This chapter sucks and I hate everything. So with that out of the way, how is everyone? Good, good. Oh, how am I, you ask? How generous of you! Well, you'll be happy to know that I'm. Freaking. Ticked. Seriously, Rocky? You HAD to get a tattoo? And an ugly one at that? And a big one? In a place where people can actually SEE it? Listen, people, if you like his tattoo, that's your opinion, and I respect it. But in my opinion, it was not a good decision. And in case you're wondering, no I'm not leaving the R5 Family just cuz Rocky got a tattoo that I hate. I'm not one of those morons. Gosh, sorry I'm being so snappy, I've just had a really bad week. Ugh, I hate that tattoo, though. Anywhoozles, I'm in a crappy mood if you didn't notice so I don't really feel creative enough to do a disclaimer. It would really help if you guys sent in prompts. Seriously. Give me ANY prompt (as long at it's appropriate and stuff) and I'll use it. I NEED them! I'm not creative! So, for now, I'll leave you with a boring disclaimer and a random thing I felt like doing. If you recognize anything, it's obviously not the first time you've seen it, therefore it's impossible for me to own it.

Random Thing I Felt Like Doing

*R5 At School*

Teacher: Ellington, I need first and last names on your papers! Not just your last name!

Teacher: Rocky, quit making faces at the girls! You aren't Flynn Rider!

Teacher: Rydel, WAKE UP!

Teacher: Ross, stop playing that guitar! Where did you even get it? This is math class!

Teacher: Riker, stop yelling at everyone to get back to work, that's my job!

Teacher: Ellington, quit drawing cats on all your papers!

Teacher: Rocky, quit drawing on yourself! (I'm really mad about the tattoo)

Teacher: Rydel, we're not allowed to have colored hair at school! (I pity the schools who actually can't)

Teacher: Ross, quit daydreaming! Come back to the real world!

Teacher: Riker, quit yelling movie references at Rydel across the room!

Teacher: Ellington, QUIT BANGING ON THE DESKS!

*The teacher screams, curls up in a ball in the corner, and rocks back and forth until paramedics come and take her to the insane asylum with the other teachers*

*Ellington is forced to switch schools away from the Lynches*

And that, my friends, is how the Lynches became homeschooled.

History Repeats, Sorta

(Ally's P.O.V.)

Austin and I should get awards for speed-sleeping. I fall asleep in about two seconds, and Austin's already there when I end up wherever we go when we're both asleep.

I run to my boyfriend-and no, it's not stupid. If you saw what I just saw, you'd be running to your boyfriend, too. I quickly look at his stomach and see that he's okay. I guess wounds go away when we're asleep.

"Austin!" I exclaim, hugging him. Gosh, I hug him a lot, don't I?

"Told you I was fine," he says.

"Yeah, when you're asleep. Meanwhile, in the real world, you're losing blood from a huge gash in your stomach given to you by a pendulum! This is sounding like a Poe novel," I say with distress.

"Only you would connect this to a book," he says. "And Sarah's obviously not ready for me to die yet, or she would've let that pendulum saw me in half. She'll send the Phlegethon fire soon enough, and I'll drink it, scream, and be fine."

"Why scream?" I ask.

"That stuff hurts going down! You didn't drink yours the last time, but imagine fire going down your throat, 'cause that's what it is. Literally."

"Yeah, I know that," I say. "I'm sorry. If I hadn't gotten so jealous last summer, none of this would've happened."

"But remember what I said before?" he says. "We probably wouldn't have gotten together if things hadn't happened the way they did."

"I'd be fine with that if it meant you weren't getting hurt!" I exclaim. He sighs.

"Ally, I know it's hard. I mean, I feel the same way seeing you get hurt. But there's really no way to stop it at this point. So I guess what we'll both have to do is remember that it will get better, one way or another." Austin's being more serious than I've ever seen him, and that adds a new reality to this whole situation.

"No," I argue. "There must be something we can do. I know our conversations have been going in circles lately, but we needto figure this out!"

"We can't figure this out, Ally! You think you can fix anything, solve every problem, but the truth is, you can't, Ally! This is real life, not a math problem!" Austin exclaims. I look up at him sadly.

"It's just like last summer," I say.

"What?" he says, still breathing heavily from his outburst.

