I do not own Austin and Ally.

I ran my fingers through my blond hair and felt tiny drops of ocean mist moisten my fingertips. I wiggled to get the sand out of my trunks then dug my toes into the hot sand. Laughter and barking rang in my ears.

Out of nowhere, Dez asked me, "Austin, was it mutual?"

I looked over and followed his gaze to Ally and Trish, who were splashing each other in the water.

"What do you mean, Dez?"

I knew he was talking about Ally. He hadn't bothered me much about the breakup, but I figured he really wanted to know what was going on.

"The breakup. Was that what you both really wanted?"

That's the thing about Dez; he is a total goofball,and so am I, but we are both sensitive guys. I guess that's why we make such great friends.

"Well we aren't together right now. So I guess so."

He didn't look convinced but nodded anyway.

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair again.

"It was so awkward when we tried to date. We kept trying to impress each other, and I was trying to be smooth."

I looked back toward Ally and Trish, who were still in the water, and smiled. Ally's hair clung to her face and her shoulders shook when she giggled.

"But I wasn't fine with it, the breakup, to be honest."

Dez gasped and pressed himself on to his knees.

"I knew it! You are so still in love with her," he said before making a flying bird motion with his hands.

"Calm down, buddy."

I glanced to the side to make sure the girls were still preoccupied.

"I don't want to make things weird."

He frowned and said,"But you two belong together. If you want her still, then you should tell her."

"I wish it were that simple but things don't seem to work that way with Ally. Remember when I tried to force her to overcome her stage fright? More than once."

Dez nodded eagerly and replied, "Yeah she destroyed that talk show set and ruined that beach guy's radio show." He leaned back to rest on his heels and added,"Well, I guess me being hypnotized ruined the radio show. But you tried to get her demo played and she still destroyed that television talk show set so, yeah."

I rolled my eyes and held back a smile. "The point is, every time I try to force Ally to do something before she's ready it backfires. If I just let her grow on her own, then she'll let me know when she's ready to be with me."

His eyes were wide and began to water.

"That is the most romantic thing I've ever heard in my life!"

"Thanks. I mean the date was weird and our argument wasn't the most fun, but I still want to give us a try. I'm really into her and I know she likes me too, but she isn't ready."

I looked out into the ocean and saw Ally pop up out of the water. She giggled then turned to see me watching her. She flashed a bright smile and waved at me before Trish splashed her again.

"But I'll be patient if she's at the end of my wait."