HEY! I can't believe it you guys are the BEST! Over 60 REVIEWS! OMG! THANK YOU! Here you go this is by FAR my longest chapter and I really hope you like it.

Chapter 7

"You know Austin when you suggested this I wasn't totally sold on your idea but you were so right." Ally said, with honest surprise in her voice.

"See Ally, I told you. I'm always right." His signature cocky smile plastered on his face.

She turned around to see Austin who was sat on a metal bench a few feet behind her. His arms stretched on them across the back of the iron frame. Ally turned her attention back to the white pins that awaited her. She focused her eyes as she readied herself to knock them all down. She let out a deep breath, pulled the ball back then swung her arm forward. Ally held her breath as she watched the neon pink sphere make its way down the perfectly polished wooden lane.

As anticipation took over her she felt an arm snake around her shoulders but didn't dare look away until she was sure her ten pin was gone. And in an instant the bright neon pink ball made a head on collision the ten white, slender pins.

"Yes!" Ally cried. She had finally won. They had played five games that afternoon because she was bound and determined to win at least one.

Overwhelmed with sheer joy of her win she threw her arms around Austin's neck and almost knocked him to the ground. Thankfully he stayed on his feet and found himself enjoying the hug more then he should've.

Ally didn't notice the change in her best friend as she excitedly pulled away from him while she celebrated her victory.

Austin at that moment thought he would never get used to the sensation when she pulled away from one of their hugs. He felt like she took another piece of him every time. He wondered after a while if there would be anything left for him once it was all said and done. It was painful and empty sensation and yet he was numb at the same time. Granted he had only hours prior admitted to himself that he did indeed have feelings for her that ran much deeper then friendship but still if it was that bad already with time it would only get worse.

He feared that one of two things would happen if he were to come right out and say what he felt.

One: that she would flat out tell him she didn't feel the same way and never would.

Two: that she would feel sorry for him and wouldn't know what to say.

You may think that sounds too cynical but Austin knew she didn't feel the same way. He could feel it in his bones. It killed him. She was still in love with Blake it was obvious.

Sure he had a girlfriend himself but that didn't mean it hurt any less. To love someone you know would never love you the same way, to want them and know they don't want you the same way is the greatest pain you could ever go through or imagine.

Ally finished her well-deserved gloat and walked back to Austin and threw her arms around him once again. "Ah, thank you! I feel so much better."

Despite himself Austin melted into the hug. This one felt even better than all the others. She poured all her gratefulness and love for her best friend into the hug. He felt everything she wanted to convey but tried so hard not get his hopes up. He knew that her feelings toward him hadn't changed but he couldn't help but to get lost in the intoxicating smell of her shampoo. He had never found the scent of mango so sexy before.

When she loosened her grip Austin decided it was his turn to end the hug before he did something stupid. He could feel with every moment that passed with him in her arms his restraint weakened. It would be the easiest thing in the world to lean in and kiss her. He had imagined it so many times that day but the damage it would cause made it not worth it.

The two stood about an arm's length apart. Austin could feel every nerve in his body tense with every wordless moment that passed.

He looked at her and once again silently prayed that his eyes wouldn't betray him as he looked into her eyes relief washed over him.

Ally had a big toothy grin on her face that reached all the way up to her eyes. Those brown eyes gleamed so bright from happiness for a second Austin thought they were gold.

She finally broke the happy silence. "So what do you want to do now?"

Austin instinctively looked at his platinum watch he bought with the money from his first album.

It was almost five it was hard to believe that he'd been here for four hours with Ally, his best friend… the love of his life.

He only had an hour until is dinner date with Sasha. He knew he had to end things with her. It wouldn't have been fair to either of them if they continued to date.

He still cares for Sasha. She wasn't as bad as everyone seems to think she is, well at least with him. She wasn't just another girlfriend to him Sasha was his friend too. This would be the hardest thing he'd ever done in his life up until that point.

