Cover Girl

"I think we've got it all, now."

"Yeah I think so- oh wait there's another teddy bear."

"How many teddy bears that sing and say 'get well soon' do you possibly need?"

"Austin, people spent their time and money to get these things for me! I need to take them all."

"I only have so many arms, Alls."

"I can fit another one in my lap!"

"I think I should get some presents, you know, for sitting here 24/7 for 3 weeks."

"Yeah, yeah, my hero, just push me out of here now." He seemed to note my sarcasm, but wheeled the hospital wheelchair down the aisle to the elevator, down to the lobby, waving goodbye to little Elaine and the front desk, and out to the car. I was finally going home after one crazy month.

"Okay so what next."

"I'm the injured one here! You figure something out." I spat back and he sighed.

"Okay let's get rid of the rodents first."

"The rodents?"

"Yes. The teddy bears have been lowered to that rank now."

"Don't say that to Mr. Cuddles." I said, hugging one of the bears. "Plus, that doesn't make sense, since rodents are like mice and rats, which are nothing like bears at all."

"3 weeks of medication, sleeping, and a coma and you have not lost any of your nerdy miss-know-it-all self. Great to know." And I laughed at my best friends comment.

"I got a dolphin from Dez." I said and showed him. "His name is Dougie. Dougie the Dolphin." I said and handed the dolphin to Austin, and a look of shock crossed his face.

"This is my dolphin! Dez took it and gave it to you! Probably because he didn't want to buy you another one." Then he snuggled it close to his face. "Ahh. Still as soft as ever. Except- it smells like you now." He tossed it back to me.

"Um... I hope that's a good thing. But I can tell how much you like it so, here-" and I passed it back up to him. "Dougie is all yours."

I can tell he was reluctant, as he said, "Psh. Alls, I don't kneed stuffed animals anymore." And he tried to give it back, but I just have him a look and said:

"Oh really? Big boy doesn't want his dolphin?" So he just held it in his arms as he loaded the rest of the get well presents away.

"So now about getting me in the car..."

"Princess Ally, your carriage awaits you." And Austin opened the door in a real gentleman style, then he picked me up in his arms bridal-style (carefully though, as to not hurt me at all) and since he was still holding Dougie, he nuzzled the dolphin nose closer to my own nose an I giggled like a little girl.

"So, you sick of stuffed animals yet?" He asked as he put me in the passenger seat.

"No, not yet." And I smiled as we finally started heading home. Home.

We were only driving a bit when we stopped at a red light, an my whole body tensed. I gripped the seat and squeezed my eyes shut. I felt someone hold my hand.

"Ally, it's okay. I promise, I won't ever let you get hurt like that again." I felt comfort in his words, but still couldn't find the courage to open my eyes. I felt the car move forward, and after a steady count to 5, my grip on the seat loosened, I let out at breath I didn't realize I was holding in, and then opened my eyes.

And before I knew it, I was up in Austin's arms again, laughing and being carried into my apartment.

Home sweet home.


"Hey, Alls! I'm home!" I yelled as I stepped into the very familiar apartment.

"And Ashlyn is here too!" The little girl cheered happily.

"And Dez is here!" Dez followed, which resulted in my mental face palm.

"We've got the popcorn! Movie night!" I cheered and Dez and Ashlyn immediately reserved their seats in the couch. Movie nights have become a weekly thing for us, and since there is limited space, first dibs was a hardcore rule around here.

"I'm gonna go get the girls and Alex." I was about to walk up the steps when I noticed a very interesting magazine laying on the ground.


Earlier that day...

"Ally. Get in my room- NOW!"

"Uh, Trish, that's going to be kid of difficult, considering I can't get up the stairs." I was still confined to my wheelchair until next week.

"Sorry, forgot. I'm coming down." My best friend sped down the stairs faster than I've ever seen her. She shoved a magazine in my face.

"DO YOU SEE WHAT THIS SAYS?"

"I can't see anything right now actually." She lowered the magazine and placed it in my lap.

"Fine. Take your time, but please hurry because I've got all these things wrapped up inside of me that I really really need to let out."

I glanced over the cover and let my jaw drop.

Austin's Not-So-New Girl

Inside the popstar's best friend turned girlfriend

Their hospital time

The real inspiration behind 'Steal Your Heart'

I kept scanning over the titles and subtitles as well as glancing at all the accompanying pictures. Where did they get these from?

"So, it looks like I'm a Cover Girl now?" I smirked as Trish threw her arms in the air.

"So you just found out that the press has made up some ridiculous lie about you and Austin that was put all over the tabloids and the only thing you have to say is that?" She flailed her arms and screamed.

