Disclaimer: I do not own The Pretender. It belongs to NBC and Fox.

Note - haven't had much time to work on this lately but these next few chapters are what I have so far.

Allie stared, completely focussed on the task at hand. She sat on her stool in the classroom, dragging her glass making tool across the bottom of the blue, white and teal glass vase she made and had let dry from the week before. It acted like a glue gun but instead of glue, it was with hot glass.

She created intricate swirls and loops around the bottom then delicately curved it up, gradually let it climb up and around the vase. When it got to the top, she took the glass loops that she made previously, that were cool and hard, and held them at the top of the vase. Allie soddered the fresh glass on and around the old loops, making it a delicate extension from the vase.

The end result looked very well put together and aside from a few a few mistakes on the bottom, it looked professional. She carefully picked it up and moved it over to the display shelf and cleaned up her area. A few other students were finishing up as well.

"Hi Cupcake."

- Flashback –

Allie turned off the beaters and ran her finger along one of them, gathering the batter onto her finger. She then licked it off. "Mmmmm I could die it tastes so good."

Kyle watched her curiously. "You still haven't told me what it is."

"Does it matter?" She gathered more batter onto her finger.

"Yeah. I don't know what it is."

She held the batter-covered finger up to his lips. "Try it."

He curiously started sucking the batter off her finger. He smiled at her. "Mmmm this IS good." He stuck his finger into the bowl.

"Hey! Wait Mr. Grabby, we need to fill the cups."

"Why? It already tastes good."

She smirked at the smile on his face and began putting the paper holders into the cupcake tray. He watched her fill them all in with the batter and pop the tray into the oven. Allie set the timer then turned to him.

Kyle was licking the bowl with the spatula she had left in it. He froze, seeing that he was busted. He flashed a smile at her. Allie gave him a playful push. "Don't eat it all. I want some too."

He took the spatula, covered in the chocolate batter and held it up to her. She went in for a taste. He couldn't resist. Kyle smeared the batter on cheek.

"Uh!" Allie exclaimed shocked, a grin crossing her face.

He laughed and smeared the other side of the spatula across her mouth. "Now you're a cupcake."

"Uh!" She grabbed him by the shirt. "Just for that." She kissed him quickly then turned her head and rubbed her cheek against his, smearing the batter all over him as well. She giggled happily as they had a bit of a war with whatever batter was leftover.

Once their laughter died down, they started removing it. Kyle tried kissing and licking the batter off her face. They ended up forgetting about any of the mess, and about anything in particular. Kyle held her close as their lips danced passionately.

- End of Flashback –

Allie smiled and turned around. "You're off early." She took a step forward and kissed him. He stole a quick peck on the lips after that. He had already gone back to the apartment and changed into something more comfortable. A pair of blue jeans, an Aerosmith t-shirt, a red plaid shirt and his winter coat. Allie was currently introducing him to various types of music, starting with rock. So far they had gone from the present all the way to the seventies. He really liked a few of the seventies bands.

"Yeah it was a simple computer virus…these big companies they think everything's a crisis…which one's yours?" He asked, looking over the pieces on the display table.

Allie showed him.

"Wow…that's cool." He leaned over and reached out for it.

"It's hot!" She grabbed his hand. "At least part of it is."

"You did a really good job. It's incredible." He kissed her cheek.

"Thanks…um…professor Berkley said he was going to mark it when I finished…do you think you could wait outside for me? Just in the hall."

He nodded. "Sure." He started out of the room, following the only other student that was left in the class.

Professor Berkley came over. "Is it ready for an evaluation?"

"Yep. Mark away."

Kyle sat down on the bench in the hall and waited. He could hear the two talking from inside the classroom.

The professor grew quiet while he scribbled the marks and comments on the paper in the binder he was holding. He then started back over to his desk, which was closer to the door. Allie fidgeted, waiting for her mark. She knew her piece was good but she wasn't about to brag or expect perfect. She knew she still had a lot to learn.

Professor Berkley recorded the mark in his computer then handed Allie the written evaluation.

She stared at the mark next to her name. 'C'. She looked at her professor. "I don't…I'm sorry? Why…I thought it was good."

"You have a lot to work on. Your signature is sloppy, and it's too delicate."

"But you said it doesn't have to have a use. It's just art."

"Yes but you mislead people to believe yours does have a use. If you do so, then it must be sturdy enough to withstand general ware. If anyone put flowers in that thing it would shatter."

Allie read her evaluation again and felt horrible. "I guess you're right…but…" she sighed. "I worked really hard on this. It took me a really long time to get the colours just right, and the shape of the vase even longer."

Berkley came around and leaned against his desk. "There is something you could do…from your grades it does look like you need it."

"I work a lot…but…what is it?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "How much do you want to make it through this program?"

"A lot. I really need to start getting better jobs to prepare for my future."

"Then you can do something for me…consider it…a favour…."

"Okay."

Berkley took her wrist and pulled her towards him gently.

Allie stopped. "What is this?" Her heart started to race, knowing what he wanted but she couldn't quiet believe it.

"Come on, it's no big deal. I do this all the time. You'll get your 'A' and I'll get…well…we'll both be satisfied." He pulled her against him and tried to kiss her.

Allie pushed him away. "What are you doing?!"

