A/N: First of all, I'M SO SORRY THIS HAS TAKEN SO LONG! I've been so busy and I'm so stressed over one of my grades and I really just haven't had much time to write, I hope you can understand. :( I'm sorry this has taken so long and that it's not very long, but at least it's something.

My Twitter: didyousayashton

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Austin & Ally, nor am I associated with Austin & Ally

"What do you want?"

"This dorm is so clean. It's disgusting."

"I forgot to mention that part."

I rewatch the tape that Dez accidentally caught of his attack... Well, there really wasn't anything to watch, it was more like listening. The only thing Dez caught on the tape was the blank wall the camera was facing and the sound of his, Dallas's, and Darron's voice. Dez told me not to watch it because it would only upset me, but I couldn't handle it anymore. The minute Dez had gone to class I had pulled the device out of his bag.

"I'm serious, what do you want?"

"Where's Austin?"

"Just spit it out, Gingy."

"I'm serious, I don't know where he is! He left last night and hasn't come back home yet."

"Watch it... Where could he have gone?"

"I bet he's with the girl."

"Do you know where her dorm is?"

"Where is this girl's dorm at?"

"Really? You think I'm going to tell you that?"

I smile, admiring Dez's bravery to stand up not only for me, but for Ally. He probably knew he was about to get punched or worse, and he still didn't give away any information on me or Ally, and that really did mean a lot to me.

The sound of punching and Dez falling to the floor is distinguishable moments later, and I cringe, praying for it to end soon. Luckily, I can hear the dorm door open, and I know that I had arrived.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I hear my voice bellow, and I turn it off here, because I know everything that happens from this point on. I carefully place Dez's camera back in it's case and put it back where I found it, hoping that he won't find out I had been messing with it.

Of course, my efforts are worthless. Dez notices the tamperment to his precious camera case the second he walks into the dorm door. "Why'd you watch it?" He asks almost automatically.

I groan and run my hands across my face in exasperation. "I just needed to give myself the satisfaction, I guess."

He snorts, sitting down on his own bed and giving me a serious look. "Let's talk."

I raise my eyebrows. "About...?"

"You need to leave." He says.

I stare at him in shock. "Leave, as in, leave the campus?"

He nods. "They won't go out of their way to go after you if you transfer."

I scoff. I was not about to go off and leave the college I had always wanted to get into. I worked too hard in high school and I work too hard now to up and go to some other college. "No." I say simply.

He glares at me. "I'm serious, Austin, those guys are crazy. They'll hurt you."

"I don't think so, Dez... I'll just watch my back." I shrug.

"You don't understand, Austin." He breathes a shaky voice, and I narrow my eyes. "It's different when you're watching from my perspective. I watched them come in here and I took the hit for you one time, and I know it's only going to be twice as worse, maybe even worse than that. I know what they're capable of Austin, and so do you... Don't put yourself in danger." The intensity in his eyes gives me chills, and for what seems like the thousandth time I feel the wave of gratitude for this guy. He's underestimated in so many ways, but he's like the brother I never had.

"Dez, I know you're worried, and I definitely know what they're capable of, but I can't leave here... This is where I want to be, and I'm not going to let them get the best of me."

"What about Ally?" He snaps, "Do you think she's not in danger as well? Because I know you know she is, you saw it for yourself on that tape. They were gonna go over there and do whatever they needed to do to get to you."

I nearly feel my throat close up at the thought of them trying to hurt Ally. I would protect her with my life if I had to, but I still think they're worried about hurting me and not her. I'll just make sure she's not anywhere she needs to be. I stand up from where I'm seated on the bed and grab a towel before leaving the dorm to go and get a shower down the hall. Dez knows where I'm going, because I always go to the shower whenever I need to be alone, and as I close the door I hear him say, "I'm serious, Austin. Be careful."

I almost slam the door as I grip my hair in my hands and make my way down the hall. I enter the showers, thankful that there's no one else in here, and help myself to the cleanest one I can find. I strip off my clothes, hanging them over the side before starting the water and pretending to let it wash my worries down the drain.

They wouldn't do anything to me.

A/N: So, do you think Austin is making the right choice? Tell me in a review!