Hey everyone, just checking in to let you know what the future of this fic will look like. This chapter is all about the first episode of season 4, and if I'm being honest, the season has so many good Ausly moments that I probably won't have many chapters for it. Nevertheless, I am completely open to suggestions on what to write about! I want to hear any scenarios or ideas that you have for season 4, I'll take it into account and most likely use them. I just write this for fun because I love writing, especially romance, and I've always loved this show. I can't guarantee when a new chapter will be up because I am very busy, but this story isn't over :)

(Buzzcuts & Beginnings, episode timestamp- 5:23)

"Anyway… How's Austin been dealing with the whole not performing thing?" Trish asked at the piano bench in the practice room, finally setting down her phone after a lot of angry texts with Boynado. Ally hesitated to answer her, trying to decide if Austin would want her to tell Trish about his struggles. If she was going to answer honestly she'd say that Austin had been thinking about his music a lot, and even though he loved being with Ally on her tour, he was getting down about his own future and had even been writing his own songs despite the fact that he could never play them. She decided she shouldn't say anything, Austin had only ever expressed his feelings about his situation to her before.

"You know what? He's great. He's totally happy just hanging out behind the scenes."

Trish nodded.

"Austin doesn't even think about playing music anymore." She finished, but it panged her heart to say it knowing how untrue it was. Trish seemed happy to hear it, however, so that was good.

"You know, I'm kind of sad tonight is the last show of the tour." Ally commented, and that was truthful.

"So, I guess what I'm saying is-" Trish cut her off with another Boynado phone call.

"Hang on, Boynado is driving me crazy." Trish fumed. Ally was getting a little bit annoyed with Trish's constant contact with them by this point, they'd barely been able to have a full conversation. She knew Trish just needed to do her job, although she was wondering why she was continuing to stick with it. She could hear Austin and Dez talking faintly downstairs and it made her happy; she was so glad they were all back together despite the inconveniences.

(Later that night after the show- timestamp 10:40)

"This is Ronnie now… Sorry Austin." Ally said softly, hating to see the disappointment in his eyes after his 2 best friends and girlfriend revealed that they'd be gone for the whole school year. She placed a hand on his arm and kissed his cheek gently before answering the phone, trying to show genuine apology in her eyes. He still seemed down, but she understood why. As she walked off to take the call, she started to feel terrible about what the year would look like. She had to talk to Ronnie before she could ruminate on it.

When she was done on the phone, Ally texted Austin and to tell him that she had a lot of wrap up to do at the venue and he didn't need to wait on her, so he texted back saying that he would go home and see her tomorrow. It would be weird for them to just go back home with their parents after basically living together all summer, and Ally felt unsatisfied with their goodbye. What she was thinking about the most though was her tour… was immediately doing a European tour alone the right decision?

She would miss Austin terribly every day and she knew he'd miss her too, especially after their amazing summer. He'd be stuck in Miami just going to school, which he already doesn't like WITH his friends there, and he'd have no outlet for his emotions and musical passion. She'd be busy in another continent without him by her side 24/7 like she'd become accustomed to- what would she do with herself during free time? She'd have nobody to go exploring with, and if she found someone to hang out with, it wouldn't be Austin. Despite these heavy doubts, Ally knew that a European tour would be huge for her and an amazing opportunity, so she had no serious thoughts of backing out yet. She did know that she needed to talk to him as soon as she could, however. She was already sad that they weren't staying on the bus together again that night. Life was changing drastically and she just wasn't sure how to handle it.

(1 week later- Buzzcuts & Beginnings on the way to the military school)

Ally sat in the passenger seat of Trish's car, still feeling shocked but determined to get to Austin at the military school before it was too late. A mix of anger and pity was weaving in and out of her brain as she numbly stared down at the letter he had written her.

Dear Ally,

Our summer was incredible, the best summer of my life, even without music. I loved spending time with you, Dez and Trish this week too. It's been the best. But I've been feeling off this week knowing I'll be going to school by myself, so I knew I needed to do something about it. I talked to my mom and I've decided to go to military school. I left today and I'll be there for nine months while you all are away. I didn't have the heart to say goodbye to you in person, it would be too hard. I'll see you again once my school is over and your tour has ended, and trust me, I'm already excited. I'll have so many amazing memories to think about while I'm there, like our walk through Bourbon street and those weird squirrels we followed in Colorado. Oh and the night we lost your shoe in Dallas… that was an adventure. Those are just a few. I'll miss you every day, I just think I need to do this for myself, so I hope you understand. I love you, I'll see you in summer.

Love,

Austin

He had clearly been struggling that week, she'd been aware of that. But this was so unexpected. Was he seriously going to be gone for nine months with no easy way to communicate and not talk to her about it first? That was the source of her anger. How did she not realize how deeply upset he was about everything, to the point of doing something totally out of character for him? That was where her pity came from. Her heart felt so heavy for him seeing him lose music in his life that summer, and after finding that he'd been writing songs and entries in a journal she started to try to talk to him about it more, but he typically didn't like to because it made him sad. Him learning that they'd all be leaving him alone for school was the worst way to top it off. She could tell he'd been down in the last week as they spent a few days just hanging out with Trish and Dez, but she truly hadn't had a good chance to have a very good talk with him about her tour and everything yet. She'd been at all sorts of meetings in preparation for it and really hadn't spent much time with her friends or Austin. She and Austin also didn't really like to text or call each other either, especially with a really important conversation.

