Chapter One
"PlEaSe, PlEaSE, PlEaSe, don't prove I'm right." I sing along to the radio as I sit at the red light.
"ANd PlEaSe, PlEaSe, PlEaSe, dOn'T BrInG tHe tEaRs wHeN I jUsT diD mY MaKeUp sO NiCe!"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP! WE ARE JUST LITERALLY TRYING TO SIT IN OUR GAH DAMN CARS!" I jump when I hear the person beside me screaming. I look over to see him sitting in his car glaring at me. My windows...are down. I could have melted in the seat of this car.
I'm on my way to a job interview and well, if it's anything like how my morning is going then I may as well hang it up.
I pull up to my destination.
I step out of the car and stare up at the two story Dutch Colonial home. It's a pretty white color and it has many windows showcasing in the front of the house.
I walk to the back of my car and pull out two suitcases. I'm going to stay with these people for the summer. The Dad will be leaving the house often to attend meetings and other responsibilities that he'll need to do for his job and he needs a babysitter who can help look after his seven year old son Kash, for the summer. I'll have to do things like cook, clean, and, put Kash to bed.
I walk up to the door. I decided to take this job because it sounded better than staying at home with my Dad who can't put down the bottle long enough to hold a conversation with me. And if he does; it's usually a strung along sentence that's so slurred that it doesn't make any sense.
I slowly knock on the door and take a step back. I do worry if I'm going to do a good job but I've always loved kids and the Mom sounded super laid back. She just sounded happy that I'm 18 and have a car.
The door swings open and a woman with long brown hair and black dress that screams I work in an office smiles at me. "Oh! I am so sorry, I was not expecting you until noon." She tells me.
"It is noon, ma'am." I offer her a small smile. Her face flushes with embarrassment before she steps to the side and welcomes me inside. "My name is Charlotte and I'm the neighbor to Draven and Kash. I help out when I can."
Oh, I assumed she was the Mom.
I slowly walk inside and look around. The house is in order and pictures hang up on the wall of a little boy. I don't see any pictures of his parents anywhere.
"Kash! Please come down here." Charlotte calls.
I stand there as I watch a small child race into the living room. He pauses when he sees me. His blue eyes rests behind his curls and his rosey cheeks burn; adding detail to his face.
"Hi!" I smile at him.
"He's non verbal." Charlotte informs me. "But he's really good at communicating in other ways; trust me he will let you know when he needs something. Please make sure that he has a snack in the middle of the day: around 11:30. Don't worry I'll leave a list so that you can remember."
I nod my head. I squat in front of Kash and stare at him. "Hi! My name is Cleat. We're going to be really good friends over the summer."
He continues to stare at me.
"Right." I stand up. "Do you want to show me to your room?"
He continues to stare at me. I shove my hands into my pockets. He turns around and walks away. I follow behind him. He guides me to his room. It's a really nice room. The bed is facing towards the wall and a window to the left.
A dresser sits on the opposite side of the room and toys lay scattered on the floor. I sit down and grab a car. "Vroom!" I smile at him. "Vroom, Vroom!"
A throat is cleared from behind me and I stand up and spin around. I can already feel my cheeks growing hot because a semi-tall man stands before me. It's crazy, I was picturing a man in a suit, but this man is not in a suit. In fact his hair is black with baby blue highlights and he's got piercings around his lips. Snake bites? Oh and he looks kind of young. Much younger than me!
"Um..."
"Hi, I'm Draven." He throws out a hand. His nails have been painted black. Wait, that's the Dad's name, Draven. I take his hand and shake it in confusion.
"Haha. Not what you expected Huh? I get that a lot."
"Oh man. I'm sorry! Hi; my name is Cleat."
"Nice to meet you Cleat. Charlotte has told me some really good things about you. Mostly, that you have a car, which is great since you're going to be running errands."
I nod my head. Yes, that was apart of the description, I remember. I pull my hand away from him and cup the back of my head..."Um, do you mind if I ask how old you are?" It doesn't really matter but I guess I'm just curious.
"26." He stares at me. "I was 19 when Kash was born, so I was still considered a teen parent for a few months." He smiles.
He doesn't look a day over 20. Gee, I hope that I look that young when I'm old as shit. He looks down at his watch and then looks back up at me. "I got to go. But thanks again for looking after Kash."
I watch as he hugs and kisses Kash before he walks off. I sit back down on the floor and begin to play with the kid.
"Vroom!"
~*~
I stand in my new room. It's spacious to say the least. I am a bit homesick, but with my Mom gone it's just not the same. She and my Dad got a divorce and she moved to California with her new boyfriend, leaving me behind with Dad. Don't get me wrong; Dad is great.... he's just... He's not in the same world as everyone else.
