Chapter 7
Ally's POV
I close my eyes for a few seconds and sigh. Focusing for a few seconds, I can hear my dad preparing dinner downstairs and Natalie's music blaring from her stereos. She was home for the summer, but she's been too busy at work so she can save up for a new car because next summer she was planning a road trip with her friends. Yeah, I can hear her voice over the phone sometimes and in no way, was I trying to be sneaky.
I yawn and lay back on my bed, opening my eyes again. I stare at the pale lavender paint that's been there for years and will be for several more.
Like ever summer, I'd believe it'd be the best one ever. But I'm not one of those teens who spend their summers in that cliché setting with midnight beach ventures and parties every Friday night. I want something to happen this summer. Something exciting. But what? I need some excitement in my life. Austin is a joy in my life, but... I sigh. But sometimes life is just a let down.
I shake my head to rid of those thoughts and grab my phone.
I just need a day off. I need some time to myself and have the day to rethink myself and just be away from everyone else. Yeah... that's what I need. Life's been a bit too suffocating with everyone around, and I just need to be with myself.
Scrolling through my camera album of all the goofy photos, I realize I need to tell Austin and everyone else so they won't be looking for me tomorrow. So they don't think I was abducted or anything.
As I was about to call Austin, my dad calls, "Girls! Dinner!" I set it to sleep and put the phone in my back pocket and join my dad and sister.
The next morning, I awake with a good mood. Just the day for myself. Oh... wait. I didn't tell Austin yet. Eager to get the day started, I scroll through my contact list until I find Golden Toes Monica Moon. For a second I hesitate, but make the call.
"Ally?" he says in a groggy voice. I look at the clock. It was only ten in the morning. Austin's not usually up until noon when there's no school. Oops.
I switch the phone to the other hand as I pull out my purse. "Austin, hey. It's Ally." Wait. He knows it's me. Caller I.D. duh.
"Yeah? Is something wrong?" he asks, more awake now. I can imagine him now, sitting up with his phone pressed to his ear.
"No, nothing's wrong," I state. I check my make-up in the mirror. "It's just that I..."
"Yeah?"
"I need a day to myself Austin. Wait... that came out kinda harsh."
He chuckled. "Yeah, it did."
"I just wanted to tell you, and please pass it on to everyone else, that I'm not to be found today."
"Were you kidnapped?" he joked sarcastically.
"Yes, I was." I smile. "Anyway, life feels suffocating right now, and I'd like to be myself and just rethink everything."
"Wait." There was a worried tone in his voice. "You're not breaking up with me, right? Because it kinda sounds like you are. Or at least doubting our relationship. You're not right? Please tell me you aren't."
I smiled a little to myself. He's so adorable. I love my boyfriend to death, no matter how stupid he can be sometimes…and suffocating. But that's for another conversation because he already thinks I'm going to break up with him.
"Austin, calm down. I promise that I'm not breaking up with you. I just didn't want anyone to bother me today-wait, that sounded wrong too" I said sighing. Austin chuckled from the other end, but it sounded forced. "Austin, I just want some time to myself. Alone. I knew that if I didn't tell you, then everyone would be coming over here. I love you, and I love your family and our friends, but doing the exact same thing every day came be tiring. I just want time to gather my own thoughts. You know, like I used to do when we were little."
"You mean how I could be talking to you for hours and you never heard a thing because you were in your own little world?" he asked laughing. I smiled, remembering how mad he used to get when I did that.
"Hey now, you can't blame me for zoning out. My best friend was a boy. I was not interested in a word you were saying" I told him gently. I could almost see him pout.
"But you said-"
"Whatever I said, it was to make you shut up" I said giggling. I could hear him huff from the other end.
"Well, if you want me to shut up so bad then I'll just hang up…" he said trailing off. I smiled.
"Thanks baby, now I can have the day to myself to take a walk or something" I laughed.
"Whatever" he mumbled. "I love you Als, you know that right?"
