Something blaring woke Ally up in the night.
The sleepy brunette rolled over in her fortress of puffy blankets. She slapped the dresser with a weak palm, searching for her phone. She grabs onto it and slides her thumb across the screen. She lifted the device to her ear and, being so tired, nearly forgot to speak up.
"Hello?" she groaned.
She hears a sigh, a groan, a grunt. One of three, or perhaps, an entire combination. "Ally." the person on the other end only has enough thought to say her name.
Ally rubs her forehead, thin eyebrows knitting together into a tired frown. "Erm, Yeah?" Not exactly the most polite way to answer a phone call. Ally had to concentrate hard to not let herself fall back to sleep. Through her eyes that were opened into thin slits, she glances at the glow of her clock that reads something like 2:46 or 3:46. Without her contacts, seeing what time it really was became rather complicated. Either way, it was late and she was still tired.
Another sigh. "Ally, I need your help."
Suddenly, Ally was aware of the background seeping through the phone call. The sound of intercoms, telephones ringing, metal wheels turning on hard floors, several voices. It took her a moment, before she finally said, "Austin?"
"Yeah, It's me." he rasped, his voice lower.
Ally reaches over, turning on a lamp. The brightness makes her eyes ache, but at least she wasn't as tired as she had been. "What are you..."
"Ally, I really need your help." he repeated, reluctantly. She couldn't tell if he sounded tired, annoyed, or disappointed, but he definitely wasn't his witty self.
"With what?" Ally questioned.
He grunted just as another sigh followed. "I got into an accident. I'm at the hospital. I need you to come pick me up." he said, urgently.
Ally sat up, "You...You what?"
"You heard me." he hissed under his breath, obviously not feeling the need to repeat it, or most likely, not wanting to repeat it. "The doctor discharged me. I'm at the door."
"What? But..Austin, it's late." Ally said, unsure exactly of how to respond to this. Was she supposed to pick him up? Was she supposed to call somebody else? Did she even know where the hospital was?
"Ally, come on," Austin said. He glanced back and noticed a few people staring at him. He turned away quickly, leaning against the payphone and clutching the phone tightly. "I just need a ride back. It'll be quick, I promise."
"What were you doing driving this late?" Ally questioned.
"Doesn't matter," he snapped at her, "Come and get me."
"No." Ally said flatly. "It's late. Call somebody else, maybe a friend will be willing to pick you up."
"No." he let out a desperate sigh, "Nobody can know about this. This is between you and me." Austin replied. Ally frowned with confusion. "My career is already going through the drain and if anybody else finds out about this, it'll be the straw that broke the camel's back." he paused. "None of my friends are available, and I need to get out of here before somebody sees me. People are already staring."
"How bad was it?" Ally questioned, reaching for her glasses.
"Nothing serious. Just a few scratches here and there." Austin said.
"Were you intoxicated?" Ally asked.
"Was I...?Ally, stop with the stupid questions and come pick me up!" Austin growled.
"Were you or were you not intoxicated?" Ally repeated her question.
"No! No, I wasn't intoxicated! Damn it, Ally, I just need you to pick me up. Please." Austin said. He sighed as he leaned his forehead against the payphone. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply through his nose.
"I'll be a few minutes." Ally muttered.
Austin opened his eyes. "Thank you." he breathed just as she hung up the phone. He slammed the phone back onto the receiver.
Ally rolled out of her bed, tiredly. It wasn't like she wanted to pick Austin up and she could very well just roll back into bed and sleep, leave him there to sit inside his own mess, but Ally's father had raised her to always be the better person. She was going to face it, too; there was no way she could fall asleep knowing that somebody needed her help.
Maybe this was even a part of her job, following the long, dragging list of other things that she's apparently in charge of. This job was not light, she was so glad she had a decent paycheck.
. . .
Austin must've been waiting for her appearance eagerly. She had hardly stopped the car when he had pushed himself out the doors. She tapped her fingers on the wheel impatiently. She sighed as she watched him walk towards the car with a limp and a sling on his arm. "Just a few scratches." she mumbled mockingly.