"You gave up on your memories, and now you're giving up on trying to escape. You're giving up on me. All you ever do is give up."

"I give up? Yeah, sure, I give up. If I give up so much, then explain how I'm a famous pop star. If I give up so much, then explain how I woke up from that coma. If I give up so much, explain why I kept trying to save you from Piper. If I give up so much, explain how I ended up back together with you! I could've given up on you, Ally, but I didn't. I knew the second I walked out of the practice room that day that I'd get you back. I told myself I wouldn't give up. I told myself I'd do anything to win you back. You call that giving up, Ally?! You call enduring all this torture without a word of complaint giving up?! It would be so easy to just let go and die right now. It'd be a lot easier than what I'm going through now. But I'm not. You know why? I made a promise that I wouldn't leave you. And I keep my promises. I'm holding on for you, Ally. And if you call that 'giving up,' then you're not nearly as smart as I thought you were." I don't say anything to that, and he doesn't say anything more.

We stand there, just staring at each other for who-knows-how-long. Austin looks angry and tired. He has circles under his eyes, and he's panting slightly. His hair is a mess, and his jaw is tight. After a while, he sighs.

"I'm not giving up," he says in a soft tone. "I'm just telling you that Sarah's thought of everything, and there's nothing we can do at this point." When I don't reply, he wraps his strong arms around my waist, and I don't hesitate to hug him back.

His lips find mine, and I put my apology into the kiss, and he puts in his. It's not like when we normally kiss, or 'cannibalism,' as we've taken to calling it; it's soft, and gentle, and slow. He brings a hand up to cup my cheek, and he rubs slow circles with his thumb. After a while, he pulls away slightly, but our lips are still lightly touching.

"I'll never give up on you," he whispers, making my lips tingle. I know how cheesy all of this is, I really do. But you have to understand the situation, and I'm sure you do. So if either of us is being unrealistically cheesy, we have a reason. Dangerous situations are what make couples cheesy and predictable, but there's no arguing with the fact that in the right circumstances, it's okay to be a little cheesy. And these are the right circumstances. We're not sure which kiss or hug will be our last.

Austin kisses me again, this time for a shorter amount of time. We pull away slowly, not wanting to ruin the moment but knowing we'll have to eventually.

"We shouldn't fight," Austin says. I nod. "Especially not now, considering all that's happening. If something happens and we're in a fight… Just know that I always have, and always will love you, no matter what." My emotions are really fragile right now, so him saying that brings me to tears.

"No matter what I say to you, I'll always love you, too," I tell him. He wraps me in another hug and we stay like that until I stop crying. Austin sighs.

"Maybe we should wake up now. I dunno how much blood I've lost, but it must be a lot. And maybe Sarah's sent the Plegethon fire," he says. I nod.

"You're right. I guess I'll see you in reality," I say. He nods and disappears. I sigh and wake up as well.

What I see is not pretty. Austin is lying in a pool of his own blood, and the gash in his stomach looks… Not healthy. As in, it looks like it's already been infected. How is that even possible? It's green around the edges, and there's puss all over it, and it's swelling. Also, blood is still gushing from it, and Austin looks paler than a vampire. The wound looks like the wound he got from when that dumb monster scratched him. And then the pieces fit together.

The blade was poisoned, wasn't it? I ask Austin. He manages to look at me and raise an eyebrow.

How did you-

I'm observant enough to realize that this looks like a much worse version of that monster scratch.

Oh.

Why didn't you tell me? I ask him.

I didn't want you to have more to worry about.

I'm already at my worry limit. I appreciate it, but don't you think it's best for us to tell each other everything that goes on in here?

Yeah, sorry, he says.

It's fine, I say. Can you feel where the poison is?

Everything below my ribcage is numb. I'd say I have about… Ten minutes. I try to stay calm. I already lost Austin to a poisoned wound once, am I really going to lose him again for the same reason?

Luckily, a cup appears in front of him. He grabs it and drinks it, wincing as the fire enters his mouth. Instantly, the gash begins to close and I assume the poison is losing effect.

Poison and wounds are gone. But so is most of my blood.

You'll probably be weak for a while, but if you're not dead yet, I think you'll be fine. Just please get out of that puddle of blood. It's disgusting. Austin awkwardly rolls out of the blood, still too weak to stand.

