So High School

Chapter 4

The days went by and before Taylor knew it, Friday had arrived. Charlie had turned in all of the assignments required and had even scored a 100% on the extra credit even though he only needed to score a 90%.

Taylor was getting ready for the football game after school on Friday when she received a call from her mom.

"Honey, I'm so sorry but your father and I have caught a cold so we can't watch Kayden tonight like we said we could", Andrea said through the phone.

Panic flushed through Taylor. "Oh, that's fine. I hope you and dad feel better soon", Taylor said through gritted teeth.

"Thank you sweetie", Andrea said. "Love you".

"Love you too". Taylor hung up and set the curling iron on the counter.

"Kayden?" Taylor called, going to the living room.

"Mommy, I build tower", Kayden said proudly, showing his mother the tower of lego duplo blocks he'd built.

"Wow, that's tall!" Taylor began. "But I have some sad news. Grandma and Grandpa are sick tonight so they can't watch you".

"Awe. Why they sick?" Kayden asked innocently. He loved his grandparents so much.

"They have a cold, bud", Taylor said, sitting on the couch. She was all ready to go but had no babysitter.

"Yucky", Kayden said.

Taylor turned on Paw Patrol for her and Kayden and the two year old sat on his mother's lap, cuddling her.

Suddenly, Taylor's phone started ringing.

"Hello?" Taylor asked. The number was unknown.

"Hey". The voice belonged to Travis. "I thought you were coming to the game tonight".

Taylor sighed, turning the show's volume down. "I was, but my parents bailed on babysitting Kayden last minute because they have colds".

"Why don't you just bring him with you then?" Travis suggested. Taylor could hear the shouts of teenage boys in the distance, presumably his players.

"I don't know. He's kind of shy and two year olds are hard to keep still", Taylor explained.

"Please? You can tell him that if he behaves that I'll get him ice cream after", Travis offered. She could hear the desperation in his voice and it was making her smile like an idiot.

"Are you begging me to come, Kelce?" Taylor asked, flirtiness in her voice.

"Fine, you've caught me. Come on, it'll be fun", Travis said. She could hear him grin on the other end of the phone by his voice.

"I'll see what I can do", Taylor offered.

"OK. See you in a few", Travis said, ending the call.

Taylor sat there in silence, the only sound being Kayden's show.

Kayden turned his head around to look at his mom's face. "Why you smile Mommy?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing. Do you want to go see big boys play football tonight?" Taylor said.

"What dat?" Kayden asked. This was the effect of growing up with a single mother and no real male authority in his life except his grandpa and occasionally his uncle Austin.

"I wish I could tell you but I don't really know myself", Taylor laughed. "It's a sport".

Taylor put Kayden's shoes on and grabbed his fully charged iPad only used for special occasions. She didn't want to raise an iPad kid. Lastly, she grabbed a few toys and placed them in a bag for Kayden and put his navy blue dinosaur jack on him.