Falling For Preston.XCOMPLETEDX(editing)

Chapter 5

Title: 5 babysitters.

         On the day I was supposed to go out with Tyler, my sister called me, frantic and panicked. "I have to stay late tonight, can you watch Marcus? Please? No one else is available!"

"Sorry," I said, hunting around my dorm for a hairbrush. "I'm going on a date."

That got her attention. "You are? Really?"

"Yup."

"So your tutor finally wore you down, huh?"

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Good for you," Emily continued. "I always thought he was cute. Too bad you claimed him; he looked like he'd be a good stepdad . . ."

"No, no, no, no, no. I am not going out with my tutor. I'm going out with his roommate, Tyler. I hate Ethan, remember? And anyways, Emily, he's only nineteen. You can't just marry him." I shuddered at the mere thought of Ethan being my brother-in-law and the stepdad to sweet Marcus.

"Don't get your underwear in a knot, Sapphire, I was just thinking out loud," Emily scoffed. "Of course I'm not gonna marry him, stupid. Guys suck."

"Well, of course to you they do." I instantly regretted saying that. Emily was very sensitive whenever the topic of men came up. It wasn't like she was ugly; boys had been attracted to her like moths to a flame all her life. But, obviously, they never stayed/proved themselves worthy. And lately, Darren had been the worst reminder of that. I wondered how she would feel when Marcus got older and began to look more and more like him.

"Sorry," I said after a minute of silence.

"Can you watch Marcus or not?" she asked, her voice a little tight.

"Yeah. I'll be right over." I hung up, still feeling guilty. As much as I wished Shweta could take him off my hands, I knew it would just hang onto my conscience all night. So, whether I liked it or not, Marcus was coming with me.

Shweta came in that moment, stretching out on her bed. "Is that what you're wearing?"

I looked down at myself and nodded. "Yeah. Why, do I look bad?" I had put almost two hours of careful consideration into my outfit:Black leggings, a navy blue cardigan, black uggs and a white beanie. Hopefully I wouldn't look too atrocious.

She shrugged. "No, you look fine. You nervous?"

"A little. I have to leave early, though, to get Marcus."

Her eyes bugged out. "What? Why?"

"My sister's working late and needs me to watch him."

"No!" Shweta almost shouted. "You can't bring him! I'll — I'll watch him!"

I shook my head. "I accidentally insulted Emily about her lack of love life so now I have to or else my conscience will be eating away at me all night."

"You have a conscience?"

"Sort of."

Shweta sighed. "Well, I wish I could help you, but if you're positive . . . at least let me know how it goes."

I nodded and grabbed my cell phone and my keys. "See you later." I shut the door to my room and left the dorm building, making the dreaded walk to Emily's house. Hopefully Marcus would be wearing something normal this time. My sister enjoyed dressing my nephew up in onesies or shirts that said things like MOMMY'S LITTLE MAN or I WAS MADE IN VEGAS (even though he wasn't). Her favorite so far was one that said I SHARTED.