Ow, he groans.

You're complaining, I say. You told me you took the torture without complaint.

Yeah, I do. I'm complaining about the aftereffects. No one ever said anything about those. I roll my eyes.

I guess I'll let it slide, but only 'cause you almost died.

You're so generous, he says sarcastically. I grin.

I know. Austin rolls his eyes, but he smiles anyway. That smile goes away quickly when Sarah appears in Austin's cell.

We just can't get a break, can we? Austin says. He and Sarah start talking, but it looks kind of pathetic with him lying on the ground and looking weak. She's so annoying, he says. Scary, but annoying.

Agreed, I say.

Oh, and Sarah's saying she's gonna torture you involving me again, considering how tortured you were last time, so just remember that I'm still here, and that I'm alive, and that I love you and only you. Not sure what she's gonna do exactly, but I'm just warning you. I nod.

Thanks, I reply.

I'm hungry, Austin says all of a sudden. I look in his cell and see that Sarah's still talking.

That was random. Aren't you listening to Sarah?

Heck no. She's annoying and is just babbling about how much she's gonna torture us before we die. I'd rather talk to you.

Fair enough. Well, I don't have any food for you.

But I want pancakes! he complains.

You'll be fine, I tell him.

But-

Complain about being hungry again, and I'll help Sarah with your torture. He shuts up. Sarah says something and Austin nods. Then, they both look at me. I raise an eyebrow and wave awkwardly.

What's going on? I ask. Austin doesn't reply. Sarah points at me and says something, and Austin rolls his eyes. Then he manages to stand up, but he has to lean against the wall so he doesn't fall over. He's really weak. I'm not sure if it's on purpose or not, but he blocks Sarah from my view.

Austin? I say.

Everything's fine, he replies. Sarah's just being annoying. Don't move, though. I raise an eyebrow but stay put.

After a few minutes, I see Austin being surrounded by a strange yellow light, almost as if he's glowing. I know it's one of Sarah's spells, and that worries me.

You're okay, right? I ask.

Yeah, fine, he replies. Not even sure what this spell is supposed to- Austin stops talking abruptly.

What happened? I ask. No reply. Austin? Hello? Answer me! I say.

I don't know who Austin is, but stop talking to me! What's even going on? Who are you? Who am I? Where am I? Austin says.

Austin, I told you memory jokes aren't funny. You know how hard that was for me.

I'm not making a joke! I honestly don't remember anything! the blonde says.

So that's what the spell did.

What spell?

You see that old lady in your cell with you?

Yeah, he says.

That's Sarah. She's super evil and wants us dead. Don't turn around, but I'm right behind you. Our friend Piper gave us the ability to communicate like this.

Oh. Well, who are you?

Ally, your best friend and girlfriend, I say calmly.

Oh. Who am I?

Austin Moon. You're a famous singer, every girl in the world is in love with you, and you love pancakes.

Oh. The old lady-Sarah, right?-is telling me she's my grandma and that I need to help her torture you. She says you're evil.

Don't believe her.

I don't. If you're my girlfriend, I think I should trust you more than her. I nod, but then realize he can't see me.

Good.

Sarah says one last thing to Austin, and then she disappears. Austin quickly turns around.

You're real, he says with relief. I thought I was going insane. Wow, you're really pretty, he says. You're really dating me?

Yup, I say.

Other guys are probably really jealous, then, he says smugly. I laugh. I'm surprised at how calm I'm being, even though he lost his memories again.

Oh, totally, I tell him.

Cool! he exclaims. I mean, I don't blame them. You're really pretty, he repeats. Wait, I already said that. I laugh. So, why are we in these cells again? I tell him the long story.

Wow. We're not very lucky, are we? he says.

I dunno, I say. We met, didn't we? I'd say that was pretty lucky. He nods thoughtfully.

And you being my girlfriend is really lucky, too.

Not as lucky as you being my boyfriend. He smiles.

Pretty and nice. I like you, he says.

I'd hope so, I say, grinning. Gosh, I've changed since last summer. I would've been freaking out if I was like I was last summer. And while I still am freaking out, I'm able to be calm on the outside. I know from experience that when Austin doesn't have his memories, he needs a confident person telling him what he needs to know. And because Trish and Dez aren't here at the moment, I have to be the confident one.

