The next morning, Austin woke up first. He almost forgot where he was at first, but then his eyes landed on Delaney sleeping beside him and everything came back to him. His cheeks flushed pink at the memories of the previous night, but he didn't move. He was comfortable, and he didn't want to wake her up.

He was laying on his back, one hand tucked behind his head, and his other hand was still intertwined with hers. She was laying on her side, her hair covering half her face. Her dark curls were a mess, but Austin couldn't help but think she was beautiful. He watched her sleep for a while, just taking in the sight of her. As he watched Delaney sleep, Austin couldn't help but feel a rush of emotions. He cared deeply for her, more than he had ever realized before. The way she looked so peaceful and vulnerable in her sleep only strengthened his feelings for her.

He gently brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face, his touch feather-light as not to disturb her slumber. He smiled softly as he watched her, his heart full of affection. He knew in that moment that he wanted to wake up like this every morning. He wanted to be by her side, always. But waking up like this with her was better than any dream he could ever imagine.

He couldn't resist the urge to reach over and kiss her forehead. Her skin was soft and warm beneath his lips, and the feeling of her close to him filled his chest with an indescribable happiness. As he pulled away, his eyes landed on her hand that was still in his. Their intertwined hands were rested between them, their fingers laced together. The sight made his heart skip a beat and his cheeks flushed a light pink.

He was so focused on the feeling of their hands touching that he didn't realize Delaney was awake and watching him, a small smile tugging at her lips. She had woken up the moment his lips had touched her forehead, her heart skipping a beat. The feeling of his warm lips pressed against her skin had sent a wave of warmth through her entire body.

"Morning," She said softly, her voice slightly raspy from sleep. She watched as his cheeks turned an even deeper shade of pink, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Uh, hi," Austin replied sheepishly, his voice low. He was caught off guard by her greeting, but he couldn't help but feel pleased that she was awake and speaking to him.

"How'd you sleep?" Delaney asked, stifling a giggle at his awkwardness.

"Pretty well," Austin replies, a shy smile tugging at his lips. "You?" He asked, his brown eyes meeting hers.

"Good, thanks," She says. She glances down at their intertwined hands, the corners of her mouth curving upwards. "Did you, uh, want your hand back?" She teased, grinning playfully.

Austin's cheeks reddened even more, his eyes following her gaze. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to..." He trailed off, not sure what to say.

Delaney laughs softly, her smile growing. "It's okay, I don't mind." She replies, her tone reassuring. "I actually kinda like it."

Austin felt his heart skip a beat at her words, a shy smile spreading across his face. "Yeah?" He asked, his voice full of hope.

"Mhm," Delaney nods. She shifts closer to him, resting her head on his chest. Her hand slides from his, but her arm wraps around his waist instead, holding him close. "This okay?" She mumbled, her voice muffled against his shirt.

"More than okay." Austin replied, wrapping his arm around her. He felt his heart race, the feeling of her being so close to him making him feel giddy. He could smell the sweet scent of her shampoo and her natural scent, the combination making his heart race even more.

Delaney smiled and snuggled into his chest, letting out a content sigh. Their morning continued in that comfortable embrace, both content to just be with each other. They stayed like that for a while, basking in the warmth of each other's presence. Eventually, they decided to get up and start their day once hunger won over and they both admitted to being starving.

They both got out of bed, the absence of their touch causing them to feel cold, missing the closeness. Delaney changed into a new set of clothes and did her morning routine as Austin changed clothes into some clothes he left before. They both then made their way to the kitchen and worked together in a comfortable silence, preparing breakfast.

It was a Saturday and they didn't have any plans, so they decided to spend the morning together before they had to meet up with their friends later. They ate their breakfast and talked about anything and everything. It was easy to talk to each other, and the conversation flowed naturally. Delaney's parents weren't surprised to see Austin this morning. He often spent the night, so they didn't even question it anymore. They had come to the conclusion that it was normal for him to stay the night.

