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"Room 3B. .3B. .3B. . ." Ally softly muttered to herself as she passed the D rooms. She picked up her pace, turning into the right hallway, silently cursing when she found herself in front of 4A.
"I give up." She let out a light sigh, running her fingers through her hair in disappointment. Austin had insisted that she leave it down for the night, and despite Ally's pros of ponytail versus cons of hair down list that she spent a good five minutes making, she still ended up letting her hair fall naturally into her face.
Thanks Moon.
She leaned against the wall, biting her lower lip as she tried to picture herself in an architect's point of view. "Where would I put 3B?" She spoke out loud, and then immediately ducked her head in embarrassment when the backstage light crew rushed past her.
If they can make this many hallways, I'm sure they could have spent some money on maps. A small pout covered her lips, and she slid down the wall, stretching her legs before her. Well, mostly bare legs before her.
"So how do people dress for concerts?" Ally admired her pantsuits and blazers. Although a small instinct in the back of her mind, reminded her that she may have to abandon those for one night.
"Casually, I guess. I don't know, I've never really noticed," Austin yawned, leaning against her closet. He shifted his head, so that his brown doe eyes caught hers. They both smiled.
"Your fans probably have your biography memorized, and you don't notice what they wear?" Ally shook her head, jokingly.
"Fine, fine." Austin pushed himself off the wall, and began to rummage through her closet. Ally scooted back and watched him. She had never noticed how tan his skin was, or the way he seemed to make every movement so graceful. Contrary to her own clumsy habits.
"Here!" He popped out from the mess of clothes with a t-shirt and pair of shorts. She went over to the bathroom, quickly changing into the outfit. Her mind focused completely on Austin's statute as she dressed. She rushed out quickly, and stood by her mirror.
"No, no, no. I'll wear jeans." She muttered to herself, turning to crash into Austin, "These shorts are way too short."
"I like short shorts." Austin grinned boyishly. He sheepishly cast his eyes down, before softly speaking, "I wanted to see you in shorts."
Ally cocked her head, her mind freezing at how hot his actions seemed to be.
"Why?" She quietly spoke, stepping closer to him.
"I don't know. I like your legs." Austin started to turn a faint pink and Ally couldn't help but let out a giggle. He looked up in surprise at the noise.
"Oh god, Austin. Friends, my boy. Consider yourself friendzoned." She wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
"You do have really nice legs though." Austin spoke by her ear.
She crossed her ankles, the fabric from her converse scratching against her skin. It had been practically forever since she had worn converse. Which of course Austin had insisted on.
He brings out the kid in me.
She leaned further into the wall, feeling the sturdy surface against her scalp. It was soothing and she felt another sigh coming on. It was a sigh filled with thoughts of Austin, the banquet, her promotion. . . her three point plan, which at the moment was struggling to even be a plan anymore.
Should she use him?
'Could she use him?' was more of the question. All his sweet words and actions. He was like a yellow rose, rare in beauty, standing out against the original red. If she took a petal from him, how could he trust anyone anymore?
But another year of Tilly. Her inner conscience groaned at the thought. Another year of following her every order again and again and again. Her blond hair whipping back and forth as she sashayed down the maze of cubicles on her way home for the weekend, while Ally sat at her desk, struggling with Tilly's extra paperwork.
She needed that promotion. Ally took a gulp of breath, before finishing her thought.
She needed the promotion. More than she needed Austin.
That was the original plan. That was how everything was supposed to go. She was supposed to use him to play her boyfriend, win her promotion and move ahead with her life.
So, why was it so hard to use him? He was supposed to be her pawn. She was supposed to have the upper hand, not be stuck under a rock of empathy.
But then again, she always sucked at chess.
Her eyebrows pulled together in anger and a rage of mental curses began. She ducked her head, eyes remaining closed, as she tried to picture any imperfect moments she had had with him today; or had had with him at all. She just needed something to make her upset, anything to make saying good-bye easier.
But everyone knows, that the hardest thing to say to someone you love is goodbye.
And that was the source of the problem, why did she like him? How did this even happen? How did I grow so fond of this kid that my plan became a shadow to him?
She couldn't let it happen, she wasn't going to let her guard down. Place everything on the back burner for a slimmer of love, which surely if she followed would lead to no other than another Dallas wannabe at the end of the game.
Her life wasn't a game anymore, and neither was this promotion.
She traced circles on her knees in thought. Her pinkie freezing when she realized who she was imitating.
"I feel like the Queen of England." Ally sipped on her martini, sinking into the limo's cushions. Austin sat parallel to her, his dimples making her swoon.
