A/N To inform readers, i posted this story on two different websites and i recently changed my Pen name to Scream4FanFic. Enjoy!
Ally's POV
I tugged on my sleeping bag that covered the lower half of my body. My fingers shook every second and my mind kept going blank as Trish repeatedly interrogated me.
"So let me get this straight. You like Austin. Austin is dating a girl named Kira, daughter of Jimmy Starr, the producer of his record label. Kira and Austin go into the practice room and she apparently reads your journal finding out that you wrote a song about Austin," Trish reviewed as I sat silently and nodded rapidly.
"The real question now is what is she going to do?" Trish informed as my mouth grew dry and tried clearing my throat.
"The way she left, it's as if she had this attitude, like we were playing a game," I admitted to Trish as I snuggled up into my sleeping bag, wanting to drift into darkness till there was no light to shine on me.
"Then it's time to batter up, Ally!"
I balanced my head with my palm as my arm rested on the pillow under me. I didn't really want to look into this conversation.
"What does that mean?" I smiled, thinking that Trish was about to go on one of her rampages about how women should stand up for themselves. Which we all know, usually ends up in heart break.
"You like Austin. Tell him how you feel. If this whole Kira thing really bothers you, just let him know," Trish advised.
"But dating Kira is what he wants, what will I benefit from if I tell him how I feel and take away his happiness?" I think I was the wise one in this conversation. Then again, Trish was right. I'm exhausted of always being the one hidden behind the curtains. I always feel as if I'm not important unless it's to there convenience.
"Usually the things you regret doing the most, are not doing the things you wish you did," Trish stood up sliding on her slippers and skidded across the room to the fridge. In her hands when she returned, were 2 pickles wrapped in paper towels. Which I love!
I shot up, excitedly, grasping one and instantly devouring it. I always loved the mixture between the sweet and saltiness of pickles. In my mind, it's like some controversy I will never resolve.
As the lights turned out and Trish's voice silenced, I stayed awake. Drowning in my thoughts about what I had to do. The more I thought, the clearer the answer was.
Nothing.
"Have a nice day," I handed the customer her shopping bag and watched her disappear from my view. Trish still hasn't wakened up and there was no sign of Austin or Dez….or Kira.
I scribbled new lyrics that I wanted in my song I wrote about Austin. I meant every word, every breath I'd take to sing it and all the feelings hidden behind the lyrics. It's as if Austin was trapped in this cage, buried in my brain that I couldn't unlock to set free.
"What up, Ally D!" That familiar voice walked in on perfect timing with Dez strolling behind. Austin wore his blue plaid shirt unbuttoned to reveal the white under armor and Dez went with his usual colorful and wacky routine.
"Hey guys, I think this is the longest you've gone without damaging anything in the store," I informed as they instantly froze with bug eyes.
"When you say 'in the store'," Austin had guilt written all over his face. Within seconds, a shrill from upstairs alarmed every person within the store. Our eyes were pierced on Trish who sped down the steps with blackened cheeks and the only color was from the white of her eyes.
"What happened?" I asked, obviously Austin and Dez had something to do with this.
"One of these idiots pulled some type of practical joke on me! I lifted my head from the pillow to find out that there's a string tied around my ponytail and I look up to see a bucket of dirt pouring down on me!"
"Actually, it's ash and dust bunnies. I'm trying to find props for Austin's new video," Dez corrected.
"Why'd you use them on me?" Trish exclaimed as Austin decided to step out of the way and leave this up for them to talk over.
"I was trying to see how it could happen in the video. And it worked! So now I've covered the whole first verse. 'I'm waking up to ash and dust, I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust.' Darn, I forgot to add the sweat," Dez said as he pulled a spray bottle out from his backpack and mist burst into Trish's smoky face. "You couldn't believe how long it took to fill that thing up with sweat."
Trish seemed disgusted, wiping the drops of sweat from her face, tracing lines that show her natural skin. "Why didn't you just fill it up with water?"
Dez's face went blank as he itched his scalp and Trish began mumbling in Spanish as she stomped up the steps to the practice room.
"How did your date go with Kira yesterday?" I asked, wanting to change the subject and find out exactly what she's been telling him. And it seemed like she did, by the way he grew stiff and began making weird facial expressions.
"Fine, why do you ask?" Austin spoke with denial. It doesn't take much for an egghead like him to crack. "Okay fine! I told her that I'm the one writing all my songs. Please don't kill me!" His arms flung over his head to defend himself as I stood like a statue behind the granite counter.
"Why would you tell her that?"
"I wanted to impress her and since I kind of did write majority of our new song, it wasn't technically a lie," no matter what he said, it was definitely a lie.
"This is the first time you even came up with words! Who does she think I am?" I asked, not wanting Kira getting the wrong idea about me and Austin. Like that would ever happen.
