WHAT UP!

Hey guys, let me just say that I'm glad you loved the last chapter. There will also be a discussion about baby names and how Ally fared going to school pregnant.

I'am really sorry I'm updating so late. I've been distracted with taking care of my grandmother, working for my mom, and getting my boaters license. I will try to update more often, but I can't make any promise.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Austin & Ally

Chapter 9

Baby Names and School Life

Ally's POV:

I woke up that morning, feeling slightly uncomfortable as I did, and tried to rub the sleepiness from my eyes. Last night had been rough for me as baby decided to play soccer with my rib cage and cause me horrible indigestion and heartburn. Now, these are normal things to have during your pregnancy, but my little girl was like her father; stubborn and a little aggressive. I basically spent the whole night trying to find a comfortable position or downing antacids tablets.

I looked at the clock on the bedside table.

6:30 it read and I realized I had about an hour and a half to get ready for school. Now normally, it would take about maybe 30 minutes to get ready, but when you're four, almost five months pregnant, it takes a little longer.

I looked behind me, hoping to see Austin asleep beside me, but was met with an empty spot. I stared at it at little shocked.

He doesn't have a class until noon, so why is his spot empty? Ah well, whatever it is must not be that bad with he didn't wake me, so I let it be. I managed to get off the bed, supporting my back as I did, and walk into the bathroom for a shower.

After my shower I lingered for a little bit to look in the mirror and just stare at myself. My baby bump was starting to actually be a bump. I could place my hands underneath it and sort of hold it, like a lot of pictures I've seen in birthing books and classes. I kind of liked doing it, but this bump was what making me feel so anxious.

"I just hope you don't make me have to go the bathroom too often." I said to my stomach. "Last time that happened my teacher thought I was purposefully skipping class." I felt her kick me again and I jumped a little. It didn't hurt, but it still came as a surprise.

I laughed a little and blow dried my hair before heading back into the bedroom to get dressed. When I opened my closet I had to really think about what to wear. The reason being with my belly starting to get bigger, it was getting to harder to hide it from other students. One girl in my math class almost got it right, but Trish was able to scare her off by hounding her until she left.

Short skirts? No. Tight tops? No. Dresses that are tight and short? Definite no.

I huffed in frustration as I sorted through everything in my closet until I ran out of clothes. Defeated, I soon realized that I had to rely on my maternity clothes if anything was going to fit. Luckily, I did find something that is really cute and still looks age appropriate. I found a cute white long top that had short sleeves, a scoop neckline that had a lace insert in place, and it tied right under my breasts. I found some jeans that had a little more stretch in them to fit around my growing belly and black gladiator sandals that stopped at the ankle. I looked at myself in the mirror and heaved a sigh.

"Well, so much for trying to keep you hidden for a little longer." I said, realizing just how big I was. Even my most flowy tops couldn't hide my belly like I wanted and now… I guess my classmates will just have to deal with it…hopefully.

After getting dressed, I smelled something really delicious coming from the kitchen. I followed the scent into the kitchen where I found Austin standing at the stove, happily whistling as he flipped a pancake in the air. I swear he's obsessed with those things, but I love him for it. He was so caught up in his cooking that he didn't know I was there until I wrapped my arms around his waist and he jumped a little. He raised his arm up to look at me and a smile was etched on his face.

"Morning," he said, bending down to kiss me. "I can see you're feeling a little better. She finally gave you a little brake?" I shook my head in a 'no' and moved to take a plate from the cabinet.

"No, she's still kicking and using me like a human soccer ball arena. I know it means she's healthy and everything, but I barely slept at all last night." I took a fresh pancake right from the top of the stack, dressed it how I wanted, and then sat down at the small table we had set up after Dez had moved out. "Now I know she's yours because she likes to keep me up at night."

He laughed as he sat down next to me and started eating his four pancake stack.

"At least when I keep you up it's for something fun." I playfully punched his arm at that remark. Of course, he wasn't lying about what he said.

