so someone totally guessed my plan with Mike ;) well done lol. I'm so nervous for the KCA's tonight. I have a real bad feeling none of our guys won, but I'm not giving up hope!
"I need a job."
"And what am I supposed to do?" Dez asked.
"Get me a job at your place."
"Austin you know I can't do that."
"Why not? There's two of you. You practically run the place." Austin said.
"I know, but I can't just hand out jobs whenever I feel like it. Why did you quit your job in the first place?"
"Cause my dad's a total asshole." Austin slumped back in the chair.
"Sometimes you gotta suck it up."
"I did, I even went back and begged for my job back and he couldn't care less. I went from making like a grand a month to nothing in the space of four hours." Austin sighed. "I'll do anything Dez. I'll even be your personal bitch if thats what you need."
"Look I'll try, but I can't promise you anything. And even if you got the job it would be weeks before you started." Dez shrugged.
"Thanks, I guess."
"You'll find something. Your Austin Moon." Dez smiled. "You always do."
"I guess.."
"So, you and Ally then, eh?"
"Yeah." Austin smiled.
"You two are super confusing." Dez laughed.
"I think for the first time we actually understand each other." Austin shrugged. "it's nice to be taking things slow. With Piper everything seemed rushed and maybe that's what drive her away."
"I don't think you drove her away Austin, I just don't think she had any intention to stay in the first place." Dez offered a sympathetic smile.
"You are probably right" Austin nodded. "I better get back to Ally's. She's a mess right now."
"Well how would you feel if your son was taken away from you?"
"Probably pretty shitty."
"I've applied for like six jobs, just waiting to hear back." Austin sat on the couch beside Ally.
"This is never going to work.." Ally looked down.
"It will.. you just have to stay positive."
"How can I? Charlie is my world and he's just been taken away like that." Ally snapped her fingers. "It's only been three days and It feels like years."
"The first court hearings gonna be real soon, you just have to make it through that and then everything will be fine." He took her hand. "We have a good chance at this thing."
"Good chance isn't a definite." She sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm just stressed."
"Look, why don't I go out and get us some chinese or something?"
"I'd like that." She nodded.
"Good cause I'm starving." He laughed. "I won't be long." He kissed her cheek.
Austin paced up and down the busy restaurant waiting for his order. He loved take out, and chinese was always his favorite. But no matter how excited he was for the food, he couldn't stop thinking about his dad. Sure he was a total jerk most of the times, but he was still his dad. Austin has tried his entire life to make his proud, and it seemed no matter what he done it just wasn't good. Maybe his dad was just too blind to see how much it actually hurt Austin, or maybe he knew exactly what he was doing. Austin would never be sure. Austin had little memory of ever having a happy family. His parents divorced when he was sixteen, but they were never really together. He was sure there was some point in time when they actually loved each other, but it seemed as soon as he entered the world they stopped. He was an only child. His mother had always expressed that she would loved to have had a daughter and Austin was sure she tried more than once to convince his father. After the divorce things were okay, Austin stayed with his mom. That was until she decided to leave. He was eighteen when she moved and he was heartbroken. His dad seemed unaffected, but Austin could never quite tell what was really going on. He was knocked out his train of thought when he heard "Moon!" being called. He kindly offered the woman behind the counter to keep the change before turning around and colliding with someone much smaller than him.
"Damn, sorry little guy." Austin said trying to regain his balance. "Charlie?"
"Austin?" The little boy smiled up at him.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm waiting for my daddy."
"Right." Austin nodded.
"Have you seen my mommy?" Charlie asked, with a sudden sense of sadness.
"Uh yeah.. I have." Austin half smiled. "You know she misses you."
"I miss her too but daddy says it better for me this way." Austin didn't know how to reply.
"You still got that toy I bought you?" Austin asked noticing it in Charlie's hand.
"Yeah." The little boys face lit up. "It's my favorite."
"I'm really glad you like it."
