Hey All! Next chapter! And a long one too, yay! I'm back at school now, so I shall attempt to get more out next week, but don't hate me if I'm a bit late! I'm super sorry, things just get a little crazy occasionally.

Anyhow, obviously I own nothing. So sit back, relax and have a read. Hope you enjoy!


The night was coming to an end. Austin had done a fantastic performance (as usual), and had left Ally an unusual combination of flustered, adoring and annoyed.

What an overachiever, had been her predominant thought throughout his performance. And he'd done what he always did. Sang to her (or any other girl he chose at his concerts) and made her feel like she was the centre of his world. Like, maybe, just maybe, when he sang those goddamn beautiful words he really meant it. But she was being crazy. There was no way that Austin was into her. He was just one hell of a performer. And, a lot more surprisingly, one hell of an actor.

He'd meant it. Every single word. He'd felt a little weird choosing a One Direction song, but he knew Ally was a fan and (secretly) he was too. He knew Strong and it'd always stuck out to him. The words were so honest, so truthful. They were so exactly what he was feeling for Ally. And he'd thought, just for a few moments there, when he'd been singing his heart and soul out to her, that maybe she'd heard. That maybe she'd heard and, most importantly, that maybe the words didn't make her want to run away. That maybe, just maybe, Ally Dawson could feel the same way for him as he did for her. But that was crazy. She was just doing him a favour. She was just trying to convince his family that she was in love with him. He couldn't afford to get his hopes up for someone like Ally. It'd hurt too much.


They'd made their way back to the room together, making the (surprisingly long) walk in total silence, each biting their lip and sneaking furtive glances at the other. Each wondering, hoping. Each entirely absorbed in their own thoughts. Each entirely absorbed in each other. And then, there they were. Once again, standing in front of the bed.

They looked at each other. Ally cleared her throat.

"I guess we could… I mean, if you wanted… I, uh, we could share it?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean we have before right?"

It was Austin's turn to clear his throat, as his mind found its way back to all the nights he'd spend curled up with Ally on the couch of the music room, after their crazy lives and poor time management skills had resulted in yet another all nighter to finish a song. He lived for those nights. Ally always started out a little tense and stressed, and he'd mess around for a while, just trying to make her laugh. Eventually she'd crack with a chuckle and those exasperatedly affectionate smiles that she kept just for him, and they'd sit on the floor, passing a bucket of Fruity Mint Swirl and a spoon between them, while they brainstormed ideas. She'd get a little tired, her eyelids beginning to droop just slightly, making her typically huge eyes a little more normal sized. She'd look up at him and smile contentedly. And they'd finish the song easily (just as they always did, because they just worked together), and they'd curl up together on the couch (just fitting together), Austin pulling Ally back into him and burying his nose in her strawberry scented hair. He'd never even thought twice about it, until now. Until he'd realised how dumb he'd been not to realise that the greatest thing that had ever happened to him had been right under his nose (quite literally).

"Yeah, for sure. I mean, if that's okay with you. I can sleep on the floor if you'd be uncomfortable."

Ally looked up at him, her eyes wide. "Is that… I mean, do you not want to?"

"No! I mean, yes! I mean definitely, if you're cool with it." He mentally face palmed.

"Okay. Great."

"Great."

"I guess I'll get ready for bed first then."

"Okay. I'll just, you know. Be here."

"Okay."

They looked at each other for another second before Ally turned, bending over her suitcase and pulling some things out of it. She moved timidly towards the bathroom, all of her hip swaying, sauntering confidence from before well and truly gone.

She closed the bathroom door and took a look at herself in the mirror.

Damn it, Ally.

You look like a goddamn mess.

Okay, no. It doesn't matter what you look like. Because he doesn't have feelings for you like that.

It's platonic. Everything is going to be fine. Just chill.

She took a deep breath and changed into her pyjamas, a pair of boxer short things and a long sleeve button up sleep shirt, both with pink themed stripes.

Not even remotely sexy. Good.

She pulled her hair out and brushed it, letting soft curls cascade down her back. She wiped of all her makeup and steeled herself, well aware that this was the most natural Austin had ever seen her. Even those nights in the practice room she didn't take off her makeup. It was always minimal, but always there on days when she was seeing him. And he'd never seen her in pyjamas before. She felt weird. It was almost more intimate than seeing her in a swimsuit. It was just her. As naked (metaphorically speaking) as could be.

