Hey my awesome loves! I'm sorry that I've been gone so long. As school started up again I had to put all my energy and focus into that. I'm in my second semester now (I'm guessing my junior year *shrug*) and I've finally found a good rhythm so I will hopefully be updating more often! YAY!

So! In this chapter, Ally shares a poem of hers with Austin! How will he react and more than that what is in Ally's past?

For this chapter I am using a poem I wrote in middle school entitled "Would I Rather be Alone?" It does rhythm. I know Spoken Word does not have to rhythm, but it can . . . so this one does! I will be using a mix of my own stuff, friend's works and stuff I find online. If you would like to share poems that you hope would be in this story that PLEASE PM me! I would love to hear what you got!

Enjoy! Share the love!

Chapter 5: Together and Alone

"But, if you're seen with me . . . they won't be forgiving, and I won't ever be able to forgive myself."

Ally's words kept going in Austin's head, almost like an instant replay. He put on his turn signal as he turned into the mall parking lot. Even though it had only been a few hours since school, Austin had never been able to take his mind off Ally.

"I know what it's like to be the school reject. I don't want to put you through that."

As Austin parked his car, he tried to decide what he should do. He wanted to tell Ally that he didn't want to sneak around, that he didn't care what everyone else thought, but it seemed like Ally was doing this to protect him . . . but protect him from what?

Austin shut his car door and locked it. He shoved his fists into his pockets as he walked toward the mall. Earlier, while he was at work, his dad made another speech to him about his plan for Austin, how Austin needed to keep his eyes on the prize. It only annoyed Austin more and more. But at the same time, it only made him want to be around Ally more. She was easy to talk to and she could understand him better than anyone. He really liked Ally.

Austin stopped in his stride as he thought deeper about his last thought. He really liked Ally . . . even though he just met her, he couldn't remember the last time he felt this close to anyone. He smiled a little as he kept walking. Just the thought of Ally could make him feel better. He made his way into Sonic Boom, where Ally was behind the counter, scribbling in her journal.

He grinned as he walked up to the counter and leaned over, closing the distance between the two of them. Ally looked up when she sensed his presence, when she saw it was Austin she smiled back.

"Hey," She said, closing her journal, but not breaking eye contact with Austin.

"Hey," Austin said back. "How's it going?" Austin asked, looking around the store, seeing it was only the two of them.

"It's a slow day." Ally said, shrugging, but still smiling at Austin.

Austin shrugged and smiled as well, "Just means we can hang out." Austin said. Ally nodded.

"Come with me." Ally said, leaving the desk and heading up the staircase. Austin followed behind her. They entered a room on the second floor, with a KEEP OUT sign taped on the door. "This is my break room." Ally said, looking over her shoulder to smile at Austin. When Austin got into the room there was a lot of boxes, a small desk with a chair and an old piano. Not much of a break room, but Ally seemed to like it. Ally sat on the piano bench, but faced Austin. Austin grabbed the chair from the desk and pulled it closer to Ally before sitting down. "I like to come up here to be alone with my thoughts." Ally said, pressing her journal onto her thighs.

Austin nodded, looking around the room a bit more. "Must be nice to have your own space." The break room at Moon's Mattress Kingdom was really nice with a couple vending machines, two big screens and some awesome couches. But Ally seemed to like it just the way it was.

"Any way, you wanted to see what I was working on?" Ally asked, her voice quiet and hesitant. Austin could tell she was nervous. He didn't want her to feel nervous in front of him.

"You don't have to show me, if you don't want to." Austin said, leaning forward in his seat a bit.

Ally smiled weakly. "I have really bad stage fright." She said as she focused on the floor beneath her feet. "And I've never really shared anything I've written before."

"I promise Ally," Austin said, moving closer to her. "You don't have to be nervous around me."

Ally looked up, and nodded weakly. She opened up her journal to the page she had been working on. She took a deep breath before beginning.

I guess I'm alone

And that's the way things are

I wish I could go

Drive away in the car

I hate being alone

But connecting is hard

They are inside

While I stand in the yard

I'm always alone

It's not that I don't try

It's hard to make friends

While they're squinting their eyes

They judge me, pick at me, like they have the right

In truth, they are afraid to be stuck with my life

Alone is lonely

It's scary at times

I try to feel better

When I'm speaking my rhymes

But I am alone

Everywhere I go

There is no escape

I'm stuck on this show

So as I sit here

Stuck under their stare

I would rather be alone

It's better than over there

Ally slowly looked up from her journal, a few tears running down her cheeks, to see Austin staring at her, with his jaw hanging open. He immediately lunged from his chair wrap his arms around her. He could feel Ally's slender body shaking in his arms, like her words got her adrenaline pumping. Ally's arms slowly wrapped around Austin. He could feel her calming down in his arms. Her head rested on his shoulder. Austin felt so hurt by Ally's poem, he wanted to help her in any way he could, and a hug felt too simple but it was all he could do.

