I am so unbelievably in shock over the reviews I got for this chapter, I don't think I can even say... WOW! Seriously. 15 reviews. I want to cry. That is just so damn amazing to me, I can't even put it into words. I know that may not seem like a lot to some others, but for me, on only my second story on this section, that is just... wow. I can't thank you all enough. I know it's been a bit of a wait for this and I'm sorry for that. I was having problems putting the chapter into words, and I wanted it perfect.

A major thank you to everyone who reviewed.

Another thank you to those who listen to my ideas about this, and who give me ideas.

I really love the last scene in this chapter, just because you see Ally in a way that you usually don't. And well, for anyone who likes the idea of Austin and Ally together in this, you'll enjoy it. :)

But don't worry, there is still plenty to come with more romance moments.

Anyway, I think I'll leave off there.

Please let me know what you think. Enjoy!

A few hours later, everyone had scurried off into their respective rooms. It quieted down within minutes and Ally took solace in the shelter at night. There was no one fighting and unless you really looked, everyone seemed perfect. She walked slowly down the hallway, checking on everyone one more time before she headed off to bed herself, as the first day of classes started tomorrow, not only for her, but for the school aged kids that lived in the shelter too.

After making sure all were there, she made her way to the last stop on her list. Riker and Austin's room.

"Hey," she said, knocking on the door with a smile. Riker was working on the song from earlier, curled up on his bed with a blanket and a set smile. Austin was sitting back on his own, staring at the ceiling. "How are you guys doing?"

Riker smiled softly, but then his eyes darted to the younger boy. Another strange look crossed his face, one Ally didn't understand. "Austin?"

He looked over to her finally, his brown eyes resting upon hers. "Oh. Hey."

"You okay?" she asked in gentle voice.

He looked worn down, more than he had in the last few hours. It seemed the night dragged any energy from him and what was left over… well, was the sad looking boy on the bed. He didn't answer her, but stood up and walked her way. Taking the hint, they walked out of the room into privacy, toward the front doors. It was eerie like the first night she met him.

"Are you okay?" she repeated her question.

Austin shrugged. "Have you ever missed someone so much, you'd do anything to see them just one more time?"

While Ally really didn't have something to compare that too, she nodded in understanding. He looked at her with such hard eyes, like he was trying to read what was going on in her head. A sigh escaped those pink lips, and he placed his hands behind his head. "Go on."

"It's just… there is someone I'm never going to see again… and it hurts more than anything." He bit down on his lip, looking at the ceiling, as if the answers to whatever he felt would be there. Ally felt her heart snapping over the mood he gave off. There was some serious hurting going on. What had happened to this boy?

"Austin, if you live here, it doesn't mean you can't see someone again. This isn't a prison. You're more than welcome to leave for a few hours each day to visit someone. They can come here too." She thought for a moment, thinking about how no one ever really came here. Maybe because their friends thought it was weird, or because the group didn't have any real friends outside of the shelter.

"It's not like that," he muttered to himself, closing his eyes. "It's not like that at all."

"Okay," she said carefully. "I'm not going to push you. Just know that I'm here and if you want to talk, I'm always ready to listen. And if you give me enough notice, I'll even bring some cookies."

A small, but pity smile parted his perfectly pink lips. Perfectly pink lips? Ally, get over yourself, she thought quickly.

"Thanks," he laughed. "But I prefer pancakes."

The thought seemed to drain more from him and Ally wanted nothing more than to question it. But she didn't because if he was ready to talk about it, he would have.

"I like pancakes. That can be arranged."

They walked back toward Riker's room and Austin's mood seemed slightly better. Not much, but enough that Ally could go to sleep and not worry all night about the new boy. She placed a warm hand on his shoulder and pulled him in quickly for a hug. "If you want, tomorrow we can go into the mall and get you some clothes."

"And everyone else?"

"No, not if you don't want them there." She once more smiled at him. "It'd be just the two of us."

"It's a date," he said calmly before he slipped into their room, leaving Ally staring at the door.

It would make sense for Ally to oversleep the day classes started. Her alarm never went off, so when Riker started shaking the girl about a half hour before classes started, she flew up in alarm, nearly toppling over him to get back to her own house. Thanking him and wishing the others luck, who all looked less than pleased to be heading back, she darted from the door, saying she'd be back later.

It was just a bad day. Nothing seemed to go in her way. No clean clothes. Her car was low on gas, so she had to stop for that. And then the worst classes of her existence picked back up. They were pretty much the last of her degree, pretty boring classes that just sucked every bit of feeling out of you. And of course, she was late so then everyone stared.

Ally was just feeling very annoyed as she left later that day, ready to get the hell out of there and back to her friends, especially Austin. She remembered what she had promised him, and hoped he still wanted to go to the mall.

To her surprise, she noticed he was still at the shelter when she arrived. "Shouldn't you be in…?"

"I didn't go," he said in a calm tone. He was sitting in the living area, staring at the TV. Riker was playing a video game in the other room, but it didn't seem like to two were talking at all. "It doesn't seem worth it."

"Austin…"

"Can we not talk about it?" he snapped lowly, his eyes getting darker. His tone shocked her and she simply nodded, dropping the subject immediately. Trish could deal with this. It wasn't her job to make sure he went.

