It was another two days before Ally had finally conjured up the courage to face Austin again.

December 23rd.

It's was two days until Christmas and Ally was a little worried that she had ruined the man's holiday joy.

Despite her hesitation, her feet had still led her to the doorway of the familiar cafe.

Now all she had to do was open the door, go in, and talk to Austin. That simple.

Except that it wasn't that simple and she didn't understand why not.

She knew what she felt for the blonde was real and she had no doubt about her feelings, regardless of how terrifying they were.

She took a deep breath, shoving the door open before she could chicken out.

When she opened the door, it was almost immediate how quickly she met the familiar brown eyes.

And it hurt her how quickly he looked away from her, but she couldn't blame him, really.

She talked to him every day for approximately three weeks and then she just dropped him and then innocently told him she missed him, like it was meant to fix everything.

And maybe a piece of her did think that it would solve all the problems.

But when he sent back "Then prove it" she knew she had messed up and that she had to fix it. Because after two days of thinking about nothing about the blonde, she knew she couldn't let herself let him get away.

So, she stood in the short line, patiently trying to get her thoughts in order. Where was she even supposed to start?

Before she knew it, she was face to face with the blonde and it was like her entire body shut down.

"What can I get for you today, ma'am?" Austin asked, an annoyed look in his brown orbs.

Ally let out a sigh. He was mad and it was evident and he wasn't going to bother to try and disguise his hurt. "Austin, I'm sorry."

"Sorry that you led me on? Or sorry that you avoiding me for a week and a half?" he smirked not bothering to fix her order, even though he knew what it was going to be.

"For all of it. I was scared and stupid. And I thought maybe you'd give me a reason to leave," she confessed, her heart beating so loud that she was sure he could hear it on the other side of the counter. "Like maybe you picked your nose when no one else was looking. Or you used some type of disgusting cologne. Maybe even that you secretly had four wives in another country. Or-"

He cut her off, stifling back laughter. "What's your point? You're not the only one around here with a job, you know," he remarked, referencing her words from the first day they had met, which seemed centuries away.

She smiled shyly. "You kept giving me reason after reason to stay."

Austin let out a sigh of defeat. "I'm so sick of pretending, Ally."

"Pretending?" she knitted her brows in confusion.

"Pretending there's not something between us," he gestured between the two of them. "When we both know that there is."

"Austin, I-"

"No, let me talk. You had your turn, it's mine now," the blonde said sternly, ignoring the line of customers behind the brunette. "I want to drink hot chocolate with you all year round. I want to see you blush when I say something stupid in March! I want to bicker with you when you try to tell me you don't want to do a certain thing, but then see your face light up when I take you there anyways.

"I want to go Easter egg hunting with you, as well as Christmas light seeing. I want to go swimming at the beach in the summer," he rambled until he thought he had gotten his point across to the brunette. "Ally, I want to buy you Christmas trees for a really long time."

And she laughed, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Oh, come on, you have to be with him after that!" A customer shouted from behind the pair, causing the two to erupt in giggles.

"You're not at all what I expected, Austin Moon," the brunette stated, remembering their first date and how everything had changed between them so quickly.

"I hope that's still a good thing," he smiled, leaning over he counter.

"The best thing."

"Is it still scary?"

Ally exhaled deeply. Was she scared? Not really. She felt safe. At home. And she owed it to the blonde across from her, who's face was just inches from hers. "I don't think so."

"That's relieving to know, I guess," he chuckled, shrugging, her eyes falling to her pink lips.

"So... About that Easter egg hunt?" she asked, giggling softly.

And Austin smiled. A real smile. "I thought you'd never ask," and he closed the space between them crashing his lips on hers, relishing in the feeling of being so close to her again.

And they smiled into the kiss as the group of customers and a few employees whooped and hollered and whistled. And they laughed simultaneously as they heard the voices of Trish and Dez yell, "Finally!"

And Austin shot his best friend a thumbs up, with his lips still on Ally's, as he heard Jake shout a lame, "Good job, Austin!"

And Ally was content and Austin was splendid.

Maybe Christmas wouldn't be so bad after all.

One more chapter!