"You've never been in a limo before?" He asked, straightening his tie. His leather jacket hung perfectly around him.
"Nope." Ally replied, lifting the cherry out of her drink.
"Prom?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't go." His eyebrow dropped in surprise and he leaned in.
"Weddings?"
"None involving limos." She tilted her head back, biting into the cherry.
"Sweet Sixteens?" Austin's eyes arched into the shape of sympathy.
"Dez is a boy."
"Wow." He leaned back into the cushioned seat, surprised.
"Yeah." Ally ducked her head shyly, sipping her drink once more. Austin glanced at her, noticing the change in her mood.
"Well is our royalty excited for her first Austin Moon concert?" He gave a crooked smile before lifting her legs to be placed on his lap. A giggle burst out of her lips, and she continued to laugh as Austin traced tiny swirls with his pinkie over her leg.
"Ecstatic." She smiled.
Footsteps shook the ground she was seated on, and Ally sat up a little straighter, abandoning her thoughts of Austin for the time being.
"You'll be on in ten, Mr. Moon." A professional voice echoed down the hallway, and the thudding of shoes escalated.
Mr. Moon! Ally smiled at the mention of his name.
"Kay." A nonchalant voice replied over the sound of a young woman screaming into her Blackberry with a hint of Spanish.
"And we sent your friend to your room 3B." The voice continued, along with the rapid nervous clicking of a pen.
"Ally?! Isnt she watching me perform?" The thudding halted for a moment, and the short squeak of Austin's Jordans as he turned to discuss the matter with the voice.
Oh god. They're coming this way. Ally instantly froze, remembering her embarrassing situation of having gotten lost backstage.
"Yes, of course. We will bring her up front." The voice reassured Austin, a small stumble as he spoke. The thudding continued once more and the Spanish curses seemed to be getting closer.
Oh no. No, NO. They're going to see me on the ground like a toddler. Oh my god, why? Why this hallway?
"Nah, it's cool. I'm gonna go see her and I'll show her around." Austin spoke giddily, and the thudding increased in speed and velocity.
He's excited to see me. Oh my god. This is going to be so embarrassing.
"Good plan, Mr. Moon." The voice seemed to be nodding and panting slightly as he tried to catch up with Austin's long strides.
They were barely a foot away, inches.
Please god, make me invisible. Ally shut her eyes, and covered her face with her hands. She knew the familiar pink blush that was going to cover her face as soon as this all would go down.
"Yeah. We might be able to catch a late dinner and maybe a mov-" Austin's voice paused. Ally squeezed her eyes tighter, hoping that he may have turned a different path. She really didn't want him to think she was incapable of finding a simple room number.
Even though she was.
Someone sat down beside her and Ally buried her face deeper into her arms. She felt her cheeks turning red, and Austin stifling a laugh.
"Mr. Moon, we're going to. . ." The voice took in the situation and seemed to drag Trish along with him out of the hallway.
"Yeah, I'll see you in ten." He replied. The thudding became fainter before calming out entirely. Ally shyly lifted her head to see a familiar set of crinkled brown eyes smiling at her.
"Is there a reason why you didn't wanna go inside the room?" He nudged her gently.
"Are you kidding me? I spent half an hour searching for the thing! I give up, I couldn't find room 3B!" Ally explained her issues with a huff of exasperation.
Austin cocked his head, lifting his hand to point the door next to 4A. "You're sitting in front of it though?"
Ally's mouth dropped open, and she leaned back against the wall in amusement at the situation. She turned her head to notice Austin, covering his mouth in laughter.
"Are you laughing at me?" Ally joked tauntingly. Her hands fell to her hips and she squinted her eyes in mock anger.
"No, your highness I would never." He teased her back with one of her own earlier references.
"It was one comparison to the Queen of England!" Ally laughed to her disbelief that he would hold this over her for so long. He continued to chuckle, falling over onto his side in laughter.
Ally shoved him, her little hands formed fists as she pounded on him to stop.
"The door was right in front of you." He wheezed out between his laughs.
"You're so meannn. . ." Ally whined. He grabbed her little fists, and watched in slow motion as Ally was pulled onto him. Her hair smelled sweet of orchids and he felt like burying his head into those thousands of flowers.
Ally's breath fell short as she realized the position she stood in, on top of Austin, in the middle of an empty hallway.
Oh my, paparazzi's dream in a flash.
And suddenly everything she was about to do hit her. Like a sudden softball to the back of the head, she realized what she was going to do.
She was going to walk away from the one man she might possibly ever love.
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