Chapter 19- She Doesn't Fall

Hi guys! I hope this chapter makes up for the last one because I honestly felt like it was not very good. Sorry about that, but hopefully, you guys will like this one.

Ally's POV

Austin and I were so close, staring into each other's eyes and I could feel his breathe tickling my cheek. I had no idea how long we have been in that position but suddenly, all natural light from the sky faded and was replaced by yellow fluorescent bulbs that lined the pier. And finally, without warning, we changed positions. Austin caressed my cheek before moving both his hands to my waist and I wrapped my hands around his neck. Our breathing became heavier and we started to close the remaining distance…

I startled myself awake, groggy and disoriented. I look around and my eyes land on my alarm clock. '5:30 AM,' the red blinking lights flash to me. I groan, the time only reminding me why I woke in the first place. I had just dreamed about me and Austin at the beach, but something was going on. Apparently, I was exploding with butterflies and couldn't keep my hands off him. But, the part that worried me was a slight sense of familiarity, as if I had had this dream before…

Impossible though. Why would I dream about… that? Austin and I were barely friends. But, the tingles running through my body suggested something other than 'barely friends.' I shake my head and get out of my bed, knowing that it was Monday and I wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep, knowing of the vivid images that were going to appear behind my lids. So, I try to push my unwanted thoughts to the back of my mind, and I walk to my bathroom.

Austin's POV

I slowly peel my eyes open and scan my bright room. Everything looked to be in order. My acoustic guitar was resting against the far back wall, all my clothes were neatly thrown on the floor and my couple dozen of photos of me were taped to the walls. I blink, looking back to the photos. Suddenly, I lung off my bed and stride to the nearest wall. I raise my hands and proceed to peel every picture off.

I finish and look at the bare wall. Then, I do a double take at what I had just done. It was as if I wasn't in control of my body. I was just thinking about how awful all those pictures were to seem to any guest. It would've made me look very self- centered, having so many pictures. Ally would agree. Ally!

"Ugh," I groan as I plop back onto my bed. Now I remember. I had spent the whole night tossing and turning, thinking of the brightest smile and large brown eyes. Then, I wake up and the first thing I do is take off the pictures because they remind me of why Ally despised me in the first place. And she still does, I think. Well, maybe a little. Just because I rip pictures of me off my walls doesn't mean that anything has changed. I'm probably just a person who she feels pity for and wants to help. But, even as I think this, I can't help but feel… hope that Ally might think of me differently now that she knows me.

I jump as my alarm clock goes off, making me realize that I woke too early. I lean sideways to turn it off and when the blaring stops, everything goes silent, letting me focus on my thoughts again. Ally. I look down to the floor where all the photos lay scattered. I get off my bed and quickly pick them all up. Then, I stare at the pile- for a very long time. Finally, I give a slight nod and bring the pictures to my night stand. I slide open the drawer and stuff the pictures in, hoping that I won't have any reason to see them again.

When I am satisfied, I take a deep breath and turn away. Then, the fact that my alarm clock rang settles into my mind. There is school today! I shout to myself. I quickly run to get ready, not wanting to be late, and not knowing why I am thinking this way.

Ally's POV

I hear sighs erupt from the entire class when the bell rings. Obviously, I love school, but even I have to admit that today's lesson was a little boring. Which, if you know me, is very strange. I usually love every class and all the knowledge that absorbs into my mind. Then why are you in such a hurry to leave? My mind asks me. I look down to my hands and see that they are already done zipping up my backpack. I frown. I had no idea why I was acting like this. I take in a deep breath to calm myself done. I could not spend the whole day acting like this. So, I put a genuine smile on my face and as I walk by the teacher to the door I say, "Have a wonderful day." Then, I am out of the room.

I walk down the hall, struggling to maintain my posture, which seems quite difficult for some reason, as if my bag was filled with bricks. So, of course I don't see the figure standing in front of me until my face hits their back. I give a slight scream as I feel myself fall, bracing myself for the impact, knowing that my backpack with "bricks" won't cushion my fall. But, the floor doesn't come in contact with my body. Someone had wrapped their arms around me and was keeping me upright.

I gasp when goose bumps suddenly appear on my arms, where the person was touching. But, before I can come up with an explanation, like the temperature suddenly dropped, I am lifted back to my feet. My saviour probably thinks I'm hurt because of my gasp. I lift my eyes to look at who I had labelled 'my saviour' and nearly jump out of my skin when Austin's worried eyes meet mine.

"Ally! I'm sorry! Are you okay?" he says in one breath. I study him. He seems genuinely concerned whereas my expression was probably harder to read. I was feeling mixed emotions, but mostly confusion. I had set up my image of Austin as a jerk and ego maniac but then, I see that he really has a passion for music and that gave us something to talk about and now, his eyes are widened and he is looking at me as if he is ready to charge me to the nurse's office the second I feel faint. But, he did cause this in the first place. I think about this and technically it is true, and this is the very reason I had wanted to stay away from him in the first place, but, at this moment, I am overruled by the fact that he had saved me this time, instead of the opposite. But then again-.

