Alrighty guys, I'm back! Now, I have a very important question so I'm gonna put it in caps so all of you read it. WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE LONG CHAPTERS WITH LONGER PERIODS BETWEEN UPDATES AND MAYBE LESS CHAPTERS IN THE STORY? OR WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A BIT SHORTER CHAPTERS, SHORTER UPDATE PERIODS, AND MAYBE MORE CHAPTERS? CUZ I CAN GO EITHER WAY, AT THIS POINT I'M BASICALLY COMBINING WHAT WOULD BE TWO SEPARATE CHAPTERS INTO ONE BECAUSE YOU GUYS APPARENTLY LIKE LONG CHAPTERS AND I JUST WANNA PLEASE YOU. PLEASE PLEASE PLEEEEEEEEASSSSEEEEE TELL ME WHAT YOU PREFER! Okay. Now, onto disclaimers. Look, guys. I love, love LOOOOVVVEEEE your prompts. You guys are so creative and I love seeing what random stuff I'm gonna have to include. But you're getting a little TOO detailed. Like, I love the detail, but I think there's a little too much. You guys can give me multiple prompts per review. I promise I'll use as many as possible. So, for this next one, I'm gonna split it into two disclaimers, so I won't include some stuff, and then I'll write a totally different disclaimer in the next chapter with the leftover details. Okay? Virtual hug if you actually read all that. NOW DISCLAIMER TIME! Prompt is from blackandblue13 and it is... An R5 concert just finished and Ryland is in the dressing rooms calling someone. R5, Laura, Raini, Calum and you try to figure out who it is. Ryland lies about who he's on the phone with and says he's planning a date for him and you (awwwwwwww! I ship it) but it turns out, Ryland is working with the Evil Toaster! (DUN DUN DUN). Please include Severus Snape, Lily Potter (Harry's mom, not his daughter), French fries, the Hump Day camel from the Geico commercials, Blue and Magenta from Blue's Clues, Dora and Swiper from Dora the Explorer, and the pink umbrella. Yeah, so, see how detailed this is? Don't get me wrong, I love it, but there's so much! NOW ON WITH IT!
Maddie's Fancy Disclaimers: Part VIII
*Me, R5, Laura, Raini, Ryland, and Calum are all in the dressing rooms at an R5 concert*
Ross: That concert was awesome!
Riker: Yeah! But it was kinda weird how people kept throwing French fries at us.
Rocky: *pulls one out of his hair, shrugs, and eats it* I know, where did they even get them?
Ratliff: Who knows?
Rydel: Hey, where's Ryland?
*The rest of us shrug*
*Ryland comes in the room while talking on the phone*
Ryland: Fine, fine, I'll make eight o'clock work!
Laura: Uh, Ryland? Is everything okay?
Raini: You seem a little...
Calum: Angry.
*Ryland waves them off and keeps talking angrily.
Me: Who are you even talking to?
Ryland: Uh... A restaurant. I'm-er-planning a date for us!
Everyone else: Awwwwwwwwhhh!
Me: You really don't have to go all out...
Ryland: It's fine. I don't mind. Only the best for you! *laughs nervously* *goes back to talking on the phone*
Ross: Well, okay then. So, did anyone else see...dogs in the crowd?
Riker: Good, I'm not the only one!
Rydel: One was, like, pinkish and the other was blue, right?
Ratliff: Yeah! And they looked...almost cartoony.
Rocky: Remember that old show...Blues Clues? *Everyone nods* Call me crazy, but I think the dogs were Blue and Magenta from the show.
*Everyone looks at Rocky like he's insane*
Me: Eh, I believe it. I've seen weirder.
*Everyone shrugs and agrees*
Ryland: NO I WILL NOT MURDER MADDIE FOR YOU!
*Everyone turns to him*
To Be Continued
I Get In Some Deep Trouble
"Morning, Sunshine," I say with raised eyebrows as Ally gets in my car with a scowl on her face on Monday morning. "What's got your piano strings in a twist?" She rolls her eyes.
"My dad. Apparently you're a 'bad influence' and you'll 'hurt me someday' because you're one of the 'hooligans' I've been warned about," she says angrily.
"Hey, calm down. If I wanted to hurt you, I would've let you fend for yourself on the rollercoasters on Saturday. And don't let your dad get you down. Today's our one week-aversary!" I exclaim. "Yay!" She raises an eyebrow. I sigh. "One week ago today is when we first became friends!" Sure, I was faking it, but she doesn't know that. She nods.
"Huh. I guess you're right. Man, it feels like it's been so much longer than a week."
"Tell me about it," I say. "So what did you do yesterday?"
"I cleaned the house and listened to a four hour lecture on why I should stop hanging out with you. Apparently, if you kiss me I'll become one of your 'mindless minions' and I'll turn into the cheerleaders." I glance over at her.
"You don't look mindless, or like a cheerleader," I note. "And it's been two days. I think you're safe from the curse." She laughs.
"Yeah, but I don't think that would've been a good thing to tell him. He probably would've come murder you. He hates you."
"Yeah, I noticed," I say, chuckling. "He'll get used to me."
"So what did you do yesterday?"
"I hung out with Rydel and watched movies."
"What about your parents?" she asks.
"They went on a business trip to California," I reply. "Won't be back till next week."
"Oh," Ally says.
"So, you ready to face Rydel and Kelly fifth period?" Ally groans. "Rydel is positive we're secretly dating after you rescued me from that party and I took you to pizza. And she doesn't even know about the amusement park incident," I say with a smirk. "Have fun."
"I'll find a way to bring you into it, Blondie, and you'll regret laughing at me for it."
"I'm so scared," I say sarcastically. "But it's 'girls only,' remember? And I am a boy, if you didn't already know. Therefore, I am not invited into your conversation."
