AN: Alright, so I screwed up the order! I know this was supposed to be up on Wednesday and that today was supposed to be the final chapter, but oh well! I've had such a busy week. On Tuesday my friend was like 'Hey want to throw an impromptu surprise goodbye party for our best friend tomorrow?' So of course I said yes! I'm not going to see her for months! That's what university does to ya fellas! Anyway I was super busy planning Tuesday and Wedneaday and then actually partying on Wednesday. For being so last minute, a lot of people actually came. It was a lot of fun, I must admit! But then Thursday I spent babysitting and the tiniest bit hungover and then Friday I was getting stuff ready for school... Everything was just hectic and I didn't want to be rushed so I decided to post this chapter today instead! That way, I can post the final chapter next Saturday on me and my boyfriend's 3rd anniversary:D

Make sense? Okay!

So awesome! Alright on with it! Can I get some more reviews? I would absolutely love that:) Thanks for continuing to read! Hope you enjoy Chapter 29! Can you believe only one chapter is left? Read, Review, and Enjoy:)

Disclaimer: I still don't own the show!

Parties & Mistakes

Chapter 29: Ally's POV

I stared at my face in the bathroom mirror. I wasn't going to cry today. I wasn't going to pull away. I wasn't going to fake a smile. I was actually going to try and be myself.

I curled the ends of my hair very slightly. If I was going to face anyone at school today, I needed the little lift. I'd taken my time applying winged eyeliner. Why not, right? Mascara was on; contacts were in. I was back on my A-game, or at least I was trying to be.

Is there much of a point in going back the day before Christmas break? Probably not. But was I going to do it? Absolutely.

Once more, I was proving to myself that I could, in fact, do this.

I sighed, running my hands along my neon pink maxi skirt. Can you do this, Ally? One of my biggest worries was facing Austin. It's so illogical to always be worried to see him. It's so crazy to think that he would look at me any differently. It's so stupid to believe that he could hate me... But it still didn't stop me from thinking exactly that.

"Why do you have to be so perfect?" I whispered to the porcelain sink.

Because Austin was so perfect. He was the best thing that ever happened to me, but he was also the worst. And in the face of all that, he was still so good to me. All I wanted was to be in his arms. Or maybe just be in his presence.

We screwed up big time and I made a really horrible decision. I knew that the second he walked out my door. But I also knew how much he loved me just from the look in his eye. I was just hoping with my whole heart that he hadn't changed his mind since Tuesday.

I was also hoping I could go back in time to October and stop this from ever happening... I knew one wish was more plausible, though.

Stepping back from the mirror and surveying myself, I decided it was finally time to leave. I walked to my room and grabbed my book bag - one that was overflowing with final assignments to hand in. I glanced at my reflection in my vanity mirror one last time.

You can do this, Ally. You can.

With one final mantra, I made my way down the green carpeted staircase. I plucked my jean jacket off the banister and completed my outfit with it. My mom joined me in the front foyer, putting on red lipstick in the oval mirror by the front door. She pulled her hair into a high bun and turned to face me. I raised my eyebrows.

"You sure you want to go?" my mom asked. She had waited to go into work until the last possible second just for this. She wanted me to stay home, but if I did choose to go in, she was going to drive me there.

I nodded, shoving my feet into a pair of flats. "Yeah, I have to."

"No," she shook her head and pursed her lips. "No, you don't have to."

"I want to," I said more strongly.

She rolled her eyes and grabbed the keys from the front desk. "Okay, fine. But you call me if your principal gives you any hell."

"She won't," I mumbled hopefully. My mom had written an email to Principal Vanderhouse early Wednesday morning. She woke me up at 6am so I could proofread what she had to say. It was essentially a letter proving the principal wrong. I had not aborted my baby and it was appalling and rude that she should ever have suggested that. In fact, my mom demanded an apology.

I must admit the letter was laughable at times, but only because I was so close to the situation. To anyone else, it sounded like a pissed off mother who was working hard to clear her daughter's name. I just hoped it worked to some degree within the school.

My mom held the door for me and I walked outside. She carefully locked the door, jiggling the old knob to make sure the key had worked.

