Chapter Seven:
"What do I have to do, to be the latest choice."
I woke up at my desk, my face lying on the notebook. I was nervous that they lines tattooed themselves to my face, but when I looked in the mirror, it was clear. I took a shower and threw on my clothes. As I paced around my room for my clothes, my eyes kept darting back to my paper. There's words written all over it, but none of it has been put together. Just random lyrics that popped into my head, but I don't know if I'd be able to form them into a song.
I run my hair through my messy wet hair once more before going downstairs. My parents were gone to work and I was shocked and/or annoyed when I noticed a piece of paper on the counter. It's definitely not time for more chores already.
The note simply asked me to mow the lawn if I felt 'capable'. I wanted to not do it and tell them I felt exactly that, not capable. But if I lied about that, they'd get worried and probably make me go back to the doctors. Plus, I really had nothing else to do today. The only downside was I'd have to shower again after.
I go outside and into our garage. The push mower is in the back, behind a few new boxes and my dad's motorcycle. I sigh loudly, realizing that there's more work involved, like getting to the mower itself. Nothing ever seems to be easy when my parents give me something to do.
After sliding the boxes over to the other side, I roll the mower out from behind the motorcycle slowly, making sure not to hit it or scratch it. I'm finally successful and bring it outside. I shut the garage door behind me and when I turn around, I jump, "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Ally says, standing awkwardly in front of me.
"Its fine, I just didn't expect you to be standing there." I admit, leaning against the mower handle.
"I see you have chores again already." She says.
I shrug, "I just have to mow the lawn, that's all." I say.
"What are you doing after?" She asks.
I stop myself from shrugging again and instead shake my head, "I don't know; nothing I guess." I say.
She just nods and puts a loose curl behind her ear. I raise an eyebrow at her and smirk, "Why are you wondering?" I ask.
She shrugs, "Oh, no reason. So did you do your homework yet?" She asks, catching me off guard. I turn and look at the mower like I noticed something out of place. I can't stop myself from shrugging this time, "Not really." I lie.
"That's too bad. You have time though." She says.
"Yeah I guess." I say.
"So, how long is it going to take you to mow?" She asks.
"I don't know, not too long." I say.
"Can I wait inside? I'll make us lunch." She says.
I nod, surprised, "Sounds good." I tell her.
I don't know why she's here, or what her intentions on, but I really could care less. She can come over whenever she wants; I don't think I'll ever mind her company. Plus, she's going to make me lunch? What did I do to deserve this honor?
I mow the lawn faster than I ever have before. I may have missed a few spots and it may look really sloppy but hey, I mowed, I did what they asked. So I will totally win the argument later. I shove the mower back into the garage and walk inside. She is seated at the bar, two bowls of what looks like pasta sitting there, one in front of her and one beside her. I sit down next to her and smile, "What is this?" I ask.
"It's just my famous chicken alfredo." She states proudly.
"We had the stuff for it?" I ask, surprised. I can never find anything good in that thing.
"Yes, yes you did. Now eat it before it gets cold." She says.
I obey her orders and dig in. By the third bite, I understand why she calls it her 'famous' chicken alfredo. I was beyond delicious, "Ally, this is awesome!" I tell her.
She takes another bite of her own, "I know." She says with a grin.
"You can sing, play the piano, and cook. You're perfect!" I tell her, before realizing what I just let out of my mouth. My face instantly turns red and I stare into my half empty bowl.
"Sorry, that was probably a little much." I say to her.
She laughs and waves her hand, "Nah, it was nice to be complemented." She says.
I turn to her with a serious expression, "You deserve to be complemented a lot, everyday." I say to her. She smiles and nods, turning back to her bowl. I sigh silently and finish my food, wishing I could say more, or do something, but I don't know what.
When we are both finished, I clean up our dishes and meet Ally in my living room. When I walk in, she is sitting on the couch, biting her fingernails. I take a seat next to her and study her, she seems different lately, "Ally, are you doing okay?" I ask her.
She looks at me then, her face full of confusion, "Yeah? Why wouldn't I be?" She asks.
"I'm just making sure." I tell her.
"Well, I have been stressing out about me and Dallas lately." She says.
"I figured." I tell her.
"I just don't know what to do. He's been acting a lot different lately, and I don't like it." She says.
"I'm sorry." I tell her, because I honestly don't know what to say about it.
"I know. I'm just going to give it time and give him space, he obviously needs it… Or maybe he wants it. I don't know what he wants anymore, and frankly, I'm sick of it." She says, "But enough about me, how's your love life?" She asks.
"Huh… What?" I ask, not expecting that question.
"You know, do you have your eyes on anyone?" She asks.
I shake my head, "Uh, no."
"I'm sure someone has their eye on you." She says.
"Why would they?" I ask.
"Well you're a great person, and you're really talented and stuff." She says.
"So?" I ask.
"I'm surprised you don't have a girlfriend. Have you ever had one?" She asks.
"I've had plenty." I lie.
"Have you really Austin? Because I haven't see you with a girl since I've known you." She says.
"Okay, I've had one girlfriend, when I was thirteen." I say.
She laughs, "Does that even count?"
"I think it does!" I say defensively.
"Did you kiss her?" She asks.
"Of course I did." I tell her.
"How long was it?" She asks, sitting Indian style now, facing me.
