Hi everyone!

Ah. Chapter 12. This has got to be my most favourite one yet. Dare I say it, even more than chapter 11. And it's not because something happens in chapter 12 or anything that makes me love it so much...

I just have one thing to say to this chapter: :)

Enjoy! I don't own anything!

your love was so real

Austin walked down the hall of the school two days later; Thursday. All eyes were on him for some odd reason. He frowned as he was preparing to push through the crowd but they parted for him, watching him. He was growing uncomfortable from the eerie silence. Everyone was looking at him with stony expressions, as if he was an alien.

Well, at least he came in peace.

Austin shuffled his feet down the hall. No one dared to take their eyes off him. They shut their mouths as they watched him pass. Austin kept his head low as he walked through the parted crowd. As if he just parted the Red Sea himself.

He made his way to his locker. That's when all the conversation and hushed whispered directed towards him started up.

"Did you hear?"

"That's the guy Ally went home with?"

"Isn't that goody-two shoes Baboon?"

Austin opened his locker, stuffing his books and bag inside neatly, as he always did. Suddenly, his locker door slammed shut. Dez was looking at him, scanning him up and down and holding his shoulders.

"What did she do to you? Buddy you okay? Blink once for no and twice for yes!" Dez yelled frantically, shaking his shoulders. Austin looked at Dez before shoving him off a little roughly.

"Quit it will you!" He snapped. Dez looked worried.

"Oh no! She's gotten to you! What has she done? I told her—"

"It's okay, buddy. She didn't do anything," he muttered as Dez turned and looked at him with a look of pure confusion. He looked Austin up and down again before speaking.

"Really?" Dez asked with narrowed eyes and stared at him incredulously.

"Really," he said truthfully, a small grin forming on his face. To be honest, Austin was happy. He hadn't felt happy with his life for a while. It was the same all the time. The boring routine, the boring books and straight A's. He needed change. His first act was drinking that first night at Kira's house.

Dez was stony at first, but then cracked a grin. He grabbed Austin into a headlock and began to mess up his hair.

"Aw, my little Aussy is growing up!" Dez smiled. Austin gasped at his dishevelled hair. He quickly fixed it back down, patting it frantically as the warning bell went. He quickly grabbed his physics books and jogged to the class, getting there in record time again.

Mr. Shinslimbraugh was already in the classroom. Austin greeted his teacher before taking a seat right at the front. He took a few moments to set up his binder and pen before the normals walked in.

He watched as they all froze when their eyes landed on him. He furrowed a brow at them. Chuck was the first to push his way into the class, shaking his head sadly at Austin as he took a seat in the row next to him. The class followed Chuck's example.

Austin frowned as Chuck leaned over and whispered something into his ear as the laters came rushing into class.

"You okay, Aus?" Chuck asked. His breath smelled like bread and wheat and chilli. Austin looked at him as class started.

"Yeah I'm fine why?" Austin asked. Chuck just gave him a pained expression.

"Miles told me you fell off a roof?" He asked raising an eyebrow and looking at the little scar over Austin's eye. "And went ho—" Austin cut him off.

Austin winced first before answering him in a hushed tone.

"Yeah. But I'm okay, really," he said smiling. Chuck just narrowed his eyes before returning to his own desk and started his notes. Austin sighed. People have been asking him that for two whole days. Why did everyone think he wouldn't be fine one day?

Okay, yes, he fell off a roof, but he knew people weren't the least bit interested in that. Austin pondered further. What if he just fell off of a roof and didn't go home with Ally Dawson? Would his name be the topic of everyone's words right now? He sighed and finished his new set of physics notes and began his homework. He had to get to the bottom of these stupid rumours about him.

He worked until the bell rang, not looking up once. He braced himself, knowing that when he walked out the doors, all eyes were going to be glued to him again. The spotlight was such a scary place for him. Austin grabbed his bag and started his speed walk to his locker.

Austin only caught glimpses of things here and there. He had to dodge more shoes than usual as they stuck out and tried to trip him. Austin carefully picked his way over to his locker, wiping off imaginary sweat from his forehead. Austin threw his physics books into his locker and quickly grabbed his lunch.

Austin made another speedy round to the library. He nodded his hello to Mrs. B before walking into his corner and plopping down, exhausted. It usually didn't take that much effort to go unnoticed. He didn't even have to try until now.

