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Chapter 2

Ally POV

The week after we found out about the record deal went really fast. Austin and I spent the entire week spending as much time together as possible. Trish and Dez's parents were only letting them go temporarily, and they would be flying back every month or so to visit. Austin said he would too, but we both knew that he would be far too busy, if things worked out, to take so much time off. So we tried to cram all of the things we would have done in the next nine months into seven days. And all the while, we were trying our level best not to think about our upcoming separation. But all too soon, it was Friday, and we were at the airport, and we couldn't avoid thinking about it anymore.

"Ally, I'm going to miss you so much." He said to me, tearing up once again. I smiled sadly, already bawling.

"I'm going to miss you too. I can't believe this is really happening, Austin. I always knew you were going to make it, be famous, but I never imagined that things would happen like this. I always imagined that I would be going with you. I never once considered that I might be left behind." I choked out. He wrapped his arms around me in a huge bear hug and I clung to him, considering refusing to let go. But then he would miss his flight and if he did, I'd never convince him to leave.

"I can't believe it either. But I promise, Ally, in nine months' time I'll be back here, and you'll be boarding this plane with me." He promised. I nodded, burying my head in his neck and breathing in his sweet, familiar scent.

"Did you say goodbye to Cassidy?" I asked him. He had made up with her and they were trying to be friends since she found out about the record deal. She wanted them to be friends when he left.

"Yeah. Trust me, Ally, that wasn't nearly as difficult as this."

"We're not saying goodbye, though. We're saying 'see you soon', right?"

"Right." He confirmed. I smiled, feeling a fresh wave of tears overtake me. It was a good job we got to the airport early, because it was going to take me a while to pull myself together.

"And your parents?"

"They're pretty upset, but they plan to visit me as much as possible."

"I wish I could come and visit, but-"

"We've been through this. Your dad can't afford the flights, and I can't ask Jimmy to pay for it. You don't want me to 'push my luck' so soon." He muttered sourly. I chuckled.

"Austin, you know this is the right thing. Besides, it's only nine months. What could possibly happen in nine months?"

"Ally, you could have a kid in nine months." He muttered. I couldn't help it; I laughed, loudly and freely. It was the first time I had actually, properly laughed since my dad told me that I wasn't going to be able to go. He stared at me like I was crazy for a second, but then he was laughing too, and we were both laughing like idiots, and before I could comprehend what was happening, his lips were on mine and he was kissing me, my best friend was kissing me, and even more, I was kissing him back.

We were both still crying, our tears mingling and leaving a salty taste on our tongues as we kissed, for the first time, in front of everyone, in the middle of the airport. After a minute or so we pulled apart, breathless and grinning like idiots, but still crying.

"Austin…"

"Don't, Ally. I don't know about that, but I've wanted to do that for years. I've been so, so tempted, especially since I broke up with Cassidy and you broke up with Dallas. I didn't want to because I didn't want to ruin our friendship. But we're not going to see each other for nine months, and I don't know what's going to happen, but one thing I know for sure; I couldn't leave without kissing you." He explained, breathless. I smiled, loving the honesty and trust in his expression.

"I'm really, really glad you did, Austin." I whispered, before kissing him again.

Austin POV

I couldn't believe it. Not only had I finally found the courage to kiss her, but she actually liked it. And she was kissing me back! Of course, it would only happen a couple hours before I left for LA and wasn't going to see her for nine months. Karma's a bitch, I guess.

"So, what do you want to do? I still have an hour or so before I need to check in, and everyone else shouldn't be here for another half hour…" I said. She smiled, taking my hand and pulling me over to the benches. I sat down and she sat on my lap, our lips meeting again, feverishly. I guess it seems a little rushed, but I had wanted her for so long, and I wasn't going to see her for almost a year…we had a lot to make up for.

