by G. Bailey
"We should leave, Kyle's here, so it only means my mum is going to make trouble for us." I say a little breathless, as I'm getting worried. Seb glares at the expensive Audi parked out front like Kyle are actually inside it, but he recovers quickly with one glance at my panicked face, by hugging me and kissing my forehead.
"May baby, there is nothing they can do to hurt us. If Kyle wants to watch me grab those boxes for you, then he can." he soothes me his tone and I find myself relaxing slightly.
I nod because words are escaping me right now.
We walk up to the bright white front door, which is thrown open by my very mad looking mother.
"You are not coming in here. Maisy can get her boxes and you can wait in the car." She points a finger at Seb. Looking at her now, with her perfect fake blonde hair and spotless suit, her face looks every bit as fake as the rest of her body. I did I not notice the amount of work she has had done over the years to hide her age or was it because she was always around, putting me down.
"Not a chance, move before I make you Mrs Reynolds.” Seb calmly threatens her, while I am shaking.
"Louise, let our daughter in her home for god’s sake." my father voice comes from behind my mother. She lets out a dramatic sigh, before moving out the way and I smile at my dad when he comes into view.
"Back to whoring yourself around Maisy?" Says Kyle as he walks up to stand in front of me, he still has bruises all over his face from the last time I saw him and Seb beat the crap out of him. Seb grabs hold of his shirt, and lifts Kyle off his feet, giving him a rough shake.
"If my beautiful girlfriend wasn't pregnant and stressed enough, I would beat you into the ground for that comment. I suggest you leave before I change my mind." Seb throws him on the floor and Kyle quickly runs out the door, while my mum shouts after him. I watch as she throws herself out the door and I listen to her whine to Kyle not to tell his parents about this. Anything I felt for my mother is floating away, as I know she doesn’t care about me.
"The boxes are in the kitchen, I want a word with my daughter, if you would give me a minute.” My father says looking at the floor. I look him over in his brown suit and checked sweater vest, noting that his clothes look wrinkled and he looks pale. I nod at Seb, to let him know its ok and he goes to find my boxes.
"I'm sorry." My dad says once Seb is out of view. I watch as she comes back in the room in tears and collapses onto the guest sofa by the door, her wails sound like a baby crying.
"What for exactly dad? Letting her control me for years? Never looking after me? Not seeing me in the hospital? Which one?" I say marking of my mental list of things I’m mad at him for, I clench my fists to try to calm myself down.
"All of it sweetheart. I want you to know, I do love you, but I've been a terrible father,” he admits and I look over at him.
“I’ve been stuck in a depression for so long by that controlling woman, that I didn’t see what was going on and how I should have protected my perfect daughter.” He sighs as my mother’s wailing becomes louder.
“If you will let me, I want to see you and the baby when he is born. I did call the hospital to check on you," he admits looking at the floor and waits for me to say something. I want to hate him but it’s the first time he has told me that he loves me in years. I can't help the little smile that appears as I realise I have to give him a chance, he never actually hurt me but he did look the other way. I walk over and give him a hug. I hear his gentle sob on my shoulder as he shakes slightly and hugs me back.
"It will take time to forgive you, and trust you but I love you too dad," I say now crying myself. I glance over at my mother, who seems to be having some kind of breakdown as she comes back in and I'm surprised my dad hasn't gone over to her like he usually does.
"We are getting divorced." My dad says noticing where I'm looking. My shocked face seems to make him laugh.
"I'm well aware your mother doesn't care for me. I haven't cared for her in many years but she convinced me that you needed a family setting. I realise that she is wrong, and we are better apart." he tells me with a grim look in my mother’s direction.
"I think it’s best you find someone you love dad." I pull away from him, to look for Seb, who I find holding two boxes under each arm watching me from the entrance hall.
"Let me help." My dad says walking over to take a box from Seb, who nods at him with some degree of understanding. They walk to the car; I start to follow when my mother’s hand reaches out and grabs my arm tightly. I look down at her fake nails cutting into my skin, enough to make my arm bleed if I tried to move.
