Chapter 4: Paparazzi

I must have had something bad to eat last night. because, I've been feeling sick all morning. I told my mom. She gave me a pill, but It's not helping. I wanted to stay home and rest, but I'm supposed to be releasing my Christmas album this year, and Christmas is right around the corner, so we need to use all the time we have.

We'll have a perfect Christmas, and I have all I need

Now I know what it means, to have a perfect Christmas

Everyone side by side, living the dream of my,

Perfect Christmas

"You know, this song is really good."

"I know, right. I shocked myself."

I laughed as I brought the pen over to her so that she could title the track.

"I'm really glad we took out time to do this. It was really fun." Ally said as she titled our wonderful song, 'Perfect Christmas'. The perfect title for the perfect song.

"You don't know how much I wish I could put this on my Christmas album." I sighed.

"You should."

"Ally, you know I can't do that. My parents would kill me if they found out I was releasing a song that I wrote myself."

"Well, if it helps, I wrote the song with you." She joins me on the couch.

"It doesn't. They're going to be even more upset, because I was writing with you." I said frustratingly entangling my hands with my hair. I sat hunched over on the piano deeply sighing. I just wish sometimes, I could sing my own songs. I wish my parents would have more confidence in me, to let me write and record my own music.

"Hey," She said making me look up at her. "We should do something tonight. We should go out."

"What are you talking about, we just did something. We wrote an entire song, I'm tired."

"I know, and now you're stressed out. Obviously music isn't releasing the tension, so we need to get out. Go bowling or something." She grabbed my hand standing up as she pulled me along with her.

"Ally, I don't feel like it." I whined as we walked out of her bedroom.

"I don't care. You need it." She told me before she grabbed the keys and headed out the door.

Ally told her mom we were going out for a bit and she was fine with it.

We drove for a while listening to music and I noticed, Ally missed the exit for the bowling Alley.

She just smiled as I pointed out her mistake. She said she wanted to walk around for a bit downtown. I was perfectly fine with that. I didn't want to go bowling anyway. You have to be in a certain mood for that sort of thing.

It was nice walking through the town. Just her and I. We didn't talk or anything. We just silently enjoyed each other's company during the long peaceful stroll. Around 7pm it became a little chilly. I had a jacket, but Ally didn't. I tried to ignore her shivers and her constant gestures, but they were getting harder and harder to ignore, and soon I just felt like a jerk for trying to ignore them. I didn't want to give her my jacket, so I offered to buy her one.

"Thanks Austin, I was freezing." She thanked me as we walked out of the store with her new jacket.

"I know, I could-"

"You could tell, yeah I'm well aware. And I was about to get really mad if you didn't offer me your jacket. But this is even better." I laughed lightly to myself.

We continued to stroll down the street enjoying the cool breeze of the night. Through the fog, I saw a few shadows. At first I thought it was nothing, but as I kept looking back, the vision became clear. I began to walk behind Ally so she wouldn't notice my consistent glares behind us. There were about 6 people. My heart dropped and I began to worry. I quickly caught up with Ally before she turned a corner and drifted further into the town.

"Ally, we should go back to the car." I whispered with urgency filling my tone. She didn't understand.

"Already? But I'm really enjoying myself."

"I am too, but I think it's time to go home now. It's getting late."

"Sure, 8:00 is super late. What's wrong?"

I grabbed her hand and sped walked as fast as I could towards where our car was parked.

Ally was terrified of Paparazzi. She was always afraid when they crowd around her and ask a bunch of questions. She gets these weird anxiety attacks. And I was not in the mood to help her through another one.

"Umm don't worry about it. Just trust me."

"Okay." She answered not giving it a second thought. I continued to hold her hand as we arrived in the parking garage. I thought I had lost them, but when I looked back, there they were. Quickly approaching us. In about five seconds, they were going to start talking to us, bombarding us with questions, getting us to partake in the discussion of rumors, and other junk we don't care about.

I casually looked back not wanting Ally to notice, but at this point, there was no purpose is trying to protect her from seeing them. All that's left to do now, is calmly warn her. If that's possible.

A long time ago before Ally became really popular, she went on this summer tour with me. I was performing at this fair, which had a mall next to it. I had a little extra time after sound check, so I decided to check it out. Ally came with me. I was used to people following me a little bit when I went into a store, but I was not used to mobs of people following me throughout the entire mall. I didn't bring my bodyguard because I didn't think I would need him. I figured no one would recognize me because I had a hat on. Any way, I was wrong. People recognized me and it freaked Ally out.

