Ally's POV
I took a deep breath as I surveyed my outfit choice in the mirror. Tonight Austin would be performing at the second round of the competition and it was also the beginning of our plan. This meant that I had to look perfect – and by that I mean totally boring and plain.

For the first time in a while, I had removed the blonde tips at the end of my hair (only until the plan is over, of course) and put on plain blue jeans and a half decent top. I'd even dug out my old brown boots from my high school years. Horrible, right?!

Beside me, Tasha sits on the edge of Austin and I's bed, putting on a pair of pumps she borrowed from Trish, because unlike me, she didn't have to look bad. Everyone was here getting ready to go to the concert and support Austin.

"Hey Ally," she spoke up, "Can you please tie a bun ontop of my hair?" I turned around and smiled. Her blonde hair was loosly braided going up at the back until it reached the highest point at the back of her head, and at the end up there she intented to have it in a bun. I tied it quickly, allowing some stray tendrils of hair to frame her face. Then, I looked at her.

The absence of hair around her shoulders somehow gave the illusion that her neck was longer – and she looked so pretty like that I actually envied her. Only a little.

"How do I look?" she smiled. I wiped a fake tear from my eye, "Beautiful, cuz."

"Guys are you done yet?" Trish asked, walking in on us. She gasped, "Tasha you look great! Where did you get those skinny jeans? I have to have a pair!" Then she looked at me and the smile vanished, "Ally you look horrible. How about some makeup, huh?"

I chuckled, "Nah. This is to make me look more boring that usual."

"Right," she said, nodding slowly in understanding. "Seriously though, Tash, I need to know the store." As Tasha and Trish started to talk about slaes and shops, there came a knock on the door. I walked over, opening it slightly. The sight before me stopped my completely. Seriously. I'm pretty sure my heart stopped for a second fro shock.

Logan looked at me, timidly playing with the rubber bands on her hand. She cleared her throat and looked at me hesitantly, "Um, I can explain?"

I wordlessly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into the room, quickly shutting the door behind her. Tasha and Trish took one look at Logan and froze. They blinked multiple times, trying to decipher what was going on.

"Logan what happened to you?" Trish breathed. Allow me to explain what had gotten us so stuped.

Logan Sloane was no more. The girl that stood before us had her hair in a high ponytail, large gold hoop earrings, grey short shorts with a funky design going up her hips and a cropped top with sleeves that stopped at her elbows and had large holes on her shoulders and last but not least, flat black boots because of her ankle. And to top it all off – she was wearing glossy red lip gloss.

"Is it, uh, bad? 'Cause I can go change. Actually I should go change..." she muttered, turning pink slightly. "And actually it's not Logan anymore – call me Francesca."

Well!

Tasha and Trish exchanged glances at this, "Okay Francesca," Tasha slowly began, "Why the sudden change?"

Logan shrugged, "Because I want to."

"Yeah right, Barbie," Trish cut in, "tell us the real reason. We can do it the easy way, or the Trish way!" I leaned in to Logan, "I'd go for the easy way."

Logan sighed, "You guys'll laugh at me."

"No we won't," I said, putting a comforting hand on her bare shoulder, "you can trust us."

Logan sighed and nodded, "So I'm dressed like this – and please don't laugh guys – because I want to show someone that I can be a beautiful, mature woman."

"Is it Tony?" Tasha asked gently. Logan nodded, ashamed fro some reason. I immediately awed.

"That is so sweet! I knew you had a thing for him!" I grinned, practically bouncing with excitement.

"Yeah... so, please don't say anything to him guys?" she asked, "I want to be the one to tell him."

"I'll try," Trish said with a grin, "But where did you get these clothes?"

Logan blushed, "I've kind of always had them. My mom always sends me girly stuff in hopes that I'll become a girly-girl someday. I've got two suitcases full of clothes and shoes and makeup. I don't know why I haven't thrown it all out yet, but now I'm glad I didn't."

Trish's eyes widened, "And you're telling us this now?! Girl, I gotta see the clothes ASAP!"

I glanced at my watch as the girls continued to talk before interrupting them, "Not now unfortunately. We have to go or we'll be late."

When we caught up with everyone backstage half an hour later, loads of guys couldn't get their eyes off of Logan. She received many cat-calls of which she responded with a dirty look. Even though she looked amazing, she still slouched horribly and found no shame in picking her nose. Trish sighed, "Logan, we've still got to go over some things." Logan blushed, embarrassed, "sorry."

"Oh they're here now," Dez was saying as we approached the group of guys. Austin was not among them. Tasha went and held Ross' hand, and I faintly could here Ross compliment her on how she looked. I beamed to myself with pride for my cousin.

"Hey Al... who is that?!" Dez asked, his voice raising at the end. Logan blushed, and Tony and Trent instantly started to stare at Logan. They were captivated, to say the least. "Stand up with your back straight," I whispered out of the corner of my mouth to Logan. She stood straight and gave me a small smile.

"This, my drooling boys, is Francesca," Trish said to the boys who were still checking Logan out. Dez stepped forward, running his thumb over his eyebrows, "I'm Dez. It's your pleasure to meet me."

Logan rolled her eyes, "Hey Dez." Recognition flashed in Trent's eyes. Tony blinked over and over, as if seeing her for the first time. Dez gave a slight gasp and took a small step back, "Logan?!"

