this to ourselves for now?"
"Why?" Dez wondered. Then he realized. "Oh. Right. Sure," he exaggerated a wink.
"Goodbye, Dez," Austin said through gritted teeth and a flushed face.
"Hey, you ok? You look hot," Ally came by once Dez disappeared inside.
"What?" Austin was caught off guard.
"Yeah, do you want some water or something?" she handed him her water bottle.
"Oh. Hot. Yeah… thanks," Austin accepted the bottle. "So what are we doing today?"
"Well my uncle and aunt need to go to city hall at lunch. Says it's an important meeting. I don't know. Probably some regular official stuff, huh?"
"Probably," Austin said. "So what are we going to do while they're away?"
"Take over the diner for my aunt."
"Of course, I knew that," he chuckled.
"Hey Austin," Dez said walking back to the truck. "I got another load of deliveries Ally's aunt made. Want to start now so we can finish early?" Then he noticed Ally's presence. "Oh. Unless you already made other plans?" he asked suggestively.
Dez knew both sides. Of course he'd take that to his advantage.
"No, I was just saying hi. Go do your deliveries, guys. See you later!" Ally said before trotting into the diner.
"Way to make things awkward, dude," Austin flicked his forehead.
"This is going to be so fun," Dez said.
George and Lisa came back to the diner after lunch, finding Ally and Trish in charge, and Austin and Dez pulling up after finishing their last delivery.
"Perfect timing, boys," George greeted them.
"Hey guys, you hungry?" Ally asked while cleaning up a table.
"Let me just grab a couple of pies from the fridge," aunt Lisa said.
Trish came out with several cups of lemonade for everyone.
"So uncle George, how was your meeting today?" Ally asked.
"It went like it always went, kiddo," he ruffled the top of her head. "I'm not really cut for this business stuff so most of the time your aunt does the talking and I just nod and agree."
"Spoken like a true gentleman," Trish said.
"You got that right," Ally high fived her best friend.
"Haha, yeah well your aunt wears the pants in this relationship," uncle George admitted.
"Yes I do," she said as she came back with pie.
"What did you guys talk about?" Ally wondered.
"Just city stuff. Your dad usually holds meetings with them through video or phone conference, then George and I hear the run down, or we'll sit in on these sessions as well. You know you're father, he just wants stern updates and whatnot so he knows how much money he still has in the bank," aunt Lisa half joked.
"That's dad for ya," Ally sarcastically replied.
"Well it's a good thing you're not like that, Alls," Dez reassured her.
"I hope not," she said.
"Everything's going to be all, sweetheart, just let the adults handle your dad."
"Thanks aunt Lisa," Ally was unsure why she even said that, but she was slightly relieved.
"So George, Dez and I were able to make the extra deliveries. Did you want us to make some more or…" Austin asked.
"I think we're done with deliveries for today, boys. What'd you have in mind we do next?"
"Well, Mr. Gibbons wanted help cutting grass on his ranch. Can I take Dez to the tractor fields to help?"
"Help or goof off?" uncle George raised an eyebrow.
"What? Psh. I don't know what you're talking about," Austin faked.
"What happened before?" Trish asked.
"For a physics project, Dallas and Austin rode on the tractor down Ron Gibbon's hill, he's got the largest farmland here. Dallas filmed it all but they really just acted like boys and almost lost control of the tractor. It was funny to them."
"Boys will be boys," aunt Lisa chuckled.
"But, they both bruised their arms so that was punishment enough," uncle George concluded.
"Wow, smooth," Ally joked.
"Har. Har. I was 17 back then, come on. Mr. Gibbons forgave me. And I've been to his ranch several times after that. Please, George?"
"Dez may be an idiot but he's pretty responsible," Trish said.
"Yeah uncle George. Austin could use a chaperone anyways," she stuck her tongue out at him.
"Ok fine, just be back by dinner time."
"Sweet! Let me gab my camera. That's actually not a bad idea!"
Lisa, George and Trish headed back to the kitchen to clean up, while Ally stayed behind to clean up the table. She didn't notice Austin was still there, and he caught her humming to herself.
"Whatcha humming?"
"Huh?" she was startled to have him hear her.
"That song. What's that? Sounds familiar but not really."
"Well that's because it's not a published song," she told him.
"It's not?"
"Nope, just a little melody that I came up with for a song."
"Did you write the song yourself?"
"You know you're really nosey," she stuck her tongue out.
"I'm a curious guy. Sue me," he smirked.
"Yes, I write for fun, but I don't plan to be a rock star any time soon, Austin."
"Not suggesting you become a rock star, but I'd love to hear you sing one of these days."
