Ch1
"Are you sure this is what you want Austin?" I couldn't believe it, and my head was spinning, but I would never hold him back from what he thought was right for him. I had been snappy lately, and honestly, I didn't even know why. But that resulted in us being at each other's throats nonstop.
"I don't know what I want Ally, but I know that I leave on tour soon, and instead of us breaking up and one of us having to move out, let's just take a break while I am on tour you can stay in the house since I will be on the road and then from there, we can just try to figure out what we want after the tour." I felt the tears swelling up in my eyes as he spoke, so I just nodded. He leaves tonight anyways, maybe it will be good for us. I took a step backwards and into the kitchen it was getting late, and he was supposed to leave soon.
Austin looked drained and I felt terrible, I knew it was my fault. The past two weeks were terrible, we were prepping to go on tour, I was trying to record a new album, and my younger sister had just been diagnosed with cancer and has been in the hospital undergoing treatments after treatments and was soon to undergo surgery. I knew he needed to carry some bags out to the bus, but he was facetiming my family at the hospital to tell everyone bye. In an effort to keep my distance I went ahead and started carrying out his last few bags to the bus and setting hi in his bus room. I went back inside and fond my bags staring back at me. I picked them up and carried them up to our bedroom. The bedroom. I mean technically it belonged to both of us. But I don't think there will be an us for a while. I was unpacking my bags back into the bedroom when I heard the buses honking. I picked up my phone shooting Trish a quick message to take care of my boy while they were on the road.
To: Trish 3
I won't be on the tour with you guys, I can't leave home right now, I'm sure Austin will tell you everything, take care of him for me Trish. I love you guys, have fun.
I set down my phone and turned my head as I heard the bus honking its horn again, and Austin was standing at the door. I could feel the tears swelling again and I sat on the edge of the bed as he came over and squatted down in front of me. "I told your parents and Aria bye on the phone," I nodded slowly and watched him trying to take in the last few minutes of him being home, "I didn't tell them we are going to take a break."
"Why"
"Because I don't want them to think that we are done Ally. I'm not done with this, I just think we both need to take some time to breath, things have been so crazy lately and I do not want to take you away from your family or Aria right now I just know that they need you the most right now. I am not going to be with anyone else, I just need a minute to breath."
I nodded and my breathing slowed, and my voice came out as a whisper "I love you"
He smiles softly and kissed the top of my head gently as he stood up, letting his lips linger on my skin as he said it "I love you too Alls, I'll talk to you in a couple weeks, okay?"
I nodded my chest tight again as he turned and walked out. I heard the busses leaving towards the gate of our home, so I laid out on the bed unsure of what to do next. Quickly, I drifted off into a nap.
I woke up to the ringing of my cell phone, so I checked the name on my watch, Mom. I jumped up and frantically began looking for it. Once I got it I answered and threw it up to my ear. "Mom, what's wrong? Is it Aria? Is she okay?"
"Honey calm down, Aria is fine, she is getting some sleep now. I just wanted to call and chat, Austin told me the two of you decided that you would stay home." I could hear the concern in her voice but there was no way I was putting anything else on her plate right now. It wasn't fair that she was already having to watch her 12-year-old daughter deal with cancer, she didn't need anything else to stress over.
"Oh, yea, I was going to call you, but I took a nap on accident. I just do not want to be too far from you guys or Aria right now." It wasn't a complete lie; I was dreading being away from them while we were supposed to be on Austin's tour. I wanted to be close in case something bad were to happen.
"Oh, okay well that is probably best, you are under enough stress as it is and Aria isn't doing any better" She sounded so tired, they have basically been living in the hospital for the past few weeks.
"Mom why don't you and Dad take a night to sleep at home? I can come stay with Aria tonight. I don't have anything to do, and I miss her like crazy"
"I don't know Ally, it's probably best if I stay"
"I can handle it for one night Mom, I promise." I did miss Aria; I had not gone to visit much because I couldn't stand to see her in such bad shape.
"Alright fine, but just for tonight okay." I couldn't help but smile, I missed my sweet girl.
