All right my dear readers, it's the chapter you've been waiting for!

Derailed Chapter 8

. . .

Austin Moon - Better Than This Tour. March 30, 2018

General Admission. O2 Academy Oxford.

Doors open at 6 pm. I.D. required for drinks

.

Ally stared at the ticket in her hand, still not quite ready to believe it could be true. But today was the day and she wasn't going to turn back.

Several months ago she'd seen the flyer in the common room on campus and later plastered everywhere. Her childhood friend and famous rock star Austin Moon was doing a concert at a club just off campus. It was part of his latest tour and she had immediately bought a ticket without thinking, not wanting to miss this chance to see him if they were going to be in the same city again after all these years. And she felt giddy like a teenager again even though she was now a 22 year old university student.

She hadn't seen him in seven years, hadn't spoken in that long either, and their emails had tapered off to nothing by the time she was 18. Would he remember her, or even care to see her once they were face to face?

Ally shook her head. She couldn't guarantee that they would meet. She was simply going to the concert to hear him sing live. There were going to be so many people there, he probably would never know she was there. But this was long overdue. She'd wanted to see him in concert ever since his career began back when he was only 16 years old and she was trapped in Africa. She had followed his career over the years and owned all of his cd's of course. She tried to ignore the gossip magazines and details of his personal life, however, not liking to read about who he was dating this month.

She took a deep breath. She was going to follow through with this and give herself some closure regarding Austin. She was going to enjoy this concert.

Ally tucked the ticket back into her purse and left the small house she rented along with two other girls. She had settled into her life in London as a student at Oxford. For the first time since leaving Miami she lowered some of her defenses and let people in over the last three years at university, making friends with other students and her roommates. She loved being in school with other people again and feeling like she was part of something bigger, rather than merely a delicious speck in the jungle. She felt really alive for the first time in a long time as well. In Gabon she'd been surrounded by adults, all focused on their work. During her year in Berlin she had tried to find a home but never felt quite settled their even though it was a beautiful city. When she arrived at Oxford she was ready to create a life for herself and form some real relationships like she had in Miami back when she was young.

She was on her way to meet one of those friends now. James Harrington had become a familiar face in her classes and they'd started talking at the end of Ally's first term and become good friends. He had graciously introduced her to his circle of friends and through them she formed the kind of connections she'd been missing for years.

It was coincidental that James worked at the very club where Austin was going to play that night and she'd confided in him about buying the ticket. For a moment he teased her about being an Austin Moon fan and was surprised when she insisted that she knew the singer. She confessed being nervous to go to this concert even though their group of friends went to concerts there often. To help her out James suggested they go out to dinner together and then she hang out with him as he started his shift that night. He promised to look out for her.

Ally paced in front of the club while she waited for James. She was beginning to get nervous and wonder if the concert was a good idea after all. But she knew she'd hate herself if she didn't try to see Austin perform. James walked up a few minutes later and waved her to the doors.

"Are you ready?" he asked as he used a key to let himself in.

"I'm starving." She said.

"Great. Let me just put some things in the back and we'll go. Come on." He led her through the building to the staff door of the auditorium where Austin would be performing and James would be bartending that night. "I'll show you the break room and if you get overwhelmed tonight you can hide out in there. That way I'll know where to find you." he said.

Ally followed James into the back hallway just as Austin Moon arrived in a flurry of managers, musicians and assistants coming in the back entrance. Austin bumped Ally's shoulder and turned to her to apologize. He froze when he looked at her and they locked eyes despite the flow of people still entering the hallway. She looked up at him since he was still a full head taller than her. That and his shockingly bright blond hair never changed.

"Ally." Austin said and a moment later was pulled away by his tour manager who was in the middle of telling him something. He squirmed out of her grasp and faced Ally with an expression of shock on his face. "Ally Dawson? Is it you?"

"Hi Austin." she said quietly.

He was about to speak again when the manager demanded his attention.

"Austin, focus, please!" the woman commanded. "You'll have time for girls later."

"Don't go anywhere." Austin said. He reluctantly tore his eyes from Ally and looked at his manager, glancing at Ally every few seconds as if afraid she would vanish. James nudged Ally and gave her a questioning look. She shrugged and he shook his head. Their silent exchange was ignored by most of the people surrounding them in the hallway but when she looked at Austin again she saw a crease on his forehead as he glanced at her. The manager finished with a question which he answered and then took a step away from her and toward Ally.

"What are you doing here? Last I heard you lived in Berlin." he asked.

