Two Stars- An Auslly Fanfiction

Chapter 13

Maybe it's his eyes. They're the same as mine, of course. Or it could be his voice; even though I haven't heard it for a decade, I can still remember it clearly. 

These are the first things that tip me off, that scream to me that this man is my father. Yes, his name is the same, but it takes a moment for that, and everything else, to really register.

Ten years ago, this man let us, never to be heard from again. My sister even went looking for him. Why she'd want to do such a thing, what do you say to a man who just puts his family behind him? Either way, though, whether I like it or not, I'm the one that found him. 

Does he know? I don't think he does, he looks at me with the same fake-politeness all strangers give each other around here. I don't know what I should do. I don't know if I should pretend I've never seen this person in my life, or if I should hint that we're more closely linked than he knows. I don't even know how I'll pull off not remembering him.

"Nice to meet you," I finally reply stiffly. "Beautiful store. In case you hadn't heard, I'm Ally. Ally Dawson. What a coincidence." 

I glance up for a split-second. And there I see it, I see the realization, the faint recognition in his eyes. He knows now who I am. But before a reunion of any kind (although I really don't think it would go smoothly enough to call it that), I've bolted out the door. I pride myself on my sense of direction, so I get back to the parking lot, no problem. But what to do next... I lean against the car and take a few deep breaths.

My dad is here. In Miami. And not only that, but now he knows that I'm here, too. 

I sink slowly towards the ground, not caring if I dirty my jeans. Well, I've never cared.

I'm just so...confused. How is it that my father was able to start a successful business, and just forget his family so easily? Didn't he even love us, at least for a little while? What happened, then? What is it that shattered everything, that changed everything forever? I'm still trying to control my breathing. I'm still trying to comprehend everything that just happened. 

I hear footsteps behind me, fast, but I don't think about turning around. 

"Ally? Where-oh, there you are." Austin sits down next to me. "Are you okay? What exactly happened...?" he asks warily. I bite my lip.

"Austin..." I begin. "That was my dad." His eyes widen.

"But...that can't have...I thought he..." he sputters. "Oh, Ally..." he puts his arms around me. 

I don't really know where the urge to cry comes from, but out of no where, tears are running down my cheeks. It's not like last time, where I was shaking with sobs, this is more of a silent cry. 

"So...what now?" Austin questions, unsure. I shrug. 

"I...I really don't know why he left in the first place," I say softly. "Out of nowhere, he was just...gone." Another tear rolls off the tip of my nose. "I don't even know why I'm so upset," I add. "It's not like I remember much of him." Austin rubs my back gently.

"Maybe...maybe it's not him you miss, exactly, it's the idea of him just abandoning your family that's truly upsetting to you." I ponder that. I think he might be right. 

"How do you know?"

"It's kind of the same way with Dez and Sabrina." I raise my head in confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

"Their dad died in a car accident when they were only three." My problems seem to dissolve.

"He...he died?" Austin nods. "Oh," I say softly. 

"That's how our family's became so close. Three year old twins...Susan needed help sometimes." I still don't know what to say. I don't have any true experience with people close to me passing away. My grandma, yes, but I'd only met her once, before we moved to the orchard. 

"But how is that the same as now?" I ask. 

"Dez told me...he scarcely remembers his dad, but seeing other kids grow up with fathers, knowing he'd never have one for the rest of his life...that's what bothers him the most." One last tear drips off my eyelash, but this time, it's in sympathy for my cousins. 

Austin reaches out his hand, almost instinctively, and wipes away the lingering tear with his thumb. When he moves his hand away, I blink. What was that all about?

When I glance up, I see that he's gazing at me intently. It's a little uncomfortable...yet at the same time, I don't mind it at all. 

And like a few weeks ago, the space between us just gets smaller and smaller, every time my heart pounds. Except this time, I'm ready, and this time, I don't turn away. 

His lips brush lightly against mine, and suddenly, I feel like I've been struck by lightning. Except it's a whole lot nicer. My whole body is tingling, from the pit of my stomach, to my fingertips. It's like being back home where I belong, with just my guitar. Even though it lasts only seconds, it's that blissful. 

But then...I guess we both realize that...we're friends. Just friends. Who just kissed in the middle of a half-empty parking lot. And we've snapped apart by then. Austin opens his mouth to say something, but I turn away and watch a middle-aged man who I know was staring at us seconds before.

So neither of us says anything, or does anything. I'm even afraid to breath for a long time.

"Ally..." he begins. "I-" I cut him off.

"It's fine, Austin. You don't have to say anything."

"No. I mean, I want to say something. Or at least, I know I don't want it to be like it was before, when you wouldn't talk to me, and it was awkward, and..." 

"And...?"

"Well, because..."

"Because...?"

"Just let me finish!" he exclaims, but I can see the hint of a smile in his eyes. "Because..." he shifts uncomfortably. "I really like you, Ally. And when you wanted to be friends...I didn't know what to say. It was better than nothing, absolutely, because I love being friends with you, but it wasn't...it's not exactly what I wanted." 

I'm speechless. I open my mouth, literally no words come out. 

Austin now seems embarrassed, his cheeks are tinged pink the way I feel mine often get. 

"Sorry, Ally. Never mind. We're just friends, I shouldn't-" For once, my mind and my heart seem to be on the same level. They both finally know what i want. 

I kiss him, and after a split-second, I'm filled with that bliss feeling again.

He kind of does that to me. 

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I feel so bad...

This is more than a week late, I'm super sorry, like I just felt so horrible about this all week...and it's ALL Naomi's fault! Just kidding, but I"m seriously sorry, guys. But see, I know it sounds stupid, but I write my chapters in a notebook before typing them up, I can think better that way. So while I finished this chapter like a week ago, I never had a chance to type it up...anyways, I hope you like this chapter, vote and comment please!