Finally, it was time for dress-rehearsal.

It was the final time I would hear my songs being sung without a big audience, and the nerves were starting to heat up.

"Trish!" Austin called. "This doesn't fit, not even a little bit!"

He was standing next to me, trying to get into his costume. The shirt he was trying to fit in was at least two sizes too small, which caused his biceps to almost burst through the fabric, and his abs were exposed just a little bit.

I caught myself staring and quickly looked up. Luckily, Austin hadn't seen me.

That would've been embarrassing.

"That's because that's not your shirt, Austin, it's supposed to be for Dallas," Trish answered, rolling her eyes.

"Dallas!" she yelled.

A boy on the other side of the auditorium looked up. I had noticed him before, he was playing one of Jake's best friends, and he was kinda cute.

He started running towards the stage.

Austin pulled off the shirt, but I made sure to keep my eyes on Dallas this time.

Even when Austin neglected to put on another shirt.

"Thanks man, I must've left it somewhere," Dallas said, taking the shirt from Austin.

"Let's find you another shirt, one that is in fact, yours," Trish said, taking Austin by the hand and pulling him away from me.

When she was behind Dallas, she turned around and winked at me.

Only then did it daunt on me what she was doing; she was giving me some alone-time with Dallas.

"Hi, you're Ally, right?" he asked.

I nodded, feeling unable to say anything, then scolded myself for not being able to have a normal conversation with an attractive boy.

"Great job on the musical, really. I didn't want to be part of it at first, but I don't really mind now," he smiled at me.

Come on Ally, say something! Ask something!

"So why are you?"

"Huh?"

I took a deep breath, preparing myself to form an actual sentence this time.

"So why are you a part of it, if you didn't want to be?"

Good job.

"When Mrs Drew asked me, I couldn't say no to her. It always feels so disrespectful," he said.

I smiled. Bonus point for Dallas, right there.

We continued talking and after a little while, I felt myself relax. Dallas was really nice and I felt comfortable talking to him, which was honestly the first time I felt comfortable talking to a handsome boy.

Well, except if you counted Austin, of course. But I'd never seen Austin as more than just a friend, I'd never seen him as a potential date, so he didn't really count.

"Hey, Ally, can I ask you something?" Dallas said, suddenly acting a little nervous.

"You kinda just did," I joked.

He laughed.

Which was also the first time an attractive boy thought I was funny, apart from Austin. I had a weird sense of humour.

"Well, can I ask you another thing?"

"Of course," I said, deciding against making the "you already just did again" joke.

"I was thinking if you maybe want to go out for a drink with me, after this? Or maybe even dinner if you're hungry? To celebrate, you know, the musical."

I knew that that question should've made me the happiest girl in the world.

Which is why it confused me that I found myself actually thinking about it.

This guy was nice, cute, and into me. Me! Obviously I shouldn't have to even think about it.

"I would love to," I answered with a smile, forcing myself to feel happier than I actually did.

Just then, I felt an arm sliding around my waist.

"She would love too, but she can't," a voice growled.

Yes, growled.

"We have plans," he continued.

And I knew I should say we didn't. I knew I should grab Dallas and tell him I'd see him after the show, I knew I should scream and kick Austin, I knew I shouldn't let him lead me away from the cute boy that wanted to go out with me.

But I didn't do any of those things. I just let him take me away, his arm around my waist, pushing me away from Dallas.

Only when we were out of side, behind the safety of the curtains, I pushed him away.

"What the hell was that for?" I asked, but I didn't even sound really angry.

Because I wasn't. And I didn't know why not.

"I got you out," he said matter-of-factly, like it was no big deal.

"Oh wow, my saviour, getting me out of a date with a really cute guy," I said, sarcasm dripping from my voice.

He turned around, an eyebrow cocked.

"You don't want to go on a date with that guy, Als. Believe me."

"And why would I not?" Only now, I could feel myself getting angry.

He had no right at all to decide who I would hang out with.

"I…" Austin started, but he didn't finish his sentence.

I waited, for what felt like ages, but it became clear he wasn't going to answer.

"Well, thanks for that, Austin. Thank you very much from saving me from the first actual date I would ever be taken on."

And I stomped away.

"Why would he do that?" I asked Trish. Softly, of course, because the play had already started.

I knew I should be watching and enjoying this last rehearsal, but I didn't really care about the play at the moment.

"Because he doesn't want you to go out with Dallas," Trish answered, as if it was the most obvious answer ever.

"But why?" I whined. "He's nice, isn't he? He thought I was funny!"

"So does Austin."

I frowned at her.

