Family

Short story

I walk into my six bedroom house with my baby in his car seat. Austin Finnegan Gilinsky is 2 months old. His father, Jack Gilinsky and I moved into a house with very good friends Sammy, Anastasia, John Swift, Nate, and Johnson.
I sat my bag down and unbolted my son from the car seat. I carefully carried him in my arms, as I walk into the living room, smelling the vanilla candle from Bath and Body Works. The only person I saw was Nate; he was playing FIFA on the couch with a bunch of junk food around him. "Hey mom," Nate calls me mom because I always try to take care of him like a mother does. He acts like a 3 year old but he's 22.
I walk over to Nate and mess up his man bun. "Hello Skathan," I stuck my tongue out at him. He rolls his eyes and sticks out his tongue. "Can you hold him? I'll be right back," I say. "Yeah for sure, give me the little man," he says as he holds out his hands to hold Austin.
I walked up the stairs to my room that I share with Jack who is 20 years old. I'm 19 years old. I opened the bedroom door half way and at that moment I had tears stream down my face. I ran down the stairs, nearly falling on the last few steps. Sammy and John were now also in the living room sitting next to Nate on the couch. John had Austin on his lap and was playing with his face. Austin was giggling. Sammy saw me first. "Kylie!" I was attacked with a hug. "What happened "Nate said, giving me a sympathetic look. "Jackkk aand Eeemillyyy!" I finally said. They clinched their fists in anger.
Jack came running downstairs looking guilty. Nate rushed in front of Jack. "Go back upstairs or get out. She doesn't want to see you right now." Nate said to Jack. "She's my girlfriend. I want to see her!" he paused. Sammy punched him in the jaw. "She was your girlfriend" Nate punched him in the stomach. Jack groaned in pain for the second time. I made eye contact with Nate and Sammy telling them that's enough. They sighed and nodded. Jack looked me in the eyes. "Look, I'm sorry. I actually don't know what to say. I love you Kylie I really do. I understand if you want to break up with me. Just please don't take my son away from me. Please!" Jack said with tears in his eyes.
"You know when you love someone, you don't cheat on them."
"I do love you. I love you more than anything. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking right. I was under stress," I chuckled at his stupid words.
I want to punch him so hard right now. He really annoyed me. He made that decision. He chose Emily. I'm just mad at myself that I didn't see it coming.
"Jack he's your son. I'd never want to take him away from you. It's just you made a decision to kiss her. I'm actually really thankful it was Emily. If it was another girl like Madison then I'd never look at you ever again. If you want to be with Emily go ahead. Emily will be a great second mother to Austin. Just don't ruin what you have with Emily like you ruined this. This isn't fair Jack." I said.
"Will you give me another chance?"
"I gave-," I was about to answer but Nate interrupted me.
"Dude remember that time you kept talking to Madison. We all got pissed at you. Mostly, since she flirted with you and everyone else. The difference was you had a girlfriend that actually loved you and cares for you. You were too blind to see. Kylie told you to stop talking to her. You didn't listen. Madison kissed you and you let her. Kylie saw, she was in her room for days only letting me, Johnson, Swift, Phillip, Anastasia and Sammy see her. You asked for one last chance." Jack looked down. Nate was right. I have given Jack so many chances.
"John can you put Austin in his car seat. And Sammy, Nate do you guys want to go visit the Phillip," I said trying to leave.
"Kylie, can you please stay. We can work this out. I'll change, we have a baby. I want to be in his life."
"Don't you get it? You've ruined your chances. You've been making the same mistakes. You keep saying you've changed and that you love me. I guess I love you, more than you love me. Austin can have a father. But it won't be you. I don't want Austin growing up with a cheating father." I yelled with tears in my eyes. I looked at Jack his face was red, his eyes were red, and he had a big red mark on his jawline.
"Yeah sure we'll go. Do you want me and Anastasia to help pack your bag?" Sammy offered. I nodded my head.
"Guys, make sure Jack doesn't get near Austin," I said as I followed Sammy up the stairs.
Sammy walked to mine and Jacks room. I didn't want to see Emily. She's an amazing friend. Never in a million years would I have ever imagined this happening. I wish she told me if she had feelings for Jack.
I walked into Sammy's and Anastasias room. She was sitting on her white fur bed watching Netflix. She noticed me and mentioned for me to sit next to her.
"What's wrong?"
"Hey, umm I kind of just saw Emily with Jack," I weakly smiled. She hugged me.
"Aww! Kylie, he doesn't deserve you. Maybe this is for the best. Jack is your best friend, maybe that's all he was supposed to be. You guys can't just force a relationship for Austin. Do what makes you happy. And Emily, she's our best friend. She would never do this to hurt you," Anastasia said.
"Thanks Stassie you always know what to say. Can we go talk to them now? Oh yeah and Sammy is trying to pack my stuff because I'll be at Phillip's for a few days," she nodded
We walked into my room, which was painted white. The colors were white and black. There was a big king sized bed in the middle of the room, where Emily sat with tears in her eyes, looking at her phone trying not to make eye contact with us. Anastasia went to the bathroom, that's attached to my room, to get my things and Austin's things.
I sat down next to Emily. "Look I don't you to be sad or mad at yourself. I want you to know that you are my friend. I'm sure you never planned for this to happen. All you ever want is for us to be happy. What you did might have not been right but since I've known you for years. I'll forgive you but you will have to gain my trust back," I said.
