Chapter 5:
Ally decided to go on her usual morning run the next day. She was still embarrassed about turning away from Austin's kiss last night during their date and she was worried about repercussions in the light of day. Would he be angry? Would he be patient with her as she adjusted to a new phase in their relationship? Would he actually stick around this time? These questions rolled through her mind along with a dozen others as her feet beat a steady rhythm on the road in front of her.
The streets were still quiet this early in the morning and the island was just beginning to show signs of waking. As much as she loved music and the constant melodies running through her mind on a regular basis, this quiet was nice and needed too. She decided not to dwell on what was past between her and Austin. She needed to focus on the future. What would life be like once this vacation ended?
Austin still lived in Miami when he wasn't touring, so distance wouldn't be a problem. They both had their own apartments and work schedules. She guessed Austin would go back to work on more new music with Jimmy Starr as he always did after a tour. She had her students and lessons lined up the week after she got back. They would go out on dates, deal with the paparazzi, be a couple, and then what? Did Austin really want to marry her eventually like he told Trish? If so, where would they live? How did he feel about kids? How long did he want to stay in the spotlight? Would Ally always have to compete with hoards of screaming girls chasing after Austin? She knew there were endless ways this could play out and realized that she and Austin had a lot more talking to do if they kept dating.
She returned to the cottage an hour later with no more answers than she left with, but a list of things to do which helped her feel more focused and in control. She started making breakfast and soon the others wandered out of their rooms, drawn by the smell of cooking eggs and bacon and pancakes.
Austin shuffled into the kitchen still wearing his pajamas. He stood next to Ally as she flipped some pancakes and he took a deep appreciative breath.
"You're making pancakes! You must love me." he said and put an arm around her shoulders in a side hug.
"Get a plate and eat some while they are hot." she prompted and tried to ignore the heat in her cheeks from his comment.
He did as told and joined Dez and Trish at the table who were already eating. Connor followed right behind and soon everything was cooked so Ally filled her own plate. She sat in the empty seat to Austin's left. He leaned over to kiss her cheek right as she sat down and then went back to eating his large stack of pancakes. Ally blushed at the kiss and turned all her attention to her food. She could feel Trish watching her and knew her friend had some questions about last night. Connor and Austin washed the breakfast dishes and then they all got ready to go.
Most years they spent one day on the historic schooners that sailed from the islands but last year Ally left before that happened and they ended up cancelling it all together. So they were all excited as they dressed in swim wear and packed small bags of sunscreen, sunglasses and other items to take on their day long excursion. They walked over to the dock where Austin and Ally had their impromptu dance the night before. Their ship and captain were ready for them so they boarded and set sail.
Ally offered to take Trish's bag along with hers down into the cabin so they were out of the way until needed. Austin followed her down the few steps and into the galley. She set the bags on the floor under the table and then turned around and ran into Austin.
"Hi." he said. His arms went around her to stabilize her after crashing into him.
"Hey." she said. "What are you doing?"
Austin pulled her closer into a hug, their bodies pressed close and his face at her shoulder. He breathed in deeply.
"I just needed a real good morning hug. Now I'm good." he said and he pulled back, releasing her. She stumbled again for a moment as he drew away and the boat shifted and turned as it left the island.
"Oh."
"Don't over think things Ally. Today is going to be so much fun." He said.
She nodded and he smiled. Then he grabbed her hand and pulled her up the stairs and back above deck to join the others at the back of the boat as they picked up speed in the channel.
He was right. The five of them had a great day sailing, swimming, eating the gourmet food prepared for them, snorkeling, and relaxing in the sun. As the sun sank lower in the sky and their schooner sliced through the water toward Sunset Island Ally leaned back against Austin with a smile on her face. They sat in the back, wind blowing their hair and Austin's arm draped lazily around her shoulders, as they looked out over the ocean surrounding them. Dez was perched at the front of the boat facing the wind with a huge smile plastered on his face. Trish and Connor were hanging out midship and she was grateful they were heading back because she was starting to feel slightly nauseated from being on the water all day.