They spent the rest of their morning cuddling on the couch, watching random shows and movies. Delaney laid with her back pressed against Austin's chest, his arms wrapped around her. It felt so natural, so right, and neither of them wanted it to end. They were both content to just stay there, in each other's arms. However, the afternoon came and and they had to meet up with their friends. 

****

(delaney's outfit for this part of the chapter)

They now sat at a table across from Trish at the café Trish worked at. Austin was talking about how he had been upset with Ally not being able to work with him all week since she had been hanging out with Gavin more. "I'm losing my writing partner." He realized, slumping back in the chair.

Delaney sends him a sympathetic look, reaching over and rubbing his arm soothingly. "Oh, hey, what if you two become writing partners instead?" Trish suggested.

"Huh?" Austin and Delaney said in unison, looking at her with matching expressions of surprise.

"Think about it," Trish continues, leaning forward. "You guys have known each other forever and have a natural chemistry. Plus, you've already written songs together before."

Delaney and Austin exchanged looks, both considering her words. "That's not a bad idea," Austin says, a hopeful smile forming on his lips. "We do work great as a team."

"Yeah, we do." Delaney agrees, a smile tugging on her lips. "If Ally and Gavin are gonna be writing more songs together, why can't we? I mean, it'll make the most sense if we did."

"Right, yeah," Austin nods, his smile growing. "And I could definitely use the extra help since I've been a little, uh, off my game lately." He admitted sheepishly.

Delaney smiles, reaching over and squeezing his hand. "I'm always happy to help, Austie." She reassures him. "We'll make it work, I promise."

"Thanks, Laney." Austin says, his heart fluttering at her touch. "I know we will." He replies, his tone full of confidence.

She pauses before she realized something. "Wait, with Ally and Gavin working together more, it's possible Gavin could convince Ally to sign a contract with his manager."

"What?" Trish asks with surprise. "What do you mean?"

"He took her from me. It's only a matter of time before he takes her from you." Austin points out as he stands, imitating Gavin and speaking in a southern accent. "'Hey, Ally. Why don't you meet my hotshot manager, and you can borrow my pen to sign a new contract. Actually, keep the pen. 'Cause I'm just that nice.'"

Delaney chuckles a little at his impression, shaking her head. "Don't tell me you wanna try to stop them from working together." She knew Austin better than most people, and she could tell when he had something planned.

Austin grins at her, a mischievous twinkle in his brown eyes. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't." He teased, shrugging nonchalantly.

Delaney rolls her eyes, but a fond smile tugged at her lips. "Just promise me you won't do anything too drastic." She warned, narrowing her eyes at him playfully.

"Of course, Laney. You know I would never." Austin says innocently, putting a hand over his heart. "I'm hurt you would even think that." He added dramatically, his expression a mix of hurt and shock.

"Whatever, blondie." Delaney says, rolling her eyes once more. "You can't fool me." She knew him too well, and she could tell when he was lying or not.

"You got me." Austin admits with a chuckle. "But I'm telling the truth when I say I won't do anything too drastic." He assures her, his tone serious. "I'll just...Try to stop them from getting too close."

"I'll gladly help." Finn's voice suddenly is heard as he walks over to the group. He had been at lacrosse practice, but overheard some of the conversation when he walked over to his friends. He wasn't very fond of Ally and Gavin being so close. He had always thought they were a bit too friendly and hoped they wouldn't get together. He felt a little bad for trying to stop them from working together, but not bad enough to not help.

Austin grins, glad to have Finn's support. "Thanks, man. We could use the extra help." He says. "I'm not sure what we'll do yet, but we'll come up with something."

Delaney wasn't sure if this was a good idea, but she knew she couldn't stop them. And who knows, maybe it wouldn't turn out as bad as she thought it would. But she had a feeling it wouldn't be that simple. She just hoped things wouldn't get too out of hand.

****

That night, the group tried to stop Ally and Gavin from working. But it didn't work. The next day they kept on trying, with Austin intervening when they were working and then Finn had intervened at one point as well, but nothing seemed to work. They were now at Shredder's Beach Club, preparing to act as if Austin was hurt to get Ally to them. Austin was telling Trish not to overdue it and Delaney agreed with him. She knew Trish could get a little carried away sometimes.

