Broadway Baby

Chapter 1

//Eden//

I looked up at my aunt, "They aren't even married! They live together, and it's not right!"

I was angry. Angry because my mom sent me away for a couple months. Angry because I wasn't good enough to be her daughter. My Aunt C looked me in the eyes. Her smile, unlike my mothers, was welcoming and loving.

"I know what you're feeling, and it's okay to be mad. Megan- I mean your mother, just needs time to sort things out."

"You don't get it!" I yelled and stood up, "My whole fucking life has been 'Megan this, Megan that'. There was never any time for me! She would hardly acknowledge my existence, like I was a burden on her. A constant reminder that she should've had an abortion. She told me that! Did you know she was planning on getting an abortion at the beginning of her pregnancy?" I ran out of the spare room, trying not to suffocate before finding the way out.

"EDEN! Please wait!" It was too late I was out in the fresh New York air.

Knowing your mother wanted to abort you is like being put on a doorstep as a baby, except the doorstep would've been a nicer option. Megan and I were fighting. That's how I found out. It started because I didn't want her boyfriend, Brian, to move in. She flat out yelled, "I knew I should've had an abortion! It would've been better for my career anyway!" As soon as the words left her mouth, I knew she regretted them.

Alone. That's where I was; sitting on a bench, trying to cool off. My Aunt C and I had always connected. She had become like a real mom to me because she didn't have any kids of her own. I knew I had hurt her feelings and I hate lashing out, but it just happens when I'm overwhelmed.

"Hey love." She stood behind me, with her hand on my shoulder. She sat down on the bench and wrapped me in her arms. Tears started to roll down my cheek as I let out a muffled 'I'm sorry'. She simply held me closer and whispered 'Its okay' and 'I love you'. She actually meant it too, and I never got that from my mom.

~~~~

Kellin is my best friend, we met in the 4th grade when I transferred into my 3rd school. Right off the bat we just clicked and have been inseparable since.

"Hey, you want a Pepsi or anything?" He asked, hanging from the fridge.

"Of course! Duh!" I said, laughing.

My phone started to ring, "Ugh. Right when we were getting to our best friend bonding time," I said, sarcastically.

The caller I.D. said it was my mom, my stomach was in my throat. I hesitated before answering.

"Uhm. Hello?"

"Eden?"

"Yeah. That would be me. The only daughter in your life." She was quiet for a moment before replying.

"I know you're mad at me-" I cut her off.

"No, Mom, I am furious. You don't get it how hard it is for me to basically live on my own while you're off fucking your boyfriend or at rehearsal all day. I get that you have a busy life, but as much as you wish to forget, I'm still your responsibility! I matter too! You can't just put me on the shelf and then have Aunt C pick me back up!!" Kellin stood next to me, ready for me to fall into his arms once I was done.

"Eden, listen to me! I am trying, and I know you don't like the idea of adding Brian to our family, it's my decision not yours!"

"What family are you talking about? I'm clearly not part of it! You didn't want me in the first place why should you want me now?! Fuck you." I hung up before she could answer.

"Hey..." Kellin gave me his big brown eyes, "Stay here tonight. My mom can set up the extra bedroom." He wrapped me in his arms after I nodded a "yes".

Later that night, after they had finished watching a couple movies on Netflix, I was dozing off on Kellin's shoulder when he started talking.

"You're lucky. Even though you don't see it."

"What are you talking about," Wiping the sleep from my eyes, "It's late!"

"You might have a crappy mom, but your aunt loves you, and I know your mom just wants to make you happy..."

"Can we please not talk about her.. I know she is trying. I just can't let go to that fact that she didn't want me, and lets face it, still doesn't. If she did, then I wouldn't be here, I would be sitting with her doing hair or whatever moms and daughters do."

"Oh my god, Eden." He said laughing, "Sorry for laughing, just the whole 'doing hair' was so stereotypical."

In the dim light, he looked so good. He had dark straight hair that he kept longer. He was wearing a beanie, and some band tee shirt.

I couldn't ruin this friendship.

But..

"Kellin.."

"Eden."

"Never mind it's stupid. I-"

He pulled my head into his hands, stroking my cheek with his thumb.

"I know," he gave a half smile and our lips met like fitting two pieces of puzzle together.

"Sometimes friendships are meant to be more." He gave me a wink.

~~~~

"Hey, where have you been? You can't just disappear all night and not tell me." Aunt C looked so disappointed in me, I knew she could see right through any lie I would try to tell.

"I'm sorry I didn't call, I was spending the night with my friend, and I didn't really think about letting anyone know."

"Didn't think of letting anyone know? I tried calling. Was your phone turned off? I thought something horrible happened!"

"Megan called me. That's why I stayed somewhere. I just needed a friend. I turned off my phone because I didn't want her calling again." I set my bag down.

"Just call me next time. What happened?" She went into the kitchen to make some tea, I followed and sat on the chair.

"She called to tell me that she didn't care what I thought about our new family situation, that it wasn't my decision, but hers. It ended, uhm, nicely." I ended with a smile, remembering my foul choice of words.

I got up to go to my room, when Aunt C stopped me.

"Eden."

"Yeah?"

"You and Kellin are good friends, but I don't want you spending the night at his house anymore." She knew. How did she find out?