Chapter 8:

Hey everyone thanks so so so much for all the support. I'd like to thank all of you for commenting. Honestly all of your comments mean so much to me, I just had smile every time I read them. Thank you all for the support I probably wouldn't have continued if I didn't get the support I'm getting so thank you all so so so so so so so so much! Hope you enjoy this chapter! Its kinda a long one, but I just couldn't stop writing!

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

I sit in a chair outside the principal's office, my arms folded across my chest, and my foot tapping impatiently. Mr. Don, the principal, is currently listening to Cassidy's side of the story. He's already talked to Austin since he didn't have much to do with it. He got off just fine, probably with a warning.

A few minutes later Cassidy comes out in tears, and Mr. Don beckons me inside. I stand and walk through the door he holds open for me. I take a seat in the chair placed in front of his desk and he sits across from me.

"So, tell me what happened."

"Do you want the short version or the long version?"

"Long please."

"It was a fairly cold day, and Mr. Dawson was rushing to the hospital after getting the call that his wife is in labor. He-"

"I meant about what happened today," Mr. Don shoots me a look.

"I was at the same bus stop as Austin, so we got on the bus together. People assumed some things but Austin told them the circumstances."

"What were these circumstances?" Mr. Don interrupts me.

"I was at my mom's house last night who lives in the same neighborhood as Austin, so naturally we were at the same bus stop. We got to school and walked to our lockers. Then Cassidy came up and said she wanted to fuck Austin-"

"Language," He says.

"She wanted to have sex with Austin. And that she didn't want me to have sex with him before her because she's the school whore-" Mr. Don gives me a look, "-Austin said he wasn't interested in doing that with her, so she got mad and questioned him as to why he was hanging out with me. Then she threaten to tell him about freshmen year, so I said and I quote 'don't you fucking dare, you bitch' because I don't really want to relive that. She then continued so I punched her."

Mr. Don sighs and rubs his forehead. "That does not match up with what Cassidy said. She said she came over to talk to Austin and then you started insulting her and cursing at her and she defended herself and said a couple choice words about you, so you punched her."

"Yeah, and she's a liar!" I yell and stand up from my chair.

"Well I don't know that, your story fits with Austin's but you two seem to be friends, we have other witness to talk to, to figure this thing out, we'll call you back in later today, since we can't prove anything, I suggest you go get yourself cleaned up, then head to class."

I stand up wordlessly and leave the room. I walk past the nurse's office and see Cassidy in there holding a tissue to her nose. She glares at me. The nurse she's me and gives me the same look. She's such a bitch, why does everyone believe her? I think. I walk out of the office and head towards a bathroom to finally wash the blood off me. Somehow my clothes managed to stay dry which is good. I clean myself up and head towards math, which I'm actually glad to have for once, because Austin's in that class. I could really use some moral support.

I walk in and all eyes turn to me. Mr. Todd doesn't look me in the eye when he says, "Take a seat."

I shuffle quietly to my seat in the back next to Austin. I slide into my chair and pull out my math notebook. Austin scribbles on his paper writing down the equations on the board. I flip to a blank page and do the same. A second later a folded piece of paper lands on my notebook. I open it.

How'd it go?

-Austin

Terrible, he didn't believe me.

-Ally

How could he not believe you? We had the same story!

-Austin

It's because he thinks we're friends so we came up with the same story.

-Ally

That's so stupid.

-Austin

I know I gave him so many reasons and facts to what happened.

-Ally

Can I ask you something?

-Austin

Sure.

-Ally

What was it that Cassidy was going to say? The reason that you blew up on her?

-Austin

I freeze when I read his note. My eyes start stinging.

I would really like to not talk about it. If you have to know I'll tell you later, in a more private setting, and not over a note that someone else could find and read.

-Ally

I'll eat this piece of paper so no one will know.

-Austin

I'm still not going to tell you over a note.

-Ally

Okay, but I'll still eat this if you don't want anyone to read it.

-Austin

I laugh under my breath at his last comment. The bell rings and I stand up and crumple the paper and hand it to Austin. He shoves it in his mouth causing me to laugh.

"I didn't think you were serious!"

He laughs and spits it out in the trash can. "You should take everything I say seriously because most of the time I am."

"You're so weird."

"I know. See you at lunch!"

We part and head to our separate classes, a smile on my face.