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure," Ally says. We pull into the parking lot.
"Hey, I'm gonna ditch first and second, but I'll see you fifth period, kay?" I say. She nods and gets out of the car.
"See you later," she says.
"Wait!" I say. She turns around. "Do you wanna come?"
"I have a test first period. Maybe another time, yeah?" she says. I smile and nod.
"Later, Als." I watch her walk into the school and smirk. She talks about ditching with me like I'm asking her to come over on a weekend or something. I'm helping the good girl of the school live a little, and it feels good to know that.
I drive out of the parking lot and go home. I'm exhausted. Ever since Saturday, I haven't been sleeping well. I've been too busy thinking about a certain kiss I shared with a certain brunette. Whenever I closed my eyes, I would smell her strawberry scent, feel her arms around my neck and mine around her waist, feel her eyelashes against my cheeks-I couldn't stop reliving those five seconds-I still can't. That kiss was the shortest, yet the best kiss I've had in my life. And I don't even like her. And that makes no sense at all.
But if I wanna catch some shuteye, I have to push those thoughts from my mind. And I finally manage to. I fall asleep after about five minutes of laying in my bed.
I wake up from a deep sleep. Luckily, I didn't have any nightmares. I look at the clock and see I slept through third period and most of lunch. I guess I was more tired than I thought. I fix my bedhead and grab an apple to eat on the way back to school.
I eat my apple carefully, making sure no juice spills in my car. I like it clean and nice, and I actually manage to keep it that way, unlike most guys my age. Plus, it's expensive and I really don't want to ruin it.
Finally, I arrive at school and park. I hear the bell ring and rush onto the campus so no one assumes I just got here. I walk to C-33 without running into the populars, thank goodness. I don't feel like dealing with them right now.
I open the door and see that the boys and girls are split up again. I head over to the guys, who look annoyed.
"Girls only again?" I ask. They nod.
"We're all friends. Why is it that we can't be a part of their conversation?" Dez asks.
"I know. And Ally doesn't even look like she's enjoying herself," Ratliff says, pointing to the girls. Ally looks bored and annoyed. She sees us looking at her and shoots us a pleading look. I wave at her like girls do when they're trying to flirt and she rolls her eyes.
"We should just go over there, regardless of what they say," Rocky says.
"But they'd all probably murder us like they tried to when we were eavesdropping last week," Riker reminds him. Rocky nods as he remembers.
"Here, I'll go over there," I say. "I'm probably the subject of their conversation, all things considered." The other guys nod in agreement. "I'll tell them we wanna talk to them too and stuff."
"Good luck," Dez says, patting my back. "Jeffery and I are rooting for you."
"Jeffery?" I ask.
"My chinchilla," Dez replies, holding up a small animal. I sigh, feeling sorry for Jeffery, and walk over to the girls.
"Hey, ladies," I say.
"Girls only. Go away," Rydel says, trying to push me away.
"C'mon, you guys have been having 'girls only' conversations every day! We miss you guys! Can't you, like, hang out after school and talk when we're not even there?" I ask.
"No, 'cause this is the only time we can corner Ally," Kelly says in a 'duh' tone.
"Well, Ally's obviously not enjoying this," I say, looking at the brunette.
"It's true. I really don't like this," she agrees. Kelly and Rydel look at each other and sigh.
"Fine," Kelly says. "We'll stop."
"After today. Apparently you guys went to the amusement park and we've gotta hear what happened," Rydel says excitedly. I shoot Ally a look.
"Well, I'm sure you'll be pleased," I say. With that, I walk back over to the guys. "Today's the last day they're gonna do it," I tell them. "Apparently they have to hear what happened when Ally and I went to the amusement park."
"Aww, you took Ally to the amusement park?" Dez says. I roll my eyes.
"Yes, but it wasn't a date," I reply.
"Whatever," Rocky says.
"Hey Rocky, how was your cousin's soccer game?" I ask, changing the subject.
"Good. His team won," Rocky says with a smirk. "And when he saw Rydel was there, he got really excited. You know how six-year-olds get about teenage girls." We all nod.
"When I was six, I told my babysitter-she was like, sixteen or something-that Rydel tried to put me on the grill, just so she would feel bad for me. It didn't really work, though, 'cause we didn't have a grill," I say. The guys laugh.
Suddenly, we hear the girls squeal. We look over and see that Rydel and Kelly are jumping up and down and still squealing while Ally watches them in amusement.
"What did Ally say?" Riker wonders. I smirk.
"I think I have an idea." I catch Ally's eye and raise my eyebrows. She rolls her eyes good-naturedly. I jokingly blow her a kiss and she sticks her tongue out at me.
"Are you guys done yet?" We hear Ally ask. The other two girls quiet down. Then, they come running over to us, Ally following in confusion.
"Guys, guys, guys, guys, GUYS!" Rydel says excitedly.
"Guess what, guess what, guess what, guess what, GUESS WHAT!" Kelly says in the same tone.
"What?" We all ask in confusion. Ally shuts her eyes and plugs her ears.
"AUSTIN AND ALLY KISSED!" Rydel and Kelly scream at the same time. Then, they proceed to continue freaking out. I sigh and facepalm.
"Wait, seriously?" Riker asks. Ally and I nod.
"I knew it!" Ratliff exclaims.
"Dez, you owe me twenty bucks," Rocky says. Dez sighs and digs twenty dollars out of his wallet.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up. Rocky and Dez, you guys bet on us?" I say. They nod.
"I was sure it would take you longer to kiss her," Dez says.
"No, you don't-Guys, it didn't happen like that," I say.
