Man guys. This is a long chapter. Eleven pages! Yikes! That's excluding the author's notes and the review responses, too. So in this one we meet a character who is to be remembered 'cause she'll come again towards the very end.
Oh, and someone PMed me asking why the review responses were so brief. I did answer you but I figured there might be someone else wondering the same thing too. They're only brief because I do them before I post the chapter and we all know how lousy I am at updating so when I'm about to update I'm kind of in a hurry to get the chapter up for you guys. And also it's not because I don't care – because I do – it's just that I know once I start talking it'll take forever and a day to stop (kind of like I am now) so I usually keep them as short as possible. And I don't think you want to be reading paragraphs of thank yous before the actual chapter. Who knows? My thanks might be longer than the actual chapter (lol it's actually happened before. Cringe!). But if you do want me to say a little more then I will. I am thankful, guys, I really am. I really don't care if your review is longer than... err, the longest thing you can think of... anyway, I don't care if it's super long or two words, I'm just as happy with the review. I just don't want to bore you guys to death and then again to death in the afterlife. I really do love you guys and I hope you guys know that.
...see what I mean? I meant to write a few sentences on that topic. My bad. But guys get my point, right? But if you guys have anything more to say then I'm all ears. Um, I can't remember what else I was gonna write. So... anyway... yeah... Thanks for reading.
Review Responses!
MBURGERl: Don't worry I will! Thanks for reviewing!
Randomsmileyperson: Relieved that you liked it! Thanks for reviewing!
Frenchie12: Me neither! I actually get tired of writing about her sometimes (lol). Thanks fro reviewing!
Jamesmaslow4evz: Yep. I hope you like this one. Thanks for reviewing!
Questionable OTP: I just saw the length of your review and was like 'yay'! Thanks for being so understanding and I'm sorry it's turned out this way but maybe I'll get inspired again? Thanks for reviewing!
GreenNinja23: Thank you! I can't wait for season 3 to come out! Fingers crossed for the Auslly moments!
Queenc1: Thank you so much! I really hope you like this one, hey!
...I hope I didn't leave anyone out? Well here we go. I remember I was supposed to say something right now 'cause I wrote it down on a Post-it. But I lost the Post-it note! :/ *distress.
I Own Nothing.
Ally's POV
Austin threw his head back laughing, attracting some of the customers around us. None of them seemed to mind though, they just shook their heads at us, smiling. My cheeks were burning with embarrassment so I kept my gaze onto the counter.
"Austin, its not funny," I said with a chuckle of my own. Austin blinked away the tears in his eyes and grinned widely at me, "I think it's hilarious."
"You looked like a kid," I said, pouting. The man behind the counter handed us our milkshakes at last. "Was I supposed to look like an old man? 'Cause I can grow a beard you know. And a moustache. And some sideburns, if I try really hard." I wrinkled my nose at the thought and shivered visibly.
"Yeah, that's okay. Now can we just forget about my embarrassing high school memories and get back to the point?" He nodded, still refraining from grinning.
"So what's the plan?" Austin asked, putting down his milkshake onto the table. We sat at a booth in the back of the brightly decorated ice cream place that we discovered just the day before. It'd been two days after we first met Trent and so far everyone took a liking to him. It was nice that he'd found a couple of friends on his first week.
Unfortunately, even Sonya likes him. And we all know how she can be. Trent doesn't seem to like her at all. He hasn't said anything but I can see it by the way he acts when she's around. I devised a plan that would show Sonya how it feels like to be someone else's chew toy. Austin has been dying to hear it, so I took him out to buy some milkshakes after all our classes at PCA.
"Well, when you were coming home late that day with Trent," I began, "Sonya was trying to get me under the impression that you were too good for me and that you were probably out with someone else-"
Austin interrupted me, muttering a string of swear words in Spanish. I leaned over the table and flicked him on the forehead.
"Don't interrupt me," I scolded.
He rolled his eyes, "Oh please. This is the first time I've ever done that."
"The first time this week maybe," I interjected, "But that's not the point. So at first I was starting to believe her. Don't interrupt me again, Austin." He rolled his eyes and drank his milkshake.
"Anyway, so I decided to mess with her for a change. As far as she knows, I believed her. Now, here's the plan. I'll continue to act like a pathetic, clingy girlfriend and you will give the impression that I'm boring you-"
"I don't like this plan."