"So, you think this will work?" Delaney asked the boys, raising an eyebrow at them.

Finn shrugs, a sheepish smile on his face. "It's worth a try." He was sat on the sand on a towel and he was going to try to act as if he was hurt.

"Don't worry, guys. I'll make it natural." Trish assures her friends and knelt by Finn once Ally was seen rushing over to them. "Don't you give up, Finn! You have too much to live for!" She shook Finn's shoulders and started to fake sob into his shoulder. Finn sent a look to Austin and Delaney, who was knelt by Trish. He wasn't surprised Trish was overdoing it. She could be a bit dramatic at times.

Ally, however, was completely convinced. "Finn, are you okay?!" She asks, concern clear in her voice. "What's the emergency? I came as soon as Trish called."

"It's horrible," Finn starts, feigning pain as he held his hand. "I got a really bad splinter." He grumbled.

Ally's shoulders slump in defeat. "That's the emergency?" She sighs and chuckles a little, grabbing his wrist. "Fine, I'll get the splinter out, Finny. No big deal." She reassured him, sitting on the towel next to him.

"I don't know. I think it's really deep." Finn insists, not wanting Ally to leave. "It hurts. Like, a lot." He whined, pretending to be in more pain.

"Aw, poor Finny," Ally says in a soft voice, smiling sympathetically. "You know, it'll hurt less if I get the splinter out fast. Like ripping off a band-aid."

"Okay, okay," Finn relents, giving in. "But be careful." He warned, giving her a playful pout.

Ally chuckled, pulling out a pair of tweezers from her bag. "Don't worry, I've got this." She said with confidence, leaning in to inspect his hand. She was very close to him and didn't seem to notice, too focused on helping him.

Finn feels his face grow warm at the sudden closeness, his heart racing. H er proximity was causing butterflies in his stomach and he couldn't stop himself from admiring her beauty. He watched as she inspected his hand, her brows furrowed in concentration. She was so close that he could smell her perfume and it was intoxicating. He hadn't even realized she had pulled the splinter out, he was too busy admiring her.

Ally was oblivious to his staring, too focused on getting the splinter out. She finally manages to remove it, a triumphant grin on her face. "There. All better." She said, satisfied with her work. Then she realized how close she was to him and felt her face grow warm. "Uh, sorry, I didn't realize I was...You know, so close." She mumbled, her cheeks flushed.

Finn blinks, snapping out of his trance. He clears his throat, trying to calm his racing heart. "Oh, uh, it's okay. Thanks for helping." He mumbled, feeling a little flustered himself. He couldn't help but feel a surge of disappointment as Ally pulled away, breaking the close proximity between them. He had enjoyed the feeling of her being so close, and he found himself wishing she would stay that way a little longer.

Ally smiles, nodding her head. "Anytime, Finn." She stands up, grabbing her bag. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a song to write." She says, heading back to where Gavin was. "I'll see you guys later."

Delaney sighs, shaking her head as she watched her friend walk away. "Well, that didn't go as planned." She mutters. "Maybe it's time we admit defeat."

Finn frowns. "No way." He got up and dusts himself off. "There's gotta be something we can do."

"Yeah, I'm not ready to give up yet." Austin agrees with a determined expression. "There has to be something we can do to get Ally and Gavin to stop writing songs together."

"I'll keep thinking of ideas," Finn says, crossing his arms. "I'm not gonna give up. We'll find a way to break them apart."

"Sounds like somebody is jealous." Delaney teased him and nudged his side playfully.

"I am not!" Finn replies defensively, a light blush appearing on his cheeks. "I just don't think they should be spending so much time together, that's all."

"Uh-huh," Delaney smirks at him. "Whatever you say, Finn." She knew he liked Ally, but she wasn't going to push it. If he wanted to deny it, she would let him. She didn't want to make him uncomfortable. But she did hope one day the two would get together. She knew Finn would be good for Ally, and vice versa. They would be perfect for each other.

