So this chapter will be slightly different and slightly longer too! It's been a year since that last awksies day, and a lot has changed.

It's quite boring, please be patient with that. I went for a run because I had major writer's block and I keep getting strange ideas that can only happen in chapter 9 and up.

Enjoy, my honeybunches!


July, a year later.

I zipped my hoodie up and tugged at my old sneakers to get them onto my feet. I shoved my phone into my pocket and put my earphones in my ears, already blasting music.

'Great, it's the first day of Summer and I'm already bored.'

Nothing has changed.

Nothing at all, really.

Trent and Trish broke up because he cheated on her. (Are all guys such cows?) She handled it pretty well, except for the fact that she slashed his car tyres.

I pushed the front door open and stepped out onto the flagstone path leading to the street. The estate is actually really nice; I still don't know how we can afford to live here. I walked along the Estate Road, kicking a pebble every few steps. I hear children playing in their yard, people laughing and lawnmowers buzzing.

I looked down at the ground as I walked. Wondering, wondering why my father would leave me at home for a month. Wondering why he has to go and visit his new girlfriend and leave me here. Wondering why I can't just be a normal teenager instead of having to be alone all the time because my father doesn't care about me.

I took my iPhone out of my pocket and looked at my 17 new messages.

Trish: Where r u?

- Trish

Ally: Walking around the estate. Need to think

- Ally-Gator

Trish: Y?

Ally: Life.

I saw the "Trish is writing a message" notification pop up.

"Oof!" I grunted as I bumped into someone. I unplugged my earphones, ready to hear a mouthful of swearwords.

"Austin? What are you doing in this estate?" I asked in shock.

"I live here." He replied, unpacking cans of soda from the back of his car.

I just stood there, watching him unpack endless cans.

The silence was broken by Austin.

"Well, are you going to help or just stand there?" he asked.

"Yeah, uh sure." I said and shook my head, grabbing the cans.

"How's it going?" Austin asked me.

"What?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"You know, you and Dallas.." Austin reminded me.

"Oh yeah, it's going well I guess." I replied, getting ready to walk off again.

"Can I come with? Walk with you, I mean." Austin asked.

"We haven't spoken since last time you decided to walk with me." I turned around to face him.

"Nothing will happen this time, I swear." Austin said, holding his right hand up.

"Fine," I sighed. "You can come."

Austin walked next to me in silence. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket and I took it out, knowing it would be Trish.

Trish: Dallas?

Ally: Nope

Trish: Ur dad?

Ally: Yep, he told me that I'm the reason that my mom died.

Trish: I'm coming over; meet you at the Estate Park. Sit tight xx

I smiled. Trish has always been there for me, even when I woke up at midnight because didn't know what to wear to school, she would come and help.

"Ahem," Austin cleared his throat.

I swiveled my head around at looked at him.

"Did you just read my messages?" I asked him.

"I just saw the message about the park." Austin shrugged.

"And that's why we're not friends, you shouldn't read my messages." I barked at him.

"We're not friends?" he asked.

"Fine, maybe we are friends, but not buddy- best friend-chum chums, okay?" I said and walked straight to the park.

"You're still moody, I mean, you didn't even thank me for setting you and Dallas up!" Austin complained.

"You didn't do anything, Dallas did it all. You were just like 'You've got a girlfriend, duuuuude.'!" I stated, impersonating him.

"I don't sound like that!" He argued.

"Okay, Austin." I said as I stepped onto the grass.

I spotted a familiar head of curly black hair and walked towards it.

"Ally!" Trish jumped off of the old wooden bench she had been sitting on and hugged me.

"Trish! You're the best, you know that?" I said and hugged her back.

Trish shot Austin a glare.

"Why's he here?" she whispered, glancing at Austin.

"I honestly don't know, he's the weirdest and most repulsive guy I have ever met." I whispered back to her.

"I'll just get going while you two whisper your strange girl things to each other." Austin said and jogged back off to his house.

"What's his problem?" Trish asked.

"Geesh, I don't know. He's probably PMSing or something!" I laughed.

