his little girl // jiley

Chapter II

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C H A P T E R
T W O
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James's POV

WHEN RILEY LEAVES I'm left standing alone in the studio, holding back tears. She's probably so mad right now, and I can see why. What I did was pretty shit.

But it isn't an easy story for me to tell. I mean, surely she can see that. I was fifteen — I barely knew the girl, Andi, and I was practically forced into it. It. And judging by the way I don't remember much, I was drugged. But I didn't tell anyone that. What would they do anyway?

She didn't say anything to me for 9 months (she dissapeared off the face of the earth) and then one day she arrived at my house with a baby. My baby.

She couldn't take care of her and so she gave her to me, which didn't help, because I couldn't either.

I didn't really have parents, per say. My mum died when I was young and my dad is in prison, so I was living in a group home. I hated it there.

So I took Hazel and ran. I didn't know where to go, so I went to my 'friend' Toby's, and he let me stay in his apartment for a few weeks.

Toby lived a life of crime, but I saw past that because I had a place to stay with Hazel. But then, after weeks of refusing to join him in stealing, drinking, and drugs, I gave in. I needed things, but I didn't have money. So I stole.

Then we were busted, and social services snatched Hazel, no matter how much I screamed at them.

I was going to be sent to juvie, but I got away with only community service to do. Then I was put in a foster home and I resolved to be a normal teenager for a while, and thats what I did.

I joined The Next Step, went back to school, got a high GPA (its required for the whole "Get Hazel Back" thing) and then eventually got my own apartment — and job. Two of them.

I get to see Hazel every once in a while, just so she doesn't forget me. Which has been working so far. Apparently, in the foster home she's living in, she talks about me all the time. I can't wait to have her back in my life.

She's so beautiful. She has brown curls and vibrant green eyes, with pale skin and freckles on her nose and cheeks. She's the funniest kid — she's always happy. I can't help but think that Riley would love her, if she weren't my daughter, whom I kept secret. From her. And everyone. 

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I wait outside the office, my knee bouncing nervously. I try and look like I'm fully invested in the magazine in staring at, but I'm not. All I can think about is Hazel.

"James Flanagan?" A lady's voice says. It's Hazels social worker, Ellen. She's tall and lean and has a really strict look. "Can I have you now?"

I slowly get up and follow her into her small office. She gestures for me to sit, and I do, and she does the same at the other side of the desk.

"James," she says, staring at a sheet on front of her. "Hmm. You request to have custody of your daughter? Hazel?"

"Yes," I say.

"Well. As you know, there's percussions we have to take," she explains. "Your GPA is high enough — you graduated in honours. And you're working?"

"Yes, I have a part time job in the
store down the street, and the Starbucks, and I teach dance lessons occasionally." I tell her. "I'm getting money."

"Your relationship with Hazel? Is it healthy?"

I grin. "Of course."

"And your drinking problem?"

I raise my eyebrows. "Drinking problem?" I echo. "I don't have one. I never had..?"

"Well, I don't know what you call a fifteen year old getting drunk and robbing a convenience store, but I call it a drinking problem."

"I call it a mistake," I snap. "That I'm trying to fix here, so please just help?"

"Well," she sighs. "We'll have a social worker go over to your apartment and assure the living environment is suitable. Then, there's a chance, you can get your girl back."

I exhale happily. At last, they're considering it. A million and four meetings later, I have Hazel.

Well, I somewhat have Hazel. Almost.

After talking for a while, she lets me go, and I realise that I need to get to dance. I've been late to so many rehearsals and if I'm late again Miss Kate will kill me. Literally.