Ah, guys I am SO sorry about the last chapter! I can't believe I put the wrong chapter, gah! So embarrassing! Argh! But, I've fixed it now, so you can check it out if you haven't already. Sorry!

Erm, moving on, to say sorry I've decided to update sooner than I originally planned. So... uh... enjoy?

I own nothing!

Ally's POV
Crash! I knew something was broken, but I didn't care. I was in my closet angrily throwing clothes and shoes into my suitcase after the fight with Dad.

How could he? I don't believe it, I don't want to. He could see I was happy, why did he take it away from me? Today, Dad confirmed my suspicions: whenever something good in my life happens, something ten times worse follows. Call me a drama queen, but how many times has that happened to me over the summer?! Exactly.

People might as well call me Jinx instead of Ally.

How was I supposed to tell Austin? I didn't want to say goodbye to him, despite the fact that I used to hate him six weeks ago. After tomorrow, my paradise will be over and I will be welcomed with a whole year of torturing at school which might never end. That is, if we come again next summer, which I highly doubt.

I'm going to miss Austin, Ross, Tasha and, surprisingly, Dez. Life just wouldn't be as funny or spontaneous without him. Well, I didn't have to break the news to Tasha, since she was there the whole time. But that is why I'm partly angry with her. Why didn't she say anything? Did she want me to go home early? Maybe that way, keeping her secret with Ross would be easier.

I came across the turquoise top I'd worn to Dez's party, and I couldn't help but smile at the memory. Rocky the Leaf had withered away – sadly – but turns out, he was from a pine tree, so I'll always remember him in some way. Then I remembered that that was the night Austin and I first kissed, which made the tears start all over again.

Now, I know it's weird, me getting all emotional over a guy I'd been officially dating for three days but in the short time we'd known each other, I've become really attached to him. I know I don't love him yet, but I do know that I really, really like him. He's different from every other guy I'd dated before, and I've had three boyfriends in my whole life. Yes, it is true just don't tell my parents – I don't need another fight concerning them.

Although, looking back, this is Sonya's fault, not my love life's. Yes, I'm aware that it's partly mine as well, but it was mostly hers. She started it with the whole insulting thing - and when things started to get physical.

Soon, I came to the bottom of my closet and found a sparkly pink gift bag. I lifted it in confusion but then dropped it when I remembered who gave it to me. Dallas.

I hadn't really looked at it since that day – I have no idea what's in it. Alas, I was cursed with curiosity and decided to open it. Inside was a little card, which said, 'Sorry for the pain, here's something to protect you from it. ;)'. My hand reached for the little gift and pulled it out. I gasped in shock before tossing it into the bin in disgust. To 'symbolize his love' the idiot had gotten me a packet of condoms. I shuddered visibly and turned back to my overflowing suitcase.

I turned my attention to the window, where Austin and I spoke countless times before. It was wide open, and I could see Austin sitting in his room, his back facing me. I glanced at my watch, surprised at the fact that he was up already.

Maybe I should tell him now, I thought, Its better to tell him now, while I have the chance, right?

No! A little voice screamed, It'll crush him!

I rolled my eyes to myself; it obviously wasn't going to make him glad. I sat on my bed for another ten minutes before I finally decided to go talk to him. I climbed out of my window, the voice still protesting as I went, and landed on his balcony. I opened the glass door, which was open already. Austin didn't move from his position on the couch. I sighed, let's get this over with.

I sat beside him and cleared my throat before tapping his shoulder slightly. Austin looked up from his iPod, and that's when I noticed he had his headphones on. He smiled at me and kissed my forehead, "Hey Als." Of course, I thought, he just had to put in the nickname! This is going to be hard.

"Uh... hi, um," I didn't know where to begin; he was making things so much harder with his obvious joy! Maybe I shouldn't have come...

"So... uh... can I tell you something?" I began. Please say no, please say no, please say no...

"Yes." Dang. Why did I even come in the first place? This was a bad idea... Well, I can't back down now!

"It's about us, actually. I... you see, I kind of got into a fight with Sonya and..." I paused, noticing that he didn't seem to be listening to me. I frowned and glared at him suspiciously, forgetting my grief for just a moment.

"Are you listening to me?"

"Yes."

"What's the time?"

"Yes." I smacked his arm, making him go, "Ow!" like a little girl. I actually giggled before sniffing and becoming sad all over again, because I was going to miss that reaction a lot. Austin removed his headphones and looked at me.

