Chapter 28

Lucas

*****5 Years Later*****

After a long 5 years of going up and down taking care of Tobias . I finally have a night to myself . I managed to finish High school in record time, now I'm in community College . Almost everyone is either working, have a family or in college just like me .

Finding out that Wylder and Joshua were a couple wasn't much of a surprise to me, too bad they broke up before anything became too serious . Something about Wylder cheating. Joshua was devastated, he hasn't recovered since then .

Talking about devastating news, nothing beats a mother's betrayal. I thought she was really going to get us back, Elizabeth and I , so we could live a better life . However, she had other plans. The minute I gave her money, she disappeared out of my life like she was never there. Of course, Nathan felt bad for me but I know deep down, he was glad she was out of my life .I wasn't though . No matter how much she hurts me, somehow I always find it in my heart to forgive her. She's after all, my mother. She had problems of her own while growing up, why should I blame her for something she can't control?

" Really, you are going out wearing that?" Summer scoffs at my poor choice of clothing . Bringing me back to reality.

" It's not that bad!" I groan, throwing a hoodie over my oversized sweater .

" You look like a parent"

" I am a parent!" I say defensively. Looking over the mirror . Since I gave birth, I have been feeling a little insecure about my body . Even though the stretch marks are fading away and my flat stomach has been recovered. I still don't feel like my old self .

" No, tonight you are not . It has been five years Lucas . It's time to get back on the game ." Joshua chimes in, holding up a pair of blue tight jeans and a shirt beside me.

" I don't know..."' I sigh heavily. This is hard . Nathan and I decided in the past,  to just co-parent . It's better than trying to build something that seems impossible to do . A relationship that will crumble by every external force from the outside.

So  we are living in the same house, two separate rooms and taking care of Tobias. Who, at first didn't seem to care but now he has been asking a lot of questions. He's too curious for an almost 6 year old .

" Come on, for once, only think about yourself!" Joshua throws the clothes on my bed . I look over them . Sighing heavily, I guess I have no other choice .

" Do you guys know the gender of  the baby yet?" I turn to Summer who's laying on my perfectly made bed .

She brushes over her small bump " Not yet, like you guys, we are gonna wait until they come into the world." Her mouth twitches into a small smile like she can already see a part of her holding her baby for the first time.

" Honestly, I wasn't expecting you and Cam to last!" Tyron says out of nowhere from the door .

He has been standing there for a while, observing us. Although he doesn't seem to mean anything by what he said, Summer spare him a glare .

" Says a guy who's never been in a relationship." Summer mutters.

" I didn't mean it like that ." Tyron facepalms. Summer seems not to buy into his reply, so she goes back to paging through the magazine on her lap .

I just collect my clothes from the bed then enter the bathroom. Finally feeling at ease once I close the door behind me. Tyron can sometimes be too honest , and that comes out as rude for most people, especially Summer. Him and Summer seem not to see eye to eye, however they try to get along around Josh and i. For the sake of our friendship.

I quickly throw on the clothes Josh picked for me . Fixing my short hair through the mirror. My brown eyes staring back at me. It's strange being able to have some alone time without Tobias pounding at the door to let him in or holding onto my leg tightly. However, I like the freedom.

I re-enter my bedroom to find everyone out except Tyron sitting on my bed . " Oh hey!" I clear my throat, standing by the bathroom door awkwardly.

" They went downstairs, Nathan and Wylder are already here " Tyron points out . Going back to looking down at his cellphone in hand .

" Oh , thanks ." I shift slowly" Are you okay? You have been acting pretty strange lately."

" I'm good. " He mumbles .

" Okay ." I say, shrugging it off when Tyron doesn't even acknowledge me . I feel like he's been pushing me away lately and I don't know why .

I leave him there, walk my way to the living room area . When I get there, I find everyone jamming to a song in the background and drinking different types of drinks. As for my favourite person, he's busy watching something on his iPad , cuddling by his father without any care in the world. His dark brown hair covers a bit of his face. He might look a lot like Nathan, but he behaves more like me . I never knew I would have to deal with myself one day .

" Lucas!" Wylder yells excitedly the second we lock eyes. Making everyone turn to me . Even Tobias throws his iPad aside and runs to me .

" Hi" I sheepishly wave at Wylder. I decide to accept my fate and pick up Tobias the minute he hugs my leg with excitement .

" Hey you!" I smile softly . Tobias wraps his little arms around my neck instead, hiding his face from me .

" Hey, what's wrong buddy?" I rub his back . Looking over Nathan who's already looking at me in concern .

' Is he okay?' He mouths . I just shrug . Tobias doesn't say anything. Everyone in the room seem to be deep in conversation . Even Wylder has taken the liking of arguing with Summer about something silly while Josh is on his cellphone .

I walk out of the room , deciding to make him some warm milk . He can be a bit shy to open up when something is on his mind . So warm milk sometimes helps .

I place him on the kitchen counter, making sure that his legs don't dangle over it .

" You wanna tell me what's bothering my handsome little guy?" I gaze over Tobias while heating up the milk in a small pot .

" No." He bluntly replies. Running his fingers over his Spiderman shorts .

Unfazed by his behaviour, I just try to get him to talk to me about his day instead, and he gladly starts telling me about his day with Nathan and Wylder at the mall. That has turned into a weekly thing, Wylder and Nathan always take Tobias out on little roadtrips, which he loves . He never misses a chance to tell me about them every chance he gets .

This time, Nathan and Wylder took him to a toy store and made him  choose anything he wanted.

" So what did you pick?" I ask, pouring the warm milk in two cups for Tobias and I.

" Nothing" Tobias sighs, sounding rather disappointed .

" Why not?" I place his small cup beside him . He happily picks up the cup .

" Milk!" He grins . Taking a small sip and nodding his head, his way of saying that he likes it . I sigh in awe, admiring my sweet boy although I can still sense that there's something he' isn't telling me so I push a little.

" So? What has been bothering my little angel?" I lean on the kitchen counter.

He simply looks down at his cup" I heard uncle Wylder and dad talking about you going away . I don't want you to go . "

" I'm gonna be back bud, it's just a small party I have to attend ." I explain, his small teary eyes meeting mine .

" I wanna go too!" He cries out . My heart breaks a little. Tonight will be the first time going out in a long time, the separation is hard on me .

" It's a grown-up party peanut , but I promise, I'm gonna be back before you know it ."

" Pinky promise?" He raises his pinky .

" I pinky promise!" I do the same . We combine our pinkies . That is enough to make Tobias go back to his cheery mood .

" Look what I bought for you!" Tobias pulls out a blue rubber band from his pocket .

" Aww you bought this for me?" I stare at awe as he helps me put it on. He has been buying me a lot of those lately, however this one differs from the others .

Right on it, I spot a small black writing that says ' Dad and Tobias love you so much' . The writing makes me tear up a little. Most of the hand bands I have received from Tobias never included Nathan on them until now . I just know Nathan has to do with this . And the thought of him going out of his way to do this warms my heart .

***