Okay, I know I said I probably wouldn't be updating for 2 weeks, but my family is obsessed with Survivor (not me), and they wanted to watch it in the hotel room. Soooo, I took the time to write this chapter. Hope you like it! I probably won't update again until my vacation is over, but I'm basically just chilling in Miami right now until we get on the cruise ship on Sunday. I'll see what I can do, perhaps I may be able to update again before the cruise.

Thank you all so much!

Love, Donna =]

Ally's POV

I guess I finally broke down, opened my eyes, and realized the truth. Austin and I would be great friends. I mean, he's even proven it now. Yesterday he saved me from Logan reading my songbook to everyone, and today he stood up for me in front of Luke, who was being his usual rude jerky self.

Austin could have very easily just gone along with what Luke was saying to me, or he could have even just simply ignored it. Instead he stopped Luke, stood up for me, and probably lost Luke as a friend.

I couldn't help it, I just threw my arms around his neck. Why was I so against our being friends? He's obviously a very nice guy. I was being ridiculous, not talking to him, not being his friend.

But, that's all solved now. We're friends. Yay.

That sounded enthusiastic, right?

For some reason, I'm not very happy. I mean, I'm glad I'm friends with Austin now, but I feel like somehow, SOMETHING is missing. I really don't understand, and I can't put my finger on it, but there's definitely something.

That sounds crazy, doesn't it? What does this mean?

I tried shaking these thoughts out of my head, to maybe write about later. Right now I needed to work. I was at Sonic Boom, zooming around the store, straightening instruments, answering questions.

My dad isn't home this weekend, and he's actually letting me stay home alone. Normally he makes me stay at Trish's, but I told him I could handle it.

At 6:30 business started dying down. I really wanted to close early, instead of stay until 8, but I didn't have a good excuse, I was just tired. I stood behind the counter, rereading a magazine for the third time, when I heard, "Hey Ally."

I looked up, surprised, it was Austin. For the first time that I've seen Austin, I didn't immediately shrink away. In fact, I was really happy to see him.

"Hey Austin. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, just thought I'd pop in and say hi."

"Oh, well, then hi."

"Hi."

I giggled. "It seems we can't get past conversations like this."

"Maybe we should play truths, get to know each other better."

I looked around the store, which made Austin remember that I was working. "Oh, we can play some other time since you're working."

"No. I was actually looking for a reason to close early. So, you've finally given me a good excuse."

"Glad I could help."

I laughed again and made him help me close up the store. Luckily, Austin was more than happy to shoo the two people out of the store who were in there. I would've just waited until they were done, but that worked too.

I led Austin upstairs to my practice room. He sat straight down at the piano bench and played some odd tune. I sat on the chair to his right watching his hands fly across the keys. He stopped and looked up at me, "Will you play with me?"

I wanted to. I wanted more than anything to sit down on that piano bench and play with him. But I couldn't. I shook my head.

Austin seemed disappointed, but also like he was expecting it. He nodded, "Okay, then let's play truths. Here are the rules. You can only ask one question at a time, you must answer it, and you must answer truthfully. Got it?"

Amused by his competitive face, I agreed. "Got it."

"I'll go first. So, Allllllyyyyy." I laughed again. He really is funny. "Ooh. Okay. I have a good question." I braced myself, preparing for the worst. "What is...your favorite color?"

I burst out laughing, that was not what I was expecting. Austin chuckled, clearly having a good time. "Red."

"Interesting, very interesting."

"Mm. Austin...what is your...favorite...vegetable?"

This time it was Austin who burst out laughing. "Vegetable? Really?"

I slapped his arm playfully, "Yes, its very important."

"Um...okay. Uh..carrots are cool."

"Cool carrots. Gotcha."

He flicked my hair, making me smile. Austin is so fun to hang out with. It's actually really weird. I mean, I normally don't act like this. Not that I'm pretending to be someone I'm not. I feel like myself. I'm just being me.

"What is your favorite season?"

"Spring. Everything comes to life."

"Hmm...good point. Your turn."

I've been wondering this for some time now, so I guess this would be the perfect time to ask. "Okay. Um. Why do you want to be friends with me?"

I guess that caught him off guard, and his eyes snapped up to mine. "You really don't know?"

I couldn't speak, I just nodded. "Ally, you aren't like anyone I've ever met before. With you I don't have to pretend to be someone I'm not. I can just be myself. And besides, you're hilarious."

I smiled at my hands, knowing my cheeks were blushing. I felt Austin put his fingers under my chin to lift my head up. "Really Ally, you don't give yourself enough credit."

I looked into his eyes, and the moment felt intense. He was staring back into my eyes, so genuinely, that I couldn't help but believe him. I nodded, yet neither of us moved. We were looking deep into each other's eyes, and we were so close together, I started to feel uncomfortable. The moment wasn't ending, and I even wanted to move closer to him. I could tell he felt the same way and we both started to lean in.

"Um. It's your turn." I said while leaning back.

He turned away from me, his cheeks slightly red. I knew mine must be flaming. What just happened? What does this mean?

Austin looked around the room, and finally his eyes landed on the piano. "Why won't you play with me?"

"Austin, you know I have stage fright."

"Yeah, but you're amazing. You have nothing to worry about. Besides I would never make fun of you if you were bad, but you aren't. You're fantastic."

"Austin. Maybe someday I'll be able to do it. Just, not today."

He nodded and looked at the time on his phone. It was already 8:30. "I should head home. See you tomorrow?"

I nodded, "Yeah."

I walked with him down the stairs towards the door. At the last second he turned and gave me a hug. It was weird and it made my heart skipped a beat. I breathed in the smell of him. He smells really good actually, kind of like summer. Its hard to explain, but it smells good.

He broke away and turned to walk out. "This was fun Ally. And I think we broke our one word response curse."

I laughed. "Hopefully we did."

He smiled, looking in my eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow Ally."

He walked out the store and I turned around, smiling to myself. That was so much fun. I don't know when the last time I had so much fun was. I don't normally hang out with people, aside from Trish of course.

I really wish I could have played the piano with him. That would have been fun. We both obviously love music, so we could have shared in that. Dang it, my stupid stage fright.

Someday I will do it. Hopefully soon. I've been writing songs like crazy lately, and I'd love to be able to share that with him.

I'm working on it. I'm trying to overcome it. Soon I hope I can at least play and sing in front of Austin.

I could do that.

Man, I had so much fun tonight. I can't knock the smile off my face. He's so much fun to hang out with, it was amazing.

I'm glad I'm finally friends with Austin.

Friends.

Friends doesn't sound right.

Why is that?