I could have slept forever if not for my stupid phone. I try to ignore it at first, sure that if it's important the person will leave a message, but when it starts to ring again I begrudgingly roll over and pick my phone up off the night stand.
"Hello?" I croak into the phone.
"Ally!" Trish cries, sounding frantic. I shoot up to a sitting position, fully awake now; Trish never sounds like this.
"What? What's wrong? Are you okay?" I ask, my stomach starting to turn. I look over to the alarm clock on the night stand and see that it's only six o'clock, making me worry even more; Trish is never up this early.
"I'm fine!" I let out a little sigh of relief at the same time I remember the three hour time difference.
"Then what's wrong?"
"I just talked to Dallas."
"What?"
Trish sighs on the other end. "I was in Sonic Boom reading a magazine and I happened to look up right as Dallas walked by, and get this: he was holding hands with some blonde chick. So I ran up to him and asked him what the heck he was doing and he was like 'I'm with Cassidy now.' So I was like 'What about Ally?' and he was like 'Does it look like I care?' And I swear, Ally, I wanted to spit on him. He walked off with the blonde chick (his hand was on her butt, can you believe the creep?) and I ran back in to call you."
I'm not sure at what point my mouth fell open, but I don't think it can drop any lower. I clench my teeth.
"I can't believe him. I gave him two whole years of my life. I gave him everything. Then he goes and drops me in the middle of the desert and goes home to a new girl like I was nothing. Wow. I'm speechless." Hot, angry tears threaten to spill out of my eyes, but I won't let them. "I trusted him. I loved him. I honestly thought he was the one I was going to marry and spend my life with. How could he, Trish?"
"I'm so sorry Ally. I know how much you loved him. But honestly, after what he did I'm glad you're not with him anymore. He showed the person that he truly is."
I sigh. "Yeah, I guess. Thanks for telling me, Trish. I'll call you later."
"Bye, Ally."
After hanging up, I flop back onto my bed. This time I can't keep the tears from escaping. Yes, what Dallas did to me was inexcusable, but I have to admit that deep down I was hoping that he'd come find me and tell me that he'd seen the error of his ways and then take me home and then we'd live happily ever after. But that was a stupid daydream fueled by two years of wasted time.
Wiping away the tears, I sit up and look around my room, eyes falling on the alarm clock. Six thirty. I still have a while before I need to leave for the coffee house. I get out of bed and head into the bathroom. I turn the shower onto scalding hot and step in. I let the hot water wash away Dallas. I want any trace of him gone. I let the water carry away the memories, the feelings, the whole two years, off my body and down the drain.
By the time I step out of the shower, it's nearly seven fifteen. I throw on a sundress and ankle boots, brush my hair out, put on a bit of makeup, grab my purse and songbook, and head downstairs.
Evie is at the counter, poking at her tablet and sipping coffee.
"Good morning," I say as I walk into the kitchen, making Evie jump.
"You scared me!" Evie gasps. "I'm not used to other people being up so early. Where are you going?"
I stumble while reaching into the cabinet for a mug. "Um, I just wanted to explore a little before all the tourists are out."
Evie stares at me for a moment. "Ok, whatever. Just remember to be back here by ten to head out to practice."
"Yep!" I say, too eagerly. I internally wince and hurry to the elevator. I called Richard while I was getting dressed, so he's already waiting out front.
"Good morning, Ally," he says, tipping his hat and opening the door.
"Good morning!"
When I'm settled in the car, I pull out my songbook. Lyrics have been swimming around my head all morning. I scribble all my ideas the whole way to the coffee house. By the time I get there, I have the workings of a song.
When I enter the coffee house (which thanks to the sign out front I now know is called The Buzz), I almost run right into someone. Looking up, I see that the line is all the way to the door, and nearly all the tables are filled. I skirt around the people and head to the pick-up counter. Jim sees me immediately and rushes over.
"Ally! I was so worried you weren't coming!" Jim says frantically. I have to hold back a laugh; this guy must be perpetually worried. Jim leads me up to the stage, where the baby grand piano is set up. A guitar rests on a stand to the right of the piano. "I wasn't sure what you wanted to play, so… have at it!"
He rushes back behind the counter, leaving me standing alone on the stage. I look out at the tables, a few people glance at me, but most everyone is chatting over their coffees. I grab the mic off the stand and give it a tap, making sure it's on.
"Um, hi, everyone. My name's Ally, and I'm going to play some music for you all." I say awkwardly. I sit down at the piano and pull out my song book, opening to the page with the song I was working on in the car. "So um, I'm going to start with a new song I wrote. I literally wrote it in the car on the way here, so…"
I look out at the shop and hardly anyone is looking at me. People in line and at the tables chat to each other or are bent over their phones.
Great, I'm background music.
I shake my head. Whatever, at least I'm free to work on this song.
I play a few chords until I decide on a key. Then I start playing, uncertain at first, but then surely, like the music is within me, guiding my hands. Then I start to sing.
