Against All Odds

7.

1 week later...

Jacob Payne 

"Why won't she stop crying?", Alexia asks while holding a fussy Chaylin. She's been coming by everyday for the past week trying to see Chaylin and I finally decided to let her inside the house. I still don't trust her, but I figured that if she's willing to come by everyday and not let anything stop her then she must have changed. At least a little bit. 

I grab her from Alexia. "She's probably hungry." I walk into the kitchen and begin fixing her some food with Alexia following closely behind me. 

"You're so good with her."

"Well when you've beeen taking care of her for over a year, it becomes second nature. Also, with the help of my mom, she makes it a lot easier to take care of her. You never told me who you're staying with either. "

"Oh, I'm staying with an old friend from high school. I've been looking for a place to stay. I don't like depending on people to take care of me", she says looking down and rubbing her arms. She's been here for the past 2 hours and not once has she looked me in the eyes and she keeps rubbing her arms. 

"As hot as it is outside and you have on a sweatshirt. Aren't you burning up in that thing?", I wipe some food off Chaylin's mouth. 

All of a sudden Alexia jumps up and begins walking towards the door. 

I grab Chaylin out of her highchair and follow after her. "Where are you-", I start to say but before I can finish she slams the door. I look out the window and she's gone. It's like she disappeared in thin air. 

***

Briana Harris

"Jayyyy stop, I'm trying to watch the movie." Since I've been busy with school and exams and Jayceon and I haven't had much alone time, we decided to spend some time together today. 

"Why I gotta stop? You all mines."

Before I can say anything, the doorbell rings. "Hey Jacob, heeeey prettygirl." I grab Chaylin out of his arms and go sit on the couch beside Jayceon.

Jacob sighs and plops down on the couch. "Hey y'all."

"Wassup witchu man? You look real stressed", Jayceon says while playing with Chaylin.

"It's Alexia. That girl is so strange." That's when  he begins to explain all the events involving her. 

"So lemme get this straight, she comes to the house and then all of a sudden she gets up and disappears?", Jayceon asks. 

"Yep"

"I don't blame you for not trusting her, Jake. I wouldn't trust her either. You look really stressed and if you need her to stay here tonight while you get some rest then it's not a problem."

"Nah, that's okay Bri. I have this weird gut feeling that something about to go down and I want her with me at all times until it goes away."

"That's fine I understand."

After chilling with Bri for a little while longer, Jayceon decides to catch a ride with me back to the house. He gives her a bath while I go and look up job openings online. As I'm on the computer I hear the sound of glass breaking and a baby crying.

I quickly get up and run to Chaylin's room. I go to her crib and see that it's empty. I go to the Backdoor in the kitchen where the intruder broke in, and see a car speeding away.

"CHAYLIN!" I run after the car but it's too fast for me. I get down on my knees and start bawling my eyes out.

I've failed as a father.

I let my baby girl down after I said I would protect her.

***
Alexia Bates

"Now we can be one big happy family."

I look back at a dead Robert and a crying Chaylin in the backseat and speed away.

A very happy family...

***
Well then...that was interesting. The drama is going to keep building up so be ready.

-Niyah