Ally sat down on the couch next to him, studying the boy. Once again, he seemed closed off, guarded and just plain cold. Not necessarily because of her, but something was definitely wrong. Sitting there, she just thought about all that had happened since he arrived, wondering if there was something that she could do that would make it better for him.

"You're adorable when you have that look on your face," he said with a soft laugh.

Defensively, she looked back at him. When did he start staring at her? And what look? Ally didn't have a look on her face!

His eyes were smiling suddenly, something that was a bit strange to her. He didn't seem like the moody Rocky, but he definitely was confusing her. "You're thinking and I can tell. You just look so… concentrated. It's funny."

"I'm glad my face is funny to you," she said with a laugh of her own, dropping his tense image from her mind. "Did you still want to go to the mall later? I'm still up for it if you are."

Austin was quiet for a moment and then nodded. "Sure."

Ally spent the remainder of the day with Austin, and was really pleased to see his bad mood had disappeared hours ago, and he had replaced it with a smile and a sense of humor. It really wasn't something she should have enjoyed, since the mood he had on display before was a bit concerning, but they had begun to have fun and she wasn't about to take that from him.

They left for the mall a few minutes after everyone returned. She told the others they'd be back in time for dinner, and took off in her car. Austin remained quiet on the way there, his eyes watching all around him. Ally stopped at a light and began to put on the radio, singing along with the newest hit. Austin joined in moments later, and it soon began to be a jam session.

As they pulled into the mall, the two were laughing so hard, Ally's sides hurt.

"That was fun," she said in a serious tone. "I haven't sung like that in a long time."

"Me either," he agreed, getting out of the car. "So, where first?"

Ally studied the large mall and shrugged her shoulders, firmly holding the money Trish had given the girl before. "We have time. Wherever you want to go is fine with me."

And off they went. Austin ended up in a few select stores, enjoying himself. He laughed as he tried on ridiculous outfits, with over the top hats and shoes that looked like the good will might even return. Ally was laughing too, videoing the entire thing on her phone. She figured it would be fun to watch back later, when she was having a bad day, or he was. But suddenly, he pulled her into the dressing room, tossing even worse looking outfits her way. He grabbed the camera, shooing her into the small area. "Your turn," he laughed.

Ally was mortified with some of his choices in outfits for her. There was short dresses and leather shirts, something that looked like it belonged on a professional dancer, and this … thing that was definitely meant for someone… else. "Austin!" she cried loudly, laughing at herself in the mirror. "This looks terrible!"

"Let me see," he answered, laughing at her tone.

She exited the room, walking into the mirror area with a horrified expression. "I look like a …"

"You look hot," he said simply.

Ally felt her cheeks redden again and stared at herself in the mirror. She was in a short red dress, sculpted to her every curve that just covered everything it should. It had straps that were snug on her shoulders, showing off her upper body. But it was too revealing for her taste, and she felt really awkward standing in it. But Austin didn't care; he was grinning like crazy, and threw a pair of heels that even the biggest celebrities would have cringed at. "Austin, no!" she laughed.

"Try it on," he encouraged, his eyes lighting up at her horror. "Its just for fun. It's not like you're going to leave here in it."

Ally glared at him but did as she was told and nearly toppled onto the poor boy in the shoes. "I'm going to die in these," she gasped, trying to walk toward the mirrors. He was still videoing the entire thing, his giggles sending chills down her spine. He sounded so damn happy, how could she tell him to stop?

"You have to buy it, Ally," he laughed. "Just imagine what the others would say. They would love it."

"I'd lose my job if I wore this into the shelter," she told him seriously but the edges of her lips were curling up. "I mean, come on, Austin. It's more of a party dress than anything else."

He just shook his head and told her to get changed. She did, happy to get back into a pair of jeans and a t shirt and met him at the registers, as he tossed some clothes at the person working there. When she wasn't looking, Austin had tossed the dress… and the shoes, into the bag, after paying for it. He grinned wildly at her, knowing she had no idea what he had just done. He thanked the person and met her in the mall waiting area.

"That was fun," he said, holding his bags. "And I got some nice stuff. Thanks."

Ally smiled warmly back at him, really happy that today was as nice as it was. "You're welcome. I had fun too. But … never show those videos to anyone. I'm pretty sure the others would say I was crazy."

"I like crazy people." He was laughing now, remembering her in some of the outfits. "Besides, it's nice to see you let loose a little, Ally. Every time I see you in the shelter, you're looking out for someone else. You can tell you're tense. I think you smiled and laughed more in the last hour than you did the entire time I've known you. I like that Ally better."

Ally sighed, agreeing with him but honestly, how was she supposed to smile and be okay, when others around her weren't? "Thanks."

"If it means we have to leave that shelter once a week and do stuff like this, I'm game," he said seriously, suddenly acting like he was the one who was the volunteer. "It's nice to see you smile. I mean that. And a real one. You do so much for everyone, Ally. It's obvious. You deserve you time."

Just as Ally went to really thank the boy, for looking out for her, his expression darkened quickly and his eyes narrowed in shock. He grabbed her arm and started to pull her away from the area, mumbling words that she couldn't understand. "Austin?" she asked in alarm. "What's the matter? Austin! Talk to me! Austin?"

He pulled her all the way to the car, ignoring her pleas and concerns. "Just drive," he ordered darkly, his usually smiling eyes back to the fearful and unhappy ones she met that very first night.