Previously…

Slinging open the door, Austin went to speak but was cut off by the young girl in front of him.

Multiple hiccups escaped her throat.

Austin felt his body tense in worry. She looked awful.

"I-I ca-can't do thi-this anym-more."

/

Austin's heart skipped a beat with each stutter she spoke.

Stepping aside, he let her in without a word.

Calming herself, she looked around the household, not having been here in such a long time, everything brought her comfort.

"Ally…what are you doing here?" Austin asked gently, and Ally looked around, biting her lip. The last she wanted to do was sob and beg for his forgiveness while telling him she wanted him back. That was not how they done things.

"I-I." Ally stopped herself, not having the words to explain. What did she say?

Slowly sitting on the couch, she rested her face in her hands. Closing her eyes, she swore if she were not so riled, she could have fallen asleep. Exhaustion from not being able to rest correctly and crying all evening had caught up to her.

Taking deep breaths, she looked back up at him. Austin finally got a good look at her.

Her eyes appeared heavy as if she were having trouble keeping them open. They were bloodshot, her brown eyes glowing from the previous tears, just like they always had after she finished crying. Her cheeks were flushed, and her features were sunken into her face, having lost weight.

The lack of cosmetics gave him a clear view of how much this was affecting her physically.

"Ally, have you not been eating and sleeping?" Austin whispered, not moving a muscle, his eyes racking over her. He had never seen her this way. She almost looked sickly.

Ally looked away quickly, something she always did whenever avoiding the truth.

Austin sighed, studying her. She picked at her jeans, shrinking in her hoodie as if it would hide her. He walked to slowly take a seat next to her. The smell of her perfume hit him, and he greedily breathed in the memorable scent.

"I'm sorry." Ally blurted out in a whisper. "I'm so sorry, Austin."

She would not look at him, but he saw her sorrow making way down her cheeks. He remained quiet, watching her struggle to find words.

Finally, she looked at him. With her lips formed in a subtle pout, and the tears welled in her swollen eyes, Austin thought about what he would say next. Looking back down, she wiggled uncomfortably.

"Aus…say something, please." Ally breathed, but Austin did not know what to say.

"What do you want me to say, Ally?" Austin sighed, removing himself from the couch. Ally looked down at the floor, tears falling off the tip of her nose.

"You left me, Ally. You did exactly what I said you wouldn't do. I defended you against yourself, and you go and prove yourself right." Austin argued. "You looked me in the eyes and told me you weren't going to tell me the real reason why you left."

Ally felt like she had been punched in the gut.

She wanted to yell at him that he had it all wrong. That it was not her choice, that she was forced. However; she was truly at a loss for words.

She was miserable. The guilt was eating her alive, and no one knew. A person that made an appearance every day in their lives was responsible for controlling her to leave the one person who completed her like no one else.

"It's not like that, Austin. It's not what you think," Ally desperately debated, looking at him in fear. Fear that he would want nothing to do with this, that him ending it over a week ago was her last chance.

Austin pinched the bridge of his nose. "Then what? What could it possibly be, Ally? Because all it looked like was you being selfish!" Austin exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger.

Ally shook her head hastily, standing on unsteady legs. She was not being selfish. Biting her wobbling lip, she tried to control the stray tears. "I promise, it isn't something I wanted to do. I didn't want to leave you."

"Then why did you tell me that you did!" Austin yelled loudly.

"It was a fucking lie!" Ally screamed with a fallen sob, using the rest of her energy. "It was a lie." Her voice was at a whisper, staring at the blonde.

Austin became silent, staring in shock at her outburst. Swallowing, he stepped up to her, his mouth in a firm line. They locked eyes for a moment, studying each other.

"Okay. If it wasn't what I think it was, then tell me. Explain. Don't lie." Austin orders calmly, and Ally stilled in alarm. "I-I can't." Ally gasped, eyes wide before teetering backward.

"You have to be fucking kidding me." Austin groaned, stepping away from her in irritation. He ran a hand over his angered features. "Either tell me right now or leave." Her leaving was the last thing he wanted, but he had no other choice.

Ally stared in front of her, her breathing becoming uneven. Blinking away tears, Ally could not seem to get a grip. "Austin, please, just- "

"Ally, if you can't tell me the truth, you can leave. We are done for good."

