a/n: Yes, I've neglected this story for ages. I just haven't had the time. So, as a way of saying sorry, I am posting this cute little oneshot about my most favorite OC couple: Ari and Ally. This is back when they're thirteen and aren't actually dating yet. But still cute and fluffy! Thanks for reading please review!

Nebula

A cool wind blew across the roof of the Wilcox home. It swirled along the rooftop until it reached two thirteen year olds who stood against the railing of a second-story balcony. The wind picked up and tugged at their jackets and hair. With a frown, Ally zipped her jacket shut and tucked her hands deep into her pockets as she watched Ari.

"Is it almost ready?" she asked him curiously. He glanced briefly over his shoulder.

"Almost," he told her. He stood with his eye pressed to the narrow end of a telescope that he'd brought up to the balcony with them. He had said that it could be used to see the stars and all of the other things in space. Ally had rolled her eyes and said that she could see the stars just fine in the inky night sky. Ari's response had been a chuckle, along with the promise that he would impress her.

"Ally," Ari called his best friend from her thoughts.

"Hmm?" she hummed as she looked up, "Is it finally ready?"

"Not quite," Ari responded. She could hear his smile in his voice as he slowly twisted one of the telescope's knobs, "I was just wondering, do you know what a nebula is?"

"A nebula?" Ally tilted her head slightly.

"Yup."

"We just studied them in class last week," Ally said slowly, "They're clouds in space, made from gasses and dust and…" She trailed off uncertainly.

"And plasma," Ari supplied. Ally nodded even though she knew he couldn't see the action.

"Smartie pants," she teased.

"Well, have you ever wondered what one looks like?" Ari asked curiously.

"Not really," she answered, "I…I suppose they aren't very interesting. I'm not sure what plasma looks like, but I wouldn't think dust and air would look like much." Ari's response was to flash a smile over his shoulder. He pressed his eye to the telescope once more and then pulled away.

"It's ready," he was still smiling widely as he motioned to the telescope, "Would you like to take a look?"

Ally nodded fervently. She stepped forward and glanced at Ari. He was still grinning as he pointed to the eye piece on the telescope. Still a little unsure, Ally bent forward and looked through the little circle of glass. And gasped at what she saw.

It reminded her of a tie-dyed shirt. She had seen her father wear one before when he was lounging around the house. It had been a swirl of all sorts of colors, and Ally had thought it looked extremely pretty. But that paled in comparison to what she was looking at now.

"This is called a nebula," Ari explained, "All gas and dust and plasma."

Ally wasn't sure that 'gas, dust, and plasma' adequately described the sight before her.

The giant cloud was a swirl of bold colors; peach orange, forest green, magenta, and a dark, brilliant blue, all coalescing into a bright white-yellow that surrounded the cloud's glowing orange core. It stood out in stark contrast the star dotted black backdrop behind it. Only the star off to the right of the cloud stood out at brightly at the nebula, haloed in a circle of white light.

"Wow, Ari," Ally whispered.

"I thought you might like it," the boy responded sheepishly. Ally turned away from the telescope to look at him, her gaze finding eyes that shone the same brilliant blue of the nebula cloud. She blinked, surprised at the similar color, and then grinned. Ari only had enough time to blink back before she wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug.

"It's beautiful, Ari. Thank you."

Ari smiled in her arms, "That's what friends are for."