Some of you wanted it; now you've got it. It's the sequel to Not What You Expected!

I Did Not See That Coming

Chapter 1

Baths, Mail, and Oatmeal

"She works hard for her money," Eleanor sang adjusting her clothes. "How's it going in there, Al?" She called into the next room upon hearing a splash and several giggles from Brooke.

"Oh, everything's fine." He lied spitting out water that caught on his lips and wiping his face.

Eleanor laughed and exited the bedroom. Seeing the apartment a mess, she sighed and headed for the bathroom where Alvin was hard at work bathing Brooke. "Hey," She spoke up to get his attention. He looked up from the tub to address her.

A smile spread across his face as she twirled, showing off a professional-looking attire. "Look at you." He grinned as she continued to playfully pose. "You're ready to be interviewed."

Eleanor sighed. "Are you sure?" She asked nervously.

"Absolutely," He turned back towards the giggly baby splashing in the tub.

"Because I don't have to go the this interview."

Alvin rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Then don't go." He shrugged, keeping his eyes on the brown-eyed child, dirty blonde child. "I told you I was more than willing to take care of you and Brookie financially."

"Al, you're sweet." She smiled at the back of his head but she knew he knew she was smiling. "But I wouldn't feel right letting you do that. I have to do this on my own."

"Good, then you can give Brookie her bath." He stood up and offered her the towel.

Eleanor's mouth fell open and closed repeatedly. "Okay, mostly on my own." Alvin smirked and went back to work, rinsing off the soapy child. "If I leave now I should be back before you have to go to school." She said checking her watch. Alvin nodded lifting Brooke from the tub and drying her with the towel. "Bye, baby," Eleanor leaned forward and kissed Brooke's temple.

"Bye, sweetheart." Alvin joked. Eleanor rolled her eyes and smiled at him as she headed for the door. "Good luck, Ellie. And remember, when in doubt, put out." He laughed at Eleanor's glare as she walked out the door.

"Thank you, sir. It was such an honor for you to even consider me." Eleanor smiled at the tall, well-dressed man who interviewed her.

He nodded. "You'll get a call by noon." He told her as her walked her out of the office.

"Okay, and thanks so much!" She let out a breath, releasing some of her uneasiness as he shut the door. She adjusted her bag over her shoulder and began the walk down the hall pass many cubicles. Please let me get this job, she silