The One. (The Girl #2)

by Laura Lee Fall

  “Aw, you do love Sebastian more”.

  “I never said that”.

  “Uh, you just did he’s the best thing ever”.

  “You are to”. Hand on waist.

  “I don’t want to fight”, head down and twisting the washcloth says, “I don’t either, not feeling well”.

  “What you sick?”

  “Very”, shutting the door, heard, “Thanks for ruining my relationship with Betsy”, walked away and inside the apartment, leaning against the door, mumbles, “Thank you for number two”.

  Walking up saw number one, shook his long dark curls asked, “Hey ma”. “Yes boy”.

  “Can I go to the arcade later, tonight is laser-tag, some of the other boys are going.” “Sure, but who is taking you”.

  “Either Uncle Stan or Shane”.

  Patting Cody’s shoulder says, “Okay”.

  “Cool”, and asked, “You hungry?”

  “Nah, made a microwave pizza”, and started heaving, “Ma you okay?”

  Running to the bathroom dark eyes rolled and walking up to her brother says, “You hear ma”, hands on hip.

  “Yeah sure do”.

  Arms folded says, “Oh no”.

  “Ah, don’t worry Ashley, maybe this time you’ll have a sister”, rubbing his long hair saying. “I already got you”.

  “Ha-ha funny”.

  Walking into the living, Ashley points, said, “Look got two more”, giggling at Brandon and Dylan’s hair to their shoulders laughing at her hippie brothers.

  Two weeks pass, Seth tried his hardest to work things out with Betsy and find out the reason why she broke it off, but she refused to talk to him.

  A few days later and after work, walking up to his apartment saw Missy sitting on the floor crying.

  Knelt down asked, “Missy?”

  Rose her head, tears rolling replied, “I have nowhere to go, I’m homeless Seth!” “Where’s Steven?” Crying, placed hands onto her shoulders asking, “Where is Steven?” Tears pouring, “I had no other choice”.

  “What Missy”, cried and upset stood up, hand against head, “What did you do Missy?” “Oh god don’t think bad of me Seth”, paced says, “I won’t just tell me where the kid is?”

  Pushing foggy glasses up crying out, “I signed custody over to his real daddy”. “What?”

  “I had to, they can take care of him, couldn’t, because after I left slept in shelters Seth”. Stood above her crying and knelt down says, “Hey calm down”.

  “I was safe here, you took care of me and my big mouth blew it”.

  “Ah, I blew it too, hurt you bad over Ella”.

  “I don’t care anymore, I just want to come home, and it is scary living on the streets at night”.

  “You should have come back sooner”.

  “You warned me not to”, crying.

  “Well now I’m begging ya come home where you belong”.

  “Really Seth”, grabs her hand, held tight says, “Yeah Missy”.

  Hugging Seth held her tightly said, “Welcome home”, clung to him replied, “It’s good to be back home”.

  Chapter 7. A few day pass, rushing out of the bank when walking into the bank bumping into each other, “Seth?”

  “Betsy”.

  Walking away saying, “I have nothing to say, and hope you’re not watching”. Smirking yells, “Well I am”. Flicked him off and laughing out, “Aw, she still likes me”, went into the bank.

  Fifteen minutes later, making it back home, walked into the bedroom saw Missy knelt by the dresser putting clothes away says, “Hi babe”.

  Waved said, “Hey Missy”, smiling and turned walking out of the room hung his head.

  One woman moves back and another, Stacey moved out of the Wiley home taking only her suitcase filled with clothes and left little Logan as Shane was completely beside himself saying, “Another baby to raise alone”. There would be no more of her girlfriends hanging around the Wiley home.

  A week pass, one night lay on the bed, Ella looking over at the alarm clock 2:00 am, and turns looking at Saul snoring, got up from the bed reached grabbing her purple robe hurried out of the bedroom.

  Few seconds later stood rapping on the door to apartment one, door opens Josh said, “Hey Aunt Ella”, asked, “What’s going on?”

  Pushes his long black bangs away from his eyes replied, “The baby keeps crying, I don’t know, won’t stop and my dad is about to freak out”.

