a/n: this is what happens when you watch Camp Rock, Austin & Ally, and Grease within a five hour time frame. I own nothing. This is mostly AU but I have bits of canon—characters and relationships and whatnot—and no matter how dallas/ally the first few chapters may seem—AUSTINxALLY is endgame. ;)

summary: AU – Ally Dawson is less than pleased when she has to spend the summer with her estranged dad, but what happens when she finds friendship, music, and maybe a little more. —- AustinAlly / DezTrish

Summer Nights
AustinAlly / DezTrish

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"when adults say, "teenagers think they are invincible" with that sly, stupid smile on their faces, they don't know how right they are. we need never be hopeless, because we can never be irreparably broken. we think that we are invincible because we are. we cannot be born, and we cannot die. like all energy, we can only change shapes and sizes and manifestations. they forget that when they get old. they get scared of losing and failing. but that part of us greater than the sum of our parts cannot begin and cannot end, and so it cannot fail."

— looking for alaska ; john green

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Ally

Her life was over. Fifteen years young with a future in song writing and a smile on her face and stars in her smile. All of that, it seemed was over when her mother uttered the fateful words. "You're going to visit you father this summer, Ally, in Miami." Ally's rose glossed lips fell open in horror as she gaped at her mother.

"But, mom!" Ally began, her brown eyes searching for any sign of laughter in her mother's eyes. Please, just please let it be a joke—"I can't go! Dallas just asked me to be his girlfriend—and if I'm gone for a whole summer, then Tilly will be all over him for sure! She's been out to ruin my life since kindergarten—"

Her mother held up a firm hand, "If he falls so easily into the arms of another girl, Ally, that just means he wasn't worth it in the first place. No arguments. Pack your bags, we leave on Tuesday." Ally stuck out her lower lip, looking to the entire world like she wanted to argue, but without saying a word, she stomped out of the kitchen to her room, making sure to slam the door as hard as she could, leaving Irma Daniels at the kitchen table, staring blankly at her full cup of coffee.

"I can't believe this!" Ally grumbled to herself. Throughout her teenage years, she had never been one for melodrama, but these were special circumstances. This was a travesty! It seemed that her mother actually was trying to ruin her life—or her teenage years, anyway.

Moodily glancing out the window at the summer California sunshine, which seemed to be a mockery of her feelings, she once again sighed, wondering how she was going to break the news to her new boyfriend—they hadn't yet made it official, but they'd gone on a few dates—Dallas, who, yesterday, was raving about trips to the beach and Disneyland and their first summer together.

She glanced at the clock, scowling. "Where is my phone?" she mumbled, more to herself than to anyone else. Dallas's older brother, coincidentally named Adrian—she supposed that their parents had a fondness for the state of Texas—was to pick her up in front of their modest two-story home in ten minutes. Spotting it atop the dresser, she stood in front of the full-length mirror for one more once-over—a light mauve dress cinched with a wide belt and a vest—and walked downstairs, avoiding her mother who stood in the doorway, talking with her boyfriend, Phil.

"Hey, Ally-gator," Phil said in his usual joking tone, apparently unaware of the tension between the two females. "Last few days of school—just tough it out." Ally nodded, forcing her lips into a smile. She liked Phil, she really did; he was a great father-substitute but had never made it seem like he was trying to replace her own father, who had moved across the country three years prior, just after the divorce.

Before Ally had a chance to reply, there was a honk outside, and she turned to see Adrian and Dallas, along with Adrian's girlfriend, Heather, crammed in the car. "Bye, mom, bye, Phil." Ally hurriedly kissed them both on the cheek and flounced out to meet the inhabitants of the car.

"Hey, Alls," Dallas said, flashing his signature crooked grin that made her heart pound. She detested the nickname, but had never told him that because; a nickname was a nickname, right?

"Hey, Ally," Adrian nodded and Heather offered her a small smile.

Ally sat in the back seat, trying to absorb that she was actually here, sitting inches away from her crush, who seemed to like her back. It was almost absurd—they were completely different social circles: he the popular jock with the bitchy head cheerleader ex-girlfriend, and she the shy music player, who sang in washrooms and never auditioned for the school play. But then suddenly, they had to work together on a physics project, and—quite literally—sparks flew.

"So, I was thinking," Dallas was saying to Adrian, "We should have a school's out party or something."

"Cool," Adrian nodded. "I'll see what I can do, have a date in mind?" He sent a roguish wink to Ally, who blushed but also noticed that Dallas neither denied that nor did he look embarrassed. They were silent for the rest of the car tip, Ally avoiding Dallas' eye. Whether by accident, every time Adrian turned a corner, Ally ended up on his lap, blushing and apologizing and shooting the elder brother dirty looks.

When they arrived at the school, the four of them fell out of the car and began heading their separate ways. "Thanks for the ride," Ally said to Dallas, smiling.

"No problem. Better than the bus, right?"

