YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING, AWESOME, WONDERFUL, BRILLIANT AND KIND. This story has so many reviews, it is CRAZY ridiculous to me! I really couldn't have done it without all of you guys so thank you, thank you, thank you. Instead of this being a 10-15 chapter story, I might actually have to extend it to 20-25, if that's alright with you guys. I just have so many ideas buzzing in my head that I still want to write for this story that I haven't done yet. Choir Camp is over and it was so much fun! I had a great time getting to know the new faces and catching up with the old ones. Plus, football practice was around the time Choir Camp was... wink wink. Unfortunately my school barely has any cute football players... sigh. Oh well. Anywho! You guys have been waiting for this update super patiently so here it is! P.S. Quick Laura joke: What did the water say to the boat? ...Nothing, it just waved! heehawheehawheehaw okay, I'm done.

I've always known something was wrong
It sounded different, a change in song
I'm not sure how but we're already gone
And I'm not about to be some pitiful cause

I tapped my pen against the smooth page of my songbook, rummaging through my brain for more lyrics. One of the pluses of working at a music store? All the instruments. My lunch break was mostly spent up in the practice room on the second floor, plunging away at the piano and tinkering around with different keys, trying out new melodies.

Sonic Boom had been opened by my dad at the mall a couple of years ago, maybe a handful of about five. And although he'd been the one to open it, it had actually been my mom's idea to start a music business. He wasn't too fond for music, while she was crazy about it. Maybe that's why they fell in love, because opposites attract.

But maybe it's also why they split up, because sometimes too many differences can cause people to grow apart, can cause hearts to change.

I got a fair salary. After all, I was the daughter of the Sonic Boom manager. It was only factual that I get a decent amount of money from my hours working behind the counter helping customers with their brand new instruments. My phone buzzed, disrupting my brainstorming.

To: Ally
From: Austin
12:54 pm
Wanna hang?

I groaned, slamming my hands against the keys. He'd been texting me relentlessly, constantly asking if I wanted to go to PC, if I wanted to have a jam session, if I wanted to catch a movie. It's hard enough trying to get over a boy that I've been in love with for the past six years. My heart raced as my thumbs hung above the keyboard, tempted to type a response.

To: Austin
From: Ally
12:56 pm
Can't, working today.

I shook my head, hitting the delete button.

To: Austin
From: Ally
12:57 pm
Sorry, with Elliot today.

I smirked but then instantly felt guilty. That one was a little too low.

To: Austin
From: Ally
12:58 pm
I'm too busy trying to get over you.

I chewed on my lip. That was the entire truth. If I sent it, everything would change. My finger hovered above the send button.

"Ally! Can you take over the counter, honey?" my dad's voice floated from downstairs as he practically hollered. I checked my watch. Two minutes left of my break. I shrugged my shoulders and hit send, running downstairs to deal with an old man wanting to buy an electric guitar and a daily customer, Nelson, wondering whether he should purchase a tuba or not. I observed his height and led him towards the triangle.

My eyes widened as I was dusting the drums. Had I...?

Oh my god.

OH MY GOD.

My heart was racing as I tried to remember whether or not I had sent that message. I'm too busy trying to get over you. Had I sent it? I felt my phone burning a hole in my back pocket as I shakily pulled it out. A green light was blinking, signaling a new alert. I dropped my phone to the floor, surprised that the screen didn't crack.

I had sent the text.

I HAD SENT HIM THE TEXT.

And now the reply was waiting to be read, in that little small device on the floor, the reply that may or may not ruin everything that I've ever shared with my best friend. My brain began to race with the worst possible responses.

To: Ally
From: Austin
1:00 pm
I knew it. Sorry but I could never feel that way about you.

To: Ally
From: Austin1:00 pm
Kira's my girlfriend, are you nuts?

To: Ally
From: Austin1:00 pm
HA HA HA HA are you serious?

My fingers trembled as I unlocked my phone and clicked on the conversation.

message failed to send, no network connection.

I nearly collapsed to the floor as I laughed in relief. I'd never been so happy to see seven words in my entire life. The message had failed to send. There had been no network connection in the practice room. I was laughing really hard now, tears streaming out of my eyes. The world was playing games with me, and I sure as hell wasn't finding any of it funny.

"Maybe the Greek gods that I've been learning about in Mythology are trying to tell you something," Trish suggested as we took our usual seats in AP Psychology after I explained the near texting disaster. "And are you getting sleep? You look like a zombie."