"Hey! What did I tell you about talking to strangers." Paul began to walk over. Austin looked down at Charlie who seemed to get the idea of not to say anything. "Sorry man." Austin smiled. "I bumped into him by accident, just wanted to make sure he was okay."
"Yeah." Paul pulled Charlie back "Well maybe next time you should watch where you're going." Paul shot Austin a quick but fake smile. "Idiot." He mumbled under his breath. It took Austin every last piece of willpower to not punch Paul in the face. "It won't happen again." Austin smiled before leaving.
"What a fucking asshole!" Austin sighed closing the door behind him.
"Long queue?" Ally asked.
"No, well yes, but I saw Paul."
"You did?" Ally jumped up. "You didn't say anything did you?" She asked.
"No, don't worry. I bumped in to Charlie, but he didn't tell Paul who I was." Austin threw the food on the table. "I was this close to introducing his face to my first."
"How was Charlie?" Ally asked.
"He looked alright I guess. He asked about you.. he misses you."
"This is horrible." Ally sighed sitting back down.
"I wish there was something more I could do.. I promise first thing tomorrow I'll go out and look for someone to hire me. Surely something will come up."
"It's not your fault, you don't have to do this."
"No, I want to. I know I'm not that kids dad, but I care about him just as much as you. And I'll be damned if I just sit back and do nothing." He sat beside her.
"Austin?"
"Yeah?" He looked at her.
"It's nothing, nevermind."
"It's something, so tell me."
"Why me?" She asked. "I mean why are you doing all this for me and Charlie? You could have anyone out there yet you are choosing me. I don't get it."
"What's there to get?" He asked.
"Everything."
"I'll be honest.. when I first found out what happened between us I hated it, I hated you.. I just thought it was the biggest mess ever. But when I actually met you everything changed. You're beautiful Ally." He smiled making her blush. "And amazing and strong, everything I thought I would never have again. When Piper cheated on me I was crushed. I had built my whole world around her and then all of a sudden it was just gone. I swear I went on dates with about fifty different women after that, and none of them ever made me feel the way you did, the way you do. As for Charlie, I know what it feels like having a shit dad. My dad would never come to any of my football games or my baseball games, and it fucking hurt. If we make it that far, and I can give that kid even a shred of happiness then I'll know I've done something good with my life."
"Where have you been all my life?"
"Good question." He laughed.
"But seriously Ally, you have no idea how thankful I am that you actually gave me a chance."
"I know now that I won't regret it." She smiled.
"Hey what's that?" He pointed at chain around her neck.
"Oh." She pulled it up a little. "It's the rings.. you told me to keep them, so I did."
"Maybe one day you can actually have real ones, and not ones made of cheap stuff."
"I kinda of liked them." She shrugged as the door went. "I'll get it, you can go heat up the food."
"Sounds like a plan." He said as they both stood up.
"Sorry to interrupt you Ally." Elliot entered with Leanne close behind.
"It's okay." Ally said looking at them confused.
"We have bad news." Elliot said.
"Kind of." Leanne added.
"No, it's bad. On the bright side of things the trial date is set, it's next Tuesday… which isn't so bad, still gives Austin time to find work."
"Okay, so whats the bad news?" Ally asked as Austin joined them.
"Paul's lawyer is Leanne's ex husband." Elliot sighed.
"That shouldn't be that big a deal right?" Austin asked.
"The fact that we're divorced isn't, but he's the best lawyer in the state Austin. There isn't a case he's lost." Leanne shrugged.
"But you are just as good right?"
"The last child custody case I took, I lost. I'm a good lawyer, but I'm nothing like him."
"I'm not giving up hope." Elliot added. "Now we can't both represent you, so Leanne is going to take the lead, but I'll be there."
"I'm allowed to have someone to confer with so that will be Elliot. I hope you don't mind."
"I don't." Ally said. "Are you sure you'll be okay going up against your ex though?"
"Nothing would give me greater satisfaction that watching him lose this case." Leanne smiled.
"Fighting talk! I like it." Elliot grinned.