"I know" I said smiling into the phone. "I love you too."
With that, we hung up and I got up to get dressed for my day to myself. Does that sound lame? I don't think so. I mean, I still have a boyfriend so it isn't as lame as it sounds.
"Later guys, I'm going out" I said as I walked to the door.
"Tell Austin and the others I said hi" my dad called from the kitchen.
"I'm not going to see them today" I shouted back. That's when he suddenly appeared by my side, looking confused.
"Why? Are you sick? Did they make you upset?" he asked, sounding concerned. I rolled my eyes. This is why I need a day to myself. It's gotten to where my dad automatically thinks I'll be with Austin or the girls and if I'm not something has to be wrong.
"Dad, I'm fine. I just want to be alone."
"Uh oh, famous teenage girl line when she's upset" Natalie said as she walked in the room. Since when is my sister even talking to me? I've barely seen her all summer.
"I'm not upset!" I exclaimed. Well, that isn't helping my case. "Well, I wasn't until you guys started badgering me. Look, I just want a 'me' day okay? Is there something wrong with that?"
"Of course not sweetie" my dad said kissing my temple. I smiled up at him. "Call if you need anything."
I nod and get on my way. And guess what?! I'd finally gotten my license a several weeks ago so now I can go and drive myself wherever I need to go. A driving license equals the world and freedom! Well... just until my curfew. But everything was a walking distance... that is if you don't mind walking for at least an hour to get to your destinations.
It feels good to say that I got into my car (my sister's one, that we're sharing for this summer) and drove off.
Hm... where should I start my day?
There's so many possibilities. Maybe a spa session? A quick movie? The pier for the Fourth of July weekend events? Shopping spree?
It's still early in the day and the sun isn't as intimidating as it is during the afternoon. I drive by the park and I see it's still quiet and empty except for a few stray people who get up before nine to jog or bike.
Yeah... maybe a walk would be a great start.
I decided on that and take a quick left into the parking lot. I turn off the engine, grab my phone, and get out.
Walking further into the park, my mind quickly eases. I take in a deep breath. It's quiet, there's no distractions. There's a fresh feeling in the air. It immediately calms me down. I feel at peace here.
I follow the sidewalk out of the parking lot and see the path.
It's so quiet, the silence seems to be growing louder. But I actually like that. There was the occasional engine driving past, but other than that... It's so quiet. The path is covered by some trees, providing some shade. A shallow breeze flows past.
This is what paradise must feel like.
But quickly after, my thoughts turn to my life.
I'm growing up. I'll admit that. Everything changes. Nothing is perpetual, not sustainable. At one point it'll have to come crashing down, gracefully or tragically. People come and go in a person's life.
Like with me and Natalie. We used to have the greatest relationship between any two sisters. Side by side we walked down the side walk. Chattering loudly we would dress up Austin so he could be part of our 'tea-party' or turn him into one of our prince (which we was more willing than to be a princess.) We shopped with each other as we grew up. She drove me around. We were like each other's known stalker (but not to the level of creepy).
But lately... Her college, her friends, her ambitions, her job had all gotten in the way, limiting our time together. She's my sister and I love her, but... sometimes I feel like she's not there anymore. Even at the dinner table she's on her phone.
I miss hanging out with Natalie.
I see a bench and take a seat.
There's Natalie, but there's also my dad. He's quite busy at the store, trying to get business profits up, and maybe in hopes of expanding or (if even possible) corporation Sonic Boom. But still I owe it to him; it is hard raising two daughters by one's self.
I don't know. Life with my family's gotten more complicated than it should really be.
I try to make myself happier by thinking of the positive things, but I still feel let down. Maybe some new clothes could help... Time to head to the mall and surround myself with people who think they have enough money to spend on the things they want. Like me.
Austin's POV
After hanging up my phone, I just stared up at my ceiling. What the heck am I supposed to do today without Ally? We've always been inseparable, even before we got together. But I have to admit, we are together a lot more now.
