Chapter 14- She Doesn't Fall: part two
Okay, everyone ready? And remember the note at the end please!
Austin's POV
"Ally, come on..," I mutter to myself in a daze. After I had zoned her in, I had frantically searched for a long stick or any rescue device but sadly, there were no buoys randomly on the ground. So, with my horrible guilt and no sanity left, I decided to go after Ally myself.
So, here I was, in the middle of taking my shirt and shoes off. I was basically a robot right now, doing everything without thinking about it.
I throw my converse onto the side and then without a second thought, I run into the sand. And then I am stuck. Great, I think to myself. But, I don't stop. I force my arms and legs to move and I try to push forward. If you thought it was hard, that would be an understatement. I felt like there were bricks tied to my ankles and there number one priority was down.
Finally, I reach the spot where I had seen the air bubble and I stay still and catch my breath for a moment. Then, I take a deep breath, and dive down. Now, that was completely risky because I was basically drowning myself. My plan was to get Ally and swim back to the land but apparently, quicksand is dangerous for a reason.
When my head is underwater, I continue to hold my breath and I reach my hands out, in hopes of finding Ally. It would have helped if I opened my eyes but between the mud and sand, I didn't even know if I could see anything. And besides, would you really want to open your eyes in dirty mud water?
I continue to search and thankfully, my lungs were strong because I was a singer. Ally is a singer too I think to motivate myself. She could hold her breath too. But, she had been under longer than me I think. My chest feels heavier as my oxygen is minimising and I don't know how long I can last.
Suddenly, my hand hits into a warm object and I stop myself from gasping. Familiar tingles run up my arm and I only know one person who can cause me to do that. I reach forward and wrap my hands around Ally, positive that it is her. When I have her with me, then do I realize that I couldn't swim anymore. We were too deep and the sand was too thick. I start to panic and I move my head from side even though my eyes weren't open. Okay, think Austin I command myself. Though, my decreasing air was making it quite difficult. But, I tried focused. Okay, this is quicksand, but it's a pool of it I think. Every pool or lake or anything… has a bottom. Man, this was crazy but it was worth a shot. I began moving and pushing us farther down. If this didn't work or I was wrong, well-. Don't think about that I scold myself. I tighten my grasp around Ally when the temperature changes. I know we are close. Suddenly, my feet hit something hard and solid. The ground. I don't waste any time after I figure this out before I bend and then, I use the last of my strength to shoot up.
A couple seconds later, we break the surface of the sand and I gasp in all the air I can take in. Then, I quickly swim towards the shore with Ally in my arms. Thank goodness, at the exact moment I pulled us out, Dez arrives in his car and he stops farther away, knowing that this wet road was actually a horrible trap. But, that was the saddening part. Ally and I had fallen right into the trap without knowing it. If we hadn't fought- if I hadn't started the fight- none of this would have happened. Ally wouldn't be mad at me. Ally's car wouldn't have been lost forever and Ally-.
"Austin! What happened to Ally?" Dez exclaims as he runs out of his car to us. He crotches down next to me and I look over at the red head.
"She almost drowned in the quicksand. But, I'll give details later. Right now, we need to get her to the hospital!" I say in all seriousness. Dez immediately agrees and he runs to go start the car. I sigh and feel all the exhaustion of today's events catching up to me. But, I force it away and then go to pick up Ally. I wrap one arm around her shoulders and then snake my other arm around her waist, still feeling electricity run through my veins. I wonder if she ever felt them too. Of course not. I think to myself. She is so mad at you right now. I knew that was true. If she was to open her eyes right now, she would probably smack me. I sigh again and start walking to Dez's car with Ally held tightly in my arms.
At the hospital…
"Thank you so much Austin!" Ally's dad, Lester, said before we hung up. I took in a deep breath, glad that Ally's dad knew what was going on. Honestly, Dez and I were lost. That is, until Dez decided to call Ally's best friend, Trish, and ask for Mr. Dawson's phone number. Unfortunately, he was in a music convention this week and wouldn't be back for a couple days. He was incredibly guilty for not being able to be here but I assured him that Ally was going to be fine. Though, I didn't know if I was lying or not.
I stuff my phone into my pocket, glad that I took it out before I went into the quicksand and walk back to the waiting room.
I push open the doors and am greeted with an angry Latina.
"Austin Moon! I can't believe you would let that happen to Ally!" Trish screams with her fists balled. My eyes widen and I remember she was always sitting at the 'Austin Moon fan club table.' But, her eyes were dark and she looked ready to strangle me.
"How did you know what happened?" I asked, looking to Dez for help. He gives me a panicked face and says, "Sorry buddy. She forced it out of me!" I inwardly groan and decide that Trish was not to be messed with.
"Trish, it was all an accident. I swear I never wanted that to happen," I say, trying to calm things down before Trish punches something. Like, maybe a blond.
