Chapter 1 of "Project Love"

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Thud thud thud.

The young brunette's eyes opened in sound to the rhythmic beating that seemed to be coming from the ceiling above her.

Thud Thud.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the sound. The grimace on her face showed her determination to get at least five more minutes of sleep.

Thud.

"Gahh. . ." Letting out a sigh, she reached for her covers and pushed them off.

She jumped out of the bed and went into the bathroom, letting out a small grumble on her way there.

Reaching for her toothbrush, she squirted on some toothpaste and then stuck it into her mouth, starting her usual morning ritual of brushing her teeth.

Her eyes wandered about the bathroom, as she checked that everything was where it was supposed.

Slightly OCD. Yes, yes she was.

Her eyes drifted some more before finally resting onto her reflection into the oval mirror on her wall. Her hand stopped the repetitive back and forth motion in her mouth and she studied herself for a bit.

Her eyes were caramel brown, a kind that can be stormy if it wants to or glimmer like a diamond in the sunshine.

A curl had misplaced itself from behind her ear and made a perfect swirl right by her cheek.

Her line of vision fell down to her baggy t-shirt and shorts that was covering her petite self.

I had work; couldn't change into my comfy PJ's.

She let out a soft whine in her head as she thought about last night's all- nighter she had pulled.

Suddenly her small mouth opened up for a yawn and she remembered the toothbrush that was just kind of dangling in her mouth.

She pulled it out and spit into the sink, before wiping her mouth and searched for her clothes.

"Need to look good for today's presentation. . ." She muttered softly to herself, tying the slim back belt around the black pencil skirt and white blouse she had slipped on.

Her heart skipped a beat as she stared at the clock, realizing there were only a couple of hours left before her big project.

"ALLYYYYY!"

The woman heard a familiar voice shout and she quickly grabbed her bag and a granola bar, before opening the door to a tall redhead.

"Ready?" He was shuffling through his own bag, searching for his keys as he spoke.

He looked up for a second, reassuring himself that Ally was there. His soft brown eyes had a special sparkle to them and freckles were spread out all amongst his face and arms.

Ally quickly locked her apartment door behind her and turned to her best friend since forever.

"Yeah, let's go, Dez."

Yup. It was true. Dezmond Worthy and Allyson Marie Dawson had gone to school together since practically forever. Which, eventually did lead them to becoming the best of friends.

Sure, people made fun of him cause of his goofiness and people made fun of her cause of her dorkiness, but that was the one thing that had brought them close together, not being able to fit in.

Ally still remembers the first time she had met Dez. She immediately grew fond of the boy despite his oddness and odd carry- ons.

But she could never get over the fact that he didn't seem to care what others thought about him.

Well the two worked at one of the greatest law firms a Stanford education could offer.

Yeah, who was making fun now?

It was quiet as the two headed down the hallway. Ally could still hear the soft thumping from the floors above her.

Could have gotten five more minutes. Ally silently regretted her morning wake- up in her head.

"I started filming something last night." Dez spoke, while they walked down the steps of the building out to the parking lot.

"Oh yeah?" Ally quickened her pace in order to have a conversation with him.

"Yeahh. It's about this girl and how she should follow her dreams and all that."Dez turned down to look at her, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Dez. I told you. Songwriting was something that I did of the past. We're lawyers now. It's time to. . .to let things go." She finished softly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, before ripping open the granola she had grabbed on her way out.

"Huh? No, arrogant!" He scoffed slightly, climbing into the car and turning on the ignition.

"It's not always about you, Ally. My movie is about Miss apple who had a great dream of being a banana." He ended with a dramatic finish and a glare from Ally.

"Im just kiddingg.." He laughed as she smacked him.

They had already seemed to land outside of the firm office of Grimmer and Bank.

Ally's heart started to thump louder and louder. She swore that Dez could practically hear it.

After all she was minutes away from her presentation in front of her Boss.

Dez turned off the car before turning to her.

"Ready to present your big case today?" He asked a hint of laughter in his voice.

Ally's face was a mix of confusion and fright, like she would rather jump off the Earth than walk into the office.

Ally let out a deep breathe, ignoring him and grabbing her things, hopping out of the Prius.

"I'll take that as a yes." Dez said, reaching for his things and following the small brunette into the doors of the building.

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Wakeee upppp. . .Wakeeee uppppp. . .

The gorgeous model mouthed to him as he received his Emmy Award up on the stage. The blonde boy stared at the words that seemed to be coming out of her mouth, when suddenly. . .

"WAKE UP!" A cold fluid fell down onto his face and he sprung up out of his bed, losing all memories of his model and his awards.

