I'm New To This

Chapter 3

Keith P.O.V

I knock on the door 5 times before the little girl Mariana? or was it Mari? oh well "Hi," she says in a whisper "Hello can I talk to your father?" I asked politely she shakes her head "No, Papa locked himself in his room. but you can talk to me" she says smiling "oh I see I just wanted to apologize for what I said I wasn't thinking" she stops and replies "Are you pitying Papa, he doesn't like that. never has but it been worse since Mama passed." that was a lot to take in so it took me a few minutes to reply " I don't pity him, I just said something I shouldn't have. I know I shouldn't have said it but the words left my mouth before I had time to think" she looks shocked at my words, there was silence as she started to unpack the boxes laying around the room "Mind if I help?" I asked breaking the silence, she lights up and smiles "Really that would be great" I start to help to ask where things should go every once in a while "Mariana? It is Mariana, right? or was it Mari?" I ask, "Oh my name is Mariana but my nickname is Mari that's what Papa calls me." she answers "Mariana? how old are you?" I ask,"I'm ten, why do you ask?"she looks at me waiting for a response "Oh it's just that you look so young but talk so grown up" she frowns "Its how mama talked" oh shit there I go asking the wrong questions and saying the wrong things. I hear a faint grumble "Are you hungry, I could make us some food, I do have food with me if you guys don't have any" I state trying to make her change her focus from her mother to food, she nods with a smile "Okay I'll get started wanna help?" I ask "YES!" she yells answering.

Lance P.O.V

I wake up to hear giggling and laughing and a delicious smell coming from the kitchen. Mari should be the only one here and she knows she's not allowed to cook by herself. Who the hell is she talking too? did she let a stranger into the house, no she's smarter than that? I think walking out of my room and to the kitchen. "Oh, really you wanna go there?" I hear a man's voice it sounds a little familiar. " Ahhhhhh hahahahahaha" I hear Mariana scream and begin to laugh. I finally arrive at the edge of the kitchen to see Keith the hottie from earlier that had accidentally upset me, ya I didn't handle that situation as well as I should have. I look at him smiling with my little girl, they both have what looks like cake batter on their noses. I let out a chuckle as I look at the beautiful scene unravel in front of me. they turn their heads to see me "PAPA!" she yells with the biggest smile ever and runs towards me giving me a big hug "Hey" Keith says quietly "What are you doing?" I ask sleepily as I had just woken up "Oh umm well I wanted to apologize to you for earlier i shouldn't have said that and please don't think its out of pity its not its just I shouldn't have asked such a personal question everyone is entitled to their own secrets and I just shouldn't have asked, but then your daughter said you had locked yourself in your room and that I could chat with her so I did, then decide to help unpack some stuff then her stomach growled so I decided to make some food then she said she wanted cake and did the most adorable puppy dog eyes ever I just couldn't say no" he said really fast and stuttering here and there, I let out a chuckle "Thanks" he looks at me seeing that I'm not angry, I squirm out of Mari's hug  "Its no problem any time" he has no idea how much that meant to me. after dinner was done (it was homemade chicken fingers with homemade french fries) and eaten Keith put the cake in the oven and we all sat on the couch watching Tv. Kieth and I got along most of the time, we argued here and there about stupid things like the best kids show that was around when we were kids and Mariana totally shut us both up by saying that the best was the Power Puff Girls no matter what, we could have argued with her but we decided to let it go, we are in the middle of our eleventh fight about Marvel or DC I was a huge Marvel fan and he was all in love with DC "Give one reason why DC is better?" I ask " Uh batman" he states "Oh no batman, you know what Batman isn't the best superhero he is the creepiest superhero, he has that deep voice that sounds like he's trying to kidnap you and hangs out with the Joker, Riddler, and Penguin, DUDE those are Mexican gang member names," I shout at him laughing as I remember where I got that argument from (oh Fluffy aka Gabriel Iglesias). Keith looks at me shocked "I win" I shout as Mari starts to pack the cake up in containers so she can take some to school and me, to work "Papa" she yawns "Oh Mari sounds like its time for bed" I say walking her to her room. I tuck her in as Keith stands in the doorway of her room, I lean and plant a kiss on her forehead "good night Mari" she smiles and snuggles into her bed "g'night Papa and Keith" I turn after she said her goodnights, I walk out the door and close it "I should probably go I have work at 10 o'clock and it's 9:30" he says looking at his watch "Ok, don't be afraid to stop by anytime. you're always welcome here" I give a reassuring smile and wave as he takes his groceries or at least whatever left, and leaves. Oh god, I think I'm falling in love, NO lance it's only been two months you couldn't possibly have moved on in that amount of time. Could I?