A/N: Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! How are you all doing? :)

Disclaimer: don't own A&A but own all other character associated with it.

Ally POV

"I swear you've tried on at least fifteen dresses," I said to Trish as she stood on the platform in front of the floor length mirror. "One of them has got to be good enough for the dance."

Dylan gasped. "A dress can't be good enough. It has to be perfect." He snapped his fingers at Trish. "Girl, you are killing it in that dress. I think that's the one."

Trish grinned and looked at me expectantly. "Ally?"

The dress was a strapless, baby blue gown that flowed to her feet. The bust was sequined and the jewels curled down and around the rest of the dress in a single line.

I definitely wasn't your number one choice for fashion advice, but I said, "Trish, you've looked amazing in every single dress you've tried on. Just pick the one that makes you feel beautiful."

She held her head up. "You're right. I think I'll go with this dress. I'm going to go change and then pay."

Dylan turned to me once she went back to the change rooms. "After this, shoes!" He had bought black dress pants and a pink dress shirt with white suspenders for the dance. We had been at the mall for four hours already.

"Shoes?" I squeaked.

He nodded vigorously. "Oh yes! You need to get the perfect shoes to match your outfit."

I glanced down at my outfit, which was skinny jeans and a black t-shirt, my hair thrown up in a messy bun from gym class. I had my trusty black Dr. Martens on my feet. "Mmm, I think I'll stick with my own shoes."

He smiled at me and shook his head. In the four hours that I had known him, I had to admit, Dylan was pretty awesome. He was super nice and funny, too.

I stood up and stretched my legs, swinging my bag over my shoulder. "I'm going to grab a smoothie at the food court. I'll meet you guys at..." I trailed off, not exactly knowing where to meet them.

"Tammy Tiara!" Dylan said.

"Tiaras? I thought we were going shoe shopping," I groaned.

"We are! Tammy Tiara is the owner's name," Dylan clarified.

"Tammy Tiara?"

"Former model," he explained. "It was a stage name."

"Ah," I said. "Well, okay, I'll see you guys in a bit. Tell Trish where I went."

"Sure thing girlfriend!" I waved and left the store into the busy mall. The food court was on the second floor, so I had a ways to walk. When I got there, it wasn't very busy, thankfully. I didn't want to wait in line for long. Who does?

I looked around for a place that sold smoothies and saw a sign that read "Small Town Smoothies" near the back of the food court.

"That's convenient," I said to myself as I made my way there. While I waited in line, my phone buzzed in my bag.

I dug it out and saw that it was a text from Samantha. Sorry about earlier today. I just don't want u to get hurt.

I texted back. I'll be fine, I'm tough ;)

I'll keep an eye on him 4 u.

Thanx :) g2g!

I slipped my phone back in my purse. After five minutes of waiting in line, I finally went up to the counter. Only to say, "No freaking way."

The one and only Austin Moon was standing behind the counter, wearing a red apron and a red ball cap that said "STS" on it.

He glared at me. "What do you want, Gothica?"

"Quit calling me that. And I want a smoothie."

"What kind?" He emphasized.

"Um..." I glanced up at the board, trying to decide.

"I don't have all day," he snapped.

"Jeez, what's your problem?" I asked. "You're supposed to be nice to customers. Besides, there's no one behind me. I'll just get a large Banana Cream."

He raised an eyebrow. "A large?"

"Uh, yeah. I'm thirsty. I've been sitting in this mall for four hours."

"Doing what?"

"Shopping with my friends for Homecoming because they are so indecisive about outfits and why am I even telling you this?" I exclaimed.

He shrugged. "You're the one running your mouth." He pushed some buttons on the register. "$4.75."

I handed him the money and when he gave me back my change, his hand brushed against mine and I almost jumped out of my skin. I noticed he yanked his hand back hard.

"So, you work here alone?" I asked, ignoring it.

"Right now, yep," he said while he made my smoothie. "My boss is on his break."

"Is it fun?"

"Nope."

Well, this was going nowhere. After a few seconds of silence, Austin turned to look at me. "Why are you staring at me? I know I'm hot and all, but that's just creepy."

"Don't flatter yourself," I snapped. "I'm making sure you don't spit in my drink."

He actually cracked a smile before turning back to the machine. "People don't actually do that, you know."

"Oh, I'm sure it's happened on many occasions."

"Well, I haven't done it to anyone so you're safe," he said.

"Doubtful."

"How's the nose?"

My hand instinctively went to my nose. "It's fine," I said sharply. "How's the ego?"

"Perfectly the same, thank you very much. One smart move and you act like royalty."

"So you admit that me ripping your flag off today was smart," I said smugly. "I'm not stupid; I know how to play football and pull some distractions."

"I didn't say you were stupid."

"You said quite the opposite, actually."

"Look, I don't know why you don't just take my apology about tripping you."

"Because you aren't sorry, that's why," I glared.

"How do you know?"

"Well, let's see: From the way you were throwing me murderous glances today in gym, and from the way you tripped me in front of the whole damn English class- on my first day, might I add- I kind of assumed you're not the nicest person I've ever met."

