It's another flash forward! To a year later. There's some Selena Gomez lyrics in here too, since I've been really loving her new album lately.

Ally's POV

Same old, same old. I redecorated my suite, though. Looks quite fresh. I'd been particularly bored lately, what with the departure (more like escape) of my French boyfriend Ansel. He'd been a lovely addition to my life, I won't lie. But my mind just kept drifting back to that beautiful place known as no other than Miami, FL. I sighed. Like I said, same old. Nothing to see here.

Austin and I had resolved our little feud from a year ago, but over text. I felt extra guilty a few months later. It went a little bit like...

Ally: Look, I'm sorry. Everything was so messed up and I don't want you to think that I left because of anything else but the fact that I genuinely couldn't help it anymore. Forgive me?

Austin: I forgive you. Honestly, I think it's time we both stopped acting silly about this whole us thing. If it's not meant to be, then it's not meant to be.

Ally: Friends? Oh, and happy birthday for tomorrow.

Austin: 21. I feel so old. Old enough to make this whole "friends" thing work.

Ally: Same, it's time we both grew up

So, yeah. I suppose you could say that we were still best friends. I didn't know what it was, but he just seemed so much happier these days. I felt happy for him. I guess curiosity was my only excuse for doing what I did next. I went back to Miami. Things had seemed so much brighter, and we were all ten times happier for some reason, so I decided to pay a little visit back home. To see everyone.

Austin's POV

Things were getting considerably better since Ally left, I won't lie. And since Cassidy and I spoke. Yeah, you heard that right. She'd come to our home a few months after Ally had gone, and I was really confused about it at first. I had been an emotional mess.

"Hi," she said. "I just wanted to check up on you. See how things are."

"Things are good," I said slowly.

"Ally's in Paris?"

"Yeah. You'll be glad to know that I don't think she's coming back," I said, frowning.

She sighed and looked genuinely upset.

"I'm so sorry for doing what I did. It's been bugging me ever since. I guess I was just so jealous that you couldn't see past her," she cried.

"Ally and I are no longer on speaking terms," I said. (A/N: This is before they made up!)

"Really?" Cassidy's face lit up. "Because I was wondering...you know, if maybe we could give us another shot. We were together four years, you know."

"I know."

"I just feel like you need to know that someone else can love you as much as she does, if not even more. I get that she was your first epic love, but love doesn't always work out. Life's too short to keep waiting. Which is why I'm here, I guess," she said brightly.

"Fine, I'll pick you up at eight," I said, sighing. She was right. Life was too short to keep waiting for Ally.

And I guess that's how Cassidy and I got back together. I realized that I could see more of a future with her than I could with Ally, possibly because I'd spent more than three years with her. But I knew I had to keep it quiet, and Cassidy agreed. I couldn't tell Ally yet either, and I didn't think she'd care, considering she was with some guy named Ansel. I knew Ally didn't care anymore.

We made up another few weeks down the line, and I could feel my old best friend Ally coming back to me. I liked things that way. Who knew, things could be working out after all. Then she decided to pay a visit, something which I thought would be great, and something which Trish was more than excited about. I knew she would support me in my decision to be with Cassidy, and especially supportive of the fact that my parents were getting happier that I wasn't with Ally. Things seemed to be turning in the right direction once and for all. And I was planning on something that would probably turn us in the right direction for good.

But I can't talk about that just yet.

Ally's POV

As I stepped out of the plane and caught that initial wave of heat against my face, I couldn't help but smile. I was home. I walked through the crowds of tourists trying to find the best way to South Beach and smiled even more at all the memories. I was finally home. And I wasn't even dreading going home, because, well, I knew where I stood with everyone. Even Austin.

I grabbed my home keys out of my bag, something that felt entirely foreign to me, and opened the door, breathing in that homely smell.

"I'm home-"

"SURPRISE!" a range of voices shouted. I grinned as my friends jumped out from behind the door and surprised me.

Then Trish and Cassidy (Cassidy?) rolled out a huge cake from the kitchen.

"Hi, guys," I laughed. "What was the need for all of this?"

"Figured you'd be staying a while. We're not letting you leave this time," Trish warned.

"I hope not," I chuckled. "Air France have seen enough of me. Pretty sure I have a crush on this one air host. He's so pretty. Hi, Cassidy."

"Hi Ally," she said, in a genuinely nice voice. I seemed to have missed a lot.

"Girls, come on upstairs with me and help me unpack," I said in a bright voice, trying to make everyone feel included. Everyone being Cassidy.

