I don't believe what I'm hearing. I look back over at my mom and she's laying on the sofa again, smoking another cigarette. I look around the trailor trying to find words to say expecting that the words are written somewheres. There is a long silence on the phone, and then I hear the man speak again. "Laura, are you there?" "Yeah, I'm here. I think the phone cut out. Who you said you were?" I responded back listening closer to the words that are comming out this stranger's mouth, eager to hear his reponse. "I'm your dad, Laura." The man said again. My eyes begin to sting and my heart starts to race. "What are you talking about?" I ask him still confused. "Well, my name is John Stevens, and your mom and I were together about 16 years ago. Well, it's really a long story." He responds to the question. I look around more confused than I thought I would be. Is this the man I herd on the answering machine, or is this all a joke? "What is he talking about mom!" I scream at her trying to wake her up from her trance. She sits up and looks directly at me. "Laura, that's the man I never told you about. The no good scum we call your father." She says to me staring directly in my blood struck eyes. I begin to wonder if he is really as bad as she says he is, considering the comment is comming from her mouth. "Is this true?" I ask the man on the phone "Well, let me explain a little more. When your mom had you, I didn't know that you were my child. Matter of fact, I didn't even know that she was pregnate. We broke up, and shortly after she told me that she was going to have a baby. I freaked out when she told me and I didn't know what to do. I left here, scared and hoping that the news wasn't true. It's uh.. confusing... but I realized I need to meet my daughter." This man on the phone says to me followed by another long silence. My childhood flashes before my eyes, and I remeber all the times that he wasn't there. My whole life, lived without even knowing my real dads name, and he's now on the other end of the phone. "I umm.. have to go." I say in shock at the new discovery. "Laura, please call me when you have time to talk. Please, give me a chance to enter your life." I can not believe what I am hearing. "My number is 546-345-6547.Please keep in touch." He begs me once more as I write the number on the palm of my hand. After I hear him say by, I quickly hang up the phone, eager to hear an explanation from my mom. I turn around quickly in her direction, tearing her apart with my eyes. "What is going on!?" I scream at her loosing my self control. My foot stomps heavily on the floor, shaking the whole trailer and the things on the walls. I put my hands on my head and begin pulling at my hair, frustrated and trying to pull out the thoughts of my life. I yell once more. "What are you keeping from me mom!? What else is there for me to know!?" "I was trying to protect you Laura. He left us before you were born, left me alone to take care of a child, a baby, my baby." "Then why didn't you succeed in protecting me? Why did you not care about me? Why don't you care about me? All you care about is yourself." I scream again at her, then trying to catch my breath and keep tears from leaving my eyes again. I am not successful. Then, there is a silence. I loud silence filling the air of the room. I silent echo is herd on the walls, and still rings in my ears. My mom stands up and starts walking toward me, stumbling over herself. "Laura, I do care about you. Give me another chance. I am sorry I made mistakes. Don't we all make mistakes?" "Yeah, including me," I say to her forcely, "I was a mistake." I walk in my room and grab some clothes and things I may need over the next week. I look at my mirror with the message Matt left me. I sit on the chair near it and stare at my face through the red lipstick. My eyes match the lipstick clearly and I shudder at the thought of Matt being here, in this spot. I try to forget about the idea and grab my school bag. Before walking out, I look around making sure everything I need is with me, and dry my eyes while walking out my room. I walk straight to the door and glance in the living room. I see my mom once again, laying on the couch with a cigarette in her hand. I roll my eyes at the scence, and walk out the door. When I get to the road, I look around for Matt's car hoping I don't spot it. I quickly run across to Sally's house, and knock on the door, hoping that It wouldn't take her long to answer. While waiting, I persuade myself that I am stronger than what I have prove to be. "Hey Laura, Come in." Sally says to me, greeting me at the door. "Whats up?" "Oh, just went get some things from my house, and spending the week with some friends across town." I say back to her following towards her bedroom, and sit on the bed. "Who?" "Friends of the family. Kyle Johnson and his mom." I lie to her about them being friends of the family. Her face drops in awe at the name I just mentioned, "Kyle Johnson, the hot one?" "Yeah, if you want to call him that." I say back to her, trying to giggle at the remark. "I didn't know your family was close to his." I hear her say while walking out the room to the kitcen. "Neither did I." I whisper