Two Stars- An Auslly Fanfiction

Chapter 12

This morning, I groggily looked at the the wall calender that has been hanging in the guest room the whole time I've been here. When I noticed the date, I sat straight up in bed, and accidentally banged my head against the wall. Today marks the first full month Eli and I have been in Miami. Wow. 

It feels like only a week ago we were dragged here against our will in some ways, but other things remind me that that can't be true.

Sabrina and I...well I'm still not in the mood to talk to her, especially since she allows her friends to be so rude to Sonali and Holly. And she gets that I'm upset with her, she knows that we're polar opposites and always will be, that we don't belong in the same class. She doesn't push it. We talk, but not true talk, more like a "Can you please hand me my backpack?" kind of thing. Never an actual conversation.

But Austin and I, we have actual conversations all the time. It's been two weeks since we made our friendship official, but it seems like longer than that, the way he's just so easy to talk to. 

"Hey, wanna come over to my place?" he asks after school, which went pretty uneventful. I shrug

"Sure, why not?"

One thing (or really, the only thing) I don't like about being his friend is that, because I'm a Reject, he doesn't have a chance to see me during school. Or he doesn't want to be seen with me. Not that I don't mind Sonali and Holly's company, they're amazing and loyal friends no doubt, and I look forward to Avery's occasional visits, she's just so ridiculous. But Austin...he's Austin, and I can honestly say that I miss him a little when he's not around. I don't even tell Avery that, though. I'm still not one-hundred percent sure what is and isn't considered normal.

So whenever I see Austin, it's after school, at home. I kind of feel bad for Dez, Austin doesn't seem to be hanging out with him as much.

This is my first time going to Austin's house, even though apparently it's only about a three minute walk away from my cousins' home. When we get there, I take in every detail. It's not nearly as large as Sabrina's, but that's okay, because it seems more casual. Less intimidating.

I hear someone in the other room, I'm guessing the kitchen, because I can also hear the clatter of pots and pans. 

"Austin? That you?"

"Yeah, mom. And Dez's cousin, Ally, is here with me."

"Mmkay, I'll just be in here cooking dinner. I'd come and greet you properly, Ally, but I've got something on the stove. Welcome to our home, though! Austin, your dad says he'll be home from work late tonight."

"Okay," he replies, then gestures for me to follow him down the hallway, further into his house. After a few seconds of walking, he opens a door.

"This is my room." I really have to try and hold in a squeal, and I really have to try to hold myself back from running straight in. I look at him, hoping he sees how much I want to take a closer look at the instruments. He laughs, then nods. "Go ahead." I immediately run my fingers over the smooth ivory keys of the piano. My attention is then caught on a row of guitars on his wall. A row. I want to just pick up every single one; there are about five. 

"Austin, this is amazing!" I exclaim breathlessly. He smiles.

"Thanks.Took a long time for me to save up for all of this." An idea forms in my head.

"Can you play something for me on the piano?" I plead. He thinks for a moment, then nods.

"I guess so."

He begins to play, and I close my eyes and I grin as the music fills the small room. After a few seconds, he joins in with his voice. 

It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside

I'm not one of those who can easily hide

I don't have much money, but boy, if I did

I'd buy a big home where we both could live

I realize I know this song! I grab the nearest guitar, and strum along, while he continues to sing.

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no

Or a man who makes potions in a traveling show

I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do

My gift is my song, and this one's for you

I join in singing during the chorus, and our voices blend so perfectly, I'm amazed it's taken so long for me to find this boy. Singing with him feels so right.

And you can tell everybody that this is your song

It may be quite simple but now that it's done

I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words

How wonderful life is while you're in the world

We stop there, and Austin turns and beams at me. 

"You sound good," he compliments.

"You sound better," I reply jokingly. I nod towards the piano. "So..." I begin, "what do you want to do now?" He shrugs. Then his eyes light up, like he's got an idea.

"What time is it?" I point at the digital clock behind him on the nightstand. "Well aren't you helpful," he grumbles, but he's not really mad.

"Mmhm, because it's so difficult to turn around," I retort. 

"Oh, good, only four o'clock!" he says, ignoring me. "I have time to show you Sonic Boom!" 

"The music store?" I ask excitedly, and he nods.

"C'mon," he says, jumping up. "Let's go!" I place the guitar I'm holding back on the wall, and eagerly follow.

The Miami mall is a little  bit too far to walk to, but apparently, Austin can drive, so his mom lets him take her car. She seems nice. After a few minutes, we're there in the parking lot, and I'm practically jumping, or at least bouncing on my toes, as soon as I get out of the car. Until Austin puts a hand on my shoulder and tells me to "chill."

After that, I calm down a little.

Austin pushes opened the glass doors, and once in, I do let out a little squeal this time.

"Austin..."

"I know, right? It's awesome!" I just sort of stand there giddily for a minute. Which makes him laugh, which makes me elbow him and tell him to shut up. Which he doesn't do. "Let me see if I can find Mr. D, the owner. He's pretty friendly, I want you to meet him." I nod absentmindedly, still just gazing wistfully at the instruments. Wishing I knew how to play each and every one.

I can see Austin come back out of the corner of my eye, another man following him, while I'm observing a display of ukuleles. I've always thought that was a funny instrument. 

Austin taps on my back, and I turn around. When I see the man's face clearly, I take in a sharp breath. This man looks extremely familiar. It's unsettling, because I can't pinpoint where exactly I've seen him. But I know that I have. 

"Ally, this is the owner of Sonic Boom." The man steps forward, and shakes my hand.

"Nice to meet you, Ally. I'm Lester Dawson."

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Ohhh...does that count as a cliffhanger? Anyways, you can probably guess where I'm going with that.

Credit time! Okay, the lovely new cover was made by @WritersblockNEVER, thank you so much to her! The song that Austin and Ally sang, which was suggested by Naomi, is Your Song, by Elton John. 

So anywho, I hope you liked that chapter! I personally thought it was kind of a filler, but still, vote and comment!