Hi sorry for the wait. I've been super busy with school. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Austin and Ally or anything you may recognize.

"Ally, this is my son Austin," Mike says motioning to Austin who was coming up behind him.

"Hey Ally! It's so awesome you work here! Maybe now I won't- Oh my gosh Ally what's wrong?" Austin says walking up to me and Mike. Mike's phone starts to ring right as Austin finishes.

"Sorry kids, I have to take this," Mike walks away answering his phone.

"Ally, are… are you okay?" Austin says, cautiously approaching me.

"I'm fine," I snap.

"Sorry," He says, " You don't look fine. I'm not going to judge you, you know? I know we just met and stuff but I'm here for you."

"Austin, look, I don't think we should be friends. I've got too much going on. YOu really don't want to be friends with me anyways. Just go hang out with the popular kids, you'd fit in more there," I say looking away and walking around the counter.

"I don't want to be friends the popular kids, I want to be friends with you," He says.

"Why? Why do you want to be friends with me?! I don't get it, no one even remotely likes me!" I say raising my voice a little.

"I like you. Why is that so hard for you to understand? I want to be friends with you because you don't seem to be fake like everyone else. You don't try to fit in. You're just you. Why don't you understand that there are going to be people in the world that like you? Why is it even such a big deal to you?" He says starting to raise his voice as well.

"Just forget it Austin, okay. We will never be friends, so just leave me alone," I end the conversation by turning and marching up to the practice room closing the door behind me when I enter.

I can hear Mike return from his phone call. He questions Austin on where I went and I hear Austin's soft response that I went up stairs. Austin's voice sounded….hurt. Why would he be hurt. I'm not a big deal. Why is he making such an effort to get to know me? Why did it hurt him so much anyway, we just met today.

I walk over to the piano up here and sit down at the bench. I stare at the keys, not really in the mood to play. I lift my hands anyways and they hover over the keys before I gently press one down, hearing the note ring out. And just like that I begin to play, making up as I go, passion and emotions driving to music. If I could just play the piano for the rest of my life and forget about the world, I would be happy. Even these brief moments making everything better. It makes me feel alive, in a sense. Never do I want to stop, but I am interrupted by the door to the practice room opening. I cease playing and turn to the door to Austin.

"That sounds great. Did you write it?" He asks. I don't respond but shake my head yes as I look down and away from his eyes.

I can't help but feel guilty about yelling at him. It truly wasn't his fault and I was just upset, angry, and hurt. This though doesn't sway me on us being friends. I've been down this road before and I know where it ends. I don't want to live through that again.

"Listen, Ally, I'm sorry about whatever I did and for yelling at you. I meant what I said, I want you to know that, but I shouldn't have yelled at you. Um, my dad told me about um, about your family, when he told me I was going to work at the store. He wanted me to know that my co-worker was dealing with a lot so I could help and take some stress off of them. I didn't know it was you until you showed up here for work. I hope you don't think that I only want to be your friend because I pity you. I genuinely want to be your friend, but I also want to help you with your family. I just want you to know I'm here if you ever need some one."

I look up into his eyes and see all the sincerity in them and I can hear it in his voice. I don't know what to say so I mutter, "Thanks."

Austin smiles and turns to leave.

"Wait," I say, "I'm sorry too. You do know if I agree to be friends with you then if something happens and I end up hurt, its on you, and I may end up broken beyond repair."

"I can guarantee I will never hurt you. And if I do I will make sure and help you, to get fixed, no matter how broken you are," He looks me in the eyes and I'm reassured that Austin is going to do whatever it takes to maintain this friendship.

"Okay," I sigh, "We can be friends."

"Yes!" He shouts throwing his fist into the air making me laugh. I stand up and walk over to him. Surprising myself with my actions, I hug him. For once in my life I feel loved. I get an amazing feeling having Austin's arms around me and I can't explain it, it's something I've never felt before. I feel safe, comforted and warm. I decide I like this feeling a lot. We stand there hugging for a while longer before pulling away.

"We should probably start working," I say looking up at Austin.

"Yep!" Austin says popping the "p."

"Ugh! Finally! I thought that customer would never we and then we'd be stuck here all night! Now we can finally close up!" Austin groans.

I laugh, "I know, how hard is it to decide which color guitar pick you want? And then it literally took ten minutes just to get it through his head that the guitar picks are free!"

Austin and I laugh, "That was torturous. How are we going to do this everyday?"

"Don't worry, it's normally not that bad."

"Thank goodness!" Austin says dramatically putting a hand over his heart as he lays down across the counter. I roll my eyes.

"Maybe you should sign up for theatre, you're such a drama queen," I laugh.

"Hey!" He says mocking offense, "If anything I'm a drama king. I'm not a girl."

"You act like one sometimes," I tease.

"You're mean. If you don't have anything nice to say the don't say anything at all, Ally," He says sitting up and pouting like a two year old. I laugh.

"You act like such a little kid," I say.

"But I'm a cute little kid," He smiles.

"Of course you are," I say sarcastically. I smile as I walk over to lock the doors.

"Dad!" Austin yells, "Can we go home now?"

"Yeah, you and Ally can head to the, car I'll be out in a minute!" Mike yells back.

"So, I'm assuming your dad told you I was staying over?" I ask Austin.

"Yeah, it's going to be so much fun! It'll be like a slumber party!"

"Seriously, you are just like a little kid," I laugh.

"Oh, hey, where are your bags?"

"Think I left them up stairs."

Austin takes of and runs up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Soon he disappears into the practice room. In seconds, he returns carrying my bags.

"Thanks," I say as I reach to take them from him.

"NO!" He shouts, "I'll take your bags for you." His voice full of the childlike excitement as usual.

"Austin, I'm perfectly capable of carrying my own stuff. You don't have to carry them for me."

"I know, but I want to," Austin says flashing me a dazzling smile. I smile back and we head outside towards his car. Together.