We walked back over to my house, chatting and having quite a few laughs on the way. We walked up the path and onto the front porch where a few wooden chairs sat. We walked inside and the smell of cookies hit me.

"Cookies?" Trish asked, reading my mind.

"I made them earlier. Want some?" I offered her.

"No thanks, I'm watching my weight," she said and pinched her stomach.

..

"So what you're saying is that Dallas is having a party tonight, he invited you but not me?" I asked Trish.

"Yup." Trish nodded, stuffing her mouth full of popcorn.

"Boys, really!" I said and rolled my eyes.

My phone rang, playing 'I Love It'.

"Als, your phone's ringing," Trish mumbled, staring at the television screen.

"I didn't notice." I laughed and picked it up.

"Ally speaking."

"Hey Ally!"

"Oh, hey Dallas,"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing,"

"Okay, anyways.. I'm having a party tonight and I was wondering if you want to come?"

"Sure, that would be cool."

"Okay, I've got to go now. It's at Austin's at 8. Love you, bye!"

"Bye,"

I put my phone down on the sofa, grabbing a handful of buttery popcorn.

"So?" Trish asked eagerly.

"He invited me!" I squealed excitedly.

Trish grinned. "Now I don't have to beat him up, he invited you!" She squealed too.

I frowned and shook my head.

"I'm not drinking tonight though" I told her, "And neither are you," I said sternly.

"Ew, do I look like a girl that would drink?" Trish wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Scoot over, I want to see the tv too!" I told Trish.

She scooted over. The movie was kind of boring, I guess. We were slightly relieved when it ended.

I looked at the large wooden clock on the wall ahead of us.

"Trish.. It's 8:04!" I yelled in panic mode.

"But I haven't even got my Party Groove on!" she whined.

"Party Groove?" I said. "Really?"

Trish looked at the time on her phone.

"Als, it's not 8:04, the time on your clock is wrong-"

"Oh, thank goodness!" I cut her off.

"Its 8:40!" she finished.

"What? We'll be late? Oh my gosh!" I yelled, running to the door.

I scooped my purse and keys before leaving.

"Are you coming or not, Trish?" I called to her.

I heard her say something inaudible (it was most likely in Spanish) and she ran out of the door carrying a leather jacket.

"Where did you get that from?" I asked her.

"Your closet," she replied.

I sighed. "Come on, let's just go."

We walked along the sidewalk, the warm air strangely still. I heard an owl in the distance, the clanging of cutlery from a nearby house and a car pulling into a garage. The house was easy to find; a large wooden mansion, lights escaping out of the windows and music blasting in all directions.

"This must be the place." I said and twisted the doorknob.

We walked into the living room and the party was in full swing. There were people cheering and whooping, lights flashing, music turned up as loud as it could get, and the common red cups on every surface around the room. I turned to Trish to say something, but she had already disappeared from my side, leaving me standing at the door.

I scanned the room, hoping to see somebody that I might know. My eyes found Austin.

'Haha, no thanks, eyes.'

I saw Dallas at the other side of the room. I made my way through the dense crowd and over to him. He turned around, a can of soda in his hands.

"There you are! I though you wouldn't come," Dallas smiled and picked me up to hug me.

He put me back down and had his arm around my waist. He continued to talk to his friends, i.e. Elliott, Trent and Kim. They continued to natter on about what they would be doing this Summer, but I didn't really pay attention. I heard the group stop talking and look at me.

"Ally?" Dallas said quietly.

"Mmm?" I asked.

"We asked," Elliott said, "what are you gonna do these holidays?"

"Uh, I don't know. I'll probably just go to our river house down in the countryside." I answered them.

"You guys have another house?" Kim asked.

"Yeah, it's not amazing though." I shrugged my shoulders.

Trent came over to join us, soon followed by Austin and his girlfriend.

"Hey Austin, who's your girlfriend?" Dallas asked, laughing. Austin shot him a dirty look.

"Brooke." He said monotonously.

Brooke clung onto his arm, rubbing her head on it as though she was some sort of small animal.

Brooke tried to peck Austin on the cheek, but he swatted her away.

"Stop, Brooke." He said lowly.

