Surprise! So.. I felt so touched by all of you guys reviewing and telling me that I needed to keep writing so as a memento of my gratitude here is another chapter! I hope you all like it, which I have a gut feeling you won't but that is only because I personally hated writing this chapter. Anyway, thank you to all of you AMAZING readers! Enjoy! Xox
I ran my fingers over the white block letters that were spread across the back of the soft, cotton sweatshirt in my hands. After a few seconds, I slipped the warm, red fabric over my head and adjusted my cropped leggings before letting out a small sigh and slipping on my white low-top converse. We had to be on the road in a mere 10 minutes and I wished for nothing else but sleep. Last night, after many questions and reassuring looks from the gang Austin and I retreated to his room for a well needed heart to heart. We ended up staying awake till 1 in the morning talking, then Austin fell asleep and I lied awake listening to his breathing for another hour or so, just thankful for his presence next to me.
Austin and the guys left about an hour prior for warm-ups and us girls we getting ready to leave for the game, umbrellas in hand. The rain stopped last night and the forecast said it was done, but the grey clouds in the sky seemed to say different. I strolled out of the bathroom and down the stairs into the kitchen where the girls sat, talking about something that included Tony and Scott. I walked over to the fridge and grabbed three waters before distributing among the three of us.
"Ready?" I spoke through my yawn.
"You look like shit Ally." Tori said, blatantly.
"Thanks!" I spat back, words dripping with sarcasm. "Now, can we go?"
"Yeah" They both got up and started towards the door.
"Did you even sleep last night, Al?" Sydney asked, seeming a little bit more empathic than Tori.
"Yeah" I walked down the front stairs and over to my jeep.
"What like 2 hours?" Tori asked getting into the back.
"No...5" I focused on the road as I pulled out the driveway.
"Why?" Sydney piped up.
"Isn't it obvious? Her and Austin had to make up!" Tori laughed and I shook my head, knowing that what we did wasn't anywhere close to what she was implying. We were still working through some things, I barely gave him a kiss goodbye today.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as the wind picked up. It was the bottom of the 6th inning and the sky was getting darker and darker with every pitch. Austin had been playing an amazing game, he seemed really happy and kept stealing glances in between innings. I felt like we were starting to be ourselves again and if they kept playing the way they were now he would definitely be getting a congratulations kiss at the end of the game.
I looked up when I heard a distinct clink of the ball hitting the bat. I watched as it soar through the air right towards Austin. He perked up and rose his mit in the air. The ball finally made contact with his glove, he held it there and started to jog towards the dugout as that meant 3 outs. I watched as he ran over, shedding his glove. The way his baseball pants hugged his legs and the sweat trickled down his face made me want him even more, there was no denying his attractiveness. I was brought out of my thoughts when there was a tap on my shoulder. I looked back and saw a girl with blonde hair and dark blue eyes, she was wearing a tight long-sleeve shirt that showed a little too much cleavage and a pair of black yoga pants.
I gave her a confused look, waiting for her to say something but then we heard a loud crack of thunder and lightning lit up the sky, causing us both to jump. I looked to the field where the officials had blown their whistle and called the game. The boys started to gather their stuff and I turned back to the blonde.
She finally spoke up. "Hi, I'm Bethany. You're Ally, Austin's girlfriend right?" I gave her a slow nod, wondering how she knew that. She must have noticed and spoke up again. "The sweatshirt gave it away."
I felt a blush creep onto my face realizing that I was wearing Austin's sweatshirt that he gave me for Christmas. "Oh, Hi. It's nice to meet you." I smiled, trying to give her a chance even though I felt my stomach churn at the sight of her beauty.
"I wish I could say the same." She mumbled and I had to strain to make out her words.
"Sorry?" I asked, feeling even more confused.
"Well, I hate that I have be the one to do this. But, last night, as you probably know, Austin had dinner at my house." I nodded, worried where she was going. "Well-"
Another set of thunder and lightning strikes caused both of us to jump and people started to walk to their cars. We both got up and she stayed by my side, Tori and Sydney followed close behind, equally confused.
"So, um...how do I say this..um" She paused, taking in a deep breath. "Austin kissed me last night" She blurted out. "More than once."
Thankfully, I was at my jeep as I fell back and held onto it for support. "Wha-what?"
She seemed to hide a smirk but I didn't seem to notice it, still in pure shock. Sydney and Tori finally caught up and looked between her and I.
"What? What's wrong?" Sydney asked me, then looked to Bethany.
"Austin kissed me last night, and not just once." She said, seeming more comfortable the second time.
Just as Tori was about to scream something at her, the boys strolled up. Once they caught a glimpse of Bethany and then my frozen face their smiles dropped. Scott walked over to Tori and Tony walked over to Sydney. They both held onto their girlfriends as if Bethany was a threat to their safety and they were in need of their protectors. But, where was my protector? He sat there, looking between Bethany and I, with this terrified look on his face.
"What did you say to her?" He spat at her, sounding menacing.
"I just told her what you did, what we did. She has a right to know Austy. I couldn't let you not tell her, it would be wrong." She said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
I shuddered at the touch, she was ice cold. I slightly pulled away until Austin finished it and pulled me towards him, finally acting like my protector. But, I pulled away from him too, at this moment neither of them could comfort the pain that I was feeling. I was so shocked by my new found knowledge that my body had went numb.
Lighting lit up the sky as Austin looked at me, pain filling his face. "Als, you don't actually believe her do you? I would never cheat on you, you know that. We just talked about this."
All eyes were on me, waiting for my response. But, Bethany cut in. "Austin, just stop lying to the poor little bit- uh girl."
