Austin and Ally the college years

Chapter Two: A Difficult Choice

Three hours later, Ally was lying in bed, curled up in a blanket with a cup of tea on her nightstand. The room was darkened, the curtains drawn to block out the late afternoon sun, and her laptop sat abandoned on her desk. She had taken Austin's advice, at least partially, and was trying to rest, though her mind kept racing. She kept replaying the conversation they'd had earlier, wondering if she'd made the right choice by not arguing more with him.

A soft knock at the door stirred her from her thoughts. She turned her head slowly, already knowing who it was.

The door creaked open, and there he stood.

Austin Moon. His tousled blonde hair was hidden beneath a baseball cap, his familiar leather jacket slung over one shoulder, and a guitar case in hand. His eyes, however, were what she noticed most - full of warmth, concern, and a kind of relief that made her chest ache.

"Hey, you," he said, offering a small smile as he stepped into the room. "How's my favorite songwriter?"

Ally smiled weakly, sitting up in bed. "You're really here."

"I told you I'd come," Austin said, setting his guitar case down and crossing the room to sit on the edge of her bed. He reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "You didn't believe me?"

"I just... I didn't think you would drop everything," Ally admitted, her voice wavering. "Your tour, your fans, Jimmy-"

"Jimmy can wait. The fans will understand," Austin interrupted, his gaze never leaving hers. "Ally, none of that matters if you're not okay. I couldn't stay out there, knowing you needed me. It wouldn't have felt right."

"You've worked so hard for this tour," Ally protested, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to be the reason you miss out on something so important."

Austin reached for her hand, holding it tightly between his own. "You are what's important to me. The music, the tour, it's all amazing, but none of it compares to you." He squeezed her hand gently. "I would give up a thousand tours if it meant being here for you when you need me."

Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at him, tears welling in her eyes again. "I don't deserve you."

"Yes, you do," Austin said softly, pulling her into a gentle hug. "And I'll keep showing you that every day, if I have to."

She rested her head against his chest, feeling his warmth and the steady beat of his heart. For the first time in days, she felt at peace. She wasn't alone, and knowing that Austin was willing to be there for her, no matter what, was something she hadn't realized she needed so badly.

"I love you," she whispered against his chest.

"I love you, too," Austin replied, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head.

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's arms, the outside world fading away. For now, it didn't matter that Austin had postponed his tour or that Jimmy was furious. All that mattered was that they were together.