"Some famous singer is performing here tonight and I thought I should catch the concert. People tell me he's popular and puts on a good show but I've never been able to go to one before." she said with a smile, going for humor to lighten the situation. But she felt the weight of this meeting.

"There wasn't much of a market for my music in Africa." he said. Then he frowned and nodded toward James. "Who's this?"

"James is a friend from university. He works here and got me in early." she answered. Austin didn't look very happy and she suddenly realized she may have been wrong about having a nice reunion with an old friend. "Listen, I just came to say hi . . . and congratulations on your career. It's about time I saw one of your shows, right? Break a leg tonight."

"Are you leaving?" he looked angry now.

"I'll be back for the show, but you seem busy. I don't want to be in the way." she took a step back, inching toward the front of the club and her exit. She felt James at her side and let it calm her. She didn't know Austin anymore and she realized she was foolish to think she could talk to him like an old friend, like before the years and miles and silence separated them.

"Wait." he said as she began to turn away. Austin spoke to his manager's assistant standing nearby and was handed something. He moved quickly, eliminating the distance separating him from Ally and held out the object. She took the proffered item and saw that it was a full access backstage pass on a lanyard.

"Use it tonight. Come see me after the show." he urged.

Ally didn't move, paralyzed by the pleading in his eyes. Those familiar brown eyes she hadn't forgotten over all the years they had been apart.

"I promise." she said quietly.

Austin's features relaxed a bit then and he allowed himself to be swept away in the current of people, off to prepare for his concert. But he kept his eyes on Ally as long as he could, memorizing her standing there in the hallway, watching him.

When he was gone and one of the crew asked them to step aside so he could wheel in some large equipment, Ally snapped out of it. James lightly took her elbow and led her out of the hallway and stopped in the main room of the club, just off to the side of the stage where several people had moved into action, preparing for the concert that night.

"Ally, hey, are you okay?" James asked, snapping his fingers in front of her face.

"What? Yes. I'm okay." she said, shaking her head to clear it a bit.

"What was that? When you told me you knew the guy I just thought you meant you liked his music and got a photo sometime in passing. I didn't know you meant you knew him personally." James said. "Did you hook up with him on his last tour or something? Because I can promise that you made an impression on that guy."

"We grew up together. Our families live next door." Ally said.

"I thought you grew up in Africa?" James asked, confused.

"My mom took me to Africa with her when I was 15. Until then Austin was my best friend." Ally answered.

"Best friend? I have friends who are girls - you are one of them. I do not look at them the way he looked at you." James pointed out.

Ally blushed. "We were almost something more. He was my first kiss and my first date. Then I moved."

James watched her for a moment while she stared at the stage as if she could see through the walls to where the popstar was. He shook his head. In the few years he had known Ally he had never seen her act this way over any guy.

Ally snapped out of it and looked at James when he plucked the backstage pass from her hand and lifted the lanyard over her head so it rested around her neck like a necklace.

"All I know is, you are using this thing tonight." he told her, pointing to the pass. "If you don't I'll help him hunt you down. Or just give him your phone number, address, email, class schedule, favorite study areas. . ."

Ally laughed, looking more like herself. "I will use it. It's been seven years since I saw him in person, I just didn't know it would feel like this."

"Like what?"

Ally shook her head and spoke logically. "I'm getting ahead of myself. He's here to work and we let distance get in the way before. He's only here for the night. There's no reason for anything to change." she paused and looked longingly at the stage. "But it is good to see him again."

James turned her from the stage and toward the doors of the club. "Alright, save the lovey dovey eyes for later. I'm starving and I can tell it's going to be a long night. We can come back as soon as I get food."

. . .

They were back an hour later so James could clock in. Things were already picking up at the club. A line of fans, mostly female, was forming outside which made Ally grateful her friend was able to lead her right passed them and inside. The stage had transformed as well and final testing of the lights was going on with a few people setting instruments on stage. Ally settled onto a stool at the end of the bar and a few minutes later James reappeared dressed for work, and took his place behind the bar.

"He's not bad looking, really, if you are into blondes . . . or men." James commented jokingly. He was into girls, or rather one girl, since he had been dating Hailey for the last 8 months.

"Who?" Ally asked.

"Austin Moon. Your boyfriend stopped me backstage and asked if you were still coming to the concert. I told him you were out here already, waiting for the show of a lifetime." he said with a smirk.

Ally gaped at him. "Austin asked about me? Wait, he's not my boyfriend."

"Sure. Tell me that again after you talk to him later tonight." James winked at her and quickly moved down the bar, wiping down the counter in preparation for the crowd that night.