He snapped the door open and pushed himself inside her car. "Go." he ordered.
Ally rolled her eyes and looked at him. He stared forward, obviously not intending for any conversation between the two of them. "What happened?" Ally asked him as she pulled away from the hospital.
"You know what happened," he replied slyly, "I got into an accident."
Ally rolled her eyes. "Tell me how it happened."
Austin sighed with irritation."What does it matter?" He pulled off his sling, throwing it into the backseat. Ally looked over at him, stunned as he grabbed onto his shoulder and started rolling it in circles, flinching as he did so. When it seemed that he had fixed his shoulder on his own, he sat up straight again.
He watched the city pass them by. Ally didn't seem too impressed with him. He didn't imagine she would be. Ally shook her head, turning off the radio. He glanced in the mirror. "You're holding up the other cars. Speed up, would you?"
"If they're in such a hurry, they can go around me. There's lots of space." Ally told him. "Just tell me, Austin."
He was silent for a moment, staring out his window at the dark night. "It's just not that important, Ally. I drove through a red light and some idiot hit the end of my car. That's it."
"If you say so." Ally mumbled.
"You can't tell anybody about this." Austin told her.
"I won't." Ally rolled her eyes. "I'm sure they'll figure it out anyways with that limp."
Austin shook his head, rolling his eyes at her. "I don't have time for this. Shut up, will you?"
"Where do you live?" Ally muttered. Austin gave her the address and the rest of the car ride was silent, apart from the small sighs here and there from the both of them.
Austin was staring out the window when he realized she missed a turn. He frowned in confusion. "What are you doing?" he quizzed, "This isn't where I live."
"I know," Ally sighed, "Because it's where I live. Your apartment is way on the other side of the city. Why don't you just crash at my place for the rest of the night? We're already here."
When the car came to a stop, Austin looked at the cutesy apartment building. He shook his head. "I want to go home."
Annoyed, Ally growled, "Then walk." She tore off her seatbelt, taking the keys out of the ignition and slammed her car door.
Austin's frown deepened. He jumped out of the car. "What the hell, Ally?" he called out to her.
Ally turned around, giving him a shrug as she continued to walk backwards, "It's just an offer. All you have to do is take it." she said. He watched her as she turned around. She called over her shoulder, "Third floor, Apartment 303 if you change your mind!"
Austin sighed angrily. He wanted to go home. He wanted to sleep. He wanted to sink into the floor and stay like that. He was exhausted, annoyed, frustrated with life and now his stupid, little assistant agrees to take him home just to take him to her place. She isn't serious, is she? She doesn't really think he should stay? Obviously she does considering she's already inside.
Austin stood outside, leaning back on her car as he drifted through thoughts. Everything that had happened that night. The drive, the accident, the hospital stay, Ally pulling up to help him instead of just leaving him hanging. He looked up at the sky, seeing the stars aligned into the Big Dipper. He counted his blessings for a moment. Ally might've been one. Austin muttered something incoherent under his breath. He reached into the car, pressing the lock button and slammed the door.
He hadn't realized how cold he was until he was in the elevator and the warmth of it made his skin tingle. He stares at the giant, glowing three until the elevator dings and the doors open. He glanced around but sees the hallway is vacant. Something he wasn't used to. He could finally relax. No camera, no fans.
His feet stay planted in front of Apartment 303 for a while. He wasn't sure for how long, but it was long enough that he finally rapped softly on the door. He waited a couple beats and then the brunette opened the door.
She gave him a tight smile, "You could've slept in the car if it was such a big deal."
He rolled his eyes, not cracking a smile or smirk. He barged into her room reluctantly, his steps slow and begrudging. Ally shook her head when his shoulder brushed hers roughly. She shut the door after him. Austin looked around. It was a small apartment, but it really didn't bother him. Instead, he found the small amount of space comforting and cozy.
"Where do I stay?" he questioned her dryly, giving her mocking look.
"The floor, the couch, the counter. I don't really care. There's a blanket on the sofa." Ally said, "I'm going to bed. Goodnight."
