Paper Hearts (Book Five)

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

And another one bites the dust

Oh why can I not conquer love?

And I might have thought that we were one

Wanted to fight this war without weapons

"Harry? Do you know where I put Audrey's blanket?" Niall yelled from the bottom of the stairs. I poked my head out of the twins room where I was currently trying to get Jemma to put on her shirt.

Believe it or not it wasn't an easy task.

If I had it my way I would allow them to stay in their pajamas.

But no.

Niall wants them to be presentable.

For who?

No one ever comes over and it's not like we go anywhere.

Jesus.

"I don't know? Did you check the kitchen? I thought she had it with her this morning." I called back, turning back to the twins only to let out a long sigh.

Jemma wasn't wearing any clothes now.

Neither was Jonah.

Goddammit.

"It's not in the kitchen Harry... I already looked!" He called again, but I was a little more concerned with the two naked three year olds who were running around the room.

God.

I lived in a zoo.

"Harry?!" Niall apparently didn't appreciate the fact I was paying attention to him, but in my defense I was trying to grab Jemma.

She wasn't making it easy

"Kinda busy right now Ni." I called out, reaching to grab Jemma only to have her drop down between my legs. She went running right out of the room, a fit of giggles escaping her as she ran. Jonah sat on the floor patiently, eyes closed as he rocked back and forth on the floor.

"Jemma Danielle, where in gods name are your clothes?!" Niall's voice rang out, earning a quiet giggle from Jonah as he continued to rock. He made no move to do anything else.

And I just watched him quietly as I grabbed his clothes.

"Daddy say I no wear clothes." Jemma whined as Niall walked into the room holding Jemma. Jemma was pouting, her arms crossed over her chest as Niall set her down.

"I didn't say that Jemma."

"Daddy did. I no wear clothes." She said, stomping her foot as if that would help clarify her point. I looked at Niall with a "you're the one who wanted another one" look but that doesn't get me anywhere. Niall retaliated with "you'll be on the couch for a week, along with diaper duty", and that was something I just couldn't risk.

"Jemma, you have to wear clothes... Here, I'll even let you pick out what you want." I said, opening the dresser drawer that held an assortment of clothing for both Jemma and Jonah.

Jemma was already a tomboy at the age of three, hating anything that had to do with the colors pink and purple. She refused to wear dresses, and would only wear a shirt if it had some sort of superhero logo on it.

"I no want to." She said, still refusing to even look at the dresser. Niall and I both sighed, shaking our heads and pinching the bridges of our noses.

"You're just like your father." Niall said.

"You're just like your mother." I said.

We both looked at each other, Niall glaring at me while I just shrugged.

He knew he was stubborn.

He was stubborn about being stubborn.

"I no wear clothes. Jo no wear clothes." Jemma said, almost as if pointing out the fact that Jonah was only wearing his underwear was going to help her argument.

"Je-" I started but was interrupted by my phone ringing. My eyebrows scrunched together as I saw it was A.J.'s school...

Why on earth would they be calling?

"I gotta take this... Can you handle this situation?" I asked Niall. He simply rolled his eyes at me before nodding. I walked out of the bedroom and out into the hall before accepting the call.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Mr. Styles?" A woman's voice rang out on the other side, one that just made me cringe.

Good lord...

"Yes..."

"This Principal Gayn. I'm calling on the behalf of your son Alexander. It appears as if your son has been in a fight with one of his classmates. We would appreciate it if you would come down to the school and retrieve your son, and we would also like to discuss disciplinary matters pertaining to issue at hand." I didn't know what to say at first.

She was joking right?

She wasn't talking about my Alexander...

She couldn't be talking about A.J.

"Are you sure that it's my son you're talking about? He doesn't... he's not violent."

"I'm afraid that is your son Mr. Styles."

She didn't sound very afraid.

Stupid f ucker.

"Okay... Thank you for calling..."

"The pleasure was all mine."

I'm sure it was.

"Goodbye Mr. Styles. I'll be speaking with you shortly." And with that she hung up the phone, leaving me completely dumbfounded.

"Who was it?" Niall asked, walking into the hallway. Jemma ran out after him, Jonah's hand in hers as they carefully walked down the stairs. Niall leaned against the wall as he waited for my answer.

I took a deep breath, running a hand through my hair.

"It was... It was A.J.'s principal..." I said.

"Why is she calling?"

"Well... I guess there was a fight... and A.J. was involved. I'm gonna head over to the school to get the whole story..."

"That doesn't sound like A.J."

"I know... that's why I'm heading over to the school." Niall nodded, looking away from me. That effectively ended the conversation, and I was quick to leave after that. The drive to the school wasn't a long one, five minutes at the most.

When I reached the school i sloppily parked the car, running towards the front doors. I went straight to the office where a receptionist pointed me towards the back. There was a small hallway that lead to Mrs. Gayn's office, three chairs sitting in front of it.

On the chair closest to me sat A.J.

The small boy looking at me as soon as I started to walk towards him. I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw the cracked lip and the swollen eye.

"Shit..." I whispered, finally reaching him. I knelt down in front of him before wiping away the few stray tears that had fallen down his cheeks.

He cracked a smile.

"Daddy... Swear jar."

------------------------------------

Awes.

Poor A.J.

I feel bad for the kid.

I don't know what else to say today.

Oh.

Wait.

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