A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long. My life has been so chaotic you wouldn't even believe it. And it's not getting any easier what with school starting again and everything. Advice for anyone in high school: AP classes are hell. Don't take more than one or two at once.

I don't feel like this is one my better chapters, but I felt bad leaving you all for so long without an update.

Please, please, please review! I'm totally open to constructive criticism.

P.S.: someone please tell me how to put the lines/page break things into my writing. I feel like it can be really confusing to read like this.

Chapter 4

"So" Austin leaned back in his chair. He and Ally were sitting in English working on their project. "I was thinking that we should hang out this weekend".

Ally looked at him with furrowed brows. "Why?"

"Isn't that what friends do?" Austin raised one eyebrow at her. "There's no point in being friends with someone if you only see them at school".

"Um… ok then. What do you want to do?" Ally had learned early on that there was no point arguing with him when he got an idea like this. The boy had an insane stubborn streak.

"Well… can we do something tonight?" At Ally's skeptical look he sat back up and gave her his puppy dog look. "Please? It's Friday, and I really don't want to spend a Friday night at home."

"It's not that, it's just… I've got my volunteer job today. I can't skip it."

"You have a volunteer job? What do you do?" Austin leaned forward, raising his eyebrows.

"It's…" Suddenly Ally got an idea. "You know what? Why don't you come? You would actually really like it." She smiled innocently at him.

"You're not gonna tell me what it is?" He pouted at her. "You're evil, you know that?" Ally just grinned at him.

"Is that a yes?"

"Sure. What time should we leave?"

"So. Where do I go?" Austin raised his eyebrows in a question as Ally slid into his car that afternoon.

"Head down toward the old library. I'll let you know when we get there." Ally responded, still refusing to tell him their destination.

The first few minutes passed in silence. Ally finally turned to Austin and gave him a curious look. "So. First week in Miami is almost over. What's the verdict? Good or bad?"

Austin laughed. "Well, a mix. I'm definitely not used to the weather. Seriously, up in Seattle it used to rain all the time and we were lucky if we reached 80 degrees. Miami's a little hot. But, there's some good things." He glanced at her sideways. "I've met some cool people here".

"Yeah" Ally nodded, agreeing with him. "We do have some cool people at our school. You've talked to Dallas, right? And Elliot. Zack also can—"

Ally was cut off by Austin's laughter. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. As far as she could tell, nothing she had said was funny.

"Ally, I meant you." Austin grinned affectionately at her. "You're pretty cool. All those guys are great, but I love being your friend too."

"Oh." Ally could feel the blush rising up her neck, and fiddled with her hair, desperately fighting the urge to put a lock in her mouth. "Um… Thanks."

"No problem". Austin's eyes turned back to the road. "Just stating the facts".

Ally had no idea what to say to this, but luckily she spotted the turnoff up ahead.

"Up there. Turn left at the next intersection".

They pulled into the parking lot of a small, slightly rundown looking building. Ally got out to see Austin staring wide-eyed at the sign above the door. She giggled at the expression on his face as he turned to her.

"Sunset Daycare? You work at a daycare?"

"Yep. For about six months. Best job ever, isn't it?" Ally had known that he would like it, but was still pleased at his reaction. She turned and headed toward the doorway, calling back to him over her shoulder, "You coming?"

Ally was almost at the door when Austin caught up to her, his face now displaying nothing but excitement. He beat her to the entrance and held the door for her as they walked in.

Ally smiled at the lady in the receptionist desk. "Hello Stella! I brought a friend with me today. Hope that's alright."

Stella smiled kindly at Austin. "Definitely. I'm sure the kids will love it."

Ally led Austin down a narrow hallway, explaining that the kids in the daycare this late were the ones with parents that had to work evening or night shifts. She chattered about the kids. Tommy this, and Karen that. Finally, they reached a door marked Evening Care. Ally pushed it open, and was almost immediately swarmed by children. She could briefly see Austin's huge grin before her vision was blocked by another child clambering to be picked up. Ally hoisted the young boy against her side and smiled at him.