"Aw, Ally I didn't mean to upset you! I'm sorry, I'm seriously sorry, please don't cry," Austin begged, pulling me into a hug. Of course, this gesture made me feel worse, so naturally I started crying.

"Oh come on, Ally! What happened to that annoyingly happy, bossy yet serious girl that is terrible at bowling?" I chuckled even though I was crying, because it was obvious that he had no idea when it came to comforting crying girls.

He smiled, "Am I doing it right?" I wiped my tears and laughed slightly, "No." He pouted, "Sorry."

I shook my head, "Stop apologising, it's not your fault." That's when he noticed the scratches on my cheek.

"Ally, what happened to your face?" he asked, eyeing the cat-like scratches done by Sonya. I winced when he touched them, "That's actually what I want to tell you."

"What do you mean?" I hesitated. Should I tell him now? I then proceeded to tell him the story, staring with meeting Sonya last night. Austin – remarkably – remained quiet and didn't interrupt me once.

After I had finished talking, Austin said nothing, but I could tell what he was thinking. Then, he stood up and started walking out of his room. "Where are you going?" I asked him.

"To talk to your dad," his voice replied from down the hall. What?! No, no, no, no, he can't do that; it'll only make things worse! I quickly stood up and followed him out the door, until I heard the sound of his mom talking to someone. I gasped, remembering that I wasn't liked here – that thought still stung – so I quickly ran back inside his room and climbed out of his room into my room. I quickly ran out of my room, dodging Tasha and Mom, and down the stairs. I could hear the front door being opened. Austin walked in looking around before spotting my dad sitting at a table in the lounge.

"Austin, don't you dare," I hissed. But, he ignored me and entered the room. I sighed and sat on the bottom steps, holding my head in my hands.

"Ally?" Tasha said from beside me.

"Go away," I grunted, turning away from her. Not mature, I know but I don't want to talk to her right now.

"No," she said, "I know you're mad right now."

"No kidding."

"And I really don't want to see you upset – especially on your last day here," she paused, putting her hand on my shoulder.

"Then why didn't you say something earlier on?!" So much for ignoring her.

She sighed, "I don't know, I just couldn't find anything to say. I just went mute, that's actually what they call me at school. Mute."

I sighed and looked up at her for the first time since she sat down. "They bully you, too?"

"Yeah, me and Ross. Although we didn't really speak to each other until-" she paused, putting a hand over her mouth.

"You don't have to tell me," I said, "I'll stop pressuring you." Tasha looked at her fluffy pink bunny slippers, "I'm sorry. I don't like keeping this from you, I would tell you he won't let me tell anyone."

"Who, Ross?"

"No – I mean, yes." I raised an eyebrow at her, making her blush slightly. "Who is he?"

"I thought you said you wouldn't pressure me," she stated. I groaned, "Oh, right."

"Um, Ally? Why didn't you tell me about you and Austin?" she asked. I shrugged, "I guess it was because I knew you wouldn't approve of us and it's taken you fourteen years for you to start talking to me, I didn't want to make you hate me all over again."

"But, I never hated you, I was just... I don't know, intimidated by you." I laughed, "Me?"

Tasha nodded, embarrassed, "Yeah. You know why Sonya hates you so much? It's because our parents are always comparing her to you. Whether it's grades, discipline, boys... So I guys she got the feeling that you did all this on purpose. That's why."

"Wow..." i said, shaking my head in disbelief, "All this time, I wanted to be anything but myself to become her friend, then I find out she wants to be like me." After I stopped wanting to be Sonya's friend I started to hate her because she was so mean. Who knew Sonya was jealous of me? Tasha only nodded. After a few moments of silence, I turned to her, "So... do you like Ross?" I asked.

She looked away, "No..."

"Tasha?" I asked, nudging her a little.

"Fine, yes. Just don't tell anyone, I'd rather be called 'Mute' than 'Cougar'." I didn't really know what to say to that so I just nodded. Austin came out of the lounge, fuming. My heart sank. This was not good. Tasha and I stood up.

"Austin-" I started.

"I couldn't change his mind," he said with a sigh, "Since it's our last day, we might as well make it last, right?"

"So... what should we do?" I asked him, "I don't want to speak to my parents."

Tasha spoke up, "I heard there's a carnival in town."

Was that better? Sorry it's short... I'll make sure to triple check this time...

Sammie