"Austin, it's just acting, relax. So she'll believe she's won, right? And I know she still has feelings for you, but she also seems interested in Trent. So you will start hitting on her and I'll 'catch' you doing it, and then we'll have the worst break up ever. I'll run to Trent for a shoulder to cry on, which will make her insanely jealous. But then you start to distance yourself from her and she'll be left wondering what she did wrong. We'll all leave her in the dark, and she'll go insane!"
"More so than usual," Austin observed, "It's an okay plan. But we should kick it up a notch, that way she'll move out for sure!"
"And she'll go where?" I asked, an eyebrow raised. Austin shrugged, "Jail. A mental asylum. A kennel. Whichever, really. So long as she's gone."
"But why did you want her to stay that one time before we left for Canada?" I asked, taking a sip of my milkshake. Austin sighed and scratched the back of his neck, "Um, I was... okay, I know this is crazy, but I was worried."
"About her?"
"No. For her. She'd probably get lost walking to the mailbox or something. And she'd walk around completely lost. And with the way she dresses, someone might think she's a prostitute looking for business. She'll get kidnapped and-"
"Sounds like you care about her safety..."
"Now who's interrupting who?" Austin argued, "And then Tasha would freak 'cause it's her sister and news would get back to her parents and we'd be in for it."
I eyed him cautiously, "So all this was just so that you wouldn't get in trouble?"
He nodded. I snorted, "Yeah right! Admit it, you actually care about my cousin."
Austin wrinkled his nose in disgust, "What? NO! I don't care about her at all!"
"Yes, you do! Admit it, she grew on you!" I exclaimed, pointing a finger at my embarrassed boyfriend.
"No she did not!"
"Yes. And now you consider her as family," I said triumphantly. Austin scoffed, "Yeah, a really annoying relative who I'd love to see walk off an aeroplane."
"Okay. Whatever," I said with a smile. Austin may not like the idea, but I know that I'm right. And frankly, I don't really blame him. Sure Sonya can be the most annoying, inconsiderate, stuck up, rude, frivolous, air headed, pompous, deceitful, cocky, sly, aggravating, manipulative bitch I'd ever met, I guess the fact that we share the same blood would mean that I'm inclined to love her – even if it's the same amount as one millionth of a grain of sand.
"But there are a couple of flaws in your plan," Austin continued, "Like, what if Trent doesn't play along? Or if Dez and Third and Ross beat me up for 'breaking your heart'? Not that I couldn't handle them, I mean seriously. Have you seen my biceps?"
I nodded, "Yeah. They're almost as big as your adorable head. And we can let them in on it – it'll be fun! Everyone can have a little something to do that'll make Sonya more confused than ever."
"That's going to be hard to accomplish," Austin said, just as the bill arrived. I laughed and reached for my purse. Austin smirked at me and reached for his wallet. Both our hands shot to the bill simultaneously. I met his eyes with a smirk of my own. His eyes were taunting, daring me to try. I simply held onto the gaze.
"I'm paying!"
"No, I'm paying!"
Austin put a hand to his chest, "Ally, please. I'm the guy in this relationship. I'm paying."
I rolled my eyes, "Girls can pay too, you know."
"I know, but I think it's just better if I pay. I am trying to be chivalrous, here."
I relented with a smile and watched as he happily paid the bill. It's funny how Austin is nothing like the guy I always thought I'd fall in love with. I always imagined a serious, mysterious yet sensitive guys who I could share a deep, intellectual conversation with. I never dreamed I'd end up falling for a funny, over confident and slightly immature rockstar. Nope. Never. And yet, I'm okay with that.
"Okay, so when do we put this plan into action?" Austin asked, holding open the door for me. I shrugged, "I don't know. Tomorrow maybe?"
Austin fell into step with me as we walked down the block to the car. A sort silence ensued as I pondered the thought. Austin's arm slipped around my waist, pulling me closer to his side. My arm twisted around his hips, my thumb slipping into the beltloop of his jeans.
A girl suddenly materialized in front of us, her smile going from one ear to the next. Austin and I came to a sudden stop. She squealed and clasped her pale hands together, bouncing on the balls of her heels. I visibly cringed at the pitchy sound. If the girl noticed, she didn't seem to care.
