Raura's Daughter

twelve.

Ross' POV

After what felt like hours of sitting in class, second period finally rolled around. I was always excited for soccer practise, it was an outlet for me to feel normal for once and not consider myself a teenage father. It was a chance for me to focus on something outside of my relationship with Courtney and my parenting skills towards Isabella. I could focus on the ball and leading my team instead of all of my personal problems and I have to say, so far, it's worked like a charm.

Calum walked beside me at a steady pace, the both of us frantically looking out for Courtney and the cheerleading team. It wasn't that I didn't want to see her, I just couldn't be bothered to have another argument with her, especially in a public setting with our peers around us. "What's the word I have to use if I see Courtney again?" Calum asked, turning his head in every direction possible to look for her.

"Milk." I said bluntly as we continued to walk towards the gym.

Calum stared at me with a grin. "What kind of milk? Chocolate milk? Strawberry milk? Banana-"

"Just milk!" I hissed. Calum's light green eyes widened. "Does the flavour even matter man? It's just a safe word."

"Of course it matters!" He whispered as we scurried past the cheerleading courts. "Milk! Milk!"

I glared at him. "Yeah, well done man. You've finally learnt the safe word."

"No, Ross, milk!" Calum hissed even louder than before. I cocked my head behind me and locked eyes with Courtney who looked like she was ready to kill me at any given moment. "Too late." Calum added before heading off in the direction of the gym without me.

Courtney approached me in her cheerleading outfit, her long brown hair was tied up in a tight ponytail and her tanned skin was glistening underneath the early morning sun. She prodded me in the chest with her index finger and scowled. "I've heard some pretty interesting rumours about you today."

I sighed. I already knew that it would be something to do with Laura. I shrugged my shoulders and challenged her to continue. "And?" I asked, I demanded to know the answer to her little rumour fest.

"You walked to school with Laura freaking Marano?" Courtney asked in an aggressive tone of voice. The kids around us anxiously walked past, averting their gaze from Courtney to me, they looked terrified. I couldn't blame them. Courtney could be extremely intimidating at the best of times. "After our argument too. I mean what the hell was I supposed to think Ross? I spent hours crying last night and worrying only for you to walk your little ex to school behind my back!"

I bit my lip before I could say anything that I would ultimately come to regret later on in the day. I knew how to play Courtney's mind games and although it was difficult, I just had to allow her to play as the victim and respect her opinion on all the things that I'd done wrong. "It wasn't done behind your back, Court." I explained. She shook her head in disgust at me and stepped back slightly from me. "I'm not that kind of guy."

I was being honest. I was always upfront with friends and family about my feelings and decisions, I wouldn't try to purposely hurt anyone around me although sometimes I'd definitely managed to unintentionally hurt those closest to me. I wasn't proud of it. "Oh please! You're obsessed with Laura and the idea of your little family coming back together again. Do you think I don't notice? Because I do!"

"I'm not obsessed with that idea at all." I muttered. I was beginning to feel aggravated by Courtney's words and I knew that in a moment I was going to have to step away from the conversation before my words became a harsh reality for her. "I'm a father to a little girl, Courtney, we've been through this. I have to be there for my family, even if we don't live together or act like an actual family when we spend time together. I'm still the father."