A/N: Holy crap, I haven't updating in over a month, and I am so sorry for that! I won't bore you with the same reasons, or excuses (However you take them), that I always give, but I'll just say that I have been EXTREMELY busy. But I'm so sorry, and I will try and update Parenting 101 today!

Disclaimer: don't own A&A, but own other characters not associated with it.

Oh, and Ally's mom is one hundred percent Italian in this story, so Ally is half Italian, as I mentioned in a previous chapter. Therefore, they can both speak fluent Italian in the story. I'm using Google Translate, so if any of my readers and Italian and I didn't get the Italian a hundred percent correct, I'm sorry! Google Translate is how I'm doing this haha.

I put the English behind the Italian for you to know what they are saying!

READ AUTHORS NOTE AT END OF CHAPTER PLEASE!

Ally POV

I was sitting at the house alone since no one bothered to ask me to do anything with them. Bryce was out with friends, Claudia was doing god knows what, George was at some butler convention (I didn't even know those existed…), and Mike and my mom were working. So, there I was, watching some bad drama on TV in my alligator slippers (gift from my dad. He was a big fan of puns).

All of a sudden, I heard the door burst open and I jumped at the noise. I got up and hurried through the house to the parlour, where Trish was standing.

"Trish? What the hell is wrong with you; you almost gave me a heart attack!" I exclaimed.

"Sorry," she gasped.

"Wait, how do you even know where I live?" I asked.

"Everyone in school knows where Claudia lives, obviously." She was bent over, gasping for breath.

"Well, that's a terrifying thought."

"But you have to come quick!" Trish said. "It's Dylan."

My heart stopped. "Dylan? What happened?" I was already digging through the closet for my jacket, and I slipped on my thigh high, heeled boots.

"He found the perfect dress for you at the mall and we have to get there quick so you can try it on!"

I stood up straight and glared at her. "That is not funny. I thought he was in an accident or something!"

"Why would you think that?"

I just rolled my eyes and pushed past her. She followed me and we got into her car, driving towards the mall. When we got there, she practically pulled me towards the entrance.

"Trish, in case you hadn't noticed, I'm wearing heels. I can't exactly run," I snapped.

"Oops, sorry," she said sheepishly. "But move it, sister, before the dress is gone!"

"It won't be gone," I sighed in annoyance. "It's a dress, anyway, who cares?"

She gasped. "A dress is so important!"

"Mmm, not really."

"Yes! Now hush up."

Trish dragged me to some fancy dress shop where Dylan was standing by a dress rack, guarding it like a dog. He was wearing black skinny jeans with a blue Hollister shirt and white high tops. His purple hair was styled to perfection, his quiff standing just right.

"Finally!" He exclaimed when he saw us. "I've snapped at like, six girls already; the manager is ready to kick me out of here."

"It's Ally's fault," Trish said.

"Why is it my fault?" I said.

"Because you wore shoes that make you running impaired."

I rolled my eyes. "Just give me this dress before I change my mind."

Dylan grinned and reached behind him before pulling out the dress.

It was strapless with a shimmery grey bust with sequins that folded over the top and down into the middle. The skirt was grey underneath with black fabric over top.

"It's nice," I admitted.

"Try it on!" Trish said, pushing me towards the change rooms.

"Alright, alright." I took it from Dylan and slipped into the change room to put the dress on. It fit perfectly.

"There," I said, coming out for them to see. "Happy you got me in a dress?"

Trish and Dylan both squealed. "Ally, it looks perfect on you!" Dylan said. "The color, the design, everything just suits you."

"You did good, Dylan," Trish complimented before turning to me. "I think that's the one."

I turned to look at myself in the mirror. This was the first time I had been in a dress since…well, I couldn't even remember the last time. But I really liked it, surprisingly. My friends were right; it suited me. Not too flashy, but not too plain.

I checked the price tag and gasped. "I can't afford this. This would cost me my left foot."

