Okay guys, this is chapter is big, as in big and important in this story... like wow yeah... Anyways. ENJOYYYYY. And thanks for the reviews. Love ya'll.
I wake up to a loud noise outside of my door. The sun is shining bright and it must be the afternoon. I didn't get home until late last night from the party. Mark walked me home and was really sweet. He didn't try anything on me which I appreciated. He didn't even get drunk which surprised me since he's this big party animal apparently. Austin and Bailey left at least an hour earlier than me. Austin was acting really weird and wanted to leave. It's funny because he thought I was going to go home with them, but I stayed behind.
I throw the covers off of me and stretch, yawning loudly. I roll out of bed and walk to my door. I notice in the mirror that my hair is absolutely wild. I try patting it down but it's no use. I open the door and there's a small box at my feet. I stick my head out and look down the hallway but there's nobody there.
I pick up the box and open it; revealing the A necklace that I left in Austin's room after he kissed me. I sigh and put it back in the box and shut my door. I put the box under a pile of clothes in my top drawer. I can't believe he would leave that at my door step. Does he really think I still want it? Well of course I do… But still.
I throw on a baggy tee shirt and a pair of jean shorts and throw my hair up in a ponytail and head downstairs. Everyone is sitting at the table starting to eat breakfast. I sit down between my father and Bailey and inhale the scent of homemade waffles. Good ole Renee.
"You got home late last night." Bailey says, grinning.
I smile back as I place two waffles on my plate, "Yeah." I shrug.
"What were you doing?" My father asks.
"Oh I was just hanging out with this guy I met." I say. Austin grabs another waffle and sets it on his plate a little too hard…
"You hung out with some strange guy?" My father asks.
"He wasn't strange, and plus I'm an adult dad." I say, shaking my head.
"Well still! You should be careful." He says.
"I agree Lester." Austin says proudly after taking a bite.
"Well he's taking me on a date tonight so I'll get to know him better so you won't worry as much." I say to my dad.
Austin freezes for a moment and then goes back to eating quietly. Bailey gets all girly and excited and wants to pretty me up for the date tonight but it's not really a date. He invited me to hang out with him and some friends at another party, but for some reason I went all weird and said date, and Austin seemed weird about it.
()()()()
I put on a pair of high waisted shorts, a tight short black tank top so that a little part of my belly shows and I let my hair fall down with loose curls. I don't put any make up on; I don't want to try too hard. I don't even know why I'm going out tonight. I'm really not interested in Mark. Nobody interests me except Austin. But he's with Bailey and I should move on too. I know it won't happen but I could at least try I guess.
I walk downstairs and into the kitchen to grab a drink while I wait for Mark to pick me up. I'm surprised when I see Austin alone at the bar, his head in his hands. I look around and there's no one in sight. I clear my throat as I stand in front of him. It startles him and he just stares at me. I start to feel really awkward so I just go into the refrigerator and grab a bottle of water.
"Ally…" I turn around and almost bump right into him. Why the heck is he so close to me?
"What?" I ask, looking up at him.
"You look really good." He says.
"Uh thanks." I say, and look past him.
"Everyone left. They went to some festival in town and I didn't feel like going. You should stay here and we can watch movies." He suggests.
You've got to be kidding me.
"Austin you know I'm going out." I say and walk over to the counter. I lean against it and play with my bottle.
"You don't have to though." He says.
"But I'm going to." I tell him.
"Ally… Please."
There's a knock on the door then, "Goodbye Austin." I say.
I open the door and Mark is standing there. He's dressed in all white and he looks handsome. He hands me a single rose and I blush. This isn't even a real date and he brought me a flower? "Thank you." I say with a smile.
"A pretty rose for a pretty girl." He says.
We drive the short distance to the big party that is just like the other night. I don't understand why all of these beach parties are always the same. I mean, I think that would get really old; going to the same spot on the beach every night, having the same type of fire, playing the same type of music. I mean parties in New York are a lot different.
He introduces me to a couple more of his friends; a bunch of girls. And they are definitely not the type of girls I'd hang out with. Plus, they were all acting pretty snobby when he introduced me. That's okay though, it's not like I like him, because I don't. He's just a distraction.
After a while into the party, he starts to drink. I thought maybe he'd stop after his like sixth beer but then he starts taking shots and I'm getting pretty nervous. I grab a soda and take a seat in front of the water. It's a beautiful night out. The temperature is perfect and the waves are really southing. But it makes me think of all the summer nights Austin and I had at the beach…
"Hey Ally." Mark says as he takes a seat next to me. He reeks of alcohol.
"Hi."
"Are you having a good time?" He asks, grinning and then wrapping his arm around me.
I shrug it off and he shoots me a glare. Does it look like I'm having a good time? "Actually I think I should be heading home, it's getting late."
"Baby the party is just starting!" He says and grabs my face, trying to kiss me.
I push him off and stand up, "What the hell are you doing?"
He stands up too and grabs my arm, "Come on, don't be so prude."
"Just stop." I say and pull away from him.
"Wow, and I thought you'd be easier than this." He says.
"Excuse me?"
He grabs for my face again and I trip, falling backwards. Before he can react I jump up and run away from him. I run as fast as I can and away from the party and away from the beach before he can do something worse to me. Tears stream down my face as I make it through the streets and back to the beach house. It isn't even that late, but my father, Renee and Bailey are still gone.
I sit down on the front steps and rest my face in my hands and start crying. Who knows what Mark hand in mind, and I was stupid enough to be alone with him. I'll never move on. I can't trust anybody but Austin. I can't let another guy in. It's just not going to happen. I can't believe that I thought I could make something else work.
"Ally…?" Oh great.
I shake my head and ignore him, but I feel him sit next to me, "What did he do." He says through gritted teeth.
I put my face up and turn to him, tears running down. "I'm the idiot." I say.
"What are you talking about?" He asks, searching my face.
"I shouldn't have gone out with a stranger." I tell him.
"What did he do Ally?"
I shake my head, "He was drunk. He tried to kiss me and I kept shoving him away and I just ran."
"I'll kill him." He says.
I stand up then, "Austin, just stop trying to protect me. I'm not your girlfriend. You can't keep doing this."
He stands up then too, "Ally, I can't stop. I can't just stop."
"It's not that hard, just let me protect myself." I say.
"That's not what I'm talking about." He deadpans.
"Stop what then?" I ask.
He runs this hand through his hair and looks back down at me, "I can't stop loving you Ally. I can't stop." I feel like my heart stops right there. And I think a part of me wishes it did.
My crying gets harder, "Austin, stop." I whisper.
"No Ally. Stop pushing me away. I need you. I love you. I've never stopped." He says, and I see tears in his eyes too.
I turn away from him then, and hug myself. "You know this can't happen."
He grabs my arm softly, unlike Mark earlier, and turns me to face him again, "All you care about is how this is going to affect everyone else. But you don't see how badly it's affecting you." He says.
"I should go now." I say and walk towards the door.
"I know you still love me Ally." He shouts.
"No I don't." I lie.
"When are you going to realize I know you better than anyone?" He asks.
I run through the house then and upstairs to my room. I lock the door behind me and walk over to my dresser. I take out the necklace and chuck it at the door. I scream in anger, and sadness. Why did this happen to me? Why can't my life just be normal? Why can't I just be with Austin without anything being complicated? Why can't Bailey be some snobby bitch? Why did my dad have to marry Renee? Why does she have to be so amazing?
Why do I have to love Austin still…?
The only thing I know is, I'm going back to New York; Tomorrow.