"Sorry," she said sing-songed.
"Oh come on. For me?"
"Nope," she shook her head.
"What about lyrics? Can I at least read those?" he begged.
She thought for a moment.
"Hmm… Well, I guess lyrics won't hurt… Fine."
"Sweet!"
"Ok don't go crazy now," she giggled.
"So what's on the agenda for tonight?" he asked.
"I don't know. Did you have anything in mind other than the usual?"
"Can I read some lyrics tonight?" he asked eagerly.
"Sure, I'll bring my song book."
"Song book? You sure you aren't a professional, Ally?" he chuckled.
"Shut up, Austin. Or I won't show you," she said.
"Alright, alright. So, tonight I'll pick you up, same time."
"Wow, these are some really good lyrics, Ally."
"Thanks, Austin."
"No seriously. They're amazing," he exclaimed.
"I guess," she blushed.
Austin was about to turn the page from her book when she snatched it from him.
"Sorry, I get pretty defensive with my songbook/journal."
"Well it's really good stuff, Ally. You should definitely finish the song and record it one day."
"Maybe, but that's not really what I want to do. I want to write, not perform."
"You've got some mad writing skills that's for sure," Austin pointed. "Where do you get the inspiration?"
"I don't know, sometimes I just think of a scenario in my head, watch a movie, or come up with something personal."
"And this song?"
"I don't know if it's about anyone really. Just a song about hope."
"Well we can sure cross out Ethan," he chuckled.
"Oh gosh, I didn't even think about Ethan when I was writing this," she giggled.
"Well whoever this 'you' person is that brings out the real Ally in the song must be awesome."
"I don't think I have a 'you' for this song. It's just a thought," she said.
"For now."
"I guess."
For the past few weeks, Austin and Ally spent their insomniac adventures together. After everyone went to bed, Ally would wait at the porch for Austin to show up. Most nights they'd drive over to his favorite tree, sit and talk until right before the sunrise. She learned about Austin growing up – pancakes were his all time favorite because his mother made some for him everyday, how Dallas and Cassidy were the only nice kids to the 'new kid' when he moved to Dawson, how he met his current girlfriend, Kira, and that he has a very childlike personality when you give him the chance. In turn, he learned about Ally – her tough love relationship with her father, her love for writing, the entire story of Ethan and becoming popular (but not really). She was able to be herself around him and she would notice how he would lighten up around her and be a very goofy guy. Trish and Dez had a feeling something was going on between the two, but even they had no clue of their late night rendezvous. It has come across Ally's mind sometimes that she felt that they were being so secretive about it when really all they did was talk. But neither Austin nor Ally felt it was needed to ever bring it up or tell anyone, and she wasn't going to change that any time soon.
One particular evening Ally was having trouble getting away from her aunt and uncle at the dinner table. Dez found out that Ally's uncle used to be a tech genius in his school days so the two went at it at the dinner table. Aunt Lisa was so excited that she jumped in on the conversation, as did Trish. Ally was only half-listening knowing that she and Austin were supposed to meet in less than an hour. But she didn't want to be rude and leave, it would be too suspicious.
"So wait, you tore apart and built your own computer in 10 minutes flat?!" the redhead was amazed.
"Sure did. And mind you this was back in the 70's my boy."
"Dez, can't you build a computer faster than that though?" Trish said.
"How fast does it take you?" Uncle George asked.
"Six minutes and forty three seconds is my best time."
"Oh wow, Dez. You are fast!" Aunt Lisa exclaimed.
"Yeah but that's easy with the stuff we have today. It's just as good as when you did it back in the day in juts 10 minutes! That's impressive."
"Thanks, Dez!" Uncle George chuckled.
"Yeah computers, fun," Ally said. Aunt Lisa, Uncle George and Dez didn't catch the sarcasm, but Trish did. "I'm going to get the pie."
"Great! I'm going to go out back to get some more logs for the fire," Uncle George said as he got up and left.
Ally got up and headed for the kitchen, Trish following closely behind.
"Hey Alls," Trish said when it was just the two of them.
"Oh hey Trish, what's up?"
"Everything alright?"
"Yeah why wouldn't it be?"
"I don't know, you juts seemed uninterested at the dinner table. Maybe there's something on your mind?"
"Well computers isn't really a hot topic for me so I couldn't find interest in what you guys were talking about," she chuckled. Trish did too.
"Oh, right. Sorry about that. You know Dez and his tech stuff."
"Yeah, I almost forgot he was a genius at that."
Still, Trish wasn't convinced. "Are you sure everything's ok?"
"Yeah, Trish. Seriously I'm fine, just uninterested in computers," she giggled.
