Chapter Four 

Babysitting

“Knock” “Knock” the echo of the door, resounds through the apartment “Um- can I come in” the uncertain tone squeaks. 

Slipping a soundless sigh “Come on in” Lily resettles facing the door.

“Hey, I just wanted to apologize” the girl peeks into the room “I’m just worried about my da- my grandma” she steps closer to the closet.

“don’t stress Sammy” Lily places her laptop on the nightstand “I get it, I was your age once” she sighs in reminisce.

“You say that like you’re old” Sammy snickers easing her body as she leans against the wall.

“Well, you’re what seventeen?” Lily smirks, shrugging her shoulders “it sure feels like a lifetime ago” she chuckles, standing to her feet. “If I were you, I would hate to be placed in the hands of a stranger all the same” Lily suggests “so ask me anything, anytime” standing at the foot of the bed, Lily gestures “I will answer the best I can, as honest as I can.”

“Even- “Sammy pauses, “your darkest secrets” a faint glare slips from Sammy

“Ha- “ Lily sighs “My darkest secret is that I want to be a writer” Lily frowns looking ashamed “but I completely stink” she grunts in defeat “its complete garbage, trash” her arms rush in front of her face, her fingers wriggle aggressively, as her expression riddled with frustration, until Lily relaxes with a breath “I mean, it has been two weeks and I still haven’t gotten the plot right” Lily rambles pacing back and forth “I mean do you understand how hard it is to set the tone in a prologue” She places her hands on Sammy’s shoulders “do you, you have to make sure the pace is proper, and the hook is just right” her speech racing “don’t make the characters to cheesy and weak, but also make sure the characters are not overpowered with a flat persona Ugh!” Lily grumbles with an exasperated sigh when “ah- “all breath escapes her with a weary and embarrassed grin, as she glances towards Sammy.

Sammy stands there, a gape, with a baffled expression before crackling in laughter. “that’s the most you’ve talked” Sammy gasps for air “If you’re that serious on writing” Sammy gestures shuffling off one leg to the other “You cannot be that bad, can you?” she attempts to reassure.

Lily gulps down the embarrassment, while pretending to dust off her shirt. “Ahem, you have no idea” Lily sighs, glancing at her computer.

“Well, if I have no idea” Sammy smirks, following Lily’s gaze “I guess, I will just have to find out.”

“What?” Her tone confused, turning to face Sammy when she rushes pass Lily, gliding right onto her bed.  “Sammy!”

But before Lily can protest Sammy already begins to read. “Oh My God!” Sammy’s eyes wide, as she shuffles to get comfortable.

“I know” Lily breathes in the disappointment “just put the computer down, looks like I need to start again.”

“What!? No” Sammy stomps her feet off the bed, glaring at Lily “What is this” she frowns, with obvious anger.

“I told you it’s shi- stinks” Lily shrugs away “it’s your fault for reading garbage” she shuffles away towards the door.

“What are you talking about!” Sammy follows “how can you say this is garbage” her tone softens, leading Lily to step back.

Lily holding the door open “huh?” her tone squeaks “what are you talking about, you’re not mad that you wasted your time” Lily questions in confusion.

“I- I am not mad” Sammy folds her arms in “I- I’m just annoyed that you are so depressing.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you are so unsure about yourself that you make excuses to even try.”

“And what excuses would you be talking about” Lily shuffles back in defense, feeling as though she just swallowed a ribbiting frog.

“Ugh! You say you suck so you restart, then you say that the characters are too weak or too flat or too strong whatever that means just so you can erase half the chapter” Sammy aggressively pokes at Lily “So stop making stupid excuses and get to writing” She huffs storming out of the room, leaving Lily utterly confused.

“Wow” a sarcastic tone sprouts “you’re really excited.”

“Junior you- “Sammy grunts “stop doing that.”

“Hey, I can’t control it, and you know that” Junior smirks “but I gotta ask what’s making you so antsy.”

“That’s not the point- “Sammy whispers “did you get what you needed.”

Junior glances towards the room “yea- she wasn’t lying if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“Are you sure” she questions.

“Yea- but I couldn’t hear you for while” Junior ponders “why did you step out of range.”

Sammy’s cheeks feel flushed, choking on her words “I told you that doesn’t matter.”

“It obviously does cause whatever happened made you think of Lily a lot better” Junior snickers.

“I told you stop reading my thoughts” Sammy grumbles glaring towards him.

Junior smirks away “it’s not your thoughts I’m reading” he grins “I’m reading her thoughts; I feel you though.”

“Ugh! Wait- what is she thinking” Sammy hyper focused on his words.

“She thinks you’re weird and very blunt” Junior slips a laugh.