Austin pulled away to look Ally in the eyes, but still kept his arms around her. "Ally, that was amazing." He said, feeling that amazing was not enough.

She wiped the tear from her cheek and another from her jaw. She smiled so weakly as all her energy was gone. "Thanks."

. . .

Austin and Ally laid on the floor of the break room, staring up at the ceiling. It had only been thirty minutes since Austin got to Sonic Boom, but they both felt they had been in this room for years. "How long have you been writing?" Austin asked her.

"A while," Ally answered, still weak. "It's my outlet for life."

"What do you mean?" Austin asked turning his head toward her.

"I had this dark time in my life and I felt like I had nowhere to be myself." Ally said, turning her head, but still looking away. "Writing gives me the chance to get my feelings out rather than holding them in and letting them torture me."

Austin thought about what Cassidy said about Ally. "Dark time?" Austin asked, hoping not to push her too far.

Ally moved her eyes to Austin. "Another time," she said, before standing up. Austin kept his eyes on her and stood up as well. "I'm not used to being so open." Ally said, moving toward the piano.

"Why are you with me?" Austin asked. He had been wondering if she felt the same way about him that he felt about her.

"Because you don't judge me." She said, looking at him with a smile dancing on her lips.

Austin smiled back glad that she could feel like herself around him. Like he was another outlet for her.

. . .

Austin walked into his family kitchen feeling his mind still on Ally's poem. Her words always seemed to haunt his mind. His mom was standing in the kitchen cooking dinner, when she spotted Austin she instantly smiled.

"Good evening, Austin." She said, cheery as ever. "Were you with Ally?"

"Yeah, we hung out for a while." Austin said as he smiled thinking about Ally's beautiful smile.

"Did you invite her to dinner?" His mom asked.

"Um, no I forgot." Austin said, sitting down at the table.

"Well, please ask her." His mom said as she continued to cook. "I would really love to meet her." Austin then wondered how Ally would act around his parents. "Austin, did you hear me?" Austin looked up to see his mom looking at him.

"I'm sorry what?" He asked.

"I asked if you know what Ally likes to eat, so I can know what to make when she has dinner with us." She said, smiling.

"No, I don't but I'll ask her." Even though Austin wasn't sure he was going to invite Ally to dinner with his parents he decided to be nice to his mom. As his mom continued to cook his mind went back to Ally. Her sweet smelling hair, her smile, her eyes, she had this way of staying in his mind.

. . .

Ally entered her home, feeling emotionally exhausted from her day. She walked through the empty living room into the dark kitchen. She flicked on the light and went to the fridge. She spent a moment staring at the few items in the fridge, knowing she would need to shop for food soon. She pulled out an apple from the fridge. She took a bite as she grabbed a glass from the cabinet and filled it with water from the sink.

She leaned on the counter, drinking her water and eating her apple, staring at the wall paper peeling off at the edges of the wall. She felt a twinge inside as she looked at the old faded wall paper.

She heard the front door open and immediately reacted. She jumped up and rushed into the room, to see her father, Lester Dawson, going up the stairs. "Hey Dad," she said, hoping he would hear her.

He had a delayed reaction but finally looked over the railing at her. He grumbled something back, most likely a response, but Ally would not let him get away with that.

"School was good today." Ally said, even though it was almost a lie. Every day at school was a test of how far Ally could be pushed before she would again have a break down and be unable to control her feelings and actions. But she had to say something in hopes of having a conversation with her father.

He grumbled again, this time continuing up the stairs. He obviously felt they had talked enough for one week.

"Dad!" Ally said, louder than she wanted to, but her dad continued to leave her down stairs. Ally felt the tears welling up in her eyes as she moved back into the kitchen and threw the remains of her apple against the peeling wall paper. She fell back against the fridge and slid to the floor as she pulled her knees into her chest and cried.

It would never get better . . . no matter how much she tried . . .

SADNESS! I promise I will be writing future chapters from a combination of Ally's and Austin's POV, just cause I like a good mix (:

In the next chapter, we see more of Ally's POV of the world around her and she and Austin attend an afternoon of Spoken Word!

Again, if you have any poems/spoken word that you want to share please leave me a comment or send me a PM! PLEASE!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed even though I was gone for a long time! Thank you guys soooo much, I love you!

For updates on this and other stories check my profile page, where I will be posting weekly/ monthly updates! Whenever I get a chance! AND also monthly news as well, just so you guys know what's going on and know about my ideas and works (:

Also, check out my other Austin and Ally story: Be My Escape!

Please review, favorite, follow, send me a message, or express yourself! (: Or all of the above!

~Spencer