Ally became to fight for control of her breathing. "I-I can't. Please."

"Get out."

"No, no. Austin, just-" Ally pleaded for time. Austin shook his head, refusing to listen to her. Closing his eyes, he repeated the words again, each of them taking his breath away. "I'm done. Get out, Ally."

Ally shook her head.

"Go!"

Ally began to shake "I'm in tr-trouble, Austin. I-I'm scared." Each stuttered was a gasp for breath in-between cries. She felt nauseous from the amount of crying, and her chest ached. "Pleas-se. Just gi-give me ti-time to explain."

Austin gaped at her. Worried what would come out of her mouth next.

/

After a glass of water and a few minutes of breathing, Ally had calmed herself enough to talk about the real reasoning behind her leaving.

Austin shut the door to his bedroom behind him, Ally sitting crisscrossed on his bed. Austin sat in front of her,

"Can you tell me what happened? How are you in trouble?" Austin requested his mouth in a firm line, tired of the arguing.

He missed her. It was extremely tiring being angry with her.

Ally cleared her throat, it being hoarse from the hysteria she had been facing this afternoon. Sighing, she looked down at the glass of water in her lap.

"The night after your graduation, you left, thinking I was right behind you. Shane asked for a ride, I gave him one. I went to the bathroom, only to hear two people talking in a whisper behind a stall. It was a male and female." Ally took a deep breath, more tears making way silently down her face.

"I heard them talking about me. It was Dallas and Kira, and they were debating a plan on God knows what. I stopped to listen. They were talking about me and you. They mentioned a deal, something about you getting the girl, Dallas admitting he lost." Ally murmured, Austin furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"Then, he-he admitted that he w-was the one who-who assaulted me."

Austin tensed watching the tears fall down her face.

"I r-ran. I ran to the si-side of the gym, Dallas ran after me. Austin, I thought I was in the sa-same position as las-last time, but he threatened me. He told me that-that if I men-mentioned this to anyone, that my father wou-would lose his job, yo-you would lose your scholarship, as well as Shane and Dez, Trish wou-wouldn't make any-anything of herself, and I didn't believe him at-at first." The more Ally spoke, the more upset she became. Austin reached to grab her hand, but thought against it. The more she spoke, the more ashamed he became for not looking further into her leaving.

"Then he tol-told me that he was the rea-reason no one remembered, he wa-was the reason th-the investigation di-didn't go through. I be-became terrified. I ra-ran because I was sc-scared the people I loved were going to get hurt, because of m-me."

Suddenly, Austin felt a mix of things. Mostly anger, fury even at Dallas. The next was confusion, not possibly begin able to know what was going through Ally's mind. Yet; guilt and grief replaced everything.

He pushed Ally away instead of listening to her. She had been through hell, and he failed to be by her side. Threading his fingers through his hair, he blew out a huff of air.

"I-I'm so-so sorry." Ally sobbed, covering her face with her hands. Austin immediately reached forward to bring her into a tight hug, pulling her into his lap.

Ally automatically curled into him, letting him cradle her. She buried her face into his neck, not being able to stop the cries that came from her as she felt that instant relief. That relief of contentment and security.

"Why didn't you just tell me," Austin choked, his voice thick with emotion as he clenched her tightly. He had not held her in months. The feeling of her locks running between his fingers unhurriedly, or the way her gentle breathing hit his neck gave him a feeling of well-being.

"Because I knew if I told you, you wo-would be angry. You wo-would go to Dallas, an-and he wou-would fire my da-dad and get ri-rid of your scholarship. I didn't want you to lose everything yo-you've worked so hard for to be rui-ruined because of me."

Austin squeezed his eyes shut, cupping the back of her neck. "Ally, you are so much more important to me. I thought I lost you, and losing a scholarship is nothing compared to that."

Ally let tears of bliss fall, refusing to remove herself from the crook of his neck.

She was exhausted. All she wanted for months was this. To wrap herself around Austin, him enclosing her in his embrace while showering her with words of comfort.

Closing her eyes, she focused on truly calming herself. She felt at peace, for the first time since May.

Austin felt her breathing slow, and her tears stopped. He continued to soothe her. "I'm sorry for everything I said, I love you."

Ally took in a sharp breath, not expecting to hear him say that. She never thought she would hear it again.

