Chapter 12- She Doesn't Fall
Okay, It's now Austin's turn. Hope you all enjoy and since I am now on break, I have more time to write!
Austin's POV
Stupid, stupid, stupid, I think to myself continuously. But, no matter how hard I try, I can't stop thinking the word, not that I was trying hard too in the first place but, because I knew I was right. I was so unbelievably stupid!
So, Ally and I were just driving down the highway with her screaming at me and I was enjoying her panic so much, it was hard to keep a straight face and pretend I was focused on the road. Ally didn't know how fast I drove back in Cali so it was just too much fun watching her think that I was insane.
But, in my defense, I was driving fast to get farther away from the 3 vans a long distance back. And, we would've been farther if Ally didn't keep on shouting at me. But, I guess I was scaring her to death, so her actions were acceptable.
"Austin! Listen to me! You have to slow down!" Ally screams again but this time, she leaned in closer and my ears vibrated from her loud voice. I flinch and while caught off guard, I open my mouth and just say the first thing on my tongue.
"Ally, you don't understand. I can't let those paparazzi catch up to us," I say and then my eyes widen. Why did I just say that? I scream to myself. Suddenly, too familiar voices invade my mind. "Camera boy!" one says and then he laughs before walking off. "Hey, what're your parents doing?" another one says with mock curiosity. "Wait, never mind. I'll read about it tomorrow," he says before running to his friends. I sigh angrily and the voices vanish. Then, another familiar one replaces them but this time it is in reality.
"Austin, um..," I hear Ally say and I am swiftly aware of my surroundings again. I probably zoned out a little. I glance at the speedometer and my heart skips a beat. I was going so fast. I have never driven at the speed I was before. But, I look at the rear view mirror and I see the vans are still behind us. Closing the distance even, if that was possible. I glare at the mirror and the voices start to slowly come back. They get stronger and louder the longer I am staring at the black vehicles and I get angry.
"Take the next left," Ally says and I force myself to push my feelings down. I feel like they will come bursting back up soon though. I look over at the brunette and see that she is turning a map around in her hands. Wow, she's agreeing with me. That must mean that I have brought her to her final opinion. I decide to accept her help and give her a break. For just a little while, though. I start to slow down and I turn left as Ally said.
As soon as we are off the major highway, I look straight and see a rocky but straight road ahead of us. There were trees everywhere and dirt and mud covered the ground. I looked a little while longer and saw that the ground was shiny as if it was wet but I brushed it off, thinking it was the cars' head lights.
"Thanks for helping me, Ally," I say, out of the blue, thinking that an apology was not enough. She has really helped me so many times, even if she looks like she has no interest in my. And, of course she does but-.
"Austin, what don't I understand? What did you mean when you said that?" I groan to myself and wish that more than anything that she didn't bring up the subject again. But, too late as I can already feel my heart beat faster. Where's your camera, famous boy? A voice mocks in my head. Hey, what's going on with your parents? Wait. I'll see tomorrow, someone else says to me before leaving. I open my mouth to answer Ally, the same girl who was looking at me worriedly, but nothing comes out. My grip on the steering wheel tightens but that seems to be the only thing I can control. My mind was still racing with horrible images, my foot was barely pressing the gas, causing the car to slow even more, and my tongue was still trying to cooperate with me.
"Um, it was nothing Ally," I manage to cough out. "You can just forget about it, okay?" Ally looks at me like she just witnessed me running over a person. By that, I mean scared and worried. She opens her mouth and then clamps it shut a moment later. Which, I was thankful for. I had had enough for today. First the paparazzi, that started this in the first place… I bring my eyes up to the rear view mirror, curious to see if Ally's directions had helped. And all I see is the nature we had driven past. And, more importantly, no black vans.
"Yes! We finally lost the paparazzi!" I exclaim in triumph, also relieved that my tongue was finally acting normal. It would've been quite embarrassing if I screamed and instead a squeak came out. I shook my head at my imagination. I would never squeak. I settle down and face Ally. Immediately, my eyes lock onto her unnaturally pale face and see her staring intently at the map she had picked up again. Automatically, I step on the brake and the car halts in a second. Ally looks at me with confusion and I don't know if it is because of me or something else but at least I think she is okay, physically. So, with that in mind, I drive the car again, but this time agonizingly slow- which I don't mind in this moment- and am in 'adult' mode in an instant.
"Ally, are you okay?" I question her, not failing to see the sweat starting to form on her brow.
"I'm fine. It's just that… I think we're lost." She says a little sheepishly. My eyes widen and my foot is barely even putting any force on the pedal so the car is going as slow as humanly possible. Then, I look at my surroundings and it seems like I finally realize that we were the only car on this road. Which was stupid, but not the completely and unforgivably stupid thing I was talking about earlier. No, this was just a small part that fueled it.
