Ghostwriter

Chapter 10

"I kissed a boy once in Kindergarten.

"Poor Keith McHelder had a bit of a stalker. In school, I would peer at him from over the lip of my book until he looked my way, then I would quickly hide behind the pages. On the playground, I would sit on the swings and watch him play soccer. His twiggy little legs would kick the ball into the goal, and I would cheer for him inside my head because I couldn't speak around him without my face becoming a new shade of lipstick. One day, towards the end of the year, I decided that I was a big girl and enough was enough. I needed to do something about my affection, and conversation was a no-go.

"So, I jumped off the swings, gathered my wits, and marched into the concrete slab that served as a soccer field. I grabbed McHelder by his collar and smashed his lips into mine. I pulled away, and we stared at each other, blinking.

"I ran back to my swings and turned my back to him. We never spoke or kissed again. I didn't kiss another boy until Jordon Brown in Freshman year."

Colton blinks at me as I bottle feed him on the couch. "If some idiot like me ever does that to you, you slap them. It's not ok to kiss people without their consent. Or stalk them. Stalking is not ok." I wag my finger at him.

In light of last night's happenings, today's visit to the hospital, and my lack of sleep, I find myself rambling about various aspects of my love life to Colton. He's a good listener when he's not crying. We've gone through my college and high school years already. Colton's heard all about my misfires and misdeeds.

Red Hood's gone. I think. He's not in the apartment, at least. He said he's supposed to be protecting me, so he's probably nearby or he's set up survallence.

Hill will arrive in less than an hour. It's Sunday, time to meet Maja.

My scarmark itches.

Colton sucks on the lip of his bottle. His tiny hands grasp the sides, and I tilt it up farther. "We're going to visit Uncle Hill's soulmate today. She's very sick. Her name's Maja. Isn't that a pretty name?"

Colton blinks, then pushes the bottle away from his mouth. I pull back. He gurgles and sucks on four of his fingers. "Not hungry, huh?"

After Colton burps, I pack a small lunch and stuff it into the oversized baby bag. Monkeys decorate the front of it, because Mari loved monkeys and I got the bag from her. I didn't manage to get much baby supplies from her because Transfuse burned down her apartment, but lucky for me, she also handed her friend the giant bag (which was full of the diaries) when she saved Colton.

I cram as much baby supplies as I might need into that thing. I stuff the bottle in the bag too, because Colton won't stay full forever.

I pull my hair back into a bun and shrug on something a little more formal than a tee-shirt. Colton tugs at some stray wisps of my hair, and I untangle his fingers from my locks. I dress him in little boots and a hat with a puffball on top that manages to contain all his curls. He's got a little blue coat, too. Cutie.

Hill knocks on the door about ten minutes later. I open it for him. "Hey, come on in."

Hill steps in and takes off his coat. "Hi, Annie. Can I hold Colton?"

I hand Colton over, and Colton whines and tugs on his shirt. Colton pouts at me. "Well, someone's grumpy. He'll calm down in a minute or so."

Hill nods and bounces Colton. "Cool. Do what you need to do, I'll play with him."

I brush my teeth and make our bed. I grab some earmuffs, a scarf, and gloves (all miss matched pass-downs). When I exit the bedroom, Hill's bouncing a babbling Colton on his knee. I smile and snap a picture with the small camera on my phone.