"Not to worry," Dylan said, whipping out his debit card. "I've got it covered."

"No way, you are not paying for this dress, Dylan. I can't let you do that; you already bought me a ticket."

He waved his hand. "Oh, relax, Ally, I'm helping out a friend. I'm not taking no for an answer."

"But-"

"Do you hear something, Trish?" Dylan said.

Trish shook her head. "Mmm, nope. No, I don't hear anything."

"Alright, fine!" I exclaimed. "I'll go take the dress off."

Dylan grinned in victory as I went to change into my normal clothes. When I came back out, I handed the dress to Dylan and he went to pay.

"Ally, this is going to be so fun!" Trish said happily.

"Oh, totally," I deadpanned. "Can't wait."

I was sitting in my room going through my closet when I heard a knock at my door. Assuming it was my mom, I said, "Come in."

The door opened to reveal Claudia. She stuck her head in. "Would you shut up? I can hear you banging around from downstairs."

"I'm trying to find a pair of shoes," I snapped.

"For what?"

"Homecoming tonight."

"You're going to Homecoming?" She said, shocked. "You?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, I am, if that's so hard to believe."

She came into my room and shut the door.

"If you're going to kill me, just wait until I find my shoes first," I said, going back to rummaging in my closet.

I heard her scoff. "Oh, give me a break. I'm trying to help."

"Help with what?"

"I can do your makeup for tonight."

I froze and turned around. "What?"

"Your makeup."

"Yeah, I'm not letting you go near my face. I have no desire to look like Ronald McDonald tonight."

"I'm serious. Come sit." She grabbed my makeup bag and went over to my vanity, digging through it.

I eyed her before my feet forced me over to the chair. I sat down slowly. "Why do you want to help me?"

She grabbed a makeup brush. "If you're going to be at this dance, I want my stepsister looking good."

"But I'm your stepsister."

"Exactly."

I finally got it, and glared at her. "Scared I was going to look like crap and ruin your reputation for having an ugly sister?"

"Something like that." Before I could reply, she grabbed my chin and started smearing foundation all over my face.

"Ewww, it feels gross," I exclaimed, trying to pull away.

"Stop moving, you're going to make me mess up!"

I glowered and let her do her magic since she was clearly better at this then I was. Claudia looked at my lipstick and sighed. "That color is tacky. I'll be right back."

She left and came back a minute later with her makeup. She pulled out a dark red lipstick from her bag. "Here, this will look good with your skin tone."

We were quiet as she finished and when she was done, she said, "There; look in the mirror."

I turned around carefully and gasped lightly. My eyebrows were colored in perfectly, my lashes were impossibly long and thick, and my lips were blood red against my pale skin.

"Wow," I said. "It doesn't even look like me. Thanks."

"You're welcome. You look nice."

"Thanks," I said again, although this time more shocked than thankful, as conceited as that sounded.

She nodded. "I'm going to get ready." Without another word, she gathered her stuff and left my room.

For my hair, I curled it loosely and pinned it to one side of my head, the curls flowing over my right shoulder down to my elbows. I went over to my closet and pulled out the dress, carefully changing and slipping it over my body. I finally found the shoes I wanted, which were my black Jeffrey Campbells.

I glanced at myself in the mirror. "Well, this is as good as it's gonna get."

I wished there was another way to get outside from my room, because when I went downstairs, my mother, Bryce, and Mike were all fawning over me. Especially my mother.

"Oh, miele, sei così bella! (Oh, honey, you're so beautiful!)," my mom gushed as I came down the stairs. She started snapping pictures.

"Thanks, mom," I muttered.

"You look very nice, Ally," Mike smiled.

"Nicely done, sis," Bryce grinned, swinging an arm around me. Even though he was a year younger than me, he was like, five inches taller. He was dressed in a tuxedo with a blue shirt underneath.

"Thank you. Uh, I'm just gonna wait outside for my friends," I said, trying to make an escape.