Despite her anger and sadness, Ally was thankful they were now on their way to the military school to stop him. Trish was getting them there fast and Dez was figuring out maps of the school in the backseat. They'd all agreed to stay in Miami and they were set up to have an amazing senior year if they could get to him on time. She was still angry, but what mattered to her most at the moment was getting to him.

(later that night, during and after the final scene of Buzzcuts & Beginnings)

After the gang was all reunited and back at the music store from the military school, the scene in the practice room was not pleasant. Ally and Trish were equipped with goggles and prepped toothbrushes, holding down Dez as they gave him a long overdue brushing. Ally would have preferred to talk to Austin before this, but Dez' breath was so unbearable in the car ride home that her priorities changed. Austin had to sit with him in the back seat but was too excited about everyone's change of plans to be bothered. Ally, however, had much more on her mind.

"Phew, thank goodness that's over with. Now go to the bathroom, rinse that out, and take these brushes and toothpaste as souvenirs. Please!" Trish proclaimed, sitting down exhaustively in one of the chairs by the piano. Dez walked off looking defeated, but everyone else was feeling triumphant.

"I hope he can stop thinking about Carrie for a while and just focus on himself and his happiness." Ally said sympathetically- a much different approach than Trish.

"Yeah I'm with you, he's been a total downer to be around. It'd be good to see the old Dez again." Austin joined in from the piano, scraping the last bit of some chinese food out of its box, and he and Ally met eyes. He could tell she was signalling that they needed to talk as Trish left the room to take a call. She walked over the piano and gingerly took a seat next to him on the bench, so he made room for her. He restrained himself from putting an arm around her. She did not look happy.

"Austin, I need to understand why you made the decision about military school without me at least hearing about it. I hope you didn't think I would shut you down or be mad. You didn't even come to tell me goodbye. We would have been apart for nine whole months without an actual goodbye, and that hurts to think about." Ally started.

"You were going to be on your tour all year and you didn't really talk to me about that. I felt like I had no other choice." He replied.

"I was going to to talk to you about it tonight, but you left for military school without telling us so it wasn't an option." Ally retorted, now feeling less pity and becoming upset with him. He was surprising her with anger of his own.

"I need to do something with my life AIly. I need structure and something to work towards. I gave up my career to be with you and when you said you'd be away from me for so long I had to choose something."

"I know Austin but you're missing my point. You needed to talk to me about this. Just talking to me wouldn't have meant that I would stop you. Also, your decision to defy Jimmy Star was your own, me choosing to do my tour was something for me and my life. As much as I was hating to be away from you, I can only let our relationship be part of my career to an extent." Ally explained, trying to cool herself down. Trish and Dez had peeked their heads into the room only to realize they should probably not come in as she spoke. Austin sighed.

"...Look. I'm sorry I didn't tell you that I was going to military school. I didn't want to make you feel bad for going on your tour, because you're right, I chose to leave my career for you and I still don't regret it. That's why I didn't tell you and I didn't want to say goodbye because I knew it would make me want to change my mind, and I didn't want it to possibly make you want to change yours. I don't want to get in the way of your career." He explained softly, and Ally watched his eyes, head tilted, trying to be understanding.

"I get it. I know you need something to do to replace music. I had a lot of doubts about going on the European tour because I didn't think I could be away from you and my normal life for that long. Especially after all the time we just had together. And as it turns out I made the right choice not to go, but before getting the chance to talk it out with you you'd left me." She responded, finding herself getting emotional unexpectedly near the end. Austin grasped one of her hands and massaged it. She let him.

"It was a terrible decision. I didn't know you were planning on talking to me about your tour. But either way, I should never have done that."

"And I shouldn't have waited so long to talk to you about it. I'm sorry." Ally added. The unwanted tears that she was suppressing dissipated as she saw his smile.

"It's ok, it's harder for us to talk when we're not always together. I miss being on the bus with you. Let's do it again sometime." He said genuinely, and she could see in his eyes the memories flashing through his head. She smiled.

"Yes, and let's both be better at talking." She said.

"Definitely." He answered. He couldn't help but kiss her lips gently, and she had no objection. Both of their emotions were turning from relief to excitement as they slowly parted.

"I can't wait for senior year now. I wasn't saying it, but I was so sad that I wasn't going to get to take chemistry again this year. But now I can!" Ally exclaimed, and Austin was in disbelief.

"I'll never understand why you think the worst parts of school are the best parts." He remarked. She scoffed.

"You think the best part of school is lunch."

"Uhh yeah. Cuz it is."

"Right…"

"Oh, Ally, I just thought of something. I could play basketball this spring. Now Jimmy can't stop me!" Austin announced joyfully. Ally's expression matched his.

"That would be great, I didn't even think about that! I'll come to every game." She said giddily. He stood from the piano bench and faked a basketball shot.

"And the final score is one hundred to zero, manatees win!" He proclaimed as he ran pretending to highfive the crowd. When he reached Ally he spun her and kissed her cheek as he continued to fake celebrate, and she laughed.

"You're crazy." She told him.

"I'm just hyped for this year." He explained breathlessly, grinning, and at that moment Trish walked through the door.

"Sorry if I'm barging in on something but we need to get to the beach club! I heard that Maroon 5 is having a random mini-concert… just put on wigs or something you two so that nobody notices who you are. We've got to get there." She stammered quickly, looking incredibly excited. The three of them just looked at each other and ran for the door. Their senior year was finally having an amazing start.