"Let go," I growl, trying to pull away but she is strong for a woman so small.
"You stupid little girl! You cost me everything, you can't just leave." she shakes my arm, pulling me closer while I struggle. I cry out when she slaps me across the face, her nails catching my lip and I taste blood in my mouth.
"Get the fuck off her." Seb's angry voice shouts as my mother is pulled away from me. Seb picks me up into his arms, holding me tight.
"Come near her or my family, and I'll destroy you. Don’t you think I know about your deal with my father? What you paid for?" Seb says harshly. I have no idea what he speaking about but I send a confused glance up at Seb, who mouths later to me.
She just falls to the floor crying. I turn away into Seb's chest and wipe my own tears.
"Let's just go," I say softly to Seb who leads me back to the car. I see him talking to my dad, before my dad nods sharply at him and getting in the car with me.
"You okay? I know it's a silly question." Seb mumbles wiping away the last of tears.
"Yes I'm used to how she is but can I ask what you know about her?” I ask.
“You sure you want that answer? It’s not a good part of my past to relive,” he says looking down, as its starts to pour down with rain outside the car.
“Yes, I want to know. Nothing you can tell me will ever scare me away Seb.” I take his hand and he nods.
“Our father used to make us sleep with random women and men. I never had to do it because Elliot would cover for me. For some reason Harley was his favourite to pimp out.” He says, just voice filled with sadness and anger.
“Oh, Seb.” I say with tears running down my eyes feeling so sorry for Harley.
“Anyway the point is, your mother paid for Elliot a few times. Elliot told me when he saw her pick you up from school one time,” he says watching my reaction. I feel sick that she would do that, she is more disturbed than I thought. We don’t say anything as we both watch the rain pour down the window screen.
“I guess we both had a fucked up childhood. I didn’t realise how much we had in common.” I say leaning my head against his shoulder.
"Has she ever hit you before?" He asks and tightens his hands around mine. I know he is trying to get us to be open with each other. Secrets destroyed our past and it’s not worth it for them to destroy our future.
"Yes, sometimes with belts. Sometimes she would just lock my in closets for a whole day until she remembered I was there," I say, looking away at the window.
"Don't look away, not with me, my dad was the same.” He tells me and I keep my eyes connected with his as he talks.
“Teaching us how to fight was bad enough on our bodies, but he would randomly punch me and knock me out. He would call it a lesson. I know my brothers had worse lessons, so I should count myself lucky." Seb sarcastically laughs, it echo’s around the closed car.
"He was an evil man, we all learnt to be tough or risk him beating the crap out us. I never want to be that kind of dad. I was scared when I found you were pregnant because I don't want to be him, but I realise I'm not. I would never be able to hurt anyone I love and I love my son so much, even if I haven't met him yet." Seb kisses me deeply, while I sink into him. I know he doesn't want my sadness for him right now, just my acceptance, which he always had.
"Thank you for telling me and I have no worries about you being a dad. Our son is lucky to have such a
n amazing man for a father. We aren't our parents and even though we are young, we will do a better job." I say rubbing my thumb across his soft lips and he kisses me again, with more passion before breaking away to look into my eyes.
"I love you my May." He tells me with a sad smile.
Seb looks away to start the car, while I put on my seatbelt and we leave our past at my old home. We drive back, while I sing along to a song on the radio and the baby kicks away. I look out and notice we are pulling into Harley's house.
"What are we doing here?" I ask.
"A surprise." He winks and I giggle.
"I'm hoping it's a good one." I joke and my jaw drops open at the sight of all the cars parked outside the house, and I can see blue balloons tied to both sides of the door. It's not anyone's birthday this week or did I forget someone? I look down at my green dress that Seb made me keep on after trying it, and noticing it does look like a party dress. My hair is straightened nicely, that Seb insisted on doing this morning. I even have on makeup; Seb insisted I have a makeover in one of the shops, before buying the makeup I told him not too.
