The sad story of the babysitter

Chapter six - Everything will be ok

Lily's POV:

I can't believe it. Ryder Collins lives in the house in which I have to babysit his sisters. Something is wrong. His parents are so nice and he is... not nice. Maybe he acts like that only in school. To be honest last night he talked normally with me. I mean he didn't try on me as usual. What if this is his strategy? To act nice only to get me and then dump me like every other girl. I will keep an eye on him.

I am in school now. Currently, it's my break before my fifth class. I looked at my phone and saw that I have a message from miss Collins. 

Lily, can you come tonight? I need you. David and I have to go out. 

I smile when I read it. Someone needs me. I haven't heard that in a while. I answered her.

Yes, I can come. Just tell me when. 

Soon she replied. 

Around 5 pm. As usual. 

Ok, I will be there. 

Thank you, Lily. You are a life savior. 

No problem. See you after a couple of hours. 

I guess that the babysitter will be in action tonight. To be honest it's better than staying at home with my parents. They don't even care am I at home or not. They only do it when both of them want to know where I am and most importantly, what I am doing. Mom and dad can't let me do something, which will ruin their reputation. They still can't accept the damage, which Lizzy caused when she died. 

I haven't talked with my sister for the last couple of days. Maybe I can go to see her today. I haven't told her some things. 

After school, I went home to get changed. Luckily, my parents weren't there. I took a shower and lay on my bed. I looked at the photo on my nightstand. It was of Lizzy and me when we were little kids. I won't lie that I miss her a lot, but I can't do anything to bring her back. I have to accept that she is gone, but I can't. Lizzy was a big part of my life and I can't forget her that easily. 

Now it's 3:30 pm and I decide to go out. I'll go to talk with Lizzy and then to miss Collins. I left my parents a note and left. Probably they won't read it. 

When I arrived I sat at the end of the wooden bridge and called Lizzy. 

- Lizzy, are you here? 

I felt the breeze. Every time when I am here, I have a mix of emotions. I am happy to talk with her, but at the same time sad because she is not here in person. 

- Hey Lizzy. I haven't talked with you for a couple of days. I am sorry for that. I was very busy. I need to tell you something, which you won't believe. It turned out that the little girls, which I am watching, have a brother. Can you guess who is he? The worst boy of them all and number on in my list of dislikes. Ryder Collins. I don't know how I will manage to do this job. The good thing is that he is almost never at home. 

I felt the breeze again and followed it to the shore. If she was alive, I was going to hit her. 

Do I see sparks between you two?

- How could you say it? Didn't you listen to what I just told you? He is the worst guy of all of them.

All of who? That goes in your school?

- That I know, but yes, mainly in school. I just can't stand him. Maybe he is a good guy, but he definitely doesn't act like one. I don't know what's wrong with him. His parents and sisters are so nice. 

Maybe he is doing it to prove something. Why don't you give him a chance?

- Are you kidding me? First, I don't like him, second I am not for him and third I don't want to be heartbroken. I already have enough problems. 

Did mom and dad do something to you again?

- No, you don't have to worry. Lately, they don't pay much attention to what I do.  

I am not surprised. They only care if you do something, which will affect them. You don't have to care about that. Do your things. 

- That's what I am doing. Lizzy, I can talk with you for hours, but miss Collins is waiting for me. 

No problem. I hope that Ryder is at home. 

- Lizzy, be careful with the words. 

I am your sister after all. I need to know what is going on with you. 

- Ok, I have to go now. Bye Lizzy. See you soon. 

With that, I left. I love my sister, but sometimes she can be very annoying. At least she cares about me. Even dead she is more my family than my real one. I don't know why mom and dad don't like me so much, but I think that it's better if I don't know. 

I arrived in front of miss Collins's house and knocked on the door. She opened it and let me in. 

- Thank you for coming Lily. 

- No problem. I have nothing to do anyways. 

- Lily! - the girls run up to me

- I see that someone is happy. Can I know why? Is it because of me? - I chuckled

- I don't know what you are doing with them, but you are the only thing that they talk about. 

- I am glad to hear it. All we do is play games and maybe cook from time to time.

- Hi Lily. 

- Hello to you too mister Collins. 

