WHAT UP!

So, last chapter was kind of intense, but this one will be pretty light. We find out how Austin and Ally met, started dating and then Ally may interact with her brother. This will mostly be Austin's POV as this is his side of the story.

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

Chapter 12

How We Became 'Auslly'

Previously:

"It's a long story." I said in an attempt to throw him off, but he just folded his arms and stared me down.

"I've got the time." He said and motioned to a chair for me to pull up to the bed.

Well, here goes nothing, I guess.

Austin's POV:

"If you want the whole truth," I told him. "I'll have to start way back to when I met you. You kind of got me to where we met each other." Elliot raised an eyebrow when I told him that. He wanted honesty and I was being honest.

"Now I really want to know." He said, crossing his arms, well trying to due to the IV in his right arm. I heaved a sigh as I knew that now he really wouldn't let it go and I would have to tell him.

"Well, it all started at freshmen orientation at the college…"

FLASHBACK

What a day! I thought to myself as I stretched. Today was freshmen orientation, which meant that the fraternity had to set up their booth for those freshmen to look at. It was my job, as a new official brother, to do this meaningless job until the event is over, which, thankfully, is only a short hour away. I was truly bored out of my mind and having to talk to shy, timid freshmen was not my idea of a fun Saturday.

I was slumped over in my chair as the last group of freshmen trickled away and the other fraternities, sororities and clubs began to pack all their stuff away. However, that did not mean that my day was over.

"Austin!" I heard a voice say to me as I packed away the remaining flyers and pamphlets away. I turned around and saw my frat brother, Trent, carrying a slightly tall stack of papers, which he then placed on the table. I got up from the floor and walked over to him.

"Man, Trent," I said as I scanned through the stack of papers. "This can't be all new pledges can it? There's like at least 20 or 30 applications in here."

"Trust me, this is just from orientation, rush week is when it gets really crazy." He said as he began sorting through the pile. "After that, we'll sort through them and make our final decision. Best be prepared for whoever you get as a pledge brother."

"What do you mean?" I asked him. "We don't have a say in which brother we're paired with?"

"Nope, it's all random. I mean, how'd you think you got paired with someone who absolutely hated your major?" Trent said. He had a point there. My pledge brother had been a total downer and didn't really want to do anything I wanted to do. We spent so much time at the library or student commons that people that work there now knew my name. "So, just be prepared for whoever you get and try to accommodate them as much as you can." He picked up the stack of papers and placed them into a box to carry back to the frat house. "Oh, and don't forget about the meeting tonight! We start planning for rush and the pledge party tonight." I shook my head in agreement and the rest of us left with our supplies.

If orientation is considered low maintenance, I thought, I can't wait to see what rush week is like.

*I week later*

Well, today was the day, let the pledging begin!

The FIJI house was decked out in decorations and filled to the brim with, what I could only guess, was half the male student body of freshmen. All of them were milling about the house, looking at the pictures of alumni members, drinking and eating, and overall just trying to look like they aren't scared of this whole thing. I find it kind of funny that it was only a year ago that I was in their place and probably feeling the same feelings that I was at the time. Boy was I scared out of mind that day. As today was pledge day, the brothers were to dress in the required fashion: a button down shirt with khaki pants, top-siders, and our purple blazers with the FIJI insignia on it. I didn't really like the outfit, but it was required, so I had to do it.

I was roaming about the house, looking at all the new pledges and trying to find my pledge brother. We had weeded through all the applications and finally settled on 15 new pledges and we were each assigned one to mentor. It would now be my job to show this young man around the campus, watch over his grades and get him through the initiation requirements. Now, all I have to do find him.

I looked down at the piece of paper and picture in my hand; on it was written the name of my pledge brother.

Elliot Dawson.

From what I had read about him, he's an art major with a minor in English and he's from Miami, so hopefully, we'll be able to find some common ground. I hope I don't get stuck with someone like my pledge brother, otherwise I think I'll go crazy. I mean, if he likes art then he must at least love music right?

I had been talking to about half the pledges, trying to find Elliot, before I finally caught sight of him. He stood by the punch bowl, very awkwardly I might add, as he talked to a number of the brothers and other pledges. I walked over to him,

"Elliot, right?" I asked as he looked at me with wide eyes. "I'm Austin Moon; I'll be your pledge brother while you're here." His eyes softened as he realized who I was and I extended my hand out for him to shake. After we shook hands I asked if he wanted to sit on the couch so that we could get to know each other a little bit more.

"So," I asked him as we sat down. "Tell me a little about yourself Elliot and why you want to join the FIJI brotherhood."

