Chapter 3: Up & Down
A few weeks later
23 July 2012
Ally's P.O.V
It has been a few weeks since Austin and Mimi moved in, things are still weird, and Austin isn't talking to his mother only very short replies to her questions, but it's better than when he's yelling at her or insulting her. Austin has mostly kept to himself in his room when he's not going to work with me and we haven't played together other than that one time. I wonder what's possessing him to quit playing completely when he loves it as much as I do, but I have a feeling that it's about hurting his mother. I just think it's actually hurting him more than it's hurting her.
I keep think about the tune I played when Austin joined me, he said he knew it, but how? Maybe he heard it when he lived here, but he hadn't just heard it… He had strong feelings behind the tune much like I have, so I wonder if we played it together as kids. It's unlikely, but it could be an explanation. I'm beginning to get a little curious about the videos my mother and Mimi says they have of us, maybe I should see it sometime after all…
I get dressed for another warm summer day in Miami before I leave my room to get breakfast, but as I get to the staircase I think to myself that I should ask Austin if he wants anything. I head back to his door and politely wait for the 'come in' from him, I open the door and step inside and the first thing I see is boxes. They are everywhere, and the room is a complete mess, he's taking it a little far not wanting to settle in.
"Hey, I was gonna make some breakfast. Do you want any?" I ask him politely.
"Sure, thanks." He agrees.
"Alright, see you down there then?" I ask him.
"Yeah, I'll be right down." He says.
"Okay." I say and leave his room.
I begin making waffles, eggs and bacon once I get to the kitchen. It doesn't take me too long before breakfast is ready. Austin comes through the door as I take the last waffle onto a plate and without a word he sets the table.
"Where are our moms'?" He asks curiously.
"They both went to work." I say.
"Oh right." He says, he clearly forgot it's a normal Wednesday for some people. His mother got a job in a mattress store a week ago, so she has an income now that she has to provide for herself and Austin. We take a seat across from each other at the kitchen table. "It looks great, Ally." He says looking at the breakfast I prepared.
"Thanks." I smile.
He confuses me most of the time because he's shifting between civil, pleasant and hostile. I never know if what I say will anger him and that makes me cautious around him. I really like him when he drops his guard a little bit and I enjoy every minute he's like that, but then it's like he remembers that he doesn't like me and becomes civil or hostile in his responses. I know he's having a hard time which is why I never push or comment – I find myself hoping he'll come to terms on his own.
"Want help with the dishes?" He offers.
"Sure thanks." I smile at his offer to help.
"Any time. You did make breakfast." He smiles at me and then begins to clear the table – apparently refusing to let me carry anything into the kitchen.
I get started on the dishes and he quickly join in. We don't talk much just like when we ate, but I find that I don't entirely mind the silence since its often very pleasant. I'd love to learn more about him, but I perceptive enough to know he would take offence to that at this point at least if it was too obvious. However I feel a little more secure on his mood today which possesses me to make him an offer that I've been thinking about for weeks.
"Hey Austin?" I ask testing his mood once more before asking.
"Yeah?" He asks calmly and I take a deep breath before jumping.
"I was wondering, do you want any help unpacking and decorating your room?" I offer.
"No, why would I?" He frowns.
"Well, it's still filled with boxes all around… I was thinking if you painted it and get it in order just a little bit, it would feel more like home." I ask honestly.
"Why would I want to make it feel like home? I'm only here for as long as I have to be. I'm going back to New York at the first chance I get. You know this." He says firmly.
"I do yes, but is it really that bad here?" I ask puzzled.
"I guess not, but my whole life is back in New York. Right from the start I've preferred to live with my dad." He shrugs.
"I don't get it… Why would you want to live with your father?" I ask confused. I just don't understand.
"What do you mean by that?" He asks and I worry he might turn on me, but I've already started this, and I see no way to back out now.
"Just after what he did to your mom…" I say as my mother's word ring in my head lying, cheating scumbag of a husband.