As the girls made their way back to the dinner table, uncle George stepped back inside, this time with a visitor.
"Hey everybody, look who I found outside!"
"Austin! Hey man," Dez high fived him.
Ally grew wide-eyed, and Trish certainly noticed, even though she really didn't have any idea why.
"Looks like the dinner table got a bit more interesting, huh Ally?" she smirked at her friend.
"You have no idea," she said to herself.
"What are you doing out this late?" Aunt Lisa wondered.
"Oh, uhh… I uh was out with Dallas and Cassidy, and we were nearby. Thought I'd drop by to say hi before I head home," he said.
Ally glanced at Austin and he met her gaze. They both knew the situation and smirked at one another.
"Well, you came just in time, boy. the girls came out with the dessert. Grab a chair, Austin. Let's have some pie!" Uncle George insisted.
For the rest of the night, the six sat at the table and enjoyed their desserts, nothing really changing in the conversation except Austin joined in on the tech stuff. Ally still wasn't interested, but tried her best not to cause attention. From time to time, Austin did glance at Ally, sending her a goofy grin, or simply having her catch him staring. No one noticed (thank goodness) that Ally would turn a little pink whenever they made eye contact.
"Thanks for letting me drop by for dessert, Lisa."
"Any time, Austin. You know you're always welcome here," Aunt Lisa said.
"Goodnight everyone!" he waved stepping outside. Dez walked Austin out while everyone else got ready for bed. It was past midnight, everyone lost track of time during that conversation.
"So Austin, now that it's just the guys, tell me the truth," Dez said as they reached Austin's truck.
"Tell the truth about what?" Austin was confused.
"Uh duh, why you really came over. Were you here to see someone specific, hmmm?" Dez wiggled his eyebrows.
"Shut up, man. I was here to just drop by. I wasn't here to see Ally or anything."
"So you admit, it's Ally," Dez smirked.
"Admit what? I said I was here to drop by!" Austin defended.
"Yeah, but you said 'Ally' all by yourself, man," Dez raised his arms in victory.
"Whatever," Austin scoffed, trying to hide his blush.
"Hey, I'm not saying it's a bad thing," Dez said.
"Then what are you saying-"
"Hey guys!" Ally said walking out to the front.
Dez shot Austin an evil smirk, and the blonde grew nervous.
"Sup, Ally. What are you doing out? I thought you were tired," Dez was enjoying this awkwardness he was creating.
"I um…" Ally began. "Aunt Lisa asked if anyone wanted the left over pie. If not she's just going to throw it out."
"What?! And waste a perfectly good pie?! Not on my watch!" Dez made a beeline to the kitchen door.
"Good one," Austin chuckled at Ally.
"Dez loves pie. Just remember that. Pizza pie, chicken pot pie, and of course blueberry pie," Ally told him.
"Duly noted."
"Sorry about tonight," she said.
"Nah, it's alright. We both couldn't get out of it."
"So what happened exactly?"
"I pulled up to the front at the same time George went out to get wood. Couldn't pretend I was invisible so I made that up."
"Nice save."
"Thanks," he chuckled, leaning on his truck. "Besides, there's always tomorrow night."
"Yes there is," Ally said, mimicking his actions.
"Then again…"
"Then again what?" Ally asked.
"Dez seems to have this crazy idea about us, and I bet Trish does too. They might figure out sooner or later about our late night adventures."
"I wouldn't necessarily call bumming around next to a tree an adventure, Austin," Ally giggled.
"You know what I mean," he chuckled.
"Maybe we should invite the others along. You know, I'll invite Dez and Trish, and you can invite Dallas and Cassidy. Besides, Dez has been bugging me about Zaliens, which I couldn't care less about."
"Not a bad idea," Austin agreed. "But…"
"What?"
"They don't really need to know about the tree, do they? I mean, not even my friends know about my thinking spot."
Ally smiled at him. "Of course not, Austin. I'm just glad you trust me enough to show me your tree."
"Well from now on, we can share the thinking spot," he flashed a smiled.
"I'd like that," she returned it, glad the moonlight wasn't bright enough to reveal her growing blush.
For the next several nights, Austin and Ally invited their friends to hangout. One night they stayed late at the diner to hangout, the other night was all about Zaliens, to Ally's dismay. Though she didn't mind because for a good hour, she and Austin chatted in the kitchen while the four friends were continuing their Zaliens marathon in Aunt Lisa's living room. Another night, Austin and friends took the city kids into town to explore the nightlife. And the last night, the girls had a sleep over at Ally's while Dez spent the night at Dallas' with Austin. Trish hoped to get something out of Ally, as did Dez with Austin, but neither one 'fessed up. Not that there was something to talk about anyhow. The only thing they laid down to their friends were that the two were simply 'just friends' and nothing more.