"Yeah," Ally agrees. "We made a pact to go on every ride at the amusement park, but there were new rules on the Tunnel of Love ride and we had to kiss to get on. That's it." I nod.
"But was it the most amazing thing you've ever felt, like in your dream?" Rydel asks. Ally sighs and rolls her eyes.
"Does that really matter?"
"Yes!" the two girls exclaim. Ally and I look at each other. I sigh and gesture for her to go on, knowing we're not gonna escape.
"Whatever! Yes! It was!" Ally says in frustration. "Okay? But I don't like him any more than I did before, and he doesn't like me! Nothing has changed, guys, so quit bothering us about this!" I nod in agreement. Rydel and Kelly squeal.
"Austin, what's your reaction to hearing this?" Kelly asks.
"The same as it was when she told me the first time," I say. "I'm not weirded out, and I'm not gonna make fun of her for it."
"Wait, you already knew?" Kelly says. I nod.
"Ally told me when we were on the big rollercoaster. Can't we talk about something else?" I say.
"Now you see what I've been going through every day," Ally whispers as Rydel and Kelly talk to the other guys, ignoring my previous comment.
"I am so sorry," I whisper back. She nods. "Well, if you guys are gonna keep fangirling and completely ignore us, we're just gonna go to another empty classroom," I say.
"To make out?" Rydel asks.
"Yup," I say as Ally and I walk out the door. I roll my eyes when it closes. "Ugh," I groan as we continue walking. "They made you go through that every day?"
"Well, not every day, only since late last week. But yeah."
"Man," I say, shaking my head. We walk into another classroom. "So now what do you wanna talk about?" I ask, sitting on top of a desk.
"I dunno," Ally says, sitting on the one facing me. "What do you wanna talk about?"
"Oh, I got it!" I exclaim. "When are you gonna ditch with me?" She sighs.
"Ditching is bad."
"C'mon, you've done it before! And I have this awesome place I wanna take you," I say, remembering the cove at the beach.
"What if my dad finds out? He already thinks you're gonna get me arrested. This won't help your case."
"I repeat: you've done it before. Your dad didn't find out before, and he won't find out this time. Please, Ally? If you ditch all day Friday with me, then I'll..." I trail off. "What do I have to do to get you to ditch with me?" Ally thinks for a while.
"All day is gonna cost you a lot…" she says. "Gosh, I can't think of anything."
"Then just come!" I suggest.
"No, no, you have to do something for me," she says. "Hmm…. Okay, you have to come with me to volunteer at the daycare after school tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday." I groan.
"Ally, children hate me!"
"C'mon, that's not true."
"It is!" I exclaim. "I've had multiple children literally say to me, 'I hate you.'"
"Well, then we'll change that," she says.
"Ally," I whine.
"No daycare, no ditch," she says. I sigh.
"Fine. But the kids are gonna hate me," I say sadly.
"We'll make them love you," Ally says.
"We can try, but it won't work." Ally rolls her eyes.
"Whatever. Don't be so-" She's cut off when the bell rings.
We grab our stuff and head to Calculus. I don't even care if anyone sees us anymore, because no one ever does.
I sigh as I sit down in my new seat at the front of the class. Mr. Jones begins the lesson before the bell even rings, which means he's really frustrated today. I run my hands through my hair, bored out of my mind.
"Mr. Moon, can you come solve this?" he says, gesturing to the equation he wrote on the board. I roll my eyes and get up, taking the chalk from his hand.
"It's a simple logarithmic differentiation problem," I say as I solve it quickly. "If you're trying to stump anyone, you're gonna have to try a lot harder." I turn back around after writing the correct answer. Mr. Jones's eyes are wide-I've never solved a problem in front of the class before, and he assumes I'm cheating when I ace every test.
"Um, what about this one?" he says, a bit flustered, writing a new problem in place of the old one.
"Seriously? The limit definition of the derivative? I could do this in my sleep." I solve this problem quickly. "I don't understand why you're so surprised. A five-year-old could do this."
"Class, start studying for Friday's test. Your homework is the study guide," Mr. Jones says. I smirk and return to my seat. When I do, I turn around and look at Ally. She pretends to applaud me.
The rest of the period is spent in silence. We all work on our study guides. Well, everyone else does. I'm busy playing Flappy Bird. Hey, before you judge, that game is addicting. My record is 83. I get bored in class a lot…
Finally, the bell rings for music. Ally and I walk together again. When we walk outside to get to the classroom, the wind blows and I catch the smell of strawberries. I immediately think back to the amusement park when I smelled it the first time. I don't know whether it's her shampoo, or her lotion, or her perfume, or what, but she smells like amazing. I know how creepy that sounds, but the smell is strong. But not in the bad way like the cheerleaders reek of perfume. In the good way, like the smell of citrus is strong when you're in the middle of an orchard.
"I wonder what we're gonna do in music today," I say.
"Yeah. I mean, we're done with the song," Ally agrees. I open the door and we go into the class.
"Hey, guys," Mrs. Adagio says when we sit down. "So, where are you with the song?"
"We're done," I say.
"Wow, that was fast," she says.
"We make a good team," Ally says. I nod in agreement.
"Well, now that the song's done, I actually have to start teaching," she says, acting annoyed. "So, both of you know what love songs are."
"Unfortunately," I say. Mrs. Adagio and Ally both give me the same look. I shrug.
"Anyway, the definition of a love song is a song about being in love, falling in love, heartbreak, and pretty much just the feelings that come with anything that has to do with love."
"Too bad love isn't real," I remark.
"Austin," Mrs. Adagio scolds. "I know you don't believe in love, but that's your opinion. We're learning about love songs. Please don't comment after every sentence." I sigh.
"Fine, whatever. But I still think love is stupid."
"We know," Ally tells me.