I reach my locker and find Austin standing there at his. I open my locker and throw my bag in. I turn around and head towards the lunchroom, Austin falling in place next to me. We get in line and buy our overpriced pizza and find a table to sit down at.

"How are you doing?" Austin asks me.

"Fine, some people have congratulated me, others just look at me pissed off or terrified, it's really strange."

Austin laughs and I crack a smile. "So should we talk about it now?"

"No, I'd rather wait until after school, it's kinda hard to talk about," I say while looking down

"Okay," He says, "That's fine." He reaches over and rests his hand on mine. I look up and see him smiling, understanding. We finish lunch then head back to our lockers then to history.

Austin and I rush out of the building and head towards the mall. I'm going to meet my dad. I haven't told Austin, he's going to work, I don't have to for the next 45 minutes, so I told him I was just going to hang out, maybe go Christmas shopping.

We reach the mall and Austin heads off towards Sonic Boom and I towards the food court. I purchase a smoothie and begin looking for my dad. Spotting him I move over to his table and take a seat. He looks nervous.

"Hi Dad," I says taking my seat.

"Hi honey, listen I'm so sorry," He says looking into my eyes. There's so much pain in his, I want to forgive him.

"I know, I'll forgive you once you can prove to me you're getting better."

"I'm glad. There's something I need to tell you. I've decided to go to rehab, to get better. So, I won't be home until I'm better and I can take care of you."

"Okay I think that's a great idea," I say smiling, proud of my dad's decision. His eyes shift from me to my left. I follow his gaze and see my mom approaching with her husband, Matt.

"Penny, Matt thanks for coming," My dad says as they take a seat.

"Hi honey!" My mom says, giving me a hug.

"Hi," I say stunned.

"Your dad called us and told us everything," My mom says, "And so you're going to be living with me now, until he's better."

"What?" I question, astonished, "But aren't you going to Africa in a month or something?"

"Yes, and if he's not better by then you'll have to come, which I hope it doesn't come to that because I know how much you hate moving and change."

"We've already gone and picked up your stuff from your room," Matt says.

"I have some stuff at a friend's house too, so I'll need to go get that after work."

"What friend?" My mom asks, "Georgia?"

"No not Georgia, she's dead," I say looking down.

"Oh...right."

"Yeah, anyways I've got to go to work. I'll be home around eight." With that I stand up and go to Sonic Boom, hoping a blonde I've become very fond of can cheer me up.

I walk in and immediately Austin's face lights up as he yells "Ally!" And I find myself smiling. He runs up and embraces me, which catches me off guard.

We spend the shift making jokes and selling instruments somehow. At 7 we close up shop.

"So we can either walk or take the bus," Austin says.

"I don't care, um listen I need to talk to you."

"Yeah?"

"I met my dad today, to talk about what happened."

"What?!" Austin stops in his tracks.

"Yeah he's decided to go to rehab."

"How could you meet with him after what he did? Why didn't you tell me so I could come with you! He could have hurt you!"

"It was in public! I was fine, he was sober! He apologized. I've known you for two days we are you so worried?" I yell at him.

"I don't know, honestly," Austin says and looks down, "I just feel protective of you, and like I wouldn't know what to do if you got hurt, I don't know why that's just how I feel."

"Oh, well that's sweet, I don't think I've ever had some say something like that to me before except- nevermind." I say. We continue walking. "Anyways, my dad's going to rehab so now I have to stay with my mom. She showed up and is going to pick me up from your house around eight."

"Aww lame. Can't you stay another night? I'll be so lonely if you're not here, my parents are gone," Austin pouts.

"I'd rather stay with you, but I don't know, I can ask and hope for the best, I'm sure my mom wouldn't give a damn, she already doesn't care anyways."

"Yes!" Austin says and throws his hands up in victory. I smile and he starts laughing.

"You want to hear something funny?" I ask him.

"Yeah sure, I love laughing."

"Well, it's not really funny just like strange funny? I guess I don't know, just one of those weird coincidences."

"Okay, shoot," He says, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets.

"My mom actually lives in the same neighborhood as you I think. I just find it weird, because that was your excuse this morning."

"Woah that's weird. But cool, now while you're living there we can hang out easier," Austin says giddy, and smiling.

"Yep," I say popping the "p."

He smiles and bumps my shoulder with his pushing me over a bit. I do the same, and we continue walking to his house, sometimes brushing shoulders, not always to push each other over. Sometimes, just to know the other is there.