The Daddy Club | 5sos au

Second Names and Second Chances

Calum

"So this is it?" I stare up at the building from Becca's spot in the car park outside.

The building was a horrible gray brick, a huge set of wooden double doors, and barely any windows. It reminded me slightly of a prison. I can't believe Talia's dance classes are here.

"Yep." Becca pops the 'p'.

"Right." I say slowly.

Becca was letting me tag along with her to drop Talia off at dancing. We both figured that eventually I would be taking Talia as well. So, I better know where it is.

"Talia, is your bag back there." Talia hums a yes in response and starts fumbling with her seat belt on her car seat. "Calum, can you get her out."

"Sure." I say and jump out the car. I go to the side Talia is on and open the door. "Excited to dance?" I say when I see her.

"Uh-huh." Talia nods and I begin to unbuckle her.

"You like dancing?" I ask. I know that Becca used to do ballet when we were dating. I assume she gave it up when she got pregnant. So I guess I am a little concerned that Talia is only going because Becca is making her. Maybe Talia would like football, like me.

"Yeah." Talia giggles.

I pick Talia out off the car and look at her. "You sure?"

"Yeah!" Talia giggles.

"She's the best." Becca suddenly appears by my side and gives me a little glare.

"What?" I ask.

"I know what you're doing." She says, picking up Talia's dance bag.

"What am I doing?" I try to play dumb.

"Talia loves dancing." Becca says to me. "She's is in a class with four year olds." Becca turns on the spot and begins walking to the 'prison'.

"Whoa," I do a weird jump/hop thing to catch up, making Talia giggle again. "Four year olds?"

"Yes." Becca says smugly. "She's very good." Becca and I go up the stairs to the door.

"But she's two," I shake my head. No way was this legal. Talia can't keep up with four year olds. She's only two! "That can't be right."

"But it is." Becca swings the door open, and I catch it, holding it open for her. Talia begins to squirm in my hands.

Surely it can't be right for Talia to be in a class with four year olds. It's a two year difference. That might not be that back if she was twelve in a class with fourteen year olds but right now it's not right. I had to tell becca how I felt about this.

"Becca-" Talia pinches my arm. "Hey," I say to her. "That isn't nice."

Talia looks up at me and pouts. "Down." She says, but I jus give her a blank look before she glares at me some more then slaps my arm. "Down Calmum."

"Right," I say to her. "Okay." I put her on her feet. "Happy?" I put my hands on my hips.

"Calum." Becca scolds and now she smacks my chest.

"What?" I ask looking from Becca to Talia. Talia has copied my actions and is giving me an angry stare. One I am quite happy to give back.

"Stop behaving like a two year old." Becca tells me.

"But...?" I trail off and look from Becca to Talia again. This time Talia is smiling.

"Talia is two." Becca says as she begins walking again. Talia runs to catch up with her and grabs her hand. I grumble and put my hands in my pockets, following after them.

We reach a glass window with a woman behind it, sitting in a chair on wheels. She has graying hair and glasses. She is in front of a computer and is typing away before we reach her desk. She stops when she sees us and gives Talia a wide smile.

"Hello gorgeous!" She says to Talia enthusiastically.

"Hi." Talia shuffles on her feet.

"Hey Wendy." Becca gives a slight smile.

"Rebecca." Wendy, as I now know, nods to her with a smile. Then she notices me with my hands in my pocket behind Becca and Talia. "Oh?" She gives me a confused smile. "Nice to meet you." She says and I see her eyes shift between Talia and me. She was probably working it out in her head.

"Yeah, hi." I say and for me someone who is normally quite confident I definitely sound like a two year old with stage fright.

"Now," Wendy faces the screen. "Let me just sign you in." She begins typing. "Talia, Talia, Talia," she repeats, scanning the monitor. "Talia... Hardgrove, no," I look up and see Becca's shoulders tense. "Hutchison, no." Becca's second name is Morris. "Ah, here." Wendy says laughing. "Talia Hood-Morris."

She has my name.

Talia has Hood in her name. Yeah, it's joined with Becca's but it's still my name. Talia is a Hood. What the fuck?

"Great." Becca says quickly, taking Talia's hand. "Come on Calum."

"Uh..." I say slowly. "I think," I feel my face flush. Becca's is red too. "I'll wait here for you."

"Okay." Is all Becca says before her and Talia go through some blue doors.

I let out a big breath I didn't know I was holding. Talia has Hood in her second name. What does that mean? Becca must of done that. No one else would've. But then why keep Talia from me? If she had my second name, and the only reason I was kept in the dark was because of Becca's parents, according to Karlie, and not Becca, then why not contact me sooner.

Surely by giving Talia my second name as well as her own, Becca hoped I would come back into the picture. Well be in the picture, I was never there in the first place.

The blue door swings open again and Talia comes through it and grabs onto my leg.

"Whoa." I say and I'm brought out of my daydream. "You okay?"

"I'm sorry." Talia presses her forehead against my leg. "Calmum," she says quietly. "I'm sorry."

I sigh and crouch down, very aware Wendy is watching us. I pat Talia's head. "As long as you are sorry," I say to her. "And promise not to do it again," I warn. "It's okay."

"I promise." Talia says quickly. "I promise, Cal."

"Then it's okay." I give her forehead a little kiss. "Go to your mum." I tell her and look up to see Becca at the doors with a little smile on her face. She gives me a little nod and I know it must mean I've done something good.

"Thank you." Talia smiles. "You be here after?"

"Oh... um..." Lisa. I was seeing Lisa after this. "Well, you see Tally..." I begin but her bottom lip begins to quiver and I know what that means. Her big brown eyes seem to get bigger. "Of course." I sigh. I look up to Becca who nods to me. "We can have dinner together again."

"Good." Talia smiles before running to Becca.

"I'll be out in a minute." Becca tells me quietly and slips through the door with Talia again.

Maybe the reason Becca wanted to give me a chance with Talia but just didn't know how. Maybe she wanted to give me a chance. And now I have it.

I can't fuck up.

I just fucking can't.