"So, love songs can be any genre, and they're very popular. Many musicians write them, and some write only love songs, like Taylor Swift." I know that when I'm a famous musician, I'll never even think about writing a love song. "They've been around for centuries, and they've gone through many phases through time. But love songs are love songs. Austin, will you please come up here?" I nod and go to the front of the class. "Austin is going to perform an example of a heartbreak love song to start us off. Each day, he's gonna perform a different love song to help inspire you guys for your other songs." We nod. "Austin, make this sound as real as possible."
I grab my guitar-I have multiple guitars and I keep one of them here to play. Then, I sit on the stool while Mrs. Adagio puts the music and lyrics on the stand in front of me. I start playing the intro to the song. Then, I start singing.
Teardrops stained your hazel eyes
I can't believe I made you cry
It feels so long
Since we went wrong
But you're still on my mind
Never meant to break your heart
But sometimes things just fall apart
So here's one night
To make it right
Before we say goodbye
So wait up, wait up
Give me one more chance
To make up, make up
I just need one last dance
Freshman year I saw your face
Now its graduation day
Said we'd be friends, till the end
Can we start again?
So wait up, wait up
Give me one more chance
To make up, make up
I just need one last dance
Na na na na oh-oh
Na na na na oh-oh
I heard you're heading east
So lets just make our peace
So when you think of me
You'll smile, and I'll smile
So wait up, wait up
Give me one more chance
To make up, make up
I just need one last dance
So wait up, wait up
Give me one more chance
Just one song, then I'll move on
Give me one last dance
I just need one last dance with you
Oh-woah
I finish the song and Ally and Mrs. Adagio clap. I smile and put my guitar back before going back to my seat.
"Thank you, thank you," I say. "But that was the fakest song I've ever seen."
"You made it sound pretty real," Mrs. Adagio says.
"I'm a good actor," I tell her.
"Anyway, now we're gonna analyze it, as we do with every song we hear in this class. So, what do you guys think the meaning is behind the song?" Mrs. Adagio asks.
"Some guy is regretting dumping his girlfriend so he's begging for her to take him back," I deadpan. Ally slaps my shoulder.
"A guy and a girl dated at some earlier point in time, maybe freshman year, as the song mentions, but they broke up and aren't on very good terms. The guy is still in love with her, but he knows she's leaving for college after high school, and he also knows she's probably over him. But he wants one last dance-as the song says-so he can try to patch everything up and they can maybe be friends," Ally says.
"Very good. Austin, do you have a serious analysis of the song?" I sigh.
"Going off of what Ally said, I think the guy really misses his girlfriend, even though it's been a while since they broke up. But he knows that since he loves her, he has to let her go, even though it's killing him to do so. So he's just asking for one more chance to apologize and let her know how much he supposedly loves her before he loses her forever."
"That's an interesting way to put it, Austin. You think he only wants this 'one last dance' so he can allow himself to let her go?" Mrs. Adagio asks. I nod.
"If I had a girlfriend, and we had a huge, dramatic breakup, and I still liked her after a couple years or whatever, but then I realized she'd never want me back and that she was leaving, I'd want to tell her everything I felt for her, apologize, and do all that. I mean, it would hurt, knowing she wouldn't reciprocate the feelings I still had, but I'd want her to know I'd be there. It would make letting her go easier. I'd know that I told her everything. The only regret I'd have would be breaking up with her, but at that point I would've done everything I could to make letting her go as easy as possible."
"Awwwwwwww," Ally and Mrs. Adagio say.
"What?" I ask confused.
"That's just really sweet, Austin," Mrs. Adagio says. "I've never thought about this song in that way before. You've made me see it in a new light. No matter what you may try to make people think, you're a nice guy, Austin."
"I was just analyzing the song," I say.
"And it was a good analysis. You really dove deep into it," Mrs. Adagio says.
"Not really," I say, "but if it gets me a good grade, then that's exactly what I did." She laughs and rolls her eyes.
"Guys, don't forget. You now have three weeks until the songs are due. Austin, I would not suggest procrastinating on this one," she says.
"I won't," I say. After that, the three of us talk until the bell rings.
"Bye, guys!" Mrs. Adagio says.
"Bye!" Ally and I reply simultaneously. We walk out the door and let it slam behind us.
"Later, Als," I say.
"Bye," she replies as we go to our separate classes.
When I get to English, Riker pounces.
"So, you and Ally kissed," he whispers.
"Yup," I whisper back. We both pretend to turn a page of our books.
"How long was it?" he asks.
"Five seconds," I reply.
"Did you, you know, like it?" I shrug.
"It was okay."
"Just okay?" I nod. "Huh, she seems like she'd be a pretty good kisser." Oh, she is. I'm just lying so you don't run off and tell the girls, who would proceed to mock me and then start planning me and Ally's wedding.
"Again, it was okay." After that, he doesn't ask any more about it.
The rest of English goes by slowly, but finally the bell rings, signaling the end of school. I walk out to the parking lot to see Ally already waiting at my car.
"You're slow," she says. I shrug.
"Yeah, yeah." I unlock the car and we get in.
"I'm still eternally impressed by how clean your car is."
"I like to keep her happy. She's my baby," I say, petting the dashboard fondly.
"So you're in love with pepperoni pizza and a car, but not me?" Ally jokes. I laugh and shrug, proud of how I've gotten her accustomed to talking so casually about her crush on me.
"Sorry, Als. Inanimate objects are my type," I say. She laughs. "Me loving pizza and my car is the only type of 'true love' that exists."
"You love your family."
"But that's obviously not the same thing. Do you honestly believe that someone could be 'the one'?" I ask, pulling out of the parking lot.
"Yes," she says simply. "Maybe I haven't met him yet, but I know he's out there somewhere."
