Falling for the Fallen

Chapter Two

It was now the afternoon and I sat at my kitchen table with Megan, we were both reading magazines. My parents were out of town and I was home alone for the time being, so I invited her for a sleepover at my place. “You think I would meet Justin Bieber one day?” She suddenly asked, breaking the silence that hovered over us in the room. I looked over the magazine I was reading just to meet with her eyes. “Just kidding, Lia.”

“Right.” I claimed sarcastically, dragging out my ‘I’. I flipped past a couple of pages that weren’t intriguing to me, and just as I was, Joey ran into the kitchen, holding up a shiny keychain. I zoomed in closer to get a better look. Wait, that wasn’t a shiny keychain, that happened to be my Chanel dangle earrings!

“Joey, no.” I yelled out calmly, slapping my magazine down and taking the earrings from him, he started crying within seconds. I glanced at the pair of jewelry and back at him, who was now gushing out tons of snot from the nose.

“Ew.” Megan spat out in disgust, her magazine still positioned in front of her.

I breathed out a sigh and handed him my car keys instead, but he threw them down stubbornly, holding his hands out towards my earrings that were still placed in my hands. “Joey, no. These are very expensive.”

“I say lock the kid up,” Megan suddenly confirmed, “Every time I look at him I have the urge to just yell at him. He reminds me too much of Claire.”

I snapped my neck to face her, narrowing my eyes. “Do not blame Joey for his similar appearance to the school whore.” He continued crying and screaming, and I ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated.

“What did Claire honestly ever do for you?” She suddenly asked, standing up and crossing her arms. “Why do you feel like you owe them by watching their little devil? And when will he SHUT UP?” She yelled bitterly.

“Megs, he’s just a little toddler. Chill.” I picked up Joey and started patting him on the back as he started crying even more. “Shh…” My whisper sounded like a calming lullaby, since his crying and screaming softened up a bit.

“Finally.” Megan groaned out. “It’s almost ten at night; he could’ve woken up the neighbors. And speaking of late timing, where is Claire?”

I continued patting Joey on the back, “I don’t know, she’s supposed to be here any—” The doorbell had rung, breaking my voice and having it come to a halt. Megan sunk back in her chair and started reading her magazine, knowing that it was Claire.

“Mommy!” Joey shouted, already knowing who it was.

“Your ‘mommy’ happens to be a whore, Joey.” Megan said sweetly, smiling at him.

I rolled my eyes at her comment and kept my arm wrapped around Joey’s waist, using my free hand to grab his bag of things. I went to the door and opened it, seeing Claire standing there. Her blonde hair and dark green eyes piercing at me, giving me that unwelcoming look.

“Hi sweetness!” She yelled with a coo, taking Joey from me and his bag, not even bothering to exchange a ‘hello’ or ‘hi’ to me.

“Joseph Jennings has been causing me grief all afternoon.” I commented with a sigh.

“And he was annoying the living crap out of me!” Megan shouted from the kitchen, she sounded occupied.

Claire rolled her eyes at me, “Whatever. He’s a little kid, what do you expect? For him to be an angel?” She turned back to Joey himself and smiled widely, “You got your attitude from me, and your looks from daddy! Isn’t that right?” She started bobbing up and down to soothe him, and he laid his head on her shoulder. I stared at her, trying hard not to spit something venomous out. If I even had something venomous to say. I was horrible at coming up with comebacks, I swear.

“Anyway,” She initiated, sounding bored, “You have to watch him again tomorrow. I have an all-star cheerleading competition that I can’t miss, and my parents are gone for the weekend. And Matt’s hanging out with some of his friends, but he’ll be back to pick our child up.” I cocked an eyebrow at her; did she really have to say ‘our child’? Just to piss me off?

Megan suddenly cut in between me, randomly appearing out of nowhere. “Why don’t you say please? She’s watching your little devil, she didn’t have to waste a Friday afternoon to watch him. Would it kill you to throw in a ‘thank you’ or ‘please’ here and there?”

“Whatever,” Claire ignored her and turned back to me, “So you have to watch him. Got it?”

I nodded my head before she turned away and went to her silver car, putting Joey in his car seat before driving off into the night. I slammed the door shut and turned to Megan with my arms crossed.

“I hate that chick.” Megan murmured out, “Why do you put up with her?”

“Because…I love Joey, and what would I look like if I hated his mom?” I questioned, making my way back to the kitchen.

“It’d make you look like you don’t take crap from anybody, that’s what it’d make you look like.” She shot tersely.

“Well, maybe that’s how you’d elaborate, but that doesn’t work for me.” I took out a box of elbow pasta and some Velveeta cheese, turning on the stove shortly after.

“Why does Matt even put up with her? Heck, why did he even get with her that night when-”

“Megan, drop it.” I gritted my teeth, my eyes laid on the stove.

She stared at me for a few short seconds, and I finally turned to her.

“Now, help me get this macaroni and cheese started.” I finally demanded, giving her an apologetic smile for commanding to hush her up. She’s just hateful towards Claire because Claire backstabbed me, and I appreciate it, but if I’m not bothered by it, Megan shouldn’t have to be, either. Megan suddenly smiled back, making her way over to help me.