All of my 5sos work

A Family?

Closing the door behind me I let out a small sigh as the events of today played back to me, it still hadn't quite sunk in. How one word can change your entire mood, your entire world even. Considering it was something I never believed would happen now that I'm alone I can actually let the tears roll down my face and release the soft laugh I've been holding back. 

Half an hour beforehand, I could hear him playing his Dad's old music, he always admired the stuff his dad kept and aspired to be more like him. Except today it wasn't upbeat, there was no heavy bass just soft, gentle lullabies of an acoustic guitar with quiet meaningful lyrics playing.

Placing the shopping down on the counter I went to the living room to try and find Luke, with little luck it popped into my head he'd gone out for the afternoon. Sighing I hovered at the bottom of the stairs, unsure what to do. Alfie is Luke's son, his birth mother wanted nothing to do with Alfie or Luke leaving Luke to fend for both him and his new born son. Me and Luke had always been friends, I'd supported as much as I could from the other side of the world as I left once we finished school, shortly after was when I heard about the baby.

Neither of us realised our feelings until four years ago, Alfie was just joking around Christmas as he got his Uncle Jack to hang the Mistletoe under the doorway. It was only on Christmas Eve when Alfie called both me and Luke in a fright that he set it up, we were both under the mistletoe and as they say, the rest is history.

Alfie was a good kid, we all got on well but I wasn't his mother, nor did I ever intend to replace her like that. I was viewed as a friend in a long term relationship with his father, I had no title besides my name and it was left at that. Yet standing here now unsure on what do to do I gradually go upstairs, trying to process some train of thought to help him out with whatever could be the issue.

As I reached his door I knocked like I usually do, waiting patiently his shuffling could be detected over the music as he lowered the volume before making his way to the board of wood between the two of us. The door handle turned and was left open for me, as I took a step inside the overpowering smell of Lynx filled my senses as a small cough involuntarily escaped my lips.

Looking around at his usually organised room mugs had been left, clothes were on the floor surrounded by old vinyls as the current one continued to play quietly. Alfie lay face down on his unmade bed, his arms were covering his face as he lay still on the messy duvet. My first instinct was to find a chair, but the only one available was covering in clothes and a plate on top, meaning I had to perch on the edge of his bed. As the bed sunk ever so slightly he didn't move, not even flinch. He was just like his dad, off in his own world when it came to music, his dirty blonde hair matching his dad, how he resembled his dad at that age, it's uncanny.

"What's the song about?" My first question to ease him into conversation, Alfie can talk about music for hours on end regardless of his mood. It's a calming technique and encourages him to get out of his shell at times, when he's trying to talk to new people, ask a girl to some dance, anything.

He shuffled his arm away from his face, turning his head to the side so he could breath the oxygen contaminated air. "Some guy fell for a girl who wasn't right for him, she broke his heart and never looked back." He began and immediately I knew it, all went silent as the singer sang those words I remembered Luke playing after Alfie's mum left him.

"You relating to it?" All I wanted was to be brief, work it slowly out of him without seeming too intrigued.

Slowly but surely he got out of his all too familiar shell, revealing his blood shot blue eyes which contrasted against his pale skin. He sat up straight but focused on the loose thread hanging from his jumper. "She was beautiful," A small chuckle escaped him as I knew all too well where this was heading. "she didn't like me, she told me with no remorse, no sincerity just bluntly. Before walking off with her friends, laughing about me." A tear cascaded down his face as he violently wiped it away. "Why does everyone leave me?" My heart shattered at that question and all remained quiet.

Edging towards him I placed my arm around him, he held onto me tightly as quiet sobs came out now. "Sometimes Alfie, people aren't what they seem," I began as I stroked the curls on his head. "you might think you know someone but you only know their facade, but I'll tell you this. Once you meet someone so genuine that you feel butterflies, you'll know for sure that there's no facade with them." I leant my head on top of his as I let out a small sigh, "I'm never going to leave you, not ever. And that is a promise." He brought his head up and I wiped away a falling tear, a small smile remained on my face as I stood up walking towards the door. "I got some cookies for you, I used to find them ideal in times like this, I'll go grab them." Turning away from him I held onto the door, bringing it to a close.

"Mum?" I froze on the spot, something I must've heard wrong as my heart was leaping out of my chest. My mouth went dry as I felt my eyes welling up, turning the door back again I looked to Alfie who was now cross legged on his bed, looking at me with a glint in his eyes. "Thank you, Mum." My heart couldn't take it as a big smile crossed my face, matching the one on his as I nodded before closing the door and hearing it click.

My mind was out of my body as I went downstairs to get the cookies. A pair of arms wrapped around my waist causing me to jump, my mind back into its usual place.

"Did I hear that correctly?" His deep voice sounded light, happier than its been for a while now. Turning on the spot I connected my arms around his neck as all I could do was nod.

"He called me Mum, Luke." I couldn't comprehend it, the three letter word which wasn't something I'd expect to be called in my life, I was me, never considered a Mum.

Luke's forehead rested against mine as a chuckle escaped him, an unexpected flow of tears came from my eyes as I wiped them, laughing as I did so. "That's our boy." He joked and kissed me sweetly. "We're a family, and I wouldn't have it any other way."