Disclaimer: I do not own Austin and Ally, nor do I own anything you may recognize.
Ally's POV
"You did not just blue shell me, Austin Moon!"
"I totally did," he confirmed, "and I won!"
It was pouring outside and so the atmosphere was lazy. Everything that happened the night I went to his room seemed forgotten for the most part. No big events have occurred, and I'm disappointed in that. All of my efforts of trying to get him to talk about the issue were unsuccessful.
With nothing better to do, Austin and I were just fooling around in his room playing video games. I'm decent at Mario Kart, but it's just the stupid shell that made me lose. The fact that I was distracted by other thoughts didn't help either.
Like telling Austin.
Anxiety took over me when I thought about my getting discharged. I only have a few days until I leave. I've been delaying it for far too long, and I should have told him earlier. It felt like the news would ruin our last days together.
Besides, how do I even tell him? How will he react? I couldn't put this off forever. While he was chattering away happily, I mustered what little courage I had and decided it was now or never.
"I have news."
He halted mid-sentence and peered at me curiously. "Good news or bad news?"
"Good," I hesitated, "kind of bad. I'm not sure."
"Just throw it at me. You can tell me anything!"
I almost told him to forget it right then and there. Taking a deep breath, I averted my gaze to my wheelchair. "I'm getting out in four days."
"Really? That's awesome! Now with that nasty wheelchair out of the way, we can dance and-"
"No Austin," I looked at him. "I'm not just getting out of this wheelchair. I'm also getting out of the hospital."
Immediately, his mood turned somber. It hurt to even look at those hurt filled eyes. "You're leaving."
"Yes," I answered him just as disheartened. Getting discharged should have been a good thing, but it didn't feel like it.
"It's okay, I'm used to it." Austin suddenly looked older, and more sad. He was no longer the bubbly facade he puts up. "They all leave me in the end...I mean, I'm happy for you! I knew you would get better, Ally."
"I'm so sorry," I felt tears blur my vision, "I wish I could-"
He smiled softly at me. Not the usual large grin, but a small one that broke my heart. It was more forced than the one after my late night visit. "You can't stay here. One day, I'll see you, Ally Dawson, on that television right there as a world famous musician. Big stage and all, you know?"
"Austin..."
The blonde coughed a bit. "I wish I could give you the same good news, but I can't. It's the opposite, actually."
My breath caught as I realized the meaning of his words. Does he mean?...
"Might as well-I've got bad news. I'm getting worse."
"No," I don't want to believe this. This wasn't happening. "you can't be!"
"Life sucks."
"How bad is it?" He will be okay, and I'll see him again. I'm sure of it.
"The doctors say they might have to take drastic measures. My tests show that it's getting, um, terminal." Austin said the word like it didn't mean anything at all. He sounded like he had already accepted it as his fate: death.
"No."
He ran a hand through his short locks. "I have to go through some treatment, but I should be fine."
"You won't be fine. You're far from fine! Austin, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I don't want to hurt you."
With my arms, I lifted myself to my feet, just like in training. It's twisted how something I've worked on for weeks was done with such dread. Balancing my weight evenly, I sat on his bed. I hugged him and collapsed right then and there. Tears streamed down my face and I sobbed into his shoulder. His arms tightly held me back.
"I can't believe this is happening."
When I wanted to find out what was bothering him, I wasn't expecting this. I never wanted this.
He mumbled the words into my hair. "Me neither."
This was too much. I shook my head and wrenched away from him. "I need some time."
"So do I!" he joked and laughed bitterly. It did nothing to help.
"I didn't mean it that way," I got back into my wheelchair, "Austin, I really care about you and I-"
"If you care about me so much, why are you leaving right now? I tell you and then you just-"
"I love you, okay?"
He looked shocked. "What?"
"It hurts more than anything-even my accident- to know you won't be okay. I don't want you to leave either."
"Ally..." Austin looked away.
He didn't respond to my confession.
I had seen enough already, or rather, heard the lack of.
It was so dumb of me to assume he returned my feelings. But then again, why would he?
Austin's POV
It felt like knives were piercing my heart when she left through the door. Immense guilt clawed at me. I wanted to tell her to come back, to tell her...
I loved her too.
I knew it would hurt even more when one of us left the other. How could I tell her I loved her too, when I was dying? I want her to have a future, and be with someone who won't break her heart by dying. I couldn't do that for her.
The realization of my feelings came to me a long time ago, but I was also aware of my condition. Ally is the most brilliant star I've ever met. I wish I could be with her forever.
I am hopelessly in love with Ally, but there's nothing I can do about it.
With a sigh, I pulled out the wrinkled piece of paper under my pillow. The test results I got last week were on it, and it definitely wasn't changing anytime soon. It showed my frustration because of how many times I've crumpled it into a ball and threw it around. Unless a miracle were to happen, I would only see Ally for a couple more weeks.
It would be better to stay away from her for a while, try to distance her, so it'll hurt less for her. I don't want our last time together to end on bad terms, either. I tossed away the test results and put my head in my hands. My eyes burned with tears of frustration.
What do I do?
This chapter was labelled as "Chapter that dropped da bomb", haha. I wanted to get the story going and not drag it out anymore. There will still be "fluff" or whatever you can call all those other chapters. I was reluctant to post this because I didn't want to rush their relationship.
Thanks again to all the lovely readers! I was worried all the filler-y chapters made you guys lose interest, but last time I did a cliffhanger-y chapter, it didn't get much positive responses.
And yes, R5AAFan, I didn't create a chapter title. Mostly because I was lazy and my bud Angela told me it gave too much away. But I guess it also works as a blank because of the story's title :D
I hope this chapter was enjoyable, and thanks for reading!