Trish decides to let it go and she goes to sit down, still a little grumpy though. Suddenly, a women burst's out of the private door where the patients are staying. She looks around before raising her clipboard and reading off of it.
"Is there a Trish De La Rosa and Dezmond here?" the lady asks, scanning the large room. My eyes widen and I look down to see Trish and Dez briefly look at each other before standing up.
"Yes, that's us," Trish answers, her voice calm and showing no sign of nervousness. But, I couldn't speak for Dez.
"Is this about Ally? Is she okay?!" Dez asks, moving forward and grabbing the nurse's shoulders. I manage a smile at Dez's protective brother state but am also dying to hear her answer.
"Firstly," she says and then gives a pointed look at Dez. He immediately releases his grip and backs up. The women looks pleased and then she clears her throat.
"Miss Dawson has requested a Trish and Dez to go see her since she is now done her tests and ready for visitors. As to if she's okay, she is, as a matter of fact. Luckily, not too much quicksand in her system to cause any major problems. We have already instructed her to drink plenty of water and avoid stressful activities until she is fully well. Some after effects will include a sore throat and heavy chest for a short while but Miss Dawson is aware of that too. She is doing amazingly well for a person just in such a traumatising event. Trish beams with pride and I can't help but think that Ally was pretty incredible. Another reason why everyone at school thinks she is so positive.
"So," the nurse continues. "If you two will follow me, and I'll direct you to Miss Dawson's room." She turns around and is surprised when I jerk my hand out and grab her wrist.
"Wait!" I say, wondering why this whole time, the nurse has not mentioned me. So, that is precisely what I ask.
"Why is my name not on that list? Ally had to have mentioned me. Austin Moon?" I ask, trying to persuade her to let me go too. I mean, this had to be some kind of mistake. I was the one that rescued her. Ally can't just not let me see her. The nurse huffs and shakes out of my grip, muttering something about boys and their personal space issues. Then, she proceeds to check the slip of paper on her clipboard again. After she reads it again, she looks me over and purses her lip.
"Ah, yes. Miss Dawson has requested an Austin Moon," she says, but sounding a little nervous. Then, she continues with the same voice.
"But, at a separate time after these two," she says, gesturing at Trish and Dez. I am a little puzzled as to why I am seeing her separately. She probably wants to thank you alone, I think. I nod to myself in agreement and then take a seat on the nearest chair while watching the nurse lead Trish and Dez through the doors.
Ally's POV
I take another sip of water, cringing when the icy liquid slides down my throat, reminding me of the previous event. But, I actually didn't know much of 'the previous event.' All I remembered was me slowly drowning in the quicksand. So, when I woke up in this hospital with a horribly parched throat and no answers, well, it was a little terrifying. But, after my last tests, a friendly woman came in and asked if I thought any visitors would be here. First, I thought of my dad, but knowing he was in a convention out of town right now, I knew that I shouldn't bother him. Besides, the doctors said I was fine. So, I thought of the next closest people to me.
"Here," the nurse says, handing me a pen and a piece of paper on her clipboard. I reach out and accept it and then she leaves to take care of something else. When the door shuts softly behind her, I open the pen and scribble the names down: Trish De La Rosa, Dezmond. They were my two best friends, Trish was the one I always went to for comfort and girl time and Dez was just like an older brother to me. I literally had the best friends in the world. Then, I frowned as I thought of another person. Austin. I had a lot to talk to him about. I uncap the pen again but this time I write a small sentence at the bottom of the page. Hopefully, the nurse will see it and make sure Austin follows her orders. Please have Austin Moon know to come after my other two friends. It's more… personal. I shake my head at the word, knowing that I needed to replace it with another one and that the nurse might interpret it the wrong way but before I had time to change it, the same women came back in.
"Ah, I see you are done," the women says and then she pulls the clipboard from my hand. But, I don't say anything. One, because I decided it didn't really matter. Let the nurse think what she wanted. I was the one over thinking things. And two, my throat was still very sore from holding my breath for that long. She leaves my room again and I lay back and think about what to say to my friends, and more importantly, what I was going to say to Austin.
Later…
"Okay, we're going to leave now. Hope you feel better, Ally!" Trish says before she hugs me. I laugh, despite the burn in my throat and then I get crushed as Dez comes and we form a group hug.
For the past hour, I was listening to them explain what had happened between the time Dez came until now. Sadly, I didn't get all the answers I wanted because Trish had not been there and Dez had only seen what went on after he arrived to pick us up. Apparently, according to Dez, when he came, he saw Austin hovering over me and us on the road, dripping wet. So, from that, I could only assume that Austin might have rescued me but, I had other plans right now and whether he had saved me or not, I wasn't going to let that interfere with them.
