Okay guys, I'm sorry I suck so much and I took forever to update with an actual chapter. But, this one is really long, I do believe it is my longest yet. So, I hope you accept this as my apology for sucking so much. I hope you guys like it, and please review if you do. Thanks!

Austin's POV

I woke up, smiling to myself. I'm friends with Ally.

Ugh, friends.

Why does that word disgust me?

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts, getting out of bed and getting ready for school.

I was really excited to see Ally today, even though I hung out with her so much yesterday. Being around her was so amazing, so much fun, and I could just be myself. I didn't have to pretend to be perfect, or be someone I'm not. I was just, me.

And that was nice. Really nice.

I saw her at her locker, pulling books out, and I rushed up to her to say hello. I vaguely noticed some people staring at me as I walked by, whispering when I went up to Ally, but I could care less.

"Hey Ally."

"Oh, hey Austin."

"How are you?"

"Do you know how many people have come up to me today, asking if we're dating?"

WHAT? Why would people think that? I could feel my cheeks start to blush,even though I wasn't sure why. "What? Why?"

"I guess some people saw you come into the store last night, and talk to me."

"Hmm. And clearly there's no way we could just be friends."

There it is again. Friends. My heart seemed to sink every time I heard that word. What is going on with me?

"Course not." She said, smiling.

"Don't listen to them. They're stupid."

"Well obviously. They don't even know me."

We started walking away from her locker then. "It is weird though, how many girls have rushed up to me, acting like they've been talking to me their whole life. All of them wanting to know what it was like to be dating you."

I laughed. "What'd you say to them?"

She gave me a mysterious look, that made me start to worry. "I said you stink really badly and that you're completely socially awkward."

"Oh thanks. Glad to know I can count on you."

"No problemo Austin. But really, I don't know how many 'friends' I can handle, so if you wouldn't mind just sucking a little more, so no one would care about me hanging out with you, that'd be great."

"Oh you think I'm awesome?"

"Actually, I told you to suck a little more. Which means you already suck." Good point Ally. "People here are strange, always liking the weird guys. Its like they think you're cool or something. I don't get it."

I laughed, knowing she was joking, but I couldn't help teasing back.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah."

"Then why are you friends with me?"

She laughed, "You forced me."

"I did not. You threw yourself at me."

"You wish."

"Oh, just admit it Ally. I'm pretty dang awesome."

"You just keep telling yourself that."

"NO! You have to tell me!"

"I'm not allowed to lie."

I was thoroughly enjoying our little play fight, my heart beating quickly as I came up with something to respond with.

"You already did. You said I suck."

She laughed, patting my arm. "That wasn't a lie my friend."

I would have continued on, but at that moment the warning bell rang. "I'll see you later."

"I'll be the cool one wearing the red shirt." I looked at the red blouse she was wearing. It was cute, and it looked really pretty on her.

Stop it Austin.

"Cool?"

"Oh, shut up Austin."

She turned around, heading to her class. I could hear her still laughing when she turned around. I chuckled to myself, heading to my own class.

That was fun.

I know, I know. Play fights are childish. But, IT WAS FUN. Don't judge me.

Ally's POV

I know I had been joking with Austin earlier, but it really was starting to annoy me. So many girls, who I had known since the beginning of high school, but had never recognized my existence, came up to me, pretending to be best friends, wanting to know what Austin is like.

I get it, he's popular, girls love him, but COME ON.

I'm friends with the guy, so what?

I don't know why people think we'd be dating. Does it look like we're dating? No. I don't even WANT to date him.

No.

Okay, maybe he is extremely funny, and...I admit he's very good looking...but I don't want to DATE him. We're friends. That's all.

That's all we'll ever be. People like me don't date people like him. It's like a proven fact.

I shrugged off their comments, knowing they were just ignorant, didn't know the truth, and I went throughout my day.

When I finally got to math, the one class I actually have with Austin, I couldn't wait to see him again. Somehow, I felt like being around him would help me relieve this stress all these girls are putting me in, even though he's sorta the center of it.

"Hey Ally."

I smiled as I walked in. "Hey."

I turned to the front of the class, and decided today was the best day ever. We had a substitute teacher. We never have a sub in math! This is awesome.