We continued to eat breakfast, making occasional conversation here and there, until Austin said,

"Aria." I looked up from my plate, giving him a questioning look.

"What?" I asked.

"That's what I want to name our daughter." He said. This came as a surprise to me because he hadn't said anything about name ideas since finding out we found we were having a girl.

"How long have you been thinking about this?" I asked. "You never said anything before."

"I know, but I've actually thought about names even before you were pregnant."

"Really, you mean you actually thought about our future that far?" I know I should be surprised by this, but in all honesty, I'm not. I knew Austin was the on for me, but I wasn't sure if he thought the same thing.

He took my hand in his and looked me straight in the eye as he spoke.

"Ally, if that ring on your finger doesn't prove that I see a future together, than I don't know what will." We both laughed at that. "I said it before and I'll say it again, I love you Ally and I can't see a life without you or our baby."

I felt my heart lift at what he said and I realized that he said the same thing when he proposed to me. How did I get such a sweet guy like Austin? Luck, I guess.

I leaned in to kiss him, but was interrupted by a knock on the door and the door opening.

"Alright, I'm just making sure that everybody's clothes are on and that there's no hanky panky going on!" I knew it was Trish before she even walked in the door. I turned back to face her.

"Everything's fine Trish, you can remove your hand from your eyes." I said as I got up and placed my dirty dishes in the sink. She removed her hand from her eyes as she adjusted her backpack on her shoulder.

"Just making sure, I mean, I know you're pregnant and all, but I also know that pregnancy can cause women to become extra frisky. And I don't want a repeat of last time." She said, shuddering a little as did. I rolled my eyes as I walked out and grabbed my backpack.

"Yes, Trish, I remember. Trust me; it wasn't a pleasant experience for us either." I said.

"Yeah, well I'll meet you out at the car." She said, walking back to the door. "And don't be long; we need to be to school on time." Trish, wanting to be at school on time? I think pigs are flying and hell has frozen over.

"Since when do you want to be on time for anything?"

"Since I was told that if I'm late one more time, I get a Saturday detention and that's my WHOLE SATURDAY!" And with that she stomped out to the apartment and to her car.

I looked back at Austin, soon realizing he was just sitting there watching that whole exchange between Trish and I. He just sat there with a smartass look on his face. He stood up and gave me a kiss and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"So, I guess I'll see you tonight? We can talk about more baby names over dinner." His face suddenly dropped from a smile to a frown.

"I wish I could, but I think Jimmy needs me to stay late at the studio to work on my album." Oh man, but I guess it can't be helped. He needs to get this album off the ground to start his career and we need the money to buy furnishings for the nursery.

"All right, but keep thinking of baby names and I promise to try and get use to the name you picked." And with that we kissed and hugged goodbye. I could hear Trish hocking the horn of her car as I walked out.

I climbed into the passenger seat, listening to her berate me about me and Austin, and we drove off to school. We sat in comfortable silence until Trish said what I had been dreading since I got in the car.

"So, I guess everyone at school is gonna know now, huh?" I didn't even have to think about what she was asking. I sighed before answering her.

"Yeah, I'm beyond the point of hiding and it was bound to happen some way, somehow. I'm just glad it wasn't through social media or from the HB." I said.

"You mean Cassidy? Yeah, she already hates you enough as it is and this is probably gonna give her more ammo to use." Trish said. I knew all about what Cassidy would do once she found out about my baby. I just hope it all blows over fast and I'll be yesterday's news in a couple of weeks.

"Yeah, well, at least I have you to help battle those bitches." We laughed together and soon, we arrived at school. Trish turned off the engine, opened the door, but stopped when she saw me linger in the car, my eyes frozen on the building in front of me.