"Okay, I am going to shower and make a quick dinner then I will be there in 30 minutes or so okay?" I hopped up as I waited for her to respond and began tossing some clothes onto the bed to pack.
"Okay honey, drive safe"
"I will Mom, see you soon, I love you"
"I love you too Honey" with that she hung up the phone, so I grabbed a pair of leggings and a crop that was hanging in the closet before hopping into the shower. I quickly washed and condition my hair before washing my body and hopping back out, I dried my hair and tied it into a side braid that ended just below my belly button. And then threw on my crop top and leggings. I moved back out to bedroom and packed a bag to get me through until tomorrow, made the bed, and slid on a pair of shoes before grabbing my things and heading downstairs.
I made myself a sandwich and grabbed a bottle of water before going to the key cabinet. I decided just to stick with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. I needed to be able to fit in the small parking spots in the hospital parking garage. I tossed my bag into the passenger seat and cranked the car. I left my phone in the driver's seat while I went to lock up the house. I finished my sandwich on the way back to the garage and locked up that door before getting in the car. I checked my phone while I waited on the garage door to open. 3 missed calls form Trish.
I pulled out of the garage slowly and called her back while I waited for the door to close back. "Allyson Marie Dawson" I sighed; she knows.
"I know I should have called but it all happened so fast, and I know that I shouldn't be away from my family right now either. Me and Austin just need some breathing time, that's all."
"Ally you should be here this tour wouldn't be possible without you, and he loves you, and you guys are meant to be together. He has barely said two words to us, and we have been on the road for three hours." She paused, "except for when he asked if we had alcohol on the bus. Hey are you driving? Alls its ten at night you shouldn't be out this late in Miami on your own." I had just gotten onto the highway but that put a soft smile on my face. Normally its Austin warning me these things.
"I am going to stay with Aria tonight so my parents can sleep in their own bed. I am going straight to the children's hospital so I will be fine. Listen T, get some sleep okay, you guys are going to have a long six months, take care of him for me please?" and just like that, my smile had dropped. It had only been a few hours and I missed him like crazy. I don't know how this is all going to work, all he had said was break and talk in a few weeks. I don't know how we are supposed to go about it from here.
She sighed, "Yea, your right. I love you Alls call if you need anything, and I will take very good care of him." I hung up the phone just as I was pulling into the parking garage. I found a good spot and texted my parents I was here. I grabbed my bag and my purse before tossing my phone into one of them and climbing out of the car. I locked it as I made my way out of the garage and to the front of the building.
I found my parents waiting for me in the main lobby. It was late which meant it was quiet hours, I tapped my Dad on the shoulder gently and let out a soft "hey guys, is she asleep yet?" I embraced my Dad in a hug while my mom responded.
"No, she has been asleep since about noon since her chemo was over but she is awake right now." I nodded as I moved over to embrace my mom in a quick hug.
"She has been missing you."
"I have been missing her too Mom, I just hate seeing her like this." She nodded so I turned to my dad, "you guys go home, get some sleep, and come back tomorrow. I promise she will be fine with me."
My Dad smiled faintly but nodded "we know she will, but you call us if anything changes alright?"
"I will, I love you guys." My Dad kissed my cheek gently before he led my mom out of the building. I hopped on the elevator and headed up to the eleventh floor. I pulled out my phone to check it once more before I made it to the room. Still no calls or messages from Austin. With a sigh I silenced my phone and placed it into my purse. Once the door opened, I walked out and down the narrow hall to her room. I stood in the door a small smile playing on my lips as I saw her talking on the phone to Austin, I stepped back into the hall and waited until she hung up to step back in.
"Hey there pretty girl." She snapped her head to the side a smile playing on her lips.
"Ally!" I smiled and set my bag on the ground out of the way and climbed into the bed with her, kissing her head gently. "I missed you, how are you feeling?" she wrapped her arms around my waist and laid her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her awaiting her response.
"I'm great, just tired." I nodded even though I knew she wouldn't let on how she was really feeling. But instead of responding I just held her, until she fell asleep, but even then I didn't let go.