"Gosh, took you long enough." A stout Latina girl stood before with her hands on her hips.

She grinned as the boy ran his fingers through his hair and shivered in his now- wet shirt.

"Austin, come on. Big day today." She spoke behind her as she walked out of his room, an Iphone in one hand and a blackberry in the other.

She had always insisted that as being soon- to- be international pop- star's manager, she needed all the latest gadgets.

Gahhh.. Five more minutes.

He tugged the covers over his head, but the wet fabric against his skin was just too uncomfortable to deal with. He threw off his blanket and almost drunkenly stumbled towards the hallway.

Austin stared at Trish de la Rosa's retreating figure as she yelled into her phones.

He thought back to the good old days of high school when the two had just met.

They had started out as neighbors, which led to being friends. Which led to sitting on the rooftop of their school and talking about their aspirations and dreams.

Which eventually did lead to today, with Trish as his manager and himself as one of America's most heart-aching pop stars.

Austin Monica Moon.

Although Trish had prevented his middle name from getting out to the press.

He shivered from Trish's cruel wake- up call and headed over to his bathroom. He took a shower before throwing on a signature Austin Moon outfit, complete with the chains, jeans, vest and tie.

"Austin let's go!" Trish yelled, snatching his things and tossing it into the back of the yellow convertible.

"Kay." He grabbed an apple and then quickly ran back, changing it for a banana (1), before jumping into the car.

Trish recklessly drove onto the highway. She wasn't exactly the best of drivers. But eh, Austin wasn't one to complain.

He turned up the volume on the radio and sang along loudly, while Trish shook her head. She was used to the blonde boy's antics by now.

Trish pulled up in front of the recording studio and the security guards did a quick glance before letting them in.

Austin couldn't help but smile each time he remembered how much he had actually moved up in the world.

His dad had always told him he would never make it big.

But look at me now..

Austin rushed out of the car, as soon as Trish parked. He did a quick dance move to get himself pumped before going in.

"Come on." Trish sipped her Starbucks before stepping in front of him, leading the way in.

But it still didn't matter how many dance moves or sing alongs he did. Today was just another recording day.

All the same.

Sighhhh. . .

"Great case presented Ally. Truly spectacular. Loved every minute of it." A stout elderly man stood behind an oval desk as an over enthusiastic Ally Dawson explained her big project.

His eyes were occupied by the ipad hidden on his lap, and he waved her away with his hand.

"Really?" Ally smiled. She knew pulling that all-nighter was worth it.

Successs.. . A little happy dance went on in her head.

"Yeahh yeahhh."

His eyes continued to be preoccupied with his lap.

Ally finished cleaning up her stuff and was about to turn head out when she thought back to Dez's words from the night before.

"Don't wimp out. Ask him!"

I'll ask him, I'll ask him. Ally's mind repetitively thought.

"So do you think that the umm promotional position would umm be open?" Ally spoke softly, playing with a curl that seemed to escape from her bun.

The boss' head looked up at her question.

"Promotion?" He asked.

"Yeahh." Ally nervously shuffled her feet. "But, I mean if its too much to as-" Ally instantly regretted it.

Who did I think I am? Gosh, Ally. She bashed on herself.

"Noo, not at all." He cut her off.

Ally's breathing heightened. Could she actually get promoted?.. Mental squeal.

"Here's the thing."

Damn so close. Ally's hopes crashed back down again.

"I've had a lot of young, successful women and men asking for this role, which is why I'm hosting the banquet this weekend. Show me your fun side, your personality. I want to be working beside someone who's a person, not just a worker. Hearing me, Dawson?"

"Yes, hearing you." Ally replied. She felt like she was filled with bubbles even thinking about the possibility of getting promoted.

"Wonderful. And bring friends, boyfriends. Fun time.." He droned on, staring down onto the screen in his lap once more.

I'll just drag Dez with me. He'll liven things up.

She smiled at the thought of her insane friend.

Ally turned towards the door, thanking the boss once more, before exiting.

She quickly headed into the break room, itching to tell someone about what just went down.

"Hey how'd it go?" Dez popped up behind her a donut in his hand.

Ally glimpsed at the donut and then grabbed it, taking a bite.

She had been nervous about the presentation all day yesterday, barely even eating last night and nibbling on her granola this morning.

She spoke in between mouthfuls of donut,

"It was great! I don't think he was paying to close of an attention though." Ally ducked her head, and made a note to throw in something to catch his attention next time.

What was even on that ipad that was so important?

"The promotion?" He urged on.

"I have to go to a banquet and win him over with charm and personality."