"Why do I feel like I'm missing something?" I say, but Seb is already out the car. My door opens and Seb offers his hand.
"My lady," he says in a strong over the top English accent, which you only hear in films, and bows. I giggle at him and he smirks.
Yes, I'm that kind of girl that giggles at her insanely hot boyfriend when he plays with me.
We walk up together and Seb opens the door for me.
"Surprise!" a load of people shout as I walk in, and I notice the big banner above them that says 'baby shower'. I blush as Seb kisses my cheek and Izzy runs over to me.
"I'm stealing Maisy to show her around." she winks at me and pulls me away from a grumpy Seb.
Several people, I recognise from growing up say hello to me as we walk through the house, towards the kitchen. I grab a cupcake that has blue icing and tiny feet on it.
"These are cute," I say eating the cake.
"I know right, look at the main cake. Luke got it for you." Izzy says pointing at a two tier cake that has a tiny baby in a crib. It's all made in icing and has baby King written across it.
"It's beautiful. Thank you for all this." I gush to Izzy giving her a side hug.
"I've always wanted a sister and that's what you are to me. I can't take all the credit. The boys, Blake and Allie did a hell of a lot to help." She tells me.
I have a massive smile on my face at the thought of Allie and Elliot working together, she giggles with me as she whispers.
"Don't worry I thanked Blake for you." We both start laughing and a few people smile at us.
Izzy hooks her arm through mine when I've finished the cupcake and I have an orange juice in my hand. We weave through more people, towards the lounge. We find all the brothers sitting together laughing and drinking beer. Seb smiles at me as I come in and pulls me onto his lap as soon as I get close. I notice Blake does the same to a giggling Izzy. Izzy looks cute wearing a green dress that suits her long blonde hair and bright green eyes.
"What do you think?" Sebastian whispers in my ear.
"I love it," I say with a grin.
"Guys thank you for all of this." I say loudly to get my voice, over the light music.
"No problem." Luke says.
"You only got the cake and that was made by someone else, but yes thank you." Harley says with sarcasm and a shake of his head at Luke, who grins.
"That was hard work. I had to sleep with the cake girl three times, just to get her to make it for me. But she had these amazing legs, so I guess I didn’t lose out." He says looking innocent.
We all laugh as Harley whacks him on the back of his head and Luke pouts, but I see the smile.
"There's my Maisybear," Allie’s voice comes from across the room. Allie looks stunning in a long blue dress with butterflies all over it. Her hair is up in a tight bun that makes her blue eyes appear bigger.
"Hey, Alliecat." I say seeing her carrying a big blue box with her. She drops it onto Elliot's lap walking past.
“What do you expect me to with this?” Elliot glares at her.
"You can put that where the rest of them are," she replies, she doesn't even look at him and I hear him say a few words about her before Izzy says,
"Please Elliot, don't start."
Elliot gets up and walks off with the present grumbling. Allie sits on the end of sofa right next to me and I hold in a giggle as Seb moves away from her a little. I think Seb is a little scared of Allie after she threatened him.
"You have that glow right now. Good week I'm guessing?" She winks and I swear this woman has a built-in sex radar.
"I'm not answering that." I blush and I hear Sebastian's chuckle as he tries to hide it with a cough. I’m glad everyone else seems busy and didn’t hear.
"How's the new apartment?" I ask knowing she moved into Blake’s apartment with two other roommates a few days ago when Blake asked if she wanted a place to live.
"It's good. I get to see my bestie a lot and my other roommates are cool. One is hot but way too much of a flirt for me, plus he brings girls back all the time." she says with a disgusted nose wrinkle.
"I'll have to come over and see it soon. I'm on maternity leave now, so I have a lot of free time." I tell her and she smiles.
"Why don't we go out for a meal? Oh and I have some spa vouchers I need to use, we could go to that first?” Allie asks and Izzy comes over.
“Can I come?” She asks.
“I would love that; it could be a girls only day out.” Allie grins when Seb groans in annoyance.
