"I want you to be my girlfriend again."
Ally cringed at the thought. Zack merely stood in front of her, eyes dead and cold.
"No," she said. "I'm done with you. I meant it last time."
He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "No, you didn't. You never mean anything, Ally."
"Stop saying my name," Ally whispered.
"We could be happy again," he breathed out. "We could be us again."
"Us and happy should not go in the same sentence," Ally said. She attempted to walk away, but Zack gripped onto her wrist, pulling her back toward him.
"Let me go!"
"Why? So you can go tell all your friends about what a jackass I am? All because you're a stupid brat?" he shouted. "You know you want me. You play hard to get, like your some big mystery, but you're not. You're just a stupid bitch, you know that?"
He pinned her wrists together, kissing the back of her neck. "A stupid bitch."
"If you don't let me go, I'll…"
"You'll what, Ally?" Zack said. "You'll go tell your stupid hick boyfriend?"
"He's not a hick, and he's not my boyfriend," Ally said.
"You wanna know why he's not your boyfriend? Because you're you, Ally. And I'm the only one that's willing to put up with you."
He extended his arm, raising it in a position that she flinched, shrinking back against the wall.
"I wouldn't do that," Austin murmured. "I've tipped over entire tractors back home nearly a hundred times my weight. Imagine what I can do to you."
He released her wrist, and Ally slid down the wall.
When Zack turned his back, she scurried off to Sonic Boom, not looking back.
"I'm real scared of some country twat," Zack said.
"You should be," Austin said. "Because god forbid, if you hurt her, I will kill you. I won't think twice."
Zack chuckled, and Austin narrowed his eyes.
"Look at my eyes. Look at me. I'm not fucking kidding, I will kill you," he repeated.
Zack smirked. "You're a bit jealous, aren't you? You shouldn't be. You could do much better."
Austin stepped closer. "Watch your mouth, kid."
"She's a spoiled bitch," Zack said. Austin growled.
"I'm wearing steel-toed cowboy boots. That should be warning enough not to mess with me," he said.
"You're messing with me and my property."
"She is not your property," Austin said. Zack reached up to punch him, and Austin grabbed his wrist.
"Country boys can fight a heck of a lot better than any city pansy," Austin said, smirking and throwing Zack back into the wall. He jumped up and lunged at Austin, only to be thrown back and punched in the jaw. Blood sputtered out the corner of his mouth.
"Still think I'm a hick?" Austin said, as Zack stumbled to his feet.
"No, I think you two are perfect for each other, actually. Worthless and pathetic."
Austin grabbed his collar, pinning him back against the wall. "Leave 'er the hell alone. I ain't kidding now. Consider this a warning."
/
"Ally?" Austin said lightly, peeking his head into her room. "I know you're in here."
She pulled her knees into her chest, burying her head in her knees. "Go away."
"Sorry, but I can't abandon a damsel in distress," he said, taking a seat beside her. "I am so, so sorry, Als. I can't even begin to say how sorry I am."
"Then don't. It's not even your fault."
"Still, you shouldn't have to deal with this. Not you," he said.
"Somebody's got to win," she said, and his eyes flickered. Austin pulled her into his chest and rested his chin on her head.
"Don't go," she said, shutting her eyes.
"Mhm," he said. "Say when."
/
"You know, I'm starting to miss Betty Lou and Mimi," Trish said.
"We're going back in a week, Trish. I'm sure they're enjoying their break from us," Autumn replied.
"I feel bad for Ma, though. All those chores by herself?" Dez said, and Autumn shrugged.
"Ma can handle it. I'm just worried about Mimi, it hasn't been too long since Mike passed," Autumn murmured.
"Is anybody else worried about Austin? I mean, he lost someone too," Trish commented.
"He has Ally, though," Dez said.
"For once in my life, I agree with Dez. She's probably helping more than any of us could," Autumn said.
"Same for him helping her," Trish added. "Her ex-boyfriend's back."
Autumn solemnly nodded. Dez sipped at his tea cheerily.
"What about his back?" Dez asked.
Autumn facepalmed. "Nevermind, Dez."
Austin moved into the kitchen, grabbing an apple from the bucket. "Morning, y'all."
"Hey," Autumn said. "Where's Ally?"
"In my room. Gottagobye," he said, quickly maneuvering his way back to her room.
"That was weird," Dez said, flipping his hair. "Well, I'm off to go cook some drumchili."
/
"Ally?" Austin asked, nudging her slightly. She lifted her head from the bed.
"Yeah?"
"I brought you an apple."
She pushed herself up and took it, biting into it. Austin took a seat on the bed and watched her, both of them sitting in silence.
"Stop that...stop watching me chew," Ally said, trying to stifle a laugh.
"You chew funny," Austin said. "Up, down, left, right. It's like a code or somethin'."
She threw the apple at his head and he caught it in his hand. "No, eat it. It's cute."
"I'm not hungry," she said. "I just wanted to taste something."
"Are you sure? You were really victimizing that apple there," he said.
"Fine. Go get me some soup. Where I don't have to chew."
He nodded and headed out the door.
"Hey, Austin?" she said, making him stop midway. "Thanks. For everything."
He nodded again and winked, shutting the door behind him.