Austin unwrapped his ham sandwich and took a bite. He chewed it thoughtfully, taking The Great Gatsby out and began to read it. Austin read a few pages before he took another bite. He finished the sandwich in five pages, front and back, smacking his lips together to exaggerate the action.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him. Austin pretended not to notice. He was restraining himself from looking up. For some reason, when people loomed over him, he was always in trouble. He couldn't take it anymore. Austin braced himself for whoever it was and then tilted his head upwards.

The first thing he noticed were her soft brown eyes. They were gazing at him amusedly. He blinked a few times to let her face and hair come into the picture. Her hair was straight today, showing off how long and soft it really was. She wore a dark green skater dress and a jean jacket. Her legs were bare down to her laced up combat boots.

Ally.

"Hi!" She lit up when he looked at her. He chuckled as she plopped down beside him. Austin scooted over to make room for her on the beanbag chair.

"Hi," he said as she just leaned her head on his shoulder. He watched her for a few seconds. She had a smile on her face and her eyes were closed. Austin returned to reading his book, making sure he didn't disturb Ally as he flipped the page.

He was making progress with the book when he felt Ally shift. She sat up suddenly and looked at him and then at the book.

"I wanna read too!" She squeaked. Austin chuckled as he opened his arm for Ally. She snuggled into his chest as he wrapped his arm back around her. He held the book with both hands as her eyes scanned the pages along with him. Hopefully he was doing this right.

Austin felt content. Well, more than that actually. He was happy. For once he knew he had a purpose on this world other than to get an average of ninety-nine. He shifted his head a little, just so he was staring at Ally.

She was reading his book with a dull expression. Though, he knew she was enjoying it because her mouth would twitch every now and then. Austin suppressed a smile of his own. What a situation to be in.

Here was the school's most feared and baddest girl in the arms of the school's smartest, yet careful guy ever. He almost laughed at himself for this.

He watched as Ally's eyes began to grow heavy. She suddenly shut them and slumped deeper into his chest, turning her head away from the rest of the world. Austin felt captivated by the way she looked so relaxed when she wasn't awake. Who is she when she isn't Ally Dawson? When she isn't constantly mad at the world? When she isn't afraid of falling in love?

...

Austin laughed as Ally skipped ahead of him. They were going over to her house to work on their English. They were nearly done; just had to rehearse it a few more times, as well as type it up.

Austin watched as Ally began walking on the sidewalk and skipping around. She was just like a little child, running around and enjoying the fresh air. He hair felt behind her like streams of brown sunlight. Her dark green dress stood out against the grass and the sunlight. Ally turned around to face him, walking backwards. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. He knew why people would like her for her looks. She was so beautiful.

But Austin knew better than that. He didn't care about what she looked like. For all he cared, she could just be another smart, bookworm like himself. He wouldn't mind. It was what was on the inside that counted.

Ally skipped dramatically, stretching her arms out like a ballerina would. Austin watched as she cleared a patch of grass, near her lawn. Austin suddenly caught up to her and hugged her. She squeaked, clearly surprised. He held onto her and swayed on his feet a little. His arms wrapped around her small waist as his head went into the crook of her neck from behind.

"Austin!" Ally squeaked, trying to pry his arms off of her. He mumbled something into her soft flesh as she sighed. Austin smirked a little a placed a small kiss on her neck before letting her go. She ran ahead of him again and rounded the block.

Her house was the third from the corner. Austin followed Ally up the steps of her house and into it. He knew why she got nervous the day he suggested they went to her house. Her room was the only clean room out of the whole house. The rest of the house was filled with beer bottles and other things. He held his breath as Ally pushed the front door open.

He blinked and took in the scene. Lester was passed out on the couch, the TV still on, showing some weird breaking news scene with a wildfire. Ally just groaned and picked her way over her own sleeping father. Austin followed carefully. He cleared the steps in three big strides, as it took Ally five.

Ally led him inside her room and plopped down on the bed. She told him to shut the door, so he did. Austin sat down on the bed beside her and took out their rough draft. They were supposed to type it up for a hand-in copy. And, they also had to copy it out on cue cards for themselves.

Austin handed Ally the materials as she scanned them with her brown eyes. He watched as she tapped a finger on her chin. He knew why she was in Advanced English; she was brilliant with words.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed. Ally frowned and excused herself. Austin nodded and took back the rough copy. He walked over to her laptop and set it up so he could type it out. He started with the introduction.