"I love you too," Ally whispered, and Austin smiled sadly, laying them back on the bed. Ally settling into his side.

Every once in a while, Ally's sniffles were heard, but other than that, they sat in comfortable silence. Austin played with Ally's hair.

Ally tightened her hold on him, almost as if she were scared he would disappear. Eventually, her eyes grew heavy.

"When's the last time you slept?" Austin asked in a soft voice, running his fingers lightly up and down her arm. She shrugged. "I haven't really slept well in the past week." That was a lie, she could not remember the last time she had slept throughout the entire night.

He frowned. Kissing her forehead, he pulled her closer, securing his arms around her. "Sleep, gorgeous."

Ally let a sleepy smile overtake her face before her eyes closed, her entire world consumed by Austin.

/

Ally laid on Austin's perfectly made bed, leaning against the headboard. Flicking through the channels on his television, she waited for him to finish an assignment for one of his classes.

"I'm going down to grab some water, you want anything?" Ally questioned, removing from of spot of relaxation. "No, Als, I'm good."

With a nod, Ally bounded down the stairway into the kitchen. They were the only ones in the house, his family out on a mini vacation that Austin could not attend considering he got home from college yesterday.

Grabbing a bottle of water, Ally made her way back up the stairs.

"Wait, you are kidding!"

Ally paused when hearing Austin arguing on the phone with someone. Slowly opening the door, she was careful to be quiet.

At the opening of the door, Austin turned to look at Ally. "Yes, sir. I understand." Hanging up the phone, Austin glared in Ally's direction.

"Hey, are you okay? What was that about?"

"I lost my scholarship, because of you!" Austin yelled, making her jump, dropping the water bottle at her feet. "Wait, what! What are you talking about?" Ally questioned in confusion. The more Ally talked, the more annoyed Austin seemed to become. "I lost my scholarship all because of your stupidity! How could you let this happen!"

Ally began to panic. "Au-Austin, I didn't mean for this to happen. I-I didn't think," Ally trailed, and Austin scoffed. "Of course, you didn't! You never think, your actions have consequences for other people!"

"Get out, go!"

Ally jolted awake, her body wrapped loosely in Austin's comforter. Looking around, she found Austin's side of the bed empty. The air left her.

"Austin!" Ally exclaimed in fright, and Austin walked out from the bathroom, his toothbrush in his hand.

"What?" He questioned, and when seeing him, Ally immediately let herself breathe. Swallowing, she shook her head without a word, closing her eyes. Opening them, she stared down at the comforter, and Austin walked back into the room. Sitting in front of her, he took his hands to push her hair out of her face before cupping her temples.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Austin asks, his voice gruff. Ally shook her head, still focusing on her breathing and heartbeat. "I just thought..." Ally trailed, not wanting to admit that she thought he left her.

As if reading her mind, he placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. "I'm not going anywhere."

Ally sent him a soft smile, and while Austin could tell it was forced, he still sent her one back. When Austin released her head, she looked over at the clock, it was a little before noon.

"Why did you let me sleep so late?" Ally questioned, astonished at the time. It was unlike her.

Austin chuckled lightly. "From the looks of it yesterday, you needed it. Besides, I just got up about an hour and a half ago."

Ally rolled her eyes, falling back into the mattress with a groan. "Do you wanna tell me what that dream was about?" Austin placed a hand on her leg that was under the covers. Ally's eyes widened, how he did that, she did not know.

Sighing, she decided to tell him the truth anyway. "I had a nightmare that you lost your scholarship and blamed me." Ally muttered, her eyes covered by her arm.

Austin sighed, reaching to uncover her eyes. "I'm not going to lose my scholarship, and if by chance I do, I won't blame you. I promise because I would rather have you than a scholarship. Please understand that." Austin reassured, and Ally went quiet, just staring up at him.

Placing a hand on his cheek, she smiled. He looked amused. "What?"

Shaking her head, she insisted that it was nothing. "I just missed you."

Austin's smile fell, his eyebrows knitting together in guilt. "I let you walk out of my life like that."

Ally was taken back by his response, but shook her head, looping her arms around his neck. "I was the one who walked out of yours. I was weak and did not fight back. I should have explained to you what was happening, but I didn't. There is no need to blame yourself."