After what felt like minutes but must have been a lot longer, Ally jumped up. I looked around, a little dazed, to see a smirking Trish and clueless Dez staring down at us. All our parents were stood behind them, along with Cassidy who looked a little hurt but mouthed 'finally' when our eyes met.

"Erm…hey guys." I muttered. Everyone burst out laughing, minus Ally's dad and Dez, who was looking around at everyone like they were crazy.

"What's so funny?" he asked. Trish sighed, still grinning.

"Inside joke, Dez. Come on, let's go get some food, I haven't had any breakfast and I am starving." she said sternly, taking Dez by the hand and dragging him off. I momentarily froze in shock from seeing them hold hands, but then I realised that Ally had jumped off my lap straight onto the floor and I leant down to help her up. She was bright red, looking up at everyone.

"Hey…erm, dad, are you okay?" she asked, noticing that he was looking a little green. He shook his head.

"Just a little surprised to see my daughter and her 'best friend' eating each other's faces…" he muttered. She blushed even harder, looking at the floor.

"Sorry Mr Dawson, it was my fault…"

"Don't worry, Austin, I'm going to let it go. But only because you're leaving for LA in an hour and Ally is already angry enough with me." He said warningly. I nodded, smiling gratefully.

"Well, I guess I should go check in in a minute." I sighed. I spent the next few minutes going round everyone and saying goodbye, and so did Trish and Dez once they got back from wherever they were. Then Trish, Dez and I grabbed our bags and led the procession to the check-in desk. Once things were sorted we went into the waiting room and sat down. Ally and I caught each other's gazes and decided we needed to be alone again, just to say our final goodbyes.

"I'm going to go to the toilet quickly. I'll be back in a minute." I muttered. A minute later, Ally was walking out too and I grabbed her, pulling her to me into another hug.

"I don't want to do this, Ally." I sighed into her hair. She looked up at me.

"I don't want you to do this either, Austin. But you're going to, and you're going to do your thing, and you're going to get really famous, and then in nine months you're going to be back here with me, okay?"

"Yeah, okay. You know, it's kinda funny. I mean, it was so easy for us to break up with Cassidy and Dallas. Yet now that it's each other that we're losing, it couldn't be more difficult."

"That's because I really liked Dallas, and you really liked Cassidy. But the two of us, we love each other. What we have, it's nothing physical. It's not based on looks, or lust. It's based on us. We're a perfect match, Austin. I think, maybe, we're even soul mates. And even though this hurts be more than anything has ever hurt me before, even though saying goodbye, or 'see you soon', to you is the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life, I wouldn't change a thing." She whispered. I smiled.

"I feel exactly the same way. God, I wish you were coming with me." I groaned. She nodded.

"So do I. And I will. In nine months. And I promise you, nothing will change in that time. I won't find a new best friend, or a new boyfriend, and I certainly won't have a kid…" we both chuckled a little again.

"I know. And the same goes for me. I promise, fame won't change me. When I come back for you in nine months' time, I'll still be exactly the same person." I promised. She nodded.

"I know." She murmured. She then kissed me one last time and pulled away.

"Come on, let's go before you miss your flight."

Ally POV

Eight months and three weeks later, I was hanging in my room with Trish. She was back for a week during school vacation, and we were having a girly night in. We'd spent the night talking about the latest Twilight movie, and about all the celebrities she had seen and met in LA, but it was getting late, we were both tired, and the elephant in the room was becoming bigger and bigger with every passing moment. Finally we fell into a semi-awkward silence and Trish couldn't take it anymore.

"Look, Ally, I know it hurts, but we have to talk about Austin." She said. I winced, feeling tears spring to my eyes almost instantly.

"What's to talk about? Two weeks after he declared his love for me and told me nothing would change while we were apart, he's in the tabloids with some slutty blonde girlfriend. The first of many for bad-boy superstar. Obviously, everything between us was a load of crap. I don't want to talk about it because it doesn't matter." I sighed. Trish rolled her eyes.