It was now or never, past the point of no return for me as I got out the car and straightened my top. My belly could be seen and already some students were stopping to stare. I was scared, beyond scared, but I felt a hand grip mine and I looked at my best friend standing next to me. She smiled at me and I felt some anxiety become lifted from shoulders as I walked into the main building with my head held high and my best friend by my side. Let whatever this day has come at me.

Walking into the building it felt like there were a hundred eyes on me everywhere I went. I felt like some kind of animal being put on display for everyone to gawk and stare at for hours on end. The rumors and whispers had also begun.

"I can't believe this."

"How did Goody-Two Shoes Dawson get pregnant?"

"I bet it's from some one night stand."

"No wonder she was getting fat!"

Each one of those was a painful shot in the heart and even though I know none of them is real; to hear people say those things is so hurtful. I was standing at my locker getting my books out for fourth period when I heard a group of girls giggling behind me. I tried my best to ignore them as I closed my locker, but I came face to face with my worst nightmare.

"Well, well, well who would have thought that cute, little, innocent goody-two shoes Ally Dawson would be the one to get pregnant before graduating high school." Cassidy Jones, the biggest bitch of my entire high school career.

"Yeah, well, I guess you can't judge a book by its cover, now can we Cassidy?" I said, trying to keep my cool under the situation. Cassidy just smirked and looked back to her posse of wannabes. She flipped her strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder as she continued.

"So, tell me Dawson, who's the father of your unborn nerd child?" The group cackled behind her. I brought my books closer to my chest, my knuckles turning white as I did.

"That's none of your business Cassidy, nor is it anyone else's business. It's between me and her father." Her eyes widened as I mentioned my baby's gender.

"So, it's a mini Nerdy Dawson, oh how cute! Hopefully she'll take after her father and not your ugly ass face." That not only got her posse laughing, but most of the hallway as well. I suddenly didn't have any words to say, I just froze in my spot.

I felt the entire room around me disappear and my entire body felt like it just wanted to give out. I thought that I would be able to handle this kind of thing because I had done it before. People have always made fun of me because of my grades, the way I dressed or talked and for the most part I had been able to brush it off. They were just words, they didn't mean anything in the long run, but this was a whole new level of cruelty. I could feel my little girl begin to kick wildly inside me and I suddenly got that sick feeling again.

I didn't want to be here, I didn't want to hear what they were saying and more importantly, I wanted Austin. I wanted him to make this stop, to protect me, but he wasn't here. I was alone and without Trish, I was a little gazelle surrounded by dozens and dozens of lions. I felt my eyes become overwhelmed with tears when I saw something or more precisely, someone.

"Okay that's enough! Can't you see you're causing harm to this poor girl?!" I looked up to see a mop of bright red hair, wacky clothes and I felt like I could breathe again. Dez was standing in front of me, protecting me from the harpy's that were Cassidy and her group.

"And just who are you to tell me what to do?" Cassidy scoffed at Dez. He folded his arms in front of his chest and stared Cassidy down.

"I happen to be the godfather of Ally's baby and before you start anymore rumors, let me just say that Ally is in a loving and committed relationship with the father of this child." You would that Cassidy might back down a little, but being who she is, she didn't.

"Who's to say that you're not the father? You certainly fit the profile of what she would have a romp in the sack with; weird and over the top." Dez, however, didn't back down either.

"Like you're any better? Look at you; don't you have any respect for yourself?" Whoa, what a minute, where is he going with this? "Wearing a shirt right up to your lady parts, heels higher than they should be, so much make up on your face that you look like a cheap two cent hooker? Honey, please come to the light and save yourself from the devil!" Did he really just say that?! No one has ever stood up to Cassidy like that and still be standing to tell the tale. Cassidy, meanwhile, just stood there with a stunned look on her face.

"How dare you speak to me like that, don't you know who I'am?!"

"Nope and frankly, I don't give a rat's ass who you are. All I know is that if you're picking on an innocent five month pregnant girl then you must be suffering from self-esteem so low, there isn't a bottom to it." Okay, may I just say, that I'am truly loving Dez right now. No one has ever stood up for me like he is now and I suddenly felt a whole lot better.