And unknowingly to her, she and Austin were perfect for each other. They just didn't know it yet.

****

(delaney's outfit for this part of the chapter)

Austin and Finn kept trying to get Ally and Gavin to stop writing songs, but they were unsuccessful. Delaney had been surprised when she heard Finn had stubbornly told Ally she had to choose between Gavin or her friends. Ally had been spending more time with Gavin lately and the boys were clearly unhappy about it. Finn was especially unhappy since he was crushing hard on Ally. He was worried he might've lost his chance with her. He had decided to confess his feelings, but he had chickened out and ended up not saying anything. He regretted it, and now he wasn't sure if he would ever have another chance.

Delaney was in her room one night, working on another song when Finn texted her. He had been asking her for advice with his crush on Ally and Delaney had been happy to help. But she was worried about him. She knew how hard he was taking it, and she didn't want him to hurt. She looked up at the sound of a familiar knock, smiling when she saw a familiar blonde at the window.

"Hey, blondie." Delaney greets him once she opened the window for him. "What's up?"

"Hey, Laney." Austin smiles at her as he climbs in, closing the window behind him. "I just wanted to hang out. And I was wondering if I could stay the night."

Delaney smiles and nods her head. "Of course, Austie. You're always welcomed here, but I can tell something's been bothering you. What's on your mind?" She asked, concern evident in her voice as she moved closer to him, placing a comforting hand on his arm.

Austin sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I guess you could say I'm just frustrated." He admits. "Things haven't been the same lately, and I miss hanging out with Ally and writing songs together." He pauses, looking at her with a serious expression. "Do you think we'll ever get back to how things were?"

Delaney was surprised by his question. She didn't know what to say, so she chose to be honest. "I'm not sure," She admits, squeezing his arm gently. "But no matter what happens, I'll always be here for you. If it helps, we can work on writing some songs together. We're a great team, and we could write some awesome songs."

"Really?" Austin's face lights up at her words. "That would be amazing, Laney. Thanks." He was relieved to hear her say that. He pulled her in for a hug, burying his face in the crook of her neck. She always knew how to make him feel better.

"No problem, blondie." Delaney mumbles into his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. "You can count on me. Always." She promised.

The two stood there, holding each other for a while. It was comforting and familiar, and they both enjoyed it. Finally, after a long moment, they pulled away. They stayed up late, talking and working on new songs. They were glad to be spending time together again, and they both hoped it wouldn't be the last time.

****

(delaney's outfit for this part of the chapter)

Soon it was time for the homecoming parade. Dez and Chuck had joined together to make a float which surprised Delaney because they were always trying to one up each other. Though they didn't think of how they would get the float out of the gym so now it was left in the gym. The gym was decorated with the school's theme colors, balloons and streamers scattered in the room. There was a stage put up as well with a band since Ally and Gavin were planned to sing.

"Hello, Marino High! Woo!" Kimmy, one of the cheerleaders, announces. She cheers along with everyone and once the room grew quiet she continues. "I'm absolutely furious the cheerleaders don't have a float, but this is a pep rally, so I have to be peppy!" She cheered, forcing on a smile.

Delaney chuckled, sharing an amused look with Austin, who stood beside her. They were standing by Trish and Finn near the front of the group as they watched.

"Anyway, we have a surprise." Kimmy dramatically reveals, looking to the left with a grin. "Our very own Ally Dawson, and special guest, country star Gavin Young!" Everyone cheered once more as Kimmy walked off the stage and Ally and Gavin took her place.

"Hey, y'all! Thanks for having me. I just want to say it's a real honor to be singing with this beautiful, talented, young girl right here." Gavin admitted, smiling over at Ally.

Ally returns the smile. "Thanks, Gavin." She looks back at the crowd with a smile. "This song is called 'Me and You'."

Delaney thought that Ally and Gavin sounded great together and clearly had great chemistry on stage as well. Which she noticed Finn didn't like at all. He had his arms crossed and he was clearly trying not to show his distaste, but he couldn't hide it completely. Delaney felt a little bad for him, so she nudged him.