"She thinks you're my accompanist."
"Austin," I sighed, knowing that I'm a terrible liar, talking to Kira without spilling his music career would be a miracle.
"I'm really sorry, Ally. Just help me this one time. Please," Of course, nothing other than the puppy dog gaze. Except it seemed natural, he seriously liked this girl and a part of me didn't want him to. I glanced down at his hand planking on top of mine, not letting go until he received an answer.
"Under one condition."
"Fine, anything you want?" Austin rushed his sentence, wanting me to agree already.
"You'll sing a duet with me at your next performance," I insisted.
"You, Ally Dawson, are going to get up on a stage and sing to an audience of a few hundred?" Austin summarized as I nodded along to every word.
"Who better to help me with my stage fright than the most outgoing person I know," I complimented as he slightly grinned. My hand was suddenly gripped harder.
"Deal."
"Trish! Trish! Trish!" I shouted as I approached the practice room door and ran up to her, holding her arms in tight grip. "I'm singing a duet with Austin!"
Her eyes went huge as she jumped up and down as I stood, firmly on the ground. "What's the problem? You're facing your stage fright." Trish asked.
"I know, but this means that I have to write a duet that will probably end up being about Austin and then it means I have to get up on stage and sing it with Austin and then when our eyes are aligned into each others point of vision and our fingers lock, he's going to realize the song is about him!" I ranted, finally finishing and catching my breath. I found the nearest piece of furniture and balanced myself against it before incase I went lightheaded. "I think Dez was right when he said that I over complicate things."
"I'm finally coming to realization that Dez might be right about something," Trish added as she strolled to the fridge and took out a gingerbread man and bit its head off.
"Isn't Dez going to get mad at you for that?" I asked while pointing at the half eaten cookie.
"The guy practically shot a giant paintball in my face and you expect me to care? Aww, how much there is to teach you young one," Trish patted my head as if I were a dog obeying its owner.
"Seriously, I don't know what to do," I should just break the deal, I'd rather do that go on stage and faint, further humiliating myself.
"Why don't you sing that song that Kira read? Enchanted!" Trish suggested as my pocket rang and I slid my hand into pocket to find an unread text message from Austin. I tapped on his name and it read
New idea for the song! Hook up tonight?
My conscience kept telling me that 'hook up' referred to becoming a couple and laughing into each others arms while watching those boring Zombie movies he likes. In reality, all it meant was that he wanted to drop by to fill me in on the updates for his song.
"Who is it?" Trish asked, chugging a bottle of soda pop.
"Just Austin. He's going to drop by later on today to work on our new song. It's coming together really well," I informed as I slid onto the piano bench and began warming up. Trish usually leaves by this point, knowing I get agitated when someone interrupts my practice. Let's just say that the last time she burst through the door during my warm ups, she looked a lot worse than she did with ash all over her face.
I guessed correctly as she flung her sleeping bag over her shoulder and gave a small wave before leaving the room.
I flexed my fingers before grabbing my book from the top of the piano and flipped open to the page titled, Enchanted.
I spent about half an hour writing down new lyrics and another half hour writing down new notes to fit the syllables. I finally completed half the song and thought it'd be a good time to practice the keys. Chord after chord, it was coming along perfect. Except I imagined Austin playing his guitar instead.
"Something Austin wrote?" A voice snapped from behind me as I jumped on the bench.
"Kira? You startled me," I spoke as I was quickly cut off.
"Save it, I know you're writing these songs for Austin. It was obvious when he began sweating like a dog in heat. It doesn't take a genius to figure out there's nothing magical in that brain of his," Kira shockingly confessed. All of her facts weren't even valid.
"Austin is talented. And he was being honest when he said he wrote that song, I was just here to admire." I rose from the bench, trying to keep my distance, wishing Austin would rush into the room and hear what foul words escaped her lips.
"Yeah, admiring him. You say hopeless and sappy all over your face when he enters the room. Then you look upset like a toddler when you see who's walking beside him," Kira stated as I actually believed her words, but did I really make it that obvious? Like I said, worst liar in the world.
"I'm his song writer, nothing more than that!" Anger flushed my cheeks and my voice represented my frustration. I've never despised someone this much in my life.
"Just his song writer, huh? We'll see about that," Kira spat in my face before turing on her heel and making an escape towards the door.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, noticing the hint of mischief in her tone.
"Is it supposed to mean something?" She stood at the doorway, noticing her glance towards the piano and that's when a smirk slipped onto her face. "All it means is that, our little chat has given me some inspiration. You should be proud of yourself, isn't that what song writers aim to do?"
I was stranded in the middle of the room, feeling as if I took one step, I'd be diving off a cliff. A massive pain formed on the right side of my temple and I tried massaging it, but it only made it worse.