Cassidy tried to open her mouth again, several times in fact, before she finally admitted defeat. She huffed in annoyance, flipped her hair and motioned for her posse to follow her. Dez looked to the rest of the students standing in the hallway.

"Well, don't you all have classes to get to? Well go on get!" And the hallways dispersed like that. Now it was just Dez and I standing in the hallway. I slumped against the lockers as I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Thank you so much Dez, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't of shown up. By the way what are you doing here?" I asked.

"I thought I'd come back here and check out the old school hallway." Wait a minute.

"Dez, you didn't go to this school."

"Alright, Austin sent me here to check up on you. We were in the middle of shooting the music video for 'Double Take' when he got a text from Trish explaining what was happening." Oh my god, I need to remember to get Trish a gift card for the print clothing store in the mall for this. "I left my assistant in charge while I went and checked up on you. He's really worried about this whole thing." I knew he would bring that up.

"I guess I need to consider an alternative to this. Maybe my mom was right about being pregnant and attending high school, it's just a big ball of anxiety." We shared a laugh at that. "You know, it's my last period of the day and it's just study hall, so I'm gonna check myself out and go see Austin at the studio. Can you give me a ride?" He held up his keys and smiled.

"I thought you'd never ask." I smiled at him before walking to the admissions office and signing myself out. As a senior I could check myself out and considering I just had study hall, there wasn't any real reason to stay.

I walked out of the building, got into Dez's car and began the drive to Starr Records.

"So Austin was telling me this morning that you two were discussing names for the baby, any keepers so far?" He asked.

"He mentioned the name Aria for her first name and now that I think about it, I'm really starting to like it. I came up with an idea for her middle name, though."

"What did you have in mind?" I shifted in my seat to grab my backpack where I pulled my book out of the front pocket. One page was completely filled with what I hoped would be my baby girl's name. We had come to a red light, so Dez was able to lean over and read what was written.

"'Aria Salina Moon'?" He sat back in his seat contemplating the name. "I kind of like it, it sounds very mystical and musical."

"Well Aria is the name of a musical solo for an opera and Salina literally means 'the moon,' so I know it's kind of corny, but I just really like the name." I sighed a little as I closed my book and placed it back in my backpack. "Do you think Austin will like it?" I asked Dez.

"I think he's gonna love it because he loves you and your baby and you kept the name he wanted to use, so he has to like it." I guess he was right, about what though I was still trying to figure out.

Before I knew it we were at Starr Records and I felt a sense of safety wash over me. I got out of the car and followed Dez to the set of Austin's video. The idea of the video was centered on Austin playing multiple instruments, but there would be more than one of him during the video. It was brilliant really; it was just going to be a tiring day for Austin considering he had to the full song for each instrument. He had gotten two done yesterday, so hopefully he just needs to do those three and then we can head home for the day. I could hear the lyrics and music playing as we entered the rehearsal area. I saw him standing behind a keyboard pretending to play as the song played in the background.

"I'll let him know you're here. The manager told me that they got all they need out of Austin, so hopefully he'll be able to leave with you." I nodded my head as Dez walked over to the camera men and Austin, motioning to me as well. Austin clapped him on the shoulder, a water bottle in his hand and a towel over his shoulder, as practically ran over to me. He immediately took me in his arms and I responded back.

"I'm so sorry; I should have gone with you. I should have been there to protect you, not let you face all of that alone." He said, burying his face in the area between my neck and shoulder. He was also running his hands in a comforting motion on my back.

"It was hard, I'll admit that, but I'm glad Trish texted you and got Dez to rescue me. You should have seen him take down that bitch Cassidy. He was certainly my hero in that moment." I laughed, but Austin sure didn't. He pulled back from my neck, but kept his arms wrapped around my waist.

