"So I heard you talked with Dallas last night?" Trish said.

"Yeah," Ally sighed.

"You feeling any better?"

"A bit I guess. We're not getting back together though" Ally replied sadly.

"Good!" Trish said triumphantly, "He doesn't deserve you!"

Ally tried to smile at this.

"So what did you guys talk about?"

"Oh you know, why he cheated on me and what happened with our relationship…he had this silly idea that I was cheating on HIM with Austin. Isn't that the most unbelievable thing you've ever heard. I mean I'm clearly not into Austin. I mean don't get me wrong, Austin's a great guys. And the way he smiles could obviously make any girl's heart melt. And the way his blonde hair flops over his face sometimes…" Ally started to go into a trance.

Trish eyed her suspiciously.

Ally then snapped out of her trance, "so silly, right?" she asked again.

"Mhm," Trish raised her eyebrows and looked away when she responded untruthfully.

Ally shook her head. "but we're going to try to be friends still."

"that's good, " was all Trish had to say.

Ally sighed.

It made Trish sad to see her best friend was still upset over a boy that wasn't even worth being upset over. "Hey have you spoke to Austin recently?" she asked.

"uh…no actually," Ally said, "I haven't really spoken to anyone since the break-up. So we haven't exactly written anything new recently, sorry" she gave Trish an apologetic smile.

"Hey don't apologize to me, it's your guys' music thing," Trish said backing off.

Just then Austin strode into the music store. "Ally!" he greeted her cheerfully, "you're looking better. how are you feeling?"

"i'm a bit better. thanks, Austin," said Ally.

"Hey an old friend wanted me to sing a bit at his party tonight and i was wondering if you wanted to go with me? I know you're not much of a party person but it would be really great to have one of my current friends with me since a lot of my old friends have kind of turned into jerks."

"what about Trish and Dez?"

"You know how I hate to turn down a party, "said Trish, "But my family is having this huge dinner party thing that I have no way of escaping."

"And Dez made plans to go to this gingerbread convention…" Austin said.

Ally thought for a while. "Well what about whatever girl you're dating now?" she asked.

Austin looked at her confused. "I'm not dating anyone," he said.

Now that Ally thought about, she hadn't seen Austin with a new girl at all since she broke up with Dallas.

"Come on Ally," Trish said, "It could be fun! it'd probably be a good distraction."

"pleeeeassse," begged Austin and gave her puppy dog eyes.

"oh alright," Ally said.

"Sweet! You're the best Ally! I'll pick you up at 8 tonight!" Austin said excitedly and gave a big hug