I glared at her. "Gee. Thanks," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. I hadn't had time to put on any makeup because I'd woken up late. For the first time in awhile, I wore my soft peach hoodie and shorts, an outfit that I usually wore to the beach. "No, not really. I've been thinking too much."

"Look Ally, maybe it's time to take that next step."

I looked at her, confused. "What's the next step?" I asked cautiously.

Her eyes sparkled. "Going on a date."

"What?!" I shrieked. The entire class grew silent as I blushed, clearing my throat and bringing my tone about seventy notches down. "Trish, no way."

"Why not?" she whispered, opening our composition notebook. "I found these articles online that I pasted onto the pages. I was thinking that we could use them for reference on platonic friendships and how they can affect the other person if they actually end up falling for their friend. But now, we can use them to help you get over Austin, too. Read it."

I rolled my eyes. "Trish, come on, I don't think-"

"Read it," she deadpanned. I gulped and scanned the article.

34 Ways to Get Over Someone
by Chelsea Fagan
1. Stop allowing your thoughts of them to be nostalgic, pleasant ones- find how much you dislike remembering the negatives when you force yourself to do so.

"I guess that one makes sense," I admitted. She nodded, smiling in encouragement to read on. My eyes skimmed over the other ways.

5. Listen to a lot of good, sad, happy, wonderful music and don't spend the entire song looking for an obscure connection with what you had together. Sometimes a song is just a song.
6. Embrace the fact that you will think of them from time to time, and that you don't have to run from those thoughts, but you also don't have to feed them like an ugly little pet.
7. Focus, more than anything else, on being a good person- and understand that such a person exists outside of a couple.

"So Austin is an ugly little pet?" I giggled.

Trish laughed. "That's right, so don't feed him. That's what Kira is for."

I scrunched my nose before continuing to read, my eyes going all the way down to the last item on the list.

34. Realize that it's not going to happen overnight, and you can't force it, but (as with everything else), it will improve- and hating yourself in the meantime isn't going to help anything.

"How is your research going, ladies?" Mrs. Jefferson asked as she stopped by our table, peering at our notebook.

"Oh, it's going great!" Trish exclaimed. "We're really getting into this project. We're even applying it to real life."

I kicked Trish's foot underneath the table, resulting in her sending me a glare.

"That's wonderful to hear!" Mrs. Jefferson replied, clapping her hands in pride. "Keep up the good work!"

As she walked away I sighed in relief. "Trish, no one can know that our project is on platonic friendships, okay?"

She pouted. "But I already told Dez..." she said.

I waved my hand in dismissal. "Dez is fine. Just don't tell anyone else, especially not Austin."

She snorted. "Don't worry, I'm not stupid."

I took one last look at the list before shutting our composition notebook. "We've got a lot of work to do," I sighed. She patted my hand comfortingly.

"At least you've already learned one thing out of this situation," she declared.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Boys are stupid," she stated, and we both burst into laughter.

He really was beginning to sound like a broke record.

"Ally, I'm sorry," Elliot apologized for what seemed to be the millionth time. I sighed in frustration.

"If I accept your apology, will you shut up?" I asked, throwing my hands in the air. We sat on the edge of the stage, waiting for rehearsals to start.

"Yes," he answered.

"Well I can't do that," I replied. "That was my first kiss, Elliot."

"I know, and I'm sorry," he said, gently placing a hand on my shoulder. I glared at him and he quickly pulled away. "It's just... I can't help myself around you."

I twiddled my thumbs together. "You don't know what you're saying," I said quietly.

"Yes, I do," he said, his tone fervent. "I've never felt this way about anyone before."

"Elliot, I've heard about your reputation, okay? So you can cut this whole soul mate crap," I snapped, flipping through the pages of the script as I reviewed my lines. He took both of my hands in his.

"I like you. And I'm going to make you believe that I'm way better than Austin," he said. I cleared my throat, scooting away from him. The way he looked at me... the way he held my hands... it made my heart race at a very uncomfortable rate. I observed his facial features as he stared at me.

Brown eyes that weren't Austin's.

Dark hair, not blonde.

Pleading eyes that were asking for my heart.

Things that Austin might never be able to give to me. Here was the answer, right before my eyes, yet I felt the hesitance cutting into my skin. Elliot wasn't Austin. And as much as I was trying to get over Austin, the climb that I had to endure seemed difficult already. But maybe the first step was Elliot. Maybe my heart could adjust if I let it.