"Austin?" Ally asked him. He turned around on her computer chair, using his feet to spin around once more. He loved those chairs.

"Yeah?" He frowned as Ally had a confused expression plastered on her face. She motioned with her hand for him to come over. Austin crawled across the bed and sat down beside her.

"What's up?"

"Look at this," she told him. Ally passed her phone over to him. Austin had a phone of his own, obviously. But no one texted him but Dez and sometimes Ally. Well, more often now...

Austin looked at her messages, adjusting his glasses so they sat high up on his nose. He frowned.

People were sending Ally mixed messages. Some were asking what she was doing to Austin. Others were sending her hate and other rude words to her. He was about to hand her phone back to her, but something caught his eye. It was a text sent by Sun Hee to Ally. It was in Korean however.

Austin translated it.

Don't you dare break the smartest boy in this school next to Chuck.

Austin furrowed his brow. Ally suddenly snatched her phone back from him. He looked at her but she just shook her head sadly.

"Why didn't you tell me people were looking at you differently?" She asked him. Austin looked at her with wide eyes.

"People aren't looking at me differently!" He said. Okay, maybe they were staring at him like he had two heads, but that was besides the point. Ally just ran a hand through her hair frustrated.

"Austin! I see the way people are looking at you! They're treating you like this because of me!" She said out loud, realizing it as she spoke. Her eyes grew wide. Austin frowned, he raised a hand to comfort her. Ally just brushed it off.

"Who cares? They can look at me however they want, it's not going to do any harm."

"Yes it is! Soon you'll be known as the boy who went bad. It'll ruin your reputation!" Ally shouted. She looked at him with a pained expression. "I'll ruin your reputation."

Austin shook his head. He opened his mouth to retort to her comment when suddenly, he heard a loud noise coming from right outside Ally's door. Both of them both visibly jumped. Ally motioned for him to stay quiet. She crept up to her door slowly and as about to open it when another loud noise startled her.

"—How nice of you ... You look ... No I don't think so—"

"—It's been a while ... What do you mean—"

Austin heard muffled voices through her walls. Ally was leaning against the door of her room. Suddenly, they heard yet another loud crash. And then the voices became louder.

"—You can't just ... Penny, I swear—"

Austin heard more crashes and loud noises. Ugly words were being exchanged from downstairs. The whole house seemed to rumble with unkindness and fear. He pressed his ear against the wall just past Ally's vanity set.

"Lester, where is it? I know you still have it. I need it back now—"

"Why? Why would I give it to you? You already took my heart—"

"That's not what I came here for! If I wanted to argue with you again, I would've just called!"

"Penny, you're the one who cheated on me in the first place!"

"I can't do this anymore!"

He watched as Ally suddenly opened the door and motioned for him to follow her. He brushed off his jeans and quickly followed her out of the room. They walked down the stairs loudly, as Ally had instructed him. The yelling stopped as soon as they were in the living room.

"Hi honey! I didn't know you were home," Lester said with a pained smile. Austin watched carefully. Lester had his hands behind his back, as if he were restraining himself from physically hitting something. Or someone. Ally shifted her eyes from her dad to the woman standing beside him. Her mom.

Ally's mom was the exact replica of her, only older. She was looking at Ally's dad with such a venomous expression, it was as if they were the only two people in the room. Austin gulped. He felt like he was intruding.

He saw Ally clench her fists suddenly. She looked from her mom to her dad. Austin watched as her balled-up fists started to unrolled themselves. She glanced one more time at her dysfunctional parents before bolting out of the house. She slammed the open front door harshly, leaving Austin in the room with her parents.

Austin excused himself from her parents awkwardly, calling them 'Mr. and Mrs. Dawson' by accident. He bolted out the door after Ally. Luckily, with all his jogging he was able to catch up to her. Ally was starting up her car when Austin banged on the window of the passenger side. Ally just shook her head at him and mouthed the words 'Go away.'

Austin shook his head back, not giving up on this. Ally sighed and unlocked the door for him. He got in and put his seatbelt on, just in case she was planning to drive. Which she did. She pulled out of the driveway and began to drive out of the small roads towards the highway. Austin watched her speed metre. Fifty... sixty... eighty... a hundred kilometres an hour.

It was silent. And he knew Ally was thinking about her parents. He knew it was the reason why she was always secretive and sad and lonely. It was all wrapped into one, guarded by her stone cold heart. She let no one in. No one until him.

