Chapter 6

There should be a law against staring, Austin thought furiously.

People were giving a strange look. Wherever he walked people turned their heads and talked. Now what was that about? he thought to himself as he walked straight forward. Ignoring them all. But some stares caught him. They had this some-what impressed or shock look on them. Still majorly confused he trudged on.

Checking his phone for the right address, the looked up. Yep. Here goes. He pushed open the door to be greeted with a blast of cold air. Walking though the deserted main lobby he strode to the elevators. Waiting patiently for a couple seconds before the familiar ding! and he walked in with several staring others and pressed level eight. It was an agonizing twenty seconds as he fiddled with his phone ignoring them watching his every move.

Once the awkward and silent ride was over he pushed himself to the front or more like they parted for him. He just smiled uncertainly in return and walked to the security guard.

"Hey I'm..."

"Austin Moon," the guy finished for Austin.

"Yeah, but how do you know my name? Do you happen to watch hockey?" Austin asked.

"No. You're the talk of the town, man!" the guy exclaimed.

"What? Why? What'd I do?" Okay this day was not getting any better. He'd rather face the elevator people than the talk of the entire town. But then again its probably because he's the talk of the town as to why they're staring.

The guard smiled. "Let's just say you did something people thought was impossible."

"What!? That goal from mid-field was nothing! And I didn't do that on purpose, it just happened and my team benefited."

"Not that! Oh, never mind. What you doing here?"

"Oh yeah. Almost forgot. I'm here to..."

And the guard smiled, as it finally clicked for him. "Ahhh. Bet I know why you're here," he interrupted Austin, yet again.

"Oh, yeah? What?" Austin challenged.

Ally's fingers darted across the keyboard flying as fast as lightning. One hand left the keyboard to push her glasses higher on the bridge of her nose. Then sighing she ran her hands through her hair and stared at her computer screen. Thinking for a minute, she began to type again. She was just writing the last several paragraphs for a letter of recommendation about a book to be published.

She groaned again as slighted writer's block hit her again. I know! How can a person get writer's block writing a letter of recommendation for a client? But it had to be perfect because believe it or not if this book gets published for not could make or break her editorial job. So she was under a pretty large load of stress at the moment.

Shaking her head, she took off her glasses and placed them on her desk. She ran her fingers through her hair again and stared blankly at the screen. Her train of thoughts was moving too fast then way too slow, but then a voice spoke.

"You're cute when you're under stress, you know that?"

Ally swiveled her chair abruptly, turning to the intruder. Her scared face soon relaxed when she saw who it was. "Oh, hey Austin."

He waved. "Hey."

"But how'd you get in here? There's security."

"The guy out front let me in. Funny people you got here."

She rolled her eyes. Then Ally assessed him and smirked. "Well someone missed me."

"Not just me," he retorted. "I bet you never wanted last night to end."

"Well... uh, that's... Never mind," she sighed. "What are you doing here?"

"I admit. I missed you so I came to see you."

She smiled triumphantly, but I faltered a second later. "How'd you know where I was?"

Austin scoffed. "Gosh, Ally. There were so many places where you could be. So I started at the café, then your apartment, then here."

"But how did you know I work here?"

"The internet's not a private journal, ya know?" he smart-alecked.

She rolled her eyes. And turned to face her computer once more.

"So wanna grab some lunch?" he asked. She looked at him. "Well, uh, when you're done here, I mean. Or if you already have lunch. I get it. I'll just go."

She laughed. "It's okay Austin. And yes, some lunch would do me some good."

"Great! So when do you want to head out?"

"Let me just finish this then email it to my client." Somehow with that blonde with her, she somehow found some inspiration to finish typing. Five minutes later with an email sent, computer powered down, they set off.

"So where do you want to eat lunch?" Austin asked.

"Well this new place opened up last week and I haven't gotten to try it out yet," Ally replied.

"Okay then. My treat." And they rushed off; Austin ignoring Ally's pleas to pay her half of the bill.

Ally settled back down on her sofa. It was now eight at night and her afternoon with Austin was over. But he gladly accepted to enter her apartment when she offered.

The day had been so wonderful. After the mini lunch date at the new Italian restaurant, they had gone to the bookstore, after than a movie. Then they stopped by their apartments, then a short walk at a near-by restaurant for dinner. Now they were in her apartment.

While Austin was bustling in her kitchen doing who knows what, she had changed to yoga pants and a fitted t-shirt. Now she was on the couch with her computer on her lap and her story in the works before her.

Suddenly a loud clatter from the kitchen made her jump and she was about to check up on him (which she probably should) but decided that it was too comfortable to get up. Instead she just settled back down and replayed a conversation rom earlier that day.

-Flashback-

They were walking back from dinner and the sky was a misty grey. It was quite between them, but it was a comfortable silence not an awkward one. But Austin felt as if something was missing, so he intertwined his fingers with hers so now they were walking hand in hand. He smiled greatly. Then he looked over at Ally, whom was biting her lip deep in thought. It was better not to disturb her, he thought.

It was quiet for a minute more, before Ally looked at Austin. "Austin?"

He turned to her. "Hmm?"

"What should we label ourselves?"

"What?" He didn't understand.

