Chapter 24- She Doesn't Fall
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Now, onto the story (finally, right?)…
Ally's POV
I jump in the air when my phone vibrates. "Ah!" I shriek, and then I clamp my hand over my mouth, praying no one heard. I peer over the top of the bushes, and luckily, nothing had changed. I silently let out a breath and check my phone.
"Sweet dreams Ally :)" my text said. I smile to myself, and send him something back: "Good night Austin!:)" When the text sends, I slip the phone back into my pocket and look up. Austin's room was dim, his lights now off.
If you're wondering "What the heck is going on!?" I'll answer that simply: My plan. After that emotional day at Austin's house, I have been turning thoughts over and over in my head. What was going to happen? What was I going to do? And, most importantly: What are we going to do?
Most days, I have either snuck out the back door or left late in the night. Austin had told me that the deal he had with the paparazzi was that they were only allowed on Austin's property after school and they had to leave before night fall. Lately though, as if they knew there was new gossip (cough our relationship cough), they have been staying longer, almost until the next morning. This seriously irritated me, and leads to my plan. I had decided to do something to stop the paparazzi in their tracks. Show Austin that they don't rule his life. So, most of my time—when I was not with Austin, I would be up in my room, planning.
And now it was time to put Operation Paparazzi Spoiler into action. I was going to go to Cheetah Beats' Headquarters, find the central link in their industry, hopefully the boss, and find something humiliated of them. Then, I would persuade them to trade Austin's freedom for the picture. Blackmailing, yes; kind of evil, also yes. But, my plan was also incredibly faulty. Why? Because of the fact that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing! The past days, my training had come from The Spy Kids' movies, and involved searching the web on how to be stealthy. The only outcomes I've learned from that are: dress dark, be quiet, and be prepared. So far, I've only got the dark part down—covered in black everything, including a black beanie, and gloves. Almost made Austin do a double take when he saw my appearance today, though. His eyes bulged out, but he quickly covered it up. I laughed at the memory, then immediately shut my mouth. Obviously, I wasn't quiet, since a mere vibration of my phone sent me screaming, and I had just laughed loudly as if I wasn't currently hiding behind a bush. It was pure luck that I hadn't been discovered yet. My equipment on the other hand, was a whole different story, meaning, I didn't have much. A simple video camera, my cellphone, rope, a flashlight, and pepper spray. Yeah… I would be laughing at myself for the lack of preparation if I wasn't trying to be quiet. Anyway, now, I was camouflaged behind a large bush in Austin's front yard, waiting for the paparazzi to leave, so I could follow them, because, being the amazing spy I am, it hadn't occurred to me to search for the address of the HQ's.
Finally, after what seemed like an agonizingly long time, the large group with cameras and notepads start shuffling around and I risk a glance over the bush. Everyone had assembled into a group near two dark vans, looking disappointed and tired. I guess they didn't get anything today. My thought is confirmed when the group starts splitting up, half going to one van and the other half going to the other. This is my chance! I think excitedly. I had to get to my car, and follow them or else I would've spent two hours outside, and in the dark for nothing. I jump up and start to move over to my car. Then, immediately, I fall down and face-plant into the grass.
"Oof!" I say as the air gets knocked out of me. Of all the times to have my leg fall asleep! Fortunately, and unfortunately, all the reporters were in the vans, ready to leave, so they didn't notice me. But, they might if one of them turns around, and then Austin would be looking forward to a magazine with me sprawled on his front yard at, like, midnight. This motivates me to get up and ignore the stinging pain as blood circulates back to my feet, and I silently get into my car.
Scrambling to shift the car into Drive, I take a quick glance over to Austin's house.
For us, Austin I think. I would complete this mission and then Austin and I could have a happy relationship without any troubles. Let's just hope I don't get caught and thrown in jail before that.
With that happy thought in mind, I pressed the gas pedal, and sped along after the two vans.
I pause at the red light and see my digital clock in my peripheral vision. '12:56' it read. My eyes widen and I mentally groan. God, I had been following the two vans almost across town! I had passed more than ten lights and a dozen blocks, and still, the vans hadn't stopped. At this point, I was seriously regretting not searching up the address ahead of time.
