Beyond Judgement: Beyond Series, Book 1

Chapter 1

1 Month later

Allie

My reflection stares back at me from the dresser mirror. I pull my hair up into a ponytail. A pair of blue jeans and a red and black flannel button-up shirt hugs what little figure I have. I don't need makeup and my hair done to go out. I'll put on some foundation from time to time, but I'm not a prissy girl. The simpler the better.

I check the time on my phone. 7:35 A.M. I slide it into the back pocket of my jeans before slipping my feet into a pair of Converse.

"Allie, Logan is here." My mother's voice trails into my room. "Hurry up, you're going to be late!"

I take a deep breath and tighten the band around my brunette hair. My mom would love it if Logan and I would date, but it's never going to happen. He's my best friend and I have no longing for a boyfriend of any kind. Ever.

He's my ride to campus because my car is in the shop. I tried to get my mom to let me live on campus. She refused. You get into enough trouble staying under my roof. I can only imagine the trouble you'd get into without me. I roll my eyes at the memory.
I'm not a troublemaker, but I would classify myself as stubborn. I just see things differently than she does. It bothers her to have a daughter who is outspoken, and in her eyes, rebellious. I'm not the perfect princess she had envisioned. I know she loves me, but we are just two very different people.

I hurry down the stairs, taking them two at a time to the living room where my mother stands with one hand on her hip in a form-fitted dress. Her hair is done up in a flawless bun. She's a lawyer and dresses the part. My mom is the spitting image of the perfect businesswoman and wife. Everything about her is prim and proper. Too bad her perfectness is exactly why my parents separated, but they still find the time to fight with each other now and then.

"Let's go." I pat Logan's arm.

I need to get out of this house before she starts in on my appearance.

"Honey, don't you think you should wear your hair down?" Mom says, running her fingers through my ponytail. "Logan, tell her, her hair looks so much better when it's down."

"I like it this way, Mom," I say, pushing her hand from me.

The tension between us builds and I nod toward the door.

Logan opens it with a half-smile stretched across his face.

My mom sighs. "Okay, have a good day."

I turn and walk out the door toward Logan's beat-up Chevy truck. He follows close behind and wraps his arm around my neck as his steps match mine.

"Controlling much?" he asks.

"Always," I say.

This isn't news to Logan. He has been my neighbor and close friend for years. We see each other as brother and sister and have never thought of it going beyond that. My mother, however, already has our marriage planned and our children named.

"Good thing I could break you out of prison."

I smile.

He opens the passenger door to his truck for me and I slide in, tossing my book bag on the floorboard. He walks around the front of the truck and climbs inside. Logan revs the engine before putting it into gear.

"Why do you do that? Does it make you feel more manly or something?" I ask.

"It does a little." He winks. "I do it because it annoys you."

I roll my eyes.

My phone buzzes and I take it from my back pocket.

"Lindy?" he asks.