"Wait!" my mom said. "I want a picture of the two of you," she added, gesturing to me and Bryce. I sighed and put my arm around his waist and smiled as she took the picture. She started squealing. "Oh, I just love that dress, Ally!"

"Okay, mom, I think I'm ready to go," I said, patting her shoulder. "I'll see you guys later."

I heard a car honk outside, and figured it was Dylan and Trish. "That's my ride. Bye."

"Have fun!" Mike and my mom called from behind me as I hurried outside. Well, hurried as fast as I could with five inch heels on.

"Oh my god, who did your makeup? Was it you? Girl, you need to do mine more often," Trish said as I got in the front seat of Dylan's car.

"No, it was Claudia. Don't give me that look, either; it was her idea, not mine," I said.

"You needs tips from her," Trish said before she saw the look on my face. "Not that your makeup job is bad!" she added quickly. "You hardly wear any."

"Questa sarà una lunga notte (This will be a long night)," I muttered in Italian.

"What?" Trish and Dylan asked at the same time.

"Nothing," I sighed. "Let's just get this over with."

Tons of students were already streaming into the gymnasium with dates when we pulled up.

"You girls go inside; I'm going to go park," Dylan said. He handed me my ticket. "You go, girl."

I grudgingly accepted it and went with Trish towards the doors as Dylan drove away from the curb. "I am so beyond excited for this," Trish beamed.

"That makes one of us," I replied. I just focused on the dull thud my heels made on the hard ground.

"Come on, Ally, lighten up. Please."

I sighed. "Okay, fine. I'll try."

"Damn, Dawson, you clean up nice," some guy said, followed by a few cat calls from him and his friends. "Save me a dance so we can shake it together later."

"That's repulsive," Trish said when we were out of ear shot. "Not to mention that was a lame pickup line. Do you even know that guy?"

I shook my head and grabbed her arm. "Can we just go inside?" I handed the teacher at the door my ticket and dragged Trish into the gym.

The gym was set up like a fancy ballroom. The ceiling was occupied by sheets of white lights that hung down across the whole length of the gym. A disco ball hung from the middle of the room. Streamers and balloons plastered the walls, and there were tables and chairs at one end of the room, as well as snacks and punch. Students were dancing under the flashing lights to the loud music; the DJ was over in the corner.

"Looks nice," I admitted.

"They even have a place to take photos!" Trish squealed happily, pointing to where a photographer was snapping away at people in front of a backdrop. "We have to get a picture later."

I forced a smile just as Dylan came up behind us. He slung his arms across our shoulders. "Ladies, let's party."

"Ally, we've been here for half an hour and you haven't left your seat once," Trish said, plopping down beside me. Her face was flushed from dancing.

"I can't dance," I told her.

"What?" she yelled over the music.

I rolled my eyes. "I can't dance!" I said louder.

"Seriously?" I nodded. "Huh. Well, you can't be that bad."

"That's what Austin said."

"What?" She yelled.

"Nothing!" I said before standing up. "I'm going to get some punch."

I passed Claudia and her friends on my way to the drink table. She was wearing a dark green strapless gown that had gold beads around the bust and waist. Her hair was in a slick curly ponytail at the back of her head. I nodded at her as I passed.

I poured myself a glass of punch and took a sip while looking at my surroundings. Couples making out in dark corners; students grinding each other; chaperones watching them like hawks. Yep, your average high school Homecoming.

Austin walked over to me. He had a tuxedo on with a red undershirt. "Can you pass me a glass?" He asked me.

He didn't know it was me. I smirked. "Sure." I reached behind me and handed him one.

"Thanks." He poured himself a drink. "Having fun?"

"Nope. Can't dance."

"You can't dance? Who the hell can't dance?" I sighed and shook my head. He leaned a bit closer. "Ally?"

"Congrats; you win the prize."

"Wow. Sorry, I didn't recognize you. You, uh...you look pretty," he said.