The light changes to green and I sped forward, but am careful not to be too close to the vehicles. The last thing I wanted was to have my cover blown. I drive silently, peering at the scenery of complexes and stores, feeling as if I was playing Follow the Leader. The minutes drag by excruciatingly slowly and the city lights fade in and out of focus. Suddenly, my phone vibrates again and I am grateful (and surprised) that I had something to look forward to, even if it was small and unimportant. At least it was a distraction. I pick up my phone and realize that it was a call. My heart leaps as I read the caller ID.
"Hey Austin…," I trail off, pretending as if I had just woken up. In reality, my body felt as if I had just run a race; I was full of adrenaline. Austin laughs softly through the phone and I notice that he doesn't sound sleepy. A second later, he confirms it.
"Hey Ally. Sorry to wake you, I just couldn't sleep. I guess I'm still energetic from today. I thought that hearing your voice would relax me… I didn't think this through, though." I smile, accepting his apology.
"It's alright, I won't be sleeping for a while, anymore," I say, trying to imply that Austin had chased all my sleepiness away, but, take away the "anymore" and that would be the absolute truth.
My mind was trained on our conversation, but my eyes were focused on the road ahead. The vans seemed to be slowing down (finally!) and my eyebrows lifted in anticipation.
"Ally, I know we just spent time together, but, I really want to see you again," Austin says, and I can imagine him blushing on the other line. I was too, and it was harder to focus on the vans—who had just turned a sharp corner. I slowed down and turned when it seemed like they wouldn't see me. "Aw, I know how you feel Austin. I wish we didn't have to go to school tomorrow and we could hang out together." I blush at this revelation, but it quickly fades as I approach something huge in the distance.
"Yeah, but, moments like these, they really have the same affect. I can imagine you right now: hair swept to the side, looking adorable in your pj's…," Austin trails off happily, which makes me feel incredibly guilty since I caught, like, only half of what he said. My attention was now trained on the road ahead, my body leaning forward expectedly. The giant blob I saw earlier now focused into a looming building, as tall as a skyscraper. I knew this was HQ, because 1) the vans had turned off their headlights and were circling behind the building to park, and 2) the large CHEETAH BEAT INC. sign was kinda hard to miss. My breath caught as I saw that there didn't seem to be any security cameras; this mission was fated to succeed, but, unfortunately, there were two security guards at the main doors. So, I turn off my headlights and follow the vans to the back. They were pulled into two slots near another door, this one more discreet and small, with no security at all.
"Ally?" Austin asks, his voice mildly alarmed. I guess he heard my intake of breath. "Are you okay?" I look around the lot until I see an empty spot. Hopefully, no one was going to notice my out of place car. I park and relax my breathing for a second.
"Yeah, I'm alright… just a little tired…," I lie, praying that I sound convincing. At the same time, the groups of paparazzi I was following walks out of the vans. The first couple of people walk up to the door and I watch as they pull out some cards and slide it through the reader. Oh no I think. I had to follow them in or else there was no other way, unless I wanted to break in—which I do not.
"Good, I'm glad you're okay. Anyway, I was thinking… how about tomorrow after school—," I cut Austin off, my mind currently too occupied to think about feeling bad that I did that, because the last few stragglers were leaving the vans and if I didn't go now, I would miss my chance.
"Yeah, sounds great Austin! I'll see you tomorrow!" I say, only later realizing that he never told me what we were going to do. But, too frantic to dwell on it, I shut off my phone and throw it in my bag, then, I sling it over my shoulder and jump out my car, locking the door in the process.
The cool night air greets me and I survey the area. Seeing the couple of reporters head towards the door, I burst into a sprint and dive behind another bush, this one about five feet away from the door. I watch as the people approach, talking about the latest gossip (obviously) and then, they are a few feet away as well. I hear an audible 'click' as the reader accepts their cards, and I am already up and running. Some part of me is thinking What the heck are you doing?! as I run to the door, hands outstretched, in an attempt to catch the handle. This is insane! How are you going to pull this off?
In truth, I had no idea. I mean, I had run the plan over and over in my head, but now that I was at the HQ's and was about to become a trespasser, my mind was blank.
My hands grab the cold metal handle mere inches before it closes, and my eyes widen in disbelief.
I guess I'll find out I think, and before I can change my mind, I slip smoothly through the doors.
Ahhhhh… done! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! There's only a couple more to go! It's going to be sad when this story ends, but thanks to all of you for following on this journey!
See y'all next time ;)