Soon they docked and walked the short distance to their cottage. Trish grabbed some snacks from the kitchen and disappeared into her room. Connor and Dez started a game of cards and Austin and Ally went out to the beach chairs with some waters.
"Let's hear it." Austin prompted her as they sat in the falling darkness of evening.
"What?"
"You've been way too calm today. So what kind of to do lists or things did you come up with this morning to keep you so calm about us?" Austin asked.
Ally gaped and stared at him for a moment and he began to laugh.
"Don't be so surprised. I know you pretty well after all these years." he said.
Ally shut her mouth and then smiled, laughing softly. "You're right. I did make some lists on my run."
"I knew it." he gloated.
"Mostly I realized that we have some things to talk about once we figure out what this is exactly." she gestured between them.
"Okay. We will do plenty of talking." Austin said seriously. Then he grinned as he had an idea. "And we can also do some dancing. Come on."
Austin jumped to his feet and grabbed Ally's hands, pulling her from her seat as well. He kept one of her hands in his while he pulled his phone from his pocket with the other. He tapped the screen and music began to play. He turned up the volume and slipped it back in his pocket but they could still hear it. Next he drew her close and began slow dancing.
"Austin Moon, are you trying to distract me because I was getting serious for a second there?" Ally asked playfully.
"No. I promise that we will talk. A lot. Every day." He said and spun her out and back into his arms where he leaned close and spoke low and soft into her ear. "But I am trying to romance you. Is it working?"
Ally's eyes were wide as she stared at him when he pulled back to see her face. She was speechless. How did he do these things to her so easily? Her body hummed at every point of contact and she longed to be closer somehow. A month ago she was still mad at him and now here she was dancing on the beach in the moonlight and falling even more in love with him.
She felt his hand on the small of her back tighten as he placed her other hand on his shoulder and then let go. His fingers caressed her cheek lovingly as he looked into her eyes.
"Let your fears go, Ally. Please." he said. "I need you."
He leaned in slowly and she didn't stop him. This time she rose on her toes to meet him in an anxious kiss. Her arms pulled him closer and his hands went to her waist where he gripped the fabric of her shirt in a tight fist as he kissed her the way he'd wanted to for the past year. The music and dancing were forgotten as they gave in and kissed deep and long.
Back on the cottage porch Dez snorted and slapped his cards on the table. "Well it's about time!"
Connor turned to look behind him and saw the couple making out. "Took them long enough." he agreed.
"Wedding next June?" Dez asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Sooner." Connor said, reorganizing the cards in his hand. "Fifty bucks."
"You're on. Ally doesn't move that fast." Dez said and they shook hands on their bet.
. . .
The next morning Austin and Ally came out of their rooms with smiles still on their faces. They ran into each other in the kitchen as they fixed bowls of cereal for breakfast and grinned at each other as they said good morning. Austin playfully bumped Ally's shoulder when she picked up the cereal box after him. Then they sat side by side at the table on the porch.
Trish watched this with an amused smirk on her face. She exchanged a look with her husband Connor and they both got nods from Dez as they silently celebrated the reunion of the power couple. Equilibrium was being restored and one word kept running through her mind: FINALLY.
"What are we doing today?" Dez eventually spoke up and broke the happy silence in the room.
"Ugh, just keep me on dry land and I'll be happy." Trish made a face. "I still feel funny from yesterday."
"Why don't we have a nice quiet day here?" Ally suggested.
Several heads nodded in agreement.
"I call a beach chair!" Austin called out followed by Trish quickly claiming the other.
Ally spoke up too late and simply nodded in acceptance of her fate. She would have given her chair to Trish anyway since she's pregnant.
Austin leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear. "I'll share with you." Ally smiled in return.
