Chapter 3

Chapter 3

* Flashback *

* Winter Formal *

*Marie’s POV *

I smoothed my hands over my dress . I was so excited that I was finally going to the formal; I had decided not to go my freshman year. I know Jordan, Jared, and Charlie were down in the family room waiting for me. We had all decided to go together and use my dad’s nice car. That’s when the phone rang.

“Hello?” I asked breathlessly.

“Oh…Marie. It’s Josh.”

“Shouldn’t you be almost here?” I asked confused.

He hesitated for a minute. “About that, well..I’m not feeling well so I have to but a rain check on tonight.”

“Feel better Josh.” I choked out before hanging up quickly. I can’t believe he couldn’t go, this was all my friends and I had talked about for weeks. I walked down the stairs to see that my dad had the video camera trained on me.

“Turn it off Dad.” I said softly trying not to burst into tears.

“Honey, what’s wrong” My mom asked nervously. I think she was as nervous about this whole dance thing as I was.

“Josh is sick, so he can’t go. All my friends have dates, I can’t go alone!” I cried out sitting on the bottom step.

“Oh Marie, I’m so sorry.” Mom said helplessly before looking at Jared and Jordan. “You too can still take Mr. Haefner’s car, you better leave so you’re not late.”

Jordan stood up slowly. “I’ll go as her date.” He muttered. My mom lurched forward and kissed him on both cheeks. “Thank you so much Jordan! Did you hear that Marie?”

I was shocked; Jordan and I had never been close. If it had been any one, I would have assumed it was Jared. I trailed behind them slowly listening to their conversations.

“Dude, if you try and even feel up my sister once, I am not afraid to beat the shit out of you.” Charlie threatened.

Jordan laughed. “Trust. Me. It’s nothing like that, at. All.” He stated. He turned around and looked at me. “You get it’s just me being nice to you, right?” I nodded and felt my heart drop to my feet. I was having fun imagining that the most popular senior boy actually might of have feelings for me. Plus, the way he said it made me feel rather insulted. The car ride was silent and awkward and I was relieved when we finally got there. Except, unlike all the other couples there, Jordan wouldn’t even touch me. Not a simple arm around the shoulders or waist. I knew plenty of couples that were just friends, but even they were putting on the show for the evening. Instead Jordan and I just walked into the gym, side by side. Almost immediately, we were flocked by Jen, Jordan’s ex-girlfriend. She had broken up with him claiming that he was too busy with hockey, but we all know she just got bored. Apparently she missed him tonight though. “Jordan! There you are, I’ve been looking around for you! Hey, I decided I made a mistake, how about we dance and talk about our future?” She said in her usual bubbly way.

Jordan looked at me and shrugged. “Guess you’re on your own, Marie.” He said being disappearing with Jen and leaving me standing their humiliated. I did not get it; he was the sweetest boy around every one else except me. He just completely takes advantage of me. “Ass.” I heard Jared mutter behind me and I jumped, I didn’t realize he was still there. That’s when I spotted a head that looked oddly familiar. I marched through the crowd and grabbed the back of the boy’s suit and spun him around. I was now face to face with Josh.

“What are you doing here?!” I almost screamed at him.

He grinned guiltily. “Well, you were kinda my back up plan, so when Ashley called and said you would go, I had to make up an excuse. I figured you wouldn’t be stupid enough to come without a date.”

I glared at him. “ I do have a date, it’s Jordan!” I said before looking around. Apparently Jordan wasn’t helping my case, as he and Jen were getting pretty happy in the corner.

Josh snickered. “That looks like some date to me.” Now if this were a movie, I would get the guts to slap him or some knight in shining armor would come rescue me. That’s when a fist came flying out of no where and it hit Josh so hard, he fell to the ground bleeding. Hey, maybe I did fall into a movie script. Then I saw a flash of red hair. Damn, those fighting lessons Mr. and Mrs. Staal signed him up for hockey really did help.

“You bastard!” Josh yelled before standing up covering his nose with one hand. Then, he took a wild swing at Jared.

That’s when Jordan stepped in. “Jared! Stop he’s not worth it!” He shouted before dragging Jared out into the hallway. “You come too.” Jordan added with a glare over his shoulder. I followed him silently into the hallway.

“What the HELL was that?” Jordan yelled at Jared.

