Chapter 3: Teenage Hormones & Trouble

You see, Ally always keeps herself in check. It's simply how she is. So you must understand burying her head in Trish's pillow and trying to suffocate herself to death is not exactly something normal for her to do.

All week she had tried, and failed, to keep Austin Moon out of her head. It seems that his stupid face is permanently etched on her mind, and she can't do anything about it.

Yep, there's no doubt she's officially going crazy.

Crazy, the precise reason Austin had claimed why he could never like her. She's not crazy, is she? Ugh. Now she's getting paranoid, and it's entirely the blond idiot's fault. Or maybe she can blame teenage hormones.

Curse the stupid basket and his stupid words.

"Ally! Ally! Earth to Allison Marie Dawson!" Trish yells. "You are so not spacing out on me when we're discussing your big birthday!"

Ally snaps out of the insult she was composing, and begrudgingly lifts her head up, muttering, "I just don't see what's the big deal about birthdays. I mean, if anything I should probably be celebrating the day for my mom or something."

Trish just rolls her eyes. "Ally, you're sounding exactly like my aunt before she kicked me out. And that's a bad thing, considering I hate her and she's fifty years old while you're sixteen. Besides, how can your seventeenth birthday not be a big deal? It's the last birthday you get to celebrate with me before you leave here! If you don't think I'm gonna make it a birthday you'll never forget, you've got another think coming!"

For the first time in the week her mind's finally free from Austin, and Ally smiles, genuinely touched. Trust Trish to say something like that.

Trish had lost her parents when she was twelve, and because she simply couldn't stand her aunt, she ran away from her and became a maid in the Moon household. Surprisingly her aunt didn't report missing person or cause any trouble, so there was no police involved. And the instant Ally saw the leopard print loving girl four years ago, she just knew she found a best friend of her life. Huh, she really is going to miss her when she leaves the house. But she's getting ahead of herself, there's no point of worrying when she's still got another year stuck in here. Trish's definition of party may be alittle over the top, but Ally has to admit it's always good. She has full confidence in her.

"We're going to get you in the Illusion Club!" the Latina girl screams ecstatically, clearly expecting her to be every bit as enthusiastic.

Okay, rephrase, Trish's definition of party is a lot over the top, and they're usually good.

Seeing her friend's skeptic expression, Trish huffs and says, "Come on, whenever does a plan involving partying and me go wrong?"

Ally sits up, ticking off her fingers. "Well, there's the time when you danced on the dining table and almost knocked over Mr. Moon's super expensive Ming Dynasty china vase. And there's also the time when you tried to throw the maids a New Year's party then somehow Dez brought his pet kangaroo and wrecked the entire kitchen. And then there's also the time when…"

"Fine. Sometimes it goes wrong, but most of the time it's fabu-tastic. And you can hardly count the second one since it's technically Dez who ruined my genius party."

Ally laughs at her friend's made up word mixing fabulous and fantastic. "Okay, so that one doesn't count, but they're still a lot of examples to choose from." Then her brow furrows. "But I'm not really sure about the Illusion Club idea. Isn't that club exclusively for the filthy rich kids?" Austin's smirking face appears on her mind, and she groans involuntarily. "Like Austin?"

Trish beams. "Exactly! I've got it all figured out. We'll just bring our Moon household ID badge, then we'll tell the guards we're trying to find him or some other excuse. I don't know, maybe like we're bringing something for him? Next we'll get in and give you the best time you'll ever have! It's fool proof!"

Ally starts to protest, but is then pushed out of the door by her determined friend. "You're going even if I have to drag you kickin' and screamin' away!" is Trish's muffled threat from the other side of the door.

"At least get me a decent enough dress," Ally says exasperatedly, knowing fully well that there's no chance of her choosing her own attire.

The door opens a crack, revealing Trish's 'yeah-that's-not-gonna-happen' grin. "Don't worry. I've got just the perfect dress for you."

"I am not wearing that," Ally states flatly, eyeing the sorry excuse of a dress Trish chose for her disdainfully.