"Sorry, I have to take you home now. I have a date with Sasha in an hour." Ally felt like she'd been kicked in the stomach. She hated that ever since he had started dating Sasha, her and Austin had less and less time together. She just wished that Austin would wake up and see that Sasha was a gold-digger and breakup with her.

"Oh, okay. That's fine." Austin could see she was disappointed. He felt the urgency to make her feel better and for her to know that he would much rather be with her.

The trick was to tell her this without revealing his true feelings for her in the process. "Hey, to be honest I would much rather hangout with you tonight."

'Okay, so I'm not the most tactful guy around.' Austin facetiously said inside his mind.

Ally's face went from disappointment to a small smile. Austin could've sworn he saw a blush on her cheeks but chose to dismiss it; false hope was the last thing he needed.

"Really?" She said with a happy tone that neither Austin nor Ally could ignore.

"Well, yeah. I mean Sasha's great but…I don't know something has changed and I think it's time to end things." Austin said very blasé. He wondered if she could tell this was actually quite hard on him.

To say Ally was surprised wouldn't begin to describe it. 'What in the world finally woke him up?'

"Wow. Well, good for you. I know this must be hard for you." She said genuinely concerned. Ally may have never have liked Sasha but she knew that this had to be hard on her best friend.

Austin smiled at her response and threw his arm around her shoulder. "Come on let's get you home. I have to get ready for tonight."

The two made their way to the red Mustang that still sat in its parking spot where they had left it. Austin hit the unlock button on his keychain and the two got in.

As they made their way to Ally's house she felt her nerves rush back. She didn't know why but she dreaded going home. She figured it had to do with the fact that it meant she was just that much closer to her inevitable confrontation with Blake.

A slightly awkward silence grew between the two so Austin turned on the radio to break the silence. It was perfect because their newest hit blared through the speakers.

Ally broke out into a joyous laugh and an infectious smile. She sang along with the lyrics that she had brilliantly written. Austin joined her in a unison chorus of 'cross my heart and hope to die!'.

The two laughed and sang the whole way to Ally's house. The song had come to an end as Austin pulled into the drive way then put the car in park. "Well, here you go."

Ally gave him a half smile and then said, "Thanks Austin. You're the best." She leaned over and hugged him tight around the neck. He quickly returned the hug.

He wondered how her hair still smelled so good; though, before he could even finish his thought she had ended the hug and was half way to her front door.

Austin watched as she reached the large oak door. She searched for her keys and once she found them, she carefully slipped the key into the lock. Once she heard the lock turn she looked back to where Austin still sat in the red sports car, waiting. She waved to him goodbye and disappeared into the house.

Austin sighed from feelings he couldn't put into words. He wondered if she felt it too, but promptly put that out of his mind. He shifted to reverse and pulled away from Ally's house.

Within ten or so minutes he was back at his house. He changed into more appropriate attire for a date.

He wore his black skinny jeans with a short sleeved white button down shirt and a skinny red tie with a black blazer.

He checked himself out in the mirror and hoped he wasn't too dressed up for a breakup dinner. He still wasn't totally sure where he would take Sasha to breakup with her but he knew he didn't want it to be really public. After all he was semi-famous and the last thing he needed was the tabloids to get wind of it and make everything ten times worse.

He checked his watch once again and saw that he had about fifteen minutes to get to Sasha's place. He didn't want to be late because if he was he knew he would spend the rest of the evening listening to her complain about it.

As Austin drove the very familiar route to Sasha apartment, he racked his brain to find some way to break it to her gently. He decided to stop at a flower shop on the way. One thing his dad had taught him about girls was never pick one up for a date empty handed, even if you're going to break up with them.

His nerves had started to get the better of him as he pulled in her apartment complex and punched in the code to open the gate.

The steel gate slowly slid open to allow him to enter. He slowly picked up speed as he drove into the parking garage that connected to her building. He'd done this so many times it was crazy for him to think this would probably be the last time.

He drove up and up until he reached her floor then found the closest guest spot and parked. Austin grabbed the bouquet of white roses that sat in the front passenger's seat.