Jared glared right back at him. “I was actually standing up for Marie because she is my friend! I didn’t just leave her like road kill on the side of the ride. He was being a dick, so I had to do something!” He spat out angrily.

Jordan looked at both of us before turning to me. I was expecting him to yell at me now for being irresponsible, but instead he just whispered softly. “I’m sorry Marie.”

I shrugged. “Whatever.”

“Marie, you have to stop letting people stomp all over you! You’re pissed at him and you can admit it!” Jared interjected.

I stared at Jordan before finally admitting, “Yes, I am fucking pissed off at you because you are a selfish dick head to me and I’m tired of it.” I yelled before turning around and running away.

Present Day

Two Weeks Later

Marie’s POV

I was working the late shift at Starbucks again. This time though, Scott was in a small crib under the counter. Jane had explained to me that she was visiting her sister an hour away and was sleeping over, so I was on my own to watch Scott all day. I talked to the manager and she figured that since probably no one would come in, I could keep Scott there if I made sure he didn’t cry. So far Scott has been behaving amazing, not a peep from him the whole night.

“Hey Marie!” Eric’s voice shouted from the front of the door. Instead of being alone this time, he had a beautiful woman with him and a baby in a baby carrier.

“You never called me, so I figured I would take manners in my own hands. Marie, this is Tanya my beautiful wife and this is Parker, my perfect baby boy.” Eric said proudly beaming at me. I glanced at Scott’s sleeping form, praying he could stay asleep for another hour.

“Do you want to hold me?” Tanya asked. I brushed my hands on my apron and stepped out from the counter. “Yea sure.”

She carefully set him in my arms and I cradled him, making sure to support his head. Eric stared at me, “Since when are you such a natural at babies?” He asked.

I shrugged biting my lip. “I’ve baby-sat a few times.” I sat down at one of the tables and Tanya and Eric sat down also. We talked for a while about how they met, their wedding, and how I was.

Then Scott woke up and started crying. Tanya looked at my extremely confused, “Is that…a baby crying?” She asked.

I giggled nervously, I always giggle when I get nervous. Unfortunately, Eric remembered that. “Marie, what the hell is going on?”

“Uh..Welll.. You know how you asked my why I hadn’t gone to college and I said I had other interests? Well, it was really because I got stupid and pregnant.” I explained in a rush.

“But you are..only nineteen.” Tanya said slowly.

“Actually, I’m turning nineteen in a month.” I corrected her. Eric took this all in stride and stood up. “Let me see it then.”

Shit, shit, shit. I couldn’t let him see Scott, he would know right away. I jumped in front of the counter and spread my arms out. “You don’t want to do that.”

“Why?” He asked confused.

Why, why doesn’t he? “Well, because he has my genes, so he’s not the prettiest baby.” I blurted out. Where the hell did that come from? Scott is the cutest baby ever, just my personal opinion.

He sidestepped me. “That’s stupid Marie,” he walked behind the counter, “I don’t know why you are freak- oh my god.” Eric said before looking at me.

“That is Jordan’s baby!” Eric yelped out.

Tanya nearly sprinted over. “What? I thought you said they broke up three years ago, that looks like its Parker’s age.”

Eric stared at me in shock. “How did this happen?”

I tried to make a joke out of the situation. “Well, Eric, I think it’s time you and your dad had that talk..”

His look silenced me. “This is serious Marie. I don’t understand how Jordan could keep this from me. Keep the fact that I’m an uncle away from me..” He trailed off miserably.

I glanced down at my fingernails before picking at them. “Well, that’s the thing..he kinda sorta doesn’t know.”

Eric’s phone was out of pocket before I could even blink. I lurched forward and grabbed his wrist. “You can’t tell him!” I shrieked.

“But I HAVE TO! I have to let my little brother know that he’s a dad.” Eric said desperately.

“You have to follow her wishes, baby. At least don’t tell him for know, not until we’ve heard the whole story.” Tanya spoke up softly. Eric glanced at her before shoving his phone in his pocket. I shot her a greatful look and mouthed a “thank you” to her.

“If you sit back down, I’ll tell you the whole story from start to finish.”

Eric turned around to sit down, but then he faced me and held up his hands. “Before all of that, I want to know what my nephew’s name is and if I can hold him?” He asked smiling softly.

I grinned and lifted Scott out of his crib. “His name is Scott and of course you can, Uncle Eric.”