Chapter 17
Ally stared at the picture. It was her old-self, that was for sure. Then she scanned the guy that was next to her. It looked some-what like Austin, but his hair what-ever the color was obstructed by the beanie he was wearing. She had a serious urge to believe that guy was Austin, but they'd never met before. At least she thought so. But her brain hurt right now. She didn't want to think about love, relationships and guys at the moment.
So she put the picture down on her desk to see her lap-top. She hadn't updated her story in a long while. Maybe she'd do that and if it was possible send a published copy to all her family and friends by Christmas. It'd be a rush, but it would make an ideal gift! Who wouldn't want a romance novel for Christmas? Exactly!
So she took off her coat and set it on her desk chair. She pulled her laptop closer to her and feverishly began typing.
"I can't do this anymore," Halle wept.
Natalia looked at her friend and sighed. She had fore sought this to happen. And her prediction had come true. If only Halle had taken heed of her warnings. If only... But it was history and now all that mattered was getting her best friend better. She rubbed Halle's back in attempt of comfort and said, "I know, Hal, I know."
"How could I have been so stupid?! I should've listened to you!" she wailed before planting her face into the pillow to sob for several seconds more.
Now would've been a good time to say 'I told you so!' But that wouldn't be right. Instead she offered consolation. "I know its hard, but you'll get over it. Summer's nearing and maybe we could go on a trip! OMG that'd be amazing! What do you think?" She turned to her best friend.
Halle sat up and wiped her tears one last time. "You're right. I have to get away. Not just away, but away-way."
"What do you mean?" Natalia was worried. What did her best friend mean?
But Halle was determined. She had that glint in her eyes that people get every once so often. "I know what I have to do. You're a great bff." Halle stood up and ran out her bedroom. "Mom! Dad!"
"Halle!" Natalia cried after her. But she was gone. She didn't know that it was the day she'd last see her best friend. But Natalia shrugged, grabbed her bag and walked out, walking home. She didn't know that her smile would been seen with a shadow from that day on. If only she knew...
Ally stopped typing. She was totally focused but not all that focused. Somehow her eyes kept traveling to the picture on her desk like her eyes was glued to it. She put her computer aside and picked up the picture.
High school. Freshman, sophomore, junior, senior years. All four. The first two was amazing! The third was hell. The last was... plain, but comforting. All because of that jerk! Junior year; the year she wish she didn't live through. She hated it. All because of one guy.
It was all fake. All a façade. Nothing in their relationship was true. Wonders how he ended up! If he were on the streets, she wouldn't blame him. He brought it to himself. Its just that... he had caused so much pain. It nearly tore her in two and leaving was the only way her heart would at least start to mend. If she saw his face one more time in her life, she'd scream. But enough of that.
She studied at the picture and it saddened her how happy she was then. But then there was their break-up. Then her leaving or at least desperate pleas for her to be able to leave. But she managed and look how she turned out!
-Flashback-
"Why?" she demanded. "Why can't I?"
"Because!" her dad exclaimed, exasperated. "You're too young! I can't let go move halfway across the country!"
"I'm sixteen, dad. Sixteen! Not a twelve year old!"
"Yes, but you're still young."
"No I'm not! I can totally fend for myself!" she argued.
"Really?" he scoffed.
"Really! I work for my own salary at Sonic Boom. I pay for my own clothes with that money! You raised me to be independent. And when the time comes to let me be free you keep me caged?! That's absurd! And a load of bullsh*t!"
"Ally!" he scolded. "Language!"
She just started daggers at him. "I. Don't. Care."
"Ally!" he repeated.
Then she tried her last card, hoping to win the argument. "If Mom was here, she'd let me go!" she cried out desperately.
Lester Dawson stared at his daughter in shock. "I.. uh.. you-you k-know... but.. she.. Ally!"
"What?!" she snapped deep with venom.
"I know it was hard when your mom left for Africa three years ago, and haven't heard from her since, but she will come back."
"And if she were here she'd let me go!" she retorted.
"You know what! FINE!" he yelled. "I don't care! Pack your bags and get out! I don't want to see you ever again! And if you come crying back..." he paused to catch his breath, "Believe me because I'm NOT taking you back!"
"You're too mean," she gasped. "You don't know how hard this is for me! I can't face Austin! I don't ever want to see him again!"
