Hey everyone!

Okay so here is the deal. I think that it's pretty obvious, but a part of me is still scared that I'm confusing people.

Chapters that have names starting with 'new' are chapters that are set in the present and focus on Ally (most chapters).

Chapters that have names starting with 'old' are chapters that are set in the present and focus on Austin.

Chapters that have names starting with '16' (or any number) are chapters that are set in the past and can focus on either Austin or Ally. But usually Ally. The number also signifies how old the characters are in the chapter. For example, in '16 Kisses', Austin and Ally are both 16 years old.

Alright so now that I've gotten that off of my chest...hey guys!

Thanks for reading my story. I have plenty ideas, so it will get better. I'm just trying to figured out exactly how everything is going to fall into place (probably with lots of flashbacks lol).

There are things that I've known were going to happen since I first started writing this story 2 years ago, and I'll probably mention it in my Author's comments whenever I incorporate them into the story.

This chapter kinda snuck up on me though. I had no idea that it would get so deep lol.

Please review if you like my story. It means a lot!

xoxo

-Lia

...

"Your boyfriend bores me."

Dez's poorly timed confession caused Ally to falter as she threw her dart, and she frowned when it landed. She'd been aiming for the triple ring and had narrowly missed.

Ally turned to look at her friend, motioning towards the dartboard. "Happy?"

Dez gave her a half-smile before taking a swig of his Chimay Red. "Nice shot."

She pressed her lips together and looked away. "He's my boyfriend – not yours. What does it matter to you?"

Ally had gotten tired of splitting her time between Pete and Dez, so she'd decided to take them both out to The Albatross Pub. The Albatross, which was about an eight minute drive from campus, just off of University Avenue, was popular among UC Berkeley students. It was a cozy place for a pub, and it featured both live music and original art. This was enough to please Ally, but there was entertainment for Dez as well. With over 50 bottled beers (not to mention the fourteen on tap), dartboards, pool tables, and board games, Ally was worried that she'd have trouble getting her friend to leave. Her fear had only increased when she'd seen the giddy look on Dez's face after their server informed them that the pub also provided bottomless popcorn for only $1.

She'd been enjoying the fact that Dez wasn't filming her for the first time in days when Pete had excused himself to go to the bathroom.

"So you agree," Dez said as Ally threw another dart. "You think he's really boring."

Ally's mouth curved up into an involuntary smile, but she quickly forced a serious expression before turning back towards him. "No, I don't."

Dez crinkled his nose and took another sip of beer.

"I don't. Pete's being nice to you, so be nice back." She took another shot at the dartboard. "And no more using Mean Girls to bash on my boyfriend."

"I thought you'd missed the reference."

"Don't insult me."

She'd thought that the conversation was over, but then Dez grabbed a handful of popcorn and chewed thoughtfully.

"Seriously, Ally."

"What?"

"That guy is not the kind of guy you're meant to end up with."

Ally leaned against the wooden divider that separated their game of darts from the group of guys next to them. "Oh yeah? Who am I supposed to end up with then?"

Dez stood up. He walked over and stopped when he stood directly in front of her. "C'mon, Ally. Who did Andie up with in Pretty in Pink?"

She crossed her arms. Since he was using another one of her favourite movies against her, she decided to throw him off. "Originally? Her best friend."

Dez, who had been leaning in towards her – he'd never been one for personal space – froze and stared at her in shock. "I thought that she ended up with that other guy? Blane, was it?"

"Don't pretend that you don't know his name. We watched that movie together at least twelve times."

Her friend reached behind him to rub the back of his head. "Fifteen, actually."

Ally's eyes widened, but she quickly composed herself. "She only got together with Blane at the end because the original ending – where she ends up with Duckie – tested poorly with select audiences. They had to completely change the ending of the movie."

Dez slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Ally, you're ruining the point that I'm trying to make."

"Good," she said, stubbornly. As she began to walk away, Dez caught her hand, forcing her to look up at him.

"He's bad for you." The way he said it made Ally's breath hitch. "Pete is safe, and that's what's got you drawn to him. You should be with someone who makes you feel something – someone who inspires you. I miss the Ally who would lock herself in her room and write songs for hours. I miss the Ally who drew emotion from her relationships and her surroundings. I miss the Ally who wouldn't give up on the biggest opportunity of her life just because she was a little bit scared."

Her eyes began to sting, and she tried to snatch her hand away but Dez held his firm grip.

"I'm worried about you," he said, finally, and it seemed as though he'd been wanting to say that for a while. "I've been worried about you ever since...Well, I wasn't lying when I said that you should have taken that scholarship. I know you're not happy, Ally, and I know what kind of guy could make you happy."

People were starting to look over at them, and Ally ducked her head before muttering, "Austin." It was the first time that she had said his name out loud in a long time.

"What?" Dez asked, dropping her hand.

"Are you talking about Austin?" Ally asked, eyes still on the floor.

Dez stiffened. "No, I – "

"He broke me, Dez," she whispered. She was angry at Dez, but she was more angry at him. "What you just said? That's all because of him, not because of Pete."

Dez was shaking his head, but she continued. "I know that he's your friend, and that you still talk to him. I don't care about any of that – just leave me out of it."

He cupped her face with his hands, and she was too exhausted to stop him. "Ally, I never meant – " He stopped. "You know that I'd choose you over him every time, right?"

She nodded. "I know."

Dez pulled her in for a hug, and she wrapped her arms around him, swallowing her tears.

The worst part was that she knew that Dez was right. She'd been miserable for a long time, and even though she loved both college and Pete, something was definitely missing in her life. But she wasn't going to admit that to Dez.

She was the first to pull away from the hug, and she proudly realized that no tears had escaped.

Dez tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Can I get you something?"

Ally stared at him.

"I'm going to get you some Irish whiskey," he decided, making her laugh.

As he walked towards the bar, he passed Pete who slid over to Ally.

"What did I miss?"

"Nothing important."