In my room, we all sat and unpacked my clothes, the girls complimenting some skirt I bought every now and then.

"So, you and Austin are a thing again?" I asked casually.

"Yeah...look, Ally, I'm so sorry about the whole fashion week-"

"Honestly, I'm over it. I'm so happy for you guys, seriously. It was about time things changed for good round here, and they really have with you being a part of the house," I said, smiling.

Yeah right. Every muscle inside me was shaking, every inch of my insides was overwhelmed with jealousy and hatred. I couldn't believe he would take her back after what she had done. I guess what bothered me the most was that things were so different...like Trish said before, I suppose I always knew that Austin would love me no matter what, and I took that for granted. But possibly the worst part to witness was how good they were together, especially in person. I had always seen them on the internet or in magazines, and I'd only ever seen them together for one day in Paris - the years before that were a blur. We were so young before, that I pretty much knew that he and Cassidy were never going to end up together. But as I sat watching them together now, I couldn't help but wonder what exactly I had given up.

It was only in those rare and precious moments, while I battled with the possibility of me absolutely ripping her hair out, that I somehow managed to see past how much I envied Cassidy. It really was all my fault. They could have broken up once, four years ago, but I ran away. They broke up again, for the second time, and I didn't take advantage of the situation. I guess it just really scared me just how close they were. I couldn't imagine him with anyone else but me a few weeks ago, but now I wasn't too sure. They were perfect. I always thought he would wait for me, even if I knew I wouldn't come back. I was selfish, and conceited, and wanted the best of everything. So I decided to keep my envy to myself. I was prepared to go along with this if Austin was happy.

Which he was. Very happy.

"Things really do seem to have changed around here," I said, going downstairs. "I'm so happy."

"You should stay a little longer."

I smiled and looked around my beautiful home.

"You know what? I think I might just," I grinned, and joined my best friends.

"Austin, dear!" Mimi's voice called, loud and shrill, from the door. "There's a man at the door for you."

"Oh joy," his father's voice added, at the sight of me. "Ally's back."

I frowned.

"Yeah, and she's staying," Trish retorted, and I smiled. "So you better get used to it."

"Cake, anyone?" Cassidy offered, while Austin went up to the door. All I could see was a man in a dark suit. Wonder what that was about, huh.

"Who was that?" I asked curiously, when he casually came and sat back down.

"Just some guy I know," he shrugged.

"You're not doing drugs I hope," I teased. "I've only been gone a year."

"Maybe, maybe not," he smiled to himself secretly. I looked at Trish. Trish looked at Dez.

"The redhead knows," she stated. "The redhead always knows."

Dez looked up, and pretended not to know what she was on about.

"What are you talking about?"

"Spill the beans, Dez," I said. "I do hope it's not drugs though."

"It's not drugs," Dez replied calmly. "My lips are sealed, don't bother asking again."

The two boys exchanged a secret look. Us girls raised our eyebrows.

"So, Ally," Trish broke the silence. "How's your boyfriend back home?"

Uh-oh.

"Oh, we broke up," I said, hoping not to make up some sort of cover story to make it seem like I had loads going for me in Paris. "My heart's always been here anyway."

"Well you're here now," Austin said. "And everything has sorted itself out. Just like we always wanted."

"Yeah," I lied. "Things can work now."

And they could work now that Cassidy was with Austin and not me, since his parents would be more accepting of that, and they wouldn't create trouble with us...or with Alyssa.

Later that evening, when Austin and Cassidy went out for dinner, Dez looked solemn. I knew something was up.

"You gonna tell us what's going on or not?" I demanded.

"That guy was from the jewelers," Dez stated.

"The jewelers?" Trish repeated, confused.

"It's getting really serious between them two. You might want to do something before he makes the biggest mistake of his life," he said, running a hand through his hair.

"Hold the phone," I said, bewildered. "That man delivered him...a ring?"

"Yes, Ally," Dez said slowly as if I clearly didn't understand. "Austin's gonna propose to Cassidy."

My jaw dropped. Trish turned around, shocked.

"That can't be true," she said slowly. "He's not serious."

"He is," Dez said. "He's been talking to me about it for months. But you didn't hear any of this from me, okay? He doesn't want you two to know yet."

"Yeah, fine, whatever," I said, still confused. "I guess I never really expected him to move on so quickly, I mean-"

"It's been four years since you two were ever in a real relationship and we're nearly twenty two. We're not children anymore," Dez said, and I felt his words dig deep into my soul.

"You're right. I made the biggest mistake of my life leaving this place," I said, my head in my hands. "But what can we do now? We can't just tell him not to marry her."