"Always the tone of surprise with you, isn't it?" I told him, but smiled despite myself.

He rolled his eyes and leaned against the table. "So who's your hot date?"

"No one. I came stag with my friends. You?"

"Sasha Reynolds," he replied. "She's driving me crazy."

"Guess you shouldn't have come with her, then. Claudia was a much better choice," I said.

"Not funny," he glared at me. "You know I don't like her like that."

Dez ran up to Austin, interrupting our conversation. "Dude, the DJ is about to play Impossible!"

"By James Arthur?" I asked, perking up a bit. I loved that song.

Dez eyed Austin. "That's not Sasha. She's way too short to be Sasha."

"It's me, Ally," I said. "And thanks, Dez."

"Oh, hey, Ally!" He said happily. "You look great. But to answer your question before, yes, that's the song. I love it."

Before I could respond, Impossible started playing and Dez screamed happily, making Austin flinch. "Austin, grab Sasha!" Dez ran off to join his girlfriend Sarah on the dance floor full of slow dancing dates.

I turned back to my drink, swishing it around a bit in the cup. "Better get back to your date," I said to Austin.

"She's busy." He pointed to a girl kissing a guy in the corner of the gym.

I coughed out the 'S' word, and Austin grinned. We stood there in silence for a moment before he spoke. "So..."

"So what?"

"Um..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Do you want to dance?"

"Did you not just hear me two minutes ago?" I was shocked he had even asked. "You've witnessed my dancing, and you weren't exactly nice about it."

"I recall you calling me an asshole, actually," he said.

"Exactly."

"Come on, slow dancing is easy." He looked down at me, almost in a begging manner, before I sighed.

"Fine. But if I break your toe, you had fair warning." I let him take my elbow lightly and guide me towards the floor. It felt weird with his hand on me. It was awkward...but kind of comforting.

"Just put your arms around my-" Austin started before I cut him off.

"I know how slow dancing works," I snapped, reaching up to put my arms around his neck. Since I was in heels, I was almost his height so I didn't have to stretch up on my toes. "I just said I'm not good at it."

"Okay, jeez," he said. He put his hands on my waist.

"Sorry. I'm just tense," I said quietly. "I didn't mean to snap."

"It's not because of me, is it? You being tense?"

I shook my head. "I'm not a big fan of dances."

"How come?" He asked.

I shrugged. "They just aren't my thing, I guess." This slow dancing was surprisingly easy.

He was silent for a few seconds before saying, "So what is your thing?"

"Music. Reading. You know, the lame things."

"You're into music?" He asked, somewhat astounded. I wondered why.

"Uh...yeah. Is that bad?"

"No, no," he said quickly. "I just didn't expect you to be a big music person. But that's cool. What do you play?"

"The guitar and piano, mainly, but I can play the violin, too," I replied.

He nodded and the song ended, so I stepped away from him. "Um, thanks for the dance. But I better go find my friends."

"You're welcome. I'll see you later," he said. I waved and walked off to find Trish and Dylan.

Samantha made a beeline for me. "Hey Ally! I haven't seen you all night."

"Hey. Yeah, I've been sticking to the table in the corner. Not really a big dance person. But you look nice."

"Oh, thank you," she smiled. She was wearing a pink strapless dress with a black bow tied around the waist. Her black hair was up in a bun. "So do you!"

"Thanks," I grinned. "So who did you bring?"

"Tyson Miller. He's in my biology class," she replied. "He's a nice guy."

"Well, I'm glad you're happy."

"I really am," she smiled. "Thanks, Ally. Hey, I saw you dancing with Austin earlier."

"Oh. Yeah, it was nothing," I said.

"I don't know. He looked like he was enjoying himself," she said.

I shrugged. "He's a teenage guy with a girl. What do you expect?"

"Austin isn't like that," Sam said. "He puts on an act, but he is sweet when you get to know him. Look, I better get back to Tyson. I'll see you in a bit!" She waved and disappeared into the crowd.

