A/N: Hey readers! Thanks so much for all of the reviews on my last chapter; I didn't think I would get that many! I'm glad some of you mentioned that you liked how Austin and Ally fought; it spiced things up a bit. To RossLynchLUVR, thanks for catching that mistake! I never would have noticed that, so it is now fixed! :) And to HoaLotsAtla, don't worry, that was my plan originally…they aren't making up right away :)

Also, I made Austin call Ally a few more names in Chapter 2 during their fight, so she could have a reason to still be really upset, so go check it out first because if you've already read Chapter 2 before I posted this chapter, you will be confused about what Ally says he called her in this chapter, because you'll be like "he didn't call her that"…well, he did, because I added it. Anyways, enough of my rant, please enjoy this next chapter!

Ally POV

I woke up the next morning to Astrid sitting on my chest licking my face. "Ew, Astrid!" I laughed as I picked her up and set her back on the ground. She trotted out of my room and down the stairs, probably wanting her breakfast.

I got out of bed and pulled open my curtains to bright sunlight. "Looks like another hot day out," I said. I went to my closet and changed into a red dress with a thick black belt. I paired the outfit with black knee-high boots and white socks that showed just over the top of the boots. Looking at my hair, I just threw it up into a ponytail and didn't put any makeup on. I wasn't in the mood.

As I got downstairs, I found my dad at the kitchen table reading the paper.

"Oh, hey Dad, what are you doing home? I thought you had to be at the store," I said as I grabbed Astrid's food bag.

He looked up from the paper. "Heather called and insisted that she could handle it for a bit, so she told me not to come in until noon, which gives me about," he looked at his watch, "ten minutes." He sighed. "How's the foot feeling?"

"Feels the same as it did yesterday, but I can stop using the crutches and the gel in a couple of days, which is good," I said.

"Yeah, than poor Austin won't have to be helping you all the time," Dad teased. At the mention of Austin's name, a wave of anger washed through me.

"Let's not talk about Austin," I muttered.

Dad's full attention was on me now. "What's wrong, sweetie?

"Oh, nothing, it's no big deal," I said.

He wasn't giving up. "Ally…did something happen between you two?"

I glanced at him before bending down give Astrid her food. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Ally, you know you can tell me anything, right?" Dad asked.

I nodded, and sat in silence for a moment before spilling the whole Austin-thinking-it's-his-fault to the fight. He sat quiet through the whole thing, digesting everything, but when I mentioned my mom, he tensed.

"He seems to think it's all his fault and he wouldn't even listen to my reasoning. He always has to make someone feel bad for him, Dad, or put the blame on himself when it doesn't even concern him. And considering the fact that he called me names and bashed mom," I said.

Dad sighed. "Ally, you also said he had a big ego."

I stared at him. "Yeah, but that's nothing compared to what he called me and what he said about mom. Plus, he said I had a big ego too!"

"Honey, he doesn't know about your mother," Dad said calmly.

"I know that, Dad," I snapped. "That didn't give him any reason to call me those names though, now did it?" I sighed. "I'm sorry Dad; I'm just really frustrated at Austin, and I miss mom," I said, tears coming to my eyes now.

Dad stood up and hugged me. "I know honey, I miss her too."

I hugged him back and pulled away. "It's 12:05, Dad."

"Oh, shoot! I've got to get going, or I'm going to be late!" He grabbed his keys and pulled on his shoes.

"Dad, you're already late," I pointed out.

He chuckled at me. "Touché. I'll see you later tonight, and cheer up honey. Maybe you should give Austin some space, hang out with Trish for the day instead. It'll give you and him some time to clear your minds."

I nodded. "Yeah, I'll do that. It's probably a good idea. See you."

He waved and headed out the door. I heard the car pull out of the driveway a minute later.

I looked down at Astrid. "Well, Astrid, I guess I'm heading off the Sweet Dreams for the day. It sounds boring, but at least I have someone to hang with. I guess I could hang with Dez", I thought for a second. "On second thought, Sweet Dreams is sounding a lot better."

I grabbed my cell and checked for messages. There were six from Trish within ten minutes apart, and four from Dez within five minutes apart. (Trish in italics, Dez in bold)

9:00- Ally, Dez told me that Austin said you and him had a fight. What's up?

9:02- Ally, it's no good to ignore texts and shut yourself out from your surrounding peers.

9:03- That last text sounded so cheesy. Ignore it.

9:04- Wait, I just told you not to ignore texts. Ugh!

9:06- Ally Dawson, answer your phone now!

9:10- Surprisingly, I'm not fired from Sweet Dreams yet, so come there and we can talk today since you aren't answering your god damn phone!

9:31- Austin told me you guys had a fight. What happened? You two never fight!

9:32- You guys should talk it out.

9:34- Ally! Trish took my crayon that I was using! Tell her to give it back!

9:35- She took the whole box now! Ally! Answer your phone!

I shook my head and decided I'd just answer all of Trish's questions when I got to Sweet Dreams, and considering Dez's last couple of texts, he was probably with her, so I would answer his questions there too.

I couldn't walk all the way to where Trish worked, it was at least a fifteen minute drive, and there was no way I was calling Austin to give me a lift, so I called my next door neighbour, Mrs. Carson. She agreed to give me a lift, and a few minutes later, she pulled into my driveway.

I hobbled down the steps and into her car. "Thanks for the lift on such short notice Mrs. Carson," I said as she drove down the street.

She smiled at me. "No problem, Ally dear, it was perfect timing actually. I've got to pick Angela up at day care anyways." Angela was her four-year-old daughter.

When we got to Sweet Dreams, I thanked Mrs. Carson for the ride and hobbled into the store. I found Trish and Dez at a set up of a bedroom coloring. Trish was at the vanity, and Dez was sprawled across the bed.

