The Baby Between You and Me

Chapter 4: Between You and Me, Just You and Me (Stacy's POV)

We went to his house once again. "What is it?" I kept asking when we were on our way but he just doesn't answer me. He opened the door and I could hear a baby's cry as soon as I set foot to his home. "There! It won't stop crying!" He yelled but I know it was more of panicking. "It doesn't listen to me. I told it to stop but it won't listen." He explained. "Well, you must have done something." I said. The baby was wailing out uncontrollably. It looked like it was uncomfortable of some sort. "I didn't do anything. It just started moving and boom! It started crying." He said. It would be pointless talking to Kris at this time. He won't admit that he did something anyway so I just payed attention to the baby. I bent down and tried to carry it. He was soft and warm and fragile. Not too long, it was in my embrace and before I could even start swaying it, I already smelled a very unpleasant scent from it. "Kris." I stood still. "What?" He asked. "I think I know why it is crying." I said. "What is it?" He asked and I just looked at it.

I laid the baby in his couch and undid it's diapers. "Oh my god! Get it out!" Kris yelled with his hand covering his nose and mouth. "Oh my god! Shut up!" I mimicked his voice. I don't get how he's the one who's bitching out about everything. Hello? I'm the one who is undoing the diaper. I'm closer to it and I could swear that the smell in my position is hella stronger than where he is standing. "I need some wipes. Tissues would be ok, I guess." I said. "Plus, we need a new diaper for him." I added. "I don't have any of those. Do you have?" He asked me and I shook my head. "We're screwed. Maybe we should just throw it outside and pretend like nothing happened." He foolishly suggested making me glare at it. I understand that we're in the worst situation of all time but that was very inhumane of him. "Or how about I throw this diaper in your face?" I sarcastically told him. He got what I meant and just started to panic. "Then what are we supposed to do? What am I gonna do?" He asked. "Well, go to a convenience store you moron! Go buy a diaper, a tissue, some wipes and everything a baby would need!" I couldn't get even more frustrated. "At this hour?" He asked. "It's not impossible! You have a car now run along before the scent lingers to your whole house!" Luckily, it made him move.

Kris went out to get buy things for the baby's toiletries. It took him so much time that honestly wasn't able to bear with the smell. I just had to do something with it already. Realizing that our houses are quite similar, I knew the bathroom would be upstairs. I hesitated but I carried it. I ran my way to the bathroom and quickly washed it's butt. I wanted to cry while I rubbed the poop off. It was smelly and I couldn't take it. I pumped some liquid soap and applied it to his flesh. The baby giggled and I don't know if I should be pissed or pleased. "You're too much." I talked to the infant. "Are you normally like this?" I asked. He just seemed to enjoy his mini bath. I realized he was tickled with the soap suds that flowed from his bum to it's thighs. It looked at me with eyes gleaming in happiness. It kept giggling and his laughter happened to be contagious. I found myself smiling at some point. When I finished rinsing the soap with water, I looked for something to wipe him off. Luckily, there was a face towel hanging beside the toilet sink. I took it and used it to dry his lower body. I wrapped him in it and carried him and went down. I realized I still haven't got rid of the diaper. I made him sit on the couch. "Stay. Ok?" The baby looked at me like it didn't have a clue on what I was saying. "Don't move." I commanded.

I rolled the diaper and took it with me. "Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew." I showed disgust as I made my way out of Kris' house. I disposed the diaper in the trash can outside. Once I threw it away, I immediately run my way inside again because I am so concerned about the baby. Good thing, it didn't really move. "Thank god, you listened to me!" I said as I sat beside it and watch it play with the towel. His tiny fingers fiddled with the cloth. "A curious one, aren't you?" I continued watching on him. He does quite resemble Kris. They have the same lips. For a baby, it was quite plump. "So, you're Kris' baby, huh?" I wondered. Curious about this whole situation, I remembered the letter. I took a look at the basket and it was still there. I know that I'm supposed to mind my own business but I was just really curious. Is this really his baby? I took the letter and opened it. There are two papers in it. I unfolded one and reclined my back at the couch and started reading a hand written letter.