"You doing okay, Finn?" She asked him, looking at him with concern.

"Yeah, yeah." Finn mumbles, avoiding her gaze. "I'm fine." He said unconvincingly.

Delaney raises an eyebrow at him. "Right." She didn't believe him. He was clearly upset, and she couldn't blame him. "You can talk to me if you need to." She offered.

"I know." Finn replies, sending her a small smile. "Thanks."

Delaney nodded, smiling at him before turning her attention back to the stage. She didn't want him to be upset. The song continued and everyone loved the performance. At the end, Delaney turned to Finn again with an encouraging smile.

"You should go tell Ally how you feel. Now." She urged him.

Finn blinks, his eyes wide. "Now?!" He asks incredulously. "What do you mean now? Why?"

"Because you might not get another chance." Delaney reasons. "Just trust me, okay?"

Finn stared at her, hesitating. His heart was racing and it was so tempting to sneak out the back exit. But he knew she was right. He had to do it. "Alright." He finally relents. "Here goes nothing." He gave her a nervous smile, then walked toward the stage where Ally was starting to walk off it.

"So, he's really gonna do it, huh?" Austin questioned as he watched Finn talk with Ally.

"I hope so. He deserves to be happy. They both do, but I think they're perfect for each other." Delaney replied, smiling as she watched her friends. Finn had offered to help Ally off the stage, holding her hand as she walked down the steps. It was adorable, and Delaney hoped everything would work out.

"They are cute together," Austin admits, a smile on his face as well. "I'm sure they'll figure things out."

"I hope so." Delaney agreed. They deserved to be happy. And she knew they would be together.

"Hey, um, can we talk?" Finn asked her nervously.

Ally was a bit taken aback by his sudden request, but she agreed. "Sure, what's up?"

"Well, um, I just wanted to say... I really like you, Ally. A lot. And I've been wanting to tell you, but I've been afraid. So, I'm telling you now." Finn rambles, his cheeks flushing. "And I've been trying to tell you for a long time now and every time I kept chickening out-"

Ally cut him off, leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. He froze, her eyes widening in surprise. He stumbled back a bit, his eyes wide with shock. He couldn't believe what just happened. Ally, his longtime crush, had just kissed him. It took him a moment to process before a wide grin spread across his face.

Ally blushes, a shy smile playing on her lips. "Sorry, I just...I've been wanting to do that for a while now." She admitted, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink.

Finn's heart skips a beat at her words. "Really?" He asked, unable to keep the disbelief out of his voice.

"Yeah," Ally nods, a small smile tugging at her lips as she blushes. "I really like you too, Finn."

Finn felt like he was on cloud nine. He couldn't believe his luck. "I like you too, Ally. A lot." He confessed, a grin spreading across his face. 

His gaze flickered to her lips, the few seconds he felt her lips on his was incredible and he wanted to feel that again. And kiss her back this time. So he wasted no more time and cupped her face in his hands. Their lips met again in a soft, sweet kiss. It was like everything around them faded away, leaving just the two of them in their own little world. Finn's heart felt like it was going to burst with happiness as he kissed Ally, his feelings for her overwhelming him in the best way possible. Ally melted into the kiss, her hands finding their way to Finn's waist as she kissed him back with equal fervor.

Delaney and Austin watched from a distance, smiling as they witnessed their friends finally admitting their feelings for each other. Delaney nudged Austin with a grin, feeling a sense of satisfaction seeing Finn and Ally together.

"Looks like they finally figured it out." Delaney commented, her voice filled with warmth.

"Yeah, they make a good pair," Austin agrees, his gaze lingering on his friends with a fond smile. "I'm happy for them."

"So, what do you wanna do now?" Delaney asked curiously, looking away from Ally and Finn to look at Austin.

Austin shrugs, his lips quirking up in a smile. "I dunno, whatever you want."