"Ahh well then that's a bust." Dez responded, crossing his arms as Ally popped in the remainder of the donut into her mouth.

"Whaaaatt? I am totally fun." Ally leaned against the copy machine, before losing her balance and falling onto Dez.

"Okay fine, I'm not fun, but you are!" Ally waved her hands.

"Pleaseee Dez you have to come to the banquet with me. Pleaseeee." Ally started.

Dez let her beg a little longer before caving in.

"I do love banquets."

"YESSSS.. I'm getting promoted, yee, im getting promoted, yee." A small salsa dance started in her head and she waved her hands in a crazy, cute motion above her head.

Dez smiled and began to dance as well.

Ally heard voices coming down the hallway and she glanced over at Dez.

"You're supposed to be working!" She reprimanded him.

She shoved him into a cubicle, before casually leaning against the counter to finish her donut. After all, she would hate for him to get in any trouble.

"Ally?" The boss' voice was heard was once more as he looked up to her.

"Why are you having break by yourself? Come, come." He motioned her to follow him.

Ally's eyes widened. This is great, I'm getting buddy buddy time with him. Wooo..

"Why don't you have break with us?" Ally peeked out behind him as they walked into the room.

There were a group of lawyers just like her sitting on a table.

The boss sat down amongst them and Ally stole a seat over on the edge. She was never good at fitting in. She had always eaten by herself or gone into Dez's office to chat with him.

"And this is a picture of us on the beach." Tilly seemed to be showing around pictures of herself and her boyfriend.

Once she saw Ally and Boss sit down, she leaned over, extending her phone to the vision of them as well.

Tilly Thomsen.

How to describe this girl, no one really knew. Except that she was a genuine bitch.

Ally and Dez had gone to high school with her and she was the popular girl. The plastics in "Mean Girls", the girls who found it hilarious when Ally would trip and all of her stuff would cover the hallways, or when Dez would sit in the cafeteria and organize his backpack of hams. And as Tilly grew older, she stayed the same. Still the popular girl, with the best boyfriend and the best job, loved and worshipped by everyone around her, no matter what harsh words would come out of her mouth.

"Awww." Ally let out the appropriate response earning a proud smile from Tilly and the Boss.

Tilly scrolled through more photos, pointing out where they were and the small back stories.

Ally looked around and saw multiple other girls, out on their phones, showing off pictures of their family and friends, but mostly their engagements or boyfriends.

Ally sulked slightly.

It wasn't that she didn't want a boyfriend. She just had never gotten to it. It was like one of those things where she would say she would try dating next year. And then next year became the next and the next. You couldn't find a boyfriend at work.

Boyfriends meant going out to clubs and restaurants and mingling and time- which Ally really didn't have as much as used to.

"Here are my wife and kids." The boss pulled out his ipad, showing them around as well.

That's what he was doing?! He sees them at home! Couldn't he give me like half an hour of his attention! But no, I lose to a photo!

Ally stared at him, shaking her head slightly, before pulling out the remainder of the granola bar that she hadn't finished earlier.

"What about you Ally?" A cheery voice that could only belong to Tilly spoke.

"Hmm?" Ally tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Don't you have a boyfriend? I mean it's totally okay to be ashamed of yours after seeing mine. I mean who wouldn't be. He's funny and sweet and I'm going to bring him to the banquet on Sunday for all of you to meet." Tilly flashed her signature smile in the Boss' direction, but he seemed to be waiting on Ally.

"I've never heard you talk about your home life." Boss spoke up, as if it suddenly occurred to him.

Ally was stumped as she noticed the group of girls all seem to turn and stare at her.

"No, well. I- uhh."

"See I told you guys she doesn't have a boyfriend. I mean who would want to date her?" Tilly spoke and turned her attention back to her phone.

The Boss' eyebrows pulled in with worry.

Ally seethed slightly with anger.

What a-

"For your information, Tilly, I do happen to have a boyfriend and he's smart and funny and sweet." Ally rambled on slightly.

The Boss smiled brightly at her response. "Bring him to the banquet!"

"Wha-" Ally faltered at his words.

Another lawyer came over and asked for an attention of the Boss' time, pulling him away for a moment.

"Yeah. You should definitely show us your amazing boyfriend." Tilly spoke, staring her down with every word. Ally could sense the irony and her sarcastic tone, which only made her angrier,

"Uh I don't know if he can make it." Ally shyly spoke.

"Cause he's not real?" Tilly instantly backfired.

The other girls around them turned their heads back to Ally, watching them as if it was a tennis match.

"He is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

The two girls started in a small childish argument. Ally squeezed her fingers together into a fist. Fighting every urge to not lean over the table and rip out all that pretty blond hair on her pretty fake head.