"Just like how I don't want to see you too!" he dared.
Her fingers clenched into fists as she tried to hold her anger down. But it got the best of her. "Fine! I'll go.. but believe me too. You'll Never see me again! And see if I care!" And she stormed out of the room.
That night was spent in tears as Ally packed her things. The next few days, skipping school and evading everyone she knew, Ally prepared for her move. She had saved up all her money and her rainy day fund was used to bring her to Vermont. She loved her Aunt Nancy and it was the only person she knew would take her in. So Vermont it was. And look how great it turned out to be. Whenever she visited Miami yearly, her dad kept a cold shoulder, but her mom, if she was there, took her in with warm arms. Her family was broken as well as her heart. All in one day.
-End of Flashback-
Her life was sad. The only biggest achievement by far would probably be getting into Yale and graduating. Besides that her whole damn life was sad. She wasn't in a relationship... anymore and her family was a wreck. Last time she check was three years ago, her mom and dad had been on the verge of a divorce. She hadn't gone back to Miami since. Her brother, Elliot, was some big-time lawyer in Oregon. And she was just some lowly author in Vermont. Where'd her life go?
Letting go of the thought, she turned to look at the picture again. Then she stared at the cursor on her computer blinking. Her story. Her life. That picture.
Then it all clicked inside of her. That guy didn't look just like Austin. He was Austin himself! Her mouth dropped open as she stared at the picture in horror.
She tried to get them out of her head, but they kept coming back. One after the other her brain launched into memories of junior year.
Austin sighed. Its been exactly three days since their break-up and all he's been feeling was depression. He didn't get it. Why the hell would Ally break up with him? Was he really that bad of a boyfriend? Did he not treat her right? But something was telling him it was deeper than this.
He looked at his place. It was quiet as of now because his sister and best friend were out somewhere enjoying their trip. He only bought them one-way tickets since he didn't know how long it'd take, but it seems pretty much useless to him right now. Plus December was nearing and it'd be the holidays soon. All the planes would be triple-booked. And he didn't want to hold them back from their holiday plans so he booked them a flight to leave in a week. He loved their company, but they were better off at their homes.
Once that was done he looked around, bored. There was nothing to do. And looking around his spirits dampened even more because everything reminded him of Ally.
A mug of hot chocolate. He had once made some for her and she had cherished it. They way her eyes sparkled around him especially when they gazed in each other's eyes. He really missed her.
A pile of dirty dishes that really needed cleaning. Ally would just have done it. She didn't procrastinate. Plus she didn't have dishwasher so she'd do it by hand. But she wouldn't mind. Ally Dawson was herself in every way.
A stack of books laying around that Dez probably had been getting to. Ally LOVED books. That's probably why she's an author or an editor. For her love of reading and writing. To most people that'd seem boring. But to Ally it was her joy. She was special in that way and he loved her for it.
He... He loved her. And he finally realized it, but it was a bit too late. Maybe he was in love with her all this time. But he just didn't have the chance to acknowledge it. So now that's they were over he finally did? No. He wasn't going to stop there.
Austin looked over his apartment again. A light blue cardigan that probably was his sisters. Ally had worn something like that when they first met. She was sitting, tapping away on her computer. With his witty excuse, he managed to get her.
He didn't know her true self then. He didn't know that she was 'Ally' from high school. And it just hurt him in the end. Why? Why was life so messed up for them? Why did it have to be so complicated? Why couldn't they have a normal relationship like normal people? But they weren't normal. They were Austin and Ally. Were.
He looked at the picnic basket that lay abandoned in the corner. Their dates. The good ones and the bad ones. But their first date. A moon-lite picnic that he'd always dream of with a perfect girl. He was thinking of having one with Ally back in high school but everything crumbled before he could ask her out on another date.
Their break-up had been nasty. And he remembered how lost he was the days after.
-Flashback-
It had been the day after the break-up and it was early Monday morning at school. He had arrived with bags under his eyes and he really hadn't bothered to clean up after himself. He was disgusting. And everyone could guess what happened since Ally hadn't shown up. Everyone kept badgering him until he snapped and yelled at that last person and punched several lockers in the process.
He sleepwalked though the day, not caring how he looked. His reputation was going down the drain, but he didn't care. He lost Ally. Why would life matter after that?
