Opened Skies ~ An Auslly Fanfic

Chapter 22

In my dream, I'm in Italy.

I'm atop the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and below me, on the ground, millions of people crowd, waiting to be led up to the top, with me. In the back of my dream-self's mind, I know that all of these people are my fans. But the tiny bit of reality Ally that has leaked into this dream knows that can't be true.

I hear shrieks, and throngs of people surge towards me. I step back a little, but before I can do anything else my back hits the wall.

Too many strangers, too much. If there were maybe one familiar face here, I think I'd be okay, but of course their isn't anyone. I feel my phone buzz in my pocket, and when I manage to discreetly pull it out, I nearly cry in relief.

Thank God, Dream Ally thinks. I haven't talked to him in years.

Wait, Reality me interrupts. Years?

In my dream, I'm all alone.

Before I can answer and find out why he's called, the people reach me. My phone is knocked out of my hand. I watch as it falls out of the tower, gaining speed.

I'm awake before it hits the ground.

My phone is next to me, and more importantly, so is Austin, sound asleep. Too-bright light shines in through the windows of the practice room. I'll never be able to get back to sleep, despite the fact that it's only about six thirty.

Oddly enough, I remember nearly everything about my dream. Normally, it all fades away a couple of minutes after I regain consciousness, but I can clearly replay most everything now.

As I shift closer to Austin as I relive the feeling of isolation. Surrounded by hundreds when I only want to be surrounded by one. I rest my head on his chest and close my eyes again.

I think that I'm also in love with every moment I spend with him.

And I still don't know what to do, because now I have two wishes, two dreams.

I lay for nearly another hour thinking, and nearly drift into shallow sleep, but when Austin moves from next to me, I open my eyes to watch him blink awake.

I can tell that for a moment, he has no idea where he is. His gaze lands on me, and the corners of his mouth turn up slightly. And then he seems to have an epiphany of some sort, because his eyes wide and he sits up, buzzing with a lot more energy than I could muster three seconds after waking up.

"I've totally got the verses down!" His voice is groggy, but full of excitement nonetheless, as he stands up and rushes to the piano bench.

It takes me a moment to realize what he's even talking about.

"God, you didn't ever leave the zone, did you?"

"Probably not. I'm not even going to be able to sing it very well right now, but...damn, I've got this!" I chuckle.

"That's great, honestly, but what's with the over-the-top enthusiasm?" I'm not exaggerating; I'm pretty sure that any second he'll be bouncing up and down in his seat on the bench.

He turns around and gapes at me. "Don't you get it?" I furrow my brow in confusion.

"Should I?"

"I have the music. Like--it was gone, for two years--Ally, we just talked about this last night! It's back! I've got the music! I lost it for a little while, but..." I get what he means, and even if I'm not feeling what he is, his grin is too huge to not return.

I get up off the floor and join him.

"Show me what you've got," I command, and he beams, and starts off with the first verse.