Austin sighed, studying the girl beneath him. She may have looked different, and a few qualities may have changed, but she was still his Ally.

They continued to stare at each other before Austin closed his eyes and captured her lips in his. The both of them sighed instantly, the craving that had been eating them alive for the past three months had finally perished.

Each of their feelings was poured into the kiss. It was not hasty, it was not rough. It was unhurried, gradual, compassionate, and not but fierce adoration. The list could go on, and Ally felt warmth gather from behind her closed eyes. It was a kiss of pure want and love.

They wanted each other in their lives, there was no doubt about it, and the love they shared was something that each of them would only feel once in their lifetime, with each other. It was unpredictable, explosive, wild, all the while promising and secure.

A tear trailed down Ally's face. When he walked away from her, it was the worst feeling she had ever experienced. The last time she felt this was at his graduation, she thought that would be the last time, and that thought alone was enough to make her weep in joy.

Pulling away, Austin kissed her nose, and she giggled. Next, he kissed her forehead, then her cheeks, and finally, her stray tear.

Austin rested on his forearms, taking a hand, he cupped her cheek. She looked beautiful, lying beneath him, her hair sprawled across the pillows. Her face bare of any cosmetics while dressed in just one of his hoodies. Her eyes glowed, not with tears, but with devotion and passion.

He wished he could take a picture.

Leaning down, he rested his face in the crook of her neck, copying her actions from the night before. However; he began to place dainty kisses on the underside of her jaw. She giggled once again while squirming, Austin smirked before continuing further.

Latching to her collarbone, he heard her let out a tiny gasp of pleasure. He maneuvered his way back up, stealing another kiss from her. This one was a bit fiercer and lust filled. They both fought for dominance.

When Ally removed her grip from his hair, she trailed her fingers down to the edges of his shirt before tugging. He pulled away. "Nu-uh, Dawson. This isn't how this is going to work," he murmured huskily against her lips, and she laughed, allowing him to grip her wrist, bringing them above her head.

He followed her with a chuckle, reaching to remove the oversized hoodie from her body, leaving her in just her undergarments. Pausing, he trailed his eyes over her body. She was just as beautiful as he remembers only a bit thinner.

"What?" Ally whispered in fear. Austin quickly looked up at her, noticing that he was giving her the wrong impression. He smiled gently, kissing her softly. "You look beautiful, gorgeous, but you haven't been eating."

Ally looked down sheepishly, knowing he would notice the lack of nourishment to her body.

Tilting her head, he grinned down at her. "I'll fix that later, however: I think I was busy."

Ally let out a bout of joyful laughter as he slid her further down the bed to be completely underneath him.

He followed suit with a smile before continuing with his actions.

For the first time in three months, he felt complete, and he made sure to show that with every kiss, every touch, and every movement. All to the girl he was undeniably in love with.

/

Ally was woken again, only this time, under different circumstances. Her phone on the nightstand rang, and Ally groaned, rolling into Austin's side before reaching across him to grab it.

"Hello?" Ally answered with a yawn.

"Ally, where in the hell are you?" Trish demanded over the phone, and Ally instantly became confused.

"What are you talking about, Trish?" Ally whispered with a soft sigh, running a hand over her face. Rolling over, she found Austin sound asleep. She smiled at the sight, leisurely tracing soothing circles on his bare abdomen with her finger. Her head rested on his shoulder.

"You've been gone since last night; your car isn't at your house. I swear to everything above if you've left again." Trish ranted, and Ally chuckled, glancing at the clock. It was a little after seven in the evening.

"Trish, Trish. I'm at Austin's." Ally confirmed softly, and Trish gasped. "O my God, you are? And you've been over there since last night, haven't you?" Trish interrogated, and Ally chuckled lightly.

"Yes, I have."

"O my God!" She squealed, and Ally rolled her eyes wholeheartedly. "I'm assuming you two had hot makeup sex?"

Ally's eyes widened as she sputtered at the question. "Trish!" Ally shouted quietly, and she felt Austin chuckled. Looking up, she found him awake while looking amused, his classic smirk playing on his lips.

Ally blushed, looking down.

"I'm not answering that question," Ally responded, and she heard Trish gasp once more. "I'm gonna take that as a yes."

Ally rolled her eyes. "Goodbye, T."