"And you really believe that? Ally, what if you meet a guy that you're thoroughly convinced loves you, but then he just ends up using you? What if that happens in high school? What if you turn into one of those girls whose sure they're with 'the one,' but then he dumps you and I, the one who told you he wasn't right, have to pick up the pieces?"
"Austin, I'm not with anyone, and you know that," Ally says.
"Yeah, for now. But it's only a matter of time, Als. You're gonna meet a guy and you're gonna fall for him. Harder than ever. And you're gonna think you're in love with him. And you'll think he loves you. But then he'll drop you and break your heart because love isn't real. And then I'll be waiting, ready to pick you back up and tell you 'I told you so' because I'll never fall for it. Love isn't real, and I feel bad for you and everyone else who thinks it is."
"Austin, it's like you don't even want it to be real," Ally tells me.
"I don't. No one should ever have to go through how much pain being in love would cause them. You heard 'One Last Dance.' Do you really wanna go through that?" Ally shrugs.
"If it means finding the right guy, then yeah. You know what? While you're trying to help me get over all my fears, I'm gonna get you to believe in love."
"Good luck," I say. "'Cause it'll never happen." I pull up at her house.
"You never know," she says. "Believing in love isn't as hard as you think." She gets out of the car. "Thanks for the ride."
"Bye," I say. She waves and goes into her house, and I drive back to school for football practice.
When I finally get on the field, I'm already an hour late.
"You're late," Coach Robertson says.
"Sorry, Coach," I say. "It won't happen again."
"Yeah, yeah, just go give me two hundred laps. If I see you walkin', I'll double it."
"Yes, Coach," I say, internally groaning. I start running. I know it'll take me all practice to complete the laps, but I don't really care. I don't wanna deal with the football team, and as much as I hate running, it helps me clear my head.
As I run, I think about why so many people believe love exists. They want an escape from reality. Something to always be able to hope for. The only bad thing is how much it hurts them when they realize it isn't real. Because they always do. There's always one point where a person realizes they'll never find 'the one' so they just settle for what they have.
I'm much smarter than them.
I don't hope for anything. I don't try to escape from reality. You may think I hope and fantasize about my record deal, but I know I'll get it someday. Because of this, my world won't come crashing down. Ever. I'll always be level-headed. I'll never fall apart. Believing in love is a weakness. So I'm one of the strongest people on earth.
By the time I'm finished running, my shirt is somewhere on the field, I've gone through thirteen water bottles, I look like I've just been swimming because of all the sweat, the sun has set, and everyone else but the coach has gone home.
"Done," I say, breathing heavily. Coach nods.
"Don't be late again, Austin. You're the team captain. Act like it." I nod and the coach leaves. I find my shirt and grab it, but I don't bother putting it on. It's a hot night, even though it's November, and my workout isn't helping me stay cool.
When I get home, I take a cold shower and go to bed, skipping dinner. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow, but I have Friday to look forward to.
I wake up earlier than usual, so after I get ready and pick up Ally (who always gets up this early), we drive around for a while.
"So, are you excited for the daycare today?" Ally asks.
"No," I deadpan. She rolls her eyes.
"C'mon, have an open mind. You can bring your guitar and play some stuff for the kids," she suggests. I shrug.
"I dunno, would they even listen?" Ally nods animatedly.
"Oh, they love music. Having a live show would make them so happy. Austin, you have to. It'll be great!" I sigh.
"Fine. Only because you're ditching the entire school day Friday." Ally smiles.
"Yes! You're the best, Austin!" she exclaims.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," I say. "Oh, by the way, what do you think about hanging out on Saturday to work on the songs for music?" She nods. "We can go to my place since your dad hates me and my parents and Rydel won't be home."
"Where will Rydel be?" Ally asks. I shrug.
"I dunno. She and Rocky always do different stuff on Saturdays. It's kind of their day where it's just them, y'know? Like how parents have date night, except they have all day, and their teenagers."
"That's cute," Ally says. "They're probably already in love." I roll my eyes.
"Not this again, Als. The perfect guy doesn't exist. Well, I'm perfect, but that's not what I mean!" I say, getting a bit sidetracked.
"Austin, you're far from perfect," Ally says.
"You have your opinions, and I have mine."
"Has anyone ever told you that you have a gigantic ego?" she asks. I nod.
"I'm the bad boy, remember? Having a big ego is kinda my thing." She rolls her eyes and steals the hat I'm wearing. "Hey!" I say as she puts it on.
"You don't deserve this," she says, slapping my hand away as I try to steal it back. "Eyes on the road!"
"But it has the Avengers on it!" I complain. "It doesn't even work for you! Gimme it!"
"No, I really like this hat," she says. "Which is cooler, backwards or forwards?"
"It depends," I say, trying again to take it back.
"I'm gonna go forwards. Is this hat new? It looks new."
"Yes," I say. "It's very new. You're lucky I haven't worn it to school yet because then I wouldn't be slowly starting to allow you to wear it."
"And why is that?"
"No one can know we're friends, remember?"
"Right," she says. "But seriously, I love this hat."
"So, I love pepperoni pizza and my car, and you love Hawaiian pizza and my hat. That's normal."
"But I also believe in true love. So I'm more normal than you, Mr. Love Doesn't Exist."
"Okay, say love did exist, and say I believed it. Why would that help you in your life at all?" I say.
"I would be able to live with the satisfaction that I got you to believe in love. And it's kind of an insurance policy just in case, you know, my-ah-dilemma gets to the worst possible scenario. You'd actually believe me instead of lecturing me about how love doesn't exist and stuff," Ally says.
