Hello all! I hope this chapter finds you well! Well, first things first. I just want to say THANK YOU to my editor Manic221 who far better to me then I deserve. You're my favorite! :D

Anyways, I am glad you guys like the last chapter. This one is MUCH smaller then the last chapter. I hope you guys like it. Please review! :D

Chapter 8

Hours had passed for Ally since Austin dropped her off at home. The first thing she did was shower and change; then she spent the rest of the time in her room reading the newest book for her book club.

She lost herself in the world of the pages of her novel when the sound of the front door opening and closing brought her back to reality.

It startled her at first but then checked the clock and realized that it was probably her father for the shop had closed about forty five minutes earlier.

Ally could smell the intoxicating aroma of pizza dance throughout the house. "I'm home! I brought dinner!" She heard her father call up to her. She promptly closed her book and practically skipped down the stairs.

When her dad saw her a smile spread across his face. "Well, looks like someone is feeling better."

This comment caused twinge of guilt to pierce her heart. "Uh, yeah. Yeah, I am." She stuttered as she tried to hide her deception from him.

He seemed to buy her façade as he walked into the kitchen for paper plates and sodas.

The two sat on the couch as they devoured their meal in silence. Once they finished Ally gave a lame excuse about needing to finish her book and quickly made her way back to the safety of her bedroom.

Once she was safely inside she let out a huge sigh of relief as she leaned against her door.

Ally hated that she had lied to her father but she knew it wasn't a total lie; though that did very little to curve her guilt.

She looked at the clock that hung on her dark purple accent wall. It was almost ten so she decided to put her pajamas on and finish her book before bed. Minutes passed when she was finally ready for the night and climbed into bed.

As she lay in bed, book in hand she heard an odd tapping sound come from the window on the other side of her room.

She tried to see what the cause on the sound was from her spot on the bed but she couldn't make out what the source of the nose so she decided to investigate.

As she stood in front of the closed white framed window, a very familiar pair of brown eyes met hers; which made her stomach jump to her throat.

It was him; this was it the moment of truth. She'd hoped it wouldn't happen so fast but she knew she couldn't just ignore him now.

As Blake sat on the stretched out braches of the old oak tree he hoped she wouldn't leave him there.

Only a layer of glass separated the two as Ally mouth hung open ever so slightly from the shock of her discovery.

A muffled question from the brown haired boy in the tree brought her back to herself. "Can I come in?"

For a second she considered saying no, but knew that if she didn't confront him right then she may never find the opportunity or the courage. "Yeah, sure."

She reached forward and unlocked the laches of the window frame.

The boy from her past climbed in over the windowsill and stood in front of her. As he did so pictures flashed back to that night he looked so different, older and unfamiliar.

He looked around her room in nostalgic wonder. "Wow, it hasn't changed a bit."

Ally studied the person that stood in front of her like he was a total stranger. Sure he looked similar but he wasn't the boy she once knew and she was certainly not the girl he used to know.

And yet, there was an unmistakable chemistry between the two. She wasn't sure if it was their unfinished business or something more…

After his initial comment a stony silence fell between the two. "Hi." He said nervously as he tried to find some normalcy with her but for the lameness of his greeting Blake silently scolded himself for this. 'Hi. Really, Blake? Come on this is the girl you're in love with. You can do better than that.'

He opened his mouth and hoped that something profound would come out but no words formed.

Ally grew impatient for him to make the first move so she decided it was time someone said something to get this painfully awkward moment over with. "Why are you here?"

The brown haired bundle of nerves, felt as if she had slapped him across the face. He knew he deserved it but that didn't make it sting any less.

"I just wanted to talk. I know how much you hate to make a scene so I thought that alone in your room would be better." The last word of his sentence came out as nerves laugh.

She crossed her arms and leaned her weight from one foot to the other as she averted her eyes from him. It took her off-guard to realize that he still remembered how she ticked.

Blake felt his invisible heart-stings pull as the energy in the room grew awkward. He knew the ball was in his court and he couldn't back out. "I… I've missed you Ally… A lot actually." His voice was low and confident from his new found courage as the words formed on his tongue.

His tone was sincere with slight desperation; which for some reason caused anger to rise up in Ally.

"I wonder why?" Her tone was bitter and Blake could feel the spite in her words.

Her jaw was clinched from her newly found anger as she glared into his sad brown eyes. The room went from awkward to truly uncomfortable and caused Blake to take a step back as the glare from the short brunette intensified.

"I know I have no right to be here or to even think you'd… Look I know you hate me and you every right to but I just… I just wanted to tell you I really am sorry for everything. I was young and stupid and I've regretted it ever since we broke up." He stumbled over his words because of the obvious distant the girl in front of him held for him.

"Ally, please give me a chance to show you that I still care about you." He tenderly took her hands in his as he searched her eyes for any sign of hope. This was their moment of truth and wasn't about to let it pass them by.

A moment passed as the two stared into each other's eyes then Ally dropped his hands and backed away and then began to pace.

She started to chew on the ends of her shoulder length, dark brown hair. As Ally searched for her words, Blake stood frozen in place. He only remembered Ally acting like this twice before but never towards him and it scared him.

A resolute calm came over her. She stopped and looked directly at Blake. "You don't get it do you?"

She exasperatedly looked from her left to right and then crossed the length of the room to stand right in front of him. "Blake, we're not the same people we used to be. You and me were a life time ago. I mean I would be lying if I said that not even a little part of me wanted to know what it would be like to have you back in my life but too much has happened and too much has changed. I forgive you I really do, but you and me are never going to happen. I'm sorry."

Blake stared at her. His hope and pride had just been ripped to shreds. No tears welled up in his eyes but he was definitely crying on the inside. He shook his head to signify that he got it. "Does this have something to do with that Austin guy?"

"No, it has nothing to do with him. This is about you and me." Her voice was firm and even. She had expected that question and thought she dealt with it as best she could.

"I should go then." His tone was sadness which broke Ally's heart.

She didn't hate him she never had and at that moment she wondered if she had truly made the right decision. "Yeah, I guess you should."

He wordlessly exited through the window. Ally felt the first tear of many trickle down her cheek then sat on the corner of her bed and cried bittersweet tears of relief and sadness.

So what did you think? Please review! If you don't though I still hope you enjoyed it. :D