Derailed Chapter 5
. . .
A week after 9th grade ended and she was free for the summer, Ally's parents took her out to a nice restaurant for a special family dinner. While they ate their main course Penny brought up the reason for the fancy meal.
"I have some big news to tell you about." Penny began. "I have been given the opportunity to go to Gabon to study the Western Lowland Gorilla!"
"Wow, that's great mom. Where is Gabon exactly?" Ally asked.
"It's on the eastern coast of the African continent. Oh, honey, this is such an amazing opportunity and I couldn't pass it up." Penny told her excitedly.
Ally glanced at her dad who didn't seem surprised by this news at all. He ate his food quietly, oddly withdrawn.
"I'm happy for you, Mom." Ally said.
"Thanks. So I leave in July and will be studying there for a year with a whole team of biologists and scientists. I can't tell you how excited I am. But do you want to know the best part?" Penny asked.
"What?" Ally asked, nervously noting that her father shrank in on himself a little more.
"I asked if I could bring you with me and they said yes!" she announced. Before Ally could take this in or begin to react Penny continued excitedly. "Now, I know you were looking forward to starting high school next year, but I've looked into the homeschooling options and you can do all of your studies there. I will monitor your progress and in a few years you can take some tests to get your GED, so it won't affect your education at all. In fact, I think it will be even better because you will have experience living in a different country and learn all about their political, social and economic models in contrast to what you've known here. There are several distinguished scientists I'll be working with who you will have access to as well. It's going to be so amazing."
"Wait, you want to take me to Africa with you?" Ally asked for clarification.
"Yes! What do you think?" Penny asked.
"Dad?" Ally wanted to know his thoughts.
He looked utterly defeated. "It's a once in a lifetime chance Ally and you've been living here with me for a while. It's only fair for you to spend more time with your Mom at such an important time in your life. And I can't compete with Africa." he said resignedly.
"A change of scenery could be just what we need." Penny added.
"So you two decided this already?" Ally asked as she realized what was going on. They were here to tell her that she was going. She sensed that she had no choice in the matter.
"We've been discussing it for a while now. We think its best." Lester said.
"But all my friends, my life, is here. Austin is supposed to release a full album by next fall and we have a lot of work to do to finish all the songs." Ally began.
"I know songwriting is a hobby of yours, but the record label will have plenty of real songwriters he can work with." Penny said. "Ally, it's not every day you get the chance to live in a different country and experience their culture first hand like this. You'll see a working study camp in the jungle and I'll tell you all about my research. You may find a new passion and it will only add to your education."
Ally's appetite was gone. She felt like she was going to be sick. Her mother was dismissing everything that mattered to her as if were meaningless. She didn't know what to say, or if it even mattered if she did say anything. How did everything change so fast? She began to panic. Penny didn't notice and Lester wouldn't meet her eye.
"Good. So, we are leaving on July 13th and we have a lot to do to get you ready. I've already collected the materials I need for your first year of homeschooling, but we will need to outfit you for the trip. I am halfway through with my own preparations." Penny began to list all the things they had to do and Ally tuned her out. She didn't know how to process what just happened.
Ally went into autopilot then. Later, she wouldn't remember if she ate more, but her parents didn't say anything about the food left on her plate. She got into the car with her dad and he drove her home, the car silent except for his classic rock radio station playing low in the background. She undressed and went to bed, hoping to wake up to find this a horrible nightmare.
. . .
It was a living nightmare. In morning light nothing had changed other than a very excited text from Ally's mom about how great Africa was going to be. Ally needed to talk to someone, but she didn't know how she was going to tell Austin, the one person she wanted to turn to most. How do you tell your very first boyfriend, best friend, and guy you are falling for that you are going to leave the country in a month?
Ally found her dad eating breakfast in the kitchen.
"So, I'm really going to Africa? Ally asked him.
"Yes. Your mom and I agree that it will be good for you to get away and see somewhere new." Lester answered.
"Do I have a say in this?" she asked.
"It's for the best." her dad asserted.
"Are you guys really that freaked out about Austin and I wanting to date?" she asked, needing to know if her suspicions were correct.
"It's more than that, sweetie. You two are young and first love is special, but it rarely lasts. More importantly, you need a mom at this time in your life and I want you to have that. I can't be selfish and keep you to myself no matter how much I want things to stay the same." Lester said.
"So you are just giving up on me?" Ally asked.
"No. I'm making the right choice for you."
"Who says I can't make the right choice for myself? You didn't even ask me!" Ally was getting angry. She was hurt and angry and everything felt out of control.
"I'm sorry." Lester said.
Ally stormed out of the room. Forget the rules and what her parents were worried about - she needed a friend. She went next door and rang the doorbell but there was no answer. After waiting five minutes and ringing the bell several times Ally sat on the porch steps. She texted Austin only to find out he was with Dez.
