I love you guys so much, I am dead serious too. Thank you so much to each and every one of you that has reviewed, favorited, or followed this story. The time you guys take to read every new chapter whenever this story updates is just unbelievable to me. Plus you guys are just as nice on Twitter with your sweet tweets so thank you for that as well! Okay. On a less cheesy note, who's already pre-ordered R5's Louder album on iTunes?! I haven't because I'm completely broke at the moment, but I'm going to buy their album THE DAY it comes out because I really am that excited for this album that we've all anxiously been awaiting. Second, who else is so proud of Laura and Ross's recent major milestones? Laura is now a Trick or Treat UNICEF ambassador, and Ross has finally reached 1 million followers on Twitter! There goes my chances of ever getting him to notice me... Maybe someday! Alright, let's get started with this chapter. Things are going to get very interesting...

"You look like a person that just got out of bed and has a fever," Elliot snorted. I folded my arms, frowning at him. Dress rehearsals were now beginning this week. If my schedule had been packed before, it was even more occupied now. Mrs. Jefferson not only wanted us to gather facts on our research projects for AP Psychology, but she also wanted us to prepare a mid-term presentation on our topic. Public speaking was just not my thing. I was already worried for the outcome of the play. It was simple to act in rehearsals, but once show time comes around...

What if I freeze up?

"Well at least I don't look like a scary motorcycle man," I shot back, smirking. He narrowed his eyes at me, fidgeting with his leather jacket and dark jeans. "Miss Lu sure is putting quite the twist on The Little Mermaid."

I looked down at my attire: a button up collar shirt paired with a plaid skirt, knee high socks, and orthopedic shoes that bothered my feet more than my wedges did, and those had a platform.

"Well Ariel is supposed to be this shy high school girl, remember?" Elliot reminded me. I sighed, taking a seat next to him on the edge of the stage.

"And Eric is supposed to be this mysterious high school boy who secretly has a soft side, remember?" I asked, teasing him with a little word play. A smile instantly grew on his face, and I felt my heart warm up a bit. My feelings for Elliot seemed to be... changing. At first, I had despised him completely, not wanting to get wrapped around his finger because that's what he did- he used girls and then quickly disposed of them. But once I got to know him...

He could be sweet and funny and smart, and while he didn't have those familiar brown eyes and mop of blonde hair, he was just as much. Trish labeled it as a "cliche crush." I supposed she was right. Me growing feelings for hot shot, Mr. Popular Elliot? Oh yeah.

That really does sound like just another cliche.

"So I was thinking that we could run lines this weekend?" Elliot asked, scooting closer to me. I let him.

"Sure," I grinned. "Just tell me the time and place."

"How about my place?" he asked, his eyes twinkling. "No one's going to be home."

My stomach dropped. The only uneasy thing about Elliot was that his cocky side would occasionally come out, a trait that I didn't exactly like about him. I shot him a look and he deflated. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"Let's try this again," I said. "How about we rehearse at my place? My mom will be home."

"What about your dad?" he asked. I cleared my throat. Dad had been taking a lot of hours at Sonic Boom lately, and while he had said that it was necessary for him to because business was booming (why he chooses to use these puns, I'm still unsure of), I was positive it was just another petty excuse to stay out of the house and away from Mom.

They got along well... But you could tell that things never always felt completely at ease.

"He has work," I quickly responded. "So Saturday then? Maybe around lunch time? My mom can make us something to eat."

"That'd be great," Elliot sighed, then wrapped an arm around me. "She'll totally approve of me."

I rolled my eyes, removing his arm from my shoulder. "We'll see about that."

I have cleaned my room and made sure that all my stuffed animals are stuffed inside my closet because... would a boy want to know that a girl has stuffed animals in her room?

But then again, Austin's been in my room a million times, and he's never cared. I hesitate, then pull them back out of the closet, neatly aligning them in a row on my bed. Then I look at the layout, bite my lip, and stuff them all back in the closet.

"Ally?" a voice asks, and I scream and turn around from panic. I put a hand to my chest in relief.

"Mom! God, you scared me. Is he here?" I asked. She folded her arms, an amused smile playing onto her face.

"What is this boy's name again?" she mused.

"Elliot," I mumbled, tucking a chair into its place by my desk. I start fluffing my pillows.

"And he's your love interest in the play?"

"Yep," I reply again, this time stopping in front of a mirror to fix a few stray strands of hair, the loose curls and highlights framing my face nicely.

"Do you have a crush on this boy?"

I slowly turned around, my ears turning pink, then collapsed onto the bed, covering my face with my hands. "Is it that obvious?" I groaned. I felt her sit next to me, and she uncovered my face and placed her own hands around it.