"It was more like she didn't want to be with him and took me as far away as she could just because she hates my dad." He says clearly still angry at her.
"Why do you expect her to stay with him when he lied to her and cheated on her for years?" I ask wishing I understood. His face changes between confusion, anger and disbelief. Then I suddenly realize oh no, he didn't know about it… What have you done Ally! I snap at myself.
"You're lying! He wouldn't do that!" He hisses.
"My mom said that's why you moved here." I whisper.
"I don't believe you, why would you say something like that? Just stay out of it!" He says irritably.
"Sorry… I shouldn't have said anything." I say ashamed. "I just wanted to help." I whisper.
"Well don't, just because we're working together doesn't mean we're friends, so stay out of my personal life." He says furiously before turning around and I stand there completely dumbstruck as he goes.
Way to go Ally, you just find a new way of messing things up… I decide to leave the house for the day and leave him to cool down for a while. It was dumb what I just did, I should have figured that he didn't know about it. I go to Trish's house and knock on her door, I haven't seen her much since she has been working a lot lately.
"Hey Ally, come in." She smiles.
"Hey." I smile back.
"What's up?" She asks sensing something is off.
"Nothing." I deny.
"Is it that guy, Austin?" She asks, and I nod. I have told her a bit about his mood swings, but nothing about the music. "Is he hot?" She teases.
"Definitely hot, I just wish his personality was attractive too." I roll my eyes.
"Is he a douchebag?" She asks intrigued.
"I wouldn't say a douchebag, but self-observed ass at times seems to fit him. He shifts so quickly between his moods and I really can't follow. " I explain, and Trish gives me that look there says that she knows there's something I'm not saying. "We kinda had an argument this morning." I admit.
"Over what?"
"I went to his room to ask him if he wanted some breakfast and then I noticed he hadn't unpacked or anything, so after breakfast I asked if he wanted any help painting or decoration it. I thought it would make it feel more like his own then, but then he got all weird and said he didn't want to make anything of it because he would be leaving for New York at the first chance he gets, then I did something stupid…" I hesitate.
"What did you do, Ally…" She says looking a little worried and I get why, sometimes I really speak before I think.
"I asked him why he was in a rush to get back to his father when he lied and cheated on his mom for years… The short version is that he didn't believe me and also that clearly this was the first he heard of it…" I shake my head.
"That was bad…" Trish says.
"I know." I say.
"Maybe he just needs time to adjust to being here, why don't you apologize for what you said and ask him to join us at the bonfire party at the beach tonight?" She says widely.
"That might be a good idea, he doesn't know anyone here yet and maybe if he did things would be a little easier." I agree.
I spend a few hours with Trish at the mall buying now outfits for the party tonight before I head back home. Trish loves dressing up and shopping, it's not really my thing, but I enjoy it with her because she's always so ecstatic about it. I leave my new things before I head for Austin's room, but I hesitate to knock, but eventually I do.
"Come in." He says annoyed and I carefully open the door.
"Hi."
"Did you want something?" He asks with a roll of his eyes.
"Listen, I think we got off on the wrong foot this morning. I am sorry for what I said, you were right it's none of my business. Perhaps I heard it wrong." I apologize. "There's a bonfire at the beach tonight. I'm going with a few friends and I think you should join." I say, hoping he'll consider it.
"Sure, it's not like I got anything better to do." He says disinterested.
"Well I leave at 7 if you want to go." I say before I leave his room.
Austin's P.O.V
I hear Ally walk into her own room. I feel kinda bad for what I said to her, but she was seriously out of line. I thought she understood that I'm only here for as long as I have to be and telling lies about my father won't change that. We have been quite civil since I got here and now, I being to believe that it might have been a mistake on my part to lower my guard around her. I might have to be a little ruder to her just to make sure she won't start to believe that we are friends or worse that I'd want to stay here. I decide not to dwell on it, for now anyway.