"Shhh! Alex is napping!"

"So let me get this straight- this doesn't phase you at all?"

"I guess it just hasn't sunk in yet?"

"Well make it sink in because this is HUGE!"

A few seconds passed and I looked at the article again, before I finally felt my eyes grow wide and I screamed, "THEY THINK AUSTIN'S MY BOYFRIEND!"

"There we go." Trish sighed and sat on the steps to let me continue on my rant.

"WHY WHAT HOW LIKE WHEN? Where did they get this from? We are just friends- that's it! Ugh! This can not be happening." I threw the magazine on the floor and attempted to storm away, but, you know, this wheels.

"How do we explain this to the people?"

"You don't." My best friend simply stated.

"But why not? This makes no sense! it's not true!"

"It's too early in Austin's career for him to get mixed up in press drama. A fight with the tabloids of a we star will not blow over easy."

"So please don't tell me you're saying-"

"You and Austin have to fake date. Just for a while."

And somehow, my anger and shock helped me figure out how to storm away and climb up the steps.


Back to the present...

"Hey, Alls! I'm home!" I heard austin scream from downstairs.

"It's now or never Ally, just face it- you are going to have to confront him about it sooner or later. You can't hide this forever, magazines are all over the market." She began to push me towards the steps. "But it looks like he found it faster than we planned!" Trish said in a panicked voice, and she pushed away from the steps.

"Well now what?" I asked, suddenly afraid of movie-nights.

"If he brings up the magazine, you can talk about it and see why happens. If not, then no biggie. Either way I'll be there to help. Okay? Wow this is stressful. See ya! Bye!" And she ran down stairs.

"Thanks so much Trish." I mumbled, then sighed and wheeled back to the steps. I was dreading tonight, but I was really dreading getting down these steps.

"Now how do I do this?" I mumbled again, and before I knew it. A pair of strong arms were helping me out if my chair.

"How did you even get up here?" Blondie asked me, laughing.

"I honestly can not answer that." He started to pick me up to carry me down the steps, but I had to protest.

"No, Austin! I want to do this myself."

"But you are going to get hurt! Jut let me help." He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and took my right hand and I used my left to hold onto the railing.

Slowly, oh so very slowly, we proceeded down the staircase. Then movie night began.

Let the awkwardness begin.


So the night was finally coming to an end, and you could literally feel the awkwardness between Ally and me.

She was uncomfortable in her wheelchair so I let her sit next to me on the couch. And it was suddenly more comfortable in the wheelchair.

She was cold so I offered to get her a blanket. She said shes an independent woman who can do things on her own.

She threw a piece of popcorn at me, so I threw one back that missed by a lot. So when I tried to feed her another one, she wouldn't allow my hand anywhere close to her lips.

I started talking about an ad I saw in a magazine. And thats when she lost it.

"Okay. I can't do this anymore. Like at all. This is too hard." Ally screamed.

"What?" I asked. And she wheeled over to the steps and picked up a magazine.

"THIS! Apparently, Austin, were dating, and the thought just is weird and uncomfortable, especially since I know you saw the magazine before."

"Well then why didn't you just talk to me about it before. It's been bugging me all night!"

"Because Trish said we have to actually date! Like fake date." She sighed and slumped back down.

I looked at Trish. "Really?"

And a whole big speech and detail planning session, it was finally time to kiss my "girlfriend" goodnight and head home for sleep that I didn't expect to come anytime soon.


"Trish, this is like the 10th outfit you've made me try on. I'm sure Austin will be fine with whatever I'm wearing."

"Yeah, but as the official first date, you need to look good for the tabloids."

"The busy life of a cover girl."

"You said it girl." Trish laughed and handed me a new pile of clothes. Finally, we found the right outfit.

Now out I my wheelchair, I walked down the steps with ease, jut in time to hear he door hell ring, and quickly say "Hello!" To a little blonde girl come flying by ready to play.

A blonde boy was waiting by the door for me. He leaned in, gave me a hug an a slight kiss on the cheek.

"Hey, beautiful."

"Austin there is now one around, you don't have to act yet."

"I wasn't acting." He replied with a smirk, and I wasn't afraid to let a blush spread across my face.

"Shall we go?" And he wrapped his arm around me.

Trish ran over and shooed us out the door yelling that she'd take care of the kids just fine and to come home as late as we wanted.

We started to walk down the path when he looked down at me and smiled.

"So, girlfriend, it's fancy meeting you here." I just giggled a but and leaned my head against his shoulder.

Here. We. Go.