The two didn't stop there. They proved their 'just friends' status by hanging out and conversing plenty of times during the day, showing comfort they had around each other. Ally would sometimes switch with Dez, leaving him at the diner and her going with Austin to run errands instead. Trish definitely thought this was a bit too much for 'just friends' yet Dez was convinced that even though Austin and Ally were proving a point, it seemed normal enough for at least on his part to stop interrogating Austin about Ally. But that didn't stop Trish. She wanted to know the truth. And if her best friend wouldn't crack, then she'd go directly to the source – Austin.
"So, Austin," Trish said one day when for once Ally and Dez did errands, only because Trish forced him to give her alone time with Austin to talk.
"What's up, Trish?" Austin asked as the two were cleaning up tables after a mid-afternoon lunch rush.
"Nothing much, what about you? Anything new with you?"
"Mmm. Nope. I don't think so, just the same old Austin Moon," he nonchalantly shrugged.
"Really? Nothing different? Nothing feels different?"
"What?"
"You know, like… feelings?" she lingered for a moment. Then Austin caught on.
"Nice try, Trish. There's nothing going on," he chuckled.
"Really? Because no two people are 'just friends' and super close like you and Ally," she interrogated.
"Why are you just interrogating me and not little Ms. Dawson herself?" he tried to take the pressure away from himself.
"Oh honey I've tried. Ally is a tough shell to crack, and I can never tell what's up with her. Not to mention we haven't talked in two years so I'm re-familiarizing myself with her."
"And what makes you think I'm easier than she is?"
"You're a boy. Boys are weak. And you haven't felt my Trish wrath yet, so it's easier to scar a fresh mind," she evilly grinned.
"Ok, now I'm a bit scared," he joked.
"Listen, Austin. I'm not here to be your enemy. Now, we can make this easy or hard. You can decide. I just want to know what your intentions are with my friend."
"My intentions are to rekindle our friendship," he told her.
"Are you sure about that?" she quipped an eyebrow.
"Yes, of course."
"You two just seem awfully close."
"Because we've known each other since we were kids."
"But you lost contact for ten years."
"Yeah, and?"
"How would you just be able to pick up where you left off?"
"You and Dez didn't talk to her for two years. I could ask you the same thing."
"Two years, Austin. You can change a lot in High school, but we're somewhat the same age-wise. You started off as kids. Now you're adults. Two different stages in your lives. You can't just re-connect that fast."
"Ok… well what difference does it make? Some people can just click faster than others."
"Sure sounds a lot like relationship stuff to me," Trish smirked.
"No, it's not. It's just two friends. Two really good friends enjoying each other's company."
"So you're saying that you have no feelings for Ally whatsoever?" she inquired.
"Other than friendship?" he asked.
"Right. So you don't even feel like you could ever like her romantically?"
"Hey now I didn't say that," he said.
"So what are you saying?"
I'm not saying I like her like that or not. I'm just saying as of right now, I only see Ally as a friend."
"So, there might be a chance?" Trish smirked.
"No, well yeah, but no. Ally and I are just friends, Trish."
"Ok, fine. I'm just saying. Ally didn't really have the best relationship with Ethan. And compared to him, you're way better for her. Actually, even if I don't compare you to Ethan, you really are a perfect match for Alls."
"It's because I told you, Ally and I go way back. We're just really good friends. Like how she is with you and Dez. Now you're telling me that it's not the same with Dez because he's a dude too."
Ok fine, you're right. Maybe you and Ally are just that close. Sorry for imposing anything, Austin," Trish smiled.
"It's no problem Trish," he chuckled.
Trish continued to wipe the counter with Austin in silence. But his mind was far from silent. Questions were soaring a mile a minute through his head about his actual feelings for Ally. Did he really have feelings for her? Or was it just platonic?
Once Ally and Dez got back, Trish became the bearer of bad news to her partner in crime, informing Dez that Austin only saw Ally as a friend. Dez, this time wasn't so convinced, so he took matters to his own hands. Trish and Dez were in the diner, currently cleaning mud off of his face, while Ally was outside at the truck with Austin, explaining the whole incident.
"Wait, he did what?"
"He jumped into the pig pen chasing down one of the pigs because it took his apple. Dez was hungry, but didn't realize of course how slippery the mud was. Got muddier than the pig, and I think the pig was snorting and laughing at him. He never got his apple back too," Ally laughed.
"And that doesn't surprise you?"