Instead I try calling Cass again, but as all the other times I've tried I only get her voicemail. I've texted and called her a few times over these few weeks I've been here, but I never get a response from her. I'm so confused about it all and most of all how she just cuts me off like this. I send her a text.
Cass, please… Why are you ignoring me? – A
I wait for a while… My heartrate speeds up when it says 'read' at the bottom of the screen and the three dots appear, they haven't since that first day I texted her.
I'm sorry, Aus… I'm not trying to ignore you, but I missed you so much when you left that I had to think about something else… We can't keep in touch anymore… It's the only way we'll be able to move on… I'm sorry, but please don't text or call me anymore. – C
I look at her text and it breaks my heart, she doesn't even want to talk to me… She wants it to be like I just disappeared from her life, but I don't want her to just disappear from mine… I have to get back to New York before it's too late, I half consider taking my car and drive there right this second…
Cass, don't do this… I don't want you to just disappear from my life just like that. – A
I have to, Aus. I'm not ready to talk to you and if you really love me then you'll accept it. You have to let me go. – C
I never stopped loving you, Cass. So, if this is really what you want then I'll let you go. – A
It is what I want. I never stopped loving you either, but this is too painful. – C
Okay… I'll stop texting and calling, but you'll text me whenever you're ready, right? – A
Yes. – C
I put my phone down and deep down I know… She's trying to move on and by now she might not want me to come back, but it doesn't mean I won't. If I got the chance to move back home I would and then I would fight for her. I take my phone and press on the Facebook app, whenever I miss her the most I click on her profile and look at her picture. I go through my list of friends, but her name isn't there.
I search for her name and find that she has unfriended me on her Facebook, but that's not what hurts the most. All the pictures of us together is gone from her profile and under her status it says 'in a relationship with Luke Evens', she's dating my former best friend and there's even a picture of the two of them kissing. I thought it was the ultimate betrayal when they replaced me only a day later, but no… The fact that he made a move on my girl when I left is the ultimate betrayal… No wonder I haven't heard from him because apparently, he was too busy replacing me and moving in on my girl. I click on his name and unfriend him, I don't want or need a friend like that.
I begin to think that by the time I can get out of here there won't be anything for me back in New York, I might have to rethink it. I mean I don't have my band, my friends or my girl only my dad, so it's beginning to feel pointless. I decide that I do want to go to this party after all, it's way better than sitting here knowing my girlfriend moved on with my best friend. I look through a box with clothes until I find something suitable for a party.
While I wait for time to pass I tune comes into my head and even though I don't play anymore I grab my guitar. I play around with the chords and some words maybe a title, in the end of the melody I sing the words…
I almost feel like it was just a dream
All the memories of you and me
I put down my guitar and write it down, but I don't have to think much to have a strong feeling that the song might be about Cass.
Ally's P.O.V
It's almost 7 pm and I'm just about ready for the party. I pick out a red short strapless dress with matching shoes and at 5 minutes to 7, I receive a text from Gavin.
I'm out front - G
Be right out - A
I hurry out of my room not wanting to keep Gavin waiting. "Austin, did you want to come?" I ask loudly and not even a second later he walks out of his room wearing a red shirt and black jeans, even I have to admit that he looks really hot like that. I love the color red on him… He looks up at me and for a moment he stops in his tracks eyeing me up and down, it makes me go crimson.
"Yeah, let's go." He agrees and follow me outside. My mother and Mimi are thrilled that Austin is going with me to a party, so we are free go and stay out late. Gavin gets out of the car just as I walk out of the front door, he pulls me in for a kiss and I kiss him back.
"Hey babe, you look stunning." He says eyeing me up and down, I blush. "Who's that?" He asks looking at Austin.
"Oh, yeah sorry, I'm being terribly rude, Gavin this is Austin, he's staying with us for a while with his mom, you can say they're friends of the family. Austin this is Gavin, my boyfriend." I introduce them, they shake hands briefly. Gavin hasn't met Austin until today because he usually keeps to himself and I don't know what made him decide to come, but I'm happy he did.