"Give me some time," I murmured. "Then maybe."

"Really?" he asked, his eyes lighting up as if he'd just won the lottery.

"I said maybe," I reminded him. He shook his head, still grinning a Cheshire cat smile.

"Maybe is better than nothing, Ally Dawson," he sighed, leaning in. I shoved him away.

"Just because I said maybe doesn't mean you get to kiss me!" I shouted. He scratched the back of his head.

"Right. Sorry," he mumbled. "I'm still getting used to this whole thing."

"What whole thing?" I asked.

"That a girl doesn't like me back. Usually they always do. All I have to do is send them one of these," he said, flashing me a charming smile, "and I'm in. But you..."

"Stop doing that," I retorted.

"Stop what?" he asked, blinking in alarm.

"Staring at me like that. You always give me that... that look," I explained, squirming.

He smirked. "What, this one?" he said, staring at me intensely with soft eyes.

"Yes, that one," I muttered.

He let out a loud laugh, startling me. "Alright, alright," he said, holding up his hands. "I'll stop." His head nodded towards the scripts that both sat in our laps. "We should probably practice before rehearsals start."

I gave him a small smile. "Okay."

"Ariel, are you okay? Are you hurt?" he read.

More than you'll ever know, I wanted to say. But I opened my mouth and let out a shaky breath.

"I've been better."

I stared at my planner, the calendar teeming with a row of events. If only I'd known senior year would be this busy, I would have mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared myself for the hurricane that was about to hit. I let out a big sigh, opening my locker. Passing period was becoming my only safe haven. Between rehearsals, the project, and mending my broken heart, I barely had time to just not think about anything. A head lightly placed itself onto my shoulder and arms wrapped themselves around my waist. My face heated up as soon as I turned around to see who the culprit was.

"Austin," I mumbled, a spark of electricity shooting through me as he looked up, his brown eyes hitting me with a wave of overwhelming emotion that I'd been trying so hard to avoid.

"How come you haven't been replying to my texts?" he asked, frowning.

"I'm sorry, my schedule has been really packed lately," I explained, lightly patting his head.

"I've missed you," he said, burying his head more into my shoulder. My cheeks felt warm as I ran my fingers carelessly through his hair.

"I've missed you, too," I whispered. I missed these quiet, simple moments.

"Let's do something," he said. My eyes widened.

"Do what?" I asked.

"Something, anything," he sighed, letting go of me and leaning against the lockers. I'd missed his face, his arms, his eyes, his presence.

"When and where?" I said, smiling and easily giving in.

"There's a fair this Friday," he said, walking me to my next class as I held my books tightly to my chest in excitement. "There'll be rides and games and-"

"Even a ferris wheel?" I squealed, my smile growing brighter by the second. A ride on the ferris wheel with Austin and pigging out on cotton candy sounded perfect.

You're supposed to be getting over him, the feisty familiar voice in the back of my mind reminded me.

But he's still your best friend. Go, have fun! the friendly new voice insisted.

This was the little boy who had rescued my lunch, the little boy I'd caught fireflies with. And he was still my best friend. I couldn't erase that, no matter how hard I tried to.

"Even a ferris wheel," he chuckled.

"This is awesome!" I exclaimed, clasping my hands together. "An Austin and Ally day is just the break I need from my hectic schedule."

"Well..." he said, his pitch going a few octaves higher. I shot him a look.

"There's a catch, isn't there?" I groaned.

"It's not going to be just us," he explained.

"Oh, then who's-" My brain pinged. "Kira? Really, Austin?"

"She's my girlfriend, Ally!" he explained. I folded my arms.

"I understand that, but we haven't hung out in weeks!" I felt a knot forming in my throat and swallowed it away. "Of course, I have no right to be mad because I'm just the best friend, right?" I turned to walk away but his hand pulled me back.

"Ally," he sighed, tilting my chin upwards to face him. "You know that's not true. You mean the world to me."

I gulped. How could he say that and not expect me to fall for him even more? It made me want to slap him in the face and punch his stomach, yet kiss him all at the same time. I sighed in defeat, but an idea sparked in my brain as the wheels quickly began to turn. I slowly smiled. "Fine. But I get to invite someone, too," I stated.

He narrowed his eyes. "As long as it's not..." his sentence trailed off and his eyes widened. "You're not serious, are you?"

I smirked. "Elliot is a really nice guy," I replied. "I'm dead serious. You won't have a problem with that, right? If he comes with us?"