"You don't even know me," Austin said, bringing my smoothie up to the counter.

"And you don't know me. Which means you had no right to trip me and call me Gothica when I did nothing wrong. I like the way I look, and I'm not out to impress you. Remember that next time you decide to make my life a living hell." I grabbed my smoothie. "Thanks."

I turned on my heel and started to storm away before he said, "Ally, wait."

I couldn't have been more stunned if he'd wanted to elope.

I stopped and turned around. "You called me Ally."

"That's your name, isn't it?"

"Well, yeah but-" I paused. "Nevermind. What?"

"I saw you talking to Samantha today."

"Yeah, we work together. Your point?" I hoisted my bag higher on my shoulder.

"We'll probably be seeing more of each other, then."

"I'll try not to get in your way," I said sarcastically.

"Look, I know you don't believe me but I really am sorry about your nose. I didn't mean for you to fall that hard."

"Who doesn't mean for someone to fall hard when they intentionally trip a person?" I exclaimed.

"I didn't think you were so uncoordinated."

"Oh, that's perfect: another insult. Goodbye, Austin." I went to turn around before he called my name again.

"What now?" I almost yelled before remembering I was in a food court.

"I was just having a bad day, alright? I took it out on you and I'm sorry."

I looked at him hard. Either he was really good at looking like a whipped puppy, or he really did feel bad.

After a few more seconds of contemplating, I cleared my throat. "Fine. You're forgiven. On one condition."

"What?"

"Stay away from me."

He looked surprised, much to my own shock, but said, "Fine," in a hard voice.

"Good. No problems, then." With that, I turned around and just as I took a step back towards the escalator, I collided with some dude that was busy texting and not paying attention. Next thing I knew, I was down, covered in my smoothie.

Everyone around me burst out laughing. "Shit, my bad," the guy that ran into me said before walking off, eyes reglued to his phone.

"Asshole!" I exclaimed.

A pair of blue high-tops appeared in front of me and I glanced up to see Austin looming over me. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," I said, standing up.

He glanced around at everyone still dying of laughter and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Just ignore them."

I scoffed, tears burning my eyes. I shook my hands to try and get rid of the smoothie. "Yeah, because that's all I've been doing since I moved here; ignoring the pointing and laughing." I pushed past him and sprinted past everyone's laughter to the restrooms. A few girls were in there fixing their makeup and looked at me weird when the door shut behind me.

"Beat it!" I barked, throwing my bag on the sink. They hurried out the door. I dug my phone out of my purse and dialed Trish's number.

"Hey girl! Where are you?" She said when she answered.

"I'm in the restrooms near the food court. I got my smoothie all over me. Can you go buy me a new shirt?"

"Done. Be there in five." She hung up and I slipped my phone back into my bag. I cleaned up as much as I could and wiped my eyes, as well as splashing my face with cold water to reduce the redness of being extremely embarrassed.

Trish came bursting through the door, followed by Dylan. "Damn, what happened to you?" He exclaimed, running over.

"Some jerk ran into me and made me spill my smoothie all over myself," I said.

Trish handed me a bag and I pulled out a sparkly red tank top. I looked at her. "A simple t-shirt wasn't good enough? I'd rather drown in molasses than wear this."

"It was the closest thing to me when you called!" She said defensively. "Besides, it will look so good on you."

I grumbled and went into a stall, quickly peeling off my smoothie soaked t-shirt and putting on the red top. It clung to me as if it was wet.

"You look so pretty!" Dylan and Trish squealed when I came out.

"Thanks," I grumbled. "For buying the shirt, I mean."

"No problem," Trish smiled. "Oh god, did anyone see you fall? Like, from school?"

"Not that I would care if anyone did see me, but yeah. And it was Austin, of all people."

She winced. "What did he do?"

"Asked if I was okay. Did you know he works at the smoothie place?"

"Wow, sounds like something he would never say. Or do, in regards to the having a job part, especially at a smoothie joint," she said.

Dylan spoke up. "At least he didn't say anything rude."

"Yeah," I scoffed. "Shocker." I shook my head. "Whatever. Did you get your shoes?"

Trish nodded happily, holding a bag up. "Sure did! I can't wait for the dance."

"Tell me about it, I've been waiting for this for months," Dylan exclaimed.

"Can we go home now then? I have a bunch of homework to do," I interrupted, anxious to get away from the mall.

"Yeah, let's go." Trish led the way out and I kept my head down when we passed the food court.

"It'll be all over school tomorrow," I grumbled in regards to my fall. "I really don't need that."

"Ally, it will all blow over. Next thing you know, someone will pants someone in the hall or Mr. Fader will get caught making out with Miss. Dames again," Dylan said. He put a hand on my shoulder. "It'll be fine."

I appreciated his attempt to make me feel better, and it worked a little, but they didn't get it. I was already the outcast at the school, still the new girl. I didn't need anything else added to my shoulders.

A/N: What did you all think? Let me know in a review or PM! :) Sorry the A/N's are pretty short, I'm in a hurry haha

Joelle xx

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