- What we'll play today? We can steal some of the games, which Ryder has in his room. - Lea said

- We won't steal anything from him. Moreover, your games are ten times better than his. 

- Then what we'll do?

- Do you like to dance?

- Yes, who doesn't? - Lea said

- Then I officially will make this a dance night. 

- Yay! You can teach us some dances. 

- I don't know how to dance, but gladly will invent some moves for you. Now go and put on your dancing outfits.

The girls left to their room. I looked at miss and mister Collins who was laughing. Did I do something? Maybe I have something on my face. 

- What is so funny? Do I have something on my face?

- No, it's just you came like five minutes ago and already planned the night. They literary are listening and doing everything that you are telling them. Maybe I should call you more often. - miss Collins chuckled

- I won't mind it. The girls are really nice. 

- Nice talking girls, but we have to go. If we don't come back before ten, put the kids in bed. 

- Ok, no problem. You can count on me. 

- I know. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here. 

Soon they left and the girls came down with new clothes. They looked at me with smiles. I saw that Lea's hands are behind her back. Usually when people hide something they put their hands like that. 

- Lea what are you hiding? 

- I want you to put on this hat. - she said and gave me a beanie

- From where did you get it?

- I found it in my room. Sometimes mom buys me things, which I don't wear. 

- And why do I have to put this on?

- Because you will be our teacher. Please put it on. 

- Ok, ok, I will put it. 

Usually, I don't wear hats, but this time I might do it. It's just for a couple of hours. Probably like one or two. I can handle it. I played the first song and the girls immediately started to dance. I laughed at the way they were doing it. 

- Do you want me to teach you some moves?

- Yes, please. - both of them said in sync

- Ok, I will do a move slowly and you have to do the same. Can you do that?

- We can. Let's dance! - Lea said

I was doing it slowly. To be honest, I have no idea what were these moves, but I saw that the girls are enjoying them. Somehow, I manage to do something like a small dance. 

We were dancing probably for like an hour. I froze at my place when I heard one voice. 

- Hey, that beanie is mine. 

I turned around and saw him. I thought that Ryder would be outside the whole night. That is what I was hoping. Well, I guess that this won't happen tonight. 

- Lea, did you lie to me? Be honest. 

- Maybe...

- I told you to don't take things from your brother's room. 

- Wait a minute! You little thief. I told you to don't enter my room. Lily, your job is to watch them. 

- Hey, Lily is not guilty. - Lea said

- So now you are on her side?

- Don't argue. You can take your beanie and we can do something else. 

- Enter one more time in my room and you'll take the consequences. - Ryder said and walked into his room

- Someone is in bad mood. - Mia said

- Yes, but we won't let him ruin our night. Who wants ice cream and a movie?

- Me! I want. - Lea said

- Let's go then. We can watch whatever you want. 

We watched the movie. At the end of it, the girls fell asleep. It was only 9:30 pm, but I guess that they were tired. After so much dancing who wouldn't be. If I was at their place I would fall asleep as well. I carefully got Mia in my hands and went to put her in bed. After that, I came back for Lea. I was about to walk into the girl's room when Ryder walked out of his. We made eye contact, which luckily didn't last long. I put Lea in bed and walked back into the living room.

- So the girls get tired? - Ryder said and sat next to me

- If you were dancing for one hour, you would get tired as well. By the way, I am sorry for the beanie. Lea told me that she has found it in her room. 

- It's ok. She is a very good liar.

- Just like her brother. 

- What do you mean?

- Don't you always lie just to get what you want?

- Not always, but most of the time. - he chuckled

Both of us were sitting without talking. There was an awkward silence. I don't know what to tell him. Usually, we don't talk to each other or at least I don't. I hope that his parents will come home soon. I don't think that I can handle him. You can never predict his moves. One moment he is quiet and on the next one, making out with someone. 

- Are you always that quiet?

- What? Yeah, kind of. I just don't have anything to say. 

- Why don't you have friends? Sorry, if you have. Just I have never seen you with people. 

- I don't have and it's just because I don't want to. I prefer to be alone. 

- But you can't be alone forever. 

- Who said that? I am the one who is writing the story so whatever end I write that's how it'll finish. 