  Hears, “Aw stop kid”, and rushing through the apartment into the nursery saw Shane holding the screaming baby he noticed Ella, walked up to him said, “Here let me try”, reaching for the baby, hands his son to her and said, “Good luck”, yawning.

  Walking with Logan wrapped in her arms said, “I think he’s teething Shane”. “Aw swell, I am so tired”.

  “I’m sure”.

  “How could Stacey do this to me?”

  “I don’t know Shane”. Running fingers through his hair replied, “Dawggonnit, I have to get up in two hours and have not slept”.

  “Go to bed, I will get this little fellow to sleep”, playing with baby’s tiny fingers. “Aw no, it’s not up to you”

  “Go, I insist Shane” yawns asking, “Really, are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m off tomorrow anyway”.

  “Thanks Ella” smiles saying, “Now high tail it”, he grins walking out of the room saw his two boys leaning against the wall and said, “Aw aunt Ella is gonna help out”. “Thank god”, and pushes his brother said, “Shut up Nicky”, went into the room Shane patted Joshes shoulder says, “Let’s get some sleep boy”.

  “Finally”, went into their bedrooms when Ella comes walking out holding Logan in her arms went into the kitchen making a bottle quickly, and goes back into the nursery.

  Changing the diaper Logan cooing, Ella smiles putting the fresh diaper on, lifts him up saying, “We must be real quiet so daddy can sleep”.

  Baby blowing raspberries she adds, “Don’t want him to be grumpy”.

  Sitting down on the rocking chair held Logan snug, kisses his forehead feeding him the bottle and there was silence now except for Shane snoring.

  Rocking looks down at Logan sleeping quietly says, “Guess I have the magic touch”. Slowly stood up walking over to the crib, lays the baby down and turns around, screams bloody murder pointing at the window, saw a man looking in, he waves then was gone. Ella screaming Shane literally fell off the bed and comes running in fast saying, “What the heck?”

  Standing in the hallway, Shane’s three boys wondering what’s going on and grabbing onto terrified Ella trembling, Shane asked, “What’s wrong?” Pointing replied, “There was a man peeking in the window”.

  “What?”

  “Yes Shane”, hurried to the window opening it up, Ella crying out, “No don’t he will come in?”

  “Like hell, this isn’t happening no more”, looking around saw no one.

  Glancing back at the baby actually sleeping and head sticking out the window, Shane said, “Aw don’t see no man”, shut locking the window.

  “Thank god, but he was there plain as day I swear”.

  Walking towards her saying, “I believe you”.

  “I’m so scared what if it was them?” Shaking like a leaf and wrapping his arms around Ella clung to Shane that said, “Aw, I’d never let anyone hurt you”.

  Snuggled against his bare chest asked, “Really Shane?”

  “Yeah, don’t worry Ella”.

  “It was them, I just know it”. Holding her saw his boys and said, “Everything’s fine boys get to bed”. Turned around going into their bedroom and sniffling asked, “Do you ever worry about them returning”.

  “I fear nothing Ella”.

  “Yes I know that, but they put you through hell that night and look what they did to Sebastian”.

  “Heads will roll, if he ever found them”.

  “I’m scared Shane”, holding tighter his heart pounding says, “Do not be, there are six Wiley’s
now to always keep you safe Ella”, slight smile replied, “Well two are not speaking to me”.

  “For now”.

  “I hope”.

  “They will and are just being pigheaded, heck they would walk through fire for you”. “Would they?”

  “Yeah, I would too Ella”. Pulling back from Shane staring at her, looking at him, hearts racing, got a good close up look at Shane that was very handsome and he sure stared noticing how beautiful she was and at that moment knew why his brothers fell for her. “Thanks Shane”.

  “Aw thank you for getting little guy there a sleep”.

  “Anytime Shane”, letting his firm grip loose and looking at him asked, “You okay?” “Ah, awkward moment” .Shaking his leg and noticing hands placing to her face said, “Oh my seriously”.

  “Well I am a man, been a while it has a mind of its own Ella”.

  Giggling out, “Oh, I’m sorry Shane”.

  Hand up, said, “Nah, its fine just a natural thing, right”.

  “Yes I guess so”.