We walked into Hollister with a few people following us and a few people with cameras waiting outside the store. I remember looking at the shirts and Ally was nervous because of all the attention shoppers were giving us.

"Austin, this is really weird. I don't like this." She told me trying to get me to leave the store.

"Just ignore them, it's fine." I insisted, but things were getting worse. People started getting closer and closer and starting touching me. That's when I got a little angry.

"Austin, can we just leave?" Ally pleaded as the girls started giving her dirty looks saying rude comments like 'Ugh, she's not even pretty. Why is Austin Moon dating her.' or 'She's too skinny I bet she's anorexic.' All nonsense.

Austin! you should go out with me!

Austin you're hot!

I love you!

Yeah, well if you love me you'll leave me the heck alone. I thought as I tried to get Ally out of the store. It was easy for me to block out what the people were saying, but it wasn't so easy for Ally. I could tell the words actually meant something to her. And they were hurting her feelings.

I did what I usually do and didn't say anything. I shoved my way through the crowd of mostly girls that filled the room. I held her hand so that I wouldn't lose her as we made our way through the crowd.

Look! They're holding hands!

See, they're dating!

Ugh I guess they are dating

Austin will you hold me hand!

Austin!

Austin!

That girls kinda ugly

She's not good enough for you

She has a big nose

Ally and I were hearing all these comments before we reached the exit. Well, I just heard them, Ally was listening. I felt bad for her, so I turned around and said something.

"Hey! Stop saying mean things. You're making my friend upset! Keep your ugly comments to yourself!" I yelled just before we exited the store. I managed to buy the shirt, but it wasn't worth it. By the time we got to our car, we had been through even worst things. Ally started to feel self conscious. The whole experience almost discouraged her to the point of not pursuing her music career. I convinced her she was the opposite of what those girls were saying. I believed she was the prettiest girl in the world. And I told her exactly that.

So, I calmly whispered to Ally that the paparazzi were behind us and that they were going to start asking us questions soon.

"You don't need to answer any of their questions. Okay? In fact don't. It's better not to say anything."

She nodded as her eyes began to widen and her grip tightened in my hand. She swallowed deeply looking back with a worried expression.

"Don't freak out. You're fine. I'm right here." I reassured her trying to walk faster before the people with cameras attacked us with flashes and endless invasive questions.

Austin Moon is this your girl?

Austin, are you dating Ally Dawson

Austin what's your ideal girlfriend

Austin what do you have to say about the twitter fight between the Weeknd and Adam Levine?

And the attack begins.

Ally remained silent, as did I and we continued our journey to the car.

Austin is your song 'Heartbeat' about Ally?

For some reason, that question really made me want to say something. It wasn't a rude question or anything, it was just aggravating. Basically, I really hated recording Heartbeat because I didn't think it was a good song. Despite it's relentless repeat on the radio. It is such a cliche song. The idea that I would write a song that cliche and horrible about Ally is insulting. If I were to write a song about Ally, it would be about how great of a friend she is and how much I can depend on her. Not about how fast I can make her heartbeat. Although this is against everything I stand for…

"No, it's not about her. That song's trash."

As soon as the words flew off my lips I regretted it. I just called my own song trash. Ally was just as shocked as me. And on top of all that, one of the cameramen got a little physical.

"Sir, backup please. Hey, man backup. I can barely move."

I was slowly getting angrier and angrier. One of the paparazzi were blocking Ally from getting to the other side of the car. This is what really got me upset. She was basically whispering to the people to move out of the way. I could tell she was trying not to have a melt down.

Austin you think your own song is trash?

Austin why are you releasing bad music?

Oh my freaking gosh. I was so done.

"I literally just freaking told you to move! If I can't get into my freaking car, we have a problem." I growled angrily.

Ally just kept her head down shielding her face. She still couldn't get in on her side. I grabbed her hand again and brought her over to my side and lead her in. She scooted over to the passenger seat then I got in.

"So. freaking. ridiculous." I muttered turning the car on.

I was just about ready to run over all of them. But I didn't. I guess I wasn't that angry.

"Are you okay?" I asked Ally on our way home.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Are you? You practically blew up back there."

"I know. I'm definitely going to pay for this in a few days."

I really liked this chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it as well. Until Next Time!