Next she texted Trish who had just gotten fired from a job at the mall. She walked to the mall and met Trish in the food court.
"Sorry about your job." Ally said as she sat down at a table where Trish was eating fries.
"Eh, I'm not. Do you know they expect you to use a scoop when you serve ice cream? They are so picky!" Trish said and ate another fry.
"Everyone knows that." Ally said. Then she shook her head. "I need to tell you something."
"What?" Trish asked.
"Last night my parents told me that my mom is going to study gorillas in Africa for a year."
"Wow. That's pretty cool for her I guess. I know you will miss her." Trish sympathized.
"No I won't. She's taking me with her." Ally let the bomb drop.
"You are going to Africa?" Trish asked.
Ally nodded miserably. The two friends stared at each other for a few minutes. Trish was speechless.
"So, you're going to miss your first year of high school? I really thought we were going to be there together." Trish said, clearly disappointed.
"Me too. I don't want this. They didn't give me a choice at all, my parents just decided that this is what is going to happen. You are the first person I've told." Ally said.
"Austin doesn't know yet?" Trish asked.
"He wasn't home, and I don't know how to tell him anyway." Ally hung her head. "I don't want to go anywhere right now."
"I don't want you to go either." Trish said.
It felt real now, telling her friend about it, and Ally found herself crying right there in the food court. Trish hugged her and handed her napkins to wipe her eyes and runny nose.
"Maybe we can talk your parents out of it. I mean, it's not like they can just pull you out of school." Trish said.
"Mom is planning on home schooling me and already has the first years stuff." Ally said sadly.
"So there's no getting out of it?" Trish asked.
"I don't think so. I tried to talk to dad this morning and he says it's for the best."
"At least we have this summer before you go." Trish said, looking for a bright side to all of this.
"I leave next month." Ally said sadly.
. . .
Austin found Ally sitting on a swing at the park, exactly where her text said to meet her. It was late afternoon and he'd had a fun day with Dez. Soon he had to be home for dinner, so he just had enough time to hang out with Ally a little before then.
Austin sat in the swing next to Ally's and smiled charmingly at her. "'Sup?" he asked, nodding to her in true Austin style.
She smiled at him, laughing lightly at his signature greeting. Her smiled faded almost instantly, however.
"I have something to tell you, but you won't like it. I don't like it." She said.
Austin sobered immediately, concerned at her expression and tone. "What's wrong?"
"I'm going away for a while. My parents told me last night." Ally said.
"Oh. Are they sending you to camp again? It's been a few years." he said, knowing he could deal with six weeks of separation even though he'd miss her.
"No. It's bigger than that. My mom is going on a research trip for work and she's taking me with her. We are going to Africa for a year." Ally said.
Austin's heart plummeted. "A year?"
"I don't want to go, but my parents agree and decided without talking to me." she told him.
He stood up from the swing and faced her. "So you're leaving?"
"I have no choice." Ally stood too, her voice breaking on the words.
Then Austin did the very thing she had wanted ever since her parents broke the horrible news last night. He wrapped his arms around her in a fierce hug. Ally didn't care that he held her too tight, because nothing would be enough to make her feel right about going away from him. She hugged right back, melding her body to his, wishing they wouldn't ever be parted. She was sure about Austin: sure about her feelings for him and that he would always be there for her, just like he had been her whole life. She detested Africa and the Atlantic Ocean for threatening to come between them.
"When?" Austin spoke several minutes later, still holding Ally tight.
"July 13th." Ally answered, her voice muffled from how her face was pressed into his shoulder. She felt him deflate a bit.
"That's just over a month from now." he complained.
"I'm sorry."
"I want to take you on our first date before you go." Austin said.
Ally pulled back the tiniest bit so she could look at his face. "You do?"
"Of course. That's why I asked you to be my girlfriend. I thought we'd have all summer to date and then next year we'd be together and go to dances and all that high school stuff. I had plans." He said.
Ally's eyes burned with more tears for the future that was being ripped away from them. "I want that. I want to do all of that with you." she said.
"I don't want you to go. A year is so long: I'm afraid I'll lose you." Austin said.
"We can call and skype and there's email." Ally listed off all the things she had thought of to comfort herself. It didn't work when she said it out loud either. It wouldn't be the same as living next door. Austin made a disgruntled sound, clearly agreeing that everything else sounded inadequate. He rested his forehead against hers.
"I wish we were older. I would take you away, somewhere your parents couldn't do this to us." he said.
"When I get back we can be together. If, . . . if you still want to." Ally said hesitantly.
"What do you mean?" Austin leaned back and looked at her with concern.
"If you aren't dating someone else." the words were bitter in her mouth.
Austin shook his head. "I won't. It's you, Ally. You are the only girl I want."
