Chapter 1: Finding Secrets

"Ally!", Austin yelled, the walls of the Practice Room vibrating as his voice boomed.

"What, Austin?", the petite brunette snapped.

"Don't act like you don't know! I know there's something bothering you, and you won't tell me!", his face of rage cracked then. Revealing the hurt he felt from all this, "Why won't you let me help you?" His voice cracked throughout the whispered sentence.

Ally's eyes brimmed with tears upon seeing this side of him, but bit them back. As She turned to face the piano, unable to look at him anymore, she spoke quietly, "Maybe, I just don't want you too." It was all lies. And she knew it, too. She couldn't tell him though, not anyone.

Suddenly, she felt strong arms wrapped their way around her shoulders from behind. Her body stiffened, and he felt her slightly flinch.

"Please, Ally…", His voice spoke softly in her ears, pleading, as he rested his chin on her shoulder, "I'm not the one who wants to hurt you."

She shut her eyes tightly, and winced as one of her caged tears escaped. It rolled down her sweet pink cheek onto Austin's arm.

His dark brown eyes widened as he spun the girl around to face him. Putting his hands softly but firmly on her shoulders he waited for her eyes to open. When they didn't, he started to speak again, "Ally, I don't know what's going on, but your last result shouldn't be this." His hand gestured to the newly bought pack of cigarettes,-four already missing-though it was pointless because her eyes were still shut tight for the moment.

~Flashback~

Austin had been on his way to Sonic Boom, it was 7:30pm, he and Ally had agreed to work on their new song at 8. The movie he and Dez went to see let out earlier than expected, so he decided it'd be a good idea just to come over then. Besides, it's not like he had anything else to do in that small half hour of waiting. When he had arrived at the store he found it already closed. Austin couldn't blame Ally for closing early; with Austin's career getting higher and higher, and the music store getting more customers because of Austin's rising fame, the songstress was getting over worked. Austin pulled out the spare key Ally had given him about a month ago. The two had only known each-other for about two months now. He put the key in the slot and unlocked the door, opening it and walking in.

Once Austin was inside he went to the Practice Room, expecting Ally to be at the piano bench waiting for him, so he could tell her all about the epic new movie they had just gone to see. She wasn't there though, so he made his way to the roof. He knew that she often liked to go there sometimes. Instead of finding Ally just sitting there watching the clouds though, he found her watching something much more horrifying. Sitting on the roof, knee's to her chest, Ally sat with a cigarette in hand. Doughy brown eyes watching the swirling mist of smoke escaped her mouth and float into the air. Out of complete instinct-his feet moving before his mind could comprehend what he was doing-Austin stormed over to the drifting girl. He snatched it, right from her soft thin fingers, and threw it to the ground. The heel of his shoe grinding it into the ground. Ally's head snapped into focus, eyes narrowing at the little stubs left of what was in her hand not a moment ago. She scowled at him, then stood up, not bothered that she had been caught in the troubling act at all. She made her way back into the music store, and into the practice room. Austin, right behind her every step of the way. When they were inside he saw her open a pack filled with them, and grabbed another one-she had only gotten one puff after all. By that point Austin thought his brain would explode. He walked back over and grabbed it from her once again, throwing it across the room. He then noticed the lighter that was in her hand, ready to have lit the cigarette, and he took it from her to, tossing it in the waste basket.

"What the hell Austin!", she yelled, finally speaking. Austin couldn't take it, the Ally he knew was not here right now, and he needed to help bring her back.

~End of Flashback~

Ally's eyes flew open with a glare, "How could you of all people understand? Yet alone "help" me!", she said, venom laced in her voice, and as much as she wished she could take that back…she couldn't. Austin shook his head, 'Why was she being like this?'

Where was the Alley he had gotten to know so well over the last two months? Why wasn't she here?

Austin will admit that he had noticed Ally going through some changes, but he had blown them off as some sort of "Girl Issue." So he had never confronted her, thinking that she'd rather talk to Trish. He was worried though. Her cheerful self had become less and less cheerful. The beautiful twinkle in her chocolate eyes began to grow duller and dimmer. The dazzling smile he was so used to appeared fewer and fewer, replaced with small, fake smiles that didn't reach her lovely eyes. Although he didn't want to invade her personal life then, this was obviously bigger than any girl issued situation, and he needed to figure out what was wrong.

"If you just give me a chance, I can show you. I might not be experiencing what you're going through, but I can sure as hell be there for you. And Ally it's so much better than going through it alone.", while talking his arms had slid from her shoulders to her arms, his back slightly hunched from bending down to look in her eyes.

Her breathing became ragged as air was hard to grasp, eyes clouding over with all those held in tears, Austin found starring into those eyes so painful now. It was the first time her eyes showed any emotion in weeks. Only right now, they weren't happy, they looked terrified. And it was then Austin realized just how truly fragile Ally was. Yes, she always looked fragile to him, so small, but he had always seen such a strong confident side of her. The only weakness he'd ever seen was when she had to perform, and it was because she had horrible stage fright. Now, Austin sees just how breakable she can be.

"Austin..!", she choked before her tears spilled over, her body trembling with gasping sobs. He moved to hold her, but she jerked away.

"No!", she yelled panic. She moved her hands over her face, "Please…"

It was so quiet Austin almost didn't hear it. The next thing he knew, Ally was running out of the Practice Room, and heard the front doors of Sonic Boom slam shut.

Austin was frozen in his spot, arms still slightly hanging in the air from the rejected embrace. His eyes starring at the spot she was standing in not a moment ago.