"Ally."
My vision was trying to focus on the object in front of me, a human figure.
"Ally."
I placed my hand on a firm surface as an arm gripped around my waist and lifted me to balance on my wedges. I snapped back to reality.
"Ally!" Austin hollered in my face, my eyes focusing on his. Our bodies close together as I used all my strength to stand. His arm was hooked around my waist, pulling me into his chest when I noticed my hand was on his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" he seemed genuinely worried. I would too if I felt more sane.
"Yeah, just tired that's all. It's been a long and confusing day." I freed myself from his grip, sliding over to the nearest chair.
"Yeah, everything becomes a blur when you hear Dez sing an interpretation of your song," Austin teased as he strolled beside my chair. "Do you need a shoulder rub, Dez says my hands work like magic."
Just the thought of his hands rubbing against the skin of my neck made me relax a little. Without replying I heard the crack of his knuckles and his fingers immediately pressed into my skin.
"So how's the song coming along?" He asked, keeping me from leaving reality.
"It's doing good. Real good," I emphasized as his thumb traced over the spot filled with extreme exhaustion. I heard his light chuckle that always lit up my heart. Just being with him always warmed my heart. It warmed everything in me.
"I wanted to tell you about my new idea, but it can wait. I don't want my partner passing out because I stressed her out," Austin stated as Kira popped into my head, making all of the frustration seep through my veins. Then I thought about what was happening in this moment. Austin never physically touches me in any way unless it was a hug or a high five. I technically felt the heat of his breath absorb into my skin.
"Believe me, Austin. You're not the one stressing me out." I replied as imagined of what he was thinking. The massage ended, but I felt the indent of his chin on my shoulder, his hands resting on both of my arms. This was a new arrangement.
"Is it Kira?"
I don't know what I feel for Austin. Is it love, is it friendship or brother and sister like. Also Kira, was it jealousy or the fact that she critized my best friend in my face. In our practice room. Some feeling I did have shot me out from the chair and left him hanging.
"No! Maybe! Yes!" I shouted repeatedly until Austin rose from his knees and stood in front of me. "I don't think she's right for you," I said briefly.
"So, you're stressed because of my dating life?" Austin asked.
"Partially."
His eyebrows arched which meant he processed an idea in his head.
"Not like that though! Have you seen the way she acts towards me? It's like im some virus and you're her cure."
"So you're stressed because she's someone who doesn't like you?" He was really bad at this whole guessing game thing.
"She hates me. And I'm pretty sure she's figuring out a way to make you feel the same way about me," I informed as I folded my arms and let out a sigh.
"Why would I want to hate you?" Austin asked, seeming confused and he should be. Kira wasn't exactly who Austin thinks she is.
"I don't know, she thinks I have feelings for you and want you all for myself," I was hesitant to include that information, but it was the main reason why this was all happening.
"So she doesn't like you?" Austin began interrogating.
"Yep."
"And you don't like her?" He inched towards me, causing me to back up
"Yep."
"And you have feelings for me?"
"Yea-no! No, no, no!" My back slammed into the wall. "Do you not understand a single word I'm saying?"
"Nope," He said with a smirk. I was confused on what made this so entertaining.
"Why?" I asked.
"Cause I know it's not true," Without further ado, our bodies slammed into one another as he leaned in and pinned me against the wall, connecting his lips with mine. His hands stroked my elbows then sneaked to my finger tips, slowly locking them together. My right hand gripped his neck, adding force to our kissing. It seemed to never end. Like I finally escaped reality and Austin was with me. Our locked hands rose to his chest and kissed harder than the previous times. Sadly, it was the last one.
In silence I opened my eyes, noticing he had yet to open his. It was like I was gazing at some angel when he fluttered his lashes open and gazed at me with those deep, soulful, brown eyes. Still pinned against the wall, our hands dropped and the only sound you could hear was our heavy breaths. He swallowed hard before taking a step back and nearly tripping. A smile instantly came then faded as he began to look away from me.
I began pacing forward, noticing something was on his mind. "Are you okay?"
He breathed out a laugh and held up his index finger.
"Could you excuse me for one second," Austin said as he inched towards the door. I wanted to dash towards him and feel his lips one last time.
Within seconds he released a loud shrill as he ran out from the room and I chased after him. I stopped at the staircase as I watched him run like a little girl towards the counter and stop to catch his breath. The shrill was a mixture of victory and shock.
A couple of seconds later, he began screaming again and disappeared from the store.
I'm not exactly sure what happened today at all. There's one thing I'm absolutely positive about.
I'm not just his songwriter anymore.
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Not sure if the kiss was rushed, but believe me there's more screaming Austin to come ;) You filthy animals :)
There's no way i could make it without you guys!