I felt my cheeks redden. I'm the driver! How did I not notice that this wasn't even a road? And after this thought, then came the really stupid part.
I was now fully focused on this path, hoping that it would lead to the main road soon. But, I just had to get distracted for one tiny second. And, in that measly second, I thought of why we were in this position in the first place. The paparazzi. I wished from the bottom of my heart that they would just leave me alone. It's all because of them I think and then, I see.
I was mindlessly playing around by the slide when I feel something uncomfortable on my back. I cringe and turn around to see a couple of the people from the popular group. But, I was mainly focused on the boy holding the shovel. Probably the same one that was used to dump the sand down my shirt a few moments ago.
"Hey, supa star!" one of the boys say, while flipping his hair and giving his impression of a diva. The other boys laugh behind him and I feel my cheeks heat up.
"Ah, Austin, better get some make up to cover your red face. Don't want that to land on the cover," another boy says while gesturing to my cheeks. Again, the other kids laughed and I could only feel my knees trembling and my eyes were focused on the ground.
"Well, we better go get camera ready, in case some of your buddies show up. See you!" they say before they stride off. As soon as they are far enough, I climb under the playground structure and just stand there bawling my eyes out.
And just as quick as that memory came, it was gone and I was left feeling flustered and angry. Stupid paparazzi! Stupid memories! I kept thinking over and over again. And, I couldn't control anything. It was like everything that has happened to me involving those reporters and photographers had finally got to me and I snapped… at the first thing I saw.
"Ally! I thought you knew where you were going!" I exclaimed, barely aware if what I was saying. Ally then screamed at me and I only felt angrier.
"Why are you blaming me? You were the one trying to get us killed!" she yelled, referring to my excellent driving skills.
"Well, at least I can read a map," I threw back at her. Then, I reached forward and harshly ripped the map from Ally's hand. When I drew back, I saw Ally looking at me, wide eyed but extremely mad. Her face was tinted red from her screaming and her lips were set in a scowl. She leaned back and pressed her back onto the door, as if wanting to decrease all the space between us. And I, not wanting to back down, also did that and then, we just glared at each other in silence.
Finally, when I was about to break it, Ally beats me too it and she sounds dejected. As if all her energy has left in those seconds after she stopped screaming.
"Just- just take me home now," she spat, without looking at me. But, I could tell that she was hurt. And I was beating myself up because I was the reason. Fortunately, all my anger was now gone but my chest felt incredibly heavy because of how I released it. Stupid. But, it would be even more incompetent of me to try to apologize to the fuming brunette now so I just turn to start up the car again. I press my foot down on the gas but we don't move.
"What are you waiting for?" Ally asks, sounding exasperated. I don't respond and push my foot down harder on the pedal. But, like last time, the car stays unmoving.
"Austin! Why aren't we moving?" Ally questions me again. She looks over at me and there is an annoyed look clear on her face. I sigh, not sure what the answer was.
"How am I supposed to know?" I say to her, my patience also thinning. After all, this is Ally's car.
"What?" Ally asks me, her voice filled with so much venom. Oh, did I say that last part out loud? I am still wrapped in my thoughts when Ally unbuckles her seat belt. Then, when I hear her window slide open, I find myself copying her and then, I feel the slight breeze hit my face as I stick my head out the window.
At first, the sight confused me. Then, I began to make out some important details. Like how I could only see half of the black tires because the only half was covered in mud. But, maybe not covered. Maybe, it was sinking in the mud…
Then, I noticed how air bubbles popped around the car and when I leaned closer, I saw that my observation from earlier was correct. The mud was wet. Wait, that can't mean…? But, the answer to my unfinished question suddenly appeared as the car dipped lower into the mud. My eyes widened in shock and I pulled myself back into the car and I slowly sat down.
But, a moment later, I was forced around and I locked eyes with Ally's brown ones. Then, mine widened when I could feel her heavy breathing on my face, meaning that she was in my personal space. But, this wasn't a happy situation. Ally was furious and her eyes were dark.
"AUSTIN MOON!" She screamed with hatred. "How dare you drive my car into quicksand?" Then, she moved back but she kept her eyes locked with mine and I couldn't speak. All I could do was stare at the fire in Ally's eyes.
Can you guys take some time to review? I honestly don't know what you think of this story. Should I continue it? What do you like or dislike?
Anyway, if Austin's flashback seemed confusing, good. It's a foreshadow and I will explain more in a later chapter.
Okay, bye!