Hey. Update! Finally here. : D

*NOT EDITED*

"Hello?" a voice called. I turned my head to see Talia, my neighbor in the mental hospital walk in. She was covered in burnt marks from a fire a couple months back. Her black hair was singed and now fell shortly below her ear. With the gowns they gave us, you could see her legs and it made you sick to your stomach the second you did. But we clicked, mainly because I didn't judge her and she didn't judge me.

She sat on the couch I was currently sitting on, right next to me. Then smiled. That's what I loved about her. She was smiling all the time, for whatever reason. No one knew why. The girl covered in burnt marks, in the mental hospital, smiled all the time. "Hey."

I nod to say hello and put the book I was reading down. "Ah, War & Peace? I hear Tolstoy wrote a shitload of stuff in there."

"Really, Talia? Language!"

Talia shrugs. "I can't be stopped. And you know what else?"

"What?"

"An escape plan is coming up."

My smile disappears. "You're planning to escape, aren't you?"

She nods, her smile not going anywhere. "I have to get out of this place. But seriously, how many pages are in that book?"

"Never mind your ADD." I say as I put the book away on the shelf.

"Do you have some more coffee?"

"Decaf, yes. Why?"

She smirks. "It's apart of my escape plan. I spill coffee all over a worker, then offer to get her some napkins. Then I fake a seizure and then they call the doctors. They take me to the hospital and that night in the hospital, before the doctors can realize I'm okay, and when my room is empty, I leave. I run. Perfect plan, right?"

"Why don't you just ask to be released?" I ask, grabbing some orange juice out of the mini fridge and then toss it to Talia, who catches it without fault.

"First of all, they'll say no. Second of all, that's too boring. I have a full proof plan, which I'll need coffee to make happen. So why did you give me Florida Orange Juice? Hey, we live in Florida. That's cool."

I roll my eyes. "Not exactly. But instead, drink the orange juice and then spit some in a worker's face. When she calls back up, fake a seizure. Continue with your plan from there."

"You don't have anymore coffee, do you?"

"No, I'm trying to make sure you keep your sanity, which is all the reason you should stay in here."

She groans and slams the orange juice on the coffee table. "No way. I hate this place. They treat me like I'm retarded."

"Well, that is what people often call mental people."

A tear rushes down her face. "I'm not mental! Everyone thinks I have a problem, but I don't. After the fire, they didn't believe me when I said my stupid mom did it! Just because she's mayor doesn't mean she's innocent. So they sent me here. I don't belong here. You don't belong here, Ally. Which is why you're coming with me."

"How do you plan to get me out of here too?"

She wipes all the tears rushing down her bruised face. "Air vents. They are everywhere and you're inexplicably small. You're coming with me. We're running away."

I shake me head. "Talia. Do you hear yourself? Breaking out of a mental hospital is a one way ticket to more mentality. Well, at least people will think so."

"Ugh, Ally, for once, forget what people think. I know that's coming from the girl covered in scars." she says as she shoves some boots on.

"Fine, Talia. Leave. I don't care. I'm not coming."

She groans. "Why not?"

"I can't."

"Fine. See you later. Or never. I'm going to San Francisco. Vegas, maybe. Adios, amiga." She waves and grabs the orange juice before walking out.

And she left. I never knew if she succeed her escape because I never saw her after that. I got released that next week and the past week was... crazy. Which all leads up to now. It's only been two weeks. Two weeks. A person can't change in two weeks.

After my horrendous date with Elliot, I told him I'd call him. I didn't have his number, so it was the perfect excuse.

The only problem was Austin. He wasn't talking to me. I hadn't seen him all day. And it was my own fault. I told him to get out of my life and he did. And it sucked. I wondered why it mattered so much to me. I didn't like him, so there was no reason to be upset. Besides, I had Elliot. Elliot. Now, I hate that name so much. He only talks about camp. A girl gets tired of that after a while.

So, the entire day, I sat around wishing for something to do. Then, there was just me and the piano. I could have sat there and written a song, I know I could have. But I didn't and I didn't know why. There was no type of writer's block, there was no problem.

Before I could even have time to think about it, a visitor came through. "Ally." they cooed in a sing-song voice.

I turned hoping to see Austin, but then I realized it was a female and then hoped it wasn't Cassidy. It was... Talia.

But not the Talia I last saw. She had long black hair that fell to her waist, clear skin—no burnt marks. Not even on her legs. She wore short sleeves and shorts, not afraid to show off her skin. Though if she still had her scars, she wouldn't be afraid. Her face didn't look as dull and lifeless as it had just two weeks ago. The only thing that stayed the same was her smile, though it was coated with lip gloss.

"Um... uh... you." I greet, if that falls along the lines of a greeting.

Nevertheless, her smile remained on her face. "Allyson, I haven't seen you in so long. I missed you so much. So much I had to call you Allyson!"

"Uh, we saw each other two weeks ago."

She shrugs. "But it was an unfair goodbye. I know you're wondering what happened to me. Let's just say, California has the best surgeons ever."

I look around and then realize that I was sitting at the piano.

"Oh, were you working on a song?"

"Um, I, well, I... I wasn't not working on a song. In fact, I'm really busy. You should go so I can finish-"

"Oh, Ally. I've never heard you sing. Come on. One song... for me. Please."

"Tal-"

"Please?"