She pulled open the door, and watched as Austin's eyes moved to her, widening slightly. He licked his lips, just slightly, as subtly as could be. She let out a shy smile and ducked her head, moving to her side of the bed, settling under the covers and turning her attention to the TV screen Austin had been watching before she'd come into the room.

"All done. Your turn, I guess."

He cleared his throat. "Yep. I'll just be a sec."

He half jogged towards his suitcase, pulling out what he needed before sneaking another glance at Ally, the lights of the TV dancing across her face. He ducked into the bathroom, collapsing against the bathroom door, and letting out a soft groan.

How could one person look that good? How could one person wearing pyjamas for Christ's sake, look that sexy? He'd never really realised that Ally wore makeup around him, it always looked pretty natural, but now he knew. Why she wore it he'd never know. He thought she looked even better without it.

Holy. Shit.

Damnit Austin. Keep it together.

He looked at himself in the mirror. Hair tousled, eyes dark and face a little to pale.

He sighed.

Of course I choose today, this second, to look like absolute shit.

He pulled on his pyjama pants and finished up, pulling open the door and hurrying towards the bed. Ally's eyes didn't waver from the television screen. He sat beside her, letting his eyes wander a little while she was otherwise occupied. He took in her shorts, showing off her gorgeously creamy white legs. God, what he wouldn't give to have them wrapped around his waist, while he pushed her up against a door and-

Stop it, Austin. Pull yourself together.

He continued in his gazing. Her chestnut hair, falling down her back and looking tantalisingly silky. He wanted to feel it slip through his finders. Her oversized button up, making him wish to see her in one of his button ups. Her fresh face and slightly hooded lids.

He gulped thickly.


Fucking Austin.

Of course that's what he looks like when he goes to bed.

Austin didn't wear a shirt to bed. Of fucking course he didn't. She'd known that already (he always took off his shirt before they curled up together on the Music Room's couch, but she hadn't paid attention before now. Never really thought much of it.

Stupid. You should have paid attention, you dipshit.

She sighed and refused to look at him until she was positively certain he was focused on the TV screen she'd stubbornly glued her eyes to. She looked sneakily over at him, taking in his sexily tousled bed hair. His dark eyes. Bedroom eyes, his ex-girlfriends always called them. She was beginning to understand why. She let her eyes travel downwards, over his sculpted chest, to his chiseled (but not too chiseled) abs, and that ridiculous (ridiculously delicious) V line disappearing under the waistline of his low riding pyjama pants. She sighed, licking her lips just slightly.

God. You could cut the tension in here with a knife.

Keep it cool. Keep it friendly. Stop making things uncomfortable.

"All right. Well. Big day." she said, just a little too loudly. One job Ally. One job. And you still managed to screw it up.

"Yeah. 'Nother big one ahead." He didn't turn from the screen.

"Mmhmm. We should…" He finally turned those eyes onto her, drying her words up in her throat. She shook herself out of it slightly. "Probably, um. Get some sleep." She finished.

He nodded at her, not trusting himself to speak when she had those eyes, those slightly hooded, deep, dark brown eyes settled on him.

They both pulled the covers up laying down and facing each other, the TV now black and silent.

They stared at each other in the faint moonlight making its way through the curtains. Austin placed his hand, soft and careful as could be, onto her hip. Ally turned around in his grip, letting her back face him and pushing herself just a little closer. She'd let him decide what to do about that.

Austin gulped. He'd done a lot of gulping already this trip and it was only the end of the first night. Goddamn, he needed to get better at this. He felt Ally turn and push herself slightly closer to him, and let himself smile just slightly.

Screw it. This is not going to get uncomfortable.

She's too important to me to lose over something dumb like a few feelings.

He pulled her into him, hard, the way he always did at their all nighters, both feeling and hearing the startled noise that escaped her. He nuzzled into her, throwing his arm over her waist and burrowing his nose into her hair, in just the same nonchalant way he always did in the Music Room.

Ally smiled, breathing deeply as Austin's nose found its way into her hair and his arm pinned over her waist, just the way that it always did in the Music Room.

"Goodnight Austin."

"Mm. G'night Ally."


Woohoo! There it is friends! Hopefully you liked it, sorry about the lack of actual PDA, but I thought it was kind of nice to just have the tension and all.

Anyways, reviews never fail to brighten my day, thankyou to all of you that leave me a message, they bring a smile to my face.

All the love :)