  Nervously, pointing towards the door said, “Ah, I’m gonna call the crew just to be on the safe side, check everything out”.

  “Okay, hope I didn’t make you feel uncomfortable”.

  “For a brief moment after such loneliness, I felt good” and Shane hurried out of the room Ella standing there mumbles, “Oh my, this is not good”.

  Ten minutes later, standing on the front porch, Danny Ray asked, “Anything fellows?” Looks at six Wiley men shaking their heads meaning-no and swung the baseball-bat snarling Sebastian said, “I was ready to roll heads”, Shane glanced at him and was right. Nodding Danny Ray said, “We need to be aware that they might come back”. “I figure they would” replied, Saul taking off brass-knuckles.

  Smirking Seth added, “This time will be ready for um”.

  Putting a buck-knife in his back blue jean pocket, Stanley remarked, “They won’t hurt my brothers again”.

  Patting his back Shawn said, “Right there’s two more Wiley’s and will clean house”. “Glad you two are back”, said Sebastian and Shawn smiles saying, “Me to brother” and Stanley winks.

  Walking across the lawn, heads turn Ella asked, “Is it safe?”

  Going up to her says, “What are you doing out here Ella?”

  “I’m scared Saul”.

  “No need, look you have an army to protect you”, she looks at them all nodding, even two that are not speaking to her. Walking out now Brenda asking, “Everything okay?”

  A few weeks pass, hot day, working up on the rooftop of the town barbershop, six Wiley men wiping sweat of their forehead, suddenly look down at Pam standing below swinging a bag and the others notice, not Sebastian when Saul nudges him, turning around fast asked, “What?”

  Pointing below, replied, “Aw, think you got a visitor”.

  “What, who, where?” His brothers pointing down and Sebastian walked near the edge of the roof saw Pam waving, “Hi Sebastian”.

  Snarling out, “Man this girl won’t give up”.

  Jumping off the rooftop and choking on water, Shane remarked, “Hate when he does that, those poor ants lost more of their family because of big foot”.

  Holding the hammer, “Know what I hate”.

  “What Saul?”

  “That you have no brains, maybe I should pound some into you”. Reared arms back, gripping the hammer like a bat and blocking, Shane ducks saying, “Woe hold up”, and Shawn yelling, “STOP SAUL!” Stanley grinning

  Standing before Pam eyes huge says, “You just jumped off the roof”.

  “Yeah, what about it?”

  “Wow, landed perfect”.

  “Always did, so what’s up, I’m busy”.

  Swinging the bag, asked, “Hungry?” Sways hips wearing a pink sundress with white ankle socks and white tennis shoes.

  “What are you doing girl?”

  “Brought you lunch”. Smiling.

  “Why?” One eye big.

  “Thought you might be hungry”.

  “I ate an apple”. Sneer.

  Pouting and noticed says, “Aw girl, just leave me alone”. “Fine I was trying to be nice”, hand on hip.

  “It was very nice”.

  Shoving the bag against his chest, said, “Here, bought you a turkey croissant”. “My favorite”, slight smile.

  “Really?” Folded hands near her chest.

  “Yeah”, stares.

  “Well you don’t want the croissant remember”, running off crying. Standing on the rooftop yelling, “Breaking the girls heart Sebastian?”

  Hurried around the building saw Pam sitting on a crate crying, walking over to her mumbling, “Girls with their tears”, stood before her noticing construction boots asked, “What do you want?”

  “I would like to know what you want”. One hand tucked into blue jean pocket, Wiping tears, “I just wanted a chance going on another date since the first time did no go to well”.

  “Aw, I don’t want to go out with you, never did the first time, but you pushed it girl”. Crying out, “Oh god, you must think awful of me”.

  “Nah, I don’t think about you”, and lifted her head tears pouring said, “Ouch, that really hurt”. Crying hands over her face and irritated hands tucking into baggy blue jean pockets says, “Hey, stop the water works girl”.

  “I can’t, I’m so sad”.

  “I can tell”. Rolled only eye.

  “My feelings are hurt”.

  “Please, stop the tears”.

  “You’re so mean”.

  Huffed out, “Aw, I said please this time”.

