Chapter 26- She Doesn't Fall
Hi guys! Whadup? There's nothing much to say this time… "So, how cool is this fork?"
Anyway, standard disclaimer (blah, blah, blah…)
Enjoy!
Ally's POV
I topple to the cold floor and my arms flail in an attempt to catch something to hold me up. Unfortunately, I grab my blanket, and that comes down with me.
"Ugh," I groan, as my back is instantly met with the freezing floor board. Instead of getting up though, I just place my blanket underneath me and attempt to fall back asleep.
Then my alarm, the very thing that woke me up in the first place, blares again and I give up, grabbing my blanket and tossing it back on my bed before I haul myself to my feet.
Immediately, my vision swims out of focus and I stumble, holding on to my bed for support. When the spinning stops, I force my eyes open and try to blink the sleep out of them.
Last night, I had gotten home at about 4, and collapsed onto my bed without changing my clothes, taking off my socks, or shoes. Now, I could feel where my sneakers had dug into my ankles as I slept. Groaning, I reach down and kick off my shoes.
I trudge my way into the bathroom like a zombie, aware that I probably looked like one too. I felt as if I only got 25 minutes of sleep last night. I brush my teeth, and wash my face. That felt so refreshing that I rinsed my arms too. Finally, I just take a shower.
When I come out, I feel brand- new, not at all like I went on a mission until dawn the day before. I quickly apply some light makeup and twirl my hair into a messy bun. Deciding that I wanted a completely comfortable look instead of fashionable, I throw on some worn out jeans and a blue oversized sweater. Besides, I still had the second part of my plan to complete: I still had to use my video to trade with the Cheetah Beat Company.
I pull on my Converse, wondering how to continue from here. In all honesty, I never imagined that I would complete phase one of the plan, so now that I did, I had to put together my rough draft of part two.
First, I have to contact them I think as I walk down the stairs into the kitchen. That might be hard, though, considering I didn't know how. I could always hide out at Austin's house and talk to them there, but Austin would not be okay with that. I stop mid- bite in my apple as I register that thought.
"Oh shoot! Austin!" I exclaim, grabbing my bag and running out of the house. To an outsider, that might've looked comical, but it was as if my mind had kicked into over drive. I suddenly remembered last night: Austin was in the middle of saying something before I just hung up on him. No doubt, he was mad now, and if I told him that I ditched him for the paparazzi, he would more or less pull his hair out.
I start my car and drive to school, thinking and planning. I would have to worry about phase two later. Right now, I had to practise wording my explanation to Austin. I had to make him understand my motive over doing this—that we could be free and happy without the paparazzi—and I had to get him to go along with me. He probably wouldn't want to talk to them, but I just needed his promise that he wouldn't end up tying me to a chair, or something.
Too quickly for my liking, I see Marino High School in the distance, the giant white building bustling with students. I weave my way into the parking lot and find a spot.
Best case scenario I find myself thinking, Austin will be grateful and support my plan. Then, I curve around and think differently. Worst case scenario, Austin will freak out, accuse me of being untrustworthy, and we break up. I gasp, my hand stilling on the car door handle. Wow, way to ruin the mood. My eyebrows pull together in anxiety, wondering about the second outcome. Austin wouldn't do that, I know he wouldn't. Yet, my brain is still buzzing and I find that all the determination and courage I had earlier had now abandoned me. Sluggishly, I open the door and walk out, my mind and body more tense than before, looking for a mop of blonde hair.
I end up at my locker and still no sight of him. Maybe I'm overreacting. I reassure myself, as I spin the dial. Austin was a good boyfriend, and amazing person. I was just imagining the worst outcomes due to my lack of sleep. Yeah, that sounds believable.
Suddenly, two strong arms snake around my waist and I'm pulled away from my locker. On instinct, I shriek and throw out my fist, connecting with something. While I was expecting a yell of pain though, I only hear familiar chuckling. Relaxing, I turn my head and glare into comforting brown eyes. Austin flashes a smile and I find my frown melting away until I'm smiling right back.
"You're strong, I'll give you that," Austin grins, tightening his grip on me. "Too bad your aim is horrible. You punched my backpack." I flush as I look to see that, in fact, there was a crease in his backpack, where my fist connected with it. Austin laughs at my red cheeks and I shove him, playfully.
"So, are you okay, Ally? You hung up in the middle of our conversation last night…" Austin asks, looking at my face as I come up with a reasonable excuse.
"Um, yeah, I'm fine. I was just really tired last night." I say, dreading this part of our chat. Sooner or later, I would have to tell him…
"I'm sorry, Alls. I really didn't mean to wake you." Austin apologizes, making me feel incredibly guilty. I was the one who should be apologizing for lying and planning behind his back. But… not now. I couldn't tell him yet.
"It's okay Austin. Besides, it was worth it," I say honestly. It was worth having to run after the paparazzi into HQ's if I could hear Austin's voice before that. I only wish I had heard Austin's melodic voice after the experience, so I could drown out the publisher's voice….
"What're you thinking?" Austin asks curiously, cocking his head to the side, smiling amusingly. I snap out of my thought, and smile up to him. "I was just thinking about your voice," I say without further explanation, causing Austin to quirk an eyebrow.
We break gazes for a second as I grab my books for my first couple of classes. I close my locker and we both walk down the hall, hand in hand. Every girl stops and stares as we walk by. Most are smiling at us, happy with their new OTP, but some are giving me glares and smiling seductively at Austin, still not accepting our relationship.
