Babysitting Bands

11

I handed Kellin a plate with eggs and bacon on it, and he took it, staring ahead like a zombie. He hadn't moved from his spot on the couch since I brought him home from the hospital the day before. Not that he could without help since his leg was broken. He was staying with me. I hated the look he had and he hadn't gotten any better since Kate told him he couldn't see Cope again. It was easier with him here; I could keep an eye on him and not have to worry about him.

"I have to go to work today." I said, hoping to get a reaction from him. "Kels? Are you going to be okay without me for a few hours?" I asked when he didn't respond. I sighed and sat next to him. "You're going to get her back. I'll talk to Kate. You can take this to court if you have to." I reasoned. He slowly turned his head to face me. His eyes were full of tears and his expression just showed his pain.

"They always favor the mother, Brandy. I'm never going to see her again." Kellin said. His voice was broken, but convincing. It was true; they usually did favor the mother. I sighed again and gave him a quick hug.

"I'll be back later. Call me if you need anything, and get something to eat if you want." I got up and slipped into shoes before leaving. I couldn't stand to see Kellin like this; I loved him so much and to know that one of my best friends did this to him pained me. I wasn't going to work; at least not yet. I was going to see Kate.

I pulled into her driveway and parked behind her car. There were lights on inside, she was home. I didn't really know what to say to her when she opened the door, how would I convince her to talk to me? She hated me after she found out that Kellin and I were together. I went over my monologue in my head as I walked to the door and knocked on it, but when Kate finally opened the door I forgot all my lines.

She looked overwhelmed to say the least. Her hair and clothes were disheveled and she looked exhausted. Her eyes were red and teary and she sniffed like she had been crying. I could hear Cope screaming inside and the phone ringing and, was that the fire alarm? When Kate saw me she looked relieved, happy even.

"Brandy." She said. From the look she gave me I knew we were okay, at least for now. She wasn't mad, or maybe she was, but she wasn't holding it against me. She moved aside to let me in and I went straight to the fire alarm which must have been set off by something that was burning. Kate ran to get the phone and I found Copeland who had somehow managed to tangle herself in the legs of a chair. I got her unstuck and brought her to the couch where her toys were. She calmed down quickly and I ran to the kitchen to get a burning tray of cookies out of the oven.

"Yeah, okay...yeah that sounds good, thanks...alright, bye." Kate muttered from the living room before hanging up the phone. She dropped down on the couch with a sigh and I followed. Now that I could see her better, I realized she was looking aven worse than I noticed initially. There were stains of all kinds on her black t-shirt, and she wasn't wearing any of her usual makeup.

"Kate, are you alright?" I asked when I sat next to her. Kate lifted a hand to her face and shook her head.

"No. I can't do this, Brandy. If you hadn't shown up, I don't know what I would have done." She let out a deep sigh and squeezed her eyes shut.

"What's going on here?" I asked in reference to the chaos. Kate shrugged.

"My kid's crying, cookies burning, fire alarm's going off, lawyer on the pho-- Oh the cookies!" She cried and jumped up, running to the kitchen. I followed her in as she dropped a burnt cookie back on the cookie sheet in exasperation.

"Wait, why did you have a lawyer on the phone, Kate?" I asked. She looked up at me.

"You know, for court." She said. I shook my head in confusion. "Isn't Kellin going to try to get custody of Copeland?" I shrugged. He seemed so set on the fact that he had already lost that he wouldn't even try. He had to try though, and I would make him no matter what. It wouldn't be good for his case if Kate knew what condition he was in though, so I nodded.

"Most likely." I said. Kate sighed. "Kate, why do you hate Kellin so much?" I asked. She stared blankly at the burnt cookies almost like she didn't hear me. I knew she did, though, when her eyes filled with tears. "Oh, come here." I pulled her into a hug and walked her back over to the couch. I looked at her waiting for her to answer.

"I-I don't hate him. I love him. That's why I'm do mad." She started. I nodded for her to continue and she turned to watch Copeland. "I loved him so much and he left me. He left me...for you." She said softly. She looked back up at me, a look of resentment playing across her features.

"Kate..." I said, about to argue her. But she quickly shook her head, dismissing her previous thought.

"I know. It's not your fault, I shouldn't blame you." She stood up and paced the room before stopping at a window. "I was baking those cookies to make it up to you. For the other day. I know I was kind of a bitch back there." She laughed dryly to herself, and I stood up. "He is a good father...he really is."

"Kate, it's not that." I started, getting her attention. She turned to look at me and I continued. "Kellin didn't leave you for me; he left you because you cheated on him. He found me after he was over everything you put him through." Maybe it was a low blow to bring up her cheating on Kellin, but it was important that she understood what happened. "Him finding me had nothing to do with you. Hell, it had more to do with Copeland than with you!" I was raising my voice, but I didn't care anymore. Kate glared at me and marched towards me.

"You fucking slut! You just sleep around with my ex husband and practically adopt my kid! This is all your fault! None of this would have happened if it weren't for you!" She yelled at me. I scowled at her words and was about to counter her when Cope started crying. "Ugh, see what you did!" She screamed. I clenched my jaw and my hands balled into fists. I was fuming. How could she blame me like this!?

"Are you kidding me!? Kellin was right, you're irresponsible and careless. He was right to go." Kate didn't even move to comfort Cope and I rolled my eyes. "If you didn't have me, you wouldn't have her. You can't even take care of your own daughter without practically burning the house down! At least Kellin never put cookies before his own child! He's twice the parent you'll ever be." I spat at her. "He deserves full custody over her, not you." Kate looked close to tears again and finally picked Cope up, bouncing her on her hip. She turned back to me and I thought she would start yelling again, but she didn't.

"Kellin may be a good father, but Copeland is still my daughter. Kellin's on tour all the time and wouldn't be able to give her a good life. Me, at least I have you." She said slowly. She gave me an apologetic look like she was silently asking forgiveness. As much as I wanted to make up with her, I knew I couldn't. Not this time, at least not now. I shook my head slowly.

"No, Kate, you don't have me anymore. Not for this. Kellin has me now. I'm sorry, but he's in a better situation, financially and organization wise. I'm on his side with this." She stared at me for a moment then turned away from me.

"Tell Kellin I'll see him in court." And with that, I left; praying that Copeland would survive until then.