Forgotten Child

Chapter 2

When Monday morning rolled around and my alarm went off; I had bought myself a solar powered digital alarm clock. I throw off my tattered thin blanket to wash up using the rain water I collect in a five gallon bucket. Once I'm done I dress in a long sleeve faded gray shirt and my only pair of nice blue jeans and my tattered shoes.

Walking back over to the two pallets that I've fastened together with zip ties that I've found to gently wake Finn to have him wash and dress.

"Finn, you need to get up, love, we have school today," I gently say as I softly shake his shoulder that's covered in a thick sleeping back and a blanket.

"Okay Papa," Finn mummbles as he sits up to gently rub the sleep from his eyes with the palms of his little fists. He climbs out of bed and washes up before he dresses in similar clothes to mine.

As Finn dresses himself I busy myself by grabbing his backpack, making sure he has everything he needs and then grab mine. We live within a two block walking distance of the elementary school and the high school.

We make the two block walk hand in hand in ten minutes to his school. Walking him to his classroom, I hand him his backpack as I squat down in front of him.

"I know Papa, tell no one where we live and all that," Finn tells me softly so no one can hear us.

"Good boy, Finn. I love you, have a wonderful day at school. I'll pick you up right after school, alright? No leaving with anyone no matter what they tell you, okay?"

Finn nods his head as he wraps his arms around my neck to hug me causing me to hug him back just as tightly. "I love you, too, Papa. See you after school and I remember."

With that he turns to hang up his coat and bag on his hook before sitting in the circle with the other students to start his day. With one last wave, I head to the high school mentally prepairing myself in the two minute walk to try and avoid Harry or Niall or hope I can come up with a convincing lie.

Walking into the school I head to my locker to grab my supplies for the first three classes of the day. Once at my locker, glancing around to see if there is any sign of Harry or Niall and slightly concerned once I think of the idea of them telling Liam and Zayn what they saw on Satruday at lunch time.

Walking to my first hour, I'm not paying attention if there is anyone in the classroom already or not. There is. All four of the lads are in the room. When I hear the door shut and the lock sliding into place with a click is when I noticed the four of them staring at me.

Fuck.

"Hey lads, what's up?" I ask cheerfully and as innocently as possible.

Liam and Zayn cross their arms at me and my fake innocence. "Why were at a soup kitchen Saturday at noon with a little red haired boy?" Liam asks sternly.

I give him my best confused look as I answer him. "What are you talking about, Liam? I was at home on Saturday at noon."

All four raise an eyebrow each at me. "Louis, Harry and Niall both saw you at the soup kitchen with a red headed boy. After you left the soup kitchen, you went to the park with that lad and then to an abandonded shop where you and the boy slept."

"I have no idea what you're talking about Liam. I live in a house with my aunt and her boyfriend," I insist weakly.

"Cut the bullshit, mate. Niall and I know what we saw. What's going on?" Harry speaks up and he's angry.

Hanging my head so I'm not looking any of them in the eyes. "Finn and I are homeless. I was kicked out of my mum's house when I was 12 years. I lived with my auntie for the first six months then she kicked me out because her new live in boyfriend didn't want me there."

At their extended silence I peak at them through my eyelashes to see all four have their mouths hanging open in shock.

"You've technically been on your own for almost five years?" Niall stutters out in his cute Irish accent.

I can only nod. "Finn's been with only me the last two years after his mum died of cancer. She'd given me her blessing to raise him before she died. Finn's birth certificate names me his father. Finn's 6 years almost 7 years old. We make do with what I can get us. I work at the docks unloading fish crates three or four days a week." Taking a deep breath before I contine. "We eat every evening during the week at the soup kitchen and every meal there during the weekends. I help clean after every meal in payment for the food."

"Why haven't you sought out help from someone?" Zayn asks still horrified.

"I've been on my own for this long and we're doing fine, besides who in the hell would help a fag like me with my 6 year old son?" I asked close to tears. "No one that's who and I can't say I blame them. Hell my own mother didn't even want me. I'm glad mum kicked me out, if she hadn't I wouldn't have Finn and who in the hell knows where he would have ended up when his mum died."

By now I'm full out crying, I can't help it even though I feel vulnerable in front of them, I just can't contain it anymore. I'm so damn stressed out and frusterated.

I walk out of the classroom not able to deal with being here today. Perhaps I can work a few hours today since it doesn't matter if I graduate or not, it's not like I can go to Uni while raising Finn alone.

I make it to the hallway that leads to the front door through the hoard of other students who are heading to their first hours before someone takes my elbow into their hand, forcing me to stop.

"Louis, let us help you and Finn," Liam insists as he brings me into a bone crushing hug. Slowly I wrap my arms around his waist, burying my head into his neck as I continue to sob.

"No, I can't let anyone help me, I'm not worth it and Finn is -" I start to say but Harry cuts me off.

"No, Finn isn't fine and neither are you. Come on Louis, you are only 16 years old living in a place that isn't safe you or him and he's only 6 years old. You two need to live somewhere safe, warm, and not have to worry about where your next meal is coming from, work at a place that probably pays you crap and not have to grow up to early. Which obviously you had to do. Let us help you mate." Harry gives me his best puppy dog eyes as he adds, "Please?"

Staring into his eyes I can feel myself caving at their offer. Sniffeling as I wipe my eyes and nose (I know gross but hey, I'm desperate) I slowly nod. "What do you lads suggest?" I ask softly as we walk outside of the school toward the parking lot.

"Let's go to my house, my mum should be home still and we can talk to her," Harry suggests. "Mum is a social worker and Robin is a lawyer, so, I think they'll know what to do," he says with a faint blush coating his cheeks.

I nod as we pile into his car, me in the back seat with Liam and Niall as Zayn sits up front with Harry.