I just don't get it. I wasn't feeling...what was the word she used? Suffocated? Yeah, that was it. I mean, I enjoyed our time together. Has she not? Have I been so oblivious that I couldn't realize my girlfriend-my best friend wasn't enjoying her time with me?
How sad it that?
I'm not like Ally. I can't just spend whole day to myself without going absolutely insane. The only time I ever want to be alone is when I'm so upset I actually feel like crying….mostly whenever Ally and I fight. So, I really can't be alone. Now, I wish I could be with Ally, but we all know she doesn't want that to happen today.
But that's okay right? I can just wait until tomorrow. Yeah, she'll be cooled off by then.
Who knows? She may get so bored within the next couple of hours that she'll come over and say she was wrong. That she didn't need time alone, she needed to spend time with me.
Oh, who am I kidding? Ally Dawson admitting defeat? Even if she did feel that way she'd never admit it. My girlfriend is so stubborn she'd probably spend her whole day miserable and alone before she'd admit she was wrong and come crawling back.
Oh crap, what if she's miserable and alone right now!? Should I go find her? Should I go be with her even though she told me not to? Ally always said I never listened so she wouldn't be surprised….right?
Or would that just make her angry?
Oh, what if it makes her want to break up with me!? She can't break up with me! We're perfect for each other! I knew it. I'm just gonna screw up our whole relationship because I'm so clingy. That's what she'll say. She'll say I'm too clingy and she's suffocating with me by her every second of every day and-
"Austin? What are you doing up?"
I looked to the door to see Haley standing there with a housecoat over her pajamas and a cup of coffee in her hands. Her hair was up in a messy bun and she wasn't wearing any makeup. I don't know why she ever does though. I've tried telling her over and over that she looks fine without it but my cousin's stubborn and won't listen for nothing.
"What, a guy can't wake up by himself in the summer without being told?" I asked pouting. She raised one eyebrow at me.
"Oh, a guy can, but not you" she said simply.
I crossed my arms defensively. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Austin, it sometimes takes the whole family to get you up. I know for certain we've had to call Ally over at least three times to kiss you awake because it's well past noon and you're still asleep. Now, I may be mistaken, but I've never seen my cousin up before noon, except when going to school, let alone on his own" she said shaking her head. I glared at her and slumped back against my headboard.
"I got a phone call that woke me up. I couldn't go back to sleep" I said shrugging. It's not that unusual…right?
"Oh my, Austin Moon woke up to a phone call? Must've been important" Haley said sitting at the end of my bed.
I just rolled my eyes, not looking at her.
"Austin, what's wrong?" Haley asked, suddenly sounding concerned. I just shook my head and she sighed. "Come on, you're never like this. I know something's wrong. I'm your cousin remember? You can tell me anything."
"Not when you and my girlfriend are all buddy-buddy" I muttered, but apparently she heard.
"Austin Monica Moon" she said standing up. I winced at my middle name. I always hate it being used, but it's different coming from family than it is your girlfriend. For one thing, it isn't as cute.
"What?" I sighed.
"Just because Ally is one of my best friends does not mean you can't talk to me. Do you really think I'm so shallow that I'd stoop as low as telling something confidential to your girlfriend just because we're friends?" she accused. I flinched. Okay, maybe it did sound a little rude when you put it that way.
"I'm sorry Haley" I sighed. "It's just….I think Ally is getting tired of being with me."
I couldn't look at her as I said that. It was so hard to admit in the first place, and suddenly the pattern on my comforter became more interesting than anything else.
"What makes you say that?" Haley asked, sitting back down confusedly.
I sighed again. "Ally called this morning to basically tell me not to come near her today."
"Now did she really say that?" Haley asked sarcastically. I looked up, and she was looking really doubtful.
"Not in those exact words, but the meaning was clear!" I defended myself.
She crossed her arms over her chest, obviously not believing me.
"What were her exact words?"
"She said she wanted to be alone today! She didn't want to come over today and she felt suffocated!" I exclaimed. Haley looked at me, smiling a little.