Didn't I give it all,
Tried my best,
Gave you everything I had,
Everything and no less?
Didn't I do it right?
Did I let you down?
Maybe you got too used to
Well, having me around.
Still how can you walk away
From all my tears?
It's gonna be an empty road
Without me right here.
But go on and take it,
Take it all with you.
Don't look back
At this crumbling fool.
Just take it all
With my love,
Take it all
With my love.
I don't even look up to see if anyone's watching. The music just flows out of me, and for a moment it's like it's all just for me; my own oasis where no one else exists.
Maybe I should leave
To help you see
Nothing is better than this
And this is everything we need.
So is it over?
Is this really it?
You've given up so easily,
I thought you loved me more than this.
But go on, go on and take it,
Take it all with you.
Don't look back
At this crumbling fool.
Just take it all
With my love,
Take it all
With my love.
I will change if I must.
Slow it down and bring it home, I will adjust.
Oh if only, if only you knew,
Everything I do is for you.
But go on
Go on and take it,
Take it all with you.
Don't look back
At this crumbling fool.
Just take it,
Take it all with you.
Don't look back
At this crumbling fool.
Just take it all
With my love,
Take it all
With my love
Take it all
With my love.
I let out a sigh as I play the last chord. I look down at my hands. The song came from somewhere deep inside of me, somewhere I didn't know existed. It takes me a few seconds to realize the once chattering coffee house was absolutely silent.
When I look up, everyone's staring at me. Someone starts to applaud, then another, then another, until the whole coffee house is roaring.
My heart swells as I look out at the people. I try to look at every face, trying to commit this moment to memory. A movement by the door catches my attention. All I see is flash of blonde going through the door. I shake it off and smile at the audience. Now all the tables are filled and a few people are standing on the sides.
I play a few more songs, then take a bow and let everyone know that I'll be back tomorrow. People applaud one last time, and then many of them leave. Some people shake my hand and compliment me on my way to the counter, where Jim is waiting for me with a cup of coffee.
"You were amazing!" Jim exclaims. "I've never seen so many people stick around after getting their coffee. Some even got refills!"
I laugh and take the coffee. I say goodbye and head out of the shop, where Richard is waiting.
"We're running a little late, so I let the others know that I'm taking you straight to rehearsal."
"Ok, thank you!" I can't stop smiling. That was even more exciting than performing on stage last night. It was just me, and everyone was paying attention. They weren't distracted by magic tricks or other flashy show girls.
A&A
For once I'm early. I get to the rehearsal warehouse at ten, when the other girls weren't set to arrive until ten thirty. I wander back to the makeup area and plop down into my chair. Immediately, my hair and makeup lady, Shawna, rushes to me and starts her magic.
"I heard Mr. Moon wanted to speak to you last night," Shawna says casually after a few moments of silence.
I raise my eyebrows. "You heard about that?"
"Oh honey, everyone heard about it."
I huff. "Why is it such a big deal?"
Shawna bites her lip. "Around here, if Mr. Moon wants to talk to you, it can only mean two things."
She doesn't say anything a more, making me curious. "What does it mean?"
"Well, it either means you screwed up royally, or he's trying to get after you."
I almost choke. "Excuse me?"
"Now you didn't hear this from me," she says, leaning close to me, "but Mr. Moon doesn't have the cleanest reputation. Alcohol, women, partying- typical famous people trouble. Someone from wardrobe said he beat a guy close to death at a club once, but I don't believe her. All I know is that Mr. Moon is trouble. I'd strongly advise you to stay away."
I gulp. "Isn't he dating Delaney though?"
Shawna scoffs. "That poor girl. She pines after him, but he blows her off. Either she doesn't know about all the other girls he's currently seeing, or she chooses to ignore it."
"How do you know all this is true?" I ask.
Shawna leans back, continuing her work. "I don't. Not exactly. It's just that he disappears a lot. No one knows where he goes. Paparazzi can't find him; managers can't contact him. A lot of people assume it's rehab, since he always comes back all happy. Others think he goes off with a girl for a while. Who really knows?"
I nod, thoughts racing through my head.
Things just got a whole lot more interesting.
A&A
I'm alive.
I don't even want to know how long it's been since I posted. I'm so so so sorry. I've just been so busy. I was going to write during Thanksgiving break, but I ended up getting my wisdom teeth taken out so it just wasn't possible. Then I was just so busy with school and stuff, so it's finally Winter Break and I have some time.
I want to thank all of you for sticking around and being patient. (Also shout out to the Auslly tag on Tumblr for giving me so much feels that I just had to write.)
Also sorry that this chapter is pretty short, but it has a lot of important stuff.
So Merry Christmas (Or whatever you celebrate); my gift to you is this chapter.
The song in this chapter is Take It All by Adele
Oh and it would really mean so so so much if we got to 100 reviews (we're ten away right now) so it would be incredibly awesome if you reviewed ;)
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|April|