"Okay," He said. He seemed to be a little nervous, so I tried to make it easy for him. "Well, I'm 18, I grew up here in Miami and I hope to be an art teacher when I graduate." Okay, short and sweet introduction, good start.

"Anything else?" I asked him. "Like, why you want to become a brother of the FIJI fraternity."

"Well, my dad was a member back when he was here and I want to be able to make him proud by becoming a member. Plus, you guys do so much for your community that it could possibly look good on a job application." He told me. I kind of get where Elliot's is coming from, I had also joined the FIJI fraternity because I wanted my dad to be proud of something in my college career. Even though I was getting a business degree, I still wanted to pursue music as my main career and that didn't make him very happy.

"Well, whatever reason you want to join, know that you can count of me for any kind of help or direction, I'm there for you man." I said. I know that sounded totally lame, but it was the best I could come up with on short notice. Elliot just smiled and shook his head in agreement. We spent the rest of the day showing the pledges what they would be doing, what would be expected of them and, if they passed, they would be full brothers in no time. After that, we let them go and we enjoyed the rest our day.

After pledge week had started, Elliot and I actually started to get along. We spent a lot of our time together and I helped him get comfortable with the campus. I learned more about his family, what he wanted to do after college and I learned that he can be a bit of a party animal. Don't ask how I figured that out because it was not pretty in any way. We had also gotten into the habit of him coming back to the frat house with me and we would do homework, eat and then I would practice playing my acoustic guitar.

It was during that time that Elliot asked a question that set the rest in motion.

Elliot and I were in the room I was sharing with my frat brother and friend, Dez. I was playing my guitar and Elliot was working on a project for his art history class. I must have been too wrapped up in playing because I didn't hear his question the first time he asked. I looked up when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Hey Austin," Elliot began. "Mind if I try playing your guitar?" I looked at his with a surprise look because I never really expected his to be interested in playing my guitar. Yeah, he liked art and stuff, but he never really knew much about music or what it was about. Although, now might be a good time to try and teach him.

"Alright, I guess you can have a go at it." I said, handing him the guitar. I showed him how to hold it and how to play a few simple chords. He was pretty good, but then I remembered something I probably should have mentioned before. "Oh, by the way, watch how hard you play the strings because it's kind of old and the strings are-"And then the strings snapped in two. Elliot began to freak out, thinking that he had caused it, but I reassured him that the strings were bound to break at some point. I had gotten this guitar when I was 10, so it had seen some hard times.

"Well," I said, taking the guitar back to look at the damage. "Looks like I'll have to find a music store and get some new strings." The store I use to go to closed down after the owner had retired and his son sold it and it became a chain restaurant. I put the guitar down as I saw Elliot smile. "What?" I asked him.

"Austin, my family owns a music store in the mall." He said. "Why don't you go down there and get some?"

"Hey thanks, man, I think I will." He gave me the name, where to find it and with that I got up, grabbed my keys and headed out the door for the mall.

I arrived at the mall and looked at the directory for where the store would be. I found it and walked inside. It was a pretty cool shop, with bright red and pale orange walls that were filled with different instruments and music magazines. There were people milling about, but the store seemed to be a little empty for this time of day. I had found my guitar strings and began walking to the cash register when,

I'm the girl in the corner of the room

The one you never notice

Getting lost among the stars in the sky

Like a picture out of focus

I heard the sound of a piano and the flow of a feminine singing voice coming from the second story of the store. I became intrigued, so intrigued, that my feet carried me up the stairs and into a small room, where a young, brown haired girl sat at the piano, happily playing away.

I'm the sun in your eyes

Yet, you don't see me

I wear no disguise

But you don't see me

I'm a total surprise

And you don't see

She had a beautiful voice, but the song seemed to be very sad, yet powerful at the same time. I decided to listen a little more as I leaned against the door frame of the room. The girl seemed to be too wrapped up in her playing to even see or hear me.

I'm so agonized

That you don't see me

You don't see me…

She dragged out the last night as the song ended and I couldn't help but clap for her. That was a bad idea as the clapping caused her to turn around and look like a trapped animal.

"What are you doing up here?!" She said as she slammed the cover of the piano over the keys, a resounding slam of the keys filled the room. She walked in front of me and now I could get a good look at her. She was pretty short and she was wearing a pink tank top with ripped jeans and black gladiator sandals. "Can't you read the sign?" She said, pointing to the front of the door. I looked where she was pointing and saw that there was indeed a 'Keep Out' sign plastered on the door.

"Sorry," I said. "But, there's no one downstairs to check me out and when I heard you singing, I decided to see if you could help me. I guess I got caught up in your song." Those made her relax a little, thankfully.