I sigh and then touch a key on the piano before a song coming to me. Well, a song didn't come to me and when I sang "The Butterfly Song" from kindergarten, she stared at me for a long time before saying, "Ally, I don't think that's really age appropriate for you."

"You begged me to sing a song and I sang one. Deal with it."

She rolls her eyes. "So. How've you been? Any romance lately?"

"No. Why do you ask? He's... nobody. I'm not even sure if he likes me. Why?"

She laughs. "The rose petals on the ground out there, silly. Who's the lucky guy?"

I was somewhat relieved, but then wondered if I should tell her. "His name is Elliot. He's... we're not exactly dating, but... there... it's..."

"Complicated?" she asks.

That would define my relationship with Austin perfectly. "Uh, totally. So... came to visit me?"

She nods, her smile still hasn't vanished. "Actually, yes. I'm leaving pretty soon. Not sure when. I'm just going to hang around here for a while and then I'm going to leave. Leave. Leave. And I want you to come with me."

I look up at her, with surprised eyes. "Really? Where would we even go?"

She pulls a map out of her bag. "Well, our first stop is New York and we're going to TP the Statue of Liberty. Then we're going to stalk Channing Tatum in Los Angeles. After that-"

"Sorry, Tal, can't, but maybe next time." I say, beginning to walk over to the cashier. Defeated, she goes to the piano and starts to sing remnants of The Butterfly Song, as well as making a parody of it.

"Butterflies and cocoons, other stuff and bafoons. La la la, you'll see me soon. Metamorphis and stuff like this. Butterfly." I applaud her nonetheless. She was a good singer, but she totally messed up the song.

"That was terrible."

"Thanks for your destructive criticism, Ally."

I roll my eyes. She shoves a book in her bag. "What are you doing?"

She jumps up at my voice. "Uh, nothing. Tell me about Elliot."

"No thanks. Tell me about the... uh, your life."

She shrugs. "No, I have to get somewhere ASAP. I'll see you later, maybe. When we run away or whatever we do. Bye." Talia says, in a hurry, and then begins to walk out but stops the second she sees Austin. Her mouth drops open and then she turns to me. "Ally? Is this Elliot?"

"No." I answer, confused.

She smiles at Austin, but a flirty smile rather than her usual friendly smile. "Oh, so that means he's available, doesn't it?"

I raise an eyebrow. "No, no, he has a girlfriend. Cassidy and she hates-"

"Yes, it does. Austin Moon, which is me... is one hundred percent available."

"No, he's not. He would never date you, Talia. He doesn't like blondes; it's a proven fact. You know, except for him. He-he's blonde." I stammer, trying to stop Talia and Austin from 'happening'.

"You will never make any sense, Ally," Talia says through her smile. "So... Austin, do you want to go-"

"Talia was just leaving. She has to get somewhere like she said."

Talia shrugs. "I'll be late. Who cares?"

I look over to the piano to see that my songbook is missing. I had it over there just a few minutes ago before... before... before Talia sat there. "Hey, Talia, have you seen my songbook?"

Her eyes widen and then she smiles at me. "Nope. And now that I think about it, I really can't be late for my... uh, appointment." As she walks out, she slips Austin a piece of paper that I presume is her number. He balls it up and throws it in the trash, which makes me feel better.

"So... you're talking to me again." I say. He looks around and then starts to leave, but I hop over the counter and stop him. "Austin, wait," he stops and turns around to look at me, but doesn't look at me. "You still mad at me?"

When I don't get answer, I sigh. "Austin, please. Just tell me everything you're thinking. Tell me everything you wanted to tell me. Say it fast, rip the bandage off and say-"

"Ally, I'm not mad at you. I'm fine. You're happy and that's awesome. I have nothing to say."

"It sure seemed like it yesterday."

"But it doesn't matter."

"It did yesterday!"

"Not to you!"

I sigh. "Whatever."

"I'm leaving. I just wanted to tell you that-"

"I know. It doesn't matter. You can go now."

He sighs. "You're right. It doesn't. See you... never." he says.

Yep. I did it again. I pushed him away. What more can I do to ruin my life? Just when I thought I had done enough, "Why can't you just be a good person for once? Are you a huge asshole or are you trying not to lose your bad boy rep?"

"Why can't you be a stable person for once?"

"Dodging my questions?"

"You dodged mine."

I turn away so I don't have to see him. "Just leave. It just sucks because for a second I thought you actually cared about me. I know it's crazy but I did. And that was just a mental girl's illusion."

"Did it ever occur to you that I did care?"

"I'm pretty sure that is an illusion."

Things were silent for a while and I did feel bad. I was going to keep pushing people out of my life and there was nothing I could do about. If I keep doing that, what are the chances of ever being happy? The chances of having a non-suckish life. There were no chances. And I had to tell Austin that so I didn't ruin everything between us. "Look, Austin, I'm sorry. Sometimes I push people away and I don't want to-" I turn around to speak to him more directly but find nothing. He left.I was talking to a ghost—something that wasn't there. And I wonder if it's actually like that when he is there. That's the stupid part. He would never be there.

Good? Bad? Not my best or favorite chapter, but one of those chapters that you have to write/read just to move on and get through. It keeps the story moving. Anyways, bye. But I do want to add that I'm writing a new story and me with one story is: Need to write this, blah blah blah, four hours of my life. So two stories might be the death of me. But that's highly doubtful.

But bye. : D (I'm in an inexplicably good mood)