PART 9
"LONELINESS"
Being depressed and lonely is really boring, I noticed. As I laid face down on my bed in my underwear, I kept trying to come up with a way to get over this funk and move on, but I wasn't having much luck. After a while, I heard my little brother, Spencer, dash into my room.
"What's up, Viv?" he asked, obviously trying to help.
"Ugh..." I groaned, not really in the mood for talking.
"You haven't moved since you got back from the bathroom," he sighed, "Mom sent me up here to tell you there's pancakes on the table if you're hungry."
"Ugh..." I groaned again.
"So, basically if you don't come down to eat, I'm having your share." He teased, hoping to get a rise out of me.
"Come on, Vivian!" he grunted, punching my arm playfully, "Get up!"
I really wanted to, but every time I did, my stomach hurt. I really missed Xander. No one had seen him since the incident at the school 2 weeks ago. He left just after we realized our true feelings with other. It was kind of hard for me to just ignore his absence, especially since he, along with Hailey Klassen, the Cheerleading Captain, helped me realize that I'm bisexual. It took being apart from both of them for me to decide that. Xander was gone, but Hailey wasn't. She might as well have left too, because I haven't seen her for a while either.
"Okay," said Spencer, sounding desperate, "You leave me no choice."
I heard him leave my room. Then, seconds later, I heard him come back again. He didn't say anything, which seemed odd. Just then something cold and wet touched my bare back. I shrieked and leapt to my feet, furious.
"You had your chance to get up," he giggled, "But you didn't listen."
"That means leave me alone," I snapped, "Not put an ice cube on my back!"
"It does in my dictionary," said Spencer, "Now get dressed so you can show Mom that you're still alive."
"Fine..." I sighed.
As I scoured the ground for a shirt, my phone rang. Only a handful of people knew the number, so I wasn't really surprised to hear Monica's voice when I answered.
"Howdy, cousin!" she said.
"Oh, it's you." I muttered.
"Viv, are you still moping about Xander being AWOL?" she asked.
"I can't stop thinking about him," I whined, "I hate feeling this way!"
"Nobody likes feeling that way," said Monica, "Not even the emo kids that hang out in the school basement."
"Then how do I get over it?" I asked, "You must have some ideas!"
"Do something to distract yourself," said Monica, "Like, for example, babysitting."
"I don't know anybody who needs a babysitter." I said.
"I do," said Monica, building the suspense, "Mr. Hartford."
"So that's where he went?" I gasped, "I thought he just quit."
"No, his wife got pregnant," said Monica, "He took paternity leave because she makes more money at her job."
"How do you know all this?" I asked.
"They told me all about it when they asked me to babysit for them," said Monica, "But I can't make it tonight, so I said I'd ask you to do it instead."
"Well, alright," I said, "It's better than sitting around all day."
"Atta girl!" said Monica, delighted, "I'll text you the details in a second."
"Okay..." I said, "Thanks!"
I hung up the phone in time to see Spencer standing in the doorway. His hand was red. Looks like Mom had slapped his hand for trying to steal my pancakes again.
"So, I had a change of heart," he said, "I don't want any of your pancakes."
He walked away towards his room.
*
I showed up at Mr. Hartford's house ten minutes early. The porch light was on, so they were obviously expecting me. I raised my hand to knock on the door, but it opened before I could.
"Hi! You must be Vivian!" said Mr. Hartford, pulling me inside, "Make yourself at home, I'll be with you in a minute."
I sat down on the couch and looked out the window. There was a black man mowing his lawn across the street. I don't know why he was doing that in the evening, but he was. He looked kind of hostile. I watched him for a while. There was something about him that I found interesting.
"Vivian," said Mr. Hartford, softly, "This is Mellie."
I looked behind me to see him holding a precious baby girl. She was looking at me just like I had been looking at the man across the street. I stood up and walked over to him.
"She's adorable!" I moaned as Mellie grabbed the tip of my finger.
"She's already been fed, so all you'll have to do is give her a bath and put her to bed," said Mr. Hartford, "Emergency numbers are on the table and, uh, help yourself to anything in the fridge... Except the last piece of cheesecake."
"Actually, sweetie, if you don't mind, go ahead and eat that," said Mrs. Hartford, walking up behind him, "He had a hard enough time getting into his suit tonight as it is."
"We should be back by around 11:00pm," said Mr. Hartford, walking over to Mellie's crib and setting her down, "Oh yeah, and um, if that guy you were staring at from across the street comes over, feel free to let him in. He's Mellie's pediatrician."
"Why, is she sick or something?" I asked.
"Not at all, he just likes to drop by and check on her every now and then." said Mr. Hartford, "He's just across the street after all, so I figure why pass up a free check-up for little Melanie?"
"Also, John owes him money from poker last week," said Mrs. Hartford, rolling her eyes, "Don't worry about him, Dr. Graham wouldn't hurt a fly."
"Well, Honey, we better get going." said Mr. Hartford.
"Thanks again, Vivian," said Mrs. Hartford, "We'll see you tonight."
