Two Stars- An Auslly Fanfiction

Chapter 14

We break away; Austin smiles at me, and I smile back.

It takes a moment for it to sink in, but...I kissed him. Finally. Up until now, I hadn't even realized how much I'd wanted that. Apparently, I've wanted this more than I thought possible. 

"It wasn't exactly what I wanted either," I admit, referring to what he'd said a few minutes ago. "But...I didn't know what else t say." He nods in understanding.

"Yeah. I get it. So...what now?" he asks, taking my hand. I don't even get a chance to think of a response, because then I hear him again, his voice ringing through to lot. 

"Ally?" I tense up.

"We have to leave. Right now." Austin looks at me for a moment.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk to him?" My dad calls my name again, and I jump up.

"Please, Austin," I beg, "please just take me home!" I jiggle the car door handle desperately. One last glance past me, and Austin unlocks it. I jump in, and he follows suit on the drivers side.

"Ally-"

"Drive. Just take me away from here, as fast as you can." He nods again, and pulls out. We pass by my father as we leave, but when we do, I shut my eyes tight. If I can't see him, maybe he can't see me.

Well, that's ridiculous. Of course he can see me. But at least I don't have to look at him. 

Blocks away, and I'm still taking pretty shallow breaths. I'm just so perplexed. I can't talk to him, I can't look at him, because it just hurts too much. 

Austin keeps glancing at me worriedly, when his eyes aren't on the road. I must be a worrisome sight. Practically hyperventilating, my arms hugging my torso tightly, I probably seem on the verge of a breakdown. And I don't know what it is that's causing me to feel this flustered, but it's coming on strong.

When the car finally stops in front of the house, my head is still spinning with bewilderment. 

Austin puts a hand on my thigh. 

"It's okay, Ally. We're home now." I nod, with my eyes still closed, but my breathing is still irregular. "Deep breath. C'mon, don't worry. We don't ever have to go back there." I shiver. I hope not. 

"Austin.." I murmur softly.

"What do you need, Ally?" He says this so gently, I almost don't doubt he'd do anything for me right now.

"Nothing, I mean, it's just...even if I never go back, doesn't make everything better. It doesn't mean he didn't abandon my family. Just because I won't see him won't automatically make everything better." 

Austin looks at me sympathetically. I know he doesn't quite understand what I'm feeling, having never felt it himself, but he's trying to. 

"Ally...I'm going to be honest with you. I'm sorry, but...there's really nothing he can do that will make up for what he did. Now it's up to you whether or not you're going to let him try."

I'm actually very glad Austin brings up that point. It kind of clears something up in my brain. While it kind of stings, to know that he's right, there's flat-out nothing my dad can do, he's being truthful. And what happens next is up to me.

"Let's...let's go inside," I say shakily, unbuckling my seat belt and opening the car door. 

We walk in the front door to find Eli sitting alone at the dining room table, doing his homework.. I greet him, but he ignores me. I walk over and kiss the top of his head, but he just ducks out of the way.

I glance at Austin anxiously, but he just looks back with the same expression of confusion. Something is obviously upsetting my brother, but I know him, when he's in a bad mood, he wants nothing but to be left alone. 

Normally I'm the same way. But that was before Austin.

I let Eli finish his work in peace, and Austin follows me to my room. 

"I always forget how bright this room is," he states randomly, blinking a couple of times. I smile with my mouth, but the rest of my face remains solemn. On the inside, smiling is now the last thing I want to do. 

I fall back on the bed and heave a huge sigh. Austin is still standing just inside the doorway. 

"Do you want me to go?" he asks.

"Stay!" I plead. "I don't know what to do now," I then confess in a whisper.

He joins me on the bed, wrapping me in a hug. My stomach flutters; I feel a little bit better, but my list of troubles isn't shrinking anytime soon.

"Do you..." Austin begins, "you really don't know anything about your dad, do you?" I shake my head.

"Nothing about why he left, nothing about how his life is now. Seeing him...that was a surprise." Saying that out loud sounds kind of obvious.

"I gathered...I never really liked surprises." 

"Neither have I."

"I think you should figure out why he left," he says abruptly.

"You mean like talk to him?" I question sharply. He has to be joking. Did he not see how badly it went before? 

"If that's what it takes...look, Ally, I know you don't want to, but I think if you knew more, you wouldn't be as upset." I turn away from him, and bring my knees to my chest. "You don't have to..." he trails off. 

"I really don't know..." I mumble. "Everything makes no sense. All of the things that I've been used to all this time , nothing is the same anymore. I mean, literally, even my brother ..."

"I know, Ally. I'm sorry you were dragged into this life." I shrug. What can I say in response to that? I'm sorry I was dragged into this life, too? "But..." he seems unsure of what to say next. "Just so you know...my life has been a lot better with you in it. If that counts for anything." I look up at him, and spare him another smile, but this one feels much more real. 

"That's sweet. It counts for a lot, Austin," I say softly, leaning back against his shoulder.

It means more to me than you'll ever know.

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To make up for the last chapter being so late...ta-da!!! Okay, I wrote this chapter while half asleep so I'm hoping that didn't affect how the chapter turned out...anyways, vote and comment please!