First Ally convinced herself that the highlights were a good idea. She bought a ton of make-up that a year ago, she wouldn't have touched. She and Trish went shopping, and updated her entire wardrobe.
Austin noticed right away. He always noticed her. He knew why she was changing; she simply wanted to fit in. The thing was, though, he thought she was perfect the way she'd been. Now...well, it took awhile for him to get used to new and improved Ally.
Ally wished she could still spend her breaks in the library, undisturbed and unnoticed. But according to Trish, if she really had the desire to be with Austin, she had to stop being the lame library girl, and be more social. So Trish introduced her to a bunch of new people. She didn't like any of them, but she had to pretend that she loved them all. It was "for her own good."
Everyone slowly began to know who she was, something she really wasn't used to. People would call out to her in the crowded hallways, she was no longer just another face. She was a somebody. She stopped being so shy, and wasn't afraid anymore.
Austin almost resented how obvious the change was, for two reasons. He could tell she didn't like it. He could tell that amidst all of the people, she'd rather be anywhere else. Inside, she was the same.
And he'd liked it when she'd been hidden from everyone. It made him feel special, that he was one of the very few people she'd talk to. He'd liked having her to himself. But she was like a new person, on the outside.
And they became busy, both of them. Usually, Ally was the serious one who'd always be there to get things done. Now, he was running out of songs. And time. And he was losing hold of his Ally Dawson.
"Ally," he began one night, after a concert of his. It was just them in the limousine. She looked up at him, confused by his tone.
"Yeah?"
"You aren't who you used to be, you know." She leaned into him.
"I know. But I can't really do anything about it anymore. I-" she stopped herself and sighed. He put his arm around her shoulders. Their relationship was interesting. They'd both liked each other at one point or another. Now...Ally wasn't quite the same, and he couldn't say how she felt about him anymore. But they still needed each other. They were still there for each other.
"So...why'd you change?" She shifted uncomfortably.
"I...I don't know. I just...I just thought it would be better this way."
"Is it?"
"Austin, you know it's not." She buried her head in his chest. "Nothing's the way it was. I wish it would all go back to the way it was."
"Me too."
"Do you..." she trailed off, deciding not to ask.
"Do I what?" She couldn't look at him. "Do I what?" he repeated.
"Do you like me better this way? Trish said you would," she murmured in a small voice, ashamed to admit she'd sunk so low for that.
He didn't know what to say in response to that. He liked her as long as she remained Ally in even the smallest way. "I...I don't know. You...you aren't the same. I...I like you for who you are."
"But I'm not her anymore," she whispered miserably.
"You are sometimes. Like now. When I can just talk to you and everything. Then I know I haven't lost you."
"But right now...it's like I'm stuck in this image. I can't go back."
"I know."
"Just...just don't let me fall in any deeper, okay?"