Everybody in the group laughed at what was happening- and we all knew what would happen by the end of the night. He would break up with her because he "can't be tied down to one girl" or she's too clingy. Sometimes, when the girl is lucky, she breaks up with him first.

The guys (Austin, Dallas, Elliott and Trent) walked off to go and do whatever guys do, leaving us girls behind.

"Ally, you are so lucky to have Dallas!" Kim gushed.

"Yeah, he's amazing, isn't he?" I agreed.

"Yeah," Brooke said.

"Uh, Brooke, I don't want to burst your bubble, but Austin will do something stupid. Be careful, you don't want your heart to get broken." Trish informed her.

"What? But he's so perfect!" she shrieked.

"As perfect as my dog's butt." I said.

"You don't have a dog.." Trish said.

"He died." I told them.

Brooke still didn't believe us, even though we tried to convince her for an hour straight that Austin is no good. She eventually stormed off, muttering something under her breath, then latching herself onto Austin again. We heard Trent and Dallas laugh at him as he groaned. I must say, I laughed too.

We went back over to the guys, who were now sitting on the sofa. Most people at the party were sitting down from pure exhaustion, some left. We sat down on the floor, the girls leaving me to squeeze in between Dallas and Austin. Trent passed a can over to Austin, to which he declined the offer. Trent passed the shimmering gold can over to Dallas and he accepted. I looked at him, at the can and back at him again.

"Is that b-beer?" I asked him, shocked.

"Yes." Dallas said with a straight face.

"That's disgusting! You're not even old enough to drink, yet you still do! What is wrong with you?" I said and jumped off of the couch, glaring down at him.

Trent and Austin began to laugh.

"What? Are you two hobbits drunk?" I snapped at them.

"First of all, hobbits are short, we're not." Trent said.

"And second, it's non-alcoholic, Ally." Austin barely managed to say as he had been laughing so much.

"Good, because I was about to dump you and your beer on the spot." I said and sat down again.

Trish reached her hand out for a high-five (I never reject high-fives. EVER) and we did a failed high five.

She glared at Trent, who was shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Trish smirked, knowing she had won this round.

Dallas put his arm around my shoulder and I leaned on his. The girls "oooed" and "aah'd" , cooing over our relationship.

"Why aren't we like that, Austy?" Brooke pouted, causing us to laugh again.

Austin had a look of pure annoyance plastered on his face, not going away at all.

"Aren't girlfriends annoying, Austin?" Trent said, making and indirect swipe at Trish.

"Is that why you don't have one? I thought it's because all of the girls know your secret now," Trish smirked.

Trish:2, Trent:0

"Come, Als, let's go outside. These guys are stinky," Trish giggled and took me outside.

As I was being pulled outside, I turned my head around and gave Dallas an apologetic look, to which he responded with a sheepish smile.

Trish sighed, "Ah, fresh air!"

The air was still warm, but not unpleasant as I had expected it to be in the summertime. There was a gentle breeze now, making my dress sway around slightly. Trish suddenly walked inside.

"Where are you going?" I called after her.

"Inside. You're being too deep and shiz for me, I can't be quiet!" she replied.

'True. Trish was once quiet for a whole hour, but then she sent her brother to hospital straight afterwards, so I guess she should continue with her verbal diarrhea'

I sat down on the venetian chair that on looked the yard. I must not have been seen, as Austin and Brooke came outside silently. I turned around –still not noticed- watching them. Brooke hugged Austin tightly, Austin trying to push her off.

"Listen, Brooke-" Austin said.

"You want to propose to me? I know we're only 17, but YES!" she squealed.

"No, it's actually quite the opposite.." Austin trailed off.

"Huh?"

"I'm breaking up with you. You've been too clingy and I can't be tied down to one girl." Austin explained.

'Whoop, there it is.'

Brooke stood there, frozen.

"Please!" she screamed.

"No, Brooke, I need you to leave now." He said quietly.

Brooke stomped off, all hetted up and raging. Austin leaned on the railings, his head in his hands.

"We warned her." I finally spoke up.

"Oh, hey Ally." He said without lifting his head.

"We knew it would happen. You're practically the jerk king of Heartbreaking." I told him.

