Hello!

So I spent all of today working on this chapter. I really think it helps you to learn a lot more about what I think of Ally as a character. I really enjoyed writing this piece of a bit more in depth writing. I loved hearing from all of you after the last chapter and I hope you all enjoy this one, too. Remember to review, follow, and favorite! And in case you didn't know, I am so incredibly great full to have all you readers!

Yours Always,

Undercover Dreamer

Disclaimer: Nope. I don't own Austin & Ally. Not at all. Not even a little bit.

I knew right away that I was under water. My body felt weightless and unmoving, like I was neither sinking down nor floating to the surface. I could feel the slight pulse of the waves above, although I couldn't see where the water broke into air. My eyes were wide open, searching the scene for any sign of life. I could not see a speck of algae in the water; it was a clean and pure as a diamond. Sunlight pierced the water and sent rays of light down like daggers into the depths. Water flowed through my hair, causing it to billow out around me in a halo. A sense of calm was poured over me that was not usually present.

There was a sudden movement to my right, and I jerked my head to catch a glimpse. I had to squint, because the object was far off, but when my eyes focused I faltered.

The figure floated at my level maybe twenty feet away. The crystalline sea allowed me to see the person as if we were standing out on the beach in broad daylight. She was a woman, probably in her mid- forties. Her chestnut hair was curling with the tide around a pale face. Her eyes were a beautiful blue-green, like the ocean itself. But they were also troubling. They held a sadness and strain I would recognize any were.

"Mom?" I tried to ask. I remembered I was under water when bubbles came out of my mouth instead of words, racing to the surface.

I reached out to her; hoping to hold her again, tell her I love and miss her. But the moment I moved closer, she floated down and farther away from me. I pushed myself harder, but it didn't matter. Every stride of my arms to her the sea pushed her farther away from me. I could tell she was running low on oxygen, and I needed to save her.

"Ally," I saw her mouth make the shape of my name, "You have to save me. Help me, please!"

I swam as hard as I possibly could, but eventually she sank down out of my sight. I stopped, staring at where her body used to be, wondering what I could have done. Nothing. I was completely out of control. I clutched my knees to my chest, and let out a scream of frustration.

I woke up from the nightmare with a lurch. My cheeks were covered in hot wet tears, my eyes surely red and puffy. I sobbed into my pillow, staining it with my sadness. After a few minutes I calmed down, and sat up to look around the room.

No one seemed to have been disturbed by my outbreak. Trish let out a soft snore next to me, which I do admit made me jump. I sat quietly in the dark room, and realized there was no way I would get back to sleep now. I stepped out of bed onto the cool hard wood floors. I reached into the drawer next to my bed I had filled with clothes earlier that night and pulled out an oversized Sonic Boom sweatshirt. I tugged it over my head and slipped my feet into a pair of light blue boating shoes.

I quietly let myself out of the cabin into the chilly night air. I walked down the path and decided to continue walking past all of the buildings and farther into the woods. The moon that was full and bright lead my path, I didn't need a flashlight. Dirt and leave crunched beneath my feet as I ran away from my problems. That was the easiest thing to do when I had this dream.

Yes, it was reoccurring; as in almost every single night since Mom's death. Every single night I saw her and swam to her. And every single night she pleaded for my help, help I couldn't give her.

I marched down the path for what seemed like hours, until it suddenly a glint of something flashed in my eye. I turned and peered through the vegetation at the…lake? I took a step closer and realized the flash had been the moons reflection off of the lake. I took a few steps closer, and saw that in front just a few steps away was a small secluded beach. There was no seeable trail leading to the beach, so I had to navigate through the greenery to get there.

When I broke out onto the embankment my feed sunk into the cool sand. I walked to where the beach met the lake and sat down. Thinking about everything that happened in the past twelve hours, I felt a sudden urge to talk to Austin. There was something so genuine and kind in his eyes that I just couldn't shake; whether he had a girlfriend or not.

I am such a horrible person. He obviously cares about Kira, considering the little 'situation' I walked in on earlier. Give it up, Ally. Before you get hurt.

"I see you found my private beach."

Speak of the devil.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't know anyone else knew about this place." I got up to leave, not wanting to invade his 'private beach'.

"Neither did I." Austin's blond hair stuck out in all directions, like he had run his hands through it.

"Well, uh, I'll get out of your hair." I navigated around him, heading back in the direction I came.

"You can stay if you want." I halted when I heard his small voice. I turned my head as if to make sure he was talking to me.

He was closer than I expected and when I spun I almost ran right into him. Austin caught my forearm and steadied me. A smirk played across his face as I looked into his eyes.

"We keep meeting like this." He stated jokingly. I let out a nerves laugh and took a tentative step backwards.

"I don't have to stay if you don't want me to." I said, putting the ball back in his court.

"I want you to stay." Austin finally said. I walked over to where I previously sat and took the same position. Austin came over and sat down beside me. We sat in silence for a while, neither of us knowing what to say or wanting to say anything at all. He finally said what was hanging in the air between the two of us.

"I wanted to apologize for earlier. Kira and I should not have been as…public. I feel really bad about it."

"Do you feel bad that you did it, or that you got caught?" It felt good to ask what I had been wondering all day. He looked like he was sorry about both of the times I had seen him and Kira kissing. Couples kiss, that's pretty normal.

"Both?" He asked, as if hoping he wouldn't give the wrong answer.

"It's fine, Austin. You and Kira are dating, so it's pretty expected for you two to kiss. You don't have to apologize to me." I reassured him with a (hopefully) genuine smile.

"I know, but lately she's just been so outwardly lovey dovey." He made a face at the words. "Kira was never like that before this year. She used to be so sweet and fun. Now all she cares about is being the best, most exclusive couple. She's constantly jealous if I talk to any other girls, and I…just…I mean…UGH!" He suddenly vented out to me. I wondered why he felt like he could talk to me, we barely knew each other. I reached over and squeezed his shoulder, hoping to calm him down.

"Do you ever just wish you could go back to when things were way simpler?" He abruptly turned to face me, his brown eyes flickering with gold in the moonlight. "Back before everything changed?"

"Everyday." I said more to myself than him, but I think he heard.

"So you must know why I'm here, then what about you? What keeps you up at-" He checked the watch wrapped around his wrist, "-3:07 A.M.?"

I felt like since he had told me his whole story, I owed him to do the same. At least partially.

"I had a dream."

"A good or bad dream?" He asked with care and curiosity.

"I probably wouldn't be here if it was a good dream." I wrapped my arms around my legs and pulled them to my chest so I was in a little ball.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He scooted a little bit closer, so I could feel the heat radiating off of him.

"It was my mom." I proceeded to tell him the whole story. Everything leading up to her death, and everything after. I told him about the dreams that haunted my nights. It was the first time I had ever told someone everything I was going through. I don't know why, but it just felt right. By the time I was done, there were tears streaming down my face yet again. I looked up at him, wondering how he would react. A complete stranger just spilled her pitiful life story to him, for absolutely no reason.

To my surprise, he took the sleeve of his sweatshirt and gingerly wiped them underneath my eyes. He then wrapped his arms around me and pulled me toward him. I gratefully accepted the hug and found myself weeping gently into his chest. Austin's hand stroked the back of my head tenderly, as reassured me that it was okay to cry. I clutched to this boy for dear life, like if I let go I would be pulled away to somewhere dark and sad. I cried and cried until there were no tears left, and then I just sat in his arms.

I would allow myself to stay here for a little while.

Because here I felt save, secure, and at home. And that's what I needed at that moment.