For a moment, we stared each other down, his eyes glaring with intensity while mine shimmered mischievously. He blinked and groaned as I giggled.

"Fine," he said through gritted teeth.

"Great!" I replied cheerfully, feeling lighter as I walked away, finally earning a point on the Austin and Ally scoreboard.

"How do I ask him?" I whispered to Trish as we walked towards Elliot and his quite large group of friends, many of which included girls who seemed to be drooling and hanging onto every word he said.

"Just be straight forward. The guy already likes you," she said. "You've got easy access."

"I still don't believe he actually likes me," I scoffed, rolling my eyes. I'd been stalling all day, but Trish finally dragged me to the cafeteria during lunch to ask him to the fair. She'd called me "devious" because this was a jealousy tactic. I couldn't argue with her since that's exactly what it was, or at least I hoped it would be.

"He decorated your locker and punched Austin. He likes you," she stated. As we got closer and closer to him, my stomach began to twist and tie itself into indescribable knots.

"What if he says no? What if he laughs? What if his friends mock me? What if-" Before I could ask another question, she shoved me forward, causing me to stumble into a couple of the drooling Elliot fan girls. I gulped at their harsh glares for the sudden interruption and interference. Elliot immediately stopped talking and sent me a wide smile.

"Ally! Hey!" he exclaimed, making his way through the group of girls who were sending me daggers with their eyes. "What's up?"

"Um... well..." I turned around and looked at Trish with wide eyes, and she sent me a thumbs up. I nodded, turning back around to face Elliot. "I was actually wondering if you wanted to go to a fair this Friday with me. Austin and Kira are going, too."

At first he simply stared at me, and I wanted to crawl into a trashcan and die right then and there of embarrassment. Here I was, the first time I'd actually gathered the guts to ask a guy out myself, a guy who wasn't Austin, and I'd failed miserably and terribly. But then he grinned and wrapped me up in a huge hug.

"Elliot...can't...breathe," I gasped as he practically crushed me with his muscular arms.

"I knew you'd give in sooner or later," he murmured in my ear, pulling away and leaning into me. I pushed his chest away from me.

"Would you stop trying to kiss me?" I hissed, and I heard Trish faintly giggling from behind me. "And we're not going to be the only ones there, you know."

He shrugged his shoulder, shooting me a devilish smile. "So it's a double date then?" he asked, winking at me. I took a peek at the girls behind him, who seemed to be fuming and foaming at the mouth.

"It's not a date," I growled. Trish was now hysterically laughing at my failing efforts, and I made a mental note to kill her later.

"Whatever you say. I'll pick you up at eight," he said, turning to walk away. "Oh, and Ally?"

"What?" I sighed. Before I could move, he quickly pecked me on the cheek, causing the Elliot fan girls to gasp and disperse faster than a herd of cows. My mouth hung wide open as his guy friends chuckled, giving him high fives. I shot him a glare and he shrugged his shoulders, mouthing the words not-a-real-kiss. Seething, I stormed off towards Trish, who was laughing so hard, she had doubled over in the process. I smacked her arm and she instantly stopped.

"Sorry," she breathed, still smiling. "He is so into you."

I snorted. "Well I'm not into him."

My eyes scanned the cafeteria before they landed on a very furious looking blonde who had apparently witnessed the whole scene. Ally: 2. Austin: 0. Trish followed where my eyes were pointed to, and she sighed, shaking her head.

"This is going to unfold interestingly," she said as she dragged me towards the lunch line. I watched as Austin's anger dissolved when Kira came up from behind him, covering his eyes with her hands before he pulled them away and turned around to meet her face, smiling. I frowned as new lyrics finally popped into my head.

Infinitely impossible to even express just how much it hurts when I see you with her

Did you guys enjoy the chapter? I know I say this a lot sometimes, but I apologize if at certain points it was a little ehh. I really wanted to fun it up because I know the last chapter was pretty melancholy. Plus I was listening to "Chloe (You're the One I Want)" by Emblem3, great song! The wheels in my brain were rapidly turning, trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to happen next in the story. For some reason, a carnival/fair idea immediately came to mind, and then a bunch of ideas started forming, so stay tuned because there is definitely going to be a ton of drama that is about to unfold! Also, the articles that I use in this story are actually real ones that I've searched up, so I fully give them credit! Don't forget to review so I know how I'm doing! And thank you guys so much for taking the time to read my story, it really is greatly appreciated. I love each and every one of you! SENDING A THOUSAND VIRTUAL HUGS.