It's actually the night before her actual birthday that Trish decides to take her to the famous club, since Trish somehow got the information that they're hosting some sort of activity at the club tonight. They had both finished their chores early, and are supposedly sneaking out at nine o'clock sharp, though it has proved to be difficult considering Trish and her do exactly see eye to eye in terms of dressing in a decent and appropriate way. Meaning no dresses barely covering her ass please.

"Why not? You're going to look smoking in this!" Trish exclaims, emphasizing the flimsy material making up the majority of the dress. Uh huh, yeah, no. She'll look like a certain type of girls whose phone numbers belong on the bathroom wall, if you get what she's saying. And then add in those come-and-get-me heels Trish prepared? You might as well just kill her before she trips and ends up killing herself first.

But Ally has never won an argument with Trish in their entire four year friendship, and tonight is no exception. So half an hour later, Ally finds herself sitting sulkily in Dez's car, dressed from head to toe in Trish approved accessories and makeup.

"I can't believe you got Dez to drive us. No offense Dez, but you're not exactly the safest driver," Ally says, squirming uncomfortably on her seat. Great, she's not even in this stupid dress for more than ten minutes and it's already trying to suffocate her.

"Trust me, Freckles here is not my first choice," Trish mutters beside her. "But on the bright side, at least it's only a fifteen minute drive. I can already see the club, thank God."

"Hey! I heard that!" Dez cries indignantly as he pulls over to drop them off.

"Yeah, yeah. Just try to not crash into any trees on your way home this time. Come on, Ally, let's go."

Ally suppresses a grin. Those two are just so cute when they're bickering and they don't even know it. It is nice that Dez agreed to help them out, though it's probably because Trish half threatened him to do so. Not like they could ask Austin to drive them though, for obvious reasons. Speaking of whom, she hasn't seen that blond devil since waking him up in the morning. Which is weird, considering he usually goes straight home after school to pester her as soon as possible. But then again, he's probably off somewhere celebrating his last day of school before summer vacation. She giggles slightly as she recalls the boy's positively giddy expression this morning. He's just so childish. Sometimes it's annoying, but sometimes it's just so…cute. Like annoying cute.

Or maybe even annoyingly cute, a small voice at the back of her head whispers slyly.

She mentally face palms. God, can't you hormones keep yourselves in check for just one second? Like she hasn't already maxed her weekly quota of thinking about Austin Moon.

Oh my pickles, now where did that come from?! Ally Dawson does not think about Austin Moon, and she certainly does not have any weekly quota for thinking about him whatsoever!

"Ally! Ally! Psst! Say something!" a voice whispers furiously beside her, and Ally blinks, confused, never more grateful for someone to break her form her horrifying train of thoughts. She glances besides her, finding Trish nudging her as subtly as possible, although her face is clearly screaming PANIC! in all caps and exclamation marks.

Apparently at some point during her internal conflict, they had progressed to the front of the club's waiting line, and are now staring face to face with two burly security guards both having frowns on their faces.

"I'm afraid we can't let you pass. Tonight's club is exclusively for the people on the invitation list, and we cannot let any other unrelated people in," one of the guards says apologetically. The other just scowls and eyes them suspiciously, looking as if he wants nothing more than to throw them out and get on with the long line waiting in tow.

"It seems like a lot of you girls are trying to sneak in tonight," the scowling guard growls threateningly. "I'd hate it if you're wasting our time." He gestures behind him, where two sobbing girls are being pulled out of the entrance by other guards.

Ally glares at Trish, who is looking at anything but her.

Great.

"We're really sorry for the inconvenience," Ally begins while racking her brain for more excuses. "And I know you're just doing your job but…" she trails off, grimacing, totally out of what else she could say.

The guards are both looking at her expectantly, and she gulps. "Um, I guess we'll just be on our way," she manages to squeak out in a meek voice.

Now both of the guards are scowling. "Look, missy. I told ya I'd hate it if you're wasting my time, and—"

"What the—Dawson?" a very familiar voice calls out behind them, confusion evident in his tone.

Ally turns, eyes growing huge as she registers the very confused looking blonde staring at her ten paces away, mouth agape.