More employees arrived and soon they began letting the other ticket holders in. Women and girls streamed into the club, clamoring for space close to the stage. Ally stayed rooted to her seat, watching in awe. She had been to plenty of concerts in this same venue over the last few years with her new friends but this felt different.

"You alright Dawson? You look a little shell-shocked." James noted as he came closer to her after filling a few drink orders.

"It's just very real now, seeing all his fans here like this. I guess I still think of his music as something we started and I didn't take in the reality of his fame." She said with a shaky laugh.

"Hang in there. Backstage will be better in some ways. At least you'll have a chance of talking to him. Until then, enjoy the show." James suggested and then disappeared as someone called out to order a drink.

. . .

The concert was good. When Austin was on stage Ally was able to focus on him and how alive he looked. He clearly loved what he did and he was really good at it. His dancing had come a long way from the few moves he showed her in his kitchen so long ago. Plus now he had a band and backup dancers.

Ally didn't realize how much she missed his voice until she heard it again and for a second right at the start she felt like she wanted to cry. It was so much better than the recordings. A million emotions washed through her during the concert but underneath it all was the current of missing Austin: missing her friend, her first love.

And before she was ready, it was over. Austin thanked the cheering crowd and took his bows and was gone. Ally felt a moment's panic before she clutched the pass that hung around her neck, holding onto that shred of hope that it wasn't really over for them.

James appeared behind her. "Are you ready? You can go back now."

"I can?" Ally asked in surprise.

"Go show Tony your pass." he pointed to a burly man guarding the door to the hallway where they'd seen Austin a few hours earlier. Mechanically, Ally walked toward the intimidating man along with a few other fans bearing similar passes. She was ushered down the back hallway and to a room with a few couches and some snacks and water bottles laid out on a coffee table. They all milled around and Ally wasn't sure what to do with herself. She grabbed a water bottle and gulped down half of it to soothe her dry throat.

When she bought her ticket to the concert she had gone through a dozen scenarios of seeing Austin again; what she would say or do, how he might react. She'd envisioned happy reunions as well everything going horribly wrong and him rejecting her. Now that she was faced with the reality of being near him, her mind went blank. What if too much time had passed? What if he hated her now? What if they had nothing to talk about at all because their lives were too different like he'd pointed out in one of his last emails to her?

Ally began to pace nervously and was seriously considering leaving when the door opened and Austin walked in, followed by the manager and assistant she saw earlier. He quickly scanned the room until his eyes found Ally and went no further. His lips curved in a smile and he crossed the room straight to her.

"You came." he said, stopping right in front of her and completely ignoring the rest of the people in the room who watched him closely.

"Hi." she replied, her nerves and the nearness of him stopping all thought.

"You've been on my mind all night. It's so good to see you." Austin said.

"You too." Ally's mind caught up with her. "You were great out there tonight. You were born for this."

"Thanks. I love it." he said.

"I can tell." she smiled at him, beginning to relax. This felt familiar. She could see flashes of her childhood friend in the man standing in front of her.

Austin's manager cleared her throat and pulled at his arm to get his attention. "Your fans are waiting." she reminded him.

Austin glanced around in surprise as though he forgot they weren't alone.

"Right. Okay." he said and then turned toward the expectant crowd. He lifted his arms and flashed a huge smile. "Who had fun tonight?" he asked loudly and was greeted by cheering.

The crowd surged forward, surrounding him and pushing Ally and the manager out of the way. Someone grabbed Ally's arm and pulled her away and toward some chairs on the far side of the room. Ally suppressed a yelp when she realized it was the manager and took a deep breath once they were clear of the mob.

"It's always like this." she said conversationally and sat down. "I take it you are new to this kind of thing?"

"Yes." Ally said and sat down in a nearby chair.

The manager took a few chocolates from a bowl on the table in front of them and popped two in her mouth as she looked at Ally appraisingly.

"My name is Scarlett Brady. I've been working with Austin for the last four years."

"Ally Dawson."

"I know. He hasn't stopped talking about you since you made your surprise appearance this afternoon." Scarlett said. "I've never seen him act like this."

Ally followed her gaze over to Austin amidst his fans and was surprised to find him glancing at her between signing different papers people held out to him. He was kind to his fans, but also clearly distracted. Ally felt her face redden when she realized that she was the distraction. She turned back to find Scarlett watching her as well.

"So you really knew him before?" Scarlett asked.