Ally giggled in response. "Look at what she's wearing," a snide voice stage-whispered. Ally rolled her eyes, knowing who it was even before she turned around: Tilly Thompson, who had despised her since Kindergarten, was laughing with her brainless cheerleader minions. "I mean, what is this? 1984?" The girls shrieked with amusement as Ally rolled her eyes, the comments had long ceased to even bother her, Dallas glanced at her sympathetically but Ally rolled her eyes, wondering why he wouldn't just stand up for her.

"—he only hangs around her because he feels bad that she's such a freak, you know," Tilly's right hand bitch, Taylor, said in a matter-of-fact voice. Dallas looked apologetic but Ally scowled. That was low, even for them. Her fingers clenched, but she felt a small pressure on the small of her back and remembered – this is what they want. Dallas chose me and she's jealous.

"I have to go put my sheet music in my locker," Ally said, sick of these girls and their holier-than-thou attitudes. "See you later?"

"Yeah," Dallas said but she'd already started walking. Her mind filled with Tilly and Dallas and TillyandDallas –

"Hey, Dawson, you look happy this fine morning," her friend Lucy said as Ally stomped towards her locker, murder in her eyes. "Tilly and the bimbos?" Lucy's glass-green eyes focused on Dallas, who was looking at Ally with some trepidation.

"Who else?" Ally sighed, opening her locker to see a picture of four girls—Lucy, Ally, and their fellow band geeks, Hannah, Rachel—with their arms around each other at band camp the previous year. She couldn't believe that she wouldn't see her friends this year – her mother was definitely ruining her life.

Seeing the sudden look of sadness on Ally's face, Lucy narrowed her eyes. "It's more than Tilly. Spill."

"I'm going to visit my dad," Ally began after a moment when seemed like eternity. Lucy's eyes brightened.

"Oh, well that sucks. Will you be back in time for camp? Oh God—" Lucy's eyes widened as she noted Ally's expression. "The whole summer?"

"I know!" Ally shrieked attracting the attention of several passing seniors. "Shh," she said unnecessarily. "I think she hates me."

"Your mom?" Lucy raised an eyebrow. "More like she's 'trying to do what's best for you'. Have you told Dallas?"

"No, I—" Ally began but her face turned bloodless.

"Told me what?" Dallas asked from behind Lucy, making her jump. "What is it, Ally? Is it why you were so quiet in the car? Look, if you don't like me I can –" Lucy rolled her eyes at his theatrics; to be honest, she'd never really liked him.

"I'm going to Florida—for the summer, I mean—to spend time with my dad," Ally finally managed to gasp out. "All summer."

"When do you leave?" Dallas said, avoiding her eye.

"Tuesday."

"That's less than a week away! Ally, you should have told me!"

"Well," Ally snapped. "Excuse me for thinking that you'd be angry. I'm so sorry I wanted to spare your feelings—" Ally turned around to stomp away, sure that all eyes in the hallway were on her.

"Wait, Alls"—Lucy rolled her eyes at the idiotic nickname—"I'm sorry, okay? You're really awesome and I don't want you to be mad at me." Ally froze but still didn't turn around.

"I just found out this morning," Ally said finally, when it looked like Dallas had lost the ability to speak.

"Look—" he leaned closer to Ally and she could smell him—he smelled like summer nights and dark cologne in a sophisticated bottle and her hear lodged itself in her throat. "I just don't want you falling head-over-heels for some idiotic Florida beach boy, okay? Promise me we'll skype every day."

"Of course," Ally said quietly.

"Cool," he slung an arm around her shoulder and the two of them marched down the hallway, the crowd parting like the Red Sea did for Moses.

Tilly, it seemed, was absolutely furious that there could have almost been a Dallyson break-up and scowled, pushing people out of the way to get to the exit. Only then, it seemed, did people realize that class was starting in five minutes.

Lucy stayed where she was, though, because she'd seen the look on Tilly's face – it was the same look she'd worn right before she 'accidentally' broke Becca Mason's arm in the third grade. She was out for blood.

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Austin

Austin Moon was annoyed. No, he was past being annoyed. He was annoyed when his friend Trish decided to sell his guitars to buy an iPad – which she then broke almost immediately – he was annoyed when his other friend, Dez, had told his seventh grade crush, Tanya Wilders, that Austin kissed a picture of her before he went to sleep every night. No, Austin Moon was beyond annoyed. He was furious. "Why can't you do something else, son? All you do is sit around all day doing covers of songs. What are you, Justin Bieber?" Norman Moon laughed at what he clearly thought was an amusing joke, not knowing how much the comment hurt his son.

The two loved each other, and spent time together – often fishing or playing football – but if there was one thing Norman couldn't understand, well, it was Austin's passion for music. Having been a failed musician in his youth, he did his best to dissuade Austin from a musical career path—all to no avail. It was the largest source of tension between the two otherwise loving father and son. "Fine, dad," Austin snapped, finally sick of his father's jabs. "I'm going to see Trish and Dez – maybe go to Dairy Queen." Norman nodded, silent.