"Ally! Please answer me! Are you okay?" Austin asks, breaking me away from my thoughts. I lift my eyes to look at him and his expression looks like I-am-ready-to-throw-her-over-my-shoulder-and-carry-her-to-the-nurse. But, I couldn't blame him. I could already tell that my face was flushed and tired looking, from my mind battle and this day's events.

"Yeah, I'm fine Austin," I say. "Thanks." Then, I turn to walk away before I collapse because honestly, I actually felt like I was going to. Those days that I stayed up and practically ignored my sleep schedule to work on the song with Austin are catching back up to me… fast. But, before I've taken a step, Austin's hand wraps around mine and he twirls me back around to face him.

"Where are you going? I'm pretty sure Maths is that way," Austin says as he points in the opposite direction I'm walking in. My eyes widen a fraction as my brain processes that there is one more period before school ends. I stop myself from sighing out loud. Austin stands there silently and watches me as I struggle to remain alert. My eyes lashes tangle together in the world's longest blink and when I open my eyes again, Austin has a frown on his face. He sighs, clearly seeing my situation and he grabs my hand again, pulling me towards our math class.

Austin and I burst into the class room, in no danger to being late. Actually, the class was half filled. Which was good because if the more gossip-y girls in this class were here, no doubt rumours would be spreading about why Austin was holding my hand.

He pulls me to the very back of the room and when I see an empty desk, I drop down immediately. Austin sits in the seat in front of mine and seconds before the bell rings, he turns around and whispers in my ear, "Don't worry. I'll take notes for you. Just take a nap." This almost jerks me back to alertness. I couldn't miss a class, even if my lids were already closing… I sigh as his soothing voice lulls me to sleep and while I'm close to falling unconscious, I almost miss the tingles that spread on my cheek, where his breath came in contact with my skin. Probably just… temperature or… something I think drowsily, not aware enough to think properly. Then, as the bell rings, I fall asleep at school.

Austin's POV

I turn back to face the front when I see Ally has fallen asleep. I smile slightly, remembering the relief in her expression when she was free to nap. Obviously though, being Ally, I could see that she was debating her decision but eventually, gave into her tiredness.

Then, the teacher walks into class and the first thing she says strikes my nerves.

"Okay, class," she says, not bothering to look up. "Do question five and since it is quite difficult, feel free to go to Miss Dawson for help because I will be busy this period." I hear a few snickers from the people who know of Ally's state right now, but after moments of silence and no one is pointing the fact out, I quietly sigh in relief. But, the feeling vanishes as a girl sitting beside me gets up and goes to tap Ally in the shoulder, startling her awake. Immediately, she looks up and I have to say that she handled the situation well.

"Is there something wrong?" Ally asks, her voice laced with concern but also forced as she tries to comprehend the situation. Finally, she realizes what is going on and she sits up straighter.

"Okay, let me help you with this…," she starts and suddenly, the whole room buzzes as everyone either rushes over to Ally or shoots their hands up and waits for her. And it continues for the whole period.

My scowl deepens in worry as I watch Ally the entire time. She moves from desk to desk, offering her assistance and tips for the question. When she is finished with one student, another one suddenly calls her over and Ally goes to help that person. But, no one can see that she is practically dragging her feet across the floor and her voice comes out soft and strained.

Finally, when everyone finishes the question, the bell rings and all of the students flood out the door- except Ally and I.

I cautiously walk over to her just as Ally slumps back into her seat. She rubs her eyes and sighs. Then, as if she just realized my presence, she slowly looks up at me. Her mouth opens but no words come out. She just sighs again and places her head into her hands.

And I feel broken. How could anyone treat her like this? There were many times when Ally had impressed me but today- I was downright speechless. I grab all my stuff with one hand and then quickly pile Ally's things on top of them. I look down to see that she is blinking slowly, about to fall asleep again and I feel guilty when I cause her to jerk awake.

"Ally, I'm going to bring you home," I say as I lift her out of her seat. At this point, the teacher is long gone and no one is here to see me pick up Ally into my arms. Her sigh muffles against my chest and I walk out to the parking lot to my car.

After I put Ally in the passenger seat, I circle around and get in the car, only to stop my action when I realize that I don't know her address. I glance over to Ally and her sleeping face distracts me. She looks perfect in this state where there are no worries or things to stress over. I feel myself pull out of the lot, knowing exactly where to go because, I wouldn't wake Ally up. She deserves rest after all she's done for me. But, as I speed down the road, I know that she's going to kill me when she wakes up.

My story feels so boring but, is it just me? Please bare with me and I promise it'll get better. Also, thanks to all of you who have taken your time to review. I'm not one to do shout outs but just know that I know who always reads my chapters and says the nicest things.

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Thanks!