"Thank you, Ally."
It must've been the lack of sleep that made him sound sincere. He wasn't fully in his right mind. She still looked at him and nodded. "Yeah." she mumbled, not quite sure why she was letting him stay here. She blamed it on being lazy and not wanting to drive the extra mile.
Ally stood there a moment, both of them just aimlessly gazing at one another. He seemed rather aloof. She felt curiosity burning her insides. Finally, she blurted, "Did something happen?"
Austin stared at her a long moment before he shook his head, but he mustn't have been very convincing because she stayed put in her spot. He wanted to snap at her, or growl, or smirk but he just couldn't. Maybe he was too tired. Of everything.
"Are you sure?" she asked him.
"It's not important." Austin finally said. He walked towards the window ledge, brushing his fingers along with the window pane."I figured out what I needed to figure out."
"And what was that?" Ally asked him.
He wasn't sure why she cared. "Nothing worth this talk," he said, sending her a sly grin but when she continued to watch his every move, he looked away and added, "I needed to feel something, and I did."
Ally frowned at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
He stared out her wide windows, focusing on the city lights and silhouettes of cars on the streets. There was a long beat of silence. "You know, Ally, I've driven through hundreds of red lights and nothing ever happens. Absolutely nothing. Except for tonight." he said. "I guess it could've been worse. Tonight wasn't like the other times, though. This time, I regretted it."
Ally looked at him. "What are you saying...You...You did it on purpose? You intended to drive through that light?"
"It made more sense at the time." Austin responded, not turning to look at her yet. She wondered if maybe it was because city lights intrigued him, or perhaps, the conversation was too emotional for him.
"Austin..." Ally said, softly.
"Don't." he told her, "I know what you're thinking and it's not that. I wasn't trying to... end myself." he assured her, still staring blankly out the window. Ally watched him, restraining the urge to stand next to him. "I've done it before. Like I said, hundreds of times, but I could never...I never felt anything. Then tonight happened, and I felt something."
"Good. That means you're not ready to go yet." she said.
"I'm not suicidal, Ally." Austin replied, laughing softly. She didn't know why he was laughing.
"But you-"
"-I'm calling it a test." Austin said.
"A dangerous one." Ally said. "Your career might be hitting a bump in the road, but it will pick up again. It's nothing to act recklessly over, Austin."
"Why was tonight so different?" he asked out loud, ignoring her last statement.
"I don't know, but I'm glad it was." Ally said gently. "Maybe you should take a break from work. Sort through some things. Maybe you-"
"-I can't." Austin said, "Jimmy's having a party for another one of his musicians. I'm supposed to attend. Besides, I enjoy work. I took time away from work once, it ended badly. Me in the hospital actually." Finally, he looked at her, "I literally went nuts." A slight grin peeked on his face, showing that it was clearly a joke but Ally found some truth behind it.
"Ally," Austin said after a moment, "If my career ends...I will have literally lost everything."
"It won't end." Ally said.
He looked back at her again, "Are you one of those the-glass-is-always-half-full types?"
She cracked a smile, "You could say that."
She kind of liked this Austin. This Austin that she knew wouldn't last long and was probably only visible because he had a lot going on in his mind, and he was tired, and a little bit desperate due to his career's circumstances.
"You know, maybe...maybe you shouldn't be alone tonight." Ally bit her lip, fidgeting with her fingers. She didn't know what else to say, but she knew that she would never sleep knowing everything that he had just told her.
"I don't mind." Austin said.
"Maybe you should tell Trish what happened. She's your manager, and your friend. I know that she's pretty understanding, too, and-"
"-No," Austin said, giving Ally a serious look, "This is between me and you. Me and you only. Okay?"
Ally slowly nodded. She wanted to feel touched that he trusted her enough to tell her the truth about what happened, but she couldn't feel touched. She was just, perhaps, worried, confused even. He watched her for a moment before looking away. "Do you want something to eat or drink?" Ally asked him.
He shook his head. "I'd rather just sleep." he told her. She carefully nodded again, but didn't move. When Austin didn't hear her walking away, he looked over. "You can go." he dismissed.