"We really need to replace those locks," she mumbled, then gestured for me to get into her car.

I nodded and dragged my feet as I walked. Nausea built up in my body and I wasn't sure if I was still feeling hormonal effects or just incredibly nervous. I settled down in the passenger seat and sighed, smoothing out the creases in my black tank top. Anything to keep me busy and free from worrying about what I might face when I walk into that school.

My mom started the engine and turned up the radio. I could only assume she was doing this to make me think about this decision to go to school. Unlike the choice I had made with Austin, I was sure this was a good one.

She tapped her hands on the steering wheel while watching the cars at the stoplight. The oldies radio station she had playing was doing nothing but annoying me, and simultaneously putting me into a trance. My mind started to wander in circles. I wonder how my mom feels about all of this. There's this overwhelming sense of worry I get from her, but I wonder if she was ever angry. If she was, she never showed it.

She wasn't like my dad. When he found out, his emotions immediately changed. All anger, blame, and disappointment became focused on Austin. He yelled and screamed - but not at me. He was so upset, but none of the berating was done to my face. Every time he talked, it was to the wall. All of this was Austin's fault in his books so there was no use yelling at me. Thank God my mom stopped him before he did anything too drastic.

But all this anger that my dad expressed - both in person and to Austin's mother over the phone - made me even more concerned about loving Austin. Would he still want me with my dad being so crazy over this? Would I even be allowed to love Austin with my dad basically hating him?

I hoped so.

There wasn't a part of me that didn't want Austin. Every inch of my body wanted things to go back to normal with him. I just wanted something simple. I just wanted to be his girlfriend. But there was this horrible sense of crippling doubt every time I let my mind venture into the Austin realm. Could we really ever be Austin and Ally again?

I wish I could swallow all my disjointed feelings towards him and just exist. If we could be together, that would be perfect. But I had no idea how to get there.

We pulled up to the school, my mom tisking - making tiny noises of worry and distain. I carefully watched the flurry of teenagers on the front steps. There were people walking in and out of the school - smiling, laughing, mulling around, generally excitable over the upcoming Christmas season. Their attitude seemed different from what they were on Monday. No one seemed to be buzzing. It was just a normal school day.

Hopefully.

I gathered up all my courage and opened the car door. Grabbing my messenger bag from the floor of the car, I made eye contact with my mom. She raised her eyebrows and shot me a wry smile.

"You're okay?" she asked.

I nodded and stared at the front door of the school. "I'm fine."

"Just like I told you on Monday," my mom said, reaching out to me. "You can come home if you're not comfortable. You don't have to put on a brave face."

"I hope I don't have to come home again," I laughed.

My mom shook her head and faced front in the car. I slammed the door shut, waving as she drove away. I sighed and slung my bag over my shoulder.

You can do this. You can do this. You can do this.

"Hey!" Trish chimed, sidling up next to me. I jumped at her presence, which only caused her to laugh.

Worry immediately flooded my body with her waiting for me. Was there another note? Was she going to try and stop me from going in again? At this point I wouldn't even think twice. I would turn around and walk away. Screw every good intention, and abandon my troubles.

"What's going on?" I asked shakily.

She cocked her head to the side, eyebrows furrowing. "Why do you sound nervous?"

"You don't meet me outside," I said, coming to a stop just shy of the front steps. "The last time you did there was a lovely little note on the board."

"Oh," Trish said, rolling her eyes. "Trust me, there's no note."

"Then why are you outside?"

She shrugged. "I figured I'd be nice."

"Why?"

"Because you've been through a lot of hell, girl. I want you to know that I'm here for you," she smiled and put her arm around my shoulders.

I smiled and returned the side hug. "Thanks."

A&A

Trish was right. There was absolutely nothing on the board. There weren't any angry stares or Kira lies. In general, the school seemed very much so back to normal. The only thing that was out of the ordinary, was everyone apologizing to me.

I couldn't figure out why people I had never seen before we're coming up to me and saying sorry. Of course, people in my classes were also apologizing too. I didn't know if the real truth had actually come out, or maybe they realized that Kira was finally at fault. By lunch, I was more than a little confused.

