Whatever // Muke

one

"Why you gotta be so rude?
Don't you know I'm human too?" 
I sang along to the radio. I was in my car on my way to my new job. Not a real job ofcourse because it was just babysitting. I didn't know what to expect because I wasn't given much information about it. I only knew how much I was payed and that it involved babysitting. I didn't really care because I was good with kids and I needed the money. I checked again if I was at the right adress. When the piece of paper in my hand confirmed I was, I parked my car and got out. The neighbourhood was nice and the house was quite big, not massive but big. I walked up the steps to the front door and rang the doorbell. After a few moments a woman opens the door with a big smile plastered on her face. 

"Hi, you must be Luke." 
"Yes. Nice to meet you mrs. Clifford."
"Please, you call me Karen. Not that you'll be seeing me much for the next month. Come in, sweetie." 
I walked into the house and let her lead me to the couch. 
"Do you want something to drink?" She asked me.
"Yes. I'd like some water." I told her and she walked to the kitchen.
While she was gone I looked around the living room, it was very cold and empty. Not that there wasn't any furniture but it just felt like nobody lived here at all. 
"So," Karen started as she placed a glass of water on the coffee table in front of me. "Has your mum told you what will be expected of you the next month?"
"No not really, she was in a hurry and didn't have time to tell me." I told her. My mum was a busy woman.
Karen nodded. "Thank you for being able to come though. I know it was on a short notice but the other babysitter decided to quit last minute."
"It's no problem. I like being around kids."
"Yes I'm sure you're going to like Michael. He can be a bit difficult sometimes but you two will get along."
"Where is Michael right now?" I wanted to see the boy I'd to take care off.
"Uh," Karens eyebrows furrowed. "I'm not sure. Probably at a friends house."
I was a bit confused about the fact that she didn't know where her own son was but didn't ask because she began talking about how I had to bring Michael to school and pick him up everyday. How she expected me to cook dinner every evening which wasn't a problem because my cooking was okay. She told me lots of other stuff I had to do. After she told where I could find money for the groceries, she asked me if everything was clear.
"Yes everything is except I don't know which school Michael goes to."
"He goes to the same high school as you did. At least that's what your mum told me." 
I was a bit surprised by the fact that Michael was old enough to go to high school. I tried to recall if Karen had said anything about Michaels age at all but she hadn't told me yet.
"So in what year is he?" I asked her.
"Year 11"
"So he's like.."
"17 years old"
"Oh."
"Is that a problem?" She gave me a worried look. I guess she didn't want me to quit too.
"No,no not at all. It's just I wasn't expecting him to be that old. Is there any reason why he needs a babysitter at the age of 17?"
Karen sighed. "it's just that I'm away for long periods of time and I don't want him to get lonely. It's not that you have to baby sit him, see it more as staying at a friends house while his parents are away so he doesn't get lonely." She gave me a smile. 
I wanted to ask her why Michael couldn't have one of his real friends over if my only purpose was to keep him company but I decided against it. 
Suddenly Karen jumped off the couch. "Is it this late already?" She exclaimed while glancing at her watch. 
"i'll be leaving in an hour and I still have to pack. I'll leave you alone for a bit, okay? Just wait till Michael gets home." She gestured that I could watch tv and walked away. I searched for the remote control and turned on the tv.

After I'd gone trough most of the channels I ended up watching Spongebob. Not that I was paying attention because I was worrying about Michael being a 17 years old instead of the 12 year old I had expected him to be. It's not that different right? There still is a 2 year age gap between us because I'm 19. He wasn't going to be difficult, was he? I sighed and tried to clear my head with thoughts.
Suddenly I heard the front door slam. It had to be Michael. I got up and started making my way to the hallway to introduce myself to the boy I'd be spending the next month with. Michael had his back turned towards me so I spoke up.
"Hi-" The boy turned around and his appearance caught me off guard. He was very punk. He had obviously dyed his hair red, his eyebrow was pierced and he also had spiderbites in his lip. He also had some tattoos but I wasn't sure how many because it was dark in the hallway. His eyes were now scanning my whole body up and down, judging me. I tried not to show how nervous that made me. I also tried to introduce myself again. I could handle kids but not 17 year old rebellious teenagers. 
"Hi I'm Luke. You must be Michael?" I said without stuttering and very confident too. I gave him a big smile as extended my hand for a handshake.
"Yeah whatever."