"Ally, that wasn't a laughing matter. Those kids were attacking you for being pregnant and I'm worried that if you stay there, it's only going to get worse. I know your education is important to you and I'm not gonna make you quit, I just think you should take your mother's advice and consider online education." He explained. I was beginning to see his point through all of this and I knew that he was right.

I thought I would be able to handle anything the other students threw at me because I had done it before, but I quickly realized that maybe being pregnant made it increased tenfold. If I kept going to school and this same thing happens again, would I be crumble again? Would I need Dez or Trish or Austin or anyone else to come rescue me if I did?

"Alright, I'll talk to my guidance counselor tomorrow and speak with her about completing my diploma online." I saw a relieved smile appear on his face as his entire body finally began to relax. He pressed his forehead against mine as we took in a moment of silence. We were lost in our own little world until someone cough broke our comfortable silence.

I opened my eyes to be met with a tall dark skinned man, who was wearing a tailored suit and black rimmed glasses.

"Well, Austin, I can say that today has been a great day. All we need to do is edit the footage and then we should be done. You're free to go for the day." The man said.

"That's great! Oh, Jimmy this is my fiancé Ally. Ally this is Jimmy, founder and owner of Starr Records." Oh, so this was the man that was making Austin's dreams come true. I lifted my hand out to shake his.

"It's very nice to finally meet you, Mr. Starr." I said.

"Very nice to meet you as well and please, call me Jimmy." We shared pleasantries and began small talk. "You must be the writer of Austin's song. I must say you have a great talent for it, I've loved everything that Austin has recorded so far." His gaze then went down to my stomach. "If it's not too much to ask, when exactly are you due and what's the gender?"

"You mean you can tell?" I playfully asked. "And I'm due in late March and it's a girl. We're very excited." Jimmy nodded his head in agreement.

"Yeah, I've two of my own, my daughter Kira is actually another singer signed to my label. I hope you won't mind if Austin does a little collaboration with her in the future?"

"No, of course not, as long as it helps his career and pays for clothing and diapers, I don't care and collaboration would look really good on his album. Anything to help my man's career take off, right?" I said as I leaned into Austin, his arm wrapping around my shoulder.

"Well, I guess I'll leave you two alone for the day, but Austin I expect to see you for our meeting next Monday." Jimmy said before turning and leaving.

After that Austin and I retired to the nearby kitchen area for a snack before heading home. I was eating a bowl of goldfish when I decided to bring up the name topic again.

"So, I've been thinking about names for the baby." I said. Austin was currently reaching into a cupboard and pulling out different snacks.

"Oh yeah and what did you come up with?" He said taking a seat next to me at the small round table with a bowl of trail mix, a packet of potato chips and a bottle of water. I took a few goldfish in my mouth before answering.

"I definitely want to keep the name Aria because it fits with our love of music," I smiled as his face broke out into a smile as well. "But I had an idea for her middle name."

"And what is this middle name you've come up with?" He said taking a drink of his water.

"What do you think of the name 'Aria Salina Moon'?" He was being playful by pretending to contemplate the name. I playfully hit his shoulder trying to get his attention.

"Ow! I'm joking; I think that fits our daughter pretty well. It's a combination of the names we both like and there was no fighting over which is better. I think our daughter is going to be the best baby anyone has ever seen." I laughed at that and knew that he was right.

Our baby, now officially named Aria, would be just like her name; musically gifted, kind and generous to a fault. I know that there would be pitfalls like today, but I knew that I could count on Austin to always bring me back. He was definitely the rock that I need in my life. We were about to get up when I felt the little fluttering inside my stomach. I placed my hand on my stomach as I breathed in at my daughter moving around.

"Hello there, Aria." Austin said as he knelt down to look directly at my stomach. I felt her move towards where Austin's hand was placed. "Isn't it great, you have a name now and don't worry, mommy and daddy will make sure you never go through any of that again until you enter this world."

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Thanks and remember, stay ROSSOME!