“How about we go next week?" Izzy suggests and Allie nods in agreement.
"I would like that." I smile, still happy about her sister comment earlier. I really like Izzy and I would like to know her better.
"I could use some new nails too, so how about Wednesday? I'll book us in for twelve?" Allie asks and we all agree to the times.
"I'm going to get the presents, so you can open them, help me?" Allie says to Blake and Izzy. They all start to walk out and Allie manages to get all the people in the room to help her in a couple of seconds.
"We got to choose who's doing the fight next week," Harley says when the room is empty and I feel Seb tense underneath me.
"I told you I am." I look up at him in shock and worry.
"Don't worry I'll be fine." He says to me.
"No, you’re going to be a dad soon and Maisy needs you right now.” Harley dismisses him and I can see Seb getting annoyed.
"You know Arthur won't like me not fighting, and we can't put our family in any danger. I’ll be careful." Seb says to Harley.
"We need to talk about this," I whisper to Seb, who frowns at me. He seems to think about something before he kisses my forehead and whispering
"Sure."
"Send Izzy and Blake over when you’re fighting, so Maisy isn't alone," Harley tells Luke who nods.
"I can be alone you know." I smile at their over protectiveness.
"Well, I think that's a good idea," Seb says with a smile. Of course, he would.
“I don’t think,”
“I heard the new Twilight film just came out, I can get that on DVD for you to watch,” Seb says cutting me off and I find myself smiling in agreement. Damn if he doesn’t know my weakness for that shiny vampire. With all my spare time, I found I loved the Vampire Diaries and then the Twilight film has been on a few times. Ok, like ten times but who’s counting? Well Seb is because he doesn’t like it.
"I'm off to find my date." Luke waggles his eyebrows and it makes me giggle.
Izzy pushes a blue pushchair in the room, and I fight a battle with my tears as it's beautiful. It has an old style to it but it looks small enough to get in the car. It also looks very expensive.
"This is from me and Blake, the lady at the store said it’s one of the best," she says blushing. I get up, as quickly as I can and give her a hug. I pat Blake on the arm and thank them bot
h. The baby decides to have a kicking match with my bladder and I hold my side. I must have made a noise as Blake pales.
"You ok? You’re not in labour right?" He asks quickly. I snort in laughter, as does Izzy but I know I need to use the bathroom.
"It's just the baby playing with my bladder, I’ll be back," I say smiling at the relief on his face. What is he going to be like for Izzy if they have kids? I glance at Seb who is chatting with Harley and I know Izzy will tell him where I’ve gone.
I walk through the house and the downstairs toilet is in use, so I find the upstairs one open. When I'm finished, I open the door to an angry looking Elena glaring at me with her arms crossed. It hurts seeing her, knowing she had my Seb but it doesn't matter, I realise. I have the man I've always wanted and everything happened for a reason. I believe Seb is more of a man now than he was a year ago.
"Move out the way." I glare at her, knowing Seb has been having problems with Elena turning up and acting crazy for weeks.
"No, you need to leave Sebastian alone. He is mine. He spent months fucking me and then you turn up like you own him. He is mine." she growls the end part at me and moves closer. I look at her, seeing the changes from the put together popular girl I knew at school. She has the same crazy look in her eyes, she always had but it seems she has let herself go a little. Elena’s hair is all messed up in a ponytail; she isn't wearing makeup and smells drunk. I realise she really isn't well as she starts pulling her hair slightly around her bony fingers, as she watches me. Well more stares at my large bump.
"You need to see a doctor and get some help. Sebastian isn't yours, he never was." I say gently.
"He is mine, you stupid little bitch," she screams. I take a step back, wanting to protect my unborn baby in case she hurts me.
"You were not invited." Harley dark voice carries across the hallway to us. I watch as he walks in big steps to Elena side and gently pushes his way past her, to stand in front of me.
"I don't care, she needs to go." she whines at Harley and grabs onto his arm.
"Leave or I’m calling the police Elena." he says with no emotion in his tone, he pulls her hand away from him.