Creed

Chapter One

Kelsey

"And then they lived happily ever after." I pulled a face, desperately trying to keep the mucous in throat down and then glanced at the little chubby girl happily sitting on my lap, pulling fistfuls of my hair. I quickly pulled it out of reach before she shoved it in her mouth. We'd had an incident before where she nearly scalped me. Babies were surprisingly strong.

"It doesn't always work out like that though, Lilly-Jane. You can be happy on your own. Strong and independent like me." I smiled at her. "Although there doesn't seem to be many of those books around."

Ok, so yes, I seemed very synical. I wasn't, I just didn't believe in the fairytale every other girl seemed to be obsessed with. I never wanted to be weak, love makes you weak. I'd seen it first hand with my Mum. Different men each week, all promising things they could never give, she'd fall for it every time. I spent most of my childhood being shipped around to different places because she'd found a new man. I'd been in Maple Valley for years now though, I worked in my Aunt Mabels bakery and I loved it. I craved the stability that most people grew bored of.

"Hows my little LJ?!" A deep, loud voice filled the room.
I didn't even need to turn around to know who that was. Rolling my eyes, I looked at TJ who was now squeezing Lilly-Janes chubby cheeks which had her squealing excitedly. She reached up for him, her face lighting up.
I'd never had a stalker before, but I can imagine this is what it felt like. He was everywhere. Literally everywhere I went. With that stupid grin plastered on his face, it was as though he knew being around him made me want to pull my hair out. 

Handing Lily-Jane to TJ, I pushed up off the sofa and wandered towards the kitchen. If I wasn't baby sitting, I would be going straight for the bottle of wine sitting on the kitchen counter, but instead, coffee would have to do.

"Not going to offer me one?" came a voice very close to my ear.
"The last time I checked, you had hands."
"That's not very nice is it. Auntie Kelsey isn't being very nice to me, is she LJ?" He tickled her little belly and was rewarded with a squeal.

"Don't listen to him Lilly-Jane. Don't fall for the smile either, it's a trap." I huffed. The coffee machine was taking longer than I'd hoped, it's like it wanted to torture me.
"Why are here anyway? Alex isn't here."

"I know, I came to see you."
"And why would you do that?"
"I want to ask you something."
I sighed, this wasn't going to be good, I couldn't possibly imagine what he needed to ask me.
"Go on." I said wearily.
"I want you to go on a date with me."
"Sorry, what?" If I'd had any coffee in my mouth, TJ would have been wearing it by now.
"Let me take you out."
"No. No thank you."
"What are you scared of?"
"I'm not scared. I just don't want to go out with you."
"Are you so worried that you might actually have a good time?"
"I highly doubt that." I snorted, although I suddenly felt hot. I didn't remember turning the heating on, but my clothes felt tighter.
Manoeuvring around him, I made my way into the living room, or I would have until he hand grabbed my wrist.
"I know you were there."
I froze.
"Where?"
"At the hospital, it's coming back to me."
Those were the words I was afraid to hear.

"Kelsey, I remember what you said."