"So," Austin starts, not paying attention to anyone but me, making my stomach flutter. "Yesterday night, I was talking about how today, after school, we should go on a date." I look up at Austin in surprise. Sure, we had been dating for exactly 11 amazing days, and hadn't gone on our first official date; just dinners and movies at his house, walks at the park, that sort of hang out type thing, but it never occurred to me that we should, to make our relationship official in every way. I beam and nod, already excited. "What are you planning," I ask. Some weird part of me wonders, ironically, if we are going to watch a spy movie. Ha-ha.
Before Austin answers, we are at my first period class. "I'll tell you later," Austin says mysteriously, walking backwards with his eyes still locked on mine.
"Have fun waiting Ally-cat," Austin jokes, sending me a wink. I try to give him my most serious look I can conjure but, I end up blushing anyways. The things he does to me…
"Oh, just you watch. I can totally wait," I call to him, sounding confident enough that I almost believe myself.
Later…
"Austin! When are you going to tell me?" I pounce as soon as he is on his chair. The curiosity was growing, and if I didn't find out soon, it was going to eat me up. It was bad enough that I couldn't seem to get any time with him today, but now he wasn't even talking. Austin glances at me, as he takes out his music notebook. I was about to hear it from him, but I didn't care; I just really wanted to know.
"Yes Ally, I see that you totally could wait," Austin smirks, grabbing his pencil, dragging the conversation out. I huff, crossing my arms. "I know, I have the patience of a fly, but you've made me wait the whole day! You can't expect to tell me that we're going on our first date and not tell me where." Austin looks at me and there's a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"What if I want it to be a surprise?" Austin questions innocently, making me scoff, and shove him lightly. "I doubt that. Maybe…," I start, trying a different approach. "Maybe you haven't come up with an idea yet, and you're just stalling," I say, sounding as if I knew that all along. Austin's eyes widen. "What! No! I'll have you know, I'm not that type of person. In fact, I already have it all planned. We're going to—," Austin says, just as the bell rings and Mrs. Suzy walks in, interrupting my almost victorious moment.
"Class!" she calls out, drawing all of our attention. In my peripheral vision, I see Austin half glower at me, half flushed at his close call. "I hope you've all had a good weekend! Now remember, that assignment where you had to create and perform a song with your partner, it is due in two days. I hope you've all finished," she says, even though she hears half of the rooms' groans. "For this period, you may practise your song with any of the instruments or, for those of you who haven't finished yet, I suggest you get to work!" Mrs. Suzy claps her hands and everyone sets off.
Austin's POV (finally, right?)
I watch as everyone moves to occupy an instrument, and the others who haven't finished yet go and talk frantically to their partners. After a second, I decide that I've teased her enough and I turn to look at Ally, who, as expected, is already looking at me with her big doe eyes. Damn. I bite the inside of my lip, refraining from blurting out what she wanted to know right now. It was hard though, when all I wanted was to make Ally happy. She'll know soon enough I remind myself.
I laugh lightly and throw my arm across Ally's shoulders. "Don't worry Alls, you won't regret waiting. This is gonna be…," I trail off mysteriously, grinning when Ally narrows her eyes at me. I watch as she dramatically takes a few deep breaths, then, in a business like tone, "Okay, Austin, fine, I'll wait. But, don't think I'm happy about it." She pouts and absentmindedly, I lift up my hand and trace her lips, perfect and plump. Ally blushes and swats my hand away.
"So, our song," she starts, suddenly bringing me back to reality. We were sitting in the music room, just staring at each other while everyone else was working. "We already finished it, right? But I was thinking, since you can play the guitar, we should add that in. It'll be simple, just change the key a little." Ally explains all of this while my head is nodding in agreement. Just talking with her about music, reminds me of how amazing she is at it, and how passionate she feels. Not to mention, had we never worked together, I wouldn't be able to write songs and wouldn't have rediscovered my love of music. Man, things sure have changed.
"Okay," I smile, jumping up. I run to the stands of guitar's, grab one, and head back to Ally, already seeing her with her songbook opened. "Let's do this," I say, strumming a wild tune with my fingers.
Ally's POV
"Austin, this is amazing!" I exclaim, as his fingers fly across the final chords. His brows were pulled together in concentration, but his lips were set in an exhilarated smile. Watching him right now, he just looked so Austin.Not the popular boy, not the famous pop star, but just himself; carefree and happy. Without realizing it, I lean forward and wrap my arms around him, immediately in cased with warmth. Surprised, Austin stops strumming and hugs me back.
The bell rings, ending this peaceful period, and I draw back. The face I see when I do is Austin's suspiciously cheery one. He quickly lets go and in a second, he has the guitar back on the stand and is facing me again, jittery with excitement.
"Okay Ally, I'll come pick you up tonight at 6 o'clock. I just have to go get ready!" he practically squeals, as he starts for the door. Then, realizing what he just said, stops, and says in a more masculine voice, "I mean, I have to go do some things. Bye!"
I watch as Austin darts through the door, and I yell "See you at 6!" Silence greets me and I know that he's already gone. Rolling my eyes, I grab my books, and Austin's that he forgot to take and walk out of the room, wondering what that crazy boy was planning…
Guys, I would really, really appreciate it if you would tell me what you think of my story. I don't know what happened but my chapters are starting to get longer. This one is almost 2500 words! I'm wondering if you guys find my story super boring now. I don't mind the truth, it'll help me make this story better… even if there are only a couple chapters left…
Anyways, thanks for being awesome!
Byeeee!