Trish and Dez looked up when they heard me coming. "Ally! Finally, I thought you were dead!" Trish exclaimed, jumping up.

"Um, nope, I'm not. Sorry I didn't answer your texts, my phone was off," I explained. I looked at Dez. "How come you're not with Austin?" I asked, spitting out Austin's name.

Dez looked uncomfortable. "Uh, he's in a pretty bad mood since you two had that fight yesterday, so I came here instead, to give him space. Speaking of that, what did you two fight about anyways? From the way Austin is acting, it seemed pretty bad."

I told them everything, with them listening politely the whole time. I had to explain the situation with my mom to Dez since he was confused about that part of the story, and when I finished, I was near tears again, and Trish came over and hugged me.

"Oh, Ally, that's awful. Want me to hurt him?" she said angrily.

"No, Trish, he didn't know, but it still hurt me. I never thought he would call me those names, he's my best friend! He said it intentionally too," I said, the tears now streaming down my face. "I guess I did say he had a big ego, but he called me much worse things! Maybe he's right, maybe I am an annoying bitch."

"Ally! You are not a bitch in any way, shape, or form. You're one of the nicest people I know! Austin was just really angry and took it out on you," Trish exclaimed. She sat down on the bed beside Dez. "We all know it wasn't his fault you were stung, even Austin does, he's just in denial about it because he's really upset that you got hurt, so he's blaming himself. Therefore, when you tried to say it wasn't his fault, he got really angry because, again, he's in denial."

I stared at her in shock. "Where did that explanation come from?"

Trish smiled. "I have my moments."

I shook my head. "I'm still upset with him though, but thanks for the talk anyways."

"No problem," Trish replied.

Dez, who was quiet this whole time, spoke up. "Don't worry, Austin will come around, he just needs time." He squeezed my hand. "I'm so sorry about your mom Ally, I had no idea."

I gave him a watery smile. "Thanks Dez. No one knows except my family and Trish, and you now."

At that moment, Dez's cell started ringing. He took it out of his pocket and looked at the screen. "It's Austin," he said apologetically as he picked it up.

"Hey Austin, whatsup?" I couldn't hear Austin on the other line, but Trish motioned for Dez to put it on speaker.

"Trish, it's private!" I mouthed to her.

Dez shook his head. "Its fine," he mouthed at me, and put it on speaker.

(Austin in italics)

"Want to come over and play video games? I just got a new one that I think you'll love," Austin said through the phone.

Dez looked at me and Trish. "Uh, sorry man. I'm, uh, kind of busy right now."

"What can you possibly be doing that you'd turn down video games for?" Austin asked.

Trish was motioning around with her hands to Dez. "I'm, uh," Trish put two fingers at the top of her head like alien antennae. I noticed what she was doing and I put my arms out in front of me like a zombie. "Playing dress up?" Dez said, confused. Trish and I stared at him.

There was silence on Austin's end. Finally, "You're playing dress up?" he asked disbelievingly.

"You idiot! It's a Zalien!" Trish screeched at Dez, then into the phone she said, "We're at the theatre watching Zaliens!"

"Trish? Since when do you hang out with Dez voluntarily?" Austin asked.

"Um, I thought I'd give it a try." She looked at me and Dez and mouthed, Yeah that works, before continuing on. "Um, we're watching Zaliens."

"Is Ally with you guys?" He sounded pissed off again. That jerk.

Trish looked at me and I shook my head fast. "Uh, no she's not. She mentioned that her foot was hurting so she stayed home. Plus, she didn't want to come anyways, she hates horror movies, remember?"

"Oh yeah," Austin said quietly. "Well, I'll leave you two alone then. Give the phone back to Dez." Oh right, he didn't know he was on speaker.

We waited a couple seconds so it made it seem like Trish was handing the phone to Dez, then Dez started talking again.

"It's me again. I'll text you later, okay? Maybe we can hang later," he told Austin.

"Yeah, sounds good. Have fun. See ya," he said, hanging up.

Dez hung up as well. "Man, I hate lying to him."

I spoke up. "I do too, under normal circumstances, but I'm mad at him." I sighed. "Maybe I should go apologize."

Trish looked alarmed. "What? No! Austin should be the one to apologize first, Alls, not you. I know you feel bad about saying he had a big ego and that you know it wasn't his fault, but he's in the wrong here."

I glanced at the door and back to Trish, and then sat back down. "Yeah, you're right."

"Of course I am," she said. "Now, cheer up honey! Oh, and I need to go get fired, so you two can wait at the front of the store for me. I'll be there in a few minutes." She took off towards the manager's office.

Dez and I headed to the front of the store, and waited for Trish. A few seconds later, a lady came running towards us, and bolted through the doors. Trish's manager was running after her, yelling, "Thanks for shopping at Sweet Dreams! Come again soon!" He glared at Trish, who was behind him trying not to laugh. "Trish, you're fired!"

She staged a sad face. "Oh, nooooo." She sulked over to where Dez and I stood.

"Guess who just got fired?" she exclaimed happily when the manager was out of earshot.

"What did you do to that lady?" Dez asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just gave her some false advertising about the store's products and such in front of my manager, no biggie," she said.

"Oh, Trish," I said laughing, shaking my head. "Let's head over to the mall and find something to do there."

Trish and Dez nodded in agreement and we all piled into Dez's car and headed towards the mall. I needed something to get Austin off of my mind.

A/N: There's chapter 3! I hope you guys liked it, it was pretty hard to right, but I thought it turned out good! Chapter 4 will be up as soon as I can start writing it because I have lots of studying to do for a big science test I have coming up next week. Hopefully I update soon! Thanks for reading, and read and review please. The more reviews i get, the faster i'll upload... :) Plus, sorry for mistakes if there are any!

Joelle xx