Chapter 6

Austin's POV

Being at the caves with Ally was one of the best feelings. Being able to talk to her and just be with her without worrying about people noticing me. Being able to exist without anyone's eyes glaring at me. And being able to laugh freely with her was amazing.

The only downside was that it would eventually end. We wouldn't be able to continue this while at school or in Miami. Too many people would make assumptions and cause trouble for Ally. I hoped she understood that I was serious about us not being able to talk at school. I didn't want others to catch on to this. It wouldn't be good. As it was, the few moments at school where she spoke to me would cause backlash from some.

We were driving back now, leaving the hills and caves behind us. It was only six, and I was hungry. "Do you have a curfew?" I asked her. She turned to me smiling.

"No, did you have something else you wanted to do?"

"Well I…" My phone started ringing, cutting me off. I groaned and answered it on the Bluetooth of my truck. "Hello, mother."

"Hello, son. Where are you?"

"I went out."

"I can see that. You're not home and neither is your truck. What time will you be home?"/

"I'm not sure," I said, glancing at Ally, who was politely looking out the window.

"Well, I'm making chicken parmesan for dinner. I know it's your favorite. So, when you're home, you can eat. Would you like your father and I to wait for you?"

"That sounds so good. I'm starving." I looked over at Ally, who turned to me. She smiled and nodded, answering my unasked question. "Actually mom, I'll call you back in just a second." I hung up without her responding. "Als," I said. "You don't have to do this."

"No, I want to. I like chicken parmesan. Would your parents be upset that I crash your family dinner?"

"No, they would love having company. They haven't had any dinner guests since…" I trailed off knowing I hadn't been the only one to lose friendships because of what happened with Brooke. My parents had lost some of their friends too.

"Austin, I would love to have dinner with your family," Ally said, with a big smile. "But if you are going to be uncomfortable, then you can drop me off and go eat."

"Als, I'm not uncomfortable at all. But what will the neighbors think?"

Ally's smile faded. She apparently didn't catch the humor behind my words. It was a dry humor, trying to make the most of my predicament, but it still struck home. There was always a chance the neighbors would see me bring a girl home and cause more rumors and riots.

"Is that why you texted me that you were at my house earlier, instead of coming to the door?" she asked. "You're worried about what people will think?"

I glanced over at her, noticing the hurt and confusion on her face. "I am in no way embarrassed or ashamed to be seen with you. I did those things for your benefit. I just don't want you to keep lying about who I am to you," I said, referring to yesterday on the beach.

Ally stared at me a little sullen, "So is that a 'no' to dinner with your parents?"

I laughed; I couldn't help it. She completely missed the point of what I was saying. "We can go to my parent's place for dinner if you want, but you gotta promise me something."

"Anything," Ally said. Then blushed at the realization of what she said.

I grinned, "Don't talk to me at school."

"What?" Ally gasped.

"Like I said, I would love if we could be out and open about our friendship, but I don't want people to turn on you. They think they know who, or what, I am, but they have no idea. And in order for us to remain friends and happy, we gotta stay on the down low. Does that make sense?"

Ally laughed and nodded. "I hate it, but I get it. Now call your mom back and tell her I'm coming too."

My mom was surprised but didn't say anything negative about me bringing someone over. She almost sounded suspicious. I told her it was Ally, so I don't know what she could have found suspicious. I did tell my parents everything. I was very open with them. Something I hoped wouldn't come back and bite me one of these days.

As I pulled up in the driveway of my house, I said, "Before we go in, I just want to tell you, I appreciate you being here for me now. And I hope my parents don't scare you away."

Ally laughed. "Well, if they are anything like you, I won't be scared off easily."

I grinned over at her and got out. She followed me up to my door. I glanced over at her, still unbelieving that she was with me now. She looked beautiful in the porchlight, and she didn't seem at all frightened. I found myself looking over at her longer than I meant to. She had turned to me and also seemed to be studying my face. She had a little dirt on her chin and her complexion appeared to be a little red and sweaty from the day.

"Maybe we should wash up before we eat. I think we're both a little dirty," I said as I unlocked the door.

"You're probably right."

I led her inside to where my parents were sitting in the living room. They looked up when we entered. "Mom, Dad, this is Ally."

"Why are you both filthy?" my dad asked, a tone to his voice that I didn't understand.

"We went to the caves, Mr. Moon," Ally said.

"And what did you do in these caves?"

"Dad…" I said, realizing what he was insinuating. But it must have gone over Ally's head because she smiled pleasantly and went into detail about what the caves were and how we walked through them.