"Oh, come on Ally, you know that's not Austin. He's doing all this for the publicity. His label set it all up for him so that more people buy his albums and stuff. Austin still loves you, and he is going to prove that in a week's time when he turns up for your birthday to take you with him to LA." She argued. I groaned, lying back on the bed.

"As if. Look, Trish, I appreciate it, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's forgotten all about me. There's no way he's going to go through with that. He's not coming back for me, not in a week, not in a month, not in a year."

"Fine, Ally, believe that if you want. But trust me, he will. That guy was in love with you for too long to have forgotten you in the space of eight months."

"Yeah, sure, whatever." I brushed the comment off. Secretly, I wanted to believe her. Desperately. But I couldn't. I couldn't get my hopes up. For the first couple weeks, Austin called me every day. But after those stories started being printed, he stopped calling so much. It went from every day to every few days, and then every week, and then not at all. I tried ringing him myself but I always got answerphone, and eventually I stopped trying. I tried asking Trish and Dez to talk to him for me, but they barely even see him anymore. Trish was demoted to co-manager, and she mostly manages dates and things. And Dez simply films the video footage. He doesn't get a say in the editing or the final thing anymore. I've tried telling them to quit, but they don't want to abandon Austin.

Trust Trish and Dez to stay loyal to a backstabbing, jerk of an ex-friend.

"Anyway, come on Ally, we need to plan your party."

Austin POV

I groaned as Cindy tried to kiss me again, moving my head away so that she only got my cheek.

"Austin, what's up?" she asked.

"You know this isn't real, Cindy. Why do you keep trying?" I asked her, pushing her off my lap and getting to my feet. She smiled.

"Because I'm me, and I figure that if I keep trying, eventually you'll succumb. Why wouldn't you? You're just a guy, after all." She shrugged. I rolled my eyes.

"Well, trust me, I'm not going to 'succumb'. Look, Cindy, you're a gorgeous girl and any guy would be lucky to have you, but-"

"Then why don't you want me? Come on, Austin, just once! It's not even like it'll be your first time!" she shouted, frustrated. I winced. It would be, in fact. Contrary to popular belief, I am still a virgin. I've stayed faithful to Ally, the girl I love. Well, of course I've kissed girls, but only in public. I never do anything in public. I know she still sees the tabloids and is probably hurting anyway, but at least I'll know I've done the right thing.

"I just…I can't." I muttered.

"Is there someone else? Has bad-boy Moon fallen for someone?" she asked, disbelieving. I sighed, not wanting to lie anymore, and nodded.

"Yeah, I have. Only, I fell for her long before I was even famous. All these girls I've been with…I haven't really been with them. I never honestly liked any of them. They're just for publicity. The girl I love, well, she's back in Miami. Waiting for me. I hope."

"Maybe she is waiting for you, but you're not planning on going to her, are you?" she asked incredulously. I nodded.

"Yeah, I am. I a week's time, I'm flying back to Miami and bringing her back here with me." I told her, smiling. She smiled too.

"Wow. That's…sweet. I can tell you like this girl…"

"I don't like her, Cindy. I love her. I am completely, head-over-heels in love with her, and I have been for way too long. This next week…it's going to go so slowly. I swear, by Friday I'm going to be a complete wreck." I admitted. She laughed.

"Wow. I've never seen someone so helplessly in love before. I've never actually been turned down before, either."

"There's a first time for everything." I shrugged. She smiled.

"Yeah, I guess there is. Well, I'm going to leave now, but good luck with this girl, Austin. You're a good guy; you deserve her."

"No, I don't. I am nowhere near good enough for her. But no guy ever will be good enough for her, so I might as well be the one that gets her." I commented. She laughed.

"Goodnight, Austin."

"Night Cindy."

Ally POV

"Ally, isn't there somewhere you're supposed to be?" my dad asked. I was sat on the couch in the practice room, watching SpongeBob and pigging out on ice-cream. Trish had been called back to LA early so my party had been 'postponed'. I was relieved, to be honest. Trish was inviting all these people I barely know when all I really wanted to do was curl up with my favourite ice-cream and watch TV.

