The Baby Project [#Wattys2018]

Chapter Ten ~ Back When

My eyes felt like they were glued shut, so I rubbed them until I was able to pluck open my eyes. When I finally was able to acknowledge that people were there, I find everyone yelling over me.

"Really?! You think you need to be here? Leave John!" screamed Court who was held by Kylie and Mark. Luke was standing a couple inches away. Probably because of the secret we hid from everyone, but that's just a hunch.

"We shouldn't be yelling! She just lost the rights to her son after getting him back. Rosie will wake up and be a hot mess. Not to mention that Jack has stage 1 leukemia. Just shut up!" thundered Luke as he threw himself into the wooden chair.

"All of you shut your damn mouths. Let's let Rosie get better. Doctors say she should wake up soon. Get out." softly screamed Kylie as she ushers everyone out of the room. It was now just me and my thoughts. Sadness overwhelmed me and made me think of the moment when: I met Mr. Douchebag and Luke.

Slowly drifting back to sleep, I start reliving that memory. Sometimes I wish that I never met my father, but I'm glad I met Luke. Yeah he can be a jerk, but when it matters - he jumps in and shows me that he cares. I wish we could've grown up loving each other. There was a time though - when they were just strangers. A time where all I cared about was: who my teacher was, friends, and where my crayons were.

It was two weeks before I knew the other half of my family and...

* * * * * * *

"Tag! You're it!" I exclaim as I dart away from my mom; trying to avoid tripping and ruining my beautiful yellow dress. Courtney and Kylie ran towards the large oak tree, giggling the whole way there. My mom tricks us and heads straight for me and scoops me up in her arms.

"Now you're it! Okay, all joking aside. Picnic here or picnic at the park?" questions my mom almost out of breath. Even with us being covered in sweat, my mother looked beautiful.

Sitting on the park bench moments later, I smile saying "Mommy! Picnic here. That way my best friends can stay and eat here. Please mommy!!!" She scoots over and winks at me, before pulling me in for a big smooch on the forehead. Pushing her away, I wipe the lipstick of my head and smile at her.

"Okay. I'll invite their parents over for a cookout. Sound like a plan?" questions my mom as Courtney and Kylie sit on the bench next to me. I nod and then yank Court and Kylie to the swing-set. Hopping on the swing, I kick my feet back and forth to build up speed; thus making me get higher. "We start third grade soon, guys? They're going to start teaching us the basics of cursive. We're big girls now."

"Yes and we'll learn the times tables; but our teacher will test us and it'll only last like a minute. Well, that's the rumor in the grapevine." exclaims Courtney as she continues to swing. "Who do you think will be in our classes? Noah Davis, Hunter Alexander, or Scott Wilkins? Rosie...you're not listening are you?" questions Court as she stops swinging and stares at me.

I stopped. Dug my feet in the ground and stopped swinging. Glancing at my two friends, I reply with "What?! It'll be fun. Who cares who is in our class? We get to do science fair projects this year! Now look who isn't listening to me now?" Crossing my arms, I face the opposite direction with a angry expression glued to my face. She taps me on the shoulder and I swing around to see her give me the: that's-not-really-helping-look. I giggled.

Laughing with us, Kylie stops dancing in the dandelions and makes a wish on one of them. Then she says, "Maybe Mark will be in our class! Wouldn't that be nice?" Jumping off of the swings, we tumble into her and fall onto the ground. Court and I simultaneously say, "We've been over this like a gazillion times. Just tell him you like him or we'll do it for you! Mark and Kylie sitting in a tree...K...I...S...S...I...!"