Cobalt

0:9

Cobalt

0:9

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(Playlist is in the external link) 

Warning : there will be heavy alcohol and moderate swearing in this chapter.

        As Dallas' truck disappears from my driveway, I hop the fence and knock on Lance's door. I coould've simply walked in - his mom isn't home, and even if she were, I wouldn't be unwelcome. I can hear his heavy foot steps as he jogs down the stairs and swings open the door.

        In his arms sits a crying baby Lia. Who babysits her during the day? I wonder to myself. I mean, with his mom teaching fourth grade, and his dad is in over his head with paperwork, they kinda have to send her to a daycare.

        "Hey there Lia! Remember me? What's my name, Hun?" I ask as I crouch to her eye level. Her crying pauses as she goes deep into thought. The three year old quickly returns to her tantrum as she doesn't recollect the memories.

        Lance flashes me a nice-try type of glance and I step inside the house. "She's been crying for the past half hour," he informs me, "it's hell."

        "May I?" I ask as I gesture to take the tearful diva in my arms. 

        Relieved, Lance signs and hands her to me, saying something along the lines of 'all yours'. As soon as she sits on my hip, I can tell exactly why she's crying. Typicial, inexperienced Lance.

        "Hey, Lance?" He looks up from his phone and nods, gesturing me to go on. "Is Lia potty trained?" His almond sized eyes widen into the shape of a walnut with its shell on.

        "How did you know?" He asks as if I used magic to find this out. 

        I shrug, not in the mood to explain what I'd been doing all summer long - babysitting my niece. You pick up a lot of things with the little muchkins. Besides, it wasn't like I had much to do other than babysitting all throughout summer break.

        With a whailing baby still on my hip, I start walking up the stairs and into her room, where I find a change table. By the mortified look on Lance's face, I could tell that he was thankful I was there.

        "Why are you such a good mom?"

        "Why are you such a bad dad?" I grin in return. Once she's fully changed, Lia flashes me a golden smile and says a big thank you. I place her down on the floor, where she makes two of her dolls hug and go shop.

        I maneover around the countless toys on the floor and sit on the wooden walking chair, successfully avoiding breaking one of the plastic cars on the way there.

        "So why'd you come here?" Lance asks, sitting on the floor besides Marshall's sister.

        "Can you drive me to Luke's party?" I don't even bother sweet talking it with Lance, either he'll bite, or he won't. No begging, which drives him crazy.

        Lance beams at me, then quickly frowns. "One problem with that."

        "Of course, nothing ever goes smoothly for me."

        Lia's voice rises as she makes one of her dolls get 'accidentally' crushed by a car. Almost as quickly as it happens, she rewinds her fairytale and makes her doll's friend save her from the crash. A smile grows on my lips as she makes the Barbies hug again.

        "I can drop you off at the party, no problem. After I'll go pick up Lily and we're gonna go to the movies, then stargazing, so you'll have to catch a ride home."