Babysitting

ChapterEight

Nathaniel kept to his own after that day, avoiding me like the plague. I couldn't blame him though. If I had a small woman glaring at me all the time, I would also avoid her.
I lifted the kettle and poured boiling water into my mug, the first few rays of dawn peeking through the kitchen curtain.
The kids were going back to school today after their three month summer holiday.
I was used to waking up at nine the time that I've been here. Getting up at six felt foreign to me.
I heard the fridge open behind me.
"Are you ready for school?" I asked, stirring the hot coffee. "I heard it's going to be windy today."
"Not ready for school," I froze. "But I'm ready for work."
I turned to Nathaniel, who had a cautious smile on his face.
"Well good," I shrugged, walking towards the entrance of the kitchen.
"Lucy..."
"Don't call me that, please, Nathaniel," I sighed, turning my head to look at him.
"My name coming out of your mouth still gives me shivers," he blinked slowly and I stiffened.
"That's not appropriate," I turned fully.
"I'm not appropriate," he shrugged, grabbing an apple.
I shook my head and finally walked out of the kitchen, heading to Alex's room.
"Are you dressed?" I said through the closed door.
"Yeah! Sort of," was her muffled reply.
I opened the door and walked in, Alex standing in her white jeans and a bra in front of her bed.
"Which ones better?" She gestured to the items of clothing on her bed. "The olive-green is calling my name but the blue is just so pretty."
"Blue. It's got long sleeves. There's a chill today so it would be best," I told her.
She pulled the shirt over her head before running her fingers through her curls.
"I love when it becomes winter," she mused. "I can finally wear all my pretty clothes."
I laughed before finishing off my coffee.
"Would the others be ready by now?" I asked her, turning slightly to leave. "It's almost time to leave."
She nodded and I walked out of her room, heading to Jake's room.
"Are you dressed?" I called.
"Yeah! I'll be in the kitchen now!"
I then headed to Sasha's room. Her reply was the same.
Their routine before school was so much different to mine. My mom would have come in to wake me up with a steaming cup of coffee. She would pull open the curtains and brush the hair out of my face while telling me it's time to get up.
Here, Henry had knocked loudly on their doors until they mumbled a reply to say they're up.
I made my way to Kira's room to find it empty and laughter coming from the kitchen. I stalked to the entrance and peeked in.
Kira was on Nathaniel's shoulders while he bounced around. Giggles escaped her mouth.
There was no denying that he loved his nonbiological siblings.
I sighed, walking in and placing my mug in the sink. Nathaniel slowly put his sister down and sat at one of the bar stools by the island.
Soon enough, Sasha, Jake and Alex walked in.
"Okay, everyone ready to go?" I asked.
I got reluctant replies and I grabbed the car keys.
"Well let's get going then," I chirped.
We all piled into the car while Nathaniel got into his own. He reversed and shot forward with a tremendous speed.
"Someone's upset," Alex said from behind me. "Well he's actually been in a mood since that time you guys were alone."
"Right?" Jake agreed from next to me. "He didn't even want to come club hopping with me last week and you know how much he loves pulling girls."
I silently gulped, clutching the steering wheel tighter.
"He's also been so moody whenever I ask him something when everyone's around. But when it's just me and him, he's fine," Sasha piped in.
"Same," Kira chirped.
"Same as well," Alex leaned forward.
"With me as well," Jake turned his head and gave Alex a look.
I saw her nod once from the corner of my eye then turn her head to me.
"How has he been with you, Lucy?" She oozed.
"We haven't really, uh, spoken much lately," I swallowed. "And it's not Lucy."
She huffed and sat back again, Jake smirking.
I stopped at Kira and Sasha's school and they hopped out, speed walking into the building.
"Then there was three," Alex sang.
I gave her a look through the rear view mirror as I continued driving. After a few minutes I pulled up outside the high school.
"Bye guys!" I chirped, unlocking the doors immediately. "Have a great day!"
I put the car into drive and hovered my foot over the accelarator.
"Not so fast," Alex said while Jake got out and walked into the school.
She leaned forward over the center console.
"What happened?" She raised her eyebrows.
I sighed, putting the car back into park and turning to face her.
"Who's Kerrie?" I asked.
"Kerrie Green?" She frowned.
I shrugged, pursing my lips.
