Babysitting Bands

9

I froze as Kate's voice answered. Kellin. I just saw him, how could he be in the hospital!? What happened? Why is Kate crying? Is he going to be okay?

"B-Brandy?" Kate asked through sobs. I snapped out of my daze and quickly stepped into my shoes.

"I'm on my way." I said. I knew I would start breaking down if I stayed on the phone. Kate still didn't know about us and I really didn't want her to find out yet. I took my keys and was about to step out the door.

"Brandy? What's going on?" Gabby asked. I hesitated and swallowed hard.

"Kellin's in the hospital." I said shakily. She gasped.

"Do you want me to go with you?" I quickly shook my head and blinked away the tears that were begging to fall.

"No, Kate'll wonder why and figure out something's going on with us. Stay here, okay?" She nodded and gave me a quick hug before ushering me out the door.

"He'll be fine. Just go and see him." She said. I nodded and ran to my car. I drove to Kate's and got Cope's bag. I had a key in case anything ever happened and I had to get Cope for her. I was scared out of my mind, and probably shouldn't have been driving, but I just wanted to make sure Kellin was okay. I felt like we were moving so quickly--and we were--but it almost didn't matter. I had only known him for a few months, but in those months I had fallen completely in love with his feathery hair, deep eyes, and his full lips which always seemed to be smiling. God, let him be okay, I need him.

I finally drove into the parking lot of the hospital and rushed into the building. I glanced around frantically, searching for someone to tell me where Kellin would be. Maybe I expected a doctor to immediately know who I was and who I was looking for, but I ended up having to ask the lady at a desk. She pointed me in the direction of his room. I almost ran into the closed door and stopped to take a moment. I tried to compose myself and not make it so obvious how upset I was. Before I could knock, the door creaked open and a nurse came out holding a clipboard and a grim look.

"Oh, hello, you know Mr. Quinn?" She asked. I nodded.

"How is he?"

"Well, he's unconscious, but he'll live. You may go in." She answered. I sighed in relief and looked past her to Kate holding Copeland. Kate was leaning over Kellin's bed with tears falling down her cheeks.

"Mommy!" Cope shouted, sliding off Kate's lap and running up to me. She wrapped her tiny arms around my legs and I smiled.

"Hey, Cope!" I said, scooping her up, putting on a brave face as I walked into the room. Kate looked up at me and smiled. I put Cope and her bag down on a chair when she got up and I pulled her into a hug.

"He's going to be okay, don't worry." I whispered to her. I pulled her away and wiped away her tears. "But Kate, I thought...I mean, why are you so..." I tried. How do I phrase this without making it worse?

"Why am I so upset when we got divorced?" She asked, reading my mind. I nodded. She sighed and sat back down. I took a seat next to her. "Brandy, I think I might still love him." I froze and stared at her. She dropped her head and shut her eyes.

"Wh-What?" I asked in shock.

"And I know we can't be together because of everything..."

"Damn right you can't!" I said in a raised voice. I regretted it as soon as I said it. Kate looked up at me with a horrified look on her face and Cope gasped on the other side of me.

"Sweat jar! Swear jar!" She shouted before going back to her doodling. I looked back to Kate and sighed.

"Brandy, what the hell?" Kate asked. I cringed; I shouldn't have said anything.

"Well, Kate, you two got divorced. A lot of his fans are against you. Do you really want all the hate tha--"

"Way to be supportive!" She snarled, jumping up, knocking over her chair. She turned her back to me and took a few steps before turning back around. "You know you may be super rich and successful and shit, but I at least thought you wouldn't let it get to your head!" She jabbed a finger in my direction and my jaw dropped. Get to my head!?

"Are you kidding me!? I give up half my time for you to babysit your daughter! I rush over here after hearing that your ex-husband is in the hospital! I have a key to your house because you can't be bothered to take care of things yourself! I have to juggle half of your life with all of mine. I'm busy too, you know!" I yelled at her. She stepped back and opened her mouth to say something, but instead, she started crying again and slumped into the chair. I sighed and dropped next to her. "Oh, Kate, I'm sorry, I didn't mean--"

"No, you're right." She sobbed. "I ask so much of you and you're such a good friend. I'm sorry, I don't know why I said that. I'm a horrible person!" I shook my head and wrapped an arm around her.

"No, Kate, you're upset. I understand." I felt something hitting my arm and looked down to see Cope crawling onto my lap. She touched Kate's arm softly.

"Mommy?" She asked looking up at me. "Why's she cwying?"

"She's okay, Cope, don't worry." I said. Kate looked up with a confused expression.

"Brandy? Did she just call you Mommy?" I froze. Did she? I didn't even notice. I opened my mouth to deny it but was cut off by a deep groan. "Kellin!" Kate shouted, darting up from her seat and sitting next to him. I smiled and went to the other side of the bed, holding Copeland. Kellin dropped his head to the side and was facing me, though his eyes were closed. They slowly fluttered open and he met my gaze.

"Mmm...Brandy..." He groaned with a smile on his face. I suppressed my smile as much as I could, but I was so happy to know he was okay. "I lo--"

"Daddy!" Cope cried and lunged forward in my arms. She hugged Kellin around the neck and I laid her in his arms, thankful she cut him off.

"Oh, thank god you're okay!" Kate sighed. Kellin snapped his head over to face her with a shocked and somewhat horrified look on his face, which quickly turned to one of pain as she engulfed him in a hug.

"Ow ow ow!" He groaned and cringed. Kate jumped back and started apologizing profusely. "It's fine..." Kellin groaned. Kate took Cope from him and I helped him sit up. He rubbed his head which had a few cuts on it and looked back up to Kate. "Kate why are you here?" He asked, confused. Kate glanced around nervously for a moment and looked back at him. Then she did exactly what I didn't want her to do.

She kissed him.