Chapter 4

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.

Wow, I never knew Trish was physic, he thought amused. But no way that is her. I mean she's too tall. She had a small frame that could fit right with me. But I've got to find out if she is the one.

She was just come out of her apartment, with a small briefcase and a purse. She was in a hurry, he could tell, by her fast strides. He ran after her, but she was too far and too quick. She was already in her car and was driving away. She was in a red Chevy Corvette. Man that girl is fast.

He had been running down the hall and he now noticed that he was in front of her apartment that she had come rushing out of. He looked at the apartment number and made sure to memorize it and he even took a picture and wrote a note on his phone.

He went down to his own car and drove into town. He's start there, maybe asking people. He thought about the girl he was missing. She was perfect, flawless in any way, until he... until he broke her. He thought about all the times and dates they'd share. She was so sweet and he was just... happy. That year had been his best, even better than getting signed to his favorite hockey team.

His mind brought back the memory when he had first started getting closer to.

-Flashback-

She was walking down the hall, in her perfect little walk. She wasn't a popular so she was walking with her head bowed since this hall was Pop. Hall as most of the school's population said. This was the popular kids and bullies hang out. And since he was school's Mr. Popular this was also his hangout.

People ran past, shouts echoed through the halls and locker doors slammed, but all he noticed was her. She didn't notice it, but she was a beauty inside and out. And yes, Bad Boy Mr. Popular Austin Moon seems to be crushing that dorky quiet goody two shoes girl.

Suddenly a guy shoved the books she was carrying to the ground, laughs in her face and runs still laughing. Meanwhile she did nothing. She just stood there and looked straight ahead while he was doing all that. When he was gone, she squatted and started to pick up her fallen books and papers. Austin just gritted his teeth at the sight, but he couldn't help but feel sorry. So he went up to her and helped her.

"Thank you," she muttered, not looking his way.

Must be scared, he thought. "It's no problem."

"But why are you doing this?" she asks.

"Because I've seen you around and you always do nice things for people." Yeah he's seen her and she just helps people and she doesn't ask anything in return. "And it's time someone return the favor," he continued.

He even helped her up and she mutter another "Thank You," before leaving, but he could have sworn he saw a smile.

-End of Flashback-

There everything started. They started to get closer and it soon become a friendship before a relationship then to ex's.

Austin sighed and shook his head at the memory. He parked near a local bar and saw one large guy in a large black leather jacket on his rip motorcycle with a girl draped over him.

Urgh, that's disgusting. And in broad daylight, Austin thought. But he went up to them to ask anyway.

"Excuse me sir?" he started, slowly.

He looked at him. "It's Tom. Or Thomas Hylton."

Austin nodded. "Yes, Mr. Hylton. Um, where you here ten years ago?"

Thomas looked at him weirdly. Then realization flashed through his eyes. "Austin?! As in Austin Moon?! The hockey player?!"

Austin smiled. Finally! Someone notices me. "Yes, sir. That's me. Can you please answer the question?"

Thomas nodded. "Been here ever since. I grew up here, my hometown."

"Great!" Austin smiled. "So about ten years ago, did you see a brunette girl with blonde highlights come through here to finish high school?"

"Sure fact I did. I was her classmate. I tried to go out with her, turned me down flat," he remembered.

Austin was now smiling, loving where this was going. He was close to finding her, he knew it. "So what happened?"

"Well," he stroking his chin, trying to remember. "After high school she went to college, some Ivy League school and I don't know if she came back."

"Thanks anyway," Austin thanked and started his way to his car.

"Hey! Moon! I helped you, can you get me rink side tickets to your team's games?" Thomas called after.

Austin rolled his eyes, but gave him several tickets for a few games. He always carried in his pockets, if by chance, people noticed him and asked.

After asking tens of tons of people around town and getting no further results he was done. It was afternoon by now, so he decided to go to Lighthouse Book Café and maybe see Ally. But do his distaste she wasn't there. So he just ordered a cold drink of orange juice since he was sweating from the running around he was forced to do.

After today, all he secured but not really, that she could have finished her high school here. Urgh! Where do I go from here? He could have used a picture, but he didn't. It's not that they didn't take pictures, in fact there were hundreds, but they were gone and they weren't backed up. It was all in a photo scrapbook of them, in his room, but something tragic happened.

-Flashback-

One night during the summer, when she had left, his family was out for dinner and a moive. When they had returned home, their home was ablaze and firefighters and first responders around it.

His first thought was, No! The scrapbook! I can't lose that!

So without thinking he ran, ignoring his parents shouts; past the police officers, past the firefighters that were battling the blaze, and into the house. It started, clearly in the kitchen, but without a glance back he dashed up the stairs that were hot in temperature. There was so much smoke and fire. He jumped the last couple steps and was on the second landing. Good thing he jumped because the stairs suddenly collapse in fire beneath him.

He cast a frightened look at the so-called stairs and ran to his room. It was also in flames. There it was on his bookshelf, that scrapbook. But his bookshelf was half on fire. He ran to it, but by the time he got there all that was left of the book was ashes. Ashes were all that were left of his memories of her.

He wanted to die, right then and there with the house and the book. He couldn't take it. But a first responder had climbed up a ladder and grabbed a coughing Austin and then outside where fresh air greeted them both. He had barely lived because the second he was out the roof had collapsed into the fire.

-End of Flashback-

Austin coughed, remembering that night. He couldn't take it. He couldn't be apart from her.

But he shook the thought, because someone had sat in front of him.

"Hey, Austin," greeted Ally.

He looked up. "Ally..." he said.

"Austin! Are you okay?" she looked at him worriedly and dropped her things in the chair next to her.

"Yeah... Yeah I'm fine," he assured. "Bad memory."

"Okay," she said, skeptical. "So what are you doing here?"

He sighed. "I tried to look for her, but got nothing. I only found out that she might've gone to school here."

"That's great! At least you've gotten somewhere!"

He nodded. "But I feel like giving up."

"What!? Why?" she gasped.

"Because... I don't I'll ever find her. That's only one person who said that she might have been here."

"Don't give up." She took one of his hands and placed it in hers. "If you really love her, don't give up."

"But it was ten years ago! I bet she won't forgive me, because that's he reason why she left in the first place!" he wailed.

"But if she loves you, she will forgive you, too."

"What if she doesn't?" He looked at her.

She was lost for words. But took a deep breath. "She will. Trust me."

Then it was silent for a minute. Austin look at Ally. Beautiful Ally. Smart, caring, sensitive Ally. She was getting to him. But he popped the question anyway.

"Hey Ally," he said, grabbing her attention.

"Hm?" She looked up.

"Would you like to go on a date with me?"

She looked at him. "What?"

A/N: So another cliffy. Ha, ha. Wonder how Ally will take it and why Austin asked?

I was going to update tomorrow since I wasn't feeling good today, but I had too. So here it was! Anyway, tell me if you loved it or hated me. Or if you hate me for cliffhangers, tell me!

Teen Beach Movie! Yay! Friday! But I've already seen Tunes and Trials and I can safely say it was AMAZING!