"Okay," Delaney pauses, thinking for a moment. "Why don't we go get some milkshakes?" She grins. "I could go for a chocolate milkshake right now."

"Sounds good to me," Austin laughs, nodding his head. "Lead the way."

The two made their way out of the gym, heading to the nearby diner for some milkshakes. They often went to this diner to hang out, do homework or just to get something to eat. The food was always delicious and the atmosphere was cozy. They've been there so many times that the owner and the employees knew them. And the employees even had memorized their order since they get the same thing there all the time.

As they sat in their favorite booth, Delaney found herself reflecting on everything that happened. The past few weeks had been crazy, and she was glad that everything seemed to work out in the end. She was happy for Ally and Finn, and she was glad she got to spend more time with Austin. Soon a waitress came by and placed their orders in front of them. She smiled when she noticed the two of them sitting together, a teasing glint in her eyes.

"Hey, you two. The usual?" The waitress, Ivory, asked with a knowing smile.

"Yes, please," Delaney replies, smiling back at her. "Thank you."

Ivory nodded and smiled at them before she went to the kitchen to place their orders. As the two best friends waited, they chatted about anything and everything. It was nice and comfortable, and Delaney felt content. After a few moments, Ivory came back with their orders, setting their milkshakes down and a plate of fries.

"How are my favorite high schoolers?" She asked with a smile, setting down the tray with their orders.

"We're good," Delaney replies, a smile on her face. "How are you, Ivory?" She asked, genuinely curious about the older woman's life.

"Oh, I'm doing just fine, sweetie," Ivory says, flashing her a smile. "It's always nice seeing you kids around here. I'm glad you stopped by."

"We're glad too," Austin agrees, sending her a grin. "This place is the best."

Ivory chuckles, nodding her head. "Thank you, sweetie. Well, I'll leave you kids to it. Let me know or one of the other employees if you need anything else."

"We will, thank you," Delaney says, giving the older woman a warm smile. "And we'll see you later."

With that, Ivory walked off, leaving the two teens alone again. Delaney grabbed her milkshake, taking a sip and letting out a content sigh. She had always loved their milkshakes, and dipping fries in them was even better.

"These fries are amazing," Austin commented as he took a bite of his fry, dunking it into the chocolate milkshake.

Delaney chuckles and nods in agreement. "They are. This place has the best fries and the best milkshakes." She said, grinning at him. She remembered they used to come here all the time when they were younger. They would always get milkshakes and fries and dip their fries in the milkshake. It became sort of a tradition for them to come here.

As they enjoyed their food, Delaney found herself reflecting on how much has changed since she and Austin became friends. They had grown up together and gone through so much. But she wouldn't change it for the world. They had become close and their bond was unbreakable. And she knew that no matter what, they would always be there for each other.

Austin felt the same way. He and Delaney have always been close, and he was thankful to have her in his life. She was his best friend and he cared about her deeply. He couldn't imagine his life without her. They have been through so much together, and he knew that they would continue to be there for each other, no matter what. Though lately his feelings for her have been changing. And it was getting really hard to ignore them. He didn't know Delaney felt the same way.

Austin found himself staring at Delaney as she happily dipped a fry into her milkshake. He admired the way her eyes sparkled with delight, her smile lighting up her whole face. He'd always known she was beautiful, but lately, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more there—something he couldn't ignore.

"Earth to Austin," Delaney teases, waving a fry in front of his face. "You spaced out there for a minute."

He blinks, snapping out of his thoughts. "Sorry, I was just thinking."

"About?" She prompted, raising an eyebrow playfully as she took a bite of the fry she held. He hesitated, contemplating whether he should tell her. They had always been honest with each other, but this felt different. It was scary to think about the possibility of ruining their friendship.

"Just about how much things have changed," He replies, opting for a safer route. "And how some things haven't."

Delaney smiles, her eyes softening. "Yeah, a lot has changed. But I'm glad we're still close, Austie. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Her words sent a warm feeling through him, and he couldn't help but smile back. "Same here, Laney."