  Crying and pacing says, “Will you just stop girl”.

  “You hate me”.

  “No I don’t hate you, don’t really know you”.

  Removing one hand from her face says, “Go just leave me alone, I understand”. “Understand what?”

  “I’m ugly, right?”

  One eye large, grumbling out, “Seriously”.

  “Oh I am”, cries.

  “What, huh?” Irritated.

  Hand against chest saying, “I never told you that”. Low growl.

  “You just told me, seriously”.

  “Not that you’re ugly”. Looking at her asked, “How old are you, truth?” “Why?”

  “You don’t seem twenty”, wiping her eyes, “I’m not, who told you that”. “Well how old are you?”

  “I just turned eighteen”.

  “You’re just a kid”.

  “Oh I’m ugly and a kid”.

  Crying heavily, knelt down before her, “Hey stop girl, you’re not ugly, look at me that’s ugly”.

  Mumbling through her fingers, “No you’re not”.

  “Look at me girl”, shaking head meaning-no.

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m so ugly”.

  Hand placing on her knee says, “I never told you that”.

  “You won’t go out with me”.

  “Well that’s not the reason why”.

  Sniffling, “It’s not?”

  “Heck no”.

  “I am pretty?”

  “Yeah very, now will you remove your hands and look at me”.

  Hands remove from her face looking at Sebastian knelt before her staring, said, “Dry those tears and stop this foolishness”.

  “Please will you go out with me Sebastian?”

  “Aw girl, want to know the reason why I won’t”, shook head again.

  “I been in love with one woman since she was just a girl and I was just a boy, fifteen, many years, she has held the key to my heart, I’ll never let go”.

  “Where is this woman?”

  “Not with me, she crushed my heart”.

  “Sorry”. Pitying expression.

  “Nah, its fine”.

  “You still love her?”

  “Very much”. Hand against his heart and looking at Sebastian do that said, “Maybe you have a soft side after all”.

  “Ah, maybe huh?”

 
; “Love to find out”.

  “Bet you would”, giggling and grins adding, “Much better, no more tears”. “Maybe she will give you a second chance”.

  “Nah, I won’t give her another chance to hurt me”.

  “Well if you’re not with her, give me a chance who knows, I could maybe hold the key to your heart”.

  Smiling and noticed said, “Hey you do smile”.

  “I am human”.

  “Not so mean after all”, and leans forward low growl, “Yes I am girl”, laughing, she is to. “You are sweet”.

  Radiant, “I am”.

  “Yeah girl, but annoying to”. Giggling and standing up, grabs hold of his big forearm asking, “Please give me another chance Sebastian?” Noticed her pleading look.

  Knelt back down, placing hands against her face, she stares, heart fluttering, and said, “Oh sweetest girl I’ll break your heart”.

  “What?”

  “Yeah, my hearts with another, all you would be is a nail and bail”.

  Gasping, “What?”

  “Yep”.

  “What makes you think that you could nail me”. “Aw, wouldn’t be hard”.

  Tapping foot on the ground, noticed asked, “What, mad?”

  “Yes, what makes you think I’d go to bed with you”.

  Swiftly, hands against her face, leaning forward, poker-face says,

  “I guarantee I’d get in your pants”.

  “You’re so cruel”, running away in screaming tears. “I HATE YOU”.

  Stood there smirking mumbles, “No you don’t girl.”

  Sebastian was right and later that evening stood by the concession stand at the movie theater, grabbing the tub of popcorn, two soft drinks, turns around winked at Pam standing there wearing a yellow ruffled sundress with white sandals.

  Rushes helping him, said, “Thanks”.

  “No thank you for giving us a second chance”.

  “Us, huh?”

  Walking into the viewing room, found a seat, sitting down, lights dim, looked over at Sebastian eating popcorn lays her head on his shoulder, mouthful of popcorn smirks. During the movie, Pam held onto his big muscular arms when he removed her hand, looks at him putting one finger up, placing his arm around her smiling. After the movie walking out hanging onto Sebastian’s arm talking suddenly paused saw her ex-boyfriend Bradley with four other burly men.

  Shook his head says, “Swear I been in this situation before”.