"Well, that sounds like a lot of fun," my mom said, standing up. "Ally, if you'd like to wash up, the bathroom is down the hall and to the left. Austin can wash up in the kitchen."

Ally went to the bathroom, and I followed my mom to the kitchen. As I started washing my hands and face, my mom leaned against the counter and crossed her arms. "So, you're speaking to this girl?"

"Yeah…" I said, unsure of where this conversation was headed.

"She seems sweet."

"She is."

"And you're sure she doesn't want anything from you?"

"Like what?" I asked, confused.

"I don't know, Austin. But sometimes girls want to rebel, so they choose the bad boy to run around with to get that desired reaction."

"That's not what is happening here."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, mom."

She gave me a look that said the conversation wasn't over but didn't say anything else because Ally walked in with my dad. The two were laughing at something. Ally's laugh made me smile. I caught my mom's eye, and she raised her eyebrows. I shrugged as I dried my hands. She could think what she wanted. I knew I was smitten.

"Let's eat!" I said excitedly.

"So, Ally, tell us about yourself," my mom said, passing her the chicken parmesan.

"Oh, okay," Ally said. She glanced at me briefly before saying, "I'm a senior in high school with Austin. I'm going to Harvard next year. It's what my mom and I always wanted for my future. I work in my dad's music shop most weekends, usually when he's out of town…"

"Oh do you play any instruments?" my dad asked.

"I play Piano mostly. But I can pretty much figure out most instruments."

"That sounds like Austin. He plays his guitar nonstop up in his room," my dad said looking at me proudly as he passed me the food.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but feel happy that I still was able to make my dad proud. I helped myself to the pasta.

"What are you going to be studying at Harvard?" my mom asked.

"I'm actually going for music studies."

"You are?" I asked completely blown away by that response. I stared at her in awe.

Ally giggled and nodded. "I was originally going to follow in my mom's footsteps and do socio economics, but I love music more. I think I'd be happier doing that."

My mom raised her eyebrow skeptically. "But isn't there more prosperity and opportunity with socio economics than with music?"

Ally shrugged. "That's what my mom said when I first told her about my change in major. She wasn't too thrilled, but after hearing my five-year plan, she agreed to the change."

"And what is your five-year plan?"

"Mom, maybe we should cool it on the twenty questions."

My mom turned to me defensively. "I was just trying to get to know her."

"It's okay, Aus, really," Ally said, smiling. "In five years, I will be finishing my Master of Arts at Harvard, getting ready with my next five-year plan, which will feature life after college. I'm moving this summer up to Cambridge. I'll get a small apartment off campus after my first year and get a steady job while I go to school. I'll continue writing music of course, but my main focus will be my classes. My first year will be generic classes and I'll take an intro class to socio economics, just to see if there is a spark, but I'm going to plan on music as my major."

"It doesn't sound like you'll have any time for friends, or a boyfriend?" my mom said, glancing over at me.

I groaned inwardly. Could she be any more obvious. But I had to admit, I was curious about that too. I avoided looking at Ally by pretending to chase a stray noodle around my plate.

"No, I don't suppose it does," Ally laughed. "But I could always make time for those that are important to me."

"Hmm…" my mom said. I nudged her with my foot under the table and shook my head slightly. I knew what she was doing. She wanted to get Ally to admit something that would put her at fault or prove that she wasn't good for me. But the truth was, she was very good for me.

""What does your mom do with her socio-economic degree?" my dad asked.

"She works in Africa with the gorillas."

"Wow, that's cool," I said.

Ally nodded. "Yeah, it just sucks because I don't get to see her very often."

"That's too bad, dear," my mom said feigning sympathy.

"So, dad, how was the game?" I asked, getting the attention away from Ally.

Dinner finished soon after that and I offered to take Ally back home. Once we were in the car, I turned to her and said, "I'm sorry about my mom. She's not normally like that."

"I'm guessing you've never brought a girl home to her before?"

I shook my head slowly as I backed out of the driveway. "Not a lot of girls to bring home, I'm afraid."

"Oh, right. Sorry," Ally said quietly.

She didn't say anything else as we drove the distance to her house. It was somehow odd being in silence with her now. It wasn't uncomfortable, but I think we both felt that there was more to be said, but neither of us wanted to say it.

As I pulled up along the curb outside her house, Ally sighed. "Thank you for going with me today," she said, unbuckling her seatbelt.

"Thank you," I said, trying to convey that I was thankful for more than just today.

She gave me a glowing smile and opened the door to my truck.

"Good night, Aus," she said as she got out.

"Night Als."