"Oh my gosh! IT'S... IT'S..." she couldn't even contain her excitement and just bounced on the spot, pointing at us.
"Yes, it's the Aust-" I began.
"AUSTIN MOON!" she screeched at the top of her lungs, interrupting me. "I'm, like, the biggest fan! I'm the president of your fan club – and I know everything about you! OMG I cannot wait until you perform in the second round of the competition on Saturday! I bought tickets and everything! My friends and I got FRONT ROW SEATS!" she continued to holler.
Austin let out a nervous laugh, "That's great! Can-"
"Can I have an autograph?! You HAVE to give me an autograph! Not getting an autograph from you would be like not getting any food on Thanksgiving; TOTAL TORTURE! Like, of the worst kind! And you don't want to make your biggest fan suffer do you?!"
"No I-"
"Of course you don't! You are WAY to caring to do that sort of thing, am I right, Ally?" she asked, turning to me. I started to wonder if her face ever hurt from smiling that brightly nonstop.
I blinked, "Um, yeah. So-"
"I need paper!" the girl exclaimed, searching through her backpack. Then, she handed Austin a black pen and a banana.
"I don't have paper," she said sheepishly to him. He let go of me and accepted the materials, chuckling.
"Okay, I'll sign your banana," he said, shaking his head in disbelief, "Err, what's your name again?"
"My name? Oh, gosh I didn't even introduce myself! How rude! I'm so sorry, I was just so starstruck! My name's Debby. Or you can call me Debs. Or Gigs."
I raised an eyebrow, "Gigs?"
Debby nodded, "Yep! I used to be called Smiley 'cause apparently I smile a lot, but that reminds me of Miley Cyrus, and I so cannot twerk like her. So everyone calls me Giggles because apparently I giggle a lot too. Then I just shortened it even further to Gigs. But I don't mind really. You can call me anything you want at all – anything! Just name it! Redhead, kiddo, and even Jo! It's kinda like a-"
"Here you go, Gigs," Austin interrupted, handing her the signed banana, "Have a nice day now!" Gigs took it with another shriek, "Eeeeeeeeeeeep! I just go THE Austin Moon to sign MY BANANA! Woohooo!" And on that note, she skipped down the street – yes, skipped – in a pink blurr of happiness.
"That was weird," I said.
"Very." We glanced simultaneously at each other and then burst into laughter. There are some weird people in this world. I never thought I'd see the day someone talked more than me.
"Well at least she'll be there to cheer you on Saturday," I said with a laugh, "and maybe she'll bring a whole fruit basket." Austin nudged me, "Whatever Als."
And just like that, an idea occurred to me. Austin noticed the gleam in my eye and made a face, "okay. What weird idea do you have in mind?"
"My ideas are not weird!" I defended myself, "They're extremely full of my logic, reason and intellect!"
"So let's hear it Miss Intellectual," Austin drawled, pulling out his car eyes from his pocket.
"We should start the plan on Saturday. That gives us three days to tell everyone and sort things out. Plus, Trish could have some tricks up her sleeve that we could use," I said, actually proud of my idea. Austin pretended to think about it as he opened my door for me.
"What?"
"Just trying to think of my excuse," he said softly. I shrugged and toyed with a strand of my hair. "I don't know. Just say I'm boring or something. She believes it anyway." There was no self pity in my voice yet Austin's eyes still flashed with anger.
"Ally Dawson you are by far the most amazing, beautiful, talented girl I know and I love you for it. Don't ever forget that," he said seriously. I awed at his little speech and gave him a quick kiss, "Thanks Austin. But you don't have to remind me everytime-"
"I will anyway," he interrupted. "I wonder what our freinds'll think..."
"Eh, they'll be okay with it."
"I'm NOT okay with this!" Trish exploded, "you two are NOT breaking up! Even if I have to find some arrows and some baby in a diaper and ship you guys to Venice!"
It was the next day at school, during one of our free tracks. Logan, Trish, Ross, Dez, Tasha, Tony and Austin and I were lounging around on one of the benches outside the library. Austin and I had just finished explaining to them about our plan. And clearly Trish was paying serious attention – not!
Austin chuckled at her comment, "It's not real, Trish. And when we do 'break up' I kind of need you guys to not pound me in the face." He looked at Tony and Dez.
