Chapter 4

Allie watched as the dust settled in her driveway after Noah left. She was over an hour past curfew but she really didn't care about the trouble she was going to get into. With a smile she turned and looked up into the pale night sky, all her worries and doubts seemed meaningless.

Her head spinning in circles, Allie opened the door to her house and walked in. To her surprise the house was completely dark. With a small giggle she walked further into the house on the tip of her toes. She reached the stairs and started to walk up when…

"Young lady what the hell do you think you are doin?" Her mother's voice shot at her. Allie slowly turned around to face her mother. Even in the darkness of the house, Allie could see her mothers expression. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" She said raising her voice.

"I lost track of time…I didn't mean to." Allie said innocently.

"I've called every where, even called your friend Sarah. Her mother said she got home two hours ago! Now Allie where were you?"

"I was just out with Noah. We went to the movies and watched the late movie." Allie said softly.

"Don't you dare lie to me Allie! I know you two didn't go to the movies." She yelled back at her.

"We went to the movies. That's all." Allie said raising her voice to match her mothers.

"Sarah told her mother that you and Noah had an argument and left early. You came in here smelling of men's cologne and sweat. What do you want me to think?"

"Okay, we didn't go the movies, but you've got everything wrong momma." Allie turned to make her way up the stairs.

"I thought I taught you better than to walk away from me like that! Hell Allie I thought you had enough sense to keep your legs closed." Her mother said grabbing her arm

With a deep sigh Allie tried to push her mother's words out of her head. "Momma let me go." She said pulling away quickly.

"I don't want you out with that boy anymore. I think he's a bad influence on you. Pressuring you to do things that no woman of respect would ever consider doin at such a age. You odda be ashamed of yourself."

"I'm sorry I lied to you about the movies, But Noah and I love each other and I'm not just going to forget that. He's not a bad influence, you're just afraid that he's going to take me away from you." Allie said tears forming in her eyes. "It seemed that her and her mother were always running circles around each other. One day they would fight about Allies friends, the next it'd be Noah.

"No, I'm your mother and you will listen to me. You're lucky your father isn't up, he'd punish you even worse than I am."

"For the last time momma, I love Noah and we're together. Now if you'll excuse me, I would like to go to bed now."

"What does a seventeen year old know about love? You're just confused. All men are the same when they get what they want from you, they vanish."

"You don't get it. Noah and I fight, and yes he is different from me but in the end nothing else matters. I'm in love with him."

"Shut up Allie! Just Shut Up!" Her mother yelled.

"But look who I'm talking to, what do you know about love?" Allied said sarcastically.

Allies mother smacked her hard across the face, bringing blood to her lips. Allie stood in amazement at her mothers actions. She had always remembered her mother being non-violence. It was always her father who would spank her when she was younger. Allie touched her fingers to her lips and closed her eyes.

"Goodnight." Allie said walking up the stairs; her face now flushed with tears. She hurried into her room and slammed the door behind her. Once behind the door, she sunk to the floor and covered her mouth as she let out a cry.

Next Day

Allie rose early the next morning and dressed quickly. She opened the latch on her window and pushed out the screen. The cold morning air rose up around her bare legs and the air swept across her face turning her cheeks pink. She grabbed her bike and started toward Noah's house. A smile quickly spread across her face as she arrived. Noah was sitting on the porch, in one hand he was holding a cup of coffee, and in the other hand he was holding a book. Noah raised his head and caught glimpse of her. Allie threw her bike down and ran to him. In seconds her arms were around him hugging him close to her.

"I couldn't wait to see you." She said pressing her cheek to his chest.

"Well this is a surprise." He said laughing, "I was just thinking of you." Noah said while running his fingers through her hair.

"Everything's so messed up Noah." She said tears suddenly sprung in her eyes.

"What happened?" He asks looking in her eyes. He tilted her chin and examined her face. "What's this?" Noah said placing his finger to her bottom lip.

"Well last night I was an hour late and mom didn't like it too much."

"So she hit you?" He ask, the lines in his forehead crinkled together.

"Actually she smacked me… but I'm fine now."

Noah placed his finer on her lips again and kissed them softly. "I'm sorry." He said breathing heavily.

"It wasn't your fau—

"Noah is this beautiful woman I've heard so much about?" A voice called out behind them.

Allie and Noah pulled away quickly and looked up at the eyes of the man.

"We've never met but, I'm Noah's father."