True Colors

Babysitting (Part 2)

By the time Leila had seen every room in the house twice (Amber often forgot which rooms they had already seen), Apollo had made a pot of macaroni and cheese (from the box of course). Halfway through the meal, Leila got a phone call from her best friend since third grade. "Jaycee? What's up?" she asked. 

"You are never going to believe it!" her friend exclaimed. "I got the job!" 

"No way!" Jaycee had always been one who loved researching and reporting. She had been actively doing charity work around the world for years. She longed to be a news anchor, one who traveled and explored and raised awareness. The job she had applied for would allow her to do just that. There had been several other very experienced individuals up against her. "I thought you said there was a super small chance." 

"They said they liked my energy. Experience can't compete with excitement and devotion when it comes to something like this." Jaycee chuckled. "At least, that's what they said." 

"Well, whatever the case, I'm super excited for you!" Leila gushed. 

"So what's going on in your life? What are you doing right now?" 

She smiled smugly. "Just babysitting the most adorable three year old in the world." 

"And that is…?" 

"Apollo's niece, Amber. Cutest thing I've ever laid eyes on." 

"And I'm supposed to know who Apollo is?" The confusion was evident in Jaycee's voice. 

"I swear I've told you about him before. Have I really never told you?" 

"Girl, the last time I heard the name Apollo from you was back when you were obsessed with Greek mythology." 

She sighed. "Apollo is my boyfriend… and my soulmate." 

"WHAT?!" Leila quickly pulled the phone away from her ear. Apollo just laughed. "You met your soulmate?! When?! Where?! How?! And why did you not tell me?!" 

"Ten months ago, at a work banquet/party, when he swooped in and saved me from Mr. Very, Very Wrong. And I thought I did tell you!"

"It has been TEN MONTHS and you never even mentioned him." 

"Sorry?" 

"I'm gonna have to meet this guy." 

"I'll put you on speaker." 

"Video chat. Right now." 

She laughed. "Yes, ma'am." Leila switched the phone call over to a video chat and stood next to Apollo. Her dark-skinned friend appeared on the screen. 

"Present the victim." 

Leila chuckled before getting Apollo in frame. Jaycee put on her "processing" face, the one she wore whenever she was taking in new information and figuring out which file to sort it under. 

"Uh, hi?" he stuttered. 

"Hm." Jaycee scrunched her eyebrows together. "I require a private interview with the subject." 

"Take my phone and go to another room," she told Apollo before whispering, "Jaycee's just putting on a show. She likes to think she's threatening." 

"I am threatening!" was the last thing Leila heard before Apollo stepped into the spare bedroom, closing the door behind him. 

~ ~ ~

Apollo finally emerged from the spare bedroom fifteen minutes later. He handed the phone back to Leila. "I'll take this information into consideration," Jaycee announced. "Leila, a word." She ducked into the spare bedroom and closed the door. 

 "Girl, you hit the jackpot! This boy has everything!" her friend gushed. 

"Jaycee!" 

"It's true!" she squealed. "Good looks, smart, super sweet, very successful, amazing family, and the best part, he's so totally whipped! You have to tell me how you got him wrapped around your little finger like that." 

"I don't know," she admitted. "I think we're equally whipped. Within twenty-four hours of meeting, he said he'd marry me on the spot. A week later, I met his family and that was it. I knew I couldn't just let him go." 

"Love at first sight!" Jaycee feigned fainting. 

"No. We didn't use the 'L word' until four months after we met." 

Leila received an eye roll. "Yeah, whatever. Just one question, though." Jaycee cocked her head. "Is his younger brother available?" 

"James? As far as I know," Leila chuckled, "but I don't think he's your type. He seems quiet and reserved, but he's secretly very sarcastic and a huge nerd." 

"Oh. So he's the male version of you. Perfect best friend, but not exactly soulmate material. For me, anyway." 

"Pretty much." 

"Dang." Jaycee frowned. "Girl, you got lucky." 

"Yeah." She smiled fondly. "Apollo's pretty great, and his family is really amazing." 

"Sounds like it. Sorry, girl, I gotta go. But we are not done with this conversation. I need to know all the details on your relationship, all ten months of it. I'll call you later." 

"Bye!" The call disconnected and Leila returned to the kitchen. She noticed Apollo's anxious expression and laughed. "You've been approved." 

"Really?" 

"She couldn't say enough. Told me I'd hit the jackpot," she chuckled. "She asked if James was single. I said yes, but he's really not her type." 

Apollo's jaw about hit the floor. "She liked me that much? She did not let on to anything when I was talking to her. I'm starting to think she should have been an actor." 

~ ~ ~

One Disney movie and three pillow fights later, Amber was finally tired out. They tucked her into her twin bed and in seconds, she was out. Leaving the door half open, they carefully backed out of her very colorful room, only tripping on three stuffed animals. 

Leila sat down on the end of a large couch. Apollo flopped down on it, laying his feet at the far end and his head on her lap. She ran her fingers through his hair. "Looks like someone can't even keep up with a three year old." 

"You try running after a child who is much smaller and faster than you," he challenged. 

"I think you forget that I was generally the one she was running to." She laughed. "Us girls have to stick together, you know." 

"Why couldn't I be the prince as least once?" he complained. "I mean, the dragon could be either gender. But a prince is specifically a male." 

She smirked. "You're just jealous because you lost every time. Everyone knows the prince always beats the fire-breathing dragon."

"Ugh…" He closed his eyes, flopping an arm across his forehead. "Kids are a hassle." 

She kissed his cheek. "Does that mean you don't want any of your own?" 

His eyes flew open and he just about rolled off the couch. "No! I mean, yes! I mean… I never said that!"

"Relax. I'm messing with you." 

"Oh. I knew that." 

"Idiot. You're lucky I love you."

A/N: Normally, I would have posted this several hours earlier, but I was in a car for nine hours. Now, I'm in a lake-side cabin with most of my extended family for a five day vacation. There's a very confusing layout to the house, and too many cheesy signs to count, but it's pretty cool. I will still be updating Expect the Unexpected on Saturday. (I have no idea what's going to happen between now and then, but I'm pretty sure it's going to be fun!)