Chapter 3

Ally sighed and decided it was time to go home. It was nearly dark out and it would soon be night.

She did live away from her parents in Vermont. She left in high school because... of particular reasons and her parents had accepted her decision. So they had let her go to Vermont and live with her aunt to finish high school, then to college. That was they're one condition: college. And she did and after finishing college she went back to Vermont. Not Miami and never in her opinion because of the memories. So back in Vermont she was able to find a steady job and get a small place of her own. She didn't live in riches like others or rags, just... in between. And she was happy.

But her failing love life was her setback. Even though guys swoon over her and because they don't woo her "correctly" she does have another reason. Only she knows, though and one other. But it's been years since they've talked. Ten years actually. But today changed that, though no one knows but you, reader.

She pulled into the parking garage and turned the car engine off. She grabbed her purse and her laptop inside it's cover. The car door slammed and with a slight struggle she got the jingling keys fished out of her pockets. A flip of the switch and her darkened apartment was bathed in light. It was small but pretty lavish due to her dirty rich aunt that lived several minutes away.

It was a pretty dismal life for her. She dropped her items onto the kitchen counter top and walked to the refrigerator taking out a plate of leftovers. While it reheated she walked to her bedroom and changed into her pj's. Taking the food she walked over to the couch and turned on the TV.

"So in sports, Colorado Avalanche center Austin Moon is off for the season due to injuries. But we all wonder how the team will play the season without their top player on the ice. We had an interview with coach Mr. Mark Lynch* on his take," the newscaster said.

The screen flickered to a new shot of a middle aged man talking. "While it is sad Austin cannot be here with us this season we have been training to have a tighter defense and a more seamless front."

Austin, she thought. Austin Moon. A brawny macho ice hockey player. Reading a romance novel. Showing a flirty yet sensitive side. Austin Moon you cease to amaze me. Austin had many sides to him. He was caring yet still the typical boy.

And still there was that itching feeling in the back of her head that she knew him. Ignoring the thought she pulled her computer closer to her and started typing with a renewed inspiration. Austin Moon you are my new muse. So she incorporated Austin's round characteristics into Justin's with a slight twist.

After that incredibly humiliating incident with Justin, Halle couldn't take her mind off of him. Sure she had a crush on him, but now it had escalated to something more.

"Hello, Hal! Are you in there?" her best friend waved a hand over Hal's face who was dreamy looking up at the cafeteria ceiling.

"So he does know I exist," she sighed happily.

"Hal! Come on. It was a day ago and you possibly can't think the school's A-list will soon start going out with commoners like us. Middle people! If that happens the world will have ended before it will," Natalia complained.

"But he talked to me and said that I -"

But she was soon cut off by her friend who was disliking the situation more than ever. "Hal! Halle!"

"Huh? What? What'd I miss?" she looked wildly around being awakened from dream land.

"Oh, thank goodness you're back. But we've got work to do," Natalia pointed to a binder and a textbook that both lay open.

"But it's still the beginning of the school year. Chillax," Halle laughed.

"Chillax?!" Natalia looked at her best friend. This was most unusual since Halle was a goody-two shoes who even did school work in the summer to get ahead of class! And just by that her friend was slowing slipping away.

"Hey girls," a deep voice said. "Hope I wasn't interrupting something."

Both girls snapped their heads to the voice to see Justin. Natalia scowled and Halle stared.

"Um, no, no of course not!" Halle stuttered causing Natalia to roll her eyes and look away, tying her best to pretend this wasn't happening.

"Here," Justin said placing a plate of cakes in front of Halle. "I snagged the last one for you."

Halle thanked him and Natalia scoffed. Typical. Then he'll just dump my friend. But I must get him out of her mind first, Natalia thought.

Hm, so good so far, Ally thought. She lay back on the sofa thinking of more ideas before the romance brewed. But soon she was asleep not seeing the new email alerts. She soon drifted off not to dreamland, but on memory lane.

-Flashback-

"Hey Ally," Trish called.

"Hey Trish," she greeted back.

"Ready for Junior Year?" Trish asked.

"Hell yeah! I heard there's this new teacher who teaches history. I hope she will be just as good as Mr. Baker."

"Oh, Ally. Mr. Baker was such a bore. More than half the students for the entire year got caught up on their sleep thanks to him!" her Latina friend argued.

Ally scoffed. "But hey there's this ne-"

Trish cut her off. "So how are you and Austin?"

"Trish," Ally warned testily.

"Oh come on! You've liked him since elementary when you guys had to dance. You know the perfect person is closer than you think."

"That was pretty magical," Ally said dreamlike, obviously in la-la land. "So how are you and Dez?" Ally asked cheekily.

"Um," Trish looked around. "Gotta go!"

Ally just smiled and started to make her way to class.

-End of Flashback-

Ally awoke in a sudden start. So that was the name, Dustin! She thought hard about the memory. Much closer than you think, Trish had said.

Trish her best friend since they were little. They haven't been in contact after Junior Year, but Ally sure did miss her. Her cheeky replies, bossy attitude, weird gimmicks, and odd jobs. What's not to like about Trish? Sure she was loud and notorious, she was caring too. You just had to let her open up.

And that Dustin guy. The name she was dying to remember. But she didn't know she got the name wrong. He was much full of life but after that school year was over, she hated him, but could never have the heart to get over him. But she'd never forgive him.

She got up and got ready for the day since she had a meeting with a client about their new book.

Austin couldn't sleep the night when he met Ally. His mind was so full of her. Her gracious smile. Her cute laugh. Her full red lips. Her large melting brown doe eyes. Her long luscious hair that flowed down like a waterfall.

He shook his head, needing not wanting to get her off his mind. He had a job to do. To get his long lost love back.

He remembered everything about her. Her brown hair like Ally's but it melted into blonde highlights. Her large brown eyes like Ally's. Her charming personality like Ally's. He was her everything and she was all he needed. But it was all a lie. He had let her down, when she fully trusted him. And she couldn't face him after that so she left and he never heard from her again.

He remembered everything about her and their story, but not her name. I know, he's a hopeless romantic but to forget her name was the biggest mistake he's made. If he hadn't she'd probably been in her arms by now. He'd apologize and say sorry and make her listen to the entire story according to his views. She was pretty understanding so she'd probably forgive him.

He finally got some sleep after replaying what her best friend Trish had said when they found out that she had left.

-Flashback-

"Come on Austin, cheer up," Trish soothed.

"I did wrong. I know. Why'd I have to do that," Austin wailed.

"Don't worry buddy. She'll come back," Dez said.

Austin looked up. "You think so."

Dez looked uncertain but replied. "I know so."

"Yeah," Trish agreed. "She'll come back. And plus the perfect girl is much closer than you think. She might just be around the corner."

Austin nodded. Knowing his friend's words too good to be true, but believing anyway.

-End of Flashback-

Yeah, he thought. I'll find her. And I never know. She might just be closer than I think. She's close by, I know it.

And so he got up and made preparations to where he might find her. After a swift breakfast and a shower, he closed the apartment door with a slam. He was renting here for the year, since he'd figure that he might be here a while. He was walking down the hall, hands in his pockets, and spirits down when...

... When he saw her.

*Ross's dad. but we all know that.

A/N: Hi! Thank you so much for the reviews so far. I loved the comments and feedback. And I just love cliffhangers. Don't you?

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