Okay that was a lie. I was currently doing exactly that, and it was feeling like the worst birthday in the history of the world. But hey, without my best friend there, I was never going to have any fun.

"I don't think so, why?" I asked sullenly. He sighed.

"Ally, you're supposed to be at the airport, waiting for Austin's plane to come in." he said.

"He's not coming, dad. Why should I be there if he's not going to be?"

"Because you're Ally, and you would never, ever break a promise. Whether Austin is going to be there or not, you need to be there. You'll never forgive yourself otherwise, and you know it." He said. I thought for a second, but knew he was right. I couldn't live with myself if I broke my promise. And it would make things so much easier. I would be there, waiting for him. He wouldn't show up, breaking his promise, and I would be able to hate him with good reason.

"I guess…daddy?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you give me a ride to the airport?"

"Sure thing honey."

A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A&A

When we got to the airport I made my way to the waiting area to wait for Austin's plane to land. I was in luck; the announcement blared out through the speaker's just minutes after I arrived.

By the time the plane touched down, my stomach was in pieces. I felt like I was going to be sick and like I couldn't breathe all at once. I watched as the doors opened and people started climbing off the plane. I stood there and I watched, hopeful, as people ran from the plane to greet loved ones. I felt like crying as couples were reunited, families and friends crying their hearts out at the sight of their loved ones. I stayed there and I watched even after the place was empty, even after the doors were closed. I waited, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he would materialize out of thin air.

But of course he didn't. I hadn't expected him to, and I had been right. All along, that small glimmer of hope had been there, but now it was gone. Austin had forgotten about me. He was over me. And he had broken his promise.

I silently made my way back out of the airport, feeling like every person there was watching me, pitying me, even though I know that wasn't true. Nobody cares about the lonely, sad girl leaving the airport without the guy she loved. And I was stupid to feel like anyone did. If the guy who said he loved me didn't care enough to keep his promise, why should anyone else care at all?

I climbed into the car silently, ignoring the sad look in my father's eyes. He hated to see me hurting, and I knew that, but I couldn't bring myself to speak to him.

We drove home in silence, and as soon as he had stopped the car I was out of it, running into the house and up the stairs. I didn't quite make it to my bedroom, though, because before I could manage to open my door I was on the floor, tears streaming down my face, barely able to breathe through the tears.

I didn't stop to think about things. I just cried. If I had, I might have wondered why the front door wasn't locked. My dad was meticulous about locking the front door, ever since we were burgled a few years ago. There was no way he would have forgotten. Yet I hadn't had to unlock it, I had just burst right into the house. If I wasn't too caught up in my emotions and self-pity, I may have considered that. But I was, and I didn't. Finally, I managed to pull myself together and get to my feet.

I took a deep breath in as I opened my bedroom door.

And then I stopped breathing completely.

There, on my bed, smiling at me like nothing was wrong, was my best friend.

"Hey Ally." He said softly. I gasped, running over and jumping onto my bed. He grinned, opening his arms to hug me, but I wasn't about to do that. He had hurt me, bad. Dating all those girls, not turning up at the airport. Disregarding the fact that he was here now, I punched him. Hard. In the stomach.

And then I did it again, and again, and again, until I couldn't hit him anymore. Then I crumpled, throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him harder than I had ever thought possible.

"I…Hate….You." I muttered between kisses. He nuzzled his cheek against my own and whispered in my ear.

"I love you too."

And then nothing mattered anymore. I didn't care about all those other girls. I didn't care that I hadn't seen him for nine months, hadn't spoken to him for five months. I didn't care that he had been a crappy friend to Trish and Dez. I didn't care, because right then, it was him and me, Austin and Ally. And we were together.

Letting him go was the hardest thing I have ever done.

But taking him back was easy.

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