An Auslly Vacation: More than 10 years later

Some memories and some plans

I often look at the pictures that we keep in the family room, remembering those days when we were just friends. I am most proud of the one where I was singing a duet with Austin to welcome home my mom. Sparks were flying between us for a while before then, so we kissed after the performance. I was so happy for about a second, until Kira came and said she would be Austin's girlfriend. I was crushed, but soon after they broke up. Then Austin and I came together as a couple. I couldn't have been any happier then. We broke up only a little time later, but eventually we got back together. This was a constant cycle for a while, until we finally decided once and for all that we were soulmates and should spend the rest of our lives together.

Now so much has changed. The four of us are all 29, Austin and I are married, Trish and Dez are married, and each couple has two kids. Our first was when we were only 18, but we were so much in love we couldn't help ourselves. Our second came when the first, whose name is Ashley, said she wanted a sibling, even though she was only four. At first we were reluctant, but she eventually got her wish. Not totally on purpose, but I choose not to think about it much.  Our second kid's name is Allen. Now Ashley is 11 and Allen is 7. As for Trish and Dez, I am not quite sure what their story is in terms of their kids, but I do know they had kids way after us, or so they said. But nonetheless, we are still the Team Austin we were when we first met, not considering the fact Trish and Dez moved to Hollywood so Dez could pursue a filmmaking career, and we still live in Miami. But we still talk on the phone a LOT. Somehow Trish is still our collective manager from the opposite coast. I don’t really mind much, to be perfectly honest. I love Trish and all, but I like being able to have more Austin and Ally time without anybody else interfering. Even though he’s never admitted it, I think Austin feels the same way.

I suddenly come back to the present when Austin taps my shoulder. He tells me that Jimmy Starr just called and he wants another song. I sigh, then get off the couch to write a new song with him. Writing songs with him has not lost the excitement it had when we were just two teenagers in love. I have to think of what to write for a while, scribbling random ideas into my new songbook (I used up the 3 old ones). After a while, Ashley and Allen walk into the room together, asking in perfect harmony, "Can we go to the pool?" I  quickly respond so they get out of our way, "Sure. Just be careful of the paparazzi." They then walked out of the room together. Soon after, I suddenly remember something Trish told me earlier, “Austin, I just want you to know that Trish and Dez are inviting us to come to their place for a while.” Austin exclaims in surprise, “Yes! I have been wanting to go to LA for a while now.”

“Then I guess it’s settled.”

After we finish writing and recording our song, we buy plane tickets for me, Austin, Ashley, and Allen. Ashley walks in all of a sudden, exclaiming, “Ooh! We get to go to LA!” Hearing his sister scream, Allen walks in, smiles, and gives Ashley a high five. The four of us end up in a group hug, then become very jittery. I just hope Ashley and Allen will get along with Trish and Dez’s kids. I shoo the kids out, then ask Austin, “I just realized we can’t take our kids out of school for that long. What should we do?” Austin pauses for a moment, then replies, “Well, you are smart. Just homeschool them!” I give Austin a face, but then realize it is our only option. “Los Angeles, here we come!”

We came off the plane quickly in anticipation to see Trish and Dez. As soon as we get out of the boarding area, we see them. We whisper to the kids while pointing to Trish and Dez, “There they are. Now, stay on your best behavior. These people are our good friends.” Austin and I can’t help but run towards them, leaving our kids with the bags. Dez’s outfit reminds me of what he wore when he filmed that whole crab movie, and Trish’s outfit seems like what SHE was wearing when Dez filmed that movie. I can’t help but think how far they have gone since then. I hug Trish, since she has been my BFF since, like, kindergarten. I also say hi to Dez, even though he was a little weird, and I could tell he still is. Austin seems just as excited as I am. I see no kids behind or near them, so I asked Trish, “Where are your kids? You told me you had two!” She responds rather sheepishly, “We don’t actually have any kids. I just didn’t know how you would react if I told you we don’t have any, so I fibbed.”

“But why don’t you have any kids?” I try to say in my most calming tone. “Apparently, Dez thinks he has no time for kids. He is very busy, you know. I am so proud of him!”

“Well, you should tell him he can never be too busy for kids. Look, Austin is a big-name superstar and he STILL has enough time for kids. I am so proud of him!” She sighs. “I tried to tell him that, but he wouldn’t listen. Oh well.”

“Well, how about we try to show him how great kids are with mine, and maybe he will get the idea.”

“Good idea! Then my dream of having kids can finally come true!”

“Give me a second. I should bring them over here to meet you guys.”

I turn around, and look to see them stacking suitcases, and restacking, and restacking... This is going to be a very long vacation.