His body leaned even closer to hers, his Hazel eyes glinting in the night. It was a perfect setting, with the stars above them and themselves on the back patio. Their lips were millimeters away, and just about to touch.
Ally's phone vibrated next to her, and they both immediately jerked backwards.
"Oh, look," Ally said awkwardly. "My dad wants me home. I guess I'll go home. Now."
~
Austin and Ally were still laughing about Dez and the leafblower incident, a little while before. Ally still had grass in her hair. Austin reached over and combed it out with his fingers. Ally felt her spine tingle as his hand made contact with her scalp. She turned to him, and realized how close they were.
It was just the same as the last time. Except this time there would be no disruptions.
"Hey I-oh I'll leave you two alone." A customer walked into the store, and went to look at instruments trying not to show that he'd been looking. They both turned away and looked off in opposite directions, knowing the moment had once again been ruined.
~
"I just don't get it, Trish," Ally complained, falling back on her bed. "If I like him, and he likes me, why does nothing...happen?"
"Because you're both too scared."
"Are not! At least I'm not! Don't give me that look."
"Hey, I'm just saying. If you guys didn't hesitate so much, out of fear, there'd be no disruptions." Ally sighed, because of course Trish was right. She always was regarding these kinds of things.
"I really think I'd like to kiss him."
~
She tried not to hesitate the next time. She really did. They were in the practice room, just them, working on a new song. "What about this?" She played out a short melody on the piano. They both turned to each other at exactly the same second, so close they nearly bumped heads. So close.
But Trish was right, because Ally was scared. Not of kissing him. She wanted to kiss him desperately, and his lips were...right there. She could if she wanted to. But she was scared of the aftermath.
Then she looked into his eyes. She felt her cheeks tinge pink, her mouth forming a soft smile. She could see the love in his eyes. It reassured her. She leaned forward so that their lips were barely grazing, but Ally got a warm feeling inside, nonetheless.
Sirens blared outside in the mall parking lot. Ally jolted back, and Austin did the same, both avoiding making eye contact. She mentally scolded herself. If only she'd done it one second earlier. Then the sirens wouldn't have mattered.
So close.
"Um, yeah, that sounds good." Ally realized Austin was blushing, too.
It was like the universe was against them.
~
The beach was a good place, because it distracted them. Something about how the waves constantly lapped the shore, never ceasing...it was all very serene to Ally. She liked the things that never changed. The sun was just ducking under the horizon.
"It's really beautiful," Ally murmured. Austin nodded at her side.
"So are you," Austin blurted out, but when she looked up at him, he seemed embarrassed to have said anything. Their eyes locked, and the crashing of water against the sand seemed to diminish. It seemed like a movie scene. Where suddenly, nothing else matters.
This time it was Austin who leaned in just enough so that their noses were touching. But it was Ally who raised on her tip-toes to press her lips against his. She'd been waiting so long.
But as their hands entwined, as the kiss deepened, she knew it was all worth it.
