Austin and Ally pulled away from the hug.

I can't believe I just did that, Ally thought. "Um, sorry Austin." She looked away feeling the red creep up her neck to her cheeks.

"For what?"

"For hugging you." Ally almost whispered. She was so embarrassed, "It was an impulse move."

"Ally," he reached out and gently turned her face toward him. "You never have to apologize for a hug. Never."

Ally looked up into his eyes and was swallowed up by the intensity she found there. She felt like she could read his mind like a book. She felt the emotions he was feeling just by looking at her. She felt like this moment was the moment they would finally collide. She pictured him cupping her face gently and leaning in for a kiss.

"You guys hungry?" Trish called, pulling Ally back to reality.

"Do you want to go get something to eat?" Austin asked Ally.

"Sure." Ally smiled and the pair walked back to where Trish was.

While Austin Ally and Dez were playing Frisbee Trish had unpacked the food that she and Dez brought for their picnic. There was a plate of sandwiches, a big jar of dill pickles, some potato salad, deviled eggs, watermelon, a few bags of chips, and some sodas.

Each of the four friends grabbed a plate and piled it high. They sat on the picnic blanket together while they ate. They talked about everything from school and work to Austin's singing career. Trish wanted to book him for a beach concert in a few weeks and wanted Ally to write a new song for it.

"That would be awesome!" Austin said.

"Could you have a new song for Austin in a couple of weeks?" Trish asked Ally.

"Of course," she replied. "I can have a great song written by then."

The group spent the next hour or so chatting about the plans for Austin's beach concert. Dez had agreed to set up the lighting for the concert. Trish as usual would take care of everything else leaving Austin and Ally with nothing to do but work on the song.

"Well I'm gunna go book this concert." Trish said. She left Dez Austin and Ally looking for someone with some sort of authority to talk to.

"I feel like swimming." Dez said and he got up and jumped toward the water. "Come on Austin."

Austin jumped up, "Coming Dez." He pulled off his shirt and kicked off his flip flops. He took a few steps and then turned to Ally. "Ally do you want to go swimming?"

"Um," she started. She was not sure if she should. "I don't know Austin. Maybe I'll just wait here for Trish."

"Please Ally." Austin whined. "It'll be fun."

"Oh, alright," she agreed. "I'll be there in a minute."

"Sweet!" Austin did a little victory dance and headed for the surf.

Ok, Ally began a pep talk for herself. This is no big deal. I'm just going swimming with my best friends. Any normal person does this all the time. God Austin looks fabulous. She peeked at him splashing through the surf with Dez. She took a deep breath and carefully started to unwrap her dress.

She felt so exposed walking across the beach in nothing but her strappy bikini, but there was also something empowering about it. She gained confidence as she got closer to the surf. They boys were not aware she was approaching; they were too busy looking for sand dollars.

Austin turned when he heard footsteps enter the water. He knew it was Ally but he also knew it would take her a minute to reach them. He and Dez were already in the water deep enough to their waists. When his eyes landed on Ally he was thankful for the extra support from standing in the water. He was certain if he had seen that bikini when he was standing on the beach, he would have fallen over.

Holy shit! He screamed inside his own head. Can she get anymore gorgeous? Did she have to wear that bikini? Wait, when did she get that bikini? Wow it's sexy.

Austin's brain was flood with a billion thoughts, all of Ally. He was frozen strain at her as she walked closer.

Words Austin, he thought. Find some words.

"Hi guys," Ally said, smiling widely at Austin. Exactly the reaction I was hoping for.

"Hi Ally," Dez said. "Me and Austin are looking for sand dollars, do you want to help?"

"Sure where should I look?" She asked.

"I'm gunna go this way," Dez pointed in one direction. "You guys check out over by the rocks, sometimes they settle near the base."

Ally looked over to the rock outcropping that was a few yards away. She watched the water lap gently at the large black rock. "Okay, we'll meet you back on the beach in a while?"

"Sounds good." Dez pulled on a snorkeling mask before sticking his face in the water to better see the ocean floor. He slowly started to wander away from Austin an Ally.

"Well we better start looking," Ally said turning to Austin.

"Uh, yeah," he mumbled, Come on pull it together man! It's just Ally, Austin silently scolding himself then looked back at her. But she's so pretty.

Ally walked slowly away from Austin, looking for sand dollars as she went. She went back at Austin; he was still standing there staring at her, little waves splashing against his bare stomach. Ally smiled, "You coming Austin?"

Her words pulled Austin back to reality. "Yeah let's do this." He started walking in the same direction as Ally.

They each tried extremely hard to keep their attention on the quest for sand dollars but they kept finding themselves watching each other. Without realizing, the pair had wandered toward each other and now where close enough that they would occasionally bump into each other.

They eventually reached the rock outcropping without find much more than a few seashells.

Ally ventured a few steps father out to sea and was soon up to her chest.

"Austin!" She called. "I found some more shells maybe there's a sand dollar."

"Well grab a handful." He called back not realizing she was in deeper water.

"Really?" Ally said sarcastically.

"What?" Austin replied then turned to look at her.

"Please come get them?" She asked innocently.

"Oh alright." Austin walked over to her. He looked down at her and she looked up at him.

He's so close, she thought and tried to take a step back to look at him better but the rocks were there so she pressed herself into it.

God she gorgeous, Austin thought. He looked down at her lips as she softly bit her lower lip. Time to grow a set. "Ally do you trust me?"

"Yes," she replied with a barely audible whisper. Please please please let him kiss me, she silently prayed.

Austin took a deep breath and leaned in toward her. He very gently pressed his lips against hers. Almost immediately he felt Ally's lips melt into his as she kissed him back.

OH MY GOD! They each thought and they both felt that spark that they had heard so much about. The kiss was simple but still felt like an explosion.

They pulled apart breathlessly, neither believing that a simple kiss could be that powerful.

"Austin! Ally! I found some!" Dez yelled.

They looked toward him and saw him running toward down the beach.

'We better go meet him." Ally said quietly, not wanting the moment to end.

"Um, yeah," Austin reluctantly agreed and the pair started walking toward the beach.

As soon as thy reached Dez Trish called to them, "Guys! They want Austin next week!"

"What?! Really?! Trish that's awesome." Austin said excitedly.

"They want a full concert and I've already called Jimmy to let him know that Ally's writing a new song and you'll be debuting it at the concert next week. He can't wait to hear it."

"Wow Trish, you're the best, thanks." Austin said.

"Well I should probably go start brainstorming for the new song." Ally said.

"Want to meet in the practice room tomorrow? We can work on it together." Austin suggested.

"Sure Austin. That sounds great." Ally smiled.

The four friends said their goodbyes and parted ways.

Austin caught up to Ally in the parking lot, "Ally."

She spun around startled, "Oh, hi Austin."

"Um," he started, "About earlier..."

"Yeah?" Ally prompted.

"I really liked it." Austin blurted.

Ally smiled widely thrilled at his words. "Me too."

Austin let out a relieved breath. He smiled and waved goodbye as he backed away.