Firstly, thank you all for the amazing reviews, it's great. Secondly, I have another fanfic in the works which I'll hopefully get to writing soon. Thirdly, this is a formal thank you to a guest, Izzy, whose ideas for this story have inspired a ton of the rest of what will happen.
So, Izzy, while I won't use all of your ideas, thank you so much. You definitely stopped my writer's block and inspired my plan for the rest of the story. I'm sure it's going to be even more amazing than it was going to be. So, thank you.
Anyway, no more talking, enjoy!
(and review!)
"But not as much as I care about you," Austin whispered. Ally heard and slipped her hand under his chin, leaning his head toward hers and feeling very awkward. Austin took control, turning himself and putting his hand on her cheek, closing their lips and melting into their kiss. That is, until they heard the door open.
"Austin, you forgot to give me back my phone when you borrowed it-" Cassidy squeaked and lost every word from her lips and every thought from her mind.
xxx
"Cassidy!" Austin yelled, pushing away from Ally and standing to face his girlfriend... well... he hoped that she was still his girlfriend. Or did he? Austin rushed around the couch jumping over the side of the couch and running to get his girlfriend who had turned and ran out of the apartment. Ally stood quickly, letting tears start and just stared, frozen where she was out of shock and guilt.
"What the hell, Austin!?" Cassidy shouted, turning around and facing him. He could see that she wanted to cry, but didn't. He felt awful seeing her like that because of him, because he truly did love her.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry it was all... and...," Austin stumbled, trying to find the right words.
"I'm sorry, did I interrupt your nostalgic moment? I'm sorry, it's my fault. Go ahead and continue. I mean, what would have happened if I didn't walk in just now? Make out? More? Would you have had sex with her? You know, I'm really getting the vibe that there was a lot more to you two than just 'friends'," Cassidy berated him, shouting and waving her hands frantically, trying to convey what she was feeling.
"No! Well, yes. You're right, ok? We weren't 'just friends'. I'm sorry for not telling you! I guess I thought it wouldn't be a problem!"
"Well that was a damn wrong guess. I mean, you're my boyfriend! What the hell is wrong with you?" Cassidy let the tears subside, her heart was filling with fury and hurt. If Ally hadn't run out of the apartment at that moment, Austin would have been on the floor. Cassidy balled up her fist and swung at him, barely missing his face when Ally pushed him aside.
"Cassidy! Please let me explain!" Ally yelled, desperately trying to get her to listen. "Can we please, please just tell you the story?"
"Sure, what the hell, all I want to do on my Saturday night is listen to my boyfriend and my 'thought-to-be' friend tell me all about their fabulous romance! What the f-"
"Please. It'll explain a lot," Austin interrupted.
"Fine," Cassidy made her way past the two of them, smashing shoulders with both, and walked back into the apartment. She sat down on the couch and picked up her phone from the coffee table, remembering that that was what she had come here for. Austin and Ally joined her, sitting as far away from each other as they could manage. "Spill," Cassidy deadpanned, glaring at Austin with stone-cold eyes.
xxx
"And that's why you saw what you saw...," Austin finished, desperately searching his girlfriend for any sign of forgiveness. He saw none.
"You know I never say this, but what the fuck* austin? You think that telling me this story, both of you, will somehow make what I saw excusable? Well that's fantastic, you know what, we're over Austin. And for you," Cassidy stood up and motioned toward Ally, whose head was down and refused to make eye contact, "I really thought we could be friends, I guess not." Cassidy left, slamming the door, and made her way upstairs to her apartment. Slamming her bedroom door in Kira's face as she tried to get her to talk about what happened. She answered simply with, "We broke up"
"Austin, I'm so, so sorry. I really didn't mean to do this. I've gotta go," Ally quickly collected her things and made a beeline for the door. Austin let her leave, then collapsed onto the couch and let the weight of the world crush him until he fell asleep.
xxx
"Hi," Ally said, closing her apartment door a few days later.
"Huh," Cassidy replied, quickly locking the door and rushing towards the stairs. Ally caught up and attempted to make some kind of conversation.
"Cassidy, I'm sorry. I get that you're not talking to me right now but please, I'm really sorry. I didn't... I mean... it was a really big mistake. Please forgive me."
"Shut up, Ally," Cassidy replied, quickening her pace and slamming the stairwell door in Ally's face.
"Yeah, I deserved that," Ally mumbled, meandering down the stairs.
xxx
"Ally," Cassidy said as they both reached their apartment doors.
"I'm sorry, but I really can't change the time that I arrive home," Ally replied, opening her door.
"No, Ally wait. Can we uh, just talk?"
"Um, sure," Ally replied warily.
"Wanna come in?" Cassidy asked, gesturing toward her apartment door. Ally abandoned her own apartment and shut the door, slowly entering Cassidy's apartment. She made her way to a chair across from the couch and sat down uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, Ally."
"No, Cassidy. It's all my fault, I did it, I kissed Austin and I'm really really sorry," Ally said.
"Yeah, well... you're right. But, I wanna tell you something. You know, just listening to the whole story, I know I was so angry and judgmental, but I got to thinking about it over the last few days and I just have to tell you that, um, you aren't all bad. You guys ought to be together, especially since I'm not going to be in L.A. much longer." Cassidy took a deep breath, finishing her sentence. Ally just stared at her, flabbergasted by what Cassidy had just admitted.
"Wait, what do you mean you won't be here much longer?"
"I, uh, got an offer in Nashville. I was going to talk about it with Austin, y'know, because I didn't know if we would want to do the whole long distance thing, and I would have stayed here if he wanted me to, but...," Cassidy paused pensively, then stopped.
"Wow," Ally sighed, "you're really gonna go?"
"Uh huh," Cassidy replied. "I'm gonna tell Austin in a few days, 'cause I just want to get it over with and leave. So, please don't tell him. And in the meantime, I, um, forgive you, and if you want to date Austin, y'know, you can..."
"Thanks...," Ally smiled, "hug it out?"
"Sure," Cassidy laughed, then stood up to embrace her friend. "See ya, then?"
"Yeah, see ya," Ally replied. She left Cassidy's and made her way back to her apartment. When she finally got back and sat down on her bed, she felt the weight of the world come off her shoulders and her heart felt amazing. She could finally have Austin and without screwing up one of the few friendships she has managed to make.
xxx
"Bye, Cassidy," Austin leaned in to hug her, she backed away and held out her hand with a sheepish smile.
"Thanks for, um, everything," Cassidy replied as they shook hands. "Bye, Ally, Kira," Cassidy said, embracing both of them then slowly backing away. She waved again and joined Elliot and Ethan wrapped their arms around her and they all made their way out of the apartment. Leaving the three others behind.
"Come on, Austin," Ally said, grabbing his hand and leading him toward her apartment, "I have you something."
Ally left Austin in her living room and went to her room and returned with a note. It was folded perfectly with an ethereal little kiss on the front, with Austin's name written in her handwriting. Austin slowly unfolded it and read aloud:
Dear Austin,
I guess this is our street corner.
Love, Ally.
Austin smiled and lifted her chin gently, grazing his lips on hers. She responded the same and the two of them stayed interlocked for what seemed like hours.
I don't know if I can say "OOO Drama" but still...
Anyways, this story is winding down and might be ending very soon unless I have some fabulous storm of inspiration.
However, I will be starting a new one soon and we can all be excited for that, right!
Constructive criticism, reviews, advice, what you liked or disliked, ideas for more chapters, I love them all!