I knew what she was going to say and that just made me even more confused. She seemed so nice but was she about to call me a bitch? I couldn't take it anymore, and just as the clouds gave in and let the avalanche of rain fall out of them so did my eyes. The gang seemed to take a hint from Austin's small side glances and got into my car. Leaving us in the rain, now soaking wet the two of them looked at me as I looked at the ground.
I felt Austin's hand on my shoulder and I jerked away. "No! Now, I want one of you to tell me the truth right now and Beth if you are lying to get Austin all for yourself, lying about him cheating on me won't work because he will just be pissed at you for ruining his relationship. I understand why you like him and I get where you're coming from but trying to sabotage our relationship won't make him magically fall in love with you. It won't work, it never does." I screamed over the pouring rain.
"Ally I didn't kiss her, you have to-" Austin started.
I cut him off. "Stop, please!" I turned to Beth, "I know that what you're saying has the possibility of being true but my gut is telling me different. Now please, girl to girl, just tell me the truth. It always finds it's way out so please just tell me now. I won't hold it against you since you seem like a nice girl but please, just save me from this heartbreak?" I sobbed, wrapping my arms around my cold, trembling body.
Her face softened, and she took a step forward and I looked up at her. "I'm sorry Ally. I didn't realize my actions would cause someone so much pain, I made it up. Austin would never cheat on you, and I'm sure you probably know that. I guess, I just hated the fact that there was someone who I couldn't have, cause I always can get whoever I want. I know, it sounds selfish but after seeing you...seeing you this broken over this makes me realize that there is such thing as love and you are definitely are in it. I'm so sorry." She pulled me into a hug and I stayed frozen, not hugging back but not pushing her away.
Her apology sounded real and sincere, I respected her for breaking the stereotype of this situation and fessing up. Now, did I forgive her? Maybe not totally but she wasn't a completely terrible person. She had a beating heart like me, she had a conscious that caused her to fess up. She pulled away and simply walked towards her car across the lot that was now almost empty.
I thought I would feel Austin come over and pull me into a hug or something but I didn't. I looked up and he was just staring at me with this hurt look on his face. "Austin?" I asked, scared.
Thunder rolled and lighting lit up his face, showing the tear marks and his red, puffy eyes. His face didn't change in anyway, it held the emotionless expression and only his lips just seemed to move. "You didn't believe me."
I felt my stomach flip, he was hurt. I hurt him by not believing him, I needed to hear it from her to believe it and that killed him. "Austin, I'm sor-"
He cut me off, "No. Don't tell me you're sorry. Please don't, because if she didn't confess you probably wouldn't have believed me anyway. You would have listened to Beth, the girl you just met. You wouldn't have listened to me, you would have thought the worst of me." His face slightly crunched in pain. "You thought I cheated on you, and you believed her over me. Well, Ally I would never cheat on you and if you can't see that by now then maybe…" He trailed off as I let out a small, pain filled cry. "Maybe this isn't what I thought it was."
"Austin please...what about everything last night? We just got over this and now she is tearing us apart again!"
"No, Ally. You should have trusted me, and you didn't. How do you think that makes me feel? You said you trusted me, but you lied. So what else have you lied to me about? Do you even love me?" Tears rolled down his already damp face.
"Yes! Of course I love you! Are you crazy? I love you Austin!"
"Do you though?" He said, his face filled with agony, I could practically feel his heart beating out of his chest.
"Austin, please don't do this." I pleaded as he turned away, picking up his bat bag. "You promised!" I shouted to him as the rain intensified.
He shot around, and I trembled in fear. "What?" He spat, clearly mad and in pain.
"You promised me, you promised that you wouldn't walk away from me again. You wouldn't leave me all alone when I'm scared and I'm terrified right now. If you love me then you won't leave." My voice quivered.
"Ally, don't play the victim. You hurt me, own up to it at least. I do love you, I love you so much it hurts and that's why I have to walk away. I have to save my heart from more hurt. This time it's my heart that needs protecting, you broke it now I need to fix it." He looked down.
"I'm not playing the victim Austin, just please don't leave me here all alone. I didn't mean to hurt you, I just.. I need you because I'm scared."
"Ally, are you even listening to me? I said that I can't, you broke my heart, how can you expect me to just push that aside and make you feel better after you hurt me?"
Sadly, he had a point. "I don't know, but please just stay and let me help you. I-I just don't want to be alone."
" For gods sake Ally! I'm not leaving you alone, you have your friends." He nodded towards the car that held shocked faces of our dear friends. His voice broke and softened. "And frankly, I just don't think I can be near you right now. You hurt me Allyson, you ripped my heart out and shattered our trust into a million pieces and I need to deal with that before I can deal with you and your problems. I'm sorry." He turned back away and walked to his car that wasn't but a few spots away.
He got in and began to drive away, turning into a distant dot on the horizon. He never called me by my full name, which caused a pit to grow in my stomach. Did he just break up with me? No, he never said 'it's over' or 'goodbye' or any of that, so why did I feel like my heart had been ripped out.
My body, now numbed by the pain, climbed into the car and started the engine. I didn't dare look at any of my friends, in fear of breaking down. I just looked out the windshield and started to drive.
Ahh! I hate this chapter so much only because of the ending! I know its very suspenseful and it leaves you hanging and I mean even I want to know what happens next! Lol, just another reason to keep writing and skip school and never leave my room, jk but I wish! So anyway please keep the reviews up and let me know whats on your mind what you think is going to happen, what you think about the fight, about Beth, and the ultimate question TEAM ALLY or TEAM AUSTIN!? I personally have to say Austin on this one, but then again I'm supposed to be bias...so I LOVE THEM BOTH! Alright until next update! XOXOX