AND Ms. Martinson left no plans for us, so we were given the period to talk quietly and work on any other school work we may have.

Of course, I didn't have any. Austin probably did, but he chose to ignore it. Dez chatted with us for a few minutes, but then stuck his nose in a book titled, "World of Monsters." Yeah, I don't know either.

"So, do you still think I'm weird, or have you accepted the truth yet?"

I laughed. "Austin, I know the truth."

"So, you know how amazing I am."

"Hmm. Nope, that's not it."

"Ally, you're asking for it."

"What are you gonna do about it?"

He looked around the room, out the door. I don't know what he was thinking but his eyes suddenly snapped back to mine, then looked at the time on the clock. We got out in less than a minute. He had a wicked look on his face, and I was suddenly nervous he'd really get his payback.

"Trust me Ally. I could do it." DO WHAT? Oh my god. The bell rang, and I tried to make my escape, but Austin was quicker. He grabbed my wrist in a tight grip. It didn't hurt, no not at all, but it was impossible to escape. "Tell me, am I weird?"

I couldn't do it. I couldn't give up and tell him he was cool, not weird. I WOULD NOT LET HIM WIN. I took a deep breath and said with all the confidence I could, "Yes."

He smiled at me. "Wrong answer."

Everyone was out of the room by this point, even the sub. I gasped when Austin picked me up, throwing me over his shoulder. "Austin!"

"Ally, you asked for it."

"Put me down!"

"I can't. I'm too weird to."

He continued walking the short distance to the front of the school, when I saw where he was leading me to.

"I swear if you throw me in that fountain I will bite your ears off!"

He just laughed, tightening his hold on me when I started to struggle.

He got to the fountain and stopped at the edge. "Now Ally, I'm going to ask you this one more time, am I weird?"

I didn't want to be thrown into the fountain, so I decided to just tell him. "Ugh. Fine, you win. No. You're not weird."

"Oh good."

He sat me down on my feet. "Now was that so hard?"

I answered him by bending down, and splashing the water in the fountain all over him. And then I ran.

I could hear him chasing after me, and honestly, I was at the disadvantage. I was wearing flip flops, and I made the mistake to change my course, and ended up on the beach. As soon as I hit the sand, I was done for. My shoes filled with sand, causing me to have to stop to pick them up.

Unfortunately, that was all the time Austin needed to catch me. He tackled me, but again, it didn't hurt. He broke my fall. He had me pinned on the ground, unable to move. "Now Ally. That wasn't very nice at all."

I could see him trying not to crack up, and honestly, I was trying not to as well. This was just so freaking funny.

"I think its time for a swim, don't you Ally?"

"What! No!"

My protests were futile though. He easily picked me up, and carried me towards the ocean, where he promptly threw me into the water.

Salty.

He was not getting away this easily. The water I had splashed on him had already dried, and I knew I needed payback.

"Austin, I think I need a hug."

His eyes widened, when he realized what I had planned. "No way!"

Before he could react though, I launched toward him, tackling him in a hug. We both fell in the water, and when we came up, we both looked at each other. Then we started cracking up.

Yes, we really just did that.

Yes, I know, we're like children.

But, it was just so much fun.

That is, until a bunch of girls were suddenly surrounding us, people from school, all of them saying, "See! We knew you two were dating!"

Immediately, I wasn't in the mood to joke around anymore. I told them, yet again,that we're just friends, and I walked away. I lost Austin in the crowd, but that was okay. I didn't really know what to say. I know he'd just tell me to not listen to them, people are just stupid, they'll realize eventually we're not together.

But, I didn't want to hear that.

And, that's because I realized something the very moment Austin threw me in the water.

I wish those girls were right.

I wish I WAS dating Austin.

And that just sucks.

Because I know, I KNOW, I could never be with Austin. He would never like me like that, and we'd never work together.

Which is kind of depressing, you know?

So, I just walked home, and away from Austin.

He called a few times, later that night, but I didn't answer. Maybe if I distance myself from him, maybe not spend ALL of my time talking to him, this could work, we could still be friends.

I'm not saying I'm going to completely avoid him. I'm just saying, I won't be spending every second I have available with him.

That would be the best I think.

Because, the more I hang out with him, the more I seem to like him.

And THAT is not good at all.