Tainted

Tainted {{Chapter Two}}

                                                * * * Brendon’s P.O.V. * * *

            I was beginning to learn that having a staring contest with a baby was a lost cause.

            She won every time. Maybe it had something to do with not being able to make eye contact yet, but Gracie never blinked. Either the kid had talent or she was the spawn of the devil.

            Giving up after the fourth time in a row, I pulled myself up from the floor and walked barefoot into Matt and Holly’s kitchen, sticking my head into the refrigerator. After a moment I pulled out a bag of shredded mozzarella cheese, shoving a handful into my mouth and then retreating back into the living room.

            Matt stared at me blankly. “Cheese?”

            “It was either this or baby food,” I replied. “Mushed peas didn’t sound too appetizing.” I plopped back down next to Gracie on the floor, and she gurgled up at me.

            It had only been a week since Gracie was born, but everyone was already used to having a baby around. I would never admit it, but I sort of liked it.

            Suddenly the front door of Matt and Holly’s apartment flew open, and Josh stepped through the threshold with a grin plastered onto his mouth. His twin brother Jordan followed close behind, his face pinched in annoyance.

            “What’s up?” Matt asked as Jordan settled in beside him on the couch.

            Josh threw himself down next to me and lifted Gracie up, sitting her on his stomach. The smile never left his face and he exhaled. “I’ve got a date.”

            “Congrats,” Holly replied, smiling.

            “Don’t encourage him,” Jordan said. “He’s been talking about nothing but this girl for the past week. He was on the phone with her for two fu–”

            “Hey,” Matt interrupted him. “We have a child in the room.”

            “–freaking hours last night,” Jordan continued. “Two! And how are scars attractive?”

            “It’s not that I find the scars themselves attractive,” Josh explained. “More… mysterious. And mysterious is attractive.”

            Matt high-fived him. “Right on, brother.”

            “Look past that, though,” Josh said. “She is pretty, and smart, and serious but funny, and she knows about the world and she likes music and she’s just,” he smiled again, “perfect.”

            I’d had enough of this conversation. I put the cheese back and pulled on my shoes, excusing myself and leaving the apartment. Josh had every right in the world to be happy but I didn’t want to be near him while he discussed this “perfect” girl, especially when I was sure that the girl in question was far from it.

                                                * * * Eve’s P.O.V. * * *

            Josh picked me up at my apartment around six o’clock. I was a nervous wreck, to say the least. Josh was really sweet and I wanted to make a good impression. He knocked on my front door and I rushed to pull on my ankle boots over my skinny jeans. I buckled them quickly and then hurried to the door, pulling it open and smiling.

            “Hey,” he greeted me, the corners of his mouth tugging upward. I stepped out of my apartment, closing and locking the door behind me, and walked beside him down the stairs. “You, um,” he ran a hand through his hair, “you look nice.”