She immediately swivels back around, pretending as if she didn't see him. Unfortunately, he didn't get the memo and is rapidly approaching them at an alarmingly fast pace. And when Ally feels the tap on her shoulder, she knows she can't pretend anymore.

"What?" she snaps defensively, giving him the best glare she can muster.

Austin just crosses his arms in front of his chest, unperturbed. "Can you please explain to me why you're here?" He glances at Trish, who is now trying to hide behind a flowerpot. "And your friend behind the flowerpot."

Even though they already finished their chores, technically they had still snuck off, and Ally would hate it if Trish gets into trouble. Heck, they could both get into trouble. Sighing, she starts the inevitable explanation.

"Trish and I are just trying to—"

"Are you Austin Moon?" one of the guards interrupts her midsentence, and Austin turns, annoyed, saying, "Yes. That a problem?"

The guards immediately shake their heads. "No, of course not. It's just that Miss Starr ordered us to escort you in as soon as we see you, and we..well, saw you," they finishes dumbly. Despite the situation, Ally can't help but stifle a giggle.

Austin turns back to face her, giving her a 'we're not done yet' look. Then he turns back to address the guards, "Then escort me in. And I'll need to take these two with me." He points at Ally and Trish, who both flinch at his tone.

The guards nod, removing the red rope and allowing them to enter. "Miss Starr is at the bar…" one guard starts to say, but is cut off by Austin's impatient glare.

"Yeah, yeah. Maybe later. Now if you'll excuse me, I have someone to talk to." He ignores Trish and grabs Ally's arm, leading her to a more secluded area in the club. "Explain."

Ally bites her lower lip nervously. What is wrong with him? Never once did he look so annoyed. Last time she checked, it's usually her who gets angry by his childish acts and relentless teasing. Now all of a sudden she's annoyed. Who does he think he is and why is he always butting into her business?

"I don't have to tell you," she states flatly.

Austin's eyebrow twitches. "Ally, this is my friend's start-of-the-summer party. Meaning almost everyone here is in the Marino School, which later on means that they are all girl crazy dudes. You. Can't. Be. Here," he says, emphasizing each word.

"And why not?" she challenges, a bit confused by what he's trying to say but not caring at the moment.

"Just…BECAUSE!" Austin yells, frustrated.

"Thank you, because that explains everything," Ally replies dryly.

He trails his eyes over her, mumbling something to himself that she can't hear. "You can't just wear something like that and waltz into these kind of parties," he finally concludes. "It's a… uh… disgrace to our family!"

Ally's eyes widens incredulously. "Excuse me?! Disgrace?! Look Moon, I don't like to be in this dress any more than you like to see me in this dress, so don't you dare make assumptions like that!"

He lowers his gaze. "I didn't say I don't like you in that dress," he mutters quietly.

"Oh," is all she can say. A blush slowly creeps on her cheeks, and suddenly she's not annoyed anymore, but insanely nervous. And strangely giddy, like she wants to burst into a spontaneous fit of giggles.

"Look," Austin sighs as he runs a hand through his hair. His expression softens. "I'll just get you home, okay?"

She cannot do anything but nod. He didn't grab her arm this time, just gently wraps his hand around her own. She doesn't dare to look up, but at the corner of her eye she catches him blushing, too avoiding any eye contact.

They silently progress to the back door, with Austin leading and her trailing behind, the only thing connecting them being their interlaced fingers. And for a moment Ally feels strangely content.

Until an annoyingly high-pitched voice breaks the silence. "Austin! Why didn't you come find me?"

They turn around, finding a pretty and dark skinned girl glaring daggers at Ally.

And the girl's dilated pupils are screaming nothing but trouble.

A/N: Sorry for not updating in what, two weeks? But I'll try to update more often. *nervous laugh* Anyways, they're airing Season 3 tomorrow! Yay! I can't wait to find out what the blacked out part in the letter said! That letter's just sooo sweet! *sigh* Okay, so I should probably stop before I continue my fangirling. Please review if you like it, and also can you give me some advices? Thanks :-)