"Sweetie, it's okay to have feelings for someone other than Austin," she said. I bit my lip.

"Is it?" I asked. "I don't know, I just... It feels weird. I've liked Austin for so long now..."

"I know, honey, but all I can tell you is that at the end of the day," she lightly put a hand against my chest, pointing to the most important organ of my body, "your heart knows what's best for you."

I softly smile, engraving these words into my brain. "Thanks Mom," I sigh, leaning in to hug her. The doorbell rings. "Oh my God, he's here! Don't embarrass me, okay?"

"Well, that mother-daughter moment was nice while it lasted," she deadpanned, watching me run downstairs to answer the door. My hand hung above the doorknob for a few moments.

You can do this, I thought to myself. I took a deep breath, plastered a smile onto my face, and opened the door.

"Elli-" My words froze and my stomach dropped. "Austin?"

There he stood before me, in a gray and white striped tee and jeans, holding a notebook and a binder.

"Hey, Ally," he said cheerfully. "Are you ready?" He stepped inside, already heading for the kitchen table. I blinked in confusion.

"Ready for what?" I asked.

He blankly stared at me before answering, then he waved his Math notebook in front of me. "To help me study for my big test next week, remember? You said you'd tutor me today."

I racked my brain for the memory, then face palmed myself, literally. "Oh crap, that's right," I groaned. "I forgot, I'm sorry."

He frowned. "Oh. Well do you think you could still help me? I mean, I'm already here."

"Hi Elliot, it's nice to- you're not Elliot," my mother suddenly said, tripping over her words. She began to laugh, very loudly, I might add. "Austin, what are you doing here?" She walked over to hug him, and his arms wrapped around her tightly. I waited for his face to twist in realization at the name she'd just mentioned.

"Elliot?" Austin asked. I could almost imagine the wheels in his head turning, and I felt my stomach clench uneasily. He looked at me, his eyes raging. "Is he coming here? Today?"

My mom bit her lip guiltily, slowly backing away to leave us alone.

I weakly nodded. "Um... yeah. We're running lines... for the play."

The doorbell rang. Perfect timing. I looked at Austin, dread filling my entire body. He finally sighed.

"Go answer it," he muttered, taking a seat at the kitchen table. I thankfully smiled, jogging towards the door and swinging it open.

"Elliot," I sighed in relief.

"Who else would it be?" he teased, sending me that famous grin of his.

Oh you know, a blonde boy named after Texas, maybe, I dimly thought.

"Ally, your mom's making cookies!" Austin yelled happily, a smirk settling on his face as soon as he came into contact with Elliot. "Oh, hello there."

I wanted to run to my room and hide under the covers before a World War III broke out, but nothing could be done now. I almost felt as if I were watching a show down, standing in between the both of them.

Elliot frowned. "What are you doing here?" he snapped.

"I'm here so Ally can tutor me. I think the better question is what are you doing here?" Austin shot back. Elliot glared.

"I'm here to run lines with my leading lady," Elliot said, sending me a small smile. I sent a shaky smile back. Suddenly, my savior arrived, holding a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies with an apron tied around her back and a smile planted on her face.

"Who wants some cookies?" Mom asked.

"These cookies are great, Mrs. Dawson," Elliot complimented. Mom's face softened.

"It's Ms. Dawson now, Elliot, but thank you," she replied. Elliot shot me an uncomfortable look along the lines of why-didn't-you-tell-me-your-parents-were-divorced. I didn't return the look.

"She makes the best cookies, especially during Christmas!" Austin suddenly exclaimed, leaning comfortably back in his chair. "Remember when Mr. Dawson tried helping you?"

Mom burst into laughter, her smile reaching all the way up to her eyes. "He nearly burned down the house! I never put him in charge of the oven ever again," she recalled. I caught Austin shoot Elliot a triumphant look, and a light bulb went off above my head.

Austin: 1

Elliot: 0

"So, Austin, you need help with Math?" she asked him, walking over to the sink to rinse her hands.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I really need to ace this upcoming test or else my parents are going to ground me," he sighed, sulking.

"What's making you not study?" she asked, taking a seat at the table.

"Ally didn't tell you?" he said in surprise, looking over at me. I sent him a sheepish smile and turned to her.

"He's working with Starr Records right now," I explained, and her face lit up instantly.

"Oh, Austin, that's wonderful!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands together in delight. "You were always putting on little concerts for us when you were younger."

Austin: 2

Elliot: 0

She turned to Elliot. "How about you, Elliot? What is it like acting with my little girl?" she asked.

