A/N: Warning: I hate this chapter too. So please don't hate me for writing this crap. (hopeful eyes)
Chapter 4: Irregular Mood Swings & Internal Conflicts
How is a girl supposed to react when:
a) She is extremely confused because a girl she's never seen before in her entire life is glaring at her like she wants nothing more than her dead.
b) She is extremely annoyed because that girl is interrupting something that she doesn't quite understand yet but sure as hell doesn't want to end.
And
c) She is extremely flustered because a certain blond boy just tightened his grip on her hand and for some reason her heart is going overdrive.
Yep, it's safe to say that her emotions are extremely messed up at the moment.
"Austin," the girl whines, pouting slightly, "I asked you why didn't you come find me! I've been waiting for you ages ago." Her cute pouty demeanor falters as she pretends to notice Ally for the first time. "Oh. Who is this…girl," she says, her nose wrinkling disapprovingly. She's staring down at Ally like she is someone unworthy to even be in her presence. It's clear as day that the girl has another word in mind, and Ally is pretty sure it's not a word as nice as girl.
Ally also notices that Austin had stiffened visibly. The poor boy looks like he's about to make a mad dash to the back door, but something is preventing him from doing so. He not-so-discreetly glances down at their intertwined fingers, and their eyes meet when he then attempts to sneak a glance at her.
Immediately they both blush, looking pointedly away from each other. Ally takes the opportunity to untangle her hand from his, alternating to wrapping it around her waist instead. At the sudden loss of contact, Austin frowns, a look of disappointment crossing his features for the slightest second before he shoves the hand that is previously holding hers in his pocket.
He suddenly seems to be very much engrossed in the colorful disco ball hanging overhead.
No one spoke. Silence, nothing but pure silence as the girl's question goes unanswered.
Ally shifts her weight uncomfortably. Really, this is getting awkward.
The girl frowns when she heard no reply from Austin. "Ahem," she coughs, successfully regaining full attention from both the blushing teens. "Austin, aren't you going to introduce her to me?" Then she purses her lips. "Or do I not want to know?"
Okay, now Ally is a hundred percent certain her current emotion just changed to extremely pissed off. Somehow it annoys her to no end that the girl is acting like she's the one in control, and then as if it isn't enough, how dare she just…imply that Austin and her have something going on? Repeat after her: Not. Cool.
To her dismay, however, Austin just sighs and does what he was told. "Kira, Ally. Ally, Kira," he mumbles almost incomprehensibly.
The girl, whom she now knows goes by the name of Kira, offers her a clipped smile. "Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Ally, but would you mind lending Austin to me now? We have some other things to tend to, don't we, Austy?"
If Ally isn't so pissed off right now, she might have found the ridiculous nickname and Austin's priceless expression rather hilarious. But given under the current circumstances, she suddenly develops an overpowering urge to wipe that smug smile off the girl's face. Preferably with something sharp.
"Austin?" Kira once again when the blonde made no reply. "Are you listening?"
Austin, who had been staring up the ceiling again, reluctantly looks down. Exhaling deeply, he mutters a halfhearted yeah under his breath. Ally can sense a trace of annoyance in his tone, but if Kira had noticed, she pretended that she did not.
Instead, she just shoots her an almost triumphant smile. Scratch that, it was a full on smirk. She takes a step forward, latching herself on Austin's arm. The boy made no protest except the little eye roll that didn't go unnoticed by Ally. "Well then, excuse us Ally. It was such a pleasure to meet you by the way," Kira says. Her underlying words are clear: Ha ha, you lose. Austin's going with ME.
Someone please stop her before she strangles that girl.
As if on cue, Trish suddenly appears, all tipsy and giggling. "Oh here you are, Ally! Why are you just standing there doing nothing? These martinis are seriously good! Come on, let's parrrrtyyyy!" She then proceeds to drag Ally away, but not before Ally sees the superior smile Kira just flashed her. Clutching Austin like he is the grand prize she just won at a festival, the dark skinned girl gives her one last smug little wave, then leads Austin to the opposite direction.
Ally can only stare at their retreating form, feeling her chest tighten involuntarily like someone is clutching her heart in a death grip. She frowns when she registers the foreign feeling, trying to decipher whatever it is, yet only finds herself getting increasingly frustrated as she fails to find the cause.
Whatever is happening she does not like one bit.
She then turns to Trish, who blinks in confusion when she sees that her friend is clearly upset.
Ally sighs, rubbing her suddenly sore temples. "I'm not feeling very well," she mutters, "Can we go home?"
"Ally, are you sure you're okay?" Trish asks for what seems like the millionth time in an hour, her voice clearly doubtful. On one hand she holds a thermometer, and on the other she holds a glass of water.
"I'm fine," Ally replies with a forced smile. Ugh, she doesn't even sound convincing to herself.
Trish had been sent to doll her up before her party, but after seeing the brunette moping around in bed, she quickly abandoned her mission and went into nurse mode.
"You sure?" Trish presses on, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "Cause we can always postpone the party. Just let me talk to the other maids, I'm sure they'd understand. You're probably just down with the flu." She checks the thermometer. "98.4. At least we know you're clear from fevers."