He made the walk to her apartment door; which strangely seemed to last forever though once he reached her door he felt like it was in a blink of an eye. Austin shook himself to try to relieve the nervous energy that consumed his being.

'Here it goes.' He then knocked on the door before he could lose his nerve.

She opened the door so soon it was as if she had stood at the door waiting for him.

Austin was shocked because she usually made him wait a minute or two before gracing him with her presence.

"Hey, babe! Come on in. Just give me a minute and we can leave." Sasha greeted him. She led him inside and then promptly disappeared back into the bathroom, where he assumed she had just been.

"Take your time!" Austin called after her. She didn't respond which left Austin to awkwardly stand in the hallway until she reappeared seconds later.

She smiled warmly at him so Austin smiled back. 'God, this is gonna be harder than I thought.'

"Are those for me?" She pointed to the flowers in his hand.

"Oh, yes!" He snapped out of his deep thought.

Austin held them out to her and she looked at them curiously like something wasn't right. She gave him a quizzical look; which he returned with a halfhearted nerves smile. She seemed to buy it because her puzzled expression turned into smiled.

To thank him she placed a sweet kiss on his cheek. She had tried for the lips but his turned his face. Her eyes looked so hurt but only said, "So… You ready to go?"

Austin nodded and two walked out the red Mustang that awaited them. He opened her door, like the gentleman he was and walked around to the driver's side and got in.

The two were silent as they made their way to the restaurant. Austin had started to become accustomed to the awkwardness; between Ally and Blake, Ally and himself, and then Sasha too. He hated that he didn't know what to say. They use to talk so easily together but every time he opened his mouth he worried that he would say something stupid.

"So…" She started. "Where are we heading?"

Austin had finally decided on a destination for the evening and lucky for him he had just turned into the parking lot.

Her face lit up like a Christmas tree at the sight before her. "Oh Austin, I love the boardwalk."

Austin laughed then smiled at her excitement. As she got out of the car a thought crossed his mind. 'I hope she doesn't hate me after tonight.'

Austin got out of the car and walked over the where Sasha waited for him. The restaurant he had chosen was the high-end Chinese place called The White Lotus.

Dinner went by so fast for Austin. He really couldn't remember much of anything that happened. He was so preoccupied with what would occur afterwards.

The two had finished their meal, paid the check and decided to take a walk down by the water's edge.

As they walked Sasha lovingly slipped her hand into Austin's. This caused both pleasure and guilt to rise up inside of him. His jaw clinched as he readied himself for what was about to happen.

Her pace quickened slightly so she was few steps ahead of him. She turned to face him with a flirtatious smile in her eyes. She gently interlocked her free hand with his.

She bit her bottom lip as she leaned in. Austin stood frozen for a moment but finally came to and turned his face for the second time that day.

She immediately pulled away from him and dropped his hands. "Austin what's going on with you? Something's up and it's not just today. Now please be straight with me."

Austin took a step back as to let out a breath he didn't realize he had held. 'It was now or never.'

"Sasha, I still really care about you but my heart is just not in it anymore. And I just don't think it's fair for either of us to carry on with a relationship." Austin fought tears as he spoke. He never expected breaking up with her would be this emotional.

The redhead stood there quietly then a laugh of disbelief escaped her lips. "You're heart… This is about Ally, isn't it?"

Austin's eyes grew very wide. 'How did she know?'

"I…uh…" He stuttered.

"Oh come on Austin I may be ditzy but I'm not stupid." She made eye contact once again. Hurt was definitely evident but something else was there that Austin didn't expect, acceptance.

"I always knew this would happen. Ally understands you in a way I never could. I really do get it." Her voice was strong and steady but a single tear slid down her cheek.

Austin hugged her. "I'm so sorry. I wish it didn't have to happen this way."

She wordlessly shook her head and then said, "Can you take me home now?"

"Sure." He said, and then the two walked back to the red Mustang without another word.

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