Ally nodded her head again. She wasn't too disappointed. She knew the Austin she had just seen was going to be short-lived, and most likely, would never be seen again. She finally stepped away from him and headed back to her room, closing the door behind her.
x
Ally was in the kitchen, watching the pancake batter in silver bowl glob together when her cell phone rang. "Hello?" she said.
"Ally!" Cassidy was on the other line, frantic. Ally frowned, but before she could ask what was wrong, Cassidy was already shrieking, "We can't find, Austin! His car is...his car is gone! He's not at his place! He's not answering his cell phone!"
Ally froze. She peered over her shoulder, looking towards the living room where Austin was still sleeping soundly on the couch. "Oh...?" she cringed as it slipped out. Ally opened her mouth to elaborate when she recalled Austin's request that she kept this to herself.
"What are we going to do? He...He took off! He just left! He has money, he could've taken himself somewhere! He could've jumped on a flight and taken off to...to Zimbabwe!"
"Zimbabwe?" Ally echoed, scrunching her nose.
"Who knows!" Cassidy cried, "We have to find him! He can't just leave! When the going gets tough, he can't quit! He has people depending on him! Devoted fans! The management! Aspiring artists! He-"
"-Cassidy." Ally said, calmly, "Relax."
"Relax? Relax?! Ally, I know you've only been here a month and a half, but do you realize what a sticky situation we are in? Do you realize-"
"-Cassidy." Ally said more firmly, silencing her. "It's alright. I'm...I'm with him right now."
Cassidy was quiet for a good five seconds, before replying, "You're with him?"
"Yes...His...Um, he was out late last night and I guess somebody hit his car while it was parked and it had to be towed. He called me, um, this morning and I had to pick him up. I'm getting us some...some coffee." Ally said, glancing heavenward as she prayed her story was believable.
"Oh...Oh." Cassidy said, blinking twice. "Where was his car that somebody hit it?" Cassidy wondered.
"I wouldn't know. I didn't ask questions. He just demanded I picked him up and got him coffee." Ally said, mentally relaxing as she realized that her story could possibly just work.
"Oh, Well then." Cassidy muttered, "Pardon my...you know."
Ally laughed slightly, "I know."
"Why didn't he answer his phone?" Cassidy asked, before Ally replied, she said, "Well, I guess he never answers his phone. Thanks, Ally. You're one of the best assistants we've hired. Please, never quit."
Ally laughed, "Alright."
Ally hung up the phone after Cassidy and let out a breath of relief. Suddenly, Austin sat up from where he was sitting and looked at Ally. "That was smooth." he said.
Ally glared at him, "How long have you been awake?"
"Long enough." he smirked. He took a whiff of the air and something brightened in his dark irises. "Is that...pancakes?" he questioned.
"Yeah, do you want some?" Ally offered. A shade fell over his eyes making Ally's eyes narrow with confusion.
"No." he snapped. "No, I don't."
"Well, you don't-"
"-Why did you even bring me?" he interrupted, getting off of the couch and looking around for his jacket. He cringed from his sore shoulder and rubbed it. He looked back at Ally, a cold gaze focused on her.
"Nothing's changed from what I said last night: Your apartment was on the other side of the city and we were already at my place." Ally said, firmly.
"I don't need your help and I sure as hell don't need you to start caring for me now." Austin growled at her, ignoring the pain in his shoulder as he tugged on his jacket.
"Who said that I did?" Ally hissed, her eyes colder now, "And as I recall it, you were the one who asked for my help."
"The circumstances were tight." he said, wryly. Ally shook her head. "Get dressed. I'm due for a meet and greet in two hours."
Ally knew, being his ride, Austin wasn't leaving anytime soon. She glared at him, dropping the spoon into the batter and walking off to her room to get ready for the day. He was so aggravating. There was a small connection made, but Ally could tell that now Austin had just killed it, fried the wires to any connection they could've had.
He was exasperating.
xx
i really didn't like this chapter but i'm tired of rewriting it.