As he pulled on his Converse shoes, he wondered what it'd be like to have a dad that supported his musical career. As he pulled open the door, the doorbell rang and he was face-to-face with his two best friends: Dez and Trish.

Austin and Dez had been friends since they were in pre-school and Austin had dared Dez to eat a whole tube of toothpaste—and Dez actually went through with it. Somewhere between then and now, Trish had also joined the group with her sharp jabs, quick tongue, and ability to get fired from any pace of employment within twenty-four hours. "Hey, loser," Trish said as a customary form of greeting. "Clown-face and I were wondering if you wanted to go to DQ with us." Ignoring Dez's affronted face, she elbowed her way in.

"Sure, but can we stop at Sonic Boom first?" Austin wondered. "I need new strings for my guitar."

The three of them lived in a small suburb of Miami and spent a large amount of time at the mall—where Trish had surprisingly, managed not to be fired from every job there. Yet. "Oh, guess who got a job at the Pickle Farm?"

"My great-aunt Lorraine?" Dez asked seriously. Trish caught Austin's eye and they both doubled over with laughter. This was part of the reason that they kept Dez around.

"You guys can wait out here if you want," Austin suggested. He walked into Sonic Boom, hearing the faint jingling bell that alerted Lester Dawson to his presence.

"Oh, hello, Austin!" Lester offered the blond a tired smile. "The strings you ordered last week, I presume?" Austin nodded and waited, watching various couples and customers loitering around the store, occasionally picking up an instrument or so.

"You look tired," Austin observed when Lester returned. "You should rest. Or hire more workers."

"Actually, my daughter is coming for the summer—she'll be here starting next week—but you're right. I was planning on putting up an ad in the newspaper, but since you're in here so often, would you like the job?"

The answer was a no-brainer to Austin: he could make money, get a discount on items, and spend time with the one thing he loved most – music. And his dad couldn't even complain. "Sure!"

"Great," Lester smiled, as if he was going to do anything else. "You can do your orientation on Monday – even though you probably know this store like the back of your hand!"

Austin laughed, paid for the strings and walked out the door. "Hey, why'd you take so long?" Trish asked. "You guys were talking."

"Guess who got a job at Sonic Boom!" he imitated Trish and she smacked his arm. Hard.

"Whatever. Let's go get us some blizzards!" Twenty minutes later, the three of them sat squished into a Dairy Queen booth, Dez and Trish on one side, and Austin on the other.

"Thank God school's over!" Trish declared, staring up at the heavens. "Summer time!" Since they had turned 13, their summers had usually been spent the same way – a few weeks lounging on the beach, pool parties, camping trips, and – the crowning glory – a week in Dez's uncle's cottage in the middle of a classic Florida swamp. This time, however, he felt like it was going to be different. Not bad – just different, and he had a feeling that it had to do with Sonic Boom.

Trish, by now, had finished her own blizzard and was sneaking bits of Dez's when he pretended that he wasn't looking and Austin felt a pang of jealousy – despite knowing both of them for years—"Too many years!" Trish wold joke—he felt that he was missing something whenever she'd steal his food and he'd let her—she's the only one he'd ever allow to—or when they bickered. There was something else there, something underneath the fighting. Something that he was missing.

"We'd better get home," Austin said suddenly as a flash of the burning orange Florida sun streaked across their table.

As the trio walked home—with Dez and Trish arguing, of course, over Zaliens 1 vs Zaliens 2—Austin couldn't fight the feeling that he was in for an interesting summer.

"'Night, guys!" he called as they approached his house. He began walking up the driveway. "Beach tomorrow?"

"What else?" Trish called back.

"Hey, son," Norman clapped Austin on the back as he entered the house.

"Dad, guess what?" Austin blurted out.

"What?" Austin's mother, a petite blonde woman with piercing blue eyes named Stephanie, asked.

"I have a job."

"Congrats, son!" Norman smiled. "Where?"

"Sonic Boom," Austin said innocently and he watched the smile slip off his father's face. "Lester Dawson needed more employees and he offered me the job—"

"I think it's a great opportunity, Austin!" Stephanie beamed. "Right, Norm?" She sent a pointed glare at her husband.

"Right, Steph," Norman sounded like he'd just swallowed a snail. "Well, good night." He hurriedly exited the room.

"Don't mind him," Stephanie said idly. "He's just been so cautious since he – " she stopped midsentence, leaving Austin hanging. "No," she shook her head as if to clear it. "No, I promised I wouldn't. Good night, Austin. Get some rest."

Austin sighed, frustrated. He had been so sure that he would have found out the big earth-shattering secret on why his father was so reluctant to let him follow his musical dreams. "Good night, mom."

That was his goal for the summer – to find out exactly what his dad's opinions on his career choice were and why.

But maybe, just maybe, he'd find something—or someone—that was even more important.

Review, please? How was the prologue? Yes, I know they haven't met yet, but they will next chapter, I promise—and did you like the Drish and the DallasTilly and DezTrishAustin friendship? Trust me—DallasAlly will not last, I'm planning a spectacular breakup.

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Madeline (overstreets)