I peered into my third glass of punch. "Looks like it's just you and me for the remainder of the night."

The music cut off and the microphone screeched on stage, causing everyone to look up. Principal Saunders was on stage with two envelopes in his hand.

"Sorry to cut into your dance time, everybody, but it's time to announce the Homecoming King and Queen of Ashburn High for this year!" Everybody cheered. I half-assed my clapping.

"We've tallied the votes, and your Homecoming King is..." Principal Saunders opened one of the envelopes. "Austin Moon!"

"Figures," I muttered as I saw Austin move through the cheering crowd, earning himself pats on the back from people.

"I've got this in the bag," I heard Claudia say from a few feet away from me to her friends. I didn't even notice she was standing so close.

Principal Saunders put Austin's crown on his head and Austin moved off to the side. "And what's a king without his queen? Your Homecoming Queen for this year is...Ally Dawson!"

"Yes!" Claudia yelled before pausing. "What?" She shrieked.

All eyes turned to me, where I was frozen midway to my cup. WHAT THE HELL? I put my cup down, and Trish and Dez ran over to me.

"Go!" Trish whisper yelled, trying to push me forwards.

"But I wasn't even nominated!" I told her. Dylan and Trish each grabbed an arm and ended up dragging me through everybody. The gym was dead silent, following my every move; I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

Dylan awkwardly shoved me on stage towards Principal Saunders. Austin couldn't have been more shocked if I had been naked.

"Congratulations, Ally," our principal grinned, placing the plastic tiara on my head.

"There has to be some mistake," I started to say, but he gently put me beside Austin.

"Give it up for your Homecoming King and Queen!" The clapping was hesitated and quiet.

"I think I'm going to throw up," I mumbled. Being on stage in front of people TERRIFIED me. I could see Bryce in the crowd, confused but happy for me. Claudia was right pissed.

"I'm so confused," Austin whispered. "You weren't even nominated."

"You think?" I shrieked quietly.

What happened next explained why I had ended up on that stage.

Before I knew it, I was covered in sour milk. Gallons of it.

Austin jumped away from me before he got the worst of it. But that didn't do anything; the damage was already done. The entire gymnasium burst into hysterical laughter at me. I had never been more humiliated in my life.

Principal Saunders was yelling at everybody to quiet down and to whoever was responsible for this to fess up this instant, but I was barely hearing him.

"Ally-" Austin started to say, but I shoved him out of my way and bolted off the stage. I ran through everybody as fast as I could in my heels towards the gymnasium doors and burst out of them into the night. The tears were flowing before I even got out.

Dylan and Trish came out, followed by Bryce and Samantha. "Ally!" Samantha exclaimed, running over to me. "Are you okay?"

I wiped the milk out of my eyes. "I'm fine," I snapped angrily. "I just want to go home."

"Let me drive you," Dylan started but I held my hands up.

"No," I told them. "I'll walk. Go back inside, I'm fine."

"Ally, we should-"

"Bryce, I know you're trying to help, but I'm really not in the mood to talk to or see anybody right now," I yelled. "Just leave me alone, all of you!"

I turned on my heel and stormed down the steps. I could hear them calling after me, but I ignored them. Shortly after, I faintly heard the gym doors close and I turned around. They were gone, and I was alone.

Nothing I wasn't used to.

A/N: That was a pretty intense chapter!

Oh, and I put the links to Ally, Claudia, and Sam's dresses at the bottom of my profile page if you want to see what they looked like, and Ally's shoes :) Ignore the hair on the models, it's just the dresses that I got inspired from haha I didn't do Trish because I described her dress before I decided to find pictures first. Sorry! Oh well, you get three out of four haha

You may have to copy and paste the links into your address bar to go to the pictures!

Joelle xx

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I give you guys my Instagram and twitter so you can follow and see what I'm up to, and you will maybe get a better understanding of why I lack updating lately. I seriously live a busy life :/