This Isn't Happening

Chapter 7- Baby Steps

Maybe I was dreaming. It was two in the morning for crying out loud. Why was Taylor here?

“Are you gonna stand there and look stupid or are you gonna let me in? It’s cold.” Yeah… I wasn’t dreaming. That was the girl I called my best friend. I pulled the door open a little more, and she walked into my house, her heels clanking against the hardwood floors. Who wore heels on a plane?

She plopped down on the couch, making herself at home. I rubbed my eyes, still trying to wake up. “What are you doing here? Not that I’m not happy to see you- but still… Why are you here?”

“My magazine company got moved here! We get to see each other all the time again!”

“That’s great, Taylor. But why are you here. Like in my house?”

She laughed. I don’t know why, maybe I just looked rough. “We’ll talk in the morning, Ellie. Get some sleep… I’m crashing on the couch.”

Without arguing, I turned and headed down the hallway, checking on Ryder before I went to my room and crashed until the baby monitor on my nightstand lit up at eight o’clock.

I pulled on my slippers and headed to Ryder’s room, thankful that he wasn’t up every two hours like he used to be. “Good morning, little monkey.” I said as I turned on the light.

He had himself pulled up onto the side of his crib, grinning as I walked towards him. “Mamma.” He mumbled.

“Guess who’s here?” I asked him although he probably had no clue what I was talking about. He turned his head to the door, and we went to the living room.

Taylor was still sleeping, so we went to the kitchen for breakfast. Ryder never played with his food, never took screaming fits when it was time to eat… he just ate.

When he finished his cereal, I sat him on the floor while I cleaned up. He knew where his toys were, and he knew how to crawl, so he’d keep himself entertained for a minute.

It was so  quiet, I almost forgot Taylor was in the living room. That is until I heard her jump and slightly squeal. I went running to the living room only to find Ryder pulled up on the couch, smiling as big as he could at Taylor.

“You scared me, Ryder!” she said, trying to wake up. “I haven’t seen you in forever… You’ve gotten so big.”

Watching from around the kitchen doorway, I laughed. “Ryder! Why did you wake her up?” He just clapped, which made Taylor smile.

     “Ellie… He’s adorable.”

     My quick sense of humor got the best of me. “Thanks. I made him myself.”

     “He looks so much like Chase…” I nodded in agreement. He was almost identical to the baby pictures of Chase I had seen. He even resembled Taylor a little.

     After that touchy subject quickly faded, I turned on cartoons for Ryder and sat down on the couch beside my best friend. “So tell me again why you’re here?”

     “Well you know I work for People Magazine right? Well they gave me the option to come here and I couldn’t refuse it.”

     “I would’ve taken it too… I love it here. And so does Ryder.”

     “Oh and something else-“ Taylor was cut off with a knock on the door. “Who’s that?” she asked.

     “You’ll see…” She was a fan of One Direction, so I’m sure she’d be in shock to see who was on the other side of the door.

     “Good morning, Ellie and Ryder.” Zayn said, kissing my cheek and handing me a cup of hot chocolate. “How are you?”

     “I’m great… Thanks. Ryder?” I called. My son came crawling- he still hadn’t mastered the walking skill- towards Zayn.

     Zayn didn’t hesitate to pick him up and walk inside. It was then that he saw Taylor. “Oh I’m sorry to be rude. I’m Zayn.” He shook her hand and smiled. Her face was the best part of it all. She was  amazed at who was inside my house… telling me good morning… and carrying her nephew.

      Zayn and Ryder stayed in the living room and Taylor and I went to the kitchen to talk. “When were you going to tell me about this??” She couldn’t get any faster.

     “As soon as “this” became something real. We’re just friends. I refuse to let myself fall head over heels in love with another boy who will probably treat me like garbage.” Oops. “Sorry- I didn’t mean… Chase was great…”

     She laughed that off but then her nosey personality took over. “Well it’s obviously something. Random superstars don’t knock on my front door every morning, and kiss me.”

     “One did this morning.” I said, but she didn’t find it funny.

     “And you just trust him with your child?”

     I nodded. “Ryder loves Zayn. And Zayn is great with him. We went over to his house last night and…”

     She cut me off. “For what? To hang out as friends? Please.”

     “But we did. I went over for dinner and when we got there, Zayn had all these brand new toys waiting on Ryder. He’s great…”

      I stopped talking when I heard  Zayn’s voice say “Good job! Ellie come here!”

     I went to the living room, and I think Taylor was following me. “What is it?”

     “Walk to mommy, Ryder.” I was utterly confused, but it hit me when Zayn let go of my son’s hand, and he took a step. Before I could catch on, Ryder made it to me and grabbed my leg.

     “Aww! My baby! Good job!” I picked up Ryder and looked at Zayn, who was beaming from ear to ear. “I can’t believe he walked for you…” It was almost disappointing that he wouldn’t take any steps for me.

Zayn chuckled and finally said, “Listen… I didn’t come here to get him to walk-although I am quite honored he took his first steps with me- I came to see if you were busy tonight?”

Before I could reply, Taylor, who had been standing behind me in silence, took Ryder out of my hands.

 “Oh she’s free tonight. I’m babysitting.”