Not YOURS but OURS

Alexander POV How did things turn out this way? The scene is still fresh in my head, just like her words. “I’m pregnant.” It was so easy for her to say. “I’m keeping the baby.” Even easier said. She was so persistent. She said she'd raise the baby on her own if she had to. Yet she isn’t here. She left. She left us. Now I’m here with a baby and no idea what to do. She made it sound easy. Easy my ass. I’m on my own now, with no idea what to do. “Shhh, Luke. Come now, baby sleep. Please.” I continue trying to lull the crying child in my arms. Yet his screams only become louder. “What? Are you hungry?” I ask struggling to open his bottle with one hand. “Okay okay here.” Finally, he stops crying. He’s kind of cute when he's not screaming bloody murder.  His eyes are just as light blue as his mother's, yet his hair is as dark as mine. His eyes are actually the only feature of his mother he has. I couldn’t deny this child even if I wanted to. He looks just like I do. I can only hope that I do right by him. His mother left but his father stayed. His mother couldn’t love him, but his father adored him. I’ll make him the center of my life. I’ll make sure that he never lacks anything. Not a single thing. He is James, after all. “You done little man?” His blue eyes staring back into mine. Absolutely breathtaking. “Time to burp.” Turning around him carefully, I place his head on my shoulder. Tapping his back lightly, before rubbing it gently. “Once you release that wind baby, I can lay you down to sleep. Okay?” The sound of his wind releasing brings relieves me. “You really are daddies’ little guy, aren’t you? Yes, you are.” Laying Luke down in one of the many cribs stationed throughout my penthouse. His peaceful face brings me short-lived joy, as the sound of the elevator's ding sparks a bit of hope in my heart. Is that her? Olive-toned skin; big brown doe eyes covered by overgrown bangs. A tall, full-bodied girl stood in front of me. Not the person I hoped for yet, someone I needed to see regardless. Someone I need with me now. Someone who would be by my side regardless of the what, the how, and the when. My best friend Elizabeth Walkens. “Hi.” She waved at me. Her view of the crib was obstructed by a cotton grey wall. “Hi, Eliz.” I smile wistfully. “What’s wrong?” Just then Luke's eyes open again, and his cries fill the penthouse again. “Who decided to let you babysit?” Eliz asks amusingly as she walks closer. “No one, he's mine.” I say as I lift Luke. “Excuse me I think I misheard.” She says, her eyes wide from shock and confusion. “No, you didn’t. I said he’s my kid.” Eliz stares as I started to pace around with Luke in my arms. Trying to lull him back to sleep. There’s a lap of silence that follows. Elizabeth's eyes were solely trained on my pacing figure, cradling Luke. I know that I have a lot of explaining to do. I never told her about Luke. I never told her about anything that happened while she was gone. Luke being my biggest secret. So many questions I need to answer. “You’re doing it wrong.” She says, breaking the silence. “He is quiet though,” I answer. “Yet he won’t sleep anytime soon. Give him here.” There’s a minute of hesitation from my side. I’ve never let one, except for the hospital staff hold him. “I won’t drop him. I promise.” Carefully, I hand him over to her. She looks down at him, almost lovingly. Almost. “What’s his name?” She asks as she starts to pace around while shaking him lightly. Almost doing a little dance. “Luke,” I answer as I watch her dance around with him some more. Her eyes never leaving his face. That should be his mother. Shaking away the invasive thought, I take a seat. Luke’s bright blue eyes stare back right into Eliz’s darker eyes as she gives him a warm smile. Before continuing to lull him to sleep.  Slowly but surely his eyes start to flutter shut, earning another smile from Eliz. “You can lay him down now,” I say, getting up and walking towards the crib. Only to earn a soft no from my best friend. As she continues to do her little dance for a few more minutes before she goes to lay him down in his crib herself. “He looks just like you.” She says, her attention turning towards me. “He does, but he has his mother’s eyes.” I smile. “Where is his mother? Is she still in the hospital or something?” My smile drops immediately at the question. “No, she left.” “What do you mean she left?” Elizabeth asked, confused. “I mean she’s no longer part of Luke and my life. She made her choice.” My reply coming across colder than I expected. “How long have you been taking care of Luke alone?” “About four months.” It's not a lie. My sister helped me take care of Luke for the first month. Helping me to get the basics down. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have come back sooner.” Eliz says, looking up at me. Her eyes holding sadness. “You didn’t help me create him. You shouldn’t be helping me take care of him.” I replied honestly. The truth is, I’ve always counted on Elizabeth for everything. This is the one thing I shouldn’t have to count on her for. Yet, I don’t have a choice anymore. She wouldn’t give me one. “That might be true. But you know I wouldn’t let you go through this alone.” She says, her eyes filled with disappointment and sympathy. “You have your own life, Eliz. Luke and I aren’t your responsibility.” “You’ve been my responsibility since eighth grade. Just like I’m your responsibility.” She says, standing up. “Eliz- “I don’t want to hear a thing. I’ll be back in a few.”