The Babysitter ✯ Kellic

Chapter Nine

emily u rat stop making me update
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"Is it just me, or have you been gaining weight since I've been babysitting Copeland?" Vic asks, four months since he's been babysitting Copeland while I was in school. I self consciously look down at my stomach and feel my face heat up. "Shit, I just realized how that sounds, I'm sorry," he apologizes. "I meant that you used to he really skinny and now you look a lot healthier."

I look at him with uncertainty and he smiles widely. "Well, before you started babysitting Copeland, most all of my food went to her," I reply, shrugging. Vic furrows his eyebrows and the smile fades into a slight frown. "The only time I really ate was at school." His mouth drops ever so slightly.

"How were you getting food for Copeland?" he asks curiously. He sits down next to me and stares at me with his chin resting on his hands, his elbows on the kitchen table.

"My parents set up a bank account when I was younger, and I only ever spent what I needed. Most of it went to Copeland," I answer. A slight bit of hurt flashes through Vic's eyes, but I don't know why. "They're still paying for my apartment, but they wanted me to get a job, so they wouldn't buy other stuff for me."

"So, you hardly ate then?" Vic asks. I shake my head. I usually ate at least two small meals, considering that school meals aren't very big. I know that Copeland is a baby and doesn't eat much, but I always wanted to make sure she had food. Even if I didn't have enough food for her and myself, I made sure at least she got food.

"I ate what Copeland didn't and I ate school food," I accompany my head shake with a more detailed answer. Vic nods and I can see him biting the inside of his cheek. "Why do you ask?" I ask something this time. Vic shrugs, sitting up.

"Because I want you to know that if you ever need anything, I can help you, Kellin," he replies, reaching across part of the table and gripping my shoulder. "I know you think I do a lot, but even coming from a stranger, I want you to know that I try to help you."

"You're hardly a stranger to me, now," I say, smiling. He smiles in return and nods, sitting back in his seat slightly. "Four months is a while, and I feel like I've finally gotten to know you." I see his tan face turn slightly pink as he continues smiling. "Six more before you might not have to babysit Copeland anymore."

• • •

"Why are you suddenly picking me up every day?" I ask Vic as he pulls into the school pickup line. A group of students around me (including Oli's friends Frank and Andy) shove their lit cigarettes into their inner arms to put them out before approaching me. I turn to them and glance at Vic, waving for him to drive away if he wants to. He flashes me a worried glance but pulls out of the way anyways, giving other cars room to pick up students.

I know Andy the best so I look specifically at him as they walk up. I don't know the whole group, just Andy and Frank. "Kellin, have you seen Oli?" he Andy asks simply. Andy is honestly a nice and super attractive dude, so I can tell that they don't mean any harm.

"No," I reply, somewhat confused. "Why? None of you have seen him?" I ask. They all shake their heads. "For how long?" I ask another question.

"At least a week," Frank says, nervously twisting his hoodie strings around his fingers. "If you see him, tell him that Andy needs to see him," he continues, flashing me a slight smile. I nod.

"Okay," I say, smiling in return. I wave to them as a goodbye gesture and walk back over to Vic's car. I get in next to Copeland and kiss her forehead.

"What was that about?" Vic asks. I take a deep breath and look at him through the mirror, confused myself.

"Oli is missing."