"We were next door neighbors when we were kids." Ally confirmed. "He got his record deal right before I moved with my mom. My dad still lives next to his parents."

"And you write music?" Scarlett asked. Austin really had been talking about her.

"I used to."

"So why did you show up now?" Scarlett asked.

"We're in the same town for the first time in a long time and I couldn't pass up the chance to see him again. We used to email but stopped when he got busy touring. He was my best friend, you know?" Ally answered.

"But you lost touch." Scarlett pointed out.

"I've always regretted it."

"And you moved to Africa with your mom: but this isn't Africa." Scarlett said.

Ally felt like she was being interrogated. "No. I'm going to university here: at Oxford. I haven't been back to Miami or the states since I left. I figured when I got back there I would look him up, but it hasn't happened yet."

"So what do you want from him?" Scarlett asked. Her voice was more curious than accusatory but Ally still felt like she was being judged.

"Just to talk, I guess, to catch up on the last few years and see what he's become. See if we still . . . can be friends." She didn't want to say 'see if we still have feelings for each other' because that was a stretch even for her and her great love of romantic stories. While she dated casually Ally had never, not once, admitted out loud to anyone that she couldn't get serious with a guy until she resolved her feelings for Austin. It had taken years to admit it to herself. She needed closure. Maybe, seeing him now and talking, she could let go of the few remaining girlish dreams she had regarding him and what could have been if they hadn't been ripped apart by parents who were afraid. Then she could move on at last.

Scarlett considered her for a moment and then her face softened. "I believe you." she declared. "You aren't acting like his crazed fans and you look far too innocent to be up to anything."

"Well, it's nice to know someone is here to watch out for him. He must be glad to have you helping him." Ally said.

She looked at Austin again. He glanced up after a girl said something to him and his eyes met Ally's. He mouthed the words "Don't go" to her. She nodded and saw the relief on his face. Once he had that confirmation his attention returned to his fans.

"How long will this last?" Ally asked.

"Another half hour or so. He changed and ate a protein bar before coming in but he's going to be starving soon. His concerts take a lot of energy and if he doesn't eat he crashes." Scarlett said.

"His dancing has improved. He used to practice and make up moves in his room." Ally said with fond remembrance.

"He has choreographers now. But he is really hands on when creating the routines and look of a show." Scarlett supplied.

Ally watched Austin and saw his energy flagging. He was still smiling, but it lacked brilliance and it was obvious to her that he was tired. She was pleased to realize that she could still read him. Soon he was saying goodbye and trying to extricate himself from the adoring fans. Scarlett had been paying attention as well and got up to help him. She called for everyone's attention and started passing out signed posters so she was mobbed and Austin was free.

He moved fast the moment he could, grabbing Ally's hand as he went and leading her out of the room, down the hallway, and through another door. He released her hand as he closed the door behind them, leaning against it and taking a breath as he grinned at her. It was the same grin she knew and loved, the one he wore when he was happy or excited.

"Welcome to the life of a rock star. Is it too weird?" he asked as he stood and left the door, heading for a couch and boxes of take out set on the table in front of it.

"It's weird, but not too bad from what I've seen." Ally said.

"Are you hungry? I've got some burgers and fries here, plenty to go around." Austin offered, gesturing for her to join him as he stuffed some fries in his mouth and groaned in pleasure. "This is sooo good."

"You haven't changed at all." Ally said as she sat down with him, comforted again by his familiarity. She took a fry and ate it.

"Did you think I would?" he asked around a bite of food.

"I don't know. It's been so long and I didn't know what to expect." Ally admitted.

He faced her. "Well? Are you impressed, or disappointed?" he asked.

"Relieved. Happy to find my old friend intact." Ally answered.

"Don't forget this." Austin said, pushing a styrofoam cup her way and pulling the lid off to reveal a chocolate shake. He watched her face as she realized what it was. She used to dip her fries in chocolate shakes, insisting that the salty sweet taste was wonderful, but he never got it.

"Thanks." she said and took another fry which she did indeed dip and then eat. She smiled at the flavor and Austin shook his head, smiling as well.

"What about you? What are you doing in London?" he asked before taking another bite of burger.

"University. After I got my GED I applied to several schools in Europe recommended by the other biologists mom worked with. I chose Oxford. I'm in my third year now." Ally said.

Austin's eyebrows rose and he whistled. "Good for you." he ate some more and his brow furrowed. "Why didn't you come home for college? I mean, the University of Miami isn't exactly Oxford, but it's not a terrible school either."