"Goodbye." Trish sang, and Ally hung up the phone. Giving it to Austin, he reached to place it back on the table. Ally sighed, coiling her way back into Austin. He kissed her temple, running his hand up and down her naked back.

"Where are your parents?" Ally asked, noticing that they had, had the house to themselves since late yesterday evening. "They had to travel up to Jacksonville for Emmy's dance competition. They will be back sometime tomorrow afternoon."

Ally nodded. "When do you head back to Tallahassee?" Dread filled her at the thought of him going back to college, being seven hours away from her.

"I go back the day after tomorrow," Austin admitted, and Ally let out a breath. "Well, that sucks."

Austin nodded sadly. "It does," Ally bit her lip in thought. Could they make long distance work after everything they had just gone through?

"Hey." Austin locked eyes with Ally. "I already lost you once, I don't plan to lose you again. We will make this work. Okay?"

Ally sent him a small smile, wanting to believe everything that came out of his mouth, but she didn't. She knew that long distance was going to be tough on them after he got the offer before graduation, but now that they have just gotten back together, she was scared of letting him go.

"Let's hope," Ally murmured, sitting up to stretch, holding the sheets to cover herself.

Austin sat up behind her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders before kissing it softly.

"Ally," Austin spoke her name seriously, not letting his voice get above a whisper. Ally let out a sigh, wrapping the sheets around her before walking into Austin's closet. Grabbing one of Austin's plaid shirts, she buttoned it before walking out.

Austin watched her quietly. He smiled as she reached down to pull up the bottom left drawer of his dresser. She looked surprised when still seeing all her clothes, that she had left over the past year, in it. Reaching towards the back, she retrieved some fresh undergarments.

After she finished dressing herself, she turned to Austin, worry shining brightly in her café colored eyes. "What if we can't?" Her voice was nearly inaudible. Austin had never seen her so unsure about their relationship before.

He frowned, grabbing sweatpants to pull on over his boxers before walking towards her.

"Why wouldn't we?" Austin questioned, and Ally shrugged, throwing her hands up.

"I don't know. Because things are unsteady? We've never been this rocky before, Aus. What if you being seven hours away doesn't help anything." Ally voiced her concerns. Austin furrowed his eyebrows, reaching out to pull her closure.

"Baby, we don't know what will happen, but I do know that I don't want to lose you," Austin spoke seriously, not breaking eye contact. "When I told you that morning at the beach house that I was gonna marry you one day, I wasn't lying. One day, when we both have our lives figured out, then I'm gonna ask you to marry me. When have I ever broken a promise to you?"

Ally let out a chuckle, her eyes watery. Austin smiled, reaching to wipe her eyes. Connecting his forehead with hers, Austin nuzzled their noses. Ally roamed her eyes over his features, loving how prominent his smile lines were when he laughed.

"We can make it work, Als. I may not be sure about anything else in this world, but I am sure that I love you. Love is risky, but it is also something worth taking a risk on. You are worth taking a risk on."

Ally smirked, reaching to cup his cheek. "Since when did you become the one good with words?"

Austin shrugged. "I read a lot into films, I'm pretty sure that came from a movie."

Ally let out a bout of laughter, and Austin's heart fluttered at the sound. Leaning down, he kissed her soundly, pushing her carefully against his desk. Ally smirked into the kiss, jumping to wrap herself around his torso.

Ally craned her neck as Austin traveled his way down. "As much as I'm enjoying this, I'm starving." Ally admitted shyly, and Austin chuckled, pulling away to look at her. "What do you want?" Austin questioned, and Ally pondered, relaxing comfortably as he held her with ease.

"Can we get pizza?" Ally looked down at him in request, and he nodded. "Oh, and ice cream?"

Austin laughed, before nodding once again. "We can go to Mike's?" Austin told, referring to a diner that severed homemade pizzas with an old-fashioned ice cream stand.

"Oh, yay!" Ally excitedly jumped from Austin's arms onto her feet. "Alright, go get dressed." Austin popped her bottom. Ally rolled her eyes, walking into his bathroom. She felt relieved when finding everything that she had left in its rightful place. It was almost as if she had moved in.

Spending the night and entire day with Austin was exactly what she needed. To rekindle what they had, and realizing that it never left. She had been the one to leave. The thought of her leaving made guilt rush through her, and the thought of her actually telling Austin what happened made her stomach churn.