"Thanks guys!" I say to them after we release each other and then they wave one more time before they head out. And then, as soon as the door closes, I am left in silence. But, before I have time to catch my breath and think of my plan, the door bursts open again and then a familiar blond shows up.
"Ally," he breaths, looking me over. I gulp and sit straighter in my bed.
"Hey Austin," I say, before I start my practised speech.
"So, I know that you had rescued me and for that, I am very thankful," I start, watching his lips turn up into a smile. And this is the part that I regret. I mean, I don't regret what I am saying but I wish more than anything that I could've spoken my next line differently.
"But, you need to stop," I say, my voice commanding. Austin looks surprised and then he gets defensive.
"You want me to stop saving you?" he asks, incredulous and I roll my eyes.
"No, Austin," I say, my voice dropping lower, knowing I was making the right choice. Ever since Austin came here, I have been acting differently. I have been acting bolder and rude. I mean, everyone knew me as a perfect student and role model but ever since Austin came- or maybe ever since Austin became famous, he has been slowing changing me. I grew tired of all the gossip and squealing so I finally started snapping. I learned how to tune people out and I can't get rid of the skill. The point is, Austin, whether physically doing it or the things his fame causes, is turning me into someone I don't want to be. And, me helping him was the final straw. I had almost drowned, for crying out loud! Yes, I will always be incredibly grateful that he had saved me but Austin was also the cause of all of all this and I wouldn`t let anything like this happen ever again.
"No, Austin," I repeat.
"I want you to stop this," I say, moving my hand to gesture to the two of us.
"I need you to stop flirting with me, stop following me, and stop talking to me. Because of you, I had finally been late to class. My perfect record- gone, because you were bothering me by my locker. I had snapped at my dad for the first time, taking my anger out on him when you were the cause of it. I have been too bold and naughty and Austin, I almost died today, wanting to help you!" I finish my rant and take in a deep breath. I stare at Austin in the eyes and he suddenly laughs.
"Ally. You've got to be kidding me?" Austin says his voice hard. He steps closer and continues talking.
"Bold? Naughty? Ally, you can't always be perfect! I'm helping you chill out and actually be normal!" I gasp. Did he not understand that I didn't want those characteristics? I love being the all- around good girl and he just says that I am not normal being who I am?" I lean forward.
"See, this is what I mean, Austin," I say, my voice rising higher.
"You don't know me! You can't just go around thinking that I need help being normal!" I hiss, my eyes narrowing at him.
"Well, what about you?" he challenges, pointing a finger at me.
"I can handle the paparazzi by myself without you help! You don't even know my history with them! You don't even know anything about me!" he exclaims. My eyes widen at his insanity. The last time at the beach when the paparazzi were hunting him, he was asleep! He was sleeping through it before I woke him. I was just trying to help and he thinks that all I was doing was invading in his personal problems?
"You're right Austin," I spit out.
"I don't know anything about you, and I wouldn't want to! You are a horrible jerk and I knew it all along!" I say. The words seem distant and I know that I have wanted to say them for a long time. But, a part of me always thought he would prove me wrong yet it never happened.
"A jerk? You are just saying that because you are a stubborn brat!" Austin throws out. I gasp and he continues.
"You think you are so perfect and you get such a big head knowing that I chase you because you don't like me. Well, it doesn't work. I thought that at the beginning but now, I know that you are only doing that to get attention." I draw back at his words and cannot wrap my head around how much lies were in them. I do not want attention. I do not think highly of myself because Austin chases after me. I feel weak, knowing he thinks of me as a toy to entertain him. And frankly, the only thing he said in that rant that was true was that I don't like him.
"Austin, I need you to leave. Right now," I say, my voice low and seething with anger. Austin laughs and doesn't move.
"Austin, I have had enough of you. Get out!" I shout, causing my throat to ache. I ignore it and focus on controlling my breathing, which was now ragged.
"Fine, but just so you know, no one will ever give you that much attention again. So I hope you enjoyed it. Bye Allison," he smirks and then strides out the door. Well, so much for that plan I think sarcastically. But, the damage was done. Austin was now out of my life and I could go back to focusing on my grades and finishing high school. But, a strange feeling was growing in my stomach and I couldn't control it. Suddenly, my eyes water and I burst into tears.
I stay on the bed and bawl my eyes out, wrapped in my sheets and the whole time, I don't know why am crying. I am focused on the pain in my chest that I make myself believe is an after effect of the quicksand accident. Nothing else.
Why is Austin acting like this? What will happen after? Well, you will know in the next chapters.
And, here is 'the fall.' Meaning, that I will leave you with these 14 chapters and everything after this is downhill. But, you always have to get back up and this story will… soon.
I hope you enjoy this story so far and feel free to ask questions and tell me what you think. Anything you want.
Till next time, whenever that might be ;)