Austin watched her. Her mouth formed a grim line as her eyes betrayed her. There were tears right on the brink, waiting to be shed. Her knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so hard. Suddenly, she reached down and grabbed a cup from the cup holder. Austin thought it was an empty cup, but the way it swished told him otherwise.

Ally brought it to her lips and placed it back down carefully. It was beer.

They drove for a little while longer, the silence between them. It grew heavy, making him wonder what darkness was like if it had a weight.

Austin returned his gaze to Ally. She still had that muddy expression plastered on her face. he pondered over everything she had ever told him. He realized, that all she ever wanted was love. She needed to be loved. She needed someone she could rely on. She needed to let someone in and show her what care and compassion was. She needed love.

"Ally," he started. She didn't respond, but he knew she was listening.

"I-I t-think—" He cleared his throat a little, coughing up his nerves. How the fuck do people do this? "Well, I know—"

Austin sighed. Why was this so hard. He knew it. This tiny brunette had taken his heart somehow. Even though no other girl had showed him as much attention before. He knew what love felt like. And he knew what he had to do.

"I love you."

Ally snorted.

Austin stared at her. Her expression remained unreadable as she suddenly swerved unto the highway. He wondered if she heard him at all.

"Ally."

"Don't."

"But, Ally, I—"

"You're wrong."

Ally's expression was still hard as a rock. Austin frowned at her in disbelief. What the fuck was that supposed to mean?

"But, Ally! What do you mean? I—"

"You're wrong. You're just drunk," she told him as she took another chug of beer. Austin licked his lips, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Actually, you're the one drinking. But Ally I—"

"You're wrong! You're wrong!" She kept repeating that to herself in a shaky voice. It sounded almost like a mantra. But a sad one.

"Ally, I love you," he told her. She just laughed without humour.

"Don't love me."

"But I do love you! I-I can't help it!" He stuttered. Austin was practically shouting at her now. What scared him was that she remained silent and sober.

"You're wrong! You don't love me." Ally spoke with a quiet voice. "I'm just going to ruin you. And break you. And leave you. Just like my mother left my father."

"Ally, no. You're different—"

"What if I'm not Austin?" She screamed. "Look at me." She grabbed his face with one of her hands. Her eyes bore into his. She was sardonic. "I'm a fucking mess! I'm going to ruin your image! And you won't be able to get into a good school, or any of all that shit you're always talking about!" She spat.

Austin was about to reply when suddenly his eyes were blinded by lights. Car headlights to be exact. His eyes widened.

"Ally, look out!"

She turned the steering wheel the whole one-eighty, just missing a car that was coming the other way. She had passed the barrier of the roads by accident. They both banged their heads on the seat. He gulped in air, feeling relieved no one got hurt.

"Are you okay?" He asked, reaching over to inspect her. Ally just stared at him in disbelief. She shook of his hands, pushing him away from her.

"I almost killed you and you want to know if I'm okay?" She yelled at him incredulous. Austin flinched.

"Well, yeah. Are you o—"

"No I'm not! I'm far from okay!" Austin reached over to grab her hand but she just yanked it away from him.

"Do you not see that I'm bad for you? You need to get away from me! You need to get the fuck away from me!" She screamed at him. Austin watched with wide, disbelieving eyes. There was a moment of silence, in which Ally brought a hand to her head, her eyes closed.

"You know what? Get out!" She spat, her eyes wild. Austin looked at her in disbelief, his mind running through everything he could say to her.

"Ally—"

"Get out, get out! Get the fuck out of my car!" She screamed, tears streaming down her face. She slapped his arm hard, over and over again. Austin gaped at her but opened the door anyways. He hopped out of the car, slamming the door. Ally drove away as soon as he was safely out of the car.

Austin stood there, feeling like the biggest idiot in the world. He couldn't believe that he fell for her trap. That he fell for her.

She's bad news, buddy.

end part twelve

Man, I'm getting sent to hell.

I really love this chapter because of the way I wrote it. I'm not heartless or anything. :)

Just to make another disclaimer clear, the break up scene where Ally was driving and Austin was trying to tell her he loves her is based off the movie The Spectacular Now. I thought it would be wonderful to break things off like this. :) (This contradicts to me saying I'm not heartless).

Wow, look at that, strongly rated T is coming up next chapter! I wonder what's going to happen?

Alright, please leave a review and tell me what you think. Please minimize the amount of death threats to two per person. Thanks!