"Awe, my cousin's clingy" she cooed. I glared at her. How dare she!? Well, technically I did just admit that to myself earlier, but that's not the point. It's totally different when you say it out loud!
"I am not" I muttered.
"Austin, it's already July and she has not had a single say without you in it. I get that you two are in love, but every couple deserves a small break. Heck, I've told Elliot to stay away from me for a whole week before and he was cool with it. We each got to do the small things we can't do because the other doesn't like it. Come on, don't tell me there isn't something you've wanted to do but couldn't because Ally was there."
I think to myself, is there anything I wanted to do without Ally?
Go to the beach? No fun without playing with Ally all day and kissing her in the sand.
Play videogames with the guys? I do that anyway and it's only fun when I hear her cute voice whining about boys and playing our stupid games.
Music? That's the main thing that I can't do without her. We even have a song that says so!
I look back at my cousin and shake my head. "Nope, nothing at all. I have everything I need when Ally's with me."
"Okay, first that is absolutely adorable" Haley gushed. I smiled, ducking my head a little.
What can I say? I'm a romantic.
"Second, it's completely ridiculous."
I turned to her, looking really confused. "What do you mean ridiculous? You just said it was adorable."
"Yes, but Austin, it's so cliché and cheesy. No wonder Ally wants alone time. You're like a level nine clinger!" she told me.
I crossed my arms. "Okay, what the crap is that?"
She waved a hand in my direction, shrugging me off. "Well at least you didn't decide to go looking for her today even though she said not to."
I looked down at the floor, shuffling my feet over the side of the bed. Haley turned around and gasped.
"Oh my gosh, you are not thinking of going to go find her today right? Please tell me I'm right!" When I stayed silent again, she threw her hands up in frustration. "Gosh Austin, you might be a level ten! You're lucky that girl loves you so much or you'd already be kicked to the curb. You're probably like two or three clingy stunts away from being considered a stalker. At the very least an overly-controlling freak of a boyfriend!"
"Hey! I am not that bad!" I exclaimed. She just looked at me shaking her head.
"Get your butt up Monica. You need to see that there's more to life than Ally. You can do some things without her. Come on, why don't you take Em to the mall? She's been saying she wants to go there again, and I would totally take her but I'm going on a date with Elliot. We haven't been on an official date alone in like three weeks" Haley said. I just shook my head.
"I don't want to do anything today but sit here and stare at my picture of Ally" I said, although I was already kind of doing that. My favorite picture from when we were thirteen…I love that picture.
Suddenly, the frame was snatched out of my hands and Haley threw it onto my beanbag chair. The one me and Ally like to share during movie nights up in my room…
I turned to Haley and gave her my hardest death glare. "Okay, I know you might be pissed at me right now, for why I don't know, but do not throw that picture. Got me?"
She gulped a little, stepping back. "Yeah, whatever" she said trying to look like that didn't affect her at all. "But seriously Austin, go take your sister to the mall. She misses you, you know."
I sighed. She knows I can't say no when it comes to Emilee.
"Fine" I grumbled, going to my closet to put on some clothes. What? I know for certain I am not the only guy in the world who sleeps in his boxers. I grabbed my ripped jeans, red muscle shirt, leather jacket and high tops. I don't know why I'm even bothering with appearance. I don't care. It's not like I have anyone to impress since Ally isn't with me…
"Yay! That a boy! I promise, you're going to thank me for this someday" she said skipping out of the room.
"Yeah thanks" I mumbled sarcastically. She leaned back in the room and smirked.
"See, I told you" she said smiling then left. I sighed. This is going to be a long day.
...
"So what do you want to do?" I asked Emilee. We've been strolling aimlessly around the mall for several minutes, and it's getting boring. "Is there anything you want to buy? Do you want to eat something?"
She shook her head, her eyes wandering to all of the stories we past by.
"Any new clothes you want? Isn't that a cute shirt?"
