Hey everyone!

So, umm, yeah… hi. Sorry for such a long wait, I had intended a really good upload schedule for this but got super busy before the end of school – but now Christmas vacation is here I am writing like crazy! You can now expect daily uploads on this story, and potentially even 2 or 3 chapters in a day!

I hope you guys continue to enjoy this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Austin and Ally or anything you recognise from the show in any way, shape or form, nor do I own any recognisable brands, songs or lyrics within them.

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Chapter Five

Ally's POV

I woke up feeling so relaxed and refreshed on my first morning in Palm Bay. My room was perfect, and the windows pointed in just the right direction for the morning sunlight to gently glisten in through it without completely blinding me.

I decided that, since it was my first full day, I should go explore round the town and get my bearings. It seems like a small town but I'm sure I'll be surprised with how much there is to do.

I get up and walk into the en-suite bathroom to do my normal morning routine, and dress into black skinny jeans, with a bright blue tank top and a black leather jacket with black flats. I put my hair up into a tight, high pony and grab my purse and phone before leaving the room.

The lodge doesn't have a restaurant that serves breakfast, so I'll have to pick something up from somewhere in town but I'm fine with that.

I head downstairs and into the lobby, where I find Austin sitting on one of the couches. Not gonna lie, he definitely looks hot in his ripped black skinny jeans and white and blue Hollister long-sleeve t-shirt. "Morning Ally." He calls out with a smile when he sees me.

"Hey Austin." I reply with a similar smile as I walk across the lobby to him.

"Did you sleep okay?" He asks as he stands up.

"Yeah thanks, my room's great." I reply as I quickly scan through the notifications on my phone, finding nothing vaguely interesting.

"Good." He replies. "So, any plans today?" He asks.

"No, not really, I was just gonna head out and look around Palm Bay a little." I reply, looking up into his deep hazel eyes.

"Oh nice." He replies.

"Yeah." I say, trying my best not to stumble over my words as I find myself dragged into his gaze. "I just thought, since I don't know how long I'm gonna stay here, might as well get used to the place."

"Yeah, good idea." Comes his reply. "Do you… uh… fancy company?" He asks with an almost child-like hopeful look on his face.

"What?" I ask with a smile, a little confused.

"I mean, would you like me to come with you? Give you a little tour as it were?" He clarifies.

"Sure. I'd love that." I reply, my smile widening, as I'm grateful I won't be alone and wandering round lost looking like an idiot.

"Great, let's go." He says and instantly walks towards the door, motioning with his head for me to follow. Which, of course, I do.

I think everyone has their own idea of what beautiful is. For some people, beautiful is high up in the mountains, with an incredible horizon and snow-capped peaks all around. For some people, beautiful is deep beneath the ocean, with the colours of coral and fish and whatever else might be there. Maybe beautiful is deep in the rainforest, with the colour green filling your vision wherever you look.

But for me, beautiful isn't any of those things. To me, beautiful is here, in Palm Bay.

I'm in love with this place already. I think it's perfect.

Austin and I walked along the beach towards the town, which is simply the nicest beach I've ever come across. The sand was warm under my feet without being scorching hot, and the sunlight was reflecting scenically off the water without being too bright and blinding me.

We walked down to the water's edge and paddled in the cool water as it gently came in and out with the waves of the tide.

The beach was almost completely empty, which was definitely not something I was used to coming from Miami, where you're lucky to walk three feet before bumping into somebody else or treading on someone's toes and getting shouted at.

It was only a couple of minutes walking along the beach before we reached the actual town.

The town itself is small and quaint and cosy and just nice-feeling. It reminds me of something out of a novel or movie, you know those too-good-to-be-true places where everything seems so friendly and perfect just before a murder happens… only I'm hoping there'll be no murders here!

Everyone we came across seemed to know Austin, he's like a celebrity! I guess this is one of those communities where everyone knows everyone else and their personal lives like an intricate, interwoven web.

I even got some jealous looks off girls who looked to be about my age when they saw me walking with Austin… I mean, I can't really blame them!

We had been wandering round the town, with Austin showing me where everything important is, for just over an hour, and I'm starting to get really hungry. And it seems Austin can read my mind, since he turned to me and said the words I'd been hoping he'd say for the last 20 minutes – "You wanna get something to eat?"

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So that's all for today! I know it's quite an abrupt ending but it's all I have time to write today!

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Catch you later!