So, what do we do now? he asks.

We wait until Sarah comes and gives you your memories back.

Oh. Fun, he says, trying to be optimistic. Since we have nothing better to do, do you think you could tell me more about my life? Gosh, that's a really weird thing to ask a person.

Well, you have a reason. What do you want to know? He shrugs.

What do you want to tell me? I shrug. Oh, I know! Tell me more about us.

Us?

You know, our friendship, our relationship, how we met, what we do for fun, all that jazz. Did he just say 'all that jazz?' Austin without memories isn't as cool as normal Austin. I stifle a laugh.

Well, I start, we definitely have a unique relationship. Sometimes we act like just music partners, sometimes best friends, sometimes brother and sister, and sometimes boyfriend/girlfriend. Like, we'll be arguing over something stupid like brother and sister, but then we'll kiss and make up like boyfriend and girlfriend. Or we'll be writing a song and act like serious music partners, but then we'll be reminded of an inside joke and get totally off topic like best friends.

That's pretty cool, Austin says. We're like a four in one deal.

What? I ask.

I dunno, he says. I'm not good at this.

Not good at what? I ask laughing.

This. I raise an eyebrow. You're making me nervous!

I'm making you nervous? I ask. I never thought I'd hear Austin Moon say that.

But you're so pretty, how could I not be nervous?

'Cause we're also best friends. Besides, considering I know you better than you know you at this point, I can tell you that you never get nervous, especially not around pretty girls. Actually, anyone can tell you that. And either way, I'm not even that pretty. There are a lot of girls prettier than me out there, so I have no idea why he's so nervous around me. I'm not that special.

Are you kidding? You are the single most gorgeous girl ever. I can't even come up with a girl in my imagination that's prettier than you. And cue the blush. At least I managed this far without turning into a tomato. You seriously didn't think you were that pretty? I shrug. Well, next time there isn't a wall separating us, he knocks on the glass wall to prove his point, slap me for not telling you often enough how beautiful you are.

I definitely remember Austin being even sweeter than normal without his memories. And for some reason, with his memories gone, his eyes look a lot bigger and more puppy-ish, like a child's. I don't know why, but it's cute in a sad way.

Do you always blush this much? I groan and cover my face.

Don't talk about it, I complain. It's your fault.

It's cute, though.

You've told me that, but that's a matter of opinion. He shakes his head.

Nope, it's fact.

Whatever, I say. Austin yawns.

I'm tired.

That's weird, 'cause you've been asleep for most of the day. Austin shrugs.

Maybe it's the memory spell making my brain all weird and tired.

Could be, I guess, I say. Well, if you're sleeping, then I'm sleeping. Because of the communication, we see each other in our dreams.

Whoa. That girl… What was her name again?

Piper.

Piper has some cool powers. I nod. So, all I have to do is go to sleep and I'll see you?

As long as I'm asleep, too.

Well, then I guess I'll see you in my dreams. I nod and go to sleep. Gosh, if I ever get out of here, I'm gonna have to pull a week of all-nighters just to get my sleeping schedule back on track.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. I'm done with this chapter. Guys, if you really don't like me as a person right now, I'm sorry, but, again, this is not my week. A lot of bad things have happened, and I'm ready to be over. Literally, the only thing keeping me going is the fact that there's one week till the taping. So, again, I'm really sorry I'm being rude in these A/Ns, but they obviously reflect my mood, and my mood obviously isn't too great. I mainly depressed that my friend moved away and ticked that Rocky got a tattoo. Do you guys even like that whole 'If you liked it, put this?' Tell me the answer in a review, cuz I don't wanna do it if you guys don't like it. Also, because I'm having a crappy week, first person to make me smile with their review gets a shoutout. Thanks for reading, no matter how crappy my chapters are. No matter what I say in these author's notes, I love you guys like family, and when I say it every chapter, I really do mean it. I know I can talk to you guys and you won't care if I'm crazy or weird. I really appreciate all your reviews and how nice you guys are. I honestly didn't expect so many nice people when I first joined this website. And I realize this is WAY too long, so I'm gonna end it here. Until next time.

~Maddie (I'm in a bad mood. Need I explain myself about the absence of the smiley face?)