"Mom," I groaned, cringing at the words little girl.

Elliot chuckled, and Austin glowered that the subject had suddenly shifted to the enemy. "She is such an amazing actress. She really does deserve the lead role," he said, taking another bite of his cookie.

"Oh, I'm so glad to hear," she gushed in relief.

Austin: 2

Elliot: 1

"What are you planning to do after high school?" she asked, and I shot her a look. It was like she was grilling him right in front of me. Soon she'd be asking for his birth certificate and if he had a hidden criminal record.

"Probably heading to Standford and studying up to get a degree in medicine," Elliot replied. Austin locked eyes with me, sending me a Mr.-Perfect-my-ass look.

Mom's eyebrows rose, clearly impressed.

Austin: 2

Elliot: 2

"And what about you, Austin?" she asked, pausing for a moment to send me mischievous look. My jaw dropped. She was doing this on purpose! "What are you planning to do after high school?"

There was silence for a moment, and I squirmed uncomfortably in my seat, praying that he would open his mouth and say something smart, like lawyer or dentist. But his answer surprised me.

"Anywhere, as long as I'm with Ally."

I felt my face heat up, and Elliot cleared his throat. I looked at my mother, expecting her face to be in shock or uneasiness, but instead she appeared calm and almost... happy.

And then I felt it.

The tiniest twinge of a small baby butterfly somewhere in my stomach. I gulped, lifting my lashes to peek at Austin, who was smiling softly at me. What exactly did he mean? That he wanted to go to the same college as me? Or that he wanted to go to the same college with me because he... because he maybe...

"We have to rehearse," Elliot suddenly stated, breaking the silence that Austin's words had created. Austin nodded, getting up from his chair.

"Do you need help with anything, Ms. Dawson?" he asked. She nodded, murmuring something about laundry, and the two disappeared down the hall, leaving Elliot and I alone in the kitchen. I opened my mouth to speak but no words left my mouth, so I shut it.

"Don't say it," Elliot groaned, flipping through the script.

I blinked. "Say what?"

He looked up at me, sighing and giving me a small smile. "He won."

"Thanks for the cookies," Elliot said as we stood near the open door. I shrugged my shoulders, smiling.

"Thank my mom," I replied, listening to the laughter echoing down the hallway as her and Austin talked about who knows what.

"I think I'll pass," Elliot said softly. I looked down at my shoes before opening my mouth.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled. I looked up in surprise when he chuckled. "You're not mad?"

"Ally, why would I be mad?" he asked, stuffing one hand in his pocket. "Coming here just proved even more that I was right."

I felt my face scrunch up in confusion. "Right? Right about what?" I asked. He leaned in for a quick hug before exiting, heading for his car.

"Bye Ally," he said. I stared, watching him walk off into the distance.

"Elliot! Elliot, what were you right about?" I called, but he drove away. I stood there for awhile, dumbfounded, but the wind was whipping through me and my thin tee so I shut the door. I suddenly felt exhausted.

Austin had won.

But what had he won exactly? I sighed, walking down the hallway and stopping just outside Mom's bedroom door.

"Ms. Dawson, can I ask you something?" I heard Austin say, making me stop in my tracks. I hid behind a wall, making sure to listen carefully. I had listened to too many unfinished conversations. It was about time that I get answers, damn it.

"Of course," she said, and I could almost imagine her face, as if she were expecting this moment.

"I'm dating Kira," he stated, and I folded my arms, rolling my eyes.

Tell me something I don't know, I thought.

"Yes, Ally told me," I heard her say, and then I heard a soft thump, then another one. I assumed she was folding clothes and laying them out on the bed in a pile. "How is Kira?"

"She's great," Austin answered, and for some strange reason I felt my heart wilt a bit. "But..."

My ears perked up at the but.

"But...?" she asked him. The thumping stopped. She was probably giving him her full attention now.

"I think I like someone else," he blurted, and my eyes widened. Austin didn't love Kira anymore?

Then who...?

Maybe it was...

My ears strained themselves, trying to catch onto every word.

"That is quite the dilemma," she sighed. "What is this other girl like?"

Never mind what, I want to know who, my thoughts screamed.

"She's really smart," Austin said, his tone growing soft. "She's a little clumsy, too."

I racked my brain. Am I clumsy?

"She can make me laugh, and I can talk to her about anything," he continued. "The only problem is..."

He stopped for a moment, and I nearly wanted to strangle him and beg him to keep going.

"You messed up," my mom said, filling in his sentence.

"How did you know?" he asked, clearly in awe. I had to cover my mouth to keep myself from giggling.