"Well," She said. "I guess I can let it go this time, but next time, look at signs before entering. They're there for a reason." She then walked back to the piano, where she picked up a small, brown leather notebook that had a big, sparkly pink 'A' on the front.

"Did you, by any chance, write that song?" I asked her, catching her off guard a little.

"Why do you want to know?" She said back, giving me that skeptical look.

"No reason," I said, shrugging my shoulders a little. "It was just a really good song, but it's so sad."

"Well, the point of it is to be sad." She said her voice beginning to sound a little irritated. "Now, if you will follow me, I'll gladly help you check out." She then pushed past me and I followed after her, continuing to talk to her as I did.

"You know," I said as we ascended the stairs. "If you just play the song in a bit of a more upbeat tone and change the words a little, you could really have a hit." I placed the box of strings on the counter as she went behind it.

"Look," She said. "I'm not interested in selling my song or changing it. So pay for the strings and then leave please. I have other things to attend to." She rung up the total and I handed the amount to her.

For someone who looks so innocent, she sure has an attitude problem, but she sure is cute. Now normally, I would jump at the chance to ask her out, but there was one rule I lived by: no dating any younger than two years. She also seemed like a stickler for rules, which definitely wasn't my type of girl. I wanted someone who lived on the edge and wasn't afraid to break a few rules here and there.

I got my change and then left the store. I thought that after that, I wouldn't go back, but I was desperately wrong. That girl was stuck in my head and, no matter what I did, I couldn't get her out. For some reason, I had the urge to go back, even though I didn't need anything. And so, I went back the next day.

I saw the same girl, sitting at the baby grand piano with a young boy. She seemed to be giving a lesson as the boy played a starter piano song. I watched as she winced at every note played.

"Well, Nelson, that was a good try." She said. "But, next time, focus on playing the right notes instead of just playing whatever you want." The boy nodded his head before getting off the bench and out of the store. The brown eyed girl got off the bench, but stopped and stared as she saw me. "Oh great." She mumbled under her breath as she began walking away.

"Wait!" I yelled as I stopped her as she began walking up the stairs. "Look, I know we got off on the wrong foot, but that's why I came back." She gave me a confused look as I continued. "I'm sorry I walked in on you singing, but I wasn't kidding about your song. You have some real talent."

"Well," She said. "I guess I can forgive you and thank you, I don't hear that very often."

"What, that you're talented?" I asked a little confused at what she meant.

"Well yeah, you see it's my dream to make it in the music business, but I have really bad stage freight." She explained.

"How bad is it?" I asked.

"It's so bad that any time I even think about getting on stage, I freak myself out with all the possible ideas of what could go wrong." Wow, that is bad. All of a sudden, her face turned bright red and she looked down at her feet in embarrassment. "Look at me, I'm telling you this dark secret and I don't even know who you are." I realized what she meant, so I took the first step.

"Well, how about we start with this." I said as I walked up to her and held out my hand. "The names Austin Moon, a college sophomore with hopes of being a performer." She smiled a little and I have to say, the smile made her look even prettier than she already was.

Wait, what?

"I'm Ally," She said. "Ally Dawson." And then our hands connected as we shook them. All of a sudden, I felt this jolt of electricity run up my arm. She must have felt it too because she jumped a little when I did as well. What was that?

After we had made up, Ally continued to tell me about her stage freight and how her dad had told her about how the music business was not the way to go for her life. She even said that he had told her she had a one in a billionth chance of making it and that was the first thing we had in common. We continued to talk and talk before I realized that I had to get back to the frat house. Before I left, however, this happened.

"Austin," I heard Ally yell out as I reached the double door entrance. I turned back around as she tried to get a sentence out. "Would you like to exchange numbers?"

"Why?" I asked her.

"Well, since you like performing, how about I show you some more of my songs?" I guess that made sense because I did love the sound that she had, yet why did I feel a little let down by what she said. Why was I hoping for a different question?

"Sure, why not." And we gave each other our phones and put our numbers into them. After that we said goodbye and I went on my way. I later found out that Ally was Elliot's younger sister and that she worked there part time since their dad was too cheap to pay other employees. Elliot had played the protective big brother by telling me that Ally was off limits to me and any other of his friends, but I quickly assured him that I didn't see Ally that way. If anything, she was like the little sister I never had, so I was allowed to stay in contact with her.

We spent the next couple of months together; texting, talking on the phone or meeting at Sonic Boom to talk about the songs she had written. We had become partners of some sort and she even let me record a song to send out as a demo to record companies. She was just so amazing and I felt really attracted to her. However, I knew she probably didn't feel the same way. She's younger than me, me being 21 and her being 17, so she couldn't possibly be interested in me, right?