"Should I drive in my own car?" He asks me and then looks at Gavin.
"You can get a ride with us if you want." I offer knowing Gavin may not like it.
"Sure."
We all get in the car and drive for the beach, I know Gavin really wanted us to be alone tonight, but I felt sorry for Austin because he doesn't know anyone here and I feel guilty about what I said. The drive is less than five minutes, we could have walked, we just didn't because Gavin lives 15 minutes away, so he could pick us up on the way. We get out of the car and I see my group of friends waiting for us.
I walk hand-in-hand with Gavin and Austin walks beside us. "Hey guys." I smile as we get close enough for them to hear. "Austin, this is Trish, Jace, Dez, Carrie, Dallas, Kira and you've already met Piper. Guys this is Austin, he and his mom are staying with me and my mom for a while." I introduce them. I have to suppress a giggle when Trish makes eyes at me and when we begin to walk, 'hot is an understatement of a century' she whispers under her breath only for me to hear and it makes me giggle.
We all walk together to the bonfire party, there's already a lot of people here. Our gang goes to get drinks before we spread out a little, I see Austin is talking to Piper, they could make a cute couple I note for myself. I sit in Gavin's lap listening to horror stories and the more we drink the scarier the stories become or maybe we're just too drunk to realize how lame the stories have become.
The music becomes louder and with the large amount of alcohol I've consumed I feel the need to dance that's why I pull Gavin with me. We sway to the beat of the music, I know he loves slow songs because he gets to have me closer. I rest my head against his chest and he wrap his arms around me, it feels so wonderfully good.
"Finally, some alone time." He whispers.
"I know." I giggle.
"Why did you bring that guy, Austin, was it?" He asks.
"He doesn't know anyone and it's not fun to sit at home. I promise once he knows this place a little better then we don't need to drive him anywhere." I promise him.
"It's fine, Ally. I just want some time with you and this right now feels like summer." He places a kiss on my neck and I moan quietly.
"Yeah, this is summer." I agree. He kisses all the way down of my neck before placing his lips over mine, I kiss him with passion.
"Do you want to disappear for a while with me to my parents' cabin?" He asks huskily and at this point I want him so bad, it has been awhile. Almost a month, I think, but in my drunken state I'm not too sure and I don't really care.
"Yeah, let's go!" I moan.
An hour or two later we're back on the beach touching, grinning and enjoying each other. I look around to locate my friends, everyone is still here either drinking, listen to stories or dancing. Austin and Piper are dancing suggestively, I have a feeling that they'll be an item soon enough even though he just lost his girlfriend not too long ago. The party goes on for hours with drinking and dancing, I spend the most of my time with Gavin, but I mingle a little. Everything get blurrier the more I drink and soon I remember nothing.
…
24 July 2012
I wake up with a major headache luckily in my bed, I feel a pair of strong hands around me and I open my eyes to see Gavin in my bed. Wow, I'm gonna be in so much trouble if my mom finds him here in my bed naked. Yep she definitely won't like this, she doesn't even know that I'm not a virgin anymore I'll have to see if I can sneak him out without her noticing.
"Morning babe." He groans.
"When did we get in last night?" I ask, but hiss when the sound of my voice hurts my head.
"I don't know."
"Ugh! I hate the day after a party." I whine.
"At least we had a good time." He smirks, but groans when it makes his head hurt.
"I'm gonna go shower." I say getting out of bed, but I only get in the shower before Gavin is in the shower with me, why doesn't that surprise me?
The shower takes 'a little longer' than usual and I have to bite my lip to keep quiet, it's definitely a very pleasurable shower this morning or is it noon? I have no idea. We get dressed right after getting out of the shower, we walk right to the kitchen to get an aspirin and some food.