I unpack my thing's and then I remember that I have to cook. I walk into the kitchen and pull out a pan. Oh fuck.... what do I even cook? I walk to the fridge and look inside. I see frozen chicken and green beans. Okay, I think that I can work with this.
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"Kash! Dinner time!" I call up to him.
He flops down the stairs and walks over to the table. He's big enough to crawl in the chair himself and he's tall enough to see over the table. I sit there and watch him stare down at the food before he pushes the plate onto the floor.
"What the!" I stand up, but recompose myself because this isn't my kid and spankings we're not in the job description. But it's my fault....I should have fixed something that would be pleasing to a seven year old I guess. Plus, I don't know much about his autism. So he may just act out like this all the time because he can't help it.
I walk over to the freezer to see what else is in store. Oh.... chicken nuggets. The kind that you put in the microwave! Now this is time saving and it looks like something that Kash will eat.
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The sound of the plate clashing on the floor makes me wonder if I drove my Dad to drink.
I let out a breath.
"Kash! No sir, you clean this mess up right now!" A deep voice causes both me and Kash to jump. Oh dear God, did you come down from heaven to save me?
I look over my shoulder to see that it's Draven. Oh no.... It's me about to be fired. I wasn't even here for very long! He squats in front of Kash and stares at him so hard that I break out into a sweat and he's not even looking at me!
"Listen here little man; this--" he points to me--"Is your new Nanny. You will listen to him just like you listen to Charlotte and I. If you can't, I'm going to take away your lego set and you will not be getting them back."
"Ahhh!" The kid bounces, not liking this idea.
"Then tell him you're sorry!" Draven says.
The kid snaps his head over at me and if looks could kill.... But he walks over to me and rubs my stomach before he stomps off. Draven stands up with a sigh.
"He's testing you to see what he can get away with. Don't let him run over you, Cleat. A firm clear voice will have him behaving."
I slowly nod my head.
He looks up at me, a smirk playing on his lips, and I clear my throat. "Yes sir. Sorry."
"You don't have to call me sir. You can just call me Draven." He tells me.
"Alright, Draven." I smile; shutting my eyes as I do.
"Cute smile." I hear Draven say and I feel my soul flutter from my lips; because what did he just say?
I peek an eye open to see him staring at a picture that Kash has brought into the kitchen. "I really like the way you drew the eyes too, Kash!" He pats the kid on the head and I find myself thankful that I didn't say some stupid shit like thank you.
Kash then walks over to me and shows me. I frown. Is that really someone getting ran over by a car?! Wait...is that supposed to be me? Kash stares at me and I swallow.
"Y-yeah.... I like how he's still smiling even though he's getting hit. Ha-" I broke out into a cold sweat.
Kash takes his drawing and walks away and I think about maybe how spending the summer with Dad wouldn't be that bad.
I run my fingers through my hair as I let out a small sigh. He doesn't even like me. How am I supposed to take care of someone who doesn't even like me? I raise my eyes up to Draven to find him staring at me before he quickly averts his eyes.
I dart my eyes down to my feet. I probably look like an idiot. But I'm not going to give up! I'm a great guy; Kash and I just got off on the wrong foot is all!
"I have to go work in my office, do you need anything before I go?" Draven asks.
"Um- actually... what's Kash's favorite bedtime story, if he has one?"
Draven pauses. He thinks for a moment. "Oh- well, his Mom used to read him the story about that guy who climbed the tree and found a castle and that tall dude."
My eyes light up. "Jack and the bean stalk?" I ask him.
"That's the one." He tells me before saying goodnight and waking out of the kitchen.
~*~
I help Kash into his outer space underwear and planetarium pajama set. I pick him up and place him on his bed. "Do you want me to tell you a story, Kash?" I ask him.
He tilts his head.
"Jack and the bean stalk!" I wiggle my fingers.
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I jump across each pillow like a stepping stone. But they're not supposed to be pillows they're clouds.
"Cleat and Kash took the golden chicken and dashed out of the castle: running across the clouds as they do." I narrate before I turn around and throw out my hand to Kash. He grabs it and I pull us down to the floor. "But wait!" I build suspense.
I pause.
"Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be he alive, or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread!"
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" Kash screams.
"Don't worry!" I stand up and throw out my arm towards the air like a hero. "I'll save you!"
"Hahahahahah!" Kash laughs.
I pick him up and throw him over my shoulder and dash into the closet. We sit down on the floor and I tell him that we're safe! We just need to wait til the giant gets bored and then he'll leave!
~*~
Draven's POV.
I sit in my study and stare down at the files that I need to complete. I place my hand on my forehead, already feeling drowsy from the long day. The only sound that can be heard is the ticking of my clock; reminding me that it's getting late.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" I hear Kash scream.
"Hu-" I snap my head up.