"Could Ally Dawson please make her way down to the office?" a voice came over the intercom.

I took my history textbook out of my locker and looked over to Trish. She shrugged, not knowing what the office could want of me either. Was it the apology my mom had demanded? Or was it yet another level of trouble?

"You better get going," Trish said. "I'll be in the Caf at the usual table."

She waved goodbye and headed down the hallway. I was left alone to gather my thoughts and some form of composure. I slowly shut my locker and tried to calmly breathe out. Heading down the hallway scared me, but I no longer felt so isolated by the student's stares. In fact, no one was really staring at me anymore.

My mind had the audacity to wonder if that was normal. Of course it's normal to not be stared at! Your life is finally regaining some normalcy, Ally, be proud of that!

A small smile appeared on my lips as I made my way down the stairs and to the front office. I was just about to turn the knob when someone stopped me.

"Ally," Darren, a boy from my Biology class called.

I paused and turned to face him. "Darren."

"Hey," he smiled. "I was going to tell you this earlier today but class started, so I'm glad I ran into you."

"Okay," I prompted.

"I'm sorry for calling you a slut and stuff. I didn't realize what was going on. I thought you got an abortion, but I guess you didn't so... Yeah I'm sorry."

I blinked, a little more clarity was coming to me. "Uh, thanks," I mumbled. Should I really be thanking someone for calling me a slut? That's the real question.

I pushed past him and walked into the main office. Much like on Monday, the secretary took note of me and gestured away to the Principal's office. I gave her a wry smile, while she merely grimaced.

Principal Vanderhouse was waiting for me when I walked in. Her bombshell blonde hair was falling in ramrod straight lines around her face, somehow it made her look more authoritative and mean than with her hair pulled back. She gestured for me to take a seat with her long, perfectly French manicured nails.

"After being at this school for almost 5 years now and being a principal for far longer," she began after I had plunked down into the blue cushioned chair. "I should know not to draw conclusions."

"Oh," I mumbled.

She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and downcasted her eyes. "So I apologize first for that. I realize I shouldn't believe every rumour that goes around the school and normally I don't. It's just when one is very close to my heart - I don't take that lightly."

I nodded and twiddled my thumbs in my lap. I didn't have a clue how I was supposed to react to this.

"But I truly do apologize for any hardship I may have caused. Your mother has made it perfectly clear through her email and phone call this morning that none of the rumours were true. It must have been a lot of emotional distress that was put onto you. I'm sorry if I added to that with the suspension. I'm sorry I didn't give you the benefit of the doubt to actually tell your story."

"Thank you," I said, genuinely shocked and touched by her apology.

She smiled and gently bowed her head. "I hear there's a new rumour going around and I want to give you the benefit of the doubt for this one."

I cocked my head slightly. "I haven't heard anything," I mumbled. Although this might explain why people keep apologizing...

"Kira came to me this morning and retracted her statements towards you. She informed me of the truth, or at least what she believes as the new truth. Apparently, what's going around now is that you thought you were pregnant, but while you were at the hospital they found instead of pregnancy - appendicitis. Is that true?"

"Oh," I said shyly. I had this overwhelming feeling that Trish was the one who had come up with this new rumour. "Yeah," I said more confidently. "Yeah, that's the truth."

A&A

"Trish!" I called when I was a few feet away from our usual lunch table. She looked up from her conversation with Dez curiously, eyebrows raised and fork poised mid bite.

I bridged the distance between the edge of the table and my usual spot, only to be stopped by Kira. She appeared in front of me, biting her lip and brushing her hands along the light blue fabric of her jeans.

"Ally," she spoke. "I just wanted to apologize."

I blinked, noticing her downcast gaze. I had this sneaking suspicion that she didn't do this too often. She ran a hand through her slicked back high ponytail before actually meeting my eyes.

"I really am sorry. I guess I just didn't know how to react."

"No," I shook my head, shocking even myself. "No. You shouldn't be the one apologizing. I'm the one who started all of this. I'm the one who slept with Austin and broke you guys up."

She laughed. "I'm the one who took it way too far. I shouldn't have done any of the things I did. Being suspended kind of made me realize that."