“Ugh!” her scream boils when the picture frames and cabinet doors begin to sway.

“Ah- Sam- Sammy calm down- “Junior flinches “you must stop- “hearing the bedroom doorknob “Sammy!”

He’s parking now, Imma take Kyle he can bring everything else Hehe.

“Oh no- Sammy- “Junior’s teeth grinds “you brought this on yourself” he swiftly raises his hand, just as the bedroom opens wide.

“CLAP”

“What” Lily stands perplexed, witnessing a red welt upon Sammy’s cheek “Holy!” Lily rushes over “are you okay” she takes a closer look “Junior what happened” she looks slightly upset but more so frazzled “were you two fighting” she steps towards the freezer “you guys were so quiet, when my brother and I are fighting have no doubt that the cops might show up” she wearily snickers, placing a bag of corn on Sammy’s cheek

“She was annoying” Junior slips his frustration “it’s her fault” he shrugs away, aiming for the couch.

“Ugh! I cannot believe I have to share a room with you” Sammy slams the corn down on the counter.

“Oh wait” Junior smirks “how bout you have the spare and I bunk with Lily” he smirks in a playful tone.

“What!” Lily shuffles her attention from collecting her shoes to the argument “nice try Junior “Sammy if you wish to have your own space you can have my room I will take the living area” Lily suggests “that actually might be easier” she ponders “yea that’s what will happen, since it’ll be easier to set Kyle up out here” she stands proud of the decision and before any refutes Lily steps out the door “I will be right back behave yourselves” she points back and forth between the two.

“Look what you did you little twerp” Sammy sends the blame.

“Me what did I do” Junior frowns “You almost exposed us to Lily” his brows furrow as he points to the tilted photos.

“who’s fault is it that I got so flustered” Sammy argues fixing the photo.

“don’t blame me for you not knowing how to control your emotions” Junior sighs slouching into the couch “if others could control their emotions better than I would be able to control my talent better” he glances to the corner before gazing towards the door.

“Hey, you two come meet my nephew” Lily walks through the door.

Lily sways holding Kyle, as he coos “Kyle, say hi this is Junior” Lily sits on the coffee table in front of Junior.

“he’s cute” Junior props his hand to Kyle.

“Sammy how’s your cheek” Lily glances towards her, while Kyle grips Junior’s finger, leading Junior to flinch. Lily struggles to swallow her snicker to the adorable interaction.

“It’s fine thanks.” Sammy sighs away taking a seat at the dining table “a weakling like him isn’t worth a cold item” she sneers as she places the corn bag in front of her.

“Are you sure you can watch Kyle” Luke leans in whispering to Lily.

“Dude, I used to babysit eight little monsters before” Lily snips, shifting her attention towards Luke.

“Yea but those were babies, toddlers, and maybe elementary kids” Luke glances about “not teen siblings” he mutters tapping Lily as he motions his nod away from the kids.

“Oh my gosh” Lily grumbles carrying Kyle with her to the doorway “I will be right back guys” she glares subtly “no fighting at least not quietly” leading both to be confused.

“Not quietly?” Luke questions “don’t you want them to be settled.”

“Not when they fight” Lily’s expression dumbfounded “if they fight quietly then I won’t know when I need to break it up” She explains.

“Oh, alright that brings me to my next question” Luke pauses “Who the heck are those kids?” he gestures obnoxiously “are you dating a single father” his prying also becomes obnoxious.

“No idiot” Lily frowns “somebody I know sounded like she was in a bind so I helped her out” she shrugs “I didn’t realize you would need me to watch Kyle just after they arrived- speaking of which” Lily tilts her gaze, prying herself “what are you and Becca doing to ask me to watch him” she questions slightly bouncing Kyle, leading him to coo softly

“Oh-um something happened at one of the sights” Luke fidgets before rubbing his neck “it’s all a bit confidential, classified if you will.”

Lily subtly squints her gaze before “Babe- oh.”

“Becca maybe you can tell me” Lily shuffles to meet Becca face to face “Luke is being weird.”

“Uh-oh” Becca flinches at her words “what did he do this time.”

“I just wanted to know what you two were up to” Lily clarifies.

Becca shifts her gaze towards Luke before looking back towards Lily “Oh-um it’s classified- “she hesitates “but- I guess we can tell you; I mean who you gonna tell anyways” Becca snickers leaning on Luke’s arm, opening her mouth once more “So- “

“You know what” Lily cuts in “I don’t need to know” she briefly parts her hand from supporting Kyle’s neck before replacing it “this lazy, single, has all the time in the world person will watch your son while you two go do classified work” she mocks, before stepping into the apartment with Kyle, slightly kicking the door closed, resulting in the door slamming shut.