"Short blonde hair?" I nodded. "She's just the biggest skank model around. Nate and her went out for a while but broke it off. He didn't want a relationship. Now they're fuck buddies."
My chest constricted and I looked down.
"She came over on that day you all went out," I murmured. "I just got very emotional and him and I fought. That's all."
She was quiet for a few minutes and when I finally looked up, she had amusement in her eyes.
"You have a crush on him," she smirked.
"A crush? Are we five?" I raised my eyebrows.
"Well apparently you are because you've got a crush, Lucy," she laughed. "And he obviously is interested in you with that nickname only he can call you."
"He can't call me that," I snapped.
"But you let him!" She laughed harder. "Oh wow, Ciana, crushing on hotshot Nathaniel Johnson. Living with him. Seeing him everyday. Getting the afternoons alone with him from now on. I'm going to have nieces and nephews running around soon."
"Shouldn't you be in class?" My cheeks blazed and I turned to face the road again.
Alex laughed before hopping out.
"Bye, Ciana," she called, making a kissing face. "Have fun."
I felt my cheeks grow hotter and I quickly pulled out of the school parking lot, heading back home.
My stomach dropped as I pulled into my parking next to Nathaniel's Range Rover.
I sucked in a few deep breaths before deciding to just go and apologize to him. I clenched and unclenched my fists before getting out and going through the front door.
My eyes landed on his suit jacket, messily draped over the railing in the elevator. I grabbed it, deciding it would be a good ice breaker to return it.
The elevator dinged onto the third floor and I stopped outside of his bedroom door before taking another deep breath and knocking.
I waited a few seconds and there was no reply.
I sighed, turning the handle to just place the jacket somewhere in his room.
Nausea hit me as I took in the sight before me.
Nathaniel's back was to me, his bare butt on display as he drilled into Kerrie from behind. Her breathing was animalistic as he pulled roughly on her hair.
I made a weird choking noise before slamming the door and stepping into my room.
I swallowed the lump in my throat before looking at the black blazer in my hands. My surroundings seemed to have blurred around me and blood was thumping loud in my ears.
"Lucy?"
"Just leave her, she's obviously never been fucked that good before."
"Now is not the time for your jealousy, Kerrie."
My head snapped up to the pale blue eyes as I heard her name. Nathaniel licked his lips nervously, his chest bare as a pair of sweatpants hung loosely around his hips.
I shifted my head and then stared into a pair of hazel eyes attached to a baby face.
"Lucy?" I snapped my head back to Nathaniel. "Are you alright?"
I timidly handed him his jacket before taking a few steps back and closing my bedroom door despite his protests.
"Someone's in the dog box," Kerrie laughed.
"Just go," Nathaniel snapped.
"Oh no, not until we've finished what she interrupted," Kerrie whined.
There was a huff and then the clicking of a door lock and my body sagged onto my bed.
There was zero interest in me whatsoever, despite what Alex said.
I couldn't lie, I felt disappointed. I had realized that I was attracted to him. Not enough to actually be in a relationship with him but enough to feel this disappointment heavy on my shoulders.
I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a long breath.
I bit my lip, wondering what I could do now. If I tried to go out of my bedroom, he might be in the passage or worse, I could be stuck in the elevator with both of them.
Surely it would be a while before they were done?
I decided to take my chances as I peeked out of my bedroom door. I could see the lock was still engaged on his door and I mentally did a victory dance as I scurried into the elevator, the doors closing just as I saw his door handle twist.
As soon as the elevator pinged onto the ground floor, I bolted into the furthest TV room.
I placed myself in the darkest region again and calmed my breathing.
I heard talking then the front door close. Soon after, a car pulled away.
Grateful that he was gone, I switched on the TV, changing the channel to a cooking show.
After a few minutes of watching, movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention and I turned my head.
"You enjoy sitting in the dark when we're alone," Nathaniel folded his arms over his still bare chest.
"You're still here," I squeaked.
He clapped his hands and the lights came on, his jaw setting as he stared down at me.
"Look, I'm sorry I walked in on you," I looked away from him. "I did knock and no one answered. I thought I would just place the jacket on your chair or something. I had no-"
"You think I'm upset because you walked in on us?" I looked at him again and he had an eyebrow raised.
"Well yes. You're angry right now and you were fine this morning," I shrugged.
