Hi everyone, welcome back to this story!

So… umm… sorry? It's been a really busy couple of weeks for me and I haven't had any pre-written chapters I could upload, but I'm back now and hopefully from now on chapters should be back to their once-a-week goodness! And, to make up for the lack of chapters, Austin and Ally meet again in this chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own RENT: The Musical (or movie), Austin & Ally or anything you recognise from the show in any way, shape or form, nor do I own any recognisable brands, songs or lyrics within them.

I hope you guys like this chapter!

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Chapter 8

Christmas is normally a time to celebrate relationships and family, a time spent with these people who are so special to us, generally just a time for being together. But, when you're Ally Dawson living in downtown Miami, this is a little difficult… because you're pretty much alone.

Ally's family all lived in Spain, she hadn't seen her parents in a few years, and romance was a bit of a tricky subject for her. Her relationships had always been a bit rocky and unstable, which is kind of understandable due to her job as an exotic dancer.

Ally didn't like her job. She hated it. But she needed it – everyone in this part of Miami needed all the money they could get. Paying rent was one thing, but Ally needed extra money for… medications… not to mention her addiction which needed fueling.

So you see, for Ally Christmas wasn't a time to be spent quietly with a few close family members in a sleepy winter wonderland cottage. Christmas was a time like any other: a time to party!

It was around 10pm and Ally started getting ready for a night out on the town with whoever she could get to go with her. She ran through her standard checklist:

Hair: Check

Make-up: Check

Slightly revealing outfit: Check

Money: … not exactly

But Ally soon decided this didn't really matter, she knew how to get her way, and she was an expert at getting into places without having to pay.

Ally threw everything into her clutch and strutted out of her apartment. As she was making her way down the hallway towards the stairwell, not even bothering to try the elevator knowing it wouldn't be working, Ally heard the gentle sound of the most beautiful guitar melody coming from behind the doors of an apartment.

Music had always been Ally's secret passion. In school she'd always done extremely well in the subject and had been encouraged by all her music teachers to apply for a music college like Julliard or MUNY, but Ally knew that her family would never be able to afford to send her to one of those schools, with or without scholarship.

Ally stopped dead in her tracks to listen to the soft strumming of the guitar, and at this moment she realised this was the apartment she went to earlier to get a light for her candle! It was where that blonde dude lived… oh what was his name? Dustin? No… Justin? No! Austin! Yes, that was it! Austin!

She thought back to their earlier encounter. There was no denying the fact that Austin was cute by any standards! He seemed like the type of guy who could party, but didn't really want to… Ally felt a strange desire to encourage Austin to come out of his shell and enjoy himself more! And what better way than to bring him out to party on Christmas Eve?

Without hesitating, Ally knocked loudly on the apartment door, heard the guitar suddenly stop and a confused grumble, before someone got to their feet and she heard footsteps approaching the door. Next was the sound of locks clicking, and then the door swung open to reveal the tall blonde she remembered from earlier, in all his attractive glory.

"Hey Austin!" Ally said in an excited, yet flirty voice.

"Uh… hi, Ally." Came the reply. Ally felt happy when she noticed Austin's eyes skimming over her and her outfit quickly before returning up to meet her own.

"Do you wanna come out to a club with me?" She asked, batting her eyelids at him.

"Ummmm… not really." She felt her once gleaming smile falter slightly at these words… did he turn her down?

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I don't really tend to go out much." Austin replied, shrugging his shoulders and looking down.

"What? That's crazy! You're a young, hot guy, you should be out tearing up all the clubs in Miami you can find!" Ally said enthusiastically.

"Well I used to do that, but I haven't since…" These few words brought back to Ally's memory what Austi had told her about his last girlfriend committing suicide.

"Oh, yeah, I get it." She replied softly, looking down at the floor. "But… maybe it's time to change that!" Ally said, moving to hold his hand. She was surprised when he suddenly ripped his hand back away from hers at the first hint of contact.

"No, Ally." Austin said, the words coming out much colder and sharper than he had intended. Ally didn't even bother trying to hide the hurt that flashed across her face, and this didn't go unnoticed by Austin, either, who felt a horrible pang in his chest.

"Okay, I get it…" Ally said sadly, before turning and continuing to walk down the hallway, shoulders down, spirit ruined, hurt at the quite brutal rejection she had just experienced.

Austin looked after her retreating figure, part of him wanting to call out and apologise to her, but the other, larger part saying it was no use and that the damage had been done. He let out a sigh, walked back into his apartment and shut the door before leaning back against it. 'Why did I reject her?' He thought to himself.

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So I know it's not really the perfect kind of interaction everyone was hoping for, but it's something! Remember, it can only go up from here!

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Catch you later! :)