A Collection of Short Stories

The Final Countdown

"Noah, where are we going?" Allie asked. A big smile crossed Noah's face. "Just trust me on this okay?" Noah said, the excitement hitting him all at once. "Can I have a hint?" Allie asked, a smile slowly reaching the corners of her mouth. "No, hints would give it away." Noah said. He chuckled as they both got into the car.

Noah started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. He glanced over at Allie and flashed a smile. Tonight was the night. The moment Noah had been waiting for, for three months. He had made the reservations ahead of time to make sure they would get a table at their favorite restaurant.

10. Noah focused on the car a few miles down the road, coming toward them. Something just didn't seem right about it. He was swerving slightly. Noah thought nothing of it and carried on watching for the turn for the interstate.

Several miles of back roads, a few miles and one exit on the interstate, and a couple turns in town was all it took to get to the resturaunt. It was a far drive, but Noah didn't care.

When Noah and Allie first met, they went to this restaurant. It was the first place he had really seen her happy. He had surprised her with a reservation after school one day before she was scheduled to go dress shopping for homecoming.

Noah remembered how excited Allie was. It had been their first official parent-less date. She wore the dress that came to be his favorite on her. Noah adored that she remembered that and she was wearing that dress to dinner tonight.

9..8. "You look beautiful tonight Allie." Noah said. He glanced over and smiled at her. "Thank you Noah. You look pretty handsome yourself." Allie said. She returned the smile and sat up a little more in her seat.

Allie glanced over at Noah. She realized that he was in a very nice suit and had his hair done nice. It wasn't as messy as it usually was. A smile crossed her lips. The last time he wore his hair that way was homecoming.

Homecoming was a good night. Noah and Allie enjoyed the music and dancing and one of their friends had a small party after the dance. They showed up and ended up staying to watch movies most of the night. On the way home that night Noah's car broke down so they walked to the docks to wait for Allie's mom. Noah had given Allie his jacket that night because he noticed she was shivering. She still had his jacket in the back of her closet with her dress.

7..6. Noah reached over and turned the radio on low. It was a lovey dovey country song. It reminded Noah of the first concert him and Allie went to together. Noah's parents had given him tickets to go see Tim McGraw in concert with Allie because they were unable to go. When he picked Allie up that day she was so excited. He picked her up early that day so they could go see the town. It was the first time Allie had ever been to Charlotte.

The song playing on the radio was one of Allie's favorites from the concert. She remembered how she was singing and dancing along to every song, but slow danced with him to this one. "Someday when we get married I want this song to be the first one we dance to together as husband and wife." Allie had told him. She was so sure they would be getting married after only six months of dating.

They had known each other all their lives. When they first started dating Allie admit to Noah that she always had a crush on him. She was afraid if they ever broke up they wouldn't be friends anymore. Noah put that worry to ease and told her she'd never have to worry about that.

5..4. Noah watched the swerving car rapidly approaching their car. As they got closer, Noah realized this driver was not okay.

"I love you, Allie." Noah said trying to keep a calm, happy tone. "I love you too Noah." Allie replied. The panic in her voice was evident, but Noah remained calm.

He thought about the first time they said 'I love you' to each other. They were 8 and they were sitting in his tree house playing a board game. 'I love you.' Noah had said. 'I love you too, but what does that even mean?' Allie had asked, a confused look on her face. 'I'm not sure, but I hear my mom and dad say it all the time.' Noah said back. Allie had laughed at him and told him he was weird and abandoned the tree house without finishing their game.

Allie was the first to say it the next time around. This time they were 16 and they had been dating two months. 'I love you.' Allie had told Noah. 'I love you too, but are you sure we're supposed to say it this early? I don't mind it, but it seems kind of serious for only two months.' Noah had rambled. 'Well it feels right to me. I've always loved you Noah. For as long as I can remember.' Allie had said.

3..2. Noah took a deep breath and looked at Allie a tear was running down her cheek. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. Allie turned and kissed him real quick and then Noah looked back at the windshield.

Allie thought about the first time Noah had kissed her. They were 6 and had just finished a game of freeze tag. Noah and Allie had fallen to the ground in laughter and looked at each other. 'That's no fair. You run faster than I do.' Allie whined. 'Get over it. I'm a boy, I'm supposed to be faster.' Noah had said to her. Allie stood up and ran to the big tree in her backyard and sat down. Noah came back over and felled Allie stand up. 'I'm sorry.' Noah said. He leaned forward and kissed her. 'Ew! Boy cooties! Why did you do that!' Allie had shrieked. 'Ew! Girl cooties! I did because my dad always kisses my mom after they fight. So I thought it was what I was supposed to do!' Noah walked home after that because it was getting dark.

The next time around Allie was the first one to kiss Noah. They were at a school football game and the home team had scored the game winning touchdown. Noah and Allie and everyone else jumped and cheered as the game announcers congratulated their team. Allie had turned to Noah and grabbed his face gently with her hands, 'We did it! We won the game!' Allie had screamed. She pulled him to her and kissed him.

1.. The sound of metal hitting metal filled the air around them. The car Noah had seen swerving mere seconds before hitting head on into Noah's car.

0.