Amazing Mistake

Chapter 1

"Brycie," I coo, "are you having fun?" 

This morning we went on a trip to the zoo and he was smiling away. I showed him the tigers and zebras and wore him in a monkey outfit. It has been raining for three days straight and today we got good weather so I'm taking advantage of it.

He smiles his gummy smile. He's too young to know what I'm saying or remember what animals are which but I know he's enjoying the weather just as I am. He turned three months yesterday.

I look up to find a sign to point us in the direction of the monkeys but there isn't one in sight. "Where are the monkeys?" I ask Bryce.

I spot a nice boy probably my age with three kids and figure he might know. I push the stroller up to him and tap him on his shoulder. "Excuse me? Could you help me?"

He turns around and for some reason he looks oddly familiar, and he's handsome. I shake the thought out of my head. 

"Um, that depends on what you need help with. This is actually my first time to the zoo," he laughs. I like his laugh.

"Oh, do you know where the monkeys are? I can't find them and I forgot to get a map."

He studies my face and his expression changes. It's almost as if he's remembering something or trying to. "Um, do I know you?"

I raise my eyebrows. "I don't think so. You look a little familiar  but I don't believe we've met before."

He turns his head to the side a little and then shakes his head a little bit and laughs. "Sorry, never mind. You reminded me of a girl who went to my high school."

I smile, "Oh. Small world, isn't it."

"Sure is, the monkeys are actually right down that path and then you take a right at the hot dog place. It should be right over there."

I turn Bryce around and thank him. I push the stroller forward and go the direction he pointed. All of a sudden there's a hand on my shoulder. I spin around but keep a hand on the stroller. I'm relieved when I find out it is just the boy I was talking to.

"Bethany? Is it you?" He asks. The three kids are fighting behind him.

How does he know my name? "Who are you?"

"Zack, your biology assistant in fifth hour Ms. Zed's class," he answers.

No way, I think. "Seriously? Oh my gosh, I haven't seen you in forever. It's been a whole year!" I exclaim. Inside I'm not thinking about how long it's been but about how the nerd who I always took notes off of became so hot. 

"Yeah. Is he yours?" He points to Bryce.

I jump a little. What do I say? But then I remember what I practiced. "Ah, no. He's my nephew, I'm babysitting him. Are these yours?" I ask jokingly.

He chuckles and shakes his head. He grabs the tallest boys and and pulls him forward to stop him from fighting. "Nope. This is my brother John, my sister Lilly, and her friend Grace. I'm on babysitting duty as well. How'd you get stuck with him? What's his name?"

Bryce starts to fuss and I take him out. "His name is Bryce. His mom is actually on her own and needs some help so I offered."

"That's why, well how much longer will you be here for? We were leaving in a couple minutes but we could go to the monkeys together," he suggests.

I bounce Bryce and stable myself because Lilly is grabbing onto my leg squealing 'baby'. "Actually, Bryce is getting fussy so I might just be leaving."

He pulls out a pencil and paper and writes something down. He hands it to me and it's his number. "This is my number. Contact me soon and we'll have to catch up. A lot happened over the summer."

I take it and slip it in my pocket. "I'll try. It was nice running into a familiar face."

I push the stroller past his and Bryce starts to fuss. Once we are at the gate I put Bryce back in the stroller and buckle him up. That was close but I'm glad I ran into someone from school. I was starting to think no one remembered me. I tried calling my old friends after school ended but when they heard my voice they hung up. Now I know that someone doesn't mind talking to me.

I get home and put Bryce to sleep. Home is a small apartment on the third floor. For a while after I moved in the apartment was empty except for Bryce's room because of what Beth and I bought. Only a couple weeks ago I started buying things and decorating. It is no longer empty but full of life despot it being only Bryce and I. My mom told me to start dating but I can't. No one is good enough to be Bryce's father and I don't have the time. 

There's a great possibility that I won't contact Zack but we'll see. The most I'll do is talk to a guy. I don't have time to date.

I lean over his crib and sigh. "What am I going to do, Bryce? What will happen if people find out I had a baby? How do I get Cole's phone number? I can't hold it in for much longer or I'll explode."

He stirs in his sleep and I take a step back. "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bight," I whisper and shut his door.

Grabbing a jar of pickles I take a seat and pull out my phone. It won't be too bad to text him. "Hi, It's Bethany."

I set down my phone, face up, and wait for a text back. I eat a few pickles before setting them down. I really need to exercise. I haven't gone to the gym in forever and I'm sure I'm gaining weight. My jeans have gone up a size and my shirt size is also a little bigger.

I think a little bit and come up with a solution. I need a babysitter who's good with kids. Who did I see at the zoo today babysitting three kids on his own? Zack. I should ask him although I would feel bad. He might do it.

"I have a question. Would you be able to babysit Bryce tomorrow morning from around 8-10 and then every tuesday for the rest of the month. I need to get out and exercise," I text him.

I know he might question why he has to babysit my aunts baby but I'll just say she's sick in the hospital with a bad sickness or something like that.

I get a text back a minute later.

Z: Would I get paid?

Me: 10$ an hour. And I'll pay for gas if it takes too long to drive over

Z: Where do you live?

Me: At the apartments on 8th ave

Z: I live in the same apartments! How come I've never seen you?

Seriously? All this time and we've lived in the same place? What else do I not know about him?

Me: Imagine that. I stay in a lot or else I'm out with Bryce and shopping. 

Z: ah. What apartment number?

Me: 354

Z: I'm in 733. I'll see you around. And I'll be there tomorrow morning exactly at 8

Me: Thx sooo much. I'll see you then

Finally I can get out and go to the gym. Maybe I'll be able to get healthier and even visit Minnesota soon. It's been too long since I've seen my parents and brother, I'm missing them more and more everyday but I've never had the time to even exercise so how would I have time to take a trip? I don't even have a job and I can't ask my mom for even more money for the plane ticket. She lent me enough money before I left to live comfortably for a year. A year is almost up and I'm going to need to get a job soon. I'll need a babysitter full time and I'm going to need vacation time, exercise time, and Bryce time. The longer I live alone the harder it gets but even still I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world. It's been a roller coaster but as always, once the I ride the roller coaster once I want to get back on and ride all day.