"When Mom was transferred to Germany I wasn't sure what to do for a while. She and her co-workers had a lot of connections over here and they pushed staying in Europe. Dad seems pretty happy on his own, and I wasn't sure what I'd find if I went back to Miami." Ally answered.

"You would have found me." he said.

"No I wouldn't. How often are you actually home and not touring?" Ally challenged.

"You may have a point. I also moved to LA with Dez, but if you were there I might have had a reason to stick around." Austin said.

"Me?" Ally asked.

"Or you could have come on tour with me. It would be fun. Dez and I had a great time when he came on tour." He said.

"I bet you did." Ally smiled. "How is Dez? I lost touch with him too."

"He's good, working his way up in Hollywood, living his dream." Austin said.

There was a quick knock on the door and James popped his head in.

"There you are. They've closed up and I'm heading home. Do you need a lift Ally?" James asked.

"We live on the same street." Ally explained to Austin. "What time is it?" she mused.

"Half past eleven." James supplied.

"Oh! It's late." Ally said and stood up.

Austin was on his feet a second later. "You don't have to go."

"I need sleep Austin. I'm not used to the rock star lifestyle." She said with a smile.

"How about tomorrow? I have a free day here in London and the next night I play Dublin." Austin suggested.

Ally wavered, unsure.

"Come on, you still owe me that second date, remember?" Austin prodded. "We promised each other a date next time we met."

"Hold up." James put a hand in the air. "Is that why you never go on second dates? Because of this bloke?"

"James!" Ally hissed.

"What?" Austin asked.

"She's quite the heartbreaker this one. Yeah." James supplied. "Guys ask her out, we set her up, she goes and everyone has a great time but when the guy asks for a second she always turns him down. Poor Charlie hasn't been the same since. He says your first date was magical."

Ally cringed. "Charlie is nice but I just don't feel the same way. I told you, I'm still focused on having friends again: I'm not ready for a serious relationship yet."

"Because your still stuck on him, right?" James pointed to Austin.

Austin's smile grew wider as Ally blushed bright red. He moved closer to her, touching her arm softly as he spoke quietly into her ear. "I never really got over you either."

Ally's head snapped up and she looked into his eyes to see if he was teasing her. She only found sincerity and longing in his familiar brown eyes.

"Give me tomorrow." Austin said as he slid his hand into hers, lacing their fingers just like he used to. "Give me that second date we never had."

"Okay." Ally agreed. "If you're sure you have time."

"I'll make time for you." Austin said.

"Oy, sorry to break this up, but some of us do like to sleep." James spoke up.

Ally caught herself staring into Austin's eyes. She shook her head and laughed as she pulled her hand from his. "Okay, okay. Let's go James."

"Wait, can I get your number?" Austin asked. "You are easier to reach now right?"

"Yes! I have a cell." she pulled her phone from her purse and handed it to him. "Put your number in."

He did and called his phone to capture the number. When he handed the phone back to her his fingers closed around hers.

"Tomorrow." he said.

"Yes." she agreed.

"Goodnight Ally." he said as he watched her walk to the door.

"Goodnight Austin." she said in return.

James and Ally walked out of the club and got into his small car.

"So." he said after starting the car.

"Don't say it." Ally groaned.

"Oh, but I have to now. Second date tomorrow, eh? And you still think he doesn't want to be your boyfriend?" James asked teasingly.

"He was my boyfriend once, my first and only." Ally admitted.

"Oh, you haven't told me the whole story at all, have you? First you said you knew him, then you grew up together and now he was your boyfriend? This just gets better and better!" James hooted.

"It's a long, sad story." Ally said.

"But its not over yet, is it? You are having your long awaited second date tomorrow." James said and then he sobered a little. "And do you know what, Ally? I'm happy for you. Go have a good time with him."

Ally looked at him. "Really?"

"No, I want you to have a terrible time and stay lonely and miserable forever." James deadpanned. "Of course you should have a good time!"

"Thanks." she said.

"Now stop being nervous. He's clearly smitten with you."

"Smitten?" Ally teased.

"It's a word. Just because you Americans have lost a love of words, don't blame me." James laughed.

"I know it's a word, but no one ever says it anymore. I'm glad you do though." she said.

"Alright, we're home, now go get your beauty sleep so you can win the heart of your rockstar again." James said, parking the car. They got out and Ally walked down the street to the little house she shared with some other girls.

. . .

They finally saw each other again! I was so excited to write this part. What did you think? Is it good so far? Will you stop being mad at me now for keeping them apart for a while? More to come. Remember to review. Thanks for reading!

weesh