Logan smiled, "Yeah. But I go by Francesca now."

"B-but how? Why? When?" Dez sputtered. Trish and I laughed, high fiving each other. Logan bit her lip slightly, "I, uh, Francesca is my real name."

"You're so different..." Dez said, "So much more... mature." Logan smiled at his words, "Yeah I guess you could say that!"

"Well, I think you look really great," Trent spoke up, attraction still very clear in his voice. We all looked at Tony for a comment.

"You look uh... very-"

"I don't understand! How can there be no dressingroom space for me?! This is an outrage!" Sonya's wails turning our attention off of Tony for a minute or two and onto my diva of a cousin. Sonya was walking after a man with a head piece on and a black shirt. He didn't seem to be listening, but he looked extremely annoyed. Naturally, Sonya's loud and dramatic actions caused almost everyone backstage to glance at her. Even the guys who where doing the lights stared down at her from the high balcony. Tasha groaned, covering her face with her hands.

We watched as the man said something to her, leaving her standing on the spot with her mouth hanging open. She then spotted us and stalked over to us before we could make a break for it.

"Honestly! How can they expect me to use a public bathroom to make myself look pretty rather than a dressing room?!"

"What did he call you?" Trent asked before the silence got too long. Sonya flipped her hair and held her nose in the air, "He said it's pointless anyway because I'd still look like a dramatic drag queen."

"Well that can't be the first time that's happened before," Trish muttered to me. I laughed.

"5 minutes till showtime people!" the very guy shouted out just now, "I need everyone who doesn't have a job here to get out! Now!"

"But we haven't seen Austin yet," I started.

"We have," Trent said, "he left to do vocal warm ups just before you guys came. But he told me to tell you not to worry about him." I nodded and followed everyone outside the door. Tonight I have two things to worry about.

Will Austin make it to the final round?

Will our plan work out?

I can only hope.

Austin walked out onto the stage, and the crowd literally went wild. At the end of our row, I could see Debby screaming Austin's name and holding up a glittery poster. Funnily enough, her shirt had a picture of a banana signing printed on it.

Austin caught my gaze and winked down at me before starting his song, 'Can't Say No'. He was fantastic to watch, even though I'd seen him perform millions of times before. Five acts after him, the host announced the names of the five contestants that made it through to next round. And Austin was one of them! The whole front row stood up and cheered when his name was called. Austin waved, but he didn't even look at me

Austin waved at us, but he totally ignored me. I was extremely hurt for a second, until I saw out of the corner of my eye that Sonya had been looking. With a slightly heavy heart, I remembered the plan that had already begun. Once the show was over, we rushed backstage to congratulate him. He actually hugged Sonya. Everyone congratulated him and soon we were walking to our respective cars in the parking lot. Austin and Sonya were walking behind me, and I could hear Austin's voice and Sonya's giggles. Plan or not, I feel like ripping her hair off for staying that close to him.

I turned around to look at them, and Austin caught my eye. He quickly leaned down and planted a quick kiss on Sonya's cheek. She blushed slightly and started to smirk when she saw me quickly turn around. Remember Ally, it's all fake. It's just the plan, nothing more.

When we reached the house and everyone had gone back to school, Sonya walked ahead of us. She was still in the foyer when Austin whispered that we should start. I nodded with a small smile.

"What was that?" I demanded, putting my hands on my hips.

"What was what?" Austin shouted back, playing along. The smile on his face just made me want to laugh.

"You know what I mean! You busy flirting with Sonya today and completely ignoring me!" I countered, raising my voice at the end. Austin wiped the smile off of his face because Sonya was now (not so discreetly) watching us from the door.

"You're overreacting!"

"You're cheating on me!"

"Maybe because I don't want you anymore!" he yelled. I put a hand to my chest, trying to seem hurt, "W-what?"

"Yeah. You heard me. I don't like you anymore, Ally! You're boring and a terrible girlfriend," he said in a harsh tone.

"So what are you saying Austin?" I asked, still talking loud enough for Sonya to hear.

"It's over," he said firmly, "I'm dumping you." Okay, I have no idea how to make fake tears come out, so I'll have to make do with some crying sounds. I put my hand over my mouth and made a muffled sobbing sound, "B-but Austin, I... I love you!"

"I don't need your love anymore. Tomorrow you have to come back and pack your stuff. I'm kicking you out!" I inwardly rolled my eyes at that. No duh you're kicking me out Austin, I thought to myself. I kept my head low and nodded slightly before running past a startled Sonya.

"Ally..." she said, her hand brushing my arm as I went past. I looked away so that she wouldn't see the absence of tears on my face, "I need to be alone!"

I ran with my head down all the way up the stairs, Alfie following me from his sleeping basket when he saw me. I scooped him in my arms and buried my face in his fur just in case Sonya was still watching. I bit my lip, trying to contain the laugh that was threatening to escape. I ran into our room and closed the door. Only then did I allow the relived laugh to escape.

Phase One was complete!

Hey guys! I'm so sorry I couldn't write an author's note or your review responses to you right now. I'm just so sleepy and tomorrow I have a big project and test to do so I really need to get some shut eye. Plus, I really wanted to get this to you sooner (which also explains why it's so short). But I'll reply all of the reviews next chapter! I also didn't edit anything so sorry for mistakes!

Sammie