"No, no, no," I say. "You are not falling in love with me. First of all, it's impossible, and second of all, even if it was, it would ruin everything. Promise me you won't fall in love with me, or at least you won't think you're falling in love with me," I tell her.
"Austin, love is real, and I don't wanna fall in love with you just as much as you don't want me to. But I can't promise not to fall in love with you. There's a small chance that it could happen, and I don't want you automatically thinking it won't," Ally says.
"It won't. Because love. Isn't. Real."
"Yes it is!" Ally exclaims.
"No it's not!" I argue.
"Yes it is!"
"No it's not!"
"Yes it is! Why won't you just let yourself believe? You're trying not to believe in it! What made you stop believing?"
"I never have believed in love!"
"Why? Think of your parents! They're in love!" I pull over on the side of the road and turn to Ally.
"No they're not!" I exclaim. "They're business partners! That's how they started out! They got married as an ultimate promise to always work together, and Rydel and I just kind of happened! They don't love each other, Ally, okay? They hardly even love Rydel and I!" After I'm done speaking, my voice is cracking and I feel my eyes slightly tearing up. I blink hard, willing myself not to cry. "Maybe I do want to believe in love. But I haven't seen one example of true love in my entire life, except in the movies. When you find me an example that can convince me, maybe I'll believe." Ally puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, why don't we ditch today, too? Just the morning classes. We can go to the park or something, yeah?"
"You're sure you want to?" She nods. I know she's doing this for me, so I don't have to go to school crying and stuff, and I'm grateful. She smiles and takes off my hat, putting it back on my head. "No," I say. "You wear it. It looks better on you." She smiles wider and puts the hat back on her own head. She really wasn't kidding when she said she liked the hat. And I wasn't kidding when she said she looked good in it. Her long, brown hair flowing out under the mostly white hat is a nice contrast. She looks really cute with a girly purple dress and black flats while wearing the boyish hat. Adorable, even. Normally I don't like it when girls wear guys' hats. It's like they're begging for the guy's attention. But Ally's an exception. She scrunches her nose, which I can hardly see under the shade of the hat. She fixes it so her face shows.
"You have a really big head," she notes. I chuckle.
"I thought we went over this. Having a big ego is my trademark." Ally laughs, and I smile at the sound. Ever since that kiss, I've felt more comfortable around her, but I've also felt something else. I don't like her exactly, but there's a possibility I could in the near future. I'm gonna enjoy not liking her while it lasts.
I start driving again, turning to go to the park instead of the school. I go to the park a lot when I ditch school. It's peaceful with all the kids gone and it's not as far a drive as my little cove.
"What would you do if a kitten came up to you and started talking to you in a grown man's voice, saying that it was you from the future disguised as a kitten?" Ally asks absently, looking out the window (my convertible top is up right now).
"What?"
"I was just thinking about how people label things. Like, a kitten. If a kitten could talk, people would expect it to have a cute little girl's voice or something. But things aren't always what they seem, you know?"
"True," I say, "but where'd you get the part about it being me from the future?"
"I was thinking about where you might end up ten years from now," Ally explains. "How you'll probably be super successful and stuff and how nice it would be if that future, successful you could come back and tell the present you how great you'll become."
"I know I'll be great, Als. I already am," I say with a smirk.
"You're denying it to even yourself, but I know you're worried you really won't live your dream." I sigh as I pull into the parking lot as I realize she's right.
"How is it that you know stuff about me that not even I know?" I ask her, parking the car and getting out. She gets out as well. "I mean, I've spent three years hiding everything-all my real emotions, everything I really enjoy, my entire personality has been hidden behind my bad boy lie since freshman year. Then you come along, and you can read me like a book. How does that happen?" She shrugs.
"We've grown really close?" she guesses.
"Well, yeah, but I'm close with my sister and the others. And they can't read me half as well as you. Except Rydel. But she doesn't tell me stuff about myself I had no idea about."
"I dunno," Ally says. "I'm just as confused about it as you are."
"Guess I won't be able to hide anything from you, yeah?" I say.
"Nope," Ally replies cheerily. "'Cause I'll see right through you." She pokes me in the stomach and I giggle. Yes, I know it's totally not manly and stuff but I can't help it. When someone tickles me, I giggle like a little girl. I'm not proud of it, but there's nothing I can do about it. "Oh my gosh," Ally says, stifling a laugh. "Did you just giggle?"
"Don't talk about it," I tell her sternly.
"Fine, fine," she says, putting her arms up in mock surrender. Not ten seconds later, I feel another poke in my side. Another giggle escapes my mouth.
"Stop it!" I say, flinching away. Ally's cracking up.
"That is the funniest thing I've ever seen," she says.
"No it's not!" I exclaim. "You take that back, Dawson!" I stop walking and turn to her, pointing a finger at her face.
"No," she says simply," poking my stomach. I giggle again.
"Ally I-don't-know-your-middle-name Dawson, if you do that one more time, I swear-" she pokes me again and I'm interrupted by my own giggling.
"What are you gonna do about it, Austin Monica Moon?" she says. "What are you gonna do?" I'm about to say something but she pokes me again in a particularly ticklish spot and I giggle harder than before. Her eyes widen and she smiles. I see a twinkle in her eyes that worries me. I run away, off the path we were previously walking on and onto the grass. Unfortunately, Ally picked today to wear flats, so she can run pretty fast. Somehow, she catches up to me and pokes my side again, causing me to stop to laugh.
"No!" I exclaim as she laughs and pokes that really ticklish spot again. It's to the very right of my belly button, and no one-not even Rydel- knows how ticklish it is. Well, no one except Ally.
She keeps tickling me and I keep giggling. They ring out across the park, and even though I'm distracted by all the poking, I still notice other people looking over at us.
"Stop it!" I shout between giggles. "Please!"
