Sunflower

Chapter Two: A cheaters game

Kaleo rocked back and forth softly holding Kova in his arms. She was a month old and a handful. His parents were in Vancouver for three days and he was on Christmas break allowing for the late nights. Little Kova was growing faster than he could keep up with. 

When her eyes finally closed Kaleo set her down in the crib next to his bed. Able to watch her stay asleep from his bed he finally fell asleep as well. Two hours later, a soft cry, not too loud but loud enough for him to wake up came from her crib, "Hey baby," He said picking her up. Her crying stopped when he picked her up. Even though everyone told him, don't go to her every time she cries he could bear to not help her. 

Bouncing from one foot to another Kaleo grabbed the binky from a drawer. That seemed to calm her down as she laid her head against his shoulder. Just as he was going to put her back down she started crying again. He tried something by placing her against him for a moment then put her back in the crib. Every time she went to the crib she cried. 

Placing Kova on the ground with a blanket Kaleo laid next to her keeping his hand on her stomach to let her know he was there for her. Kova seemed to sleep just fine after that. Though if her dad walked out of her view whether she is playing on the floor or in her high chair, she'd start crying. 

My alarm went off jolting me awake. I slapped around my nightstand trying to find the off button. Once I found it I drug myself outta bed and walked to my dad's room. He was asleep but not for long. I jumped on his bed as he opened one eye, "Hey baby," He said looking at me. 

I fell down putting my head on his shoulder, "I don't wanna go to school." 

"I know but you have to." 

"Why?" 

"Cause then you'll be my financial burden for the rest of my life." 

I laid there for what felt like a second as I started to fall back asleep, "If you don't get up, your gonna be late." 

"So what?" 

"Coco, if you get up... I'll bring you lunch." 

I shot up a little dizzy but catching my balance. The motivation to look nice was non-existent. Neither was my thought about looking for clothes. What was right in front of me though was leggings. I simply put those on keeping Asher's sweatshirt on and only fixed my hair. 

"Can I get my hug goodbye?" My dad asked walking out of the room. 

I turned around and hugged him before walking back downstairs to grab my backpack. I walked past the couch and spotted a Columbia blue jersey sitting in the corner. I grabbed it holding it up to see it as my high school's lacrosse logo on the front turning it around I saw the name, "M. Barrington," I said out loud. Maverick had left his jersey here. 

I tossed it in my bag and got in the truck. I twisted the knob on the side of my steering wheel to turn the dim headlights on heading towards Tanners. Tanners was a small stand-alone coffee shop downtown next to the marina. I'd been going there since 7th grade. Finn's dad and mine were both Seattle Police officers and worked the same shift a lot of the time. So every morning they take us to Tanner where First responders get free coffee then they'd drop us off. After school Finn's other dad who is a King county Sherrif would pick us up and we'd do homework. Though our parents now worked different shifts Finn and I still went to Tanner's before school.

I pulled the Toyota into the parking spot where a bright neon yellow sign marketed with Tanners lit out a portion of the lot. Finn got out of his car at the same time, "Man do I have tea to spill," He laughed. 

"Me too," I smiled grabbing the door handle made out of an old skateboard. 

I ordered my usually iced chai tea and a bagel with pesto cream cheese. Generally, I only eat one half and the other half goes in my backpack for lunch.