Boy meets Girl

Babysitting

(Lucas comes over to help Dylan babysit and to his surprise Avery and Jasmine come over to help as well. They leave an hour after to go on a double date leaving Lucas alone with Dylan and baby Roberto)

Lucas' POV

When I showed up at Dylan's parents I don't know what I expected. I certainly didn't expect to  Avery and Jasmine answer the door. 

"Hey Lucas." Avery said with a smile. Jasmine stood behind her sending a text on her phone.

 "About time you showed up. Dylan needs all the help she can get." Jasmine said after Avery closed the door behind me.

I looked around the room to make sure Dylan wasn't around. "I thought you guys are here to help too. Why were you waiting on me?" I asked.

The girls looked at one another then back at me. Jasmine then sighed and walked away. "Well, we are here to help." Avery started. "However, we planned our double date weeks ago. We told her we could cancel when we got here, but she insisted she'd be okay."

There was a scream from the other room followed by some loud laughter.

Avery and I rushed down the hall into the baby's room which happened to be Dylan's old bedroom. Although her back was turned I could tell she was laughing. Jasmine stood beside her holding her stomach and was gasping for air.

When Dylan faced us I could see what all the laughter was about. Roberto had spit up on Dylan's shoulder. Avery didn't hold back her laughter but I just tried to look at the floor without laughing. 

"Here." I heard Dylan say. I looked up and watched her hand her brother over to Jasmine. She walked into her old bathroom to clean herself up. Avery walked over to Jasmine and started to coo at the baby. 

"Lucas." Jasmine called me over and I slowly crept towards them. "You should hold him. I swear he weighs like nothing." 

I shook my head and put my hands in my pockets. I feel like I should only handle Roberto if I have to. I mean what if I did something wrong?

"I'm with Lucas." Avery said. "I love to look at babies. Holding them is another story."

A few minutes pasted before Dylan came out in an old grey t-shirt and flannel pants. Her hair was put up in a messy bun. She stretched her arms before speaking. "Sorry to keep you two waiting. Ya'll can head out." Jasmine passed Roberto back to Dylan.

"Are you sure?" Jasmine asked. Dylan just nodded and made her way out the room.

Avery sighed. "If you guys need any help don't hesitate to call." She said before walking out the room.

Jasmine waited until Avery was out of hearing range. "Look, I love Dylan but she can't do this by herself. I know that's what she wants us to think." I nodded. She already looked so tired. Jasmine looked down at the floor. "Who all knows your here?"

I shrugged. "Smackle, Daniel and Roddi." 

Jasmine bit her lip. She let out a sigh then walked past me to the doorway. "Just.. don't let her do this alone." With that she left.

I stood in the bedroom for a bit. I looked around thinking. Why does it matter who knows I'm here? Dylan needs help so why can't I be the one to help her? I guess to some it might look bad.. but like I said before. Since Zay moved, and Riley's been going out with Charlie.. I've felt alone. Alone.. 

I shook my head when I heard the baby cry again. I left the room and followed the sound. It led me to the kitchen. There stood Dylan with Roberto in her arms with a bottle in her hand.

"Shhhh.." She hushed him. She checked the temperature of the bottle then held it up for him to drink. When she looked up we made eye contact. I suddenly felt a pain in my chest. I quickly brushed it off when she nodded for me to come closer.

"You're doing great with him." I said. He looked pretty peaceful drinking from the bottle. 

"Thanks. I'm trying." She responded. We sat down at the table while he was being fed. I looked down at my hands. "I don't know how you do it." I mumble. 

"Do what?" She asked.

"Handle babies.." I said crossing my arms on the table. She smirked. "It's not that hard. However, I can see why Mom always looks so tired."

I nodded. She sat the bottle on the table and she put Roberto on her shoulder to burp him. I tapped my fingers on the table while she patted his back. When we heard the little burp, she laid him back down in her arms.

I took a deep breath and made the comment I was dreading an answer to. "I guess this is great practice for you, huh?"

She quickly turned her gaze from her brother to me. "Practice for what?" 

I shrugged. "Does Josh want children?" She started to laugh. I felt my cheeks warming up from embarrassment.

She sighed. "Maybe one day. Right now I think we should get married before we talk about me popping out babies."

I nodded. I can't believe I asked her that. I felt her hand on my shoulder. "I know babies scare you Lucas." She said. I bit my lip and faced her. "You'll be a great Uncle one day. I know it."

I smirked. "A great Uncle? You sure?" 

She nodded. "And one day to a special someone you'll be an amazing husband and a wonderful father." I felt my smirk leave my face. "What?" She asked. I just shook my head. I could feel her hand squeeze my shoulder and I reached up and brushed it away. I heard her sigh. Roberto began to cry.  She started to get up. 

"I can take him." I said. Before she could respond I carefully took Roberto from her arms and walked into the living room. There I sat on the couch and carefully tried to get him to sleep.

I know how much I tired not to think about it the thoughts would always be in the back of my mind. When I saw her in the kitchen it felt too real. I always pictured Dylan being the mother of my children. Seeing her holding her brother was just a painful reminder of how good she is with babies. All the babies back in Texas loved her. She was a great babysitter, and that's why I always pictured us in a little house in Texas. We'd be married after college with a baby or two. Maybe even a dog. And it's my fault. She's marrying another man. She fell in love with another man and it was my fault. 

"Lucas."

I looked up and I saw Dylan standing over us with a box of tissues. I took one; I didn't even know I was crying.

She sat down next to me on the couch. "He's asleep. What did you do? Tell him about high school?" She joked.

I looked down at Roberto. He looked just as peaceful as he did when he was eating. 

"Are you alright?" I heard her ask. I nodded. "I've never put a baby to sleep before." I mumbled. I felt her head lay down on my shoulder and my lips formed a smile. She yawned. "I told you, you would do just fine." She looked up at me and I could feel my chest pounding. Memories from the past tried to jinx me.. they tried. I ruffled her hair then laid my head against hers. 

I don't plan on losing her ever again. Even if she's not the mother of my children or my wife. Her being here is enough. Being friends is enough. It needs to be enough.