"Fine!" Ally relents, stopping the tickling. She lays down on her back, her head next to mine but her body in the opposite direction. "But your giggles are adorable, I'm not gonna lie."
"No they're not," I whine, trying to catch my breath. "You're mean." Ally laughs.
"Now I know your weakness," she says. "I'd be careful next time you make fun of me, or I could display your giggling in front of the entire school."
"But, see, I know you wouldn't do that," I reply. "You're too nice."
"You never know," she says. "I've been hanging out with you for the past week."
"True," I say, "but I still know you wouldn't do it." She sighs.
"You're right."
"Aren't I always?"
"Sure," she says.
"I knew you'd start to like me. Well, sorta."
"I guess, but that doesn't mean you're always right."
"Whatever, you're just too proud to admit it," I say. Ally doesn't respond and we lapse into comfortable silence. I stare at the cloudless sky. I don't want to go back to school today. I know Ally will probably make me after lunch, but school is so pointless. I love the idea of learning new things, but that idea is corrupted by the idea of going to an ugly, bland building everyday with people who are always judging you, where you can't even be yourself. You get made fun of for being smart and you're worshipped for being dumb. It doesn't make sense, but it's been around so long, people don't question it anymore. I hate it, so I have to get my mind off it. I won't let it ruin my day with Ally.
I flip over and support myself on my elbows, so my face is hovering a few inches above Ally's. I cross my eyes and she chuckles.
"Hi there," she says.
"Hey," I reply.
"Whatcha doin'?"
"Not sure," I reply. "This is more comfortable than lying on my back."
"Interesting. So you rolled over to block my view of the sky instead of rolling the other way," she says. I nod.
"Because I'm a way better view than the sky." Ally rolls her eyes.
"Keep tellin' yourself that, Moon." I don't really have anything else to say, so we just kinda stare at each other. But it's not as awkward as you might think. This goes on for around two minutes, which feels like a while when all we're doing is staring at each other.
Then, before I know what I'm doing, I find myself leaning down. My brain is screaming at me to stop, that I've already done this once and it was only okay because we were being forced to. But I want to so badly. I'm positive I don't have feelings for her, but as I've said a million times and I'm saying again, all I've wanted to do since Saturday is kiss her again.
And so I do.
My lips find hers in a weird upside-down kiss, as I'm hovering above her and we're facing opposite directions. I smell the strawberries, feel the eyelashes-everything is the same as it was at the amusement park. Well, except our positions. And I kiss her for longer than five seconds. I kiss her four times that long, to be precise.
By the twenty second mark, my brain has caught up with me, and I realize how much trouble I just got myself into. My eyes snap open and I jerk my head up, jumping up from my previous, laying-down position onto my feet. Ally's eyes snap open as well and she does the same thing.
"Why did I just do that?!" I ask in a panicked rush.
"I don't know, I was wondering that myself!" she exclaims in the same tone.
"I mean, I don't-We're not-You know I-Why-I can't believe-What just happened?!" I stutter, using crazy hand motions.
"I don't know! You're the one that kissed me!" Ally exclaims.
"I know! I don't know what happened! We were just in that position, and that kiss on Saturday was-and you were just-and I-Oh my gosh," I say, pacing and running my fingers through my hair frantically. "I mean, I don't even like you. Well, of course I like you, you're, like, my best friend now. But I don't, like, like you, like you!"
"I know!" she shouts. "Why would you do that?! If you keep pulling stuff like that, I'm gonna end up in love with you by the end of the week! And neither of us want that to happen!"
"Okay, first, love isn't real," I say calmly, "and second, what are we gonna do?!" I ask, more panicky. "We can't pretend it never happened, because we both know that won't work, but we can't just… accept it!"
"Well, what are you suggesting we do?!"
"I don't know! All I know is that now I really wanna kiss you again! And that can't be happening!" I tell her.
"What do you mean you wanna kiss me again?! I thought you didn't like me!"
"I don't! I know it doesn't make sense, okay? I've been wondering about it since Saturday! But for some reason kissing you is, I dunno, different! And I like it and that's not good because look where it got us!" I exclaim. Ally takes a deep breath.
"Okay, yelling at each other is gonna get us nowhere. Let's just calm down and think about this logically." I nod and take a few deep breaths, my eyes never leaving Ally. "Alright," she says, "now what are we gonna do?" I shrug.
"Make sure we don't kiss again."
"Well, obviously!" she exclaims. "But how are we gonna do that?" I shrug again. "Okay, what made you kiss me in the first place?"
"I dunno, that's kinda what I've been freaking out about!" I shout. Ally gives me a look and I calm down to try to think. "Maybe it was the close proximity? I mean, I've been wanting to kiss you-don't ask why 'cause I don't know. You know I don't like you, I mean, you can see through me if I'm lying, yeah?" She chuckles and nods. "So I have no idea, but I think it was just that we were so close."
"Okay, then in order to make sure you don't kiss me again, we can't be too close. That means no hugs, no, like, whispering to each other, and no more amusement park rides," she says.
"Darn it," I say. "That amusement park was fun."
"Well do ya wanna kiss me again?" she asks in annoyance. I cough awkwardly.
"Kinda…but not, like-I mean-" I sigh and cut myself off. "I can't explain it, okay?" She nods.
"I think I get what you're trying to say," she says. I sigh.
"Sorry," I say, "for, you know, complicating everything." She smiles.
"It's fine." Then she laughs. "I feel like this should be the other way around. Me apologizing for kissing you, since I'm the one with the crush." I chuckle.
"Just goes to show how weird this friendship is."
"But it works," Ally says with a smile. I smile back and nod, and we come to a silent agreement that it's time to go back to school. We start walking back to my car.