He leaves right after breakfast since I wasn't busted yet, I look at the time and it reads 9 am so that's why. I decide to watch a movie in the living room since my hangover is keeping me from doing anything productive anyway.
2 hours later both of our moms are awake and of course they had to notice that Austin isn't home which worries me since I have no idea what he did last night or where he ended up after the party, but luckily, he answers the phone when Mimi calls promising to be right home, a half hour later he walks through the front door.
"Austin Moon! Where have you been!? You can't just stay out all night without telling me where you are!" Mimi snaps.
"Sorry." He groans clearly hungover.
"Where were you?" Mimi snaps.
"I crashed at a friend's house." He says, and I have a feeling that means he slept with Piper last night.
"Why didn't you just come home?" She asks.
"I don't know… I lost track of time, I guess… It was too late to go home when I noticed." He says annoyed.
"Mimi, it was my fault, I talked him into going to the party. I just wanted him to meet some people and then it got a little crazy." I admit trying to help him.
"I'm happy you went out as I said last night, but I'm grounding you for a couple of days for not coming home and because you didn't call or text." Mimi says firmly and Austin groans going to his room.
I get up from the couch to get an aspirin and a glass of water, I also bring him some of the pancakes I made with Gavin this morning. I walk to his room and knock on his door, I walk in when he groans.
"Sorry about you getting grounded, I've brought you aspirin, water and pancakes." I say putting it on the table.
"Thanks." He smiles slightly.
"Where did you go? I don't remember much?" I ask.
"I went home with Piper, we kinda hit it off right away so thanks for introducing us." He smiles a half smile.
"Yeah, she's a nice girl. Please don't break her heart, she just went through a nasty break up not too long ago." I say carefully.
"What kinda a guy do you think I am?" He asks offended.
"I don't know you, so I wouldn't know, it's just she's my friend and I don't want to see her hurt again." I explain.
"I don't plan on hurting her, Ally." He says annoyed.
"Good." I say and leave his room. I have a feeling that the civil thing between us is over now which I know is partly my fault.
25 July 2012
It has been a day since the party and Austin is still grounded for staying out, I feel really bad for him since it was kinda my fault. He barely left his room at all since he got grounded, I heard him ask if he could have a friend over this morning, but his mom wouldn't let him. I feel guilty for getting him in trouble and that has me walking to his door. I knock on his door hoping he won't be mad at me for coming to talk to him. I hear him say 'come in', so I open the door and then close it behind me.
"Hey." I smile.
"Hey." He says almost ignoring me.
"Look, I'm so sorry you're still grounded, and I know it's partly my fault, is there anything I can do to make it easier?" I ask, and he looks at me.
"Yeah, you could stop meddling in my business!" He snaps.
"It doesn't have to be like this between us, I would like us to be friends or at least get along like we did before, it would make all of our lives easier." I whisper.
"I don't really want to be your friend because that got me grounded!" He says rudely.
"No, you could have gone home!" I cross my arms over my chest.
"I did! I just couldn't get in because you had the key and you've already gone home, I only had Piper's number! You know she even called you, but you didn't answer." He says angrily.
"I'm sorry! I was drunk, I don't remember much of that night!" I defend myself crossing my arms over my chest.
"That much was clear!" He says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I snap.
"It means you were so attached to your so-called boyfriend that I couldn't tell where you ended, and he began, but I suppose that's what happens when you get drunk!" He says in a harsh tone.
"I'm allowed to kiss my boyfriend!" I roll my eyes at him.
"Sure, but getting that drunk? Seriously? I only knew you, so what was I supposed to do?" He arches a brow.
"I didn't mean to make you feel left out." I say guiltily.
"You know what? Never mind." He shrugs it off.
"Look, I am sorry."
"Just forget it, okay?" He says disinterested.