"Surprise me? When we were thirteen, he asked Jessica Smith to the school dance by covering himself in honey. Jessica said she only dates sweet guys and Dez took it literally. Unfortunately, it was a hot day and well, he got chased and stung by a swarm of bees. Dez is full of surprises that it's in his nature to be uncanny," she giggled.
"Wow. Dez did all that? I'm impressed," Austin nodded.
"Did someone say my name?" Dez jumped in out of nowhere.
Austin jumped but Ally stayed put.
"Yeah, not scared when he does that either," she chuckled at Austin. Ally walked to the back inside to help Trish in the kitchen, leaving the guys at the truck.
"Hey Dez, heard you took a nice mud bath," Austin laughed.
"Laugh all you want, buddy. But check out my skin, it's smoother than ever. No wonder why Trish takes mud baths at the spa."
"You go to the spa?" Austin quipped an eyebrow.
"Hey, don't judge. My nails and skin need exfoliating just as much as the next guy," the redhead defended.
"Whatever you say dude," the blonde chuckled.
"Anyways, what are we doing tonight, man?"
"Let's see. We can go to the mall. We haven't been to the arcade since your first day here."
"Sweet, there's that Zalien game you didn't want to play and I want to show Trish. Hey man, see if Dallas and Cassidy are free too. We can always use more Zalien brain surges."
"Whatever you say, Dez," Austin chuckled at his weirdness. It was a coincidence that his phone beeped at that very moment too.
"Wow that was fast. You didn't even whip your phone out and you got a reply." Then Dez gasped. "Maybe Dallas got my message telepathically like Zaliens do!"
"Chill Dez, it's not even Dallas that called." Austin checked his phone.
"Then who was it?"
"Missed a call. I don't recognize the number. Hold on."
Austin redialed the number and waited.
"Hello?"
"Trish?" Austin recognized the voice.
"Trish?" Dez was confused.
"Austin?" Trish answered, just as confused.
"Why did Trish call you?" the redhead wondered.
"How'd you get my number?" Austin asked Trish.
"Oh wow, Austin. This is your number?!" (from a distance) "Ally you're such a liar!"
"Ally?" Austin asked.
"Ally? What's going on?" Dez was confused.
"Oh My God Trish I'm going to kill you!" Ally said in the background on Trish's end. Trish struggled to get Ally off her shoulders.
"Uhuh. Ally left a slip of paper out on the table and I wondered whose phone number it was. She told me it was nobody but I don't think you're a nobody, Austin," she evilly laughed through the phone.
"Seriously Trish I'm going to kill you! And I didn't like the paper out, you took it from my journal without asking!"
"Wow is that Ally screaming?" Dez asked Austin.
"You can hear that?" Austin chuckled.
"Yeah, or I can see it through the glass window at the diner," Dez pointed at the girls visibly wrestling each other for Trish's phone.
Austin looked over and waved at Ally, flashing a bright smile at her. Ally finally took hold of Trish's phone after Trish 'gave up' to let her talk to her 'just friend'.
"Sorry about that," Ally told Austin through the phone.
"It's not a problem," he smiled.
"And now he's talking to Ally," Dez commented aloud.
Austin shot him a 'how did you know?' look, since Dez had his back turned from the diner.
"So listen, since I've got you here. Do you and Trish want to hangout with Dez, Dallas, Cassidy and I at the mall later?"
"Sure, Austin, I'd love that," she grinned.
"Ok," he returned it. They were both able to see one another's faces from across the lot.
"Ok," she repeated.
"Ok, just hang up now. You can talk to lover boy later!" Trish said in the background.
"I gotta go," Ally said, red with embarrassment.
"See ya, Ally," and he hung up.
"Uhuh… Just as I thought."
"What?"
"You are so bad at lying, dude," Dez chuckled.
"What are you talking about?" Austin acted innocent.
"You had like a permanent idiotic grin on your face the whole time you were talking to Ally. And you say you're just friends," he smirked.
"Shut up Dez, we are," Austin fought back his growing blush.
"Whatever you say, man. Now come on. I want to shoot Zalien guts."
"Ok I'll unload the truck. Go get the girls," he told the impatient teenager.
Suddenly Austin's phone rang again.
"Guess Ally couldn't get enough of you either," Dez winked.
"Shut up, Dez!" Austin said, this time letting his blush show since Dez was running back inside the diner to fetch the girls.
Austin, absentmindedly picking up his phone, didn't expect the person on the other line.
"Kira. Hey."
A/N: Hey guys, so sorry for the late update. I'm never this late in updating. But I'm glad I found time today to update this. I will be busy for the next few days but expect the next chapter within a week for sure. Hope you haven't forgotten about this!