Angel Academy

Chapter Three

Niamh POV

Heath was crying as loud as he could, which seemed like screaming. I bounced him, trying to calm him down, but he wouldn't chiil out. He just kept screaming louder and louder. "Heathy-boy," I murmured, kissing his cheek. "What's the matter baby?" Tears fell down his cheeks and his face was red from the effort it took him to scream as loud as he was. I tried to put a pacifier in his mouth, but he spit it out, and continued screaming. My head hurt from how loud he was crying. "Heathy-boy." I bounced him trying to calm him.

"What's his issue?" my neighbor Tracie asked, glowering at us. I frowned. I understood that it was three in the morning, but she didn't need to be a bitch.

"I'm not sure," I mumbled, kissing his cheek again. "He's just a baby." Tracie scoffed and slammed my door, making Heath scream louder. I sighed and set Heath on the floor on his play mat. He looked up at the dangly things, and slowly quieted down, so he was just making fussy noises. I sighed and leaned back against the wall, head in my hands. I loved Heath, but if I had had a choice I wouldn't have had a kid. I mean, Heath was great, but I just wasn't cut out to be a mom. I'm glad I declined my mom's offer to take care of Heath though. I didn't want him to grow up and wonder why his mom had been too selfish to love him properly. Besides, it wasn't like I was a druggy or anything. I just wasn't very good with kids.

Carefully, trying not to disturb Heath, I turned on some music on my phone and set it by his head. He stopped fussing, and smiled, listening to Edwin McCain sing "I'll be." Cautiously, I picked Heath up and began singing to him.

"The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful

Stop me and steal my breath.
And emeralds from mountains thrust towards the sky
Never revealing their depth.
Tell me that we belong together,
Dress it up with the trappings of love.
I'll be captivated,
I'll hang from your lips,
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above." Heath grinned up at me and I kissed his forehead and closed my eyes, a tear falling down my cheek and off my chin to splash onto Heath's face. He made a noise of protest and I wipped the tear away, bouncing him softly and singing the chorus. "I'll be your crying shoulder,

I'll be love's suicide

I'll be better when I'm older,
I'll be the greatest fan of your life." Fighting back more tears I brought Heath back into the bedroom. "And rain falls angry on the tin roof

As we lie awake in my bed.
You're my survival, you're my living proof.
My love is alive and not dead.
Tell me that we belong together.
Dress it up with the trappings of love.
I'll be captivated,
I'll hang from your lips,
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above.

I'll be your crying shoulder,
I'll be love's suicide
I'll be better when I'm older,
I'll be the greatest fan of your life." Heath slowly closed his eyes, and I set him in his crib, tucking him into bed tightly. "And I've dropped out, I've burned up, I've fought my way back from the dead.

I've tuned in, turned on, remembered the things that you said

I'll be your crying shoulder,

I'll be love's suicide

I'll be better when I'm older,

I'll be the greatest fan of your...

I'll be your crying shoulder,

I'll be love's suicide

I'll be better when I'm older,

I'll be the greatest fan of your life.

The greatest fan of your life....greatest fan of your life." When the song ended I slowly crawled into bed, clutching my knees to my chest and laying in a fetal position. Of course my phone had decided to play that song right after I saw Corbin. Of course, because why not? I hated that Corbin had ruined my favorite song for me. I hated and loved the memories that it reminded me of. Of Corbin and I laying together on his bed or my bed as he sang it to me, brushing my bangs from my eyes, his breath playing across my face, and my eyes closed. It was such a sweet memory, but it left such a huge aching in my heart that I couldn't bear to think of it anymore.