I leave his room and walk into my own, he's very hard to talk to and I feel like everything I do is wrong. I was right about one thing… The civil thing where we tolerate each other and even sometimes enjoy each other's company is over. Sometimes I wonder why I keep trying…
…
27 July 2012
I have more or less avoided talking to Austin for since our argument, but I know I need to do something about my mistakes. He's still grounded and it's my fault, it should have been me for leaving him there. He was responsible by going somewhere else to crash, when I locked him out of the house by mistake. He could totally have ratted me out, but he didn't. I owe him big for this which is why I decide to do something I know will make him happy. I pick up my phone and invite Piper over here because I know he wants to see her. A half hour later she knocks on the front door, I let her in.
"Hey, thanks for coming. Have you talked to Austin?" I ask her.
"Not much, he said he was grounded." She shrugs.
"He is and it's totally my fault. Thanks for letting him crash at your place." I say.
"I like him, Ally. He's a really nice guy and I need that after Cole." She says with a goofy smile on her face.
"I know, so do you want me to help you sneak into his room?" I ask with a mischievous smile on my lips.
"Why would you do that?" She asks gratefully.
"You're my friend I want to see you happy, besides I feel like I owe him since I got him locked out of the house." I admit as we head upstairs, and I knock on his door. He groans, but I open the door anyway. He instantly gets up when he sees Piper and look questionably at me. "I snuck her in, our moms think she's here to hang out with me. I'll be in my room as long as she's here, just knock on the wall when you want me to follow her out and please don't get caught, I don't want to get you into more trouble because of me." I explain and to my luck Austin actually smiles at me for the very first time in a while, wow, I really do like his smile.
"Thanks, Ally." Piper smiles at me.
"Yeah thanks." Austin says completely focused on Piper and I take it as my cue to leave.
I stay in my room for hours working on lyrics to my songs, I smile for myself because I hear them laughing and talking, I finally did something right. It's almost dinner time when I hear a quiet knock on my wall, I leave my room and knock on Austin's door. Piper comes out smiling widely and I grin because I love seeing her happy.
"Thank you Ally, I had the best time today." She says.
"You're welcome, I thought you both needed to have a good time." I smile.
"I appreciate it. I really like him." She giggles, and I smile for myself, I'm happy he's good to her. I follow her out keeping up the pretend that she was here to see me and since we're so close friends my mother doesn't even question it.
Austin's P.O.V
It's late and I'm lying in my bed thinking about my day with Piper. It makes me smile because she's so easy going and spending time with her makes me forget why I was mad to be here in the first place. We talked about nothing really, but still I had the best time and I found out just how much I like kissing her. Even now I can't keep the ridiculous grin off my face… I knew she was attracted to me when I first met her with Ally, but at the party she was undeniable, and I fund that I like to be around her. I half regret sleeping with her because I don't want her to think that all I wanted from her, but I guess after today she does know that I want more than that.
I'm more conflicted now because I want to see where things will go with Piper, but a small part of me still want to return to New York to win Cass back. I selfish part of me knows I only slept with Piper because I was hurting over Cass, but I don't want Piper to ever know that since it was so wrong of me. That's why I'm relieved that I like her and enjoy her company because I can make this right and make up for the selfish mistake I made. I know she was as willing as me, but I'm not stupid… She wouldn't have been if she knew why I sort her out at that party although it wasn't my plan to sleep with her just to kiss which we did a lot of – the rest sort of happened.
I'm considering going to sleep soon when I realize it's late, but I feel way too thirsty. I leave my room and when I close my door I hear my father's name. I see my mother in her room pacing back and forth while talking on the phone. I can't stop myself from listening in on their conversation.
"Drop the excuses, Mike. You always do this to me and what am I supposed to do?" She asks, and I can see the frustration and stress clearly on her face as he talks to her. "What do you want me to do? You know, Austin still thinks you wanted him to stay with you in New York, that I pulled him away from his dad and moved him across country because I'm a bad person. I don't dare tell him the truth, I don't dare… It would break his heart. I'm sick of covering for you all the time… I'm sick of being the bad person." She says as her voice almost cracks. "Fine, hang up then." She says raising her voice a bit and then looks at her phone. "Mike? Damn it!" She put down her phone and I know he just hang up on her. I stand there dumbstruck, maybe Ally was right about my father.
