Michael Clifford Imagines

Irreplaceable

"Jack, the pizza is here!" You yelled down the hallway as you closed the door with your foot. Jack was Michael's eleven year old son who you were babysitting for a few weeks while Michael was on tour. Well, babysitting isn't really the right word since in a few months he would be your step-son. When the two of you started dating, Michael waited to introduce you to Jack. It wasn't that he didn't trust you with him, it was that he and Jack had lost his mom a few years back, and he was very distrusting of anyone else that Michael had brought home to meet him. But Michael really liked you, more than the other women that had met Jack. He didn't want to lose you over the views of his kid.

After about six months, you finally begged Michael to introduce him to you. At first, he was hesitant. He had just recently told you that he loved you. He couldn't imagine losing you now, if ever. With a little persuasion Michael agreed to introduce you to Jack. The meeting didn't turn out as you had planned. It ended up with Jack "accidentally" spilling his drink on you, and scowling at you the entire meal whenever he looked up from the game he was playing on his DS. You had tried making conversation with him, asking him about his games, or anything else you could think of that might interest an eleven year old boy. Unfortunately, it hadn't helped your case. Michael was clearly embarrassed at Jack's behavior and instantly thought that you would break up with him. He had already prepared himself for the, 'I can't be with you if your kid hates me,' speech that he had gotten before. But you had proved him wrong. You loved Michael too much to break up with him over one simple dinner with Jack. Relieved, he told you that Jack would warm up to you, but it would just take time.

That was nearly two years ago, and Jack had made it evident that he would give you the cold shoulder before he ever began to warm up to you. Now more than ever you were determined that you had to find some way to connect with Jack. That was why you agreed to this arrangement. When Michael said he was looking for someone to keep Jack, he immediately thought about his mom, Karen. Before he could ask her, you jumped at the idea and assured Michael that you'd be more than happy to watch him. It was just six weeks after all. How hard could six weeks be? Harder than you thought.

"Jack!" You called again, setting the pizza down on the counter top. Just like his dad, pizza was his favorite. Every time Michael brought home pizza, he'd rush to the kitchen with a smile stretching from ear to ear. However, you stood alone in the kitchen, while Jack stayed clear. Maybe he just didn't hear me. You thought and headed towards the living room. There he sat, eyes glued to the screen with his x-box controller in hand. "Jack, did you hear me? I ordered pizza."

"I'm not hungry." He said simply while continuing to focus his attention on his game. Not hungry? He was always hungry. He had inherited that from his dad.

"You need to eat. Come on, just one slice."

"I said I'm not hungry, okay?"

"Alright. It's here in the kitchen if you change your mind. You turned around, leaving him to his game. Since Michael left, Jack had been more open to his disapproval of you. He barely spoke to you, and only if that was necessary. He'd yet to say anything that hit you hard. Mainly, he'd ignore your presence.

In times like these, when you told him about dinner, he'd lie and say he already ate. Later that night you'd hear him fumbling around in the kitchen. But, by the time you got up to check on him, he'd be back in his room.

Knowing he'd be down later, you returned to what you were doing before: reading emails. You'd been getting a lot more than usual. On top of your usual emails, and the ones from your wedding planner Michael's Jack related emails were being forwarded to you. For example, your received his pediatrician's emails about rescheduling his well visit and his soccer coach's update about the new season.