"Why aren't I an option?" Ross whined. Austin sighed, "Because you're my little brother and I can handle you."
"I beat you at wrestling that one time!"
"I had a hangover and I told you I'd go easy on you!" Austin retorted.
"Did not! You're just saying that so you don't look bad!"
"No I'm not!" And then suddenly, I'm not sure why (maybe just for the sake of it?), Dez and Tony started to fight as well.
"Austin would totally beat Ross, though. It's kind of obvious," Dez said to Tony. Tony scoffed, "Yeah, but the little dude has some moves. I've experienced them so I know that maybe Austin could lose against Ross."
"Nah, you just think that because you're weak."
"Says the skinny, puny redhead who has no muscle at all."
"Yes I do! And skinny and puny mean the same thing so HA!" Dez snapped. In seconds, all the boys were arguing over who was the better fighter. I rolled my eyes at them, but said nothing. Trish started to read her magazine, shaking her head at their lack of maturity, probably. Logan, whose ankle was in a cast and now rested on what was left of the other side of the bench, decided to be the peacemaker. Ironically, she didn't end the fight as peacefully as you'd think.
"GUYS!" she exclaimed, thumping each guy over the head.
"What?" they asked in unison.
"Focus!"
They rubbed their heads, "okay."
Severely irritated, she brushed her bangs from her eyes and fiddled with the wristbands on her wrists.
"So," I began, "After Austin performs tomorrow we'll break up and them you guys basically have to take sides and the we'll all argue about it and seem very miserable. And then you, Tasha, you have to act especially hurt and then make Sonya feel guilty."
Tasha nodded, "Can I play it to the extreme?"
Austin nodded, "As extremely as possible. She'll feel guilty and return to Spain forever!" At this, everyone at the table started to whoop and slap each other's palms. Ross suddenly stopped celebrating and turned to his drama classmates.
"Guys does anyone have a camera? Like a camcorder?" he suddenly asked, eyes wide. Tasha gasped and Tony gave a groan, slapping his forehead. Logan and Trish merely shrugged, exchanging slightly worried glances. When Tony glanced at Logan, she quickly looked away. I quirked an eyebrow in Tasha's direction, silently asking if she knew what that was about. Tasha shrugged.
"I have one," Dez piped up, missing the silent exchange between Tasha and I, "what do you guys need it for?"
"For this assignment for drama class," Ross explained, "It's due at the end of the semester but we'd rather start now and not during vacation."
"I can give you guys one," Dez offered. Tasha nodded, "thanks Dez, that'd be great!"
"What's the project?" Austin asked.
"It's action and reaction. We have to record how well we do as a group doing improve for a long time," Trish said through a yawn, "Now that we have a camera, we just need to figure... ooh Marc Jacobs is having a sale!"
Tony rolled his eyes and picked up were Trish left off, "We just need to improvise now."
"Why don't you guys just film us while we're pranking Sonya?" I asked with an eager grin. Judging by the looks everyone was sharing, I guessed they agreed.
"I guess we have a project, then," Ross grinned. We all cheered again at his words, and I felt at ease.
"Why's everyone so happy?" Trent asked, walking up to the group. I swear I could have kicked myself. How could we forget about such a key element in our plan? Trent sat next to Logan, lifting her leg and putting it across his lap. Logan gave him a friendly punch in the shoulder as thanks.
Austin leaned across the table, "how would you like to help us get vengeance?"
Trent shrugged, "Sure. What did he do?"
"She," I corrected. Trent raised an eyebrow in interest. I quickly explained the plan to our newfound friend. Once at the end, I asked if he would do it.
"Yeah. Your cousin seems really annoying," he chuckled, "so what am I doing?"
"You pretend," Austin emphasized, "to like Ally. Pretend. Then Sonya will have no one to comfort and will run away back to Europe."
"Cool," Trent said, "And this happens tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Austin said, "Let's do this."
There is an extra long chapter for you guys! So the next chapter the plan will begin and Austin will perform again. Hope you guys liked it! I seriously had loads of blank moments while writing thing so I really hope you liked it. And what's going on with Logan and Tony? Will it affect the plan? How will it affect the plan? Or will the plan affect them? o.O! *Cue tension music*
Sammie O.o