Oh my goodness guys, I totally suck. I AM SO SORRY. I haven't updated this in forever, and that totally sucks duck eggs. Please don't hate me. I hope you like this chapter, and I'll try to update as soon as I can. And PLEASE REVIEW IF YOU DON'T HATE ME.

Thanks!

Ally's POV

Oh shoot. Any hopes I had of staying away from Austin completely disappeared when he just now barged into the practice room, giving me a huge hug. Wow. I feel like such a jerk. I probably made him so miserable these past few weeks with not talking to him.

Oh, who am I kidding? He's AUSTIN MOON. He has tons of friends. He doesn't care that little Ally Dawson stopped talking to him for a while.

But, then why is he hugging me so tightly?

"Ally."

Oh crap. What do I say? I haven't even had a chance to think this through yet! So, being the coward that I am, I tried to ignore him, act indifferent.

"Oh. Austin."

This did not have the desired effect. I was hoping he'd just give up on this and walk away, leaving me here alone. Okay...well honestly, I WANTED him here. But, I wanted him to WANT to be here. If that makes sense.

Instead of this though, I could see his eyes turn red with anger.

"You have gotta be kidding me Ally. Why the heck are you ignoring me? What could I have possibly done to you?"

Great. He's hurt. I mean, he didn't DO anything. "Nothing Austin."

"Then why won't you talk to me? Why have you been ignoring me?"

"I haven't been."

"YES YOU HAVE ALLY!" Sheesh...no need to shout.

I continued to act clueless, really hoping he'd just drop it. "I don't know what you're talking about Austin!"

"Oh. Okay." He said sarcastically. "How about the fact that every time I try to talk to you, you run away? How we haven't spoken in over 3 weeks? Or how Trish has even told me you don't want to speak with me?"

"Look. There's nothing going on. Why don't you just run along with your cool friends and we can both get on with our lives."

"Is that what this is about? My friends?"

"Of course not, Austin. This is-"

"Ally, my friends were jerks, I know. I haven't talked to them since that happened."

"LIKE I WAS SAYING, this isn't about them."

"Then what could this possibly be about?"

"Nothing! Seriously Austin. Just go back to your adoring fan club."

I was starting to get upset. I wanted to tell him what was up. I wanted to tell him I was scared, scared because I like him. Too much. But I can't tell him. He'd just laugh in my face.

Unfortunately, I was starting to tear up a little. I had done my best to avoid him, so I wouldn't have to go through this conversation. I tried SO hard. And it had been working pretty well. Until now obviously.

Austin noticed my eyes welling up with tears. "Ally. Come on, I know something is up."

"Austin, we were barely even friends. You don't even know me."

"Oh really?" I could see him getting angry again. "I know that you're Ally Dawson. You actually like school and learning, which is kind of weird. You love pickles. You're best friend is Trish. You practically live here at Sonic Boom because you love the feeling you get when you're surrounded by instruments. You love writing songs for yourself. I know that you can sing like an angel. I know that we were actually friends, and it wasn't one sided. And I KNOW, something is up."

Throughout his speech, the tears in my eyes started flowing down my cheeks. "Why do you even care Austin?"

He grabbed my face, gently wiping away my tears with his thumb. This simple gesture left me breathless, my heartbeat quickening under his touch.

"Ally..how could you not know?"

What? "Not know what?"

"Ally." He took a big breath. "I like you. I like you a lot. I like you so much that these past 3 weeks were miserable. Right when I finally thought things were going great, and I'd maybe actually have a CHANCE, you push me away. And I have no idea why."

I barely heard the rest of his rant. I was stuck on the words "I like you."

Austin Moon just said he likes me. Um...okay. Well..he doesn't know what he's talking about. Soon he'll realize just how unfit of a choice I am, and he'll leave me. This can only end in heart break.

"You don't mean that."

He scrunched his eyebrows. "Of course I do Ally."

All I could do was stare into his eyes. He was clearly waiting for me to speak, but no words came into my mind.

"Well..?"

"What do you want me to say Austin? That I like you too? Fine! I like you too Austin! There, I said it! Now will you please leave?"

I tried to turn away from him, get away from his scrutinizing eyes, but he grabbed my arm, making me face him. "Woah woah woah. Hold up. You like me too?"

"Yes Austin." I sighed. "But clearly this would never work out, so I think it'd be best if you'd just leave."

I could see the hurt and confusion in his eyes. I didn't really want him to leave. In fact, I wanted him to stay with me, hold me in his arms, tell me I'm wrong, and everything can work out between us.

"What do you mean this wouldn't work?"

"Well...you say you like me now. But soon you'll realize I'm not nearly cool enough to be with someone like you. And then you'll leave me behind, and it just isn't worth it. I'd rather save myself all the heartbreak now."

His eyes softened. Gosh, why won't he just leave?!

"Ally, I would NEVER hurt you."

"Oh come on Austin. Be real."

"I am. I'm being totally serious. I would never, not in a million years, do anything to hurt you Ally."

I couldn't speak. Austin was too close to me, I could barely breathe. I only managed an "Oh" before Austin cupped my face in my hands, starting to lean forward.

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. He's gonna kiss me. I've been waiting for this for the longest time now. Since we first became friends really.

Wait. What? No! I decided against this. I said no. What am I doing?

His other hand snaked around on my waist, pulling me in closer to him. By this time I couldn't breathe at all. Like I was literally holding my breath. I saw him look down at my lips, just inches away from his own. My lips started to tingle. Oh my god, is he gonna kiss me or what?

Wait. I don't want him to. Do I? Of course not. I have so many reasons why this would never work.

How come I can't remember a single one of them right now?

He inched closer, our breaths mingling. I was just waiting for his lips to come down onto mine now. My eyes closed in anticipation. I could feel Austin grab my waist tighter, pulling me in ever closer. And then I shot my eyes open.

"Austin, stop." I pushed away from him. "I can't do this. We can't do this. YOU can't do this." Oh my god, why can't I speak? "You don't really want this. So I'll just save you the trouble. We're not together Austin. We're not friends. Everything is just...done."

And then, before he could say anything, I ran out of the practice room, down the stairs, and running to a little hidden pond in the mall.

Austin said he liked me. I admitted I liked him too. He almost kissed me. I almost let him. I just ran away from him. Oh crap.

I wanted nothing more than to run back to him, and crash my lips onto his. I wanted to tell him that everything would be fine, everything would work out, and that I like him SO MUCH.

But, I can't. I'm too afraid of getting hurt.

He's Austin Moon for crying out loud. Why would he like someone like me?

I'm just Ally.

No one special.