She kissed him. There was no other response. How could she leave when he was here and he wanted to be with her as much as she wanted to be with him? She had to find a way to convince her parents to let her stay, to let them be together.
. . .
She didn't find a way. Nothing she said or did broke through her parent's resolve to send her away with Penny to the other side of the world. They were also still against her having even one date with Austin. The Dawsons were convinced that Austin and Ally were too young and would both forget about their infatuation soon - out of sight, out of mind.
They couldn't have been more wrong.
A week before she was scheduled to leave for Africa Ally went over to Trish's house for one final sleepover. She put her overnight bag in Trish's room and then the two girls left for the mall. They walked into the food court a few minutes after 5pm and Ally was relieved to see Austin and Dez waiting for them. Austin was on his feet the second he saw her and he met her halfway, pulling her into a tight hug.
Since school ended they rarely saw each other. With Trish's help Ally had been able to go to Austin's mini concert in the mall, but other than they hadn't seen each other much. They sent a lot of texts though, which Ally expected to earn her a lecture from her dad about the cost, but he was a lot less strict with her these days. Her mom, however, was around all the time and demanding most of Ally's attention as they got ready for their trip.
"I'm so glad you could come." Austin said as he let Ally go.
"I wouldn't miss our first date." Ally said.
Austin turned to Trish and Dez. "Thanks again for helping us guys. Sorry to make you lie for us."
"Hey, we get it. Go have fun and meet us back here at 9." Trish said, waving them off.
"It's so romantic, just like Romeo and Juliet." Dez sighed.
"Yeah, well lets hope it doesn't end the same way." Trish said. "Besides, this time Juliet is the one getting banished and since this isn't Vegas, I'm pretty sure Austin and Ally aren't secretly getting married tonight. Right?" she asked pointedly.
Austin laughed it off. "No, no secret marriages tonight. Just dinner and a movie."
"See you guys later." Ally said. She grabbed Austin's hand and started pulling him away from their friends. "Let's go or we'll be late for the movie."
"You're so pushy." Austin pointed out but he was still smiling.
"And you love it." Ally retorted.
"Yes I do." he agreed.
"Wait, I don't know where we are having dinner." Ally said, coming to a stop.
Austin laughed. "It's a surprise. come on." he kept holding her hand tight as they walked across the mall, Ally going at a slower pace and following Austin's lead. She was intrigued. When they got to the old forgotten mall pond she saw a blanket set out with candles and picnic basket under the largest tree.
"Austin!" she said, taking in the scene before her. "This is beautiful!"
"I want this to be special, something you can remember when we're apart." he said.
"I love it." Ally hugged him tight.
They sat down and ate, chatting about the new music Austin had been listening to from other songwriters to finish his first record. Ally assured him again that she wasn't mad he was working with other people. She couldn't expect him to wait on her when she wasn't exactly sure what life in the jungle was going to be like.
They finished eating and packed up their things into the basket, stowing it under a nearby bench for Dez to pick up later. Then they went to the theater to see the newest superhero movie. As soon as they were in their seats Austin put his arm around Ally's shoulders and they sat close during the whole movie. When it was over they walked back toward the food court to meet Trish and Dez. Just before they got there however, Austin pulled Ally aside into a small alcove between two stores in front of an employee entrance.
"Just give me a second." he said when she looked at him questioningly.
"Okay."
"I don't know if I'll see you alone again before you leave." he said and the weight of her coming trip settled onto them once again. "I just want you to know. . . I . . ." he hesitated, searching for the right words.
Ally put her hand on his arm and he looked into her eyes. "This is hard for me too. You know I would change it if I could."
Austin nodded. "It's just, I know that we are young and I don't know a lot about love, but this, we, are special."
"I know. I feel the same way." Ally said.
He relaxed a little and then leaned down to kiss her softly.
"The next year will be hard, but it's going to be worth it. You are worth the wait." He said.
And that's what broke Ally. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight as a tear slipped down her cheek. She hadn't wanted to cry on their date but Austin was so sweet and she was going to miss him more than words could say.
A few minutes later they pulled apart. Ally wiped at her face to hide her tears and Austin took her hand again. They walked back into the food court where their friends were waiting and then they said goodbye. Ally went home with Trish to finish their sleepover while Austin left with Dez.
After that Ally didn't have much free time. Her mom was in a frenzy packing and finishing everything she needed to in the U.S. before their flight across the ocean. She did have one final supervised goodbye with Austin during which they were able to hug but nothing more. They promised one final time to call and email as often as possible, swearing that the distance wouldn't change anything. They could make it through the next year.
That was the plan anyway.
. . .
k, don't hate me, but the title of this story is about to come into play now. Just trust me and finish the ride. It's going to be worth it. Let me know what you think!
weesh