She looked shocked and happy at the same time. "Thank you, Kylie. I would have never expected you to forgive me. I'm sorry, Kylie. And I understand why I need to gain your trust." we both smiled and hugged.
"I got to go help Sammy, he's probably packing all the wrong things," she nodded.
I went into my walk in closet. I smiled "Samuel Howard Wilkinson, I need more clothes than your merchandise," he rolled his eyes. "Fine, ill pack some of Nate's merchandise too!" we both laughed. I playfully punched his arm.
Sammy and I were in the closet trying to pack my bag but instead, we were just talking about when I first had a crush on jack. Sammy found out first. He knew everything about me. He was my neighbor and his parents would always go on business trips. I've known him since I was a few weeks old. He would always be over my house. He introduced me to all my friends. I was the only child; he was that older bother to me. Sammy looked at me and smiled. "You know I'm really proud of your choices today, mom would be proud," he said with watery eyes.
September 17, 2009; Sammy, Anastasia, Jack, Phillip and I were playing Play station 3, while sitting on leather couch. We were 14 or 15 years olds. We got a call saying my mother had gotten in a car accident and was in life threatening conditions. I sobbed for about 5 minutes in Phillips arms, until I just wanted to see her. She was still alive I still have time to see her and hear her.
You would think I'd call my dad to tell him the news but he left when I was 4 years old. I called John Swift and Nate since they were the only ones that I know that can drive other than Sammy's mother. Nate came with Samantha and Johnson. We each split up into the two cars.
When we reached the hospital, we ran to the front desk to ask the lady about what room my mom was in. They told us to wait outside room 332, until the doctor would give us permission to see her. After crying my eyes out for what felt like hours, the doctor came out. He asked for her daughter I nodded "Your mother unfortunately isn't going to make it for long. You guys have about 30 minutes to talk with her, until her visiting hours are over." They nodded and walked in.
I couldn't do it; I wasn't mentally or physically prepared to see her like that. I put my hands to my head. I was soon picked up. Jack had carried me beside my mom. Before letting me down he whispered "she asked for you" I sat down on the chair beside her and held her hand. I took the chance to look her in the eyes. My young beautiful mother looked, so died but it felt like our presets was keeping her alive.
Everyone said their goodbyes. She couldn't talk she just nodded. I was the last one to say something to her.
"I love you, mom. You were the best mother to Sammy, Johnson, Samantha, Swift, Phillip, Jack, Nate, Anastasia and I. You are my best friend. You helped me be who I am; you've been the best role model. I know, right know you want to cry. You don't want to leave me. Trust me mom I don't want you to leave. But mom I'll be okay. I have them, my best friends and the best part is I'll still have you in my heart. If anything happens to you, you'll be with God. You'll be my guardian angel. I remember as a kid I cried over my dead goldfish you'd tell me about me seeing him in heaven. This might be the beginning for you, I love you and I'll see you again," I kissed her cheek as she clinched in pain. I mumbled 'Sorry'.
She weakly smiled and looked around the room. "Honey, it's okay. I love you, all of you. You better stick together. My children I want you guys to be brothers and sisters your whole lives. You guys will have your hard times but together from what I've already seen, you guys have made each other better people. Promise me, you'll always be together and you'll never let a dumb agreement or bad mistakes ruin everything."
"I promise!" we all said in union.
After leaving the hospital Swift and Nate dropped us off at our houses. Tonight I was sleeping over Sammy's. I was greeted in his house by his mother Lori. I told her what happened with my mom. Lori and my mom were best friends since they were teenagers. Lori being my godmother said she'd take full custody of me. We cried at the thought of my mom leaving us. Lori went to stay with my mom at the hospital.
It was almost midnight now; Sammy and I were sitting around crying when we got a phone call from Lori. All we heard was sobbing. That's when it hit me.
Elizabeth Jenner died at 11:37 pm on September 17, 2009.
Remembering all of this got me thinking. I shouldn't be mad at Jack; he gave me the love of my life, my beautiful son. He was there for me through it all. We promised my mom to never let anything get in the way. I have to do it for my mom. I didn't realize it but I was crying in Sammy's arms. I slowly got up.
"Sam, I promised her," he smiled at me. He followed me down the stairs. Jack was sitting on the wooden stairs waiting for me. He was about to say something but I interrupted him.
"Jack, I've decided on not leaving but the guest room is going to be mine. I can't leave you. This does not mean we're getting back together. It means you're my best friend, we promised mom," I said with a smile on my face.
"Thank you, kylie!"
"Look Austin! Mommy and daddy finally are best friends again," Nate said holding Austin.
I looked around the living room and noticed that Emily had now left. Phillip, Samantha and Johnson are now here.it made me realized Emily is my friend but these people right here in this room with me are more than my friends. It showed me who my real family is. I've lost my blood family but today reminded me that family isn't blood; family is what you made of it. They might hurt you at times but they will always be family at the end of the day. In families you forgive and forget.
Austin started crying. I took him upstairs I bathed him, changed his diaper, and feed him. I dressed him in Batman pajamas. And then I went back to the living room with the rest of my family. They we're all gathered around the television watching Tom and Jerry. They say it's for Austin but deep down they just want to watch it themselves. While Austin was 'watching' television he fell asleep.
"Do you want me to carry him up for you?" Jack offered
"No its fine, I'm also tired. Goodnight guys."
"Goodnight!" my family replied.