"So," I say as we walk, "have any luck with that last song for music?" Ally shakes her head.
"Still nothing."
"Hey, you never told me why you don't perform," I remind her. She sighs.
"I have stage fright," she tells me. "I thought that much was obvious." I shrug. "When I was little, I'd perform all the time-school talent shows, choir, all that stuff. But then in seventh grade I was singing a solo and this kid had given me a bag of these weird foreign cake squares, but I guess they were expired 'cause I threw up on stage. It was so embarrassing, and everyone was laughing. The worst part was that the kid was in the audience, and he was laughing and filming the entire thing, like he knew it would happen. Anyway, I haven't performed since then." My eyes widen.
I remember that in seventh grade I went to see my cousin's school's choir performance. It was the last one before he moved to Maine. He told me he had a crush on the girl who was soloing, and then he pointed her out. I had bought Swedish cake squares at some weird store, but then I saw they had expired six years previous. So I gave them to the soloist to see what would happen, and I had been filming and cracking up when she threw up onstage. George, my cousin, had been so mad. He told me the girl started bawling her eyes out as soon as the curtain closed after she threw up.
I swallow hard.
"Uh, Ally?" I say nervously as we get in my car.
"Yeah?" she says.
"That kid-the one who gave you the bad cake squares-was he a tall blonde kid about five foot eight, five foot nine?" I ask. She nods.
"Yeah, how did you-"
"That kid was me," I confess, tensing and gripping the steering wheel tightly to brace myself for the yelling.
"You're kidding, right?" Ally asks. I shake my head. Then, Ally does something unexpected. She throws her head back and laughs. "That's actually hilarious," she says. "I guess I was your target even before we officially knew each other, yeah?" she says.
"Wait, you're not mad?" I ask.
"Why would I still be mad after, what, five years? C'mon, sure you're the reason I have stage fright, but I'm not mad anymore."
"Well, lucky for you, I'm also gonna be the one to help you get over your stage fright."
"I dunno about that," she says.
"Trust me," I say, "I'll get you over it. I'm Austin Moon, I can do anything." Ally shrugs.
I know it's gonna be a challenge, and I know she's gonna resist, but I have to get her over this. Not only because she has to perform in music class, but because I'm the reason she's in this position in the first place. I owe that to her at least. So I'm gonna do everything I can to get her performing again. I just hope everything is enough.
Yeah, so that's the long chapter! I dunno, I think it's okay. I'm not really sure how you guys will like them kissing two chapters in a row, but I just kinda wanted to emphasize how wacko that first kiss made Austin and how much he wanted to kiss her again and stuff ya feel? Yeah...So anyways there's another important announcement or something but I can't remember it and I'm quite frustrated. Eh, whatever. So, don't forget to vote, and if you send me disclaimer prompts make them a bit less detailed! Thanks you guys! *blows you all kisses* Anyways, if you liked the chapter, put PARK in a review! If you thought it was okay, put KISS in a review! If you hated it, put CAKE SQUARES in a review! Thanks for reading and please review! Love you more than I loved Princesses & Prizes! (Which is A LOT! Judge me all you want)
~Maddie :)
Maddie's Fancy Disclaimers: Part VIII Continued
Me: Um , if you don't mind me asking, WHO WANTS YOU TO MURDER ME AND WHY BECAUSE NOW I'M SCARED!? *Hides behind the rest of R5 and Laura, Raini, and Calum*
Ross: Yeah, I'd like to know that, too.
*Everyone else nods*
Ryland: Um... SEVERUS SNAPE!
*Snape comes in*
Snape: I heard my name?
Laura: OHMIGOSH YOU'RE SEVERUS SNAPE OMG OMG OMG FANGIRLING AHHHHHHHHASLDFSJDFOASDGNFN
Snape: *Steps away from Laura*
Ryland: Um, I'm working for you, right?
Snape: I have no idea who you are.
*Lily Potter comes in*
Snape: Lily!
Lily: Um, what am I doing here?
Me: I dunno, I had to put you in somewhere.
Lily: Oh. Fair enough.
Rocky: Uh, do either of you know who Ryland's really working for?
*Swiper comes in*
Swiper: ME! RYLAND GO SWIPE EVERYONE'S MOST PRIZED POSSESSIONS!
*Dora appears*
Dora: SWIPER NO SWIPING! SWIPER NO SWIPING! SWIPER NO SWIPING!
Swiper: Aw, man.
*They both disappear*
Riker: I'm so confused.
Rydel: Me, too.
Ratliff: Me, three.
Ryland: Well, bye Harry Potter people.
*They disappear*
Me: Ryland, what's going on?
Ryland: Fine. Remember that pink umbrella?
*We all nod*
Ryland: It's jealous of you and wants me to kill you.
Me: BUT IT'S AN UMBRELLA!
Ryland: Exactly.
*The Hump Day camel comes in*
Camel: Hey, Hey, Rike! Rike, Rike, Rike, Rike, Rike!
Riker: Uh, it's Riker.
Camel: *Ignores him* Do you know what day it is?
Riker: ...
Camel: HUMP DAY!
Ryland: Ugh, GO AWAY!
*Camel disappears*
Ryland: Alright, I'll tell you the truth, just quit with these random characters!
Me: Sorry.
Ryland: I'm-er-working with the Evil Toaster DON'T KILL ME!
Everyone: WHAT?!
Ryland: I'm breaking it off, though!
Me: Well, since it wants to KILL ME, you have to do the disclaimer as punishment!
Ryland: Fine! Maddie doesn't own Austin & Ally or anything you recognize!
Me: Thank you. Now, I'm exhausted. That concert was awesome.
R5: Why, thank you.
Me: Well, g'night!
*I use my author powers to go home and go to bed*
The End
