Trouble

Chapter 7

Devon wasn't a stupid child, his teachers often praised him for being one of the brightest they had the pleasure of teaching. He understood a lot more than most adults gave him credit for. His Mama knew that, he was her Little Man after all. He knew normal children had two parents, a Mama and a Daddy. He wasn't like normal children, he only had his Mama. It had been just the two of them his entire life, and he didn't mind. Tia Trish would tell him about his Mama, what she was like when she was younger. He didn't understand how she could change so much. Tia Trish said she was always so serious, but she did smile a lot. His Mama was always fun, played games with him. He supposed that was because she didn't want him to feel the absence of not having a Daddy.

His Mama always told him fighting was bad, it wasn't something you should do. He knew violence didn't solve problems, but he was just so mad. No body, no one, was allowed to talk about his Mama that way. He didn't care if the kid was just repeating what his Daddy said. His Mama was wonderful, she was the prettiest girl in the world. But he knew she was going to be upset. He knew he would get a talking to. He shouldn't have punched Billy, but Billy wouldn't stop insulting his Mama. Now he was sitting in the Principal's office, listening as she called his Mama.

Austin could have kissed that phone the moment it started to ring. It had just saved him so much. He watched as Ally glanced at the screen, her brows furrowing in confusion as she answered it.

" Allyson Dawson," was her greeting, he listened, the voice on the other line was loud, louder since the kitchen was filled with uncomfortable silence.

" Miss Dawson. I'm sorry to disturb you, however I have Devon in my office," the woman was obviously the principal at the Elementary school. Austin took a step closer to Ally so he could hear what was going on with his son.

" Is he alright? Did something happen?" Ally questioned, chewing on her nail.

" He's fine. However I was wondering if you could come down to the school. Devon won't be attending class for about a week," The Principal informed Ally. She hung up, groaning as she grabbed her purse from the kitchen counter, brushing past Austin to head to the door. He caught her wrist before she could leave the entry way.

" Can I come with you?" she saw the guarded look in his eyes, trying to play it off that this wouldn't effect him. No one else would be able to see the emotions fluttering behind the cool chocolate orbs. No one else knew Austin Moon better than the back of their hand. She wasn't like any one else. She knew Austin Moon better than he knew himself some times. She released a breath, quickly tugging her wrist from his grasp as she nodded her head.

" Fine, just don't say anything," she ordered, leading the way out of her apartment, turning to lock the deadbolt. Austin was already half way down the stairs when she looked up again. That boy was certainly dedicated. The drive to the Elementary school was filled with thick silence. Neither speaking as Ally parked her Mustang. She cut the engine, knowing she had to ask this question.

" Do you… Would you like to come to the office?" His head shot up, his eyes wide as he pushed his door open. Ally shook her head at his eagerness, following behind him until she caught up to him.

" Um…" he began before he noticed Ally was already leading the way, knowing his question before he could voice it. He followed behind her, his eyes wandering to her back once again. He really needed to stop doing that. He nearly ran her over as she paused to open the glass doors that led to the office. His hand hot out to grab the frame, his other arm wrapping around her waist before she could trip. He offered her a sheepish smile, which caused her to shake her head.

" Austin, calm down," Ally whispered, shaking her head as she stepped out of his grip. He couldn't help the sudden feeling as if something was missing as he followed behind her once more.

" Ah, Miss Dawson, thank you for coming," the Principal spoke, reaching out her hand to shake with Ally's. Ally's warm cinnamon brown eyes darted to her son who was sitting in front of the desk, his hands resting in his lap as he avoided looking at his mother. She released the principal's hand , turning her attention to her Baby. She moved to the other side of the chair, dropping into a crouch.

" Devon, what happened?" her voice was soft as she spoke to her son. Austin watched from the back of the office, his eyes darting to the principal, who parted her lips to answer.

" Devon had a…" Ally glanced up, her eyes narrowed slightly as she spoke.

" I was asking my son, Miss Greene. I want him to tell me what happened. After I know his story, I'll let you tell me," Ally informed her politely, her voice cold. Austin couldn't help but smirk at how Ally seemed to focus all of her attention on their son.

" Mama, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get in a fight, but I was just so mad. Billy kept repeating this mean things he heard his Daddy say about you. I know you say fighting is bad but I just didn't want to hear it any more. I wasn't thinking, my body just reacted," Devon spoke in a rush, surprising Austin at what he said. Well, the boy certainly got his temper along with the protective feelings when it came to Ally. He watched as Ally gently cradled his face in her hands, her thumbs rubbing against his cheeks. She was hushing him as he wrapped his small arms around her neck. She stood, picking him up as he wrapped his legs around her waist. He rested his chin against her shoulder staring at the large window behind the Principal's desk.