"Well that's the point," Trish said. "We can't do anything about it. It's marriage. It should be his choice."

"You guys," I wailed. "I've turned my entire life upside down."

"Yeah," Dez said, "I figured that perhaps breaking something like this to you would make you realize how much of an idiot you are, Ally."

"She's perfect," I cried.

"Even Alyssa loves her," Dez added.

"Dez! You're not exactly making her feel any better," Trish scolded.

"That says it all then! She truly is perfect," I muttered.

I was shaking by this point. It was enough trying not to picture them together, but picturing them on their wedding day, laughing and smiling and looking all perfect, congratulating her when she was expecting a child, rocking their child when she gave birth, helping dropping and picking her up from school...That could not happen.

"Ally, I wish there was something useful I could say," Trish tried, "But you really have put your foot in it this time."

"Has he really moved on? Like for real?" I asked quietly. She sighed.

"As your best friend, I can't lie to you. They're pretty sound as a couple," she said, putting her arm around me.

We sat like this for a few more minutes.

"Well," I broke the silence with a shaky voice, "I guess I'm going to have to find a way to get past this then. Because at the end of the day, his happiness is all that matters to me."

I left them both and went straight up to my room, wondering what to do next. I couldn't leave, not again. He'd know why. How could I have been so stupid? There was someone in my life who loved me with every inch of his soul and yet I decided to pass up on an entire lifetime of having his love.

But I couldn't let him live the rest of his life with someone like me either. Someone who so easily ups and leaves someone who loves her so much. He was right in moving on, and I can't say I blamed him for loving someone like Cassidy. Someone so beautiful, and not scarred, and just full of pure happiness. They brought out the best in each other. And we brought out the worst. But every time I pictured them together, every time I let my mind drift to what they were doing right at that moment, I wanted to scream. Maybe they were kissing. Maybe he was proposing to her right now. Why did she get to have him when he was meant for me? I wanted to throw up.

I rummaged through my suitcase until I found my songbook, something which was completely full. I found a notebook, and instead of screaming, I let my thoughts pour onto the paper, along with my tears.

Oh and I bet she has it all, bet she's beautiful, like you, like you
And I bet she has that touch, makes you fall in love, like you, like you

I can taste her lipstick, and see her laying across your chest
I can feel the distance every time you remember her fingertips
Maybe I should be more like her
Maybe I should be more like her
I can taste her lipstick
It's like I'm kissing her too
She's perfec-

I threw the book against my wall before finishing the last word and hugged my knees, letting the tears run free.

It was only as I heard a knock against my door and jumped up really fast that I decided to set him free. For real this time.

"Can I come in?" Austin's voice asked.

"Sure," I croaked.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I said, smiling, although my face looked a mess. "Hayfever. I've not been here a while, remember."

He sat down beside me, and I almost cried again at the amount of distance he'd left between us.

"I have something to ask you," he said quietly. Damn. Was he going to propose to me? Ha ha.

"Sure," I squeaked, my voice all weird.

"As my best friend, you have to give me the best advice you could possibly give me, and nothing else."

"You haven't killed someone, have you?" I joked.

"I really like Cassidy," he said, ignoring my little joke. I gulped.

"I can tell," I replied. "You two are good together. You could have at least told me you were together." My throat was already growing thick.

"How? Over text? That wouldn't have been weird at all." His face lit up. "Do you mean it?" he asked hopefully.

"Yeah," I responded, with a genuine smile. "You are."

"Because I want to ask her to, you know, marry me," he said awkwardly.

"Are you sure about it?"

"Yeah," he replied. "Really sure. We're not getting any younger."

"True."

"So you think I should do it?"

"Well," I started. "I can't decide that for you, even as your best friend. You have to question yourself. When you look at her, does she make you never want to tear your eyes away? Would you want to wake up next to her every day of the rest of your life? Will she support you through each and every downfall of your life and be the best wife she could possibly be? Will she be a good mother to your children? Will she take perfect care of you for the rest of your life on this planet? Do you see yourself growing old with her?"

"Wow," he said. "Sorry, relationship whizz."

I laughed sadly. "Hardly." I frowned and looked at the floor.

"So what I'm hearing is...I have your blessing?" he asked after a minute of the most awkward silence ever.

I looked up at him, and all the years I had known him for seemed to flash by.

"Yeah," I smiled. "She's a lovely girl."

I hugged him.

He left.

I lay on my bed.

"Then find something to do. Don't look for me because I don't want to be found," I had said.

I cried.