"Mom." I say, and she looks at me with tears in her eyes.
"Oh Austin." She says wiping her tears. "I'm sorry, you weren't supposed to see this." She says trying to collect herself and that makes me feel like a horrible person. She shouldn't have to protect me like this…
"Did dad cheat on you?" I ask, and I hold my breath for a moment, but when she doesn't answer I ask again. "Did he?" I repeat softly.
"Yes..." She says with a deep breath.
"Why didn't you tell me the truth? I defended him, I wanted to live with him and I was horrible to you! To everyone! And this whole time he didn't even want me." I say miserably and full of self-loathing. I feel horrible about the way I've been acting lately.
"I didn't want to burden you with the truth and I didn't want you to think less of your father." She says, and I see it now, all she does is covering for him.
"You should have told me about it because then I would have been happy to get away from him and I wouldn't have taken it out on you." I whisper.
"I know, but you were always so close with him and I didn't want to ruin it for you. I didn't want to take away the father you knew." She whispers.
"I'm sorry mom, for everything and I love you." I say softly.
"I love you too and you're not grounded anymore." She whispers. "You should get some sleep though." She adds caringly and for the first time since we got here I can accept her love and concern.
"Good night, mom." I say offering her a smile.
"Good night." She says and kisses my forehead gently, she smiles back and goes into her room.
In this moment I feel so guilty, I've been acting out on all of the wrong people and truth be told I don't like the guy I've become. I like the guy I once was, but lately I haven't been that guy and now I have to try to get back to the guy I used to be. I start by knocking on Ally's door, I have to apologize to her for the way I've treated her.
"Come in." She whispers, I open her door and closes it behind me. She sits up watching me as I walk over to her bed and sit down on the edge of it. I want to apologize, but nothing is coming out of my mouth. "I heard and I'm sorry, I thought you knew..." She whispers when I still keep quiet.
"No don't be sorry, I'm happy you told me." I say softly. "I'm here to tell you that I am so sorry for the way I've treated you. I know you only tried to help me." I hang my head to look down. I know I haven't deserved any of the kindness she has shown me.
"Your mom, she didn't want to damage your relationship with your father and then I messed that up. I feel awful and I wish I could take it back." She whispers the last part looking down. I don't want her to feel bad about it. I place my hand under her chin gently making her look at me.
"I don't. I wanted to know the truth and I finally got it and now it makes sense. I was hurting my mom, your mom and you when I should have been mad at him instead. I'm sorry I've been such a brad, I'm not usually like that. I'm really grateful for what you did for me today sneaking Piper in here." I smile sincerely at her.
"I haven't exactly been nice to you either leaving you at a party, locking you out of the house and then getting you grounded, I'm sorry." She says ashamed.
"I'm the one who should be sorry, you really tried to make me feel welcome here and no one has really done that for me before. You had the best intentions and you didn't have to introduce me to you friends. I should have made sure I had a key and your number in case, I didn't, so it's not just on you." I say finally taking some of the responsibility for what happened.
"What about a clean slate? We could just start over?" She offers and I'm down for that.
"I would like that." I nod. "I'm Austin." I say holding out my hand and she giggles, I find that I really like the sound of her giggle.
"I'm Ally." She shakes my hand and there it is again. It's the same feeling I got when I accidentally touched her hand. I let go of her hand not wanting to make it uncomfortable.
"Nice to meet you Ally." I smile.
"You too." She grins.
"I'll head to bed, goodnight, Ally." I grin back at her.
"Goodnight." She says.
I leave her room with a good feeling because I know I can make things right with her even after all the shit I pulled her through. I'm grateful for her efforts to make me feel welcome here and it's about time I may try to make this more permanent. I think I might take Ally up on her offer to help me do something with my room.
