Who's seen the promo for Successes & Setbacks? I can't stop watching it! Is it August 19th yet? My Auslly feels can't wait to see the episode.

Well, to keep your Auslly feels satisfied here's chapter 9!

Disclaimer: I do not own Austin & Ally.


Austin was waiting for Cassidy at the beach; they decided to have a picnic for their second date. Austin had everything ready with the help of Ally, Dez and Trish. There was a picnic blanket spread out on the sand with candles and dining ware. The picnic basket was filled with food specially made by Ally. He also had his guitar ready to play the song for Cassidy. Austin was pacing rather nervously waiting for Cassidy's arrival.

"Wow, this looks nice."

Austin stopped pacing and turned to see Cassidy. "Cassidy, hi!" He helped her take a seat.

"My, what a gentleman."

Austin grinned and blushed a little. He started taking the food out of the basket and setting them on the blanket. Cassidy was amazed at all the food that Austin had brought along.

"Did you make all this?" She said taking a bite out of the sandwich. "Yum."

"Nah, I can't cook for my life." Austin laughed. "Ally made all this for our date. She's awesome that way."

Cassidy just smiled. They ate and talked for a while until Austin decided it was time for him to play the song.

"So uh Cassidy, I wrote a song for you." Austin said as he stood up.

Cassidy looked surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah, do you want to hear it?"

"Of course blondy, I'd love to."

Austin picked up his guitar and started playing.

Heart thumping, stomach churning

Hands shaking, breath intensifying

It's all because of you

And only you

Austin's mind wandered as he played, he thought about so many things.

I constantly think about you

Can't get you out of my mind

You're the one for me

And I hope you can see

He thought about all the emotion that lies within the song and how Ally tapped perfectly into his feelings. She knew him so well.

When I'm with you I'm the happiest I can be

You turn my world upside down

And make me want to shine

You're awesome

"So what do you think?" Austin smiled proudly. "Ally helped me write that song."

"Ally did?" Cassidy smiled, it looked kind of forced actually. "It's a beautiful song really, I love it."

Austin beamed. "Thanks Cassidy!" Austin took a seat and they continued their picnic.

"I'm having a great time with you Cassidy." Austin said looking at Cassidy.

"Me too blondy." Cassidy took a sip of her soda, holding her breath. "But...I don't think we should date anymore."

Austin immediately stopped what he was doing and stared at Cassidy, shocked.

"What? Why?" He managed to say, still confused as to what Cassidy just said.

"Austin, I'm not the girl for you."

Austin gaped at her; she's never really called him by his name. She would always call him by the cute nickname.

"What are you talking about Cassidy?"

"I don't think you like me as much as you think." Cassidy looked at the ground and played with her food, avoiding eye contact.

"I…still don't understand. I like you a lot Cassidy." Austin clenched his shirt.

"Yeah, but not enough to be more than just friends."

"Are you…breaking up with me?" Austin still couldn't believe what was going on.

Cassidy looked into Austin's eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry Austin."

"But…I"

"You still don't get it do you?" Cassidy asked as Austin shook his head. "Austin, do you love Ally?"

"Of course I do, she's my best friend. But what does that have to do with anything?"

Cassidy took a deep breath. "I'm pretty sure you love Ally more than you think."

"Are you implying that I have romantic feelings for my best friend?"

"Austin…" She put her hand on his shoulder.

He shrugged her hand off. "I don't like Ally that way okay."

"You talk about her every chance you get, even during our dates. The way you sang that song, I'm pretty sure you were thinking about Ally."

"No way, Ally's my best friend."

"I'm sorry Austin." Cassidy stood up. "We can still be friends."

Austin couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Sure, whatever." But he didn't even look at Cassidy; he just looked at the ground.

Cassidy apologized again and said her goodbyes as she left.

Austin was crushed; he was still processing the events that just happened. Why would Cassidy suggest such a thing? He wasn't in love with Ally; they're partners and best friends, nothing more. Deciding that there was nothing more to do, Austin packed all the stuff and headed home.


Austin lay on his bed staring at the ceiling, confusion clouding his mind. At times like these, when he needed to talk about his feelings, he would usually call Ally and they would talk for hours. But there was no way he was going to call Ally about this problem, so he decided to call Dez. He scrolled through the contacts on his phone and called Dez.

"Yellow? Get it, because it sounds like 'hello'?" Dez laughed at himself. "Oh, I crack myself up sometimes."

Austin chuckled just a little bit, still not feeling very upbeat. "Dez, I need someone to talk to. Could you come over?"

"Sure dude, I'm on my way."

Austin hung up and sighed. 'What a mess.'

It wasn't long before Dez finally arrived at Austin's place.

"I'm here!" Dez announced.

"Great, I need to talk, about feelings."

"Feelings? Isn't that usually Ally's department?" Dez said as he bounced to Austin's bed and sat down.

"Yeah well, this is something I can't talk to Ally about."

"Okay, tell me how you feel." Dez said taking a notepad and a pen as if he was a therapist.

Austin lay down on his bed again and began telling the events that occurred during his date with Cassidy. He told Dez about how he sang her a song, how she loved it and how she said they shouldn't date anymore.

"Why did she say that? I thought she loved the song?" Dez asked doodling on the notepad as opposed to writing things Austin was saying.

"Well, she said…" Austin hesitated, playing with the bedsheets. "…that I'm in love with someone else."

"Really? Who?"

Austin took a deep breath. "Ally…" Dez's eyes went wide. "And this is why I called you instead of Ally."

"Are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Are you in love with Ally?" Dez asked while biting the tip of the pen.

"Ally's my best friend; I don't want to jeopardize that."

"Yeah okay, you don't want to jeopardize the friendship, but are you in love with her? Simple, yes or no question."

"I love her, yes, she's my best friend. But I'm not in love with her."

"Maybe you love her more than you think." The way Dez said it was similar to the way Cassidy said it.

Austin was speechless, hearing that again was like a slap in the face, and heart. 'I…love Ally?' He just couldn't believe it, why would both Cassidy and Dez suggest the same thing?

"I'm not in love with my best friend." Austin said as he looked to the nightstand. There were picture frames, one of him and Dez when they were kids playing at the beach; there was also a group photo of Team Austin when he won his first award. But the one he looked at was the picture of him and Ally on the piano writing a song together. They were smiling and having fun, Austin always had fun with Ally. She may be a stick-in-the-mud sometimes, but Austin knew how to bring out the fun side of Ally. He loved Ally; she was special and a very close friend, but more than friends? "Ally…" He said softly and sighed.

Dez noticed Austin staring at the picture. 'You are so in love with her.'


Ladies and gentlemen, Auslly is in the house! (Well, almost. :P)