I don't think that would show the best personality for a promotion.

The Boss returned back to the table and turned once more to Ally.

"So you will be bringing this amazing boyfriend of yours to the banquet?" He implied. A smile covered his face and he seemed to be already excited.

Ally sighed before letting out a strained voice.

"Sure thing."

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"I'm just an illusioooonnn…" Austin ended on a smooth note, giving himself a mental pat on his back when he saw Trish and the other sound managers smiling at him from behind the glass screen.

He gave a giant grin of success, before shyly running his fingers through his hair.

Trish leaned over and spoke through her speakers, "Great job, Austin. Take five."

Austin nodded before removing his headphones and placed them on the stand.

He exited the recording studio and glanced about for a second.

Trish was busy with other managers and everyone else seemed to be bustling around.

He let out a small pout when he realized he had no one to fool around with.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, he decided to take a stroll into the break room.

Food is always a good friend.

"Hey!" Austin greeted everyone at once and smiled when he saw them all turn and smile at the peppy, blonde boy.

He reached over a muffin before deciding to take a seat amongst the other artists who were also snacking.

"Thinking about this ring." A brunette haired guy next to him was passing around his phone, showing the others what seemed to the ring that he was going to propose to his girlfriend with.

"Nicee." A couple of guys approved of it and Austin strained his neck to check it out.

It was nice, Austin agreed. The ring was a silver band with a small ruby in the middle. Elegant and classy.

He returned his attention back to his muffin, trying to eat all the chocolate bits first, but he couldn't help but notice the small feeling of emptiness that he seemed to have taken over.

It wasn't that Austin didn't want a girlfriend. A lot of girls actually considered him to be a flirt which he probably was, but he just didn't seem to have time for a girl or ever really find the girl.

He had always been a player in high school, but once he graduated things changed. He became completely focused on his career, not really bothering with how his sexual life was going.

He glanced at the guy next to him who was getting advice on his ring. He didn't seem to be much older than Austin, if anything possibly younger.

"How about you, Austin?" A couple of guys looked over to him. He snapped out of his thoughts and looked up from his muffin.

"Hmm?" He asked with a small idea that he already knew what the question was going to be.

"You have a girlfriend?"

Nailed it.

"Umm nah, not really." He shook his head, trying to pick out a chocolate chip that had caught his eye.

"Austin here is a little player, aren't we now?" A guy next to him jokingly nudged him and Austin smiled, but once again felt the same emptiness feeling come back to him.

"Heh Wellll. . ." Austin messed around with the guys, popping his collar for emphasis. He beamed in success when the other guys laughed.

"Austin. Let's go." Trish appeared next to him. Her eyes were focused on her phones, but she spoke to him.

"Yeah, sure." Austin threw the rest of his muffin in his mouth and said his byes to everyone before following Trish out to the car.

"You have to perform at a club tonight. You're ready?" She glanced up from her phone to look at him.

"Yeahh." He spoke halfheartedly then decided to bring up the question as they continued their way to the car.

"Is it bad that I don't have a girl in my life?" He asked, innocently.

He turned his head to the side, trying to avoid looking Trish directly in the eye. She had always slightly intimidated him.

"Huhh?" Trish slipped her phone into her pocket as they approached the vehicle.

"A girlfriend. I mean like all the other guys. . ."

"Austin hold on, I'm getting a call." She held up a finger before putting her phone to her ear, once more.

They reached the car and Trish continued to talk on her phone. Staring the ignition and heading out onto the road while she did so.

Her chattery voice was lost into the background as Austin stared at the road. The white lines indicating the lanes, seemed to fly by.

Each rectangular square taunting him as he thought back to everything.

Coming out of the studio, lonely.

Eating in the break room, lonely.

Sitting in the car now, lonely.

Trish approached a red light and the little white rectangles slowed down. Each line was perfect and defined. Just like Hollywood.

Everyone was always perfect with their cars and their girls and their lives.

Austin ran his fingers along the window sill of the car.

I'm two thirds a rectangular square.(2)

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(1)- hehe you see the whole apple and banana thing I did.. haha

(2)- So I wasn't sure if people would get this little thing I did. So like by two thirds I meant that he has cars and he was a pretty perfect life, but he doesn't have the girl. And then like yeahh.. haha hope you kinda get what I did.

HIII GUYSS!

So I started my new story! Ive had this idea stuck in my head for a while and it was like gahh, must write it out.. haha. I hope you guys liked it!

The Wedding Planners will be updated soon too guys! I was thinking of alternating, like one week wedding planners and then one week project love. I don't know I'll see which one you guys like more..

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