Austin's POV
I looked out the door at Ally's retreating figure. My eyes darted to her songbook lying on the counter. Calling me. It was practically inviting me with that list peeking out. It was like the book was trying to seduce me. I just stared at it.
"Damn seducing book.." I muttered. One of the customers turned around and heard me. They slowly put down the package of guitar strings and backed away with scared eyes. My eyes grew wide.
"Wait! I didn't..." I called out after them but they had already left. I groaned. I looked back at the book. I shouldn't...I really shouldn't. I inched towards the book.
"No, I really can't!" I said to myself. Another customer, a mom, heard this and ushered her daughter out of the store. I groaned again in frustration, my hand raking through my hair.
"Dude. Man up and just read the book." I heard a voice say from behind me. I jumped and turned around.
Oh. It was just Dez.
"I don't know what you mean Dez." I said, facing him now.
He gave me a 'Are you kidding me look'.
"I've been watching you for the past 5 minutes, talking to yourself like a crazy person. You need it dude. You need to set yourself free", he took a moment, "like a bird!"
He said, hooking his thumbs together and did a bird gesture. I looked at him weirdly. Then I looked back at the book. The worn brown leather book.
With the list on how to be Ally's perfect guy. To be the guy she wants.
"I can't stand to watch this anymore. You're too much of a girl, Austin. Now if you excuse me, I'm playing dress up with my little cousin today." Dez exclaimed, strutting away. You heard me. He strutted.
What do I do? On one hand, she told me to never touch her book. But on the other, that list holds all of the secrets I need. I couldn't take just looking at the book. I picked it up and threw it across the room.
Unfortunately, I hit an old woman with it in the back. She turned around, picked up the book, and she threw it back. She proceeded to leave the store. But not before flipping me the bird.
"I thought old people were supposed to be kind!" I yelled after her, clutching onto the book she threw back.
Well since it was in my hand... I began to open it to the page with the list, but not before—
"Hey Austin. I got some burgers from Micky's Burgers. Want one?" Shoot. Ally came back. I dropped her book immediately.
"I thought there was no eating in the store, Als?" I retorted, smirking at her. She smiled back, rolling her eyes exaggeratedly.
"Just take it before I give it to Dez." She replied, handing the greasy brown bag to me. "You know the greasier the bag is, the better the burger." I said, unwrapping my burger. She turned to me.
"That is so dumb Aus. Come on." She replied with a hint of a smile. Suddenly, the tune to 'Steal Your Heart' started playing. Ally jumped and grabbed her phone, blushing slightly. I leaned back and smirked at her.
"Steal Your Heart is your ringtone?" I mouthed to her. She motioned for me to shut up.
"Hello? Yeah? Now? Trish, we both know that you don't...yeah, I know, no lectures...just. Just try not to maul Dez for the meantime, I'll be right over."
Ally hung up the phone and turned to me, beginning to open her mouth.
"No worries Als, I'll watch the store in the meantime. Just go fix, whatever the hell that was." I said, bringing my hand up to stop her rambling. Her eyes softened and she smiled gratefully at me.
"Thank you so much Austin." She beamed up at me, getting on her tiptoes and kissing my cheek. Then she left. I gazed after her, holding my cheek.
"She kissed me on the cheek." I said holding my cheek. I started to smile like an idiot.
"She kissed me dude. On the cheek." I said to a couple of kids walking by. They just looked at me oddly. I stared right back at the book. Still, that stupid list was taunting me.
One looksie couldn't hurt, right? After all, she did kiss me on the cheek. Maybe this list could land me a kiss on the lips.