"What is our relationship status? I mean, are we just acquaintances, friends, or boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"I haven't really thought of that. But I want to be in a relationship with my best friend."

"So is that friends with benefits?"

"No! Not at all." But this question really shook him. He really wasn't prepared for this.

"So what then? Just dating?"

"How about we not label ourselves with a common one. How about we just stick to who we are. By being Austin and Ally," he said after a thought.

"Austin and Ally. Austin&Ally," she tried out their names. It had a nice ring to it. "I like it. Austin and Ally."

He smiled. "So do I." And he engulfed her in a large hug.

-End of Flashback-

Austin was so sweet. He definitely knows how to keep a girl in tow. But Ally didn't mind. Austin was such a great guy, she wonders why he hasn't settled down yet. But then again if you're a professional hockey player you travel a lot and plus that high school sweetheart of his must have been very special to be in his heart for the past ten years.

Austin was in Ally's kitchen cooking up some snacks. He had gone through the refrigerator and all the cupboards looking for the needed supplies. Sometimes he had shouted the occasional "Hey Ally! Where's the marshmallows? Oh, wait! Never mind." or "Ally! Where do you keep your mugs? Found it." He knew he was annoying Ally and he was creating a loud ruckus, he was surprised that she hadn't checked up on him yet. But he was feeling good inside that Ally had trusted him.

It was a bit chilly tonight so he had prepared or is preparing some hot chocolate with his second favorite snack after pancakes was s'mores. He loved them and learning the recipe and practicing he could whip up a mean batch of s'mores.

So after twenty minutes of clattering with two mugs in one hand and balancing a plate on the other he slowly made his way to the living room where Ally was seated.

"Oh, hey Austin." She looked up. "Oh! I'll help you with those."

"No, no. I'm good." And to prove it she set down everything on the center table with ease.

"Okay, big guy. What do you have prepared?" Ally asked.

"Well some s'mores that are the best in the country. And hot chocolate," he promptly replied.

"S'mores!? I haven't had one of those since I was eight when my family went camping. It's been years." And she made a grab for one.

"Well you're lucky. Austin here" -he pointed to himself- "can whip up a delicious batch."

"Mmmm. They are good." She nestled closer to Austin watching the glowing fire. It was fall so why not? A fireplace really made the place look so mystic yet peaceful. "Huh. This reminds me of Miami and my home."

"Hm. So what do you want to do?" he asked as he took a sip of the hot chocolate.

"Well I was going to work on my story."

"The one you were working on when we first met?"

"Yeah. I haven't really worked on it since."

"Well I could help. What's it about?" he questioned.

"Well, its the romance story of Justin and Halle. Its Junior Year of high school and he's the jock. She's the nerd. But overcoming the societal rankings they eventually end up together. But then that was all a lie."

"A lie? Why?"

"Well Halle's older brother Evan, which was Austin's senior friend from the football team, had dared Justin to take his sister out on a date. Justin didn't want to do it, but he did and it eventually blossomed to something more. But then Evan and dared Justin further to break his sister's heart because Evan knew Justin was a player. Evan had proof Justin was cheating. Justin knew he cheated, but he loved Halle. But Halle found out and dumped him, and she ran from her problems to live with her aunt and uncle in a different state."

"Wa-wait. Her brother? Dared Justin in the first place?"

"Brother and sister relationships are rocky when you're younger. But then it was just fun and games for Evan, until he saw his little sister heart-broken," Ally explained.

"So you said it was called Chance Meetings, right? And they meet up later in life?"

"Yeah."

"Tell me more about then."

Ally yawned. Even though Austin was clearly intrigued by the story, she was tired. "How about a movie? I don't feel like writing anymore."

"Okay, what movies do you have?" Austin asked.

"They're over there. And tons of romance movies."

"Yes!" he exclaimed and ran over to the cabinet like an eager puppy. Ally chuckled at his excitement. "So you wanna watch Dear John?"

"Sure. I love that movie. It gets me every time."

Austin popped the DVD in the slot in the TV and grabbed the TV remote. The movie started and they wrapped up in a blanket on the couch sipping hot chocolate.

Halfway through, Austin noticed that Ally was asleep on his shoulder. He turned his head and looked down at her. She looked so peaceful. And he looked at the time. It was nearly ten. He should be getting home soon. So without disturbing her he lay her down on the couch and took the half empty mugs and the plate of s'mores to the kitchen. He stuffed the extra s'mores in his mouth and in the kitchen he put everything away.

Going back to the living room he turned off the TV and doused the fire. Then he carried Ally to her bedroom. He settled her in, and tucked her covers above her. Then he moved a strand of hair that was obscuring her face. Then he watched her for a minute more.

When he got up to go, a hand grabbed his wrist. He looked at Ally, but her eyes were still closed.

Then he heard her whisper, "Don't go. Please." It was almost a plead.

So he climbed in next to her and whispered back, "I won't."

A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews. I love this chapter. It's so sweet. Tell if you loved it too. Review, follow, favorite?

Okay, so this was one more peace and quiet chapter for Auslly before things turn. Wait until you read what I have in store. Its going to be good.

But right now due to the rainy weather, I feel like making some hot chocolate and s'mores with a romance movie. I think I'll do that.
Well until next time, I have a movie to watch.