Ally just shakes her head. She knows she isn't sick. The maids had worked harder than they were supposed to for the party, so she can't possibly let them down just because she's feeling a little…off.
Actually, saying her being a little off is kind of an understatement. Ever since she left the club last night, Ally has been unable to shake off the weird feeling, and to make matters worse, it only seems to increase when she found out a certain blonde won't be coming home tonight.
Speaking of Austin, she hasn't seen him since last night. Mr. and Mrs. Moon took him out early this morning, claiming they have an important meeting to attend…Really, out of all the days they could've taken him on a meeting, they just had to choose her birthday?
She mentally scoffs at herself. Ironic that all of a sudden she actually wants him here on her birthday. Since that little stunt he pulled when she turned twelve, which unfortunately involved her precious songbook, corndogs, and Dez (don't ask), she has banned him from her birthday parties ever since. She had been so mad at that time, she freaked Austin out to the point that he was actually shaking. A smile unknowing reaches her lips. Now that had been a victorious day of her life.
You're focusing on the wrong thing, a voice in her mind suddenly appears, attempting to persuade her, this just points out why you clearly don't need Austin here on your birthday! Who cares if he's not here? Your birthday's gonna be a whole lot better without that troublemaker here wrecking it! Trust me, well, I'm technically you, but whatever. Point is, you're just going through some weird teenager phase. It'll go away in like two days. You know how it is, hormones are doing their thing again. Just ignore it.
Ally blinks. Well, that was convincing…
Sure, let's just blame it on hormones every time you think of Austin, another voice mocks. Face it Ally. You want him to be present on your seventeenth birthday. You're just too oblivious and defensive about the whole thing. Hey, it's not like you're committing some big crime by wanting him here. You leave in another year, so it's perfectly normal for you to feel this way, the second voice reasons.
Perfectly normal?! the first voice snorts. Pul-lease girl, remember it's Austin we're talking about? The same Austin who tormented us for sixteen years?
Yes, it's perfectly normal. Who are you trying to kid here? You're clearly going to miss him. Yes, I said it. YOU'RE GOING TO MISS AUSTIN MOON WHEN YOU LEAVE IN ANOTHER YEAR.
Shut up! the first voice suddenly screams. Don't listen to her!
Who's her? We're all the same person here in case you haven't noticed, the second voice points out dryly.
You know what I'm saying! the first voice accuses. Ally, you hate Austin remember? Don't listen to her! Well, I mean her as in the other more annoying voice. I mean, I know I'm also her, and she's also you, so that means that I'm her and she's you and I'm you and she's…Ugh, you know what? Other voice, just shut up.
Is it too complex for your tiny little brain? the second voice says in mock pity. I think you're the one that should shut up.
You shut up, the first voice demands.
No you shut up, the second voice counters.
No you shut up! the first voice's voice raises. Is there such thing as a voice's voice?
No you shut up! the second voice's voice also raises for good measure.
No you shut up!
No you shut up!
No you shut up!
No you shut up!
Enough! Both of you shut up! Now this is Ally. Did she just yell at herself? Yes, yes she did.
The voices begrudgingly silenced.
You're mean, the first voice whimpers after a moment.
Ally rolls her eyes, or at least she rolled her eyes in her mind. Anyone would choose the second voice. It's calm, it's reasonable, and it made total sense.
But Ally chose the first voice.
Psh, no. She's not in denial. There's just no freaking way she would ever miss that jerk. Uh-uh, not possible. Not now, not ever.
She promptly ignores the insulting remark second voice just muttered.
Her decision made, Ally sits up from her bed, eyes set with determination. She's gonna have a blast at her birthday party with or without that jerk.
"I'ma party all night and sleep all day!" she shouts, pumping a fist in the air. Feeling satisfied by her mini pep talk, Ally turns around, only to find Trish staring at her looking freaked. After all, it's not always you can hear Ally Dawson blurting out random lyrics from the Black Eyed Peas.
Shoot. She completely forgot about Trish. "What? Parties are great, parties are cool, parties are totally awesome! Yay party!" she adds hastily in her perkiest voice, trying to make it sound convincing. Which, sufficient to say, sounds like a really bad cheerleader wannabe. That and add a truckload of enthusiasm enough to kill an elephant. You get the idea.
Trish continues to stare at her as she struggles to comprehend what might've been the bizarrest thing her friend ever uttered. She steals a quick glance at the thermometer, double checking that Ally really isn't having a fever. Cause really, that's the most logical explanation she can think of right now.
Ally quickly pushes Trish out of the door. "Meet you at the servant kitchen later!" she says in that same horrible overly perky voice as she slams the door shut.
You'd make a terrible cheerleader, both of her inner voices comment in unison.
Shut it. She's had enough of internal conflicts for a day.
A/N: Again, I really hate this chapter. But I had to write this to, uh, build up the tension and whatnot. I promise there's going to be Auslly in the next chapter though! Pinky swear! So um, please review if you like it, though I really can't blame you if you don't… :(