"How long was what?" I ask.
"How long was the kiss?" She asks like I'm a third grader.
"I don't remember!" I tell her.
"Yes you do." She says.
"Fine; like three seconds." I admit.
"So you really have never even kissed a girl, now that is a shocker!" She says, laughing like a little school girl.
I look towards the door, "You can leave if you want." I say blankly.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to offend you. It's just surprising." She says.
"Why?" I ask.
"Well everything I've heard about in school makes you sound like a player." She says.
"I'm more like a flirt, I guess." I tell her.
"I guess so." She says.
"What about you?" I ask her.
She tilts her head to the side, "What about me?"
"Have you dated other guys besides Dallas?" I ask her.
She shakes her head, "No, I haven't."
"So I guess we're kind of even." I tell her.
"Well in the number of relationships we've had, I guess so." She says.
"But you and Dallas have done more than I have, obviously." I state.
She shrugs, "Well we've kissed longer than three seconds." She says, laughing.
"The door, it's right there." I say, pointing.
"Sorry, sorry." She says, "New subject." She says.
"Thank you." I tell her.
"Actually, I should probably get going, I have work soon." She says, standing up.
"Okay." I tell her.
She walks over to the door and turns around, "If you are ever interested in someone and need some help, let me know! I can hook you up." She says, and winks.
"Oh okay." I tell her as she walks out the door.
I walk upstairs to my room and sit in front of the notebook again. I read the line over again, "The way you turn me on like a light switch, I might just go crazy." I sing out loud, "Because you're my best friend's baby." I sing out loud after, writing it down.
"I don't know what to do." I sing louder, rubbing my hands through my hair, pulling slightly.
This is bad, so bad. This can't be happening to me, can it? It's not true; I'm just going crazy right? Now, unfortunately I'm not. I'd give anything to just be going crazy, or in a bad dream, but that's not the case here, "I'm in love with someone else's girl." I sing out loud, and that girl is Ally.
Later that night…
"Are you just going to lie there all night? Are you feeling okay?" My mother asks me, as I lie down on my stomach on the couch.
"Yes, and I feel fine." I mumble through the cushions.
"What's the matter?" She asks.
"Not a thing." I say.
"I can't understand a word you're saying." She says.
I sit up and sigh, "Nothing's wrong mom, can't I just be lazy?" I ask.
"I did not raise a lazy son." My father says as he enters the room.
"There's nothing to do." I tell them.
"It's a weekend, you always go out." My mother says.
"Are you guys trying to get rid of me?" I ask.
"Of course we aren't! We were just wondering why you weren't doing anything. Did you have a fight with your friends?" My mother asks.
I sigh louder, "No I did not." I say. I stand up and look at my parents with a blank expression, "I'll go see what Dez is up to." I say, and then walk out the door.
I couldn't tell my parents the real problem. What was I supposed to say? Oh, I'm bummed because I just figured out I'm in love with Dallas' girlfriend Ally, you remember her right? Or I could have said that I've lost it, I'm going completely insane, but that wouldn't have went well either. I wasn't really going to find Dez either, I was going to go to Mel's and order one of their famous strawberry smoothies and sit at one of the tables and drown in my own guilt.
But those plans got ruined when I walked in, spotting Dallas and Ally at the table closest to the table, I go to turn around and walk away, but it was too late; I've been spotted.
"Austin!" Dallas calls from the table. I take a deep breath and turn back around, facing them with a wide surprised grin.
"Oh hey guys!" I say in a terrible fake happy voice.
"What's up man?" Dallas asks.
"Oh nothing, was just coming for a smoothie and then going on my way." I say. Ally is silent, munching on some fries that they are sharing.
"You should sit with us." Dallas says.
I wave my hand in the air, "Oh no it's fine, I don't want to bother you guys!" I say.
"No really, it's fine." Ally says.
No actually, it's not fine. I don't think sitting with my best friend and his girlfriend who happens to be the girl of my dreams is a good idea, nope, not at all. But I am Austin; a pushover when it comes to my friends, so I order my smoothie and take a seat across from them.
"What have you been up to today?" Dallas asks.
Well earlier I hung out with your girlfriend, and after she left I realized I love her, and then I spent the rest of the day sulking from my couch, "Oh nothing really, chores and stuff." I say.
"That's no fun. What are you up to around eight? We are all going to the beach, there's going to be this awesome party; no alcohol either." He says, smiling at Ally. She smiles back at him, but it doesn't look too convincing.
"I don't know…" I say.
"You should go, it will be fun." Ally says.
"I guess I will go for a little while." I say.
"Great!" Dallas says.
I sip on my smoothie and listen to them talk about the party and their food. But my mind keeps going elsewhere, like to my song and my feelings for Ally. In my crazy mind, I'm with you all the time I think to myself. I've lost it.
"So we'll all meet up later?" Dallas asks, standing up. Ally does the same.
"Yes that sounds good." I tell them, and they both wave and leave.
And now I'm finally here, alone like I originally planned. But now I actually have plans, to go to a beach party. But the truth is I'm nowhere near in a mood to party, or be on a beach, or be around Dallas, or Dallas and Ally. I just want to go home, lie on my bed and wonder why I'm stupid enough to let this happen, but instead I pay for my smoothie and head home, to get dressed for whatever tonight brings.