A short time later the group was all out on the beach in their swimwear. Dez was determined to build a giant sand castle like he saw on competitions and began digging a giant hole in the sand nearby to build up a huge pile to shape. The guys joined in excitedly and Ally took Austin's chair in the shade beside Trish.
"So, tell me about last night. Connor told me he saw something interesting after we got back." Trish prodded.
Ally blushed. "Austin and I kissed."
"It sounded a little more serious than just a kiss." Trish said.
"Fine, we kissed for a while last night." Ally admitted. "But that's all. We slept in our own rooms."
"I know. You two are sadly stuck at a PG rating." Trish lamented.
"And I'll stay that way until I'm married." Ally said firmly. Then she melted slightly as she looked over at the guys. "But he is a really good kisser."
Trish laughed and looked over at the guys too. They were still digging and she watched Connor hoisting heavy wet sand up onto their growing pile to sculpt. The work was making his skin glisten with sweat and his muscles bulge. Austin and Dez may have been in the same condition but her eyes were glued to her husband.
"Wow." Ally said, eyes glued to Austin.
Trish shook her head.
"Just tell me that you two are going to stay together this time." Trish pleaded.
"I hope so, but I'm still scared to really trust it. I mean, what happens when we go back to Miami? Our relationship always seems so easy here but things change when we go home and settle back into real life." Ally said.
"Do you want to be with Austin?" Trish asked.
"You know I do. It's all I've wanted since we were 17, but people don't always get what they want." Ally said.
"If you want it then fight for it. Austin has been." Trish pointed out.
Ally looked over at the hot blonde as he worked in the sand. Her stomach twisted in a pleasant way as she thought about his letters and how he sang to her at his last concert. He wants you, her mind seemed to scream at her. And you want him.
. . .
Once Dez deemed the sand pile large enough for his sculpture the guys stopped to take a break. They got drinks and Austin pulled Ally toward the water so he could cool off. They swam in the cool water for a few minutes until Dez called him back, luring them out of the water with sandwiches for lunch. They ate and the guys went back to work. Dez directed the work to create a masterpiece and both Austin and Connor were willing workers. Ally joined in when Trish fell asleep for a short nap.
By early evening the mound of sand had transformed into an abstract piece with different textures and designs on fluid forms rolling and intertwining one into another. Ally placed a final shell on a section coated in them and the five of them all stood back to admire their work. Dez took some photos of the sculpture and of his friends with and beside it.
They gathered their things and went into the cottage to clean up so they could get dinner. They went to a favorite restaurant not far away from the main hotel and then they went back to the cottage just after dark.
Trish suggested a movie and they all settled into the main room to watch. Ally was looking at the seating: Trish and Connor were on the couch and Dez took one of the soft chairs. One chair was left and Austin motioned for her to take it. She did and he promptly sat down in front of her, leaning back against the chair with her legs on either side. Ally ran her hands through his hair, ruffling it and messing up his perfect messy look. He turned and shot her a pouty look in complaint which only made her laugh. They watched the movie, ate popcorn, and had a fun time. When it ended they all got up and dispersed to their rooms. Austin followed Ally past the door to his and Dez's room and stopped in front of hers.
"Are you looking for a doorstep scene Mr. Moon?" Ally asked teasingly as she stopped at her open doorway to face him. Austin moved closer and wrapped his arms around her.
"It could be nice, Miss Dawson." He said with a smile before leaning in. The kiss was soft and simple and he didn't fight it when she pulled away. She tried to cover a yawn.
"Go to sleep." He urged. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay. Goodnight Austin." Ally said and went into her room and closed the door.
. . .
A/N: Sorry it took a while to put up this chapter: I'm fighting my personal writing demons of ending stories too quickly and trying to do this properly. Do you like how it is going? When I first wrote it, I only had enough for 4 chapters but as I flesh out the scenes it's getting longer. Let me know if it's working for you. Thanks!
weesh