Then, one day, we were sitting up in the practice room at the piano, working on a song, when our hands touched. We stopped playing and it all of a sudden became a little harder to breathe. I looked up and then she looked up, our eyes connecting as they did. All of sudden, I felt myself leaning in, with Ally doing the same. Our lips were about to touch, when she spoke up, saying that the chorus of our song should sound like this. I laughed a little as we went back to the song.

That night, I had a very vivid dream. I was in the Sonic Boom when I saw Ally come up to me. All of a sudden, she pulled me down and connected our lips. I had tried to stop her, telling her that I didn't think this was right, but she didn't listen to me and I didn't give a damn. Things got pretty heated from there and I woke up in a cold sweat and a tight pain between my legs. However, my buzz was over quickly when I put two and two together.

Oh shit. I thought as it hit me. Now the thought of dating my pledge brother's younger sister wasn't something I wanted to think about, but no matter what I did, I couldn't get Ally out of my mind. Every time I even heard her name, she popped back into my head and wouldn't leave. I went to my friend, Dez, for advice and what I got wasn't what I thought it would be.

"You're obviously in love with her." He said as he sat on the top bunk of our bed with his computer in his lap.

"What?!" I said. "No, there's no way that's it! Ally's like a little sister to me, so there's no way I can like her that way." Dez gave me that amused look before setting his computer aside.

"Alright, so there's nothing you like about her?" He said back.

"Well, of course there is. I like that she's funny, that I can talk to her about anything." I chuckled a little as I thought about everything I liked about her. "And I also like when we're sitting at the piano and my hand touches hers. I get this amazing feeling, that no one, not even my parents make me feel-"And then it hit me like a ton of bricks. "Oh wow, I like Ally."

That next day I went down to Sonic Boom and did what I swore I would never do: I asked Ally out on a date. She was a little hesitant at first, not wanting to upset Elliot, but I wouldn't give up. I kept on asking and asking until she finally said yes. I was on cloud 9, but the hype didn't last long. The night went completely wrong and Ally and I had decided that it would be better to just remain friends.

That didn't last very long.

It was after 10 o'clock at night when I got a text from Ally, asking me to meet her at the Sonic Boom. I quietly walked out of my room and drove to the Miami Mall. I followed Ally's instructions on how to get in and walked the short distance to the store. I opened the door and walked up the practice room. When I got inside, I saw Ally quietly sitting at the piano.

"Ally?" I asked as she turned around. "What's the big emergency?" She just stared at me for a while before getting off the bench and walking over to me. She was dressed in a t-shirt and pajama short with a pair of sandals on her feet, so she had to look up to meet my eyes.

"Austin," She said. "Do you know what I did tonight?" Huh?

"No," I said, not really understanding what was going on. "What did you do tonight?"

"Tonight, I went on a date with one of my father's friend's son, someone I had had crush on since I was fifteen. I was over the moon, but when I went on the date, it wasn't like I had hoped." I gave her an odd look as she continued on. "I didn't have any fun because all I could think about was you." Again, huh?!

"What are you trying to say?" I asked her.

"Austin, if you will let me, I would like to try again." She said.

"Wait, are you being serious?" I asked, trying to keep my excitement on the down low as much as I could. "You really want to try again?" She shook her head in a 'yes' and I didn't even have think twice about what I did next.

I picked her up and spun her around, a very happy 'YES' filled the air around us. Ally giggled as I put her back down and then it finally happened. Our faces leaned into each other and our lips met in a kiss. And may I just say, I swear I saw fireworks around me.

END OF FLASHBACK

"So," I said as I leaned back in my chair. "That's how it all happened." Elliot shook his head as he tried to comprehend all that I had told him. "Look, Elliot, I tried to hide my feelings for her, but when it's true love that's something you can't just stuff down. So, I hope you can understand and accept that part of life now."

There was a long silent pause as I waited for Elliot to answer me back.

"Alright," He said. "I understand your part and now I want to hear from Ally."

"Why do you need to hear from her?" I asked him.

"I want to make sure that she truly is happy before I fully accept you both. That's my job as a brother." Wait, finally accept us? Does that mean he's reconsidering everything he's done? Hopefully, it does and we can start to rebuild that fragile relationship.

Understanding what he wanted, I got out of the chair and left to go Ally.

Please let this work. I thought as I got to the waiting room and saw Ally. Here goes nothing.

Sorry for such a long wait! I had such bad writer's block for this that it took multiple tries to get right, so I hope you like it! Remember to review, favorite and follow.

Thanks and remember, stay ROSSOME!