to myself sarcasticly, hoping she doesn't hear. I look around her messy room remebering all the times I use to sleep over here. How her whole life is shoved in one corner of the room and how the trash is in the other corner. I stand up and walk towards the window remebering the last thing I saw through it. I saw Kyle and Erika kiss through this window. How could I have been so stupid to believe that I was seeing things? "So how's you and Matt?" Sally asks me walking back in her room. I turn around quickly, startled by her entrance back in the room. I walk back over to the bed and sit besides her. I keep my head down trying to gather words to say. "Did yall break up?" She asks me. "Kind of..." I say, and before I am able to finish my sentence, her arms wrap around my neck tightly, pushing me down upon the bed. "Sally, I'm okay. I promise." I say, trying to break free from her grip. She stares into my eyes trying to read what thoughts I'm having. "What happend?" I again try to think of a quick lie to tell her. I can't tell her the truth. Not yet anyway. She wouldn't believe me even if she is my best friend. She's known Matt longer than me, and I don't think she would believe he would do anything to harm me. "I don't want to talk about it." I say. Now that wasn't so bad to figure out. It wasn't a lie. I really didn't want to talk about it. I hope she doesn't ask why. "It's a long story." I add in. "Okay, I understand. So, changing the subject, are you excited about the dance, or I mean, the party after the dance?" "Sure, I guess so." I say, forgetting about the dance completely. "Are you okay Laura?" She asks me, concerned that I am not acting myself. "Yeah, I'm fine. Can I use your phone?" Sally hands me the chordless phone that is laying on her bed, and I quickly dial Kyles number. I hope he answers quickly. I thought I would stay longer, but I feel awkward that she doesn't know what's going on. I mean, I want to tell her, but my gut feeling is telling me I shouldn't. "Hey Kyle, you can come pick me up now." I say as soon as he answers his phone. I listen carefully to his respond. "Sure, I'm at the store right now picking some things up for school. I'll be there in about 10 minutes." He tells me. I reply with an okay and hang up the phone. "Well, I'm going to see you at school tomorrow." I say to Sally, casually rushing to the door. Sally just stands there and stares at me with a confused look on her face. "Laura, your not acting like you usually do." She tells me in a 'what the hell is wrong with you' kind of voice. "I'm not feeling good. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye" I say, and rush out the door. As soon as I reach the road once more, I look all around for Matt's car. I am realived to see that it is no where in sight. I decide to take my time walking across the road, and lead my way to the front step of my trailor. I put my head in my hands and relax. My body is exausted, and in pain. I try to keep my mind on everything Ms. Becky told me. This will all get better in the end. This is just an obstacle I need to get over in life. "Laura, I missed you." I hear a deep voice saying and at that second, I knew who it was. I quickly look up and feel my heart race and all color is flushed out my face. Everything in my mind suddenly disappears. I subtly move myself away from him and up the steps, pushing myself back with my feet and hands. "You didn't miss me Laura?" He says softly, moving closer to my body. "NO, I didn't miss you Matt!" I say to him trying to keep myself from falling apart. "I thought you loved me Laura." After I hear his words. I stand up and try to walk away. "Baby." He pulls my arm towards him. "Matt, let me go!" I demand him. I try pulling my arm from out of his grip but it is too strong. His fingers are around my wrist tightly and I feel the pain in my arm multiplying with each attempt to get away. He pulls my body closer to his and places his other hand behind my head; his fingers getting lost in my hair. His face moves closer to mine and I try to move my head away. His lips press against mine, and I feel the tears leaving my eyes. He then lightly moves his head away from my face and kisses my neck. I feel his breath against my skin once again, and hear his whisper in my ear. "Baby, I missed you and I need you with me. I love you and you know that, and I need you to need me and love me too. Remeber all the things we did together, and remeber all the times I held you in my arms like this. Come with me, I promise I won't hurt you. Give me another chance." I close my eyes and think about everything I am hearing. My mind is washed of every independent thought I ever had and I am again, helpless. He loosens his grip on my arm and leads me in the direction of his house. I remember all the times I walked down to road to his house and how when I would get there, he would greet me with a big hug and kiss. He brings me into his house and he closes the door behind me. I look around at the same house I was at a couple of days before, not expecting I'd be in this situation days after. He stands in front of me, puts his arms around my waist, and kisses my forehead softly. "I love you baby." He whispers.