Fifty-Two Weeks

twenty six

"It's as though time were

my best friend, worst enemy, and comfort

all in one.

And I-

I'm still trying to

figure out how that works." -M.J.

---

Scarlett spent many hours at the apartment she once shared with Jessica. Even if she was alone, she preferred to be alone there. It felt more like a comforting escape to her than her friend's home and right now she needed that stability. Jessica was everything she needed in a best friend, but she wasn't Ashton.

Ashton was home to her. She told herself she could do this without him but as time ran thin, she found herself needing him more and more. Her once adorably tiny bump was now eight months along and massive. Tiny little stretch marks ghosted the underside, but Scarlett didn't mind. Getting up to pee every hour of the night however, was something she did mind.

On this night, just after her millionth bathroom visit, she chose to make herself a midnight snack. Her heavy and swollen feet treaded along the cold tile of the kitchen as she searched countless cupboards for ingredients. She, or the baby, craved a banana peanut butter sandwich, something her and Ashton used to eat everyday after school.

Scarlett felt brave, and albeit a little lonely, so she pulled out her phone and did something risky. She took a snapchat of her midnight snack to Ashton with the caption 'Like father like son eh?' and sent it before she could second guess it.

Ashton was her guilty pleasure. She stalked (or as she put it - checked up on) him almost daily. A mother needs to know what the father of her child is doing right? At least, that's what she told herself. So as she curled up on the sofa with her sandwich, she updated herself on his life. As far as she knew he was still single, the tour was going well, and he was happy. She missed all her annoying friends dearly, but their happiness was more important. Besides, they would be home soon enough.

Jess said the last leg of the tour was going to be cancelled so they could work on the second album. Not that she was complaining, she couldn't wait to have Calum in her arms again. Scarlett on the other hand was nervous. The boys were supposed to be home in just four and a half short weeks to continue writing, meaning they would (hopefully) be there for the baby's arrival. She couldn't decide if this was good or bad.

Scarlett wasn't a traditional girl by any means. She didn't have a baby shower, she didn't do maternity photos, and she didn't want her mother living with her after the baby was born. The one tradition she did choose to follow happened to be giving the baby godparents. Jessica was an obvious choice for the godmother, but the godfather had been a bit of a struggle to pick. She loved all the band guys the same, and there was also Isaac and Tyler to choose from. In the end Scarlett chose Luke. He had been like a little brother to her and even when she cut out Ashton from her life, he remained a constant. They texted daily and he was always one to ask for baby updates. He didn't know he was the godfather yet, she hadn't exactly gotten around to asking. However, there was no doubt in her mind that he would accept.

Her thoughts engrossed her to the point where she almost didn't hear her phone ringing. She was too worried about missing it to check the caller ID, a rookie mistake.

"Hello?"

"It's a boy?"

"Ashton," Of course he had seen the snapchat and freaked out. God that was a stupid decision. Scarlett made a mental note to not make risky choices like that again.