"Yeah, I know. I can't stay with one girl for more than a month, it's boring and unnecessary." Austin shrugged and sat down on the lounge chair.

"It's not. You just never give girls a chance,"

"I do, it's just-" Austin was cut off by Dallas coming outside.

"Austin? Why are you out here?" Dallas asked.

"I just broke up with Brooke."

"It was about time! That girl was obsessive." He commented.

Dallas looked over at me and beckoned for Austin to go over to him. I craned my neck slightly so that I could hear and see what was going on.

"Austin, I don't want you to be alone with Ally, I'm not being possessive."

"Why?"

"I know you, you're my best friend. You'll eventually start moving on to her, liking her, hitting on her. I can't let Ally get hurt."

"I won't hit on her, are you crazy? She and I are more like brother and sister."

"Then what you have going on there is incest, cos I see how you look at her."

"Oh come on, I don't like the girl. She isn't like a single other girl that I would date. The other girls are more fun, Ally, Ally's too deep and serious like something's going on. I can't handle that."

"Good, because she's mine."

"You're only dating her because-"

Dallas put his hand over Austin's mouth and they came back over to me. I pretended that I hadn't heard their conversation at all, looking out onto the perfectly landscaped garden. I focused on the pond, where dozens of flowers grew around and butterflies flew around in the daytime.

I got up and walked inside, trying to avoid any awkward conversations. Dallas followed me as I went over to Trish and Kim. Dallas put his arm around me and picked me up. He kissed me gently on the lips and put me down, making me blush.

"You guys are cute together, but if you break her heart I will break your face." Trish warned seriously.

"I won't break her heart, I swear." Dallas said and kissed my forehead.

..

'Here I am, sitting outside again because it's too stuffy inside. Dallas and Austin are sitting with me. I wish Trish was here though; it's awkward being the only girl. I'm leaning on Dallas's shoulder right now; it's quite comfortable for a shoulder. I should probably hint for him to continue his workouts, I don't want him to become flabby and fat. '

"Dallas, I have to tell her." Austin said quietly to Dallas.

"No, don't. Please." He begged.

"Oh come on, either you tell her or I do." Austin said seriously.

"Neither of us will tell, Austin. Okay?" Dallas said loudly.

"I can't let this keep going on. This is horrible." Austin said in a hoarse whisper.

"Guys, I'm here. Care to tell me?" I said impatiently.

Austin and Dallas exchanged glances before Austin spoke up.

"Your whole relationship is a lie. Dallas is only dating you so you don't date me." Austin said quickly.

"Because I care about you as a really close friend. I'm fine with Austin dating and using other girls, but not you, you're too close to me. So I figured that the only way would be for us to date. Sure, I did like you, like A LOT at first, but I got over it because I can see you're falling for Austin." Dallas explained.

"What?" I shouted, "And no, I'm not falling for Austin, I was falling for you! You could have just left me, I wouldn't have dated Austin anyways."

They were silent, looking uncomfortable.

"So it was all a fake, Dallas? The kisses, the hugs, the dates? The things you said were all lies." I said quietly before storming off.

I walked off, around the estate and to my special place, the waterfall. I pulled at my shoes to get them off and threw them against a tree. I climbed up the large, slippery rocks and to the top of the small 10 meter high waterfall. I sat on the edge and let my legs dangle loosely. The sound of the water trickling down the rocks soothed me slightly, turning the red hot furnace in my body down to a mild Summer's day. The water bubbled beneath me, a few rocks sticking out of the shallow stream here and there.

'Here's to letting myself fall.'

I stood up, looking down at the slowly moving water below. It looked so far down, yet so close too. I picked a stone up and threw it down into the water.

I don't know.

Should I let myself fall?


There you go! :D

Chapter 8 should be up tomorrow or on January 1st if I feel lazy.

My song of the day is Breezeblocks by Alt-J. What's yours?

Oh, and I really suggest that you listen to that song, it's amazzzzziiiiinnnnngggg!

Please review, I love your reviews! I need five more reviews to do the next chapter (my rules).

Favourite and follow too please. xx

-MissGraycey