"How's it going Peter?"

"Good! I lost my front tooth!" The kid opened his mouth to show her and Ally laughed.

"That's awesome! You're getting big!"

"Yeah! I almost six!" Peter puffed out his chest proudly. As she turned around, Ally noticed Austin was getting inspected. One of the oldest boys was poking at his leg to get his attention.

As she watched, Austin crouched down to be at the child's level. "Hey dude. What's up?"

"Who are you?" the boy asked curiously.

"I'm Austin. I get to hang out with you guys tonight! What's your name?"

"I'm James," the boy responded with a grin.

"Cool name. Hey! You like Spiderman?"

James looked down at his shirt, and then proudly held it out for Austin to see. "Yeah! He's really cool, 'cause he can shoot out of his hands! Like this!" The boy leapt into his Spiderman stance and held out his hand, wrist up, towards Austin. "Pew! Pew! I just got you!"

"Nuh-uh! I'm Superman, and I can break the webs!" Ally laughed as Austin took off running after James.

She realized that this was why he got along so well with children. For all his gentlemanliness and assumed air of maturity, he really was a total child at heart. It was actually a very attractive quality. Which she was observing as a friend. Yeah. Definitely just a friend.

Before she knew it, she was being dragged off to do a puzzle with Peter. They were just finishing the third one when she felt a weight drop over her shoulders, and looked over to see Austin sitting down next to her.

"This is awesome. How come you never told me you work here! I'm hurt that you kept this from me, Ally!" He pouted at her.

She shoved him lightly and he pulled his arm off her shoulder and held his hand over his chest where she had shoved him, his face displaying a wounded expression.

"Shut up!" Ally laughed. "And I guess it just never came up. But you know now! I have a feeling I'm gonna have a hard time keeping you away from now on."

"Yep!" He replied cheerfully. "You're stuck with me now! And—" He was cut off by an impact on his back. Grant, one of the liveliest six-year-olds in the room had taken a flying leap off of a chair onto Austin, seizing him around the waist.

Grant cheered. "Ha! Green Lantern wins! I got Superman! I—"

In one swift movement Austin spun around and grabbed Grant by the stomach, standing and throwing him over his shoulder. He marched over to the couch and deposited the squealing boy on it. As he was about to begin his tickle attack, at least six other children leapt out from their hiding spots around the room and charged at him. Ally laughed as she watched Austin frantically ward off the attacks, and then turned back to Peter.

The time flew by, like it always did when she was here, and before she knew it, the clock showed it to be 10:00 PM. That meant it was time to head back, since she was supposed to be home by 11:00 that night. She excused herself from where she had been playing with one of the younger children, and went to find Austin. He was helping Justin and Alex set up a train set in the corner.

"Austin!" The blonde looked up at her questioningly. "We have to go. I have to be home by eleven."

The blonde's face fell. "But Ally!" he whined.

"Come on. I know you could stay all night, but I gotta go, and you're my ride." She grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet.

They reached the door and announced that they were leaving. Immediately, most of the children surrounded them, giving them hugs. Finally, they removed themselves from the kids and left. Austin draped his arm over her shoulders, and she found herself not even being surprised anymore. It's like this constant contact was almost natural now with him.

"Thanks for bringing me here. That was a lot of fun."

She smiled up at him. "No problem. The kids all loved you".

"I loved them."

They reached the car and Austin held open the passenger door for her, but stopped her with a touch on her arm as she went to get in.

"You know that still doesn't count as hanging out, right? It was fun and all, but we still need to do something else. I kinda got kidnapped by the kids, and didn't talk to you at all."

Ally fought to keep the blush from her cheeks for the second time that day. "Yeah. Same. What do you want to do then?"

"How about you come over tomorrow?" Austin walked around to his side of the car. "I've got a couple things I want to show you."

Ally agreed, and they briefly made plans for the next day during the ride home.