"I shouldn't have done what I did. I'm so sorry."

"So we're both sorry," she shrugged. "I'm just more so. I took all the pain from the situation and focused it on getting revenge. Who was I really helping? I don't know."

I stood there motionless for a moment, trying to understand where this change of heart had come from.

"Look," she said pulling out her phone and turning the screen to me. "I took back everything I said on my blog. I set the record straight. I didn't know details, I didn't know what was going on. I was just angry and wanted someone to hurt like I was hurting. But I realize how wrong and stupid and petty that was."

I held her phone and quickly scrolled through the post. It was a fairly detailed apology for everything she had done. A retraction for every rumour she had come up with. I took a deep breath, trying to hold myself together. It was hard to believe any of this.

"Wow," I mumbled.

"Yeah," Kira sighed and took back her golden iPhone. "It's a lot to take in when your biggest bully has decided to hold a truce."

She opened her arms and I hesitantly stepped into her hug. Over Kira's shoulder I saw Trish's eyes widen. Much like Trish, I wasn't sure about this new revelation either.

"So, we can be friends?" Kira asked.

"Um," I started. "I guess, if you want. I mean if you're okay with the fact that I'm totally in lov-"

I stopped myself before revealing my love for Austin to his ex girlfriend. Kira nodded, a small smile quirking up her lips.

"Thought so," she giggled. "You're more in love with him than I ever was. I can't step in between that and I'm sorry if I did hinder that at all."

I stared at her, mouth a gape. This was a total 180. It was like Kira's entire personality had shifted. But then again, she had never been mean to me until this whole situation started. She was just wary of me and now I saw why. Everyone around Austin and I could see how much we felt for each other, except for us.

"I know," she laughed. "Shocking right?"

"Yeah," I breathed. "I wasn't really expecting that."

"Don't worry, this isn't a joke."

"God, I hope not."

"I wish you and Austin all the best," Kira said cheerfully, no hint of force in sight. "And the second I get a boyfriend, we're going out on a double date! Merry Christmas, Ally!"

She pivoted on her heel and stalked back to her table. I cocked my head to the side, watching her retreating form.

"That was weird, right?" I asked, sliding down into my chair.

Trish nodded. "Yeah, I thought she was going to yell at you or something. But it's good to know that our damage control plan worked."

"So it was you!"

"Yup," Dez said proudly, puffing out his chest. "Trish, Austin, and I all worked together and put out the word about your appendicitis."

Dez winked and I laughed. I pulled out the small brown lunch pale from my messenger bag. I had to admit they did good. In a matter of a few days they had gotten people to completely change their views on me.

"Oh my God," I said. "Thank you so much. You guys are awesome."

"No problem!" Trish grinned and took a bite of her spaghetti. "It's what friends are for!"

"That's such a lame answer," Dez snickered. "Oh it's what friends are for!" he mocked.

Trish flung sauce at Dez. He licked the sauce off his cheek before throwing a half eaten pickle slice at her. She made a noise of disgust before dropping noodles into his messy mop of hair.

I snickered at their beginnings of a food fight. I knew it was only a matter of time until they got out of control. It would be - like usual - up to Austin and I to stop them. I glanced across the table and realized there was a missing piece of the foursome. Nothing but an empty yellow chair.

"Where's Austin?" I asked.

Trish and Dez abruptly stopped their food fight and stared at me. Trish bit her lip and looked over to the yellow seat. Dez quickly turned away from me and wiped the noodles out of his hair.

"Guys, what's going on? You're acting as though he died and you don't want to tell me!"

"Well, it's not that!" Trish said cheerily.

"So where is he?"

Dez shrugged. "He just decided to have lunch elsewhere."

"Do you know where he is?" I asked. From the way they were acting, I could only imagine that he was avoiding me. It made me absolutely certain I had made the wrong decision on Tuesday. I wanted to go after him and tell him how wrong I was. How sorry I was. How I was whole heartedly in love with him.

"No," Trish shook her head. "I don't know where he is, but he said he'd find you and talk to you later."

"Okay," I swallowed. I hoped that when we talked it was going to be positive.