" Did you question Billy?" Ally spoke, turning her eyes to Miss Greene who nodded her head.

" Of course. He said Devon was mistaken," Ally nodded, moving to leave.

" He'll be suspended for fighting for a week, Miss Dawson," Miss Greene informed the mother as she nodded once more, stopping in front of the closed wooden door. Austin understood what she was waiting for, stepping behind her, he pulled the door open so she could pass through. They were silent as they walked to her Mustang. They were a few yards away when she spoke up.

" Do you mind driving? He's sleeping and I don't want to put him in his booster," she asked, watching as Austin shook his head, moving around to the passenger door to open it for her. She hid the small smile on her lips as she slid carefully into her seat. She watched as Austin jogged around the car pulling his door open and sliding into the driver's seat smoothly.

" He sure has a temper," Austin commented, as he pulled out of the parking space. Ally shook her head, chewing on her bottom lip.

" Normally, he's always happy. He only gets angry like that over a few things, kind of like you," Ally answered softly so she wouldn't wake her son. Austin nodded, tapping his fingers to a song only he knew as he drove to her apartment complex.

She climbed out of her seat after Austin opened her door, taking a step when she felt herself being stopped. Her brows furrowed as Austin moved in front of her, taking the sleeping boy from her arms. Her lips parted to protest but he was already half away across the parking lot. She furrowed her brows as she jogged to catch up to him, shaking her head as she pulled out her keys. She slid her key into the deadbolt, listening as the tumblers click into place. She pushed her door open, stepping to the side so Austin could pass through the door way. He moved down the hall, turning to the door that held Devon's name on a wooden sign. He opened the door easily laying the little boy on his bed. He brushed strands of hair from his forehead, realizing just how much he looked like Ally.

He left the room, closing the door behind him and making his way down the hall to the kitchen once more. He watched as Ally stretched her arms over her head, her shirt riding up as her shorts slid down her narrow hips. Something black caught his attention. Her shorts would have covered it if they hadn't slid down, the writing was just above her bikini line, black letters. He could make out the three letters as well as the three numbers. He knew they were written in old English, a font Ally was obsessed with.

" When did you get a tattoo?" he questioned before he could stop himself. The initials were beside her right hip bone, the numbers beside her left. He watched as she glanced down, a faint blush tinting her cheeks. She pulled her shorts back into place, turning her body away from Austin as she opened her refrigerator door.

" I got it for my nineteenth birthday, Trish and I wanted to do something wild, something we normally wouldn't. Dad had Devon for the night so we decided to get tattoos. Hers is a little less elaborate while mine has more of a sentimental meaning behind it," she finally answered, pulling out two cans of soda.

" What does your's mean?" he knew he should wait until she asked her question, but he was hypnotized by the black stain on her ivory skin. He wanted to know more about it. She released a breath as she handed a can to Austin who popped the tab.

" Its…. Look, I would rather not explain it," she finally answered, shaking her head.

" Come on Ally, just give me something," Austin was practically begging, and Ally knew, Austin didn't beg for anything. Finally she sighed, shaking her head as she told him something.

" It's part of the reason Dallas and I broke up. He said he couldn't keep fighting for a place in my heart when half of it belonged to my son and the other half belonged to…" she trailed off, knowing she couldn't finish that sentence.

" Anyway he said I marked my body, proved I would never be his because I tattooed another man's initial's on my body. He hated it, wouldn't look at it," she explained, watching as Austin's eyes narrowed to slits.

" Who's initials are they Ally?" she shrugged her shoulders, opening her own can of soda and taking a small sip of it.

" What does it matter Austin? It's my tattoo, my body. The initials are for some guy I let slip through my fingers. The numbers are for my son. Just let it go, please Austin," the way she said his name made him drop the subject, he wouldn't press her, at least not more for now. He needed Ally to trust him if he wanted to win her back again…

" Did you get any tattoos?" the question surprised him, he wasn't expecting it so suddenly but he knew she needed an answer, and he wasn't one to withhold information from his best friend. So on impulse he pulls the bottom of his shirt to the top of his shoulders and turns his back to face her. The print isn't large so she has to step closer, putting half a foot between them. Silently she reads the elegant cursive, her eyes widening fractionally as she sees what it is.