"Don't be a prude. If you want the grade-"

Kyle hurried into the room just in time to see the professor try to kiss Allie. She slapped him. The professor let go of her, shoving her back. "Just for that I can have you expelled."

Allie turned around, to face the doorway. Kyle was marching up, his eyes fierce and angry, focussed on the professor. She stepped in front of him. "Kyle take me home."

"After." He stepped aside.

She stepped in front of him. "Now. Please?"

He looked at Allie. She was so upset it made his heart ache. Her eyes watered and her voice broke. Kyle gave one last glare at the professor before putting an arm protectively around Allie and leaving. Getting her home to safety was his priority.

When they were back in her apartment, Allie just sat quietly on the couch.

Kyle studied her before going over to her. "I'll pay him a visit tomorrow. He won't hurt you ever again. I'll make sure that hand of his can't even pick up a spoon without putting him in so much pain he would wish he was dead."

She sighed but didn't look up at him.

He furrowed his brow in confusion. He expected some protest to the threat but since she didn't seem to care that meant she was even more upset by what had happened than he thought. The only other time he had seen her this way was when he told her about his past.

- Flashback -

Allie didn't look at him. She just tried to breathe. He had told her everything. The kidnapping, the experiments and the sims at the Centre, he even confessed to his crimes and his prison stay. He just couldn't lie to her. Being only a couple hours before midnight on New Years he knew he couldn't start the New Year lying to her.

He had been terrified and he wasn't being rational. But then love wasn't rational.

She was quiet for a long time before she spoke. Allie turned to him and studied his face. It all made sense now. How he could know about so many different subjects yet know little about how the world worked, how she was his first kiss, and how he didn't know anything relating to childhood. No games, toys, or everyday things children did.

Kyle was a suspicious person and he didn't express any interest in getting to know other people. He just did his work and was eager to be with Allie.

"Is that everything? You didn't leave anything out?"

"No, that's everything." He looked at her confused. "I was really clear about that…if I wanted to leave something out I wouldn't have told you about kidnapping Harriet or biting that inmate's nose…" he paused. "Is that it? You think I DID bit his nose off? I told you, I drew blood but the rest was a rumour that I encourage so the other inmates would leave me alone. The guy only needed seven stitches."

"It just doesn't seem like you…to do that."

He blinked. "How would you know?"

"Kyle..." she put her hand on his. "Your nightmares…"

He looked down at her hand then at her. "Tell me right now. I don't want you to drag this out."

"You think…" she sighed. "I understand."

He flinched. "What?"

"I understand…I don't like it but I can see why you did what you did..."

"You…you do?" he asked surprised.

She nodded seriously. "But promise me that won't happen again. That all that's behind you."

He nodded. "It is. I still had Raines in my head. But I don't now. I'm trying to be a good person and I don't want to hurt anyone…except for the Centre of course."

"Good. Because I can't be with someone who hurts people."

"I promise…I would never let anyone hurt you. I would never harm you…and I don't want to hurt anyone."

Allie studied him seriously. "I've heard about this before…what they did to you…brainwashing, sims…I heard POW's in the army sometimes were subjected to that. Grown men…strong men, who were brainwashed and made into something else…killers. They couldn't help it…and you…you were just a kid."

He stared at her. She believed him? She knew he wouldn't hurt her? Allie wasn't going to hold any of this against him?

To prove her feelings, Allie hugged him.

His eyes stung. "You…you don't hate me?"

She drew back and told him seriously. "I can't help but love you..." she looked him over. "The fact that you were honest with me about this…god…Kyle…no one would do that."

He frowned, suddenly worried what she meant by that.

She smiled softly, tears in her eyes. "No, Kyle, that is a very good thing." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek before hugging him again. He had almost cried, he was so grateful and relieved.

- End of Flashback -

"Allie?" Kyle asked.

"I'm fine."

He sat next to her. "No you're not."

"I just…" She sighed. "He's the only professor at that school that teaches glassworks. I thought…" she smiled bitterly. "That I could be good at that."

"You are. That asshole-"

"Has 30 years of experience…all year he thought I wasn't good enough. Maybe he was right."

"No he's not right. Why would you think that? He was doing this to try to trade sex for a good grade. I should break his neck!"

"You don't understand!" She finally looked at him, her eyes watery. "My teachers always said I was okay but that it would never take me very far. And the fact that I couldn't do any of this without…" Tears fell onto her cheeks. "It was stupid. I don't know why I bothered."

"No, Allie, you're good…you're a great artist. That son of a bitch was trying to manipulate you…using you to get something he wanted. He didn't care about you or how good your work is…I swear I'll take care of him. He'll be begging you to teach that class when I'm through with him."

"No…you can't."

"Why not?!" He asked outraged. "He tried-"

"I don't want you hurting him! You promised!"

"But he deserves it!"

"You promised."

He tightened his jaw and scowled. "Fine, but if he ever does anything to hurt you again I'll have to break that promise."

"He won't because I'm not going back to that class."

He watched her seriously. It didn't surprise him. Allie didn't want to look at the professor or have any contact with him whatsoever. He made her feel like a cheap whore. Kyle stared at the wall angrily. He didn't know what to do with himself but he felt like he had to do something. "Fine." He didn't blame her for not wanting to go back but he felt helpless.

Allie scooted closer, leaned over and hugged him, resting her head against his chest. Kyle wrapped his arms around her and sighed. The longer he held her, the more the anger seemed to melt away.