As we walked down the beach I tried to think of something to say. I opened my mouth many times but my voice failed me every time. C'mon, what are you so afraid of? a voice rang in my head, making my eardrums hurt. It was YOUR idea to take a walk because you need to tell him how you feel! How you've felt for so long…

I winced slightly when I felt his hand brush against mine.

"S-Sorry," he stuttered, and I nodded.

"S'kay." A chilly breeze hit my face. Miami was bipolar. One minutes it's sunny and the next it's cold and gloomy. I shivered.

"It's um...kinda cold huh?" Austin asked, thankfully wanting to make conversation. All I could do was nod my head again because I didn't know what to say. From the corner of my eye I saw him take off his jacket.

"No. No, you...you don't have to do that," I said, but before I could finish my sentence warm spread through me. The jacket was so warm and comforting. I let out a sigh of content, my protests long forgotten.

"Feel better?" he asked, amusement filling his voice.

I nodded sheepishly, but still remained silent. And that's how it was for the rest of the time.


I woke up at about 11 the next morning when I heard Snowflake barking. I groaned, then looked out the window to see what was going on. Kira and Elliot were playing basketball in the parking lot. Kira's back was hunched over as she tried to block him, but Elliot was persistent. He quickly stole the ball from her and did a jump shot. Kira smiled and hugged him as Snowflake barked. Kira met my gaze and waved at me. I wanted to flip her off, but I couldn't bring myself to do it, so I waved back and closed my curtain.

I sat in my bed for a moment, deep in thought. For the thousandth time I wondered if Kira really did love Elliot. I couldn't help but think she didn't. Loving Elliot as a husband and her loving me as a sister were two completely different things. I knew she didn't love me like like a sister. I hadn't thought of a new plan yet, and time was running out. If I could some how find some dirt on her, maybe, just maybe I can save my brother. All his life he's been protecting us, and now it's my turn to protect him.

After getting dressed, I made my way downstairs. I reheated mac n cheese and I wanted to gag. Patrick was making it. I pinched my nose. "Don't you have anything better to eat?" I asked.

"This was the only thing in the fridge," he explained, taking it out of the microwave and getting ketchup out of the pantry. I raised my eyebrow. "What? It needs flavor." He shrugged and squeezed the ketchup and it oozed out of the bottle and onto the mac and cheese. He stirred it contently.

I gaged, knowing that there had to be something else to eat in the fridge. The only thing I could find was hot dogs. "We ought to go shopping," I called from the fridge, not sure who I was even talking to because mom and dad were at work and Patrick was listening to blasting music on his DS. I didn't even know that you could have music on a DS but Patrick is good with technology. The last time I saw Patrick's math grade, it wasn't pretty. But a few weeks later I saw him check it online and it was boosted up to an A. That made me wonder if there was something he did to hack the grading system. He could get a lot of trouble for that, but if I didn't tell mom and dad, maybe in return he can somehow help me with my situation. First we needed a new plan.

Just as I was starting to brainstorm a new plan, Kira and Elliot burst the door open and I jumped. They were talking up a storm. I stained my ears to listen.

"Hey, Kira, remember the times capsule we had to do in our senior year?"

My eyes widened. The time capsule! All of us had to do that! I was a sophomore while Elliot was a senior. We weren't allowed to show any of our friends the times capule. It was simple. All we had to do was make a video about our lives at Marino High. At the end of the year we buried it, never to be seen again by 2095, were students of the future could see how our lives were lived. The project was actually kind of fun, although 90% of my video was 16-year-old me running my tongue through my braces, which is very cringeworthy. But Kira's? I'm sure it was full of loads of evidence on how much of a jerk she was in high school. If I could only I could dig it up without anyone finding out…

There was a small pause after Elliot asked about the times capsule. I closed the fridge, trying to be quiet as possible as I tiptoed a little bit closer, folding my arms. The only thing I could hear was Patrick smacking him hot dog obnoxiously. I shushed him. He shrugged innocently and ate more quietly.

"Oh...yeah," Kira said, seeming nervous. "Yeah, I do," she let out a small, fake laugh. ¨Why do you ask?¨

"I don't know, I just thought of it, and I never asked you what kind of things did you say? Did you mention me?" I could almost see him winking and I couldn help but roll my eyes in amusement.

"I didn't really know you then silly," said Kira, this time seeming more amused than anything. "It's not like it matters anyway. I just want to focus on what's happening now." She kissed his cheek, from what I could hear, and went upstairs.

I ran up to Patrick and snacked his headphones out of his ears. "Pat, did you hear that? Well, of course you didn't hear it. Kira and Elliot were talking about the times capsule!"

"What times capsule?"

I groaned, but then remembered that he was really young when our school made us do that. "If we could some how dig it up, we could-"

"We? I'm not going to dig up some times capsule from Marino High in 2006."

I frowned. "But you said you would help me!"

"Ally, this is going too far," he said. "How do you know that Kira's video is anything like you think it would be?" Maybe he had a point.

"We could watch it first," I suggested.

"If we don't get caught," he murmured. Suddenly the home phone rang, and Patrick got it.

"Dawson's residents, who's this?" there was a small pause. "Oh hey, Austin."

"Gimme the phone!" I said, quickly taking it put of Patrick's hand.

"Hey, um, Austin." I chuckled, unbelievably nervous.

"Hey," he sounded excited. "I know we just went to Shredders last night but they are having a Luau Party tonight. And, well, I was thinking...you know...maybe you wanna come with?" There was a couple moments of silence. "Just us?"

I took a few deeps breaths. My heart pounded and I thought I might drop the phone. "Are you...Are you asking me out?" I asked, barely even getting the words out.

"I guess I am." I could almost see him smiling that amazing smile.

Then I smiled. "I accept."


Sorry I've been out for so long! I've been busy. I hoped you liked it! If you have any suggestions that'd be awesome! Oh and if you have any ideas that were in the movie that you'd like me to incorporate in this story I'd be happy to do it!

QOTD: What's your favorite ice cream?

MA: Cookie Dough!

Stay gold! 💕💕