'Allyson Marie Dawson' She shakes her head as he turns his body to see her reaction.

" Why would you tattoo my name on your shoulder?" he was expecting this question, and his first response was to say he was drunk. However that wasn't the case. He was homesick, missing the only person he ever felt comfortable with besides Dez. They had just turned eighteen and he was going through that rebellious phase. Dez tattooed Trish's full name on his right shoulder, Austin got Ally's on his left. However he was going to be a sap and tell her the reason, at least not yet.

" I…" he ran his fingers through his hair as his throat tightened over the words. He could do this. She deserved to know that he at least missed her and thought of her often.

" I missed you," he mumbled, watching his feet as she took a step back, shocked by his words.

" When did you…" He glanced up, already knowing her question, so he decided to answer it.

" I was eighteen. Dez got one too. Have you read the tabloids Ally?" he watched as her eyes narrowed slightly with thought before nodding her head.

" None of my relationships lasted longer than three weeks. The minute I took off my shirt, they asked who's name it was. I answered each girl honestly. They never liked the answer and thought they could change my mind. They couldn't, they still can't. NO matter how hard they try, you're the only girl who has…" he stopped himself before he finished his sentence, shaking his head. That was close. He needed to leave, he needed to clear his head. Whenever he was around her she seemed to consume his thoughts and he couldn't think straight. That was when she noticed the inky black cursive on his right forearm. She regained the step she took back, grabbing his wrist from his hair and pulling it down so she could have a closer look.

'Trouble' She cocked a perfect eyebrow in question as he shrugged his shoulder.

" I was feeling…homesick when I remembered something you said to me. I just… Every other time I felt homesick I would look at my arm, practically hear your voice as you said 'I knew you would be nothing but trouble for me Austin,'" he tried to mimic her soft voice, of course he couldn't. She shook her head, releasing her grip on her wrist on turning her back to him.

" Devon doesn't have to go to school tomorrow. I have to work at the Sonic Boom. Why don't you come around eleven and pick him up. You can spend some time with him, get to know your son personally," Ally spoke, closing her eyes as she called her baby his. She was finally going to acknowledge that his father was coming into his life now, finally going to have to tell her Little Man who Austin was to him. She inhaled a deep breath, fighting back the tears she refused to cry for five years. She wouldn't show him how weak he had made her. She wouldn't show him just how much she had really missed him, even if he could. That just proved how much stronger he was than her.

Austin mumbled something before making his way to the front door, closing it quietly behind him. He rested his board back against the oaken wood, his head hanging forward as he thought over what just happened. Ally inhaled a deep breath, yanking the hair tie from her long strands and running her fingers through her hair. Devon's soft voice drifted to her ears causing her to jerk to attention.

" What's wrong Mama?" she turned to face her baby, chewing her bottom lip between her teeth as she took a step towards him.

" I need to tell you something baby. Remember what I told you about your Daddy?" Ally questioned quietly, watching as Devon nodded his head.

" You said he didn't know me, but he loved me any way. He couldn't be hear because he had to work. You said one day I would get to know him and I could see how awesome he was," Devon recited from memory, watching his mother as she dropped into a crouch in front of him.

" That's right. Well, your Daddy came back. He… His name is Austin Moon," Ally paused watching as her son nodded his head.

" I know Mama," he whispered, hoping she wouldn't be mad for him eavesdropping. She always said listening in on other people's conversations were rude.

" How did you know?" Her eyes were wide, but she wasn't angry, she could never be angry with her Little Man.

" I… Well Tia Trish talks very loud. She was talking to Mimi and she said I was Mimi's grandson," Devon was watching his feet as he answered. Ally couldn't' help but chuckle, shaking her head.

" Do you want to spend the day with him tomorrow?" Ally questioned, watching as his eyes shot up to meet her gaze.

" Will he spend the day with you too?" she was surprised by his answer before she shook her head in response.

" I can't baby. I have to help Grandpa with the store tomorrow. Maybe on one of my days off," Ally soothed, watching as his brows furrowed in thought. He looked so much like Austin at that moment.

" Sunday. I want to spend Sunday with both of my parents, together," he concluded, grinning as he said this. Ally returned his smile with a small one of her own before nodding her head.

" Alright Baby. Sunday will be our…family day," she was hesitant to say family. Could she really get over the hurt Austin caused her? Could he honestly forgive her for keeping this secret? She could only hope they could work something out for Devon. She was right, that boy was nothing but trouble for her. She walked over to the sofa, turning on the t.v so her and Devon could watch one of his shows.