Had she been too hasty? What if he spoke to Dallas, or Dallas actually owned up to his threats. His father was a powerful man, but would he really ruin her father and boyfriend's careers? She didn't know.

As she splashed cold water on her face and rinsed it with face wash, she suddenly wished she had changed her mind. She wished that she had not told Austin because even if he did not blame her for the possibility of getting his scholarship taken, she would. She did not know if she could live with the fact that she was the one that ruined Austin's successful future. He had worked too hard for it.

Looking back up at the mirror, Ally noticed how much she had actually changed. She actually studied herself in the mirror.

She looked completely different that she had before she left for New York.

Ally Dawson was reformed, and nothing would be the same.

Her relationship was different, her body was different, her personality was different, her home life was different, and the list could keep going. However; with all change, there were positive outlooks.

Ally had always been an optimistic person, but she had recently lost herself. Maybe it was time to find herself again.

But, the correct way this time.

/

"Gorgeous, are you ready?"

Ally grinned at the pet name. Ally finished curling the last piece of her shortened hair. "Almost, you can come in." The door opened, and in stepped Austin, freshly cleaned and stylish. Ally smiled, looking him up and down, loving the way his longer hair swept perfectly to the side.

"Are there any straight pieces?" Ally turned to show him the back of her head, and he knitted his eyebrows before motioning for the curler. She had it to him, and he curled it with ease. Ally was a bit amused, but Austin ignored her, continuing to curl the pieces she missed.

"I like your hair like this?" Austin broke the comfortable silence, running his fingers through the heated curl. Ally raised her eyebrows in surprise. "You do?" He nodded, looking at her from the mirror. He confirmed it with a nod.

"You cut all the blonde out, it makes you look a bit older," Austin voiced, and Ally tilted her head in observation. Her brunette locks made her demeanor look darker, almost unapproachable to a stranger. While it only fell a little above her breast, it was a big shock when cutting it, having had her hair fall to mid-back.

"Most boyfriends don't approve when their girlfriends change or cut their hair," Ally pointed out, and Austin rolled his eyes. "Well, last time I checked, that was not their decision. I can't stand guys like that."

Ally giggled at her boyfriend's opinions on possessive men. She found it enduring.

When he put the curling iron down, she turned, reaching to wrap her arms around his neck. Placing her lips to his, she kissed him soundly. He hummed, gripping her hips in pleasure. He nipped her bottom lip before pulling away.

"What was that for?" Austin questioned, and Ally shrugged innocently. "Because I can." She could not seem to get enough of him.

Austin smirked, reaching down to kiss her once again before pulling away. "You ready?"

Ally nodded, walking out of the bathroom.

/

Austin opened the entrance of the café, allowing Ally to walk in before him.

"You wanna grab a booth on the deck?" Austin questioned, his hand resting on her mid of her back, rubbing soothing circles. She looked out the window, noticing the deck was empty. She nodded.

"Alright, I'll order, you go grab us a seat."

She nodded, making her way towards the door that led to the opened patio. 'Mike's' was a small café that sat close to the ocean, known for the view that it provided while enjoying your meal.

Ally smiled, her converse slapping against the wood as she made her way to the railing. Leaning against it, she breathed deeply, the salty ocean air filling her senses while the crisp breeze blew her hair back. Looking up, she stared at the millions of stars, loving how they twinkled now that they were out of the city lights.

It reminded her of her first date with Austin.

"I will never understand you and the beach at night."

Ally turned at Austin's appearance. She smiled, knowing that it was a feeling of contentment and excitement that she would never be able to explain.

"I don't know, something about the sound of waves crashing while the moon is high in the sky sparks something in me," she admitted with a grin, and Austin smirked, walking behind her to wrap her in his embrace.

Words could not describe the feeling she gave him. It was better than the feeling of the beach at midnight.

"Shouldn't your father be wondering where you are by now?" Austin rested his chin on her shoulder, and she shrugged. "He is out of town on a business trip, he isn't really talking to me. You know," Ally trailed, and Austin sighed, afraid that would happen.

"Shouldn't your parents be questioning what you are doing," Ally fired back softly, and he shook his head. "No, they trust me. Ya know, being a responsible eighteen-year-old and all."