With that, he laughed. Why do I like this side of him? He is not the player and wants an attention boy. He is just himself. No matter that he has told me that the bad boy is who he is. 

- You are thinking of me, aren't you?

- Yes, I am. 

- And what do you think of me?

- I just wonder why don't you act like that in school as well. 

- What do you mean? 

- I mean that now the bad boy is gone and finally I am talking with one nice person. 

- So you think that I am nice? Is there something else that you are thinking about me? - he said and got closer to me

- Why do you always have to ruin everything? - I said and got up

I went to the kitchen for a glass of water. Of course, he had to follow me. I won't lie that it'll be hard to avoid him, but it's not mission impossible. 

I turned around and he was in front of me. Way too close if you ask me. 

- Can you move? You are entering my personal space. 

- I want to know what you think of me. 

- And why? So you can use it against me? 

Ryder was going to answer, but Mia came. I looked at her and she was worried. I don't even know why she is here. I put her in bed. 

- Mia what's wrong? And why you are not in bed?

- Lily, you have to help Lea.

- Why? What's wrong with her?

- She woke up and started crying. 

- Ok, I am coming. 

I took Mia and both of us went to see Lea. When I entered the room, I saw her up with her hands on her face. I hate when kids are crying. It's breaking my heart. 

- Lea, what's wrong? Why are you crying?

- He is going to hurt me. 

- Who is going to hurt you?

- One man. That's what he said.

- Lea, no one will hurt you, ok? I am here. Everything will be ok. Do you want a hug?

She nodded and I gave her one. I kissed the top of her head and felt tears in my eyes. Lizzy was doing the same when I was having nightmares. All the things, which I am doing with the girls, I have learned from her. Lizzy was not only my sister and best friend. She was also a babysitter. 

- Lily, why are you crying? - Mia asked me

- What? No, I just remembered something. Now let's put you in bed. If you want, I'll leave the door open. - I said looking at Lea

- Can you stay here until I fall asleep?

- Sure. Do you want me to tell you a story?

- Yes. I want it to be a nice one. 

- There was a girl named Ally. She had very strict parents. There were telling her what to do, how to do it, and with who she had to be. Even her friends weren't chosen by her. One day in her school appeared a new boy. She has never seen him before. When he saw her, he winked at her and walked away. On the next day when Ally went to school, she saw him standing in front of her locker. She asked him to move, but he never did it. Like that, they started talking. His name was Austin. It passed only a week since the boy was in her school, but she couldn't think about anything else. Her parents noticed that and asked her what is going on. Soon enough they were talking every day and even have swapped their phone numbers. Of course, Ally had to hide him, because she wasn't sure will her parents approve of him. 

I looked at the girls and saw them sleeping. They sleep really cute. It's melting my heart. I slightly put the quilt on top of them. I kissed their foreheads and felt the tears coming back. I miss Lizzy so much. Without her everything is different. 

- Did Ally and Austin get together?

I turned around and saw Ryder. From how long has he been here? Did he see me crying? I hope not. I don't want to explain anything. He doesn't need to know. 

- I'll leave you to decide. What do you think? Should they get together?

- That's what I am asking you. Should we get together?

- What? I don't understand. 

- But I do. I know that Ally is you and Austin is me. 

- Think twice. Moreover, this is just a story, so stop imagining things.

- I like to imagine. That way I can have you. - he winked at me

- Why don't we continue this conversation downstairs? I don't want to wake up the girls. 

I got up and left the door slightly open. Both of us went into the living room. Ryder sat close to me again. I was about to stand up, but he didn't let me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me down. I looked him in the eyes and he did the same. 

- I want to know what do you really think of me. 

- Why for you is so important what I think of you?

- Because you are the only one who is avoiding me. 

- I don't like the way you act, ok? I want to be around people who I can trust and know that I can share everything. Even personal things, which they won't tell the whole school on the next day. 

With that, he pulled away. I didn't want to hurt him. He wanted an answer and I gave him. Until the end of the night, we didn't talk. When his parents came I went home. I think that Ryder didn't like my answer, but I don't know why. I was honest. Anyways, I won't think about him. I have more important things on which I should focus.