"What you just said has nothing to do with what I just said."

"Oh of course it does," Trish sighed.

"He likes you, Ally, he is just jealous because Dallas has the balls to ask you out and he doesn't. If you like Dallas, you go tell Austin to shove it and tell Dallas you're free."

I stared at the stage, where Kira was just confessing her love to Austin.

Austin didn't like me. Maybe in a friendship way. Maybe in a "she's like my sister" way. Maybe that was it? Maybe he was just a protective guy.

But I already knew I wouldn't take Trish's advice.

I wouldn't tell Dallas I was free, that was way too nerve wrecking. Hell, saying yes was almost too nerve wrecking!

And I wouldn't tell Austin to shove it, either. I knew I was supposed to be mad at him, but it was already over.

I just couldn't stay mad at that boy and I really wished I knew why.

I saw Dallas come on stage while Kira walked of. This was the part that Dallas' character would tell Jake that he had to choose between Lily and his friends.

They were both good actors, but I had to admit Austin was better. Dallas was just kinda reading the lines, while I could tell that Austin was living them. He wás Jake at that moment, but Dallas was still playing his character.

"Maybe you should just mind your own business," Austin said on stage, and I frowned.

That was not in the script. I would know, I wrote the script.

"And keep away from another man's girl." His voice had gone harsh and I could immediately tell he wasn't being Jake anymore.

He was being Austin.

"Maybe you should let the lady choose, instead of claim her like she's some kind of prize," Dallas answered. His voice had also gotten a sharp edge to it.

"Maybe you should just shut the fu…"

"Mr Moon, that is definitely not in the script!" Mrs Drew interrupted. She sighed. "Can we please continue with this rehearsal? You two can fight your battles off stage."

They both continued, but the spark was gone. And when they finally got off stage, the final rehearsal finished, they both looked super tense.

"What was that all about?" Trish was always one to tackle the issue while it's hot.

"She's not YOURS, Moon. I don't give a damn what you think, you can't KEEP her from me!" Dallas said angrily.

"Why don't you just STAY away from her, before I put my fist through your face?"

Austin's voice scared me. I had never heard this tone on him. This wasn't just a little upset, this was furious.

His fists were balled, his shoulders tense, his jaw clenched.

Being completely sure that if I didn't stop this, he might actually put his fist through Dallas' face, I took his hand.

I could immediately feel his muscles relaxed, as he looked down at me. The look in his eyes softened.

"Go home," I whispered. "Please, Austin, just go."

A sad look fell across his face as he took a step back.

"Ally, we can still go out for a drink?" I heard Dallas say in the background.

But I couldn't focus on anything else but Austin's brown eyes, filled with hurt and anger and sadness, a big mix of emotions, but none of them good.

"Fine," he muttered, and he turned around.

I watched him walk away, his head hanging low, and then I turned to Dallas, who was waiting for an answer.

I realised this was it, this was a choice I had to make right now, and whatever I did, it would have consequences.

I took one last look at Dallas, mouthed a "sorry" his way, before turning around and running after Austin, only catching up with him in the parking lot.

"Austin!" I called. He stopped from getting in his car.

"Hi, Als," he said, sounding tired. "You want a ride home?"

I did need a ride home. And it would give me a chance to talk to him without him having the option to run away. So I got in the car.

Although I had every intention of starting the conversation, wanting to know what had just happened, I didn't know how to start, and we drove in complete silence, until he parked the door in front of the music store.

Just when I wanted to open the door and leave it be, Austin started to talk.

"I'm sorry, Als. About Dallas."

I closed the door of the car again.

"Why don't you want me going out with him? Is something wrong with him? Is he going to hurt me?" I asked, needing an answer, needing a reason so I could make sense of this all.

Austin shook his head. "I wish I could say that, but nothing is wrong with Dallas. I'm sure he could make you happy."

"Then why…?"

"I don't even know," he interrupted me. "I just… It doesn't feel right, you being with him."

"I'm not WITH him, I was just going out for a drink," I said. I realised that I sounded like I was comforting him, which wasn't exactly what I was supposed to be doing right now.

"I know, but still. It just… feels…" he paused, "wrong."

"Why?"

He smiled at me, but it was a sad smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Cause he's not me."

It was silent for a couple of seconds, while I was vigorously trying to wrap my head around what he had just said.

"But…"

"Never mind," he interrupted again. "You know what, never mind. I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"

He opened the car door for me, almost pushing me out of the car.

"Bye!"

The door slammed shut, and before I knew it, the car sped out of the street, leaving me behind in utter confusion.