"Your mother has called you more than five times, hasn't she?"

"It's been eight."

Ally laughed, and Austin followed, hating how well she knew him.

"I like nobody knowing where we are?" Ally admitted, and Austin cracked a joke. "Why, running to New York give me a sense of adventure?" While it was light-hearted, she tensed. Turning, she wrapped her arms around his torso.

"No, running off with you gives me a sense of adventure."

Austin sighed, kissing the tip of her nose. "Yeah, I agree. Maybe we should do it more often."

Ally nodded enthusiastically, and Austin laughed, remembering to keep that in mind.

They stared out at the ocean until their food came.

"How was New York this go around?" Austin asked after swallowing a bite of pizza, and Ally thought about her answer. "Um, I love the city and NYU, but I did not enjoy it considering the circumstances."

Austin nodded, not really wanting to think of the circumstances.

"Well, besides that, how was your summer?" Austin interrogated again, and Ally shrugged. "I wish I could say that it was amazing. I was in one of the world's most amazing cities, with such opportunities, and all I could do was mope. Then, my mother got me out of her apartment. She told me that I should take my enrollment seriously and that I should have some fun."

"What did you do for fun?" Austin raised his eyebrows, and suddenly, her eyes began to twinkle. "I would travel the city. There are so many amazing places, and since it is the oldest city in America, there was so much history. It was unbelievable, and I geeked out a bit."

Austin dissolved into light laughter. She swatted his arm.

"I began to write about them." Austin nodded, motioning for her to continue. "My mother is a part-time journalist, and I've always enjoyed writing. Yet, when I went to stay with her, she opened up a whole new realm to me. I think that might be what I want to do after college," Ally admitted sheepishly, and Austin perked, knowing that she was undecided about a major and career.

"That's good, right?" Ally shrugged. "Yeah, I guess so, but Aus, if that's what I want to do, my best bet would be to go to NYU. My mother is a professor there, and they offer an amazing journalism program."

Austin nodded, but Ally still looked unsure. "What?" He reached across the table, and she bit her lip. "Aus, what would that mean for us?"

Austin paused. He had not thought about the consequences for them, her moving to New York for school and a career. He only worried about what she wanted to do.

"Well, I'll support you, Als. You know that. If you want to move to New York, and this is really, really want you want to do, then I say go for it. As long as you are sure." Austin encouraged, and Ally's insides melted, realizing how lucky she was to have a boyfriend as supportive as him.

That did not stop her worry.

"And I'm grateful for that, but I can't stop thinking about us. You'll be playing football for the Seminoles, and then be drafted into an NFL team. What happens if your team is all the way across the country from me? Football players play until they are forty. If I become a journalist, I'll have to stay in New York, or possibly travel the world, what then?"

Austin reached to place a hand on hers, calming her nervous rant. "Hey, it will all work out. You don't have to plan your future around me."

Ally's face dropped. "I want too, Aus. What if things get too difficult. I never thought I would have to plan my future around a guy, but I never want to lose you, so I have to plan my future around you. Which does not bother me, but what if we never get our career choices on the right path and we have to break up."

Austin reached to cover her mouth, amused by her rambling. Staring straight into her eyes, he made sure she was paying attention.

"We are going to be fine. Do you hear me?"

Ally knitted her eyebrows, and he slowly removed his hand. He had so much faith in them, why did she not? Sighing, she looked down at their gripped hands.

"I just, I want us to have an easy life. Move to the same place, the same college before getting engaged, and then settling down while financially stable. Get married and have a family. I just can't picture that if we got into such different careers across the country from each other."

Austin squeezed her hand. "You are the easiest thing in my life, something I'm so sure about, and I've never had something so sturdy, well had, and the thought of our relationship being drug through something like that," Ally trailed, and Austin finished. "Will make us stronger, Als."

He reached to cup her cheek. "Things are going to happen, things are going to change. I know the only reason this is coming from you is because I'm in college and you are graduating in May. This is adulthood, but that doesn't mean that things can't be simple. We can make it, as long as we trust each other, love each other, and stay loyal and honest with each other."

Austin wished to hold her tight, explain all the reason for her not to worry, but they both knew it was not that easy. She had every right to worry, but chances are, the two of them had a strong enough connection to undergo anything.

They just had to prove that.