"It's a top, Austin. It's not a shirt," she replies.
I roll my eyes. Girls and their classification on all types of clothes. There's a crop top, halter top, a blouse, like... what the heck differentiates them? They're shirts. Then there's different types of shorts. Short-shorts, booty-shorts, etc. And everything else. Ally's been teaching me in fashion. Ally...
"Whatever," I retort. "How about a movie? Jersey Boys*? Tammy*?"
She looked at me as if I had a second head. I asked her what was wrong. She said, "You're going to let me watch an R-rated movie?"
"What? No."
"And plus, how can you get in yourself?"
"Yeah. No. Forget I even said that." She laughed. "So what do you want to do? After all, it is Emilee and Austin time."
She thought for a minutes. Finally, "I want a skateboard," she suddenly said.
"A skateboard?" She nodded. "Really?" Another nod. "What for?"
She shrugged. "I just wanna try new things. And skateboarding is on the list."
I looked at my sister. "Okay, then. A skateboard it is. But where can we find one?"
"Vans*. Of course. It was originally a skateboarding brand."
I don't have a skateboard, so technically I wouldn't know. But I do love their shoes. Amazing style. "Okay. Where's the store?" Emilee rolled her eyes. "I'm just playing dumb with ya." I chuckled and followed her anyway, to the other side of the mall.
We were laughing and talking when something caught my eye. Thick, curly brown hair that melted into blonde highlights. I knew who that was. I turned my head to see that she was heading towards the food court.
"Austin?" Emilee called. "Where are you going? The store's over there?" She pointed in the opposite direction that 'Ally' had gone.
"I'll catch up. Just check out the prints that you like and call me when you're ready to buy," I rushed and started to walk off.
By the time I saw that person again, she was now at the cell phone accessory cart where Dallas was conversing with another costumer. She turned towards the surf shop and I could see part of her face. But that was enough to know that was Ally.
I really need to talk to her.
As I took a step forward, I see Dallas look up from his conversation and flagged Ally down. She stops and patiently waits while the costumer is done paying for their new cell phone case.
Once the old (technically she was a middle-aged) lady was gone, Dallas turns to Ally and smiles. Ally greets him back with a wave and they start talking. After several minutes, my legs start to cramp as I crouch behind a potted plant watching them. They were talking, laughing, like they were having a great time.
Clearly I was the last thing on her mind. I swear, he was flirting with her. And from here, those smiles of hers looked flirty too.
That's it. I stand up and march on over there and place my arm around Ally. At first she is surprised, then she sees that it's me. I smile down at her, but she doesn't return the favor. She says a quick good-bye to Dallas and shoves my arm away before turning around and walking off.
What the heck?
"Ally wait!" I yell after her, carelessly bumping into people as I fight the crowd to he. "Ally!"
She turns around and faces me. "What in the world are you doing here Austin?"
"It's the mall," I stupidly reply. She stares at me in annoyance. That's a face I rarely see. "No wait. Never mind. My question is, why where you flirting with Dallas?"
She rolls her eyes. "He's a friend Austin. So again, why are you here?"
"Not important," I hastily reply. "That wasn't flirting? Oh... yeah. Smiling and playful shoves? Yeah, I saw all that."
"What are you doing here," she repeats. "Did you like, come here to check up on me? Do you not trust me?"
"What? No!" I stammer. "Ally, I-"
"I cannot believe you Austin!" she says. "I just want a break, and oh here you are, checking up on me! And just because I'm talking to another guy, does not give you the right to assume that I'm cheating on you."
"Oh, so you were?" Oh... dang it. Wrong thing to say. Crap. I wince and wait for the worse as she silently seethes.
I raises a hand (probably to slap me) but lowers it a second later. She sighs and says, "I'll talk to you later Austin. Bye." And turns away.
What did I just do?
*Don't own any of these.
A/N: About two weeks. Ai, lo siento. Anyway, Follow! Favorite! Review!
-Daddysgirl11, writermeAL