"I'm angry because of how you reacted," his arms fell to his sides and he took a couple of steps forward.
"How I reacted?" I frowned. "I'm sure I'm allowed to react to however I feel."
"You're not allowed to be so shocked because I'm having sex, Luciana," he snapped. "You bawled your eyes out the last time and now you're shocked. Is it a bad thing that I'm enjoying myself?"
"I... I didn't say or imply that it's a bad thing," I stood up, switching the TV off. "I was just, like you said, shocked. I didn't expect it."
"Why should you expect it?" He spat.
"I don't know," I placed my left hand on my right upper arm.
I felt like a toddler being scolded right now.
"You don't get to be upset over that," he said. "Why are you even upset over it?"
"I'm not upset over it, you are," I argued back.
"You're about to start crying any second now," he stated.
I blinked and suddenly realized there was a layer of moisture in my eyes.
"I don't feel well!" I defended.
"That was the excuse last time. Is your shoulder sore again, huh?" He gestured towards the arm I was holding.
I kept quiet instead of firing back.
"I don't understand why you're getting upset," he shrugged. "We don't like each other."
"I don't not like you," I whispered. "Quite the opposite actually."
I avoided his now shocked gaze and looked out the window, the first few leaves falling off the trees.
"I'm sorry for getting upset then," I shrugged, folding my arms. "I'm sorry for feeling something again."
"You can't like me, Lucy," he said.
"I'm sure I can do what I like," I scoffed.
"No," he snapped.
"Well why not?" I shrieked, looking at him.
"Not when you're still pining after your dead fiancé," he scowled and turned, walking out.
A lump formed in my throat as I processed the words he just said. I closed my eyes, sitting on the edge of the couch.
Rejection made its way through my body and I sighed, my nose stinging as fresh tears prickled my eyes.
I wasn't pining after Cristiano. Surely it was normal to still cry if I had to speak about what I went through? I had moved on from him long ago.
If I was still pining over him, I wouldn't be so upset about Nathaniel not liking me.
I shoved my face into my palms.
Was that jealousy in his voice as he said those words? Or just hate towards me?
I shook my head, standing up again and walking out of the TV room. Nathaniel's keys were gone from the entrance table.
"Have fun with Kerrie then, asshole," I said aloud.
I clenched my fists, taking my own keys and walking to the car. I got in and pulled out of the driveway, not a clue where to go.
After a few moments, I found myself headed in the direction of the mall.
An idea formed in my head and I decided to pursue it.
After a few minutes, I was pulling into the parking lot of the mall. I got out and made my way through the front doors, my idea flashing through my mind.
"Stacy," I smiled when I got to where I wanted.
"Hey Ciana, what can I do for you?" Stacy smiled at me.
"A haircut," I shrugged.
"You're going to cut all of this off?" Stacy reached out and grabbed strands of my hair. "We just dyed it."
"Not all of it," I told her as I followed her to a basin. "I just need a more reasonable length."
Stacy nodded as I laid down in the chair, a woman coming to wet and wash my hair.
After a few minutes, I was seated in front of a mirror, Stacy behind me with scissors.
"So what length do you want it?" She asked.
"Just below my ribs and we'll take it from there," I told her.
"That's a good fourteen inches, are you sure?"
I nodded and she closed the scissors over my hair.
I watched as silver pieces fell to the ground and my head seemed to get lighter as the weight of my hair fell off.
This would show Nathaniel that I was over Cristiano.
After about ten minutes, Stacy was thinning out the ends of my now rib-length hair.
"Do you want me to redo the silver?" She asked as she snipped away.
"Please," I nodded.
After an hour and a half, I was walking out the mall and climbing into my car, my head feeling a million pounds lighter.
It was strange to look down and not see black strands fill my vision. Just the tips of silver hair peeked out under my breasts.
I sped home, ready to prove the asshole wrong. It was the wrong reason to cut my hair but it was long overdue.
I pulled into my parking, grinning as I saw his Range Rover.
As soon as the car was off, I was already sprinting to the front door and into the house. I decided to go into the kitchen first and in my favor, he was there, making a sandwich.
I noisily grabbed a glass out of the cupboard and poured myself water. When I faced him, his eyes held shock in them.
"What did you do?" He asked, forgetting his sandwich.
"Proved you wrong," I smiled innocently and walked out.