The Babysitter

Chapter 13: Do I like him?

Chapter 13: (Aubrey's POV)- Do I Like Him? Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"I should probably head out now," I spoke as I stood up from my seat while Xavier dried off the last

plate, and grabbed my stuff.

"Stay awhile. I'll get bored to death here by myself," he groaned while turning to me.

"Do what you usually do after I leave." I shrugged while grabbing my keys.

"Well usually I hang out with my mom, talk about her day for a while then I do stuff," he explained.

"Well, what stuff do you do?" I prompted, sitting back down with my chin resting in my hand.

"Watch some movies, read for a little bit, go in the backyard..." he trailed off.

I gave him a pointed look before speaking, "Well then do all those things. I have to head out." I stood

up, beginning to walk to the door. As I was about to open the front door, a firm grip on my wrist stopped

me.

"Please, just stay a little longer Aubrey," he whined, pulling me backward and to the couch.

"I have to go, Xavier." I laughed while trying to pull my wrist out of his grip but failing. "My mom is

gonna get home any minute and she's gonna expect me to be there shortly after." I tried explaining my

predicament but nope, he was now a little kid.

"Yeah, shortly after," he emphasized.

"Which can only happen if I leave now." I looked at him with obviousness in my eyes.

"That's so not true. You only live a block away." He pouted, his grip still fixed on my wrist.

"And I use a bike, not a car. It takes more time, plus, I take the long way," I mumbled the last part. I

didn't want to get into explaining my reasons for doing so.

"Wait, why?" he asked, confusion gracing his voice.

"You know why, I like biking it's fun, and-" I tried to divert the topic and avoid confrontation but it was

too late.

"No, why do you take the long way?" he question, his brows knitting together.

I fell quiet. I looked to see him raising his eyebrows at me, expecting to me explain. "I avoid the short

way. Certain people are in that area and uh- I just do." I spoke in one quick breath, shrugging at the

end of my words.

"What people? Who are you talking about?" he interrogated.

"Just people. Look, Xavier, I have to go." I tried pulling away but he just pulled me closer.

"You're not leaving until you tell me who lingers in your neighborhood. Who you ride ten minutes extra

for, just to avoid." His hold on my wrist tightened as my chest brushed against his.

"Uh- Peter uh- Peter does," I stammered, stumbling over my words, almost whispering them to myself.

"Does he say anything to you? Does he bother you?" Xavier pressed further.

"N-no. His car's always there and he's always leaning on it." I looked down at the floor, I couldn't meet

his eyes and I don't know why.

"In front of your house?" he questioned.

I shook my head. "At the end of the block. From here, at the beginning. So I'd see him first," I

explained.

"Does your mom know?" he asked but I remained quiet, staring at the floor. "Hello?" he laughed slightly

while lifting my chin to meet my eyes.

"She doesn't know." I shook my head softly.

"You should tell her. Before someone else does," he spoke lowly.

Does that mean he would if he had to?

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, ever so slightly taken-back and confused. Not offended just

confused?

"It means that she's your mom and she should know if it's serious." He shrugged before letting go of my

wrist and taking a step back.

"Okay um- I'm heading out," I spoke awkwardly before turning to leave but he grabbed my wrist, again.

"Be careful," he spoke genuinely.

"Is someone worried?" I pinched his cheek playfully.

His lips broke out into a smile before he gently pushed my hand away. "Just be careful. Text me when

you get home." He looked me dead in the eyes.

"Okay," I spoke after a moment of silence.

He nodded before beginning to walk to the door. "I'll walk you out." He held the door open for me. I

gave him a grateful smile before walking through it. We walked slowly and in silence to my bike as if we

were taking a stroll in the park. Once we reached my bike, I placed all my stuff in the basket. "You sure

you can't stay?" he repeated while I pushed the stand of my bike up, grabbing the handles.

I flipped the direction the bike was facing before turning to him. "You know I can't," I told him softly.

He nodded with a little disappointment seeping through his eyes.

I nudged his shoulder, "See you tomorrow?" I asked. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to come tomorrow

since I hadn't been told to.

"Yeah. You'll see me tomorrow." He nodded curtly.

I got on my bike before waving him goodbye and beginning the ride home. I didn't plug my earphones

in, I was lost in my thoughts.

He'd been nice to me, letting me take the bed, not completely though, making me breakfast, playing

Mario kart with me, even though that was mostly my idea, but none of that could mean anything.

It's only been a few days and soon enough, a week since we've known each other. He's still a player,

nice to me or not. Kylie still exists and will be back after summer and Julie is just- there's just

something about her which makes me dislike her very strongly but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Let's just be honest here since being truthful to yourself is crucial. Xavier Parker is one hell of a guy.

He's attractive, he's sweet, caring if I must say, he's funny, respectful, he can cook and his hair is nice.

Do I like him?

No.

Do I like his looks?

Yes.

Liking someone solely off of their appearance is no good. It's good but only for so long. I know the guy

pretty well keeping in mind this is the first time we're talking after the party I came here for but to be fair,

I don't remember that thanks to my drunken state.

So really, we haven't had conversations like this since eighth grade! I'm starting to realize why I liked

the kid. Now don't get excited it was never a crush. I just liked him as a person, he was nice to me.

Even though I had seen him being a dick to most of the other kids and teachers, I liked him because he

never did anything wrong to me. My thoughts were interrupted by a voice, startling me.

"Aubrey!" someone screamed from behind me.

I turned my head around to look, and lost my balance, falling right off my bike and onto my ass. I

winced as I dusted my scratched and bruised knees and elbows when I noticed a cut on my elbow,

that's great. I looked up to see Peter walking over to me.

Crap! Crap! Crap!

I quickly stood up and lifted my bike, swiftly getting on it.

"Wait! I just wanna talk!"

There's no way I can get out of this, he'll know I'm ignoring him.

"What do you want?" I asked, getting straight to the point.

This ladies and gentlemen, is the one person who hurt me, the one person who I'll always hate, Peter

Miller, my ex-boyfriend. "To talk," he spoke lowly.

"Ten seconds. You have ten seconds," I told him, finally turning to him, locking eyes.

"I need to know why you've been going to Parker's house," he demanded.

My eyes narrowed while my brows furrowed. "Why do you know that I've been going there?" I squinted

at him.

"Kylie told me," he admitted. Of course, she's involved. She's always involved.

I took a deep breath, containing my anger. "It's none of your or her business what I do there and why I

go. I know she didn't see me, she saw my bike, the bike that you helped me paint. Of course, she

knows it," I scoffed. "Listen, Peter, I work for his mother. I help her in the house. While she works, I look

after the house. Got it?" I asked him, rolling my eyes to the back of my head.

"Parker never seems to be out as usual. Is something going on between you two?" he interrogated.

"No! He doesn't have any plans for the summer. If you would have asked your girlfriend who's

obsessed with him, you'd know he's on house arrest. And I will be too for your murder. Leave me alone

Peter, find someone else's life to pry in on." I rode away while rolling my eyes.