Hello There World!

I know it's been a long time(longer than I expected, sorry!). I have been super busy with school, sports, and family stuff so I have had barely any time to write. I loved hearing from all of you, and I am so glad you all liked the last chapter! Remember to keep reviewing, favoriting, and following! I love you all so much, and I can't wait to see what you think of this next chapter.

Yours Always,

Undercover Dreamer

Disclaimer: Whaaaat? Do I own Austin and Ally? Pfft, no!

I walked into the arts and crafts building with hastily dried eyes. I was proud of my strength from earlier that day, yet still had that feeling of wrong in the pit of my stomach. I wondered if I was making a mistake with the whole confrontation thing. Was I just overreacting to something that wasn't even anything? Maybe he didn't even like me in that way, and just wanted to be my friend. For all I know, he was just coming over to apologize for the incident in the practice room, and I had told him to leave. I bet I was being the horrible person, pushing away a nice guy. I should be the one apologizing.

The class was already in full swing when I entered the tent. All of the campers sitting in benches turned to face me and the counselor abruptly stopped speaking. I could feel twenty pairs of eyes judging my every move as I slipped into the seat nearest to me next to a guy with light brown hair. The young female counselor with the name tag that read "Becky" in big swirly letters began to speak again, and the rest of the class eventually lost interest in my recent entrance. Becky seemed to be explaining how to weave a basket, a skill I had already mastered. The proof was all over my house; filled with flowers and picnic foods. After the canoe tipping this morning, it was a relief to be doing something that didn't involve balance, strength, or any previous athletic ability.

I picked up the materials sitting in front of me and got to work as soon as Becky gave the word. I easily wove the pieces of wood together as if they were made of string. My basket was strong and held together easily, but I couldn't say the same for the others sitting around me. Kids were throwing down their branches down on the table in frustration, complaining about how "impossible" this was. I glanced down at my perfect entwining and wondered how they couldn't get it, it was so simple.

"Wow…" The boy sitting beside me said as he stared down at my almost complete basket, "Your basket is unbeWEAVEable."

I couldn't help but giggle at the stupid pun. He was good looking in a fun and silly way that really surprised me. What was a guy like him doing in thearts and crafts tent?

"Thanks. My name is Ally." I stated holding out my hand.

"My friends call me Elliot." He took my hand with a wide smile and shook it.

"Oh," I my tone became teasing, "And what does everyone else call you?"

"Awesome, cool, amazing. I'll let you decide which one you like best." Elliot played along with the game.

"I think you left out modest."

"Well I'm not perfect. I there had to be one good trait I didn't have."

I looked down at the pile of sticks that sat in front of him. "Looks like you also missed out on the basket weaving gene."

Elliot sighed and looked at his pathetic pile, then over to my perfect weaving.

"How did you do that?" He suddenly became frustrated as he picked up one of his sticks and threw it back on the table.

I ducked my head down to meet his gaze, and then gave him a reassuring smile. "I can help you if you want."

Elliot nodded gratefully and picked up his materials.

For the rest of the hour I slowly helped Elliot with his skills, and soon his basket was looking almost as nice as mine. When the session was over, he thanked me for all my help and promised to save a seat for me tomorrow. We went our separate ways as I headed down the trail to my cabin and him toward his. I was thankful for the free time that was to come, thinking that maybe I could see a little bit more of the camp.

The moment I stepped foot in Firefly, I heard Trish's loud voice fill the room.

"We better hurry up if we want to get any time in the water." Trish complained slightly.

The other three girls stood by their beds as they each grabbed towels and suntan lotion. I could see bikini strings peeking out from the neck of their tee shirts. Cassidy turned around when I entered the room and gave me a kind smile.

"Hey Ally! We usually go to the beach during free time, do you want to come?"

Usually I hate going to the beach. There was sand everywhere, and it always got inside my clothes. The sun shone too bright and could give me horrible red sunburns. And who even knows what lives at the bottom of that lake. It took a huge effort for me to reject the idea right away, but I decided that if I was being a new and better me, this would have to be part of it. Everybody loves the beach, and I am not going to miss out on an opportunity to hang out with some really cool people just because I'm afraid of a little sun and some fish.

"I'm in!"

I approached the lake with my yellow bikini on underneath my clothes and my towel and sunscreen in my hand. The beach swarmed with teenagers either lying out on the sand or swimming and splashing in the water. Trish led us to an open patch of sand where we all lay down our towels. I pulled off my tee shirt and shorts so I stood exposed in only my swimming suit. I carefully put on my suntan lotion and lay down across my purple and teal stripped towel. My eyes fluttered shut and I could feel myself slowly becoming more and more relaxed. Maybe the beach wasn't as bad as I had originally expected.

"Ally!" I heard a voice call my name as if from far away.

"Hm?" I opened up my eyes and was immediately blinded by the bright sun. I shielded it with my hands and looked up at my cabin mates standing over me. I propped myself up on my elbows and squinted up at them.

"You coming swimming with us?" Kira spoke up, sounding irritated and bored.

I shook my head shortly and stated, "No, you guys go on ahead."

They turned and headed toward the jam packed beachfront. I began to lay back down when the bright sun in front of me suddenly disappeared.

My eyes focused on the blonde boy that stood at the edge of my towel.

Austin looked completely natural in his swimming trunks and ray bands. He was wearing a black oldies band tee shirt that gave him a very calm aura. The guy fit the picture of "California kid" perfectly, even if he was from Miami. The sunshine and pale sand made his tan look darker and blond hair brighter. I silently wished he would take off the sunglasses to give me a glimmer of my favorite feature of his.

I, on the other hand, did not look like a beach goddess; quite the opposite, really. My pale skin almost blended with the beach in a very unnatural way that made me suddenly self conscious. And my brown hair only made me look even whiter than I already was. Obviously, this was not my natural environment.

He stood silently, looking almost at war with himself, deciding if I was even worth talking to. He seemed to have made his choice when he pivoted around to leave, and one word escaped my lips.

"Wait!"

Austin halted for a brief second, and then turned to face me. I didn't need to see his eyes to know that they were hard and unforgiving. I gulped slowly, taking a long moment before I spoke.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out quickly, then let out a slow breath, "about…before. I misjudged your intentions, and I just got scared. I thought about it, and if you want a friend then it would be completely unfair of me to reject that. You were so kind to me and you definitely deserve someone to be that person for you. I hope you can forgive me."

I quickly stood up and approached where he stood with a questioning look on his face. I instinctively reached for my hair to chew on, but remembered and bit down on my lip instead. I stared up at him with my best apologetic smile.

Austin slowly reached up to tug his glassed from his face and I could tell immediately that I was forgiven. His eyes were soft and open, in a way that almost made me blush. I shifted my gaze to the sandy beach and bit down on my lip again. I felt a callused hand scoop under my chin and lift my face back up to look into his whisky colored eyes.

"Of course you're forgiven. I couldn't stay mad at you, Ally-Cat." The corner of his eyes crinkled into smile as he wrapped his arms around my waist. I hooked my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. I breathed in the familiar vanilla that went along with his presence. I might have held on for a little too long, but he didn't seem to want to let go either.

Finally I pulled away and took a step back. My smile was grateful this time and I spoke hopefully.

"What can I do to make it up to you?" I asked seriously. He let out a chuckle with a smirk that made me nervous.

"I have an idea."

I shifted uncomfortably at the undertones he was giving off. "What is it?"

"You," He took a step closer to me, "can write me a song."