"Dear Kris, I don't know why you left me. All I know is that I fell for you and I thought we were an item. I was blinded on how you can play me like this. One night you're next to me and the next morning, I'm already alone. I'm sure you don't want me but something happened between us and I got pregnant. I tried finding you, hoping you would help me but months already passed and I was already due yet you were still nowhere to be found. I thought I could take responsibility but I can't. I can't live my life the way I wanted to because of this baby. I don't want it. But I can't take seeing it live alone and helpless, too. So I decided to find you and I did. You looked stable and I thought it was time for you to take good care of it. I'm sorry." This letter gave me mixed emotions. It was vague and very difficult to comprehend. Kris definitely has a complicated life. I could see what type of lifestyle he has. I have allot more things in mind about this whole situation and letter but I guess I'm just keeping it to myself for the mean time. I don't want to judge Kris and the woman behind all of this, atleast not this early. I got the second paper and unfolded it. It was some type of birth certificate. It was still blank and it looks like Kris will be the one who would fill it out.

"So you're nameless?" I asked the baby and it just stared back at me. "You don't even have a name?" I asked. "You're not registered? You're not yet a citizen?" I asked like fool. Ofcourse, it wouldn't talk to me. Suddenly, I heard an engine. It was Kris, he finally made it back. I immediately returned the letter where it originally was and acted cool. Kris entered. "Where is it? Is it gone?" He asked. "Um, sorry to burst your bubble but it's still here." I said. He looked at the baby. "My towel. What the hell did you do?" He asked like he was madly surprised. "Why is he wrapped in my towel?" He asked with a slight groan. "Isn't it obvious? I gave it a little bath." I said matching his tone. "What?" He sounded pissed. "You were taking so long so I just had to do something or else your house would smell like baby shit until tomorrow! You should actually thank me!" I said. "Have you gone mad? That towel costs 15 dollars! And you wiped it to some baby's butt?" He said. "Oh I'm sorry! I didn't see the price tag!" I said. "You should start calculating because I used your water and your liquid soap!" I added. "What took you so long anyway?" I asked. He threw the plastic bags and it landed on the center table. "There! I didn't know what diaper or tissue or wipes I should buy so I ended up buying the whole lane. Happy?" He asked.

First time dad- how cute. "I didn't know what size what color or what brand I should buy." He said. I could tell that he's just as frustrated as I am. "I mean, how can a diaper be xxl?" He asked. He sounds silly when he's mad and panicking. "Kris, you should just have a seat." I said with a calm voice. He looked at me and gave me that 'I'm not following your orders' kind of look. "Just calm down for a bit and think clearly. Don't let these diapers get into your head." I said and he plopped himself on the couch. So, there was me, the baby, and him in one couch. The baby was between me and him. "Just relax for a bit." I suggested. "Relax? How can I even relax when I'm sitting beside a baby I'm not even sure if it's mine or what." He started again. "But is it really yours?" I asked. "I don't know." He reclined himself on the couch, looking all helpless and hopeless. "I don't really know." He seemed to be sincere. "Well, do you have plans to know?" I asked and he just snickered. "Whatever it is, I think you should." I said. "Look, I will, ok?" He replied. "I'll get there someday.. But for the mean time.." He tilted his head and looked at me. "Let's just keep it between me and you." He said.

I knew he was looking at me so I matched his stare. I also tilted my head to his way and looked at him. "This is my condition." He said. "Help me. Just help me." He added. "You're jobless, right?" He asked and I gave him a small nod. "Then this is me just giving you a job." He said. "Take good care of him. Have a good look at him. Feed him, play with him, bathe him." He said. "Do the things a mother would. Just watch over him." He continued. "And I'll deal with it on the process." He isn't all bad as I have thought. "I'll pay you." He said. "So, I'm like a nanny or something?" I asked. "If that's the way you want, then so be it." He said. "But let's make things clear. I'm not the parent. You still are." I said. "Whatever." He said. "So do you abide with my condition or not?" He asked. I thought of it clearly. I am jobless and I have nothing to do, so why not? "Fine. I'll take it." I said. "Then good. You're starting tonight." He said. "Start with putting some diapers on it. I'm still not letting it sleep with my 15 dollar towel." He said.