It's been six days, and I've only come up with one idea as to what I'm going to do about my situation with Copeland. And it isn't a good idea. Hence why I pushed it to the back of my mind as a last resource. And as I stare into Copeland's eyes, holding her, I realize it's how it's going to have to be.
I grab her stroller again and buckle her in it, mimicking my actions from five days prior. Tears well up in my eyes for probably the hundredth time today, but I push them down, as always. I take a deep breath and begin pushing Copeland to the park, somehow keeping a straight face and with no tears being shed. I take her to her favorite spot: the pond with the geese. I grab Copeland out of her stroller and sit down on a bench a little ways away from the pond and hold the stroller in place in front of me with my foot. I stare at Copeland.
"I know you probably can't understand a word I'm saying to you, but even if you can't, I want you to know that I don't want this. I want you to know that I love you, and I care about you greatly." I pause for a second to push more tears down. Copeland just stares at me with wide, beautiful eyes. "If it was my choice, I would have made sure everything was going to work out."
I pause again, hearing somebody walk by. "I love you so much, but the only way for any of this to work out is for me to-" my voice cracks as I choke on my tears. "I-I have to give you up." No emotion goes through her eyes at all. Who am I kidding? She's a baby, it's useless telling her any of this. Yet, I find myself continuing.
"This is the last time I'm going to see you. Dad won't help, Gran won't help anymore, and your mom doesn't care what happens. So, basically, I'm giving you to an adoption center. They'll take care of you and you'll make friends and - and-" tears spill out of my eyes and I stop speaking for a second. "A-and they'll be better parents for you than I could ever even hope to be.
"If it was my choice, I'd keep you. I hate that I can't. It's just that I can't get a job if I don't have somebody watching you. The only person who will watch you would have to be a babysitter, and I don't have the money to pay for a babysitter. To pay for a babysitter I need a job - and it just goes on like that." I pause again to wipe my eyes. "But I love you. I love you so much."
And with that, I get up, place her back in her stroller one last time, and begin walking away with her. As I'm nearing the exit/entrance of the park, I hear somebody yelling. They're yelling "Wait!" over and over again. I turn around and see somebody (the person shouting, I'm assuming), running towards me. Instinctively, I protect Copeland as best as I can despite the stroller between us.
Eventually, they catch up to Copeland and me, and they bend over, panting because of the run. From what I can tell, it's a man with extremely wavy hair, slightly longer than mine, under a snapback. From his arms, I can see that he's tan, and he probably works out. He's wearing all black, much like I do.
He looks up after a brief second of breathing and I hope he doesn't notice my eyes widening. I'm the most pansexual dude you would ever know, and let me tell you, this man is super attractive. He grins slightly and I blink a couple of times, confused. "It seems like you have somewhere to be, so I'm going to make this quick, I swear," he says suddenly.
"Uh, okay?" I half state, half ask. What does he even want? I don't mean that in a rude sense, either. I'm just genuinely confused.
"Well, to put this simply: I'm a snoop. I wasn't necessarily listening to every thing you said to who I'm assuming is your daughter, but I was walking by while you spoke. And, I, uh, well, I did stay to listen because I was interested," he says sheepishly. I cross my arms.
"So you were listening to my problems without me even knowing?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows. Again, no annoyed tone. I'm showing some major kindness to this dude simply because he's cute. What can I say? I am still kind of a hormonal teenager.
"Well I honestly shouldn't even be telling you what I'm about to say, so I think that me listening was actually a good thing," he continues, chuckling slightly. "Basically, I'm a babysitter." My eyes widen for sure this time. "You know that really big building around here with all the baby care stuff?" he asks.
"Well, yeah. But you're actually a babysitter?" I ask in return. He nods. "With a nose ring?" He laughs suddenly and nods.
"I can take it out...That's not the point, though. I'm sure you don't want just anybody watching your kid, especially with people nowadays." I nod. "Which brings me to the building: one of the ladies who works there runs a daycare and babysitting service and I work for her."
"Apparently you didn't hear my my whole predicament, then. I'm still finishing high school and I don't have a job, I don't have any money to pay you - or her - with. Thank you for the offer though," I say, turning to bring Copeland to...I can't even say it.
"Wait!" he stops me, grabbing my shoulder. I turn back around and face him, sighing. "I actually can help you, I promise. I'm not supposed to do this, but the woman I work for has a very kind heart and would be willing to let me work on my own for as long as you need," he says.
"What?" I ask, trying to hide how hopeful I am. "You could really do that?" What if this is a trap? What if he's going to murder me? Or Copeland? Or worse, both of us? "And how do I know I can trust you?"
"Well, I could try. And you don't, but technically you can't trust anybody, because everybody lies," he replies. Well, that wasn't a lie. "If this seems sketchy, you don't have to follow me there. Go to the babysitting service with your daughter and ask the woman for Vic Fuentes."
I look at him skeptically. "So I'm not going to get mugged or murdered if I follow you?" I ask. He chuckles slightly and flashes me a smile.
"Not by me, you won't. But I don't know about random people on the streets. There are some weird people out there," he replies. Despite the fact that this dude just showed up in my life and could possibly me a rapist and/or murderer, I trust him. I don't know if it's against my better judgement or not, but I might let him watch Copeland.
"And, what's the catch?" I ask.
"What?"
"What's the catch? If you're babysitting my daughter for free, there has to be some kind of catch to go along with it." He shakes his head. Well, I'm a little more skeptical now. I mean, this just sounds way too good to be true.
"Go to the daycare center, I'll give you the address, and I'll be able to tell you more about it then. I actually have to go back now, so if you want to follow, feel free. The fact is that my boss - who runs the daycare - would be willing to show you sympathy. Your situation is rough, and I want to help. Please, at least consider it." And with that, he hands me a business card, smiles, and walks away.
YOU ARE READING
The Babysitter ✯ Kellic
Fanfiction[Completed] Kellin Quinn is a high school senior with a one year old daughter he's no longer able to take care of. His father and step mother don't support him, the mother of his child left, and it seems as though there's nobody else willing to...