They continued to chat, enjoying their milkshakes and fries. The conversation flowed effortlessly, as it always did. Austin cherished these moments with her—moments that felt so natural, so right. He couldn't imagine his life without her, and he hoped that she felt the same way. They stayed until it was closing time, like they usually do. They had a bit of an argument about who would pay, this time Delaney won though Austin told her he was paying next time. They then started to walk back home.

The two best friends walked side by side, their shoulders brushing as they went. It was a familiar and comfortable feeling, and it felt natural. The air was cold, and Delaney shivered a little as she wrapped her arms around herself. She was regretting not bringing a jacket. She didn't think the weather would get colder tonight.

"Are you cold?" Austin asked, noticing her shivering.

"A little, but I'll be fine," Delaney reassures him, a smile on her face. "The fresh air is nice. Plus we'll be there soon." She shrugged, trying to act nonchalant.

Austin nodded, though he was a bit concerned. He didn't want her to be cold. Delaney felt a slight breeze and shivered a little more. She rubbed her arms in an attempt to warm herself up. Austin, noticing her discomfort, shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

"Here, take my jacket. I don't want you to catch a cold." He responded, his voice gentle.

Delaney looks up at him, touched by the gesture. She was about to protest and argue she was fine, but decided not to. "Thank you, Austie." She said softly, slipping her arms into the sleeves. The jacket was warm, and it smelled like him—a comforting mix of soap and something uniquely Austin. She liked having his denim jacket on. It was comforting, and it made her feel closer to him somehow. She pulled the jacket tighter around her, the sleeves a little too long for her arms but she didn't care. She felt safe and warm.

"You're welcome." He replied, his voice quiet. He was looking at her, and their gazes met for a moment before he looked away, clearing his throat.

Delaney's cheeks flushed, and she could feel her heart beating faster. She wondered if she was imagining the way he was looking at her. He was acting different tonight. His gaze kept flicking over to her, and his cheeks were flushed.

They soon arrived at her house, and they stood outside for a moment. The silence stretched between them, and it felt awkward. Austin shifted his weight from foot to foot, and Delaney fiddled with the sleeves of his jacket.

"Thanks for walking me home," She finally said, breaking the silence. "And thanks for the jacket. Here." She went to give him the jacket back, but he stopped her.

"Keep it," Austin says, his voice a little huskier than usual. "It looks better on you anyway." He flashed her a lopsided grin, and her cheeks heated.

"O-Okay," Delaney stutters, feeling her face grow hotter. "Um, good night."

"Good night, Laney," Austin replies, his tone soft. His eyes are full of something she can't quite place, and her heart skips a beat. "I'll see you tomorrow." He leaned forward, kissing her forehead gently. Then he turned around and walked to his house next door. He glanced over his shoulder, shooting her a smile and a wave before disappearing into his house.

Delaney stood frozen on the spot, her cheeks still warm. Her heart was beating rapidly, and she was suddenly overwhelmed with emotions. She didn't know what was going on, but she was certain of one thing — her feelings for her best friend had changed. She knew they had been changing lately, and they have been like that for awhile. She just didn't realize how much until now.

She sighed, heading inside her house and making her way up to her room. She slipped off her shoes and put on some cozy pajamas before climbing into bed. She took her phone out of her bag and checked her messages. There was a text from Austin.

AUSTIE🎤🧡
Hey, laney, thanks for hanging out with me tonight, it was a lot of fun! Let's do it again sometime. :)

Delaney felt her lips tug into a smile as she read the text. She quickly typed out a reply.

LANEY🎤💙
I had fun too! We'll definitely have to do it again. I miss getting milkshakes and fries with you. Good night, Austie!

She hit send, and soon she received a response.

AUSTIE🎤🧡
me too! good night, laney. sweet dreams. ;)

She felt her heart flutter as she read the text, and she couldn't help but smile. She quickly typed out a final reply, her fingers dancing over the keyboard.

LANEY🎤💙
sweet dreams, blondie (:

A/N austin & delaney are so cute but yay finn & ally finally kissed !!