Best Friend's Brother: Chapter One

Little Girls

"Your car was freezing, but I didn't want to say anything," I said as I pulled my hands into my sweatshirt sleeves while I followed Matthew as he walked up the concrete steps to the small building to pay for parking. He had his camera bag slung over his shoulder, hands stuffed in his grey and white striped sweatshirt pockets, and he was wearing a burgundy beanie.

I grabbed my camera that hung around my neck and took a picture. Matt is such an aesthetic. I ran to catch up with Matthew. Something struck the back of my head as I stood next to Matt. I turned to see who threw it when a little girl ran into my legs with a terrified look on her face. I crouched down to her; she wrapped her arms around my neck in a death grip.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" I gently asked the little girl. She had long brown hair and had beautiful green eyes filled with terror and fear. She looked to be about three, maybe four, years old. She was wearing a puffy grey jacket, bright pink leggings, black snow boots and a blue and white hat with a black ball on top.

"Mommy, he hurts me," she loosened her grip and looked into my eyes, "He hurts you too."

"Honey, I'm not your mommy," the little girl froze as a man yelled in our direction. I glanced over at the man who shouted, and I could see from here that his eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like he hadn't showered in a week, he was wearing a nice suit, but the shirt was ripped in a few spots.

I stood up with the little girl in my arms and leaned to Matthew, telling him to play along.

"So that guy over there came with this little girl, and she says that her mommy won't wake up and he hurts her too," I saw the man start walking toward us, "and you said that the waterfall is that way?" I said pointing in a random direction and switching the conversation once he got in earshot. The woman in the box gave me a thumbs up to let me know she got a picture of the man and the police were contacted.

"Thank you so much," I said and Matt took the little girl from my arms and hugged her tightly. He whispered something to her, and she giggled. The little girl squirmed in Matt's arms as he tickled her and I took the opportunity to take a picture. He set her down and held her hand. I took her other hand in mine, and we started walking into the park.

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"And... Got it!" Matt said, and I jumped down from the rock I was sitting on. Matt caught me when I tumbled forward when I hit the ground. I stood up and started walking over Melody who was drawing in the dirt with a stick. I looked at what she was drawing, and it was a big heart with two big stick people and one little one.

"What are you drawing Mel?" I asked.

"Our family. You, me, and him," Melody smiled brightly and pointed at Matt. My heart swelled in my chest, and I looked at Matt who had pink dusted across his cheeks. He offered me his hand to help me stand up which I gladly took. Melody jumped up and grabbed Matt's other hand. He intertwined our fingers as we walked with Melody to the little cafe they had in the middle of the park

"Melody how old are you?" I asked her once we sat down.

"Four. I'm five November eight."

My phone started to ring, and I stood up. I walked two tables over to answer it, so Melody was out of earshot, "Hello, Ms. Tyler, this is Alex Kodak from the police department calling because we found Melody's mother who is in critical condition with multiple wounds to her chest and head. She also has high levels of alcohol and heroin in her system. Her chances of making it are slim, but we will do everything we can to save her."

"Okay, what should I do in the meantime? Should I keep her with me, should I take her to an orphanage, what should I do?" I asked, internally freaking out because I don't know how to care for a little girl.

"Do what you think would be best for her, Ms. Tyler. If you decide to keep her, contact social services and they will give you any and all further information," she ended the call after I said thank you. I leaned up against the wall and thought about my options.

Matt walked over to me and asked what was up, "The best I can do for her is take her with me and raise her the best I can for only being 17 or I can drop her off at an orphanage and feel like I was giving up my child. I don't want to leave her all alone, I mean she has no family at all. She's all on her own, and every time I look at her, I see myself when I was scared and alone at preschool. Having to grow up without anyone to teach you right from wrong, teaching you how to do stuff, or even read you a bedtime story really sucks. My grandma was great, but I had to figure out things on my own. I didn't have anyone to guide me, I guided myself, and I don't want her to live the life I had to. I don't want her to grow up the way I did, you know?"

"We'll help you," Matt replied almost immediately.

"We? Who's we?" 

"You know, me, Nathaniel, Katie, we'll help you. It won't be easy, but what is about parenting?" I laughed, "And worst-case scenario, it's only you and me. Nathaniel is eighteen and leaving for PSEO classes in a week I believe."

"What does that have to do with anything?" I asked confused.

"He was going to rent an apartment. Since he's eighteen, he can technically be our 'guardian,' and we could all help with rent and stuff. Melody would have a solid home, and four amazing people to take care of her. It's like having two sets of parents, and that's pretty awesome," Matt explained, and I glanced over at Melody who waved at me.

"All of this is assuming that her mom doesn't make it. Or if her mom does make it and Child Protection Services deem her mom unfit to raise a child," Matthew nodded, "Well... Let's do it then."