Nothing More

Chapter Five:

The cold taste of beer hit my lips as I took a long sip. It was a cool summer night and Audriana and I are sitting in her back patio of her apartment. It wasn't too big and it wasn't too small, just right. Sophia was still sleeping and I had just lit a cigarette. Audriana's walking back with her beer and a bowl of cheeto puffs, her favorite.

" Sorry for the wait, she started to wake up again so I had to sit with her but she ended up falling asleep again." She half smiles and sits in the seat right across from mine. She changed out of her clothes from earlier and threw on a pair of shorts and a baggy t-shirt. Her hair was flowing from the slight breeze and her tan legs were glowing under the deck light.

" It's not a problem" I simply stated. I take another drag from my cigarette. She hates that I smoke but doesn't bother to say anything to me which makes me wonder why.

" Thanks for coming tonight." She looks half up at me and then looks away to the side. She pushes some hair behind her ears and takes another sip of beer. She looks uncomfortable or maybe just nervous. Audrianna and I usually don't just sit and talk usually.

" It was my daughters birthday party, wasn't it?" It comes off my sarcastically than I had hoped for. I could sense a bit of hurt in her facial expressions but I didn't really mean it. She's just so frustrating sometimes. She didn't need to thank me for coming to our daughters birthday party, am I that big of a piece of shit father that she feels the need to thank me?

" I didn't mean it like that, you know." She's getting feisty with an attitude now. " I just meant that I'm happy you came. Your family is much more of a support system than mine is Soph really clicks with you, all she did was talk about you and how you were coming to the party and she even told all her friends." She looked back at me waiting for a response.

" I know what you meant, I was just joking." Only partly. " Anyways... Is there anything new with you? Are you seeing anyone? How is school going?" I couldn't help and come off as clingy when I was asking but I noticed that her phone kept vibrating and it was a guys name. God help me if he has met Sophia and he has touched her or act like a father figure, she sure as hell doesn't need another father around when she already has me.

" Wouldn't you want to know?" She wiggles her eyebrows at me and flashes a bright white smile, takes another sip of her beer and places it down on her table.

" School is going alright. I'm taking a short summer class to catch up with my curriculum and so I'm not as behind. I'm honestly just read for it to be over, I need something different. To answer your other question, no I'm not seeing anyone." She almost looks ashamed when stating it but I just take out another cigarette and place it in my mouth when she continues to talk.

" I went on a few dates here and there but nothing to exciting. I don't really have time to date and I sure as hell am not wasting my time with anyone either." She pops another cheeto puff into her mouth and looks back up at me. " Are you?"

Her question takes me by surprise but I expected it. She wasn't always as forward before but now she's really grown a pair and just doesn't know what personally space and personally business is.

" I don't date, you know this."

" Oh, but you've been fucking around haven't you?" She really has grown a pair.

" Who I have sex with is none of your business" She rolls her eyes again.

" Whatever you say..." She gets quiet again.

Audrianna

The sun starts to go down, Zayn and I are still sat on my deck but there doesn't seem to be much exchange. The breeze is starting to pick up even more now and goosebumps are forming on my skin. My first beer bottle is still standing up right on the table along with my second and third. Zayn kept going inside and grabbing us more, simple head nods were used to signal a thank you. Looking up at the father of my child really boils my blood. Why is Zayn so rude and why does he think he can just come into my house and act as if I did something. I was simply making a joke but his sense of humor obviously has changed.

My train of thought is distracted by my deck doors sliding open as a groggy four year old stands there with her bear in her one arm and her blanket in another. Her loose curls flopped on the top of her head and her baggy t-shirt falling off her shoulder. Her lips are puffy and her skin is glowing. Zayn shoots a smile at her and opens up his arms and she walks over and sits on his lap. She snuggles up onto him, pulls the blanket over herself and wraps her arms around him.

" Sleep well, lovey?" Zayn pushes a piece of her out of her face and plants a wet kiss on the top of her head. Moments like these remind me why I fell in love with him long ago. He truly is a caring man when he wants to be. He's kind and generous and knows how to comfort Soph. A soft smile is plastered on my lips when he looks over at me. Times like these make me wish we were a perfect family.

Notes: I know I haven't posted in such a long while and this chapter is somewhat really short... I'm sorry!!!!! I'm just getting back into the swing of things and I needed to finish this chapter since it's been sitting in my drafts since ever. I'm going to start writing tonight again and start fresh! I don't know how many of you actually read but if you do I would appreciate a lovely comment so I know at least one person is enjoying the story. I love when people get excited and are interractive with writing so please say something!!