Me Without You IV

oooo

"Austin?"

"Yeah," he answered, flicking off the lights. Apparently, there was no reason for him to stay. "I'm ready."

ooooooooo

The white jet gleamed against the dark night sky. Its engine roared bringing the giant propellers to life. The luggage were all loaded, Dez and Trish were the first aboard, fighting over who got the window seat. Down below, crewmen worked tirelessly to secure the remaining cargo, calling out commands into their walkie-talkies as forklifts rushed back and forth.

Amidst all the noise, Austin and Ally stood staring up at the plane, their thoughts a million miles from here.

She squeezed his hand in reassurance but Austin wasn't sure of anything anymore. They watched as the pilot slowly maneuver the jet into position, preparing for takeoff. The lights running along the cockpit windows flashed as the ladder smoothly unfolded and dropped down from above.

"Ally, this is really happening."

She didn't say anything, only leaning against his arm in support. Here we go. He gripped her slender fingers, feeling her nails dig into his skin. The slight discomfort reminded him that he wasn't alone. Austin exhaled and took the first step.

Then another. And another.

Anothe—

His arm jerked mid-stride. He looked back.

Ally stood with both feet still firmly planted on the ground. She tried to smile but this time it was impossible to miss the tears flooding her eyes.

"Austin, I'm not going."

For a second he just stood there, hearing the words yet unable to understand what they meant. Behind him, the propellers picked up speed. The strong winds crashed into their faces.

"What are you saying?!" He yelled over the noise.

Ally untangled their fingers and threw herself against his body. He stumbled backwards, fumbling awkwardly. But instead of shifting her weight, she grabbed onto his jacket and closed her eyes, knowing that he'd never let her fall. Ally wrapped her arms tightly around his broad shoulders. "You're going to be so amazing," she whispered into his ear. "I'll be listening for your name on every radio station and TV show."

Austin shook his head in disbelief.

"Ally." His voice caught in his throat. He pulled back just enough to brush the hair out of her face with clumsy fingers. His eyes frantically searched hers. "I..I don't understand what's happening," he said, choking on the words.

The tears, they blurred her vision. Ally had a mental checklist of the things she wanted to say to him. Things that she needed him to know before the plane took off. But it all seemed so silly now. Words alone were never enough. She traced the strong line of his jaw letting herself sink into the familiar warmth of his arms. "I have a store to run, Austin. There's school to worry about and my own dreams to chase."

But he was already too far gone to listen to reason. She wasn't coming. Austin gazed at her with nothing but betrayal in his eyes. It was as if she asked him to leave behind the one thing that he couldn't live without.

They were balanced on the edge and everything was going to change. For so long, she thought of him as hers. But now it was time to share him with the world. Soon she'd be just a smudge in his memory. The girl he left behind once upon a time ago.

But for right now, she was his. And this moment was theirs.

She wasn't ready to let go just yet.

Ally locked her fingers behind his neck and jumped to her toes. Their lips collided, knocking their teeth together. She couldn't even call it a kiss. It was awkward, with her gasping for breath and him, eyes wide opened, frozen in shock. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes despite all her promises not to cry.

It was perfect.

In the next heartbeat, Austin had his fingers tangled in her hair, digging almost painfully into the back of her head. His arm wrapped around her waist and lifted her up off the ground. He held her suspended in the air as they tried to capture a moment for a lifetime.

But like all things that should last forever...it ended without you ever letting go.

"Don't look down, Austin," Ally whispered into the kiss and pushed against his shoulders, slipping free. She was running before her feet touched the ground.

NOTE: I can't decide on the ending! So I need just one more chapter, bear with me. =)

NOTE: Also, I wished A&A targeted a more mature audience. There's so much chemistry wasting away because the writers try to appeal to such young viewers. =(