It was lunch now and he slumped against the table as Dez and Trish carried out their usual conversations. He sighed. Suddenly Dez and Trish's voices lowered.
"Austin?" Trish asked.
Austin moaned grumpily. "What?"
"I know you don't want to be asked this ever again, but what happened?" Trish assumed she knew the answer, but she needed the full thing.
"Can't you guess?" Austin replied, still with his head down to stare at the floor. "We broke up."
Both Trish and Dez gasped. "I'm so sorry," Dez said. "I know how much this hurts you."
Austin nodded. But he needed to cheer up. Once Ally showed up for school,he needed to show that he could live. He needed to be strong. No matter how much it hurt inside. Austin had to show her.
A day later and still Ally hasn't show up for school. And that was unlike her. Was something wrong? He had stopped crying and was more worried for Ally's sake than his at the moment.
"Hey have you guys heard from Ally?" He stopped Trish and Dez who are once again arguing over something useless.
Trish thought for a moment. "Come to think of it. I haven't heard from her in a few days. Plus she hasn't show up for school. I think something's wrong." Trish now had become worried too. But for her best friend. It took a while, but she realized it. "Let's go to her place afterschool. In the meantime, let's try and contact her."
So for the rest of the school day, in-between classes, at lunch and until after school they tried to call, text, email, face-chat, shout-outs, and tweeted her. But no replies. What was wrong? What was happening? Austin was really desperate now.
All three pushed themselves to the front of the crowds, and with wordless nods, they started to Miami Mall. Hopefully she'd be at Sonic Boom. But that was closed. That was absurd. It was usually open so Mr. Dawson could get the most of his money from costumers. Now something was up. They checked Minis, and all the places she could be. The beach, library, bookstore, nowhere was she to be found. Finally they started their walk to the Dawson's' place.
Nervously Austin rapped on the door as Trish and Dez stood beside him.
After a minute or so, it opened to show a grim looking Lester Dawson. "Yes?"
"Um.. Where's Ally?" Trish squeaked.
Lester Dawson closed his eyes and sighed. His act really scared the three. "Gone."
"What do you mean gone?!" Austin demanded. "She couldn't have left. There's no way she'd leave!"
"Then think again. She left."
But Austin nor Trish and Dez believed him. As Mr. Dawson was to shut the door, using all their will-power they resisted and pushed it open. They tramped in the familiar home where they'd gone to millions of times, especially Austin. "Ally!" all three shouted. They began opening doors and closets looking for her. It was rude and intrusive, but they needed proof. Not finding her downstairs, they tried the bed and baths upstairs. Finally the barged in her bedroom.
Austin broke right there and then. The tears came again. This time they didn't stop. Her bedroom still looked like it, but it was cleared. The bed and bedspread were still there and so were the furniture. But the posters were gone. So were all of Ally's little trinkets. And most of her belongings. Austin stumbled to the closet and pulled them open. They were bare. Only a torn shirt, broken heel of a shoe remained. Ally was definitely gone.
"Told you, you wouldn't find her," Mr. Dawson said as he walked by to his room.
Austin just sobbed harder. He let her go. And he was planning on getting her back. All gone! All because of Elliot! Where the hell was he?! But Ally... She really must've hurt to be gone.
"Come on Austin, cheer up," Trish soothed.
"I did wrong. I know. Why'd I have to do that," Austin wailed, realizing it.
"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. She wouldn't be that far."
Austin nodded. Knowing his friend's words too good to be true, but believing anyway.
-End of Flashback-
Well actually she really was far away. Austin hated himself. He distasted himself.
He let her go! He fricking let her go! TWICE! Twice in his life, ten years apart, he met with the love of his life. And twice, ten years apart, he let her go! What was wrong with him? Was he going to have to wait another ten years to see her again? But she wouldn't have left. She wouldn't. She left once, something told him she wouldn't leave twice.
He needed to get her back. He had to.
He quickly changed and flew out the door. Across the hall he ran, stopping at her place. He pounded heavily, waiting for her to pull the door open.
A/N: So hi! Anyway the next one will be one of my favorite chapters, "It Was Austin" version. But it'll take a while since I plan to make it as long which is about 6K words so it might be a week or so depending...
BTW: You guys need to listen to R5's new album. I recommend: If I Can't Be With You and Forget About You. And seen Real Life and Reel Life?! Can't wait for the finale! and this episode!