A/N: Thanks for the support, everybody! Glad that you love it, and im glad that you like how I changed up Ally's style and personality. It's something different from her innocent self on the show :)

Disclaimer: don't own A&A.

Ally POV

"I want to paint the walls black," I told my mom as we strolled through the halls of the store. "And get like, white accents for the walls."

"You don't want anything nicer?" She asked.

"How is white not nice? It's practically the color of elegance."

"I just mean something more colourful. So you aren't making it seem like you're in mourning."

"Mom, I like the black, okay?" I told her. "If it makes you feel better, I'll buy red pens."

"Ally, I was just suggesting," she sighed. "You don't have to be sarcastic."

I wasn't always like this. I mean, the way I dressed and my taste in things. It started after the divorce. I used to be into dresses and bright colors, hearts and fashionable clothing. Now, I stuck to darker colors, chunky boots, beanies, and plaid shirts. I wasn't as happy either. Families being ripped apart tended to change you.

I grabbed a black paint swatch. "This is good."

"Alright," she said.

"Hey, mom?"

"Hmm?"

"How come you never told me about Bryce?"

She looked at me and sighed, rubbing her temples. "I didn't think it was that big of a deal since I thought he was staying with his aunt this year again."

"You still could have told me," I said, voice rising. "It's a big thing to keep."

"Honey, keep it down."

"Don't tell me what to do! You lied to me!"

"Look, Ally, I wanted to tell you, but I didn't know how. I knew you were already upset about our new living situation and you were upset about Claudia, so I didn't want to add to your stress by saying you have another step-sibling, especially if I thought he was going to be away. Mike agreed with me."

"He wanted to keep his own son in the dark?" I said disbelievingly.

"Not in the dark; we were going to wait until later on. But then Bryce moved back so we didn't get a chance to tell you first."

I couldn't stay mad at her. I sighed. "At least this one is nice," I said. "Unlike his sister."

"Ally, give Claudia a chance, alright?" My mom said.

"Mmm, no. I'm going to find bed sets and decor." Before my mom could say anything else, I took the cart and went to find the bed department.

I managed to find black sheets and a black comforter with lacy white designs all over it. It was really cool looking. I grabbed the big plastic carrier and looked around for decorations. I found a zebra striped table lamp, a white clock, and cool wall stickers that were a bunch of white swirls and vines. It would look awesome spread across the black walls.

When I was done, I found my mom at the counter where you get the paint. "Done," I said.

"Wow, that was fast, honey," she commented. "Looks like some nice stuff!"

"I think I've got everything for now," I said.

"I need some things, so you can look around for a bit if you want. We can meet at the entrance of the store."

I nodded and went off. The store was Target, so it was big. I stopped at the makeup to see what they had.

I didn't wear a lot of makeup, but I did wear it. Just not caked on my face. I grabbed another tube of liquid eyeliner, a tube of red lipstick, a new kind of mascara that was apparently fabulous at the moment, and more concealer. "I better quit before my mom kills me," I muttered to myself.

The magazine area was right across from the makeup, so I crossed the aisle and grabbed a magazine, flipping through it. I heard voices getting louder, and I glanced up to see a group of four girls walk into the makeup area, all ready to get their hands on anything they could. I rolled my eyes and focused my attention back on the magazine.

After a couple of minutes, one girl said, "Her makeup is so tacky. Like that eyeliner? It's so not good enough."

"I know, right? And her red lipstick? Gross. Those clothes totally scream 'Rebel' too."

"I can hear you," I sing-songed, still looking through the magazine. "If you're trying to whisper, you're doing a shit job."

They cleared their throats and I glanced up. "Who does your makeup? Your five year old sister?" The one blonde girl smirked.

"Is that makeup on your face, or were you raped by a pack of crayons?" I shot back. I dropped the magazine back on the shelf and walked over to the girls.

I grabbed a pink eyeliner pencil and slapped it in the blonde's hand. "You should really consider buying this. It's the cherry on top of that cake you call a face. Lay off the foundation, Dorito girl." And with that, I turned on my heel and walked off. I could hear the blonde shrieking, "Is my foundation really that bad?" to her friends.

I pulled out my phone and dialled my friend Kendall's number. She picked up on the second ring. "Ally!"

"I'm ready to drive a stake through my heart."

"That bad, huh?" Kendall was my best friend back in Miami because we had so much in common. We both had family issues and had the same type of style. She was the only one who got me.

"I've been here for three hours and I've already been threatened by my stepsister and made fun of by these random girls in Target. How the hell am I supposed to go to school next week, especially in the middle of the term?"

"You'll figure it out, you always do. You're a smart girl, Ally. We all miss you here."

"I miss you guys, too. I wish I could have stayed with my dad."

"No kidding, it would have been so much better. Hang in there, girl, you'll be okay. Let me know how things go!"

"I will, K."

"You know I've always got your back," Kendall said. "MSFTS forever."

I smiled into the phone. "You know it. I'll talk to you later."

"See you!" I hung up and put my phone back in my pocket before going to pay for my makeup. When I finished, I went to find my mom again.

"There you are, honey," she said when I got to the entrance.

"Sorry, I was busy looking at makeup," I covered.

"Oh, okay. What did you buy?" She asked me, smiling.

"Just my usual things. I'm running out," I told her on our way out of the store.

"I can pay you back for it later."

"Mom, it's my makeup, you don't need to do that," I said as we put everything in the trunk of the car.

"Well, if you're sure. Do you mind driving home, honey? I'm feeling tired."

"Sure." She handed me the keys and I got into the driver's seat. My mom was asleep before I pulled out of the parking lot.

A few minutes into the drive, I glanced at my mom's sleeping form. No matter what I did or how many times I screwed up, my mother was always there for me. She was constantly trying to keep me happy and do what was best for me, and I loved her for that. I sometimes felt like I disappointed her. Don't ask me why, I just did.

When we got home, I gently shook my mom. "Mom, we're back."

She stirred and opened her eyes sleepily. "Already? Jeez, I need to go lie down."

"I'll unpack everything, just go rest," I told her.

"Oh, you're the best, honey," she sighed, kissing my forehead before heading inside.

Bryce came out a few seconds later. "How was shopping?"

"Well, I got trash talked by a group of girls at Target. But other than that, it was fine."

"Trash talked? Why?" He asked, grabbing a bag.

"For what I'm wearing and my apparent shitty makeup job."

"Oh, ignore that," Bryce said. "You look better than half the girls I know."

"Well, thanks, but they don't bother me."

"Those comments have to hurt a little."

I shrugged. "Let it roll off the shoulders and you're fine." I closed the trunk of the car. "Come on, you're going to help me paint my room."

"Do I get paid?"

"No."

"Do I get anything?"

"No," I repeated.

"Okay, fine."

Review, please, they are much appreciated! Who likes R5 here? WHO HEARD PASS ME NYEEEEEH ITS SOOOOOO GOOD AAAH I CANT ASHFKAFJAKA I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

Joelle xx

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