It was weird having him scoot so close. She was used to being around him, she was used to their hugs…but when it came to him only inches away from her, she couldn't handle it.

"So, uh." She blushed. "What's the plan for your date with Kira?"

Austin smiled. "Well, I was thinking a picnic. Maybe at the park."

"That's a good idea." Ally's smile hinted at a frown; why would she frown? It's Austin. Her music partner, her best friend, nothing more…right?

"Oh, and I was thinking maybe I could play her a song." He beamed.

"I'm assuming you mean a song that I'm going to write." She joked.

"Please?" He pouted.

"Not the puppy dog eyes!" She closed her eyes and turned away from him.

"Ally." Austin whined, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. "Pleeeeeaaaaaasssseeee!"

"Okay, okay!" She wiggled out of his grasp. "But the last time I did that, it didn't go so well."

"This is different."

"How?"

"Well, it's ummm…." Austin tried thinking of how this situation is entirely different from Cassidy.

"Well?" She asked, then giggled. "Austin, seriously? I thought you really liked Kira." She reached over and grabbed her song book out of her purse. "Now, tell me, what is it that you like about her?"

"She, uh…" He looked at her closely and breathed out heavily. "She's beautiful, no…gorgeous. She's an amazing girl, and she's smart, and she has the cutest smile."

"Uh huh." She nodded her head, jotting down the things he was saying. "So, how does she make you feel?"

"Like…Like my heart's racing, like I can't breathe when she's not around."

Ally kept her eyes glued to her book and failing to notice how close he was getting.

"She makes me feel like I can be so much more. Like I can do anything…like anything I dream of can come true."

"Hm." Ally studied her notes, already writing down the first line of lyrics. "Okay, so mmph-."

Ally's sentence was cut off by Austin smashing his lips against hers. Her eyes went wide and she tried to pull away, but he put his hand on the back of her neck.

Austin couldn't help it; the girl he was describing wasn't Kira, or Cassidy, or Brooke, or any other girl he had dated…he was describing Ally; what he felt for her, how she made him feel.

"Austin." She finally pulled herself away from him. "What the heck was that?!" She stood up; she wasn't angry, she was panicking. The kiss was sudden, it was out of nowhere, and it was amazing.

"It was a kiss." He stated simply, standing in front of her.

"Why?!"

"Because I like you." He scratched the back of his neck nervously.

"No, you don't! You like Kira!"

"I thought I did!" Austin reached for her, but she took a step away from him. "Ally…"

"Y-You're just afraid that Kira won't like you back, yeah!" She shook her head. "All you need is confirmation that she has feelings for you and-."

"Ally!" He grabbed her shoulders gently. "Listen to me. I like you and only you. You're right, I was afraid, afraid that you didn't like me back."

"But, I…I do like you." She whispered. "But so does Kira." She moved away from him. "And she's Jimmy's daughter, it could cost you your entire career."

"No." He insisted, stepping towards her until she backed into the door. "I realize what's at stake, Ally, I really do. But I don't want to lose you in the process of it all."

"I don't want you giving up your career for me, Austin, that's stupid."

"I don't care." He brushed his lips against hers.

She clung to him, feeling him smile in the kiss and almost laughing as she pulled away. "I don't know. What if this ends badly?"

"It won't." He reassured. "Everything will be fine, I promise. Please, give me a chance?"

"Okay." She smiled. "Okay."

Austin sighed with relief and leaned his forehead against hers. "I'll explain to Kira and Jimmy."

"You're amazing, you know that?" She smiled up at him.

"Yeah, I'm pretty awesome." He gave her a smug smile.

She laughed and pushed at him playfully.