"Everyone makes mistakes," she chuckled. "Mr. Dawson made a lot of those. But do you know why I married him?"

"Because he promised he wouldn't make any more?" Austin guessed, and I smiled because that was my guess as well.

"No," she replied. "I married him because I loved him."

I blinked and let this sink in.

"Because you loved him?" he asked in confusion. "But then why did you...?"

"I divorced him," she sighed, "because I loved him, as well."

My head was spinning. How did any of this make any sense at all?

"How can you let go of someone if you love them?" he asked.

"You love them enough to know that that emotion is enough to let them go," she answered.

Huh? I thought.

"Huh?" Austin echoed.

"If you really love someone, and I'm not talking about puppy love but real love, it's not going to be perfect. You're going to make lots of mistakes. It's how you fight for them that matters the most," she said.

"I still don't understand," Austin admitted, and to be honest, neither did I. If Mom still loved Dad, why did she not fix it? "Why didn't you try to fix things?"

"Because he didn't fight for me," she said. "Separation was the best thing for us. I don't regret filing the divorce. So Austin, if you love this other girl, then don't just fix the problem. Fight for her."

"What if she's too angry with me? What if I get rejected?" he questioned.

"You'll never know if you don't try," she reasoned. "And in all honesty," she lowered her voice, "I'm Team Austin."

I could almost imagine his face turning red. "Thanks, Ms. Dawson," he laughed. "I know what I have to do."

"I hope you do, because I don't think Ally can take any more heartache," she said, the thumping noise returning as she continued to fold clothes. My mouth fell open and I felt my heart race.

"What?" he sputtered, and I stepped away from the door, in a complete daze as I carefully walked to my room, making sure not to make any noise as I shut the door. I flopped onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling. If I was the girl that Austin was talking about then...

Austin liked me.

Austin had feelings for me.

Austin was going to tell me that he liked me.

But when?

Now?

Later?

When we graduated?

But the real question was: Did I still want him to love me?

I felt someone tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and I felt my eyelids slowly open. I quickly sat up straight when I realized who it was.

"Austin," I gasped, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. "Sorry, have you been waiting there long? I must've fallen asleep."

He chuckled. "Not too long," he said. Then I remembered the conversation that I had just overheard, and my heart beat quickened. "Did rehearsing with Elliot run smoothly?"

I nodded. "We didn't even use the script at all."

"That's great."

Awkward silence.

"So what did you talk to my mom about?" I asked nonchalantly, enjoying the way his eyes widened and how the tips of his ears reddened.

"Notmuchwhyyoudidn'theardidyoubeca-"

"Woah, slow down!" I exclaimed, giggling. "No, I didn't hear anything."

I was getting better at lying.

Oh no, I dreadfully thought.

His shoulders sagged in relief. "Okay, good," he sighed. "I was just asking her for relationship advice."

"Oh really?" I asked, biting my lip nervously. "For... for who?"

Austin looked at me for a long time. "You promise you won't laugh at me?" he asked.

I broke out into a grin. "Austin, of course I won't laugh," I said, leaning forward eagerly.

Was this really happening?

"Okay," he said, taking a deep breath. "It's Cassidy."

I grinned. "Austin, I-" I paused. "Wait, who?"

"This girl in my Math class," he said.

I stared at him for a long time. He was lying, right? Right?

"Oh," was all that left my mouth.

"Well, I should go!" he exclaimed, getting up and hugging me tightly. I sat on my bed, not bothering to get up and watch him make his way out. It wasn't until he left that I numbly walked towards my mother's bedroom.

"Mom?" I croaked.

"He's lying, Alls," she said, looking up at me smiling. My mouth fell open in surprise as I screamed, running up to her, embracing her tightly.

"Are you sure?" I asked, pulling away from her and eying her curiously. She laughed.

"I told him to lie right after you stopped eavesdropping," she answered, winking. My jaw dropped.

"You knew I was eavesdropping?" I giggled. She rolled her eyes.

"You're my daughter," she scoffed. "I know you too well. Now come on, help me with these clothes."

As we folded in comfortable silence for a few minutes, I asked the question that was tugging at my heart strings.

"What do I do now?" I asked. She looked up and smiled at me.

"You wait."

YEEEEE Austin likes Allyyyy, Austin likes Allyyyy! I'm dancing around happily at the moment, even though I'm the one writing the story, I feel all happy inside at the moment because of this. What do you guys think? Leave me a review or Tweet me telling me how you felt about this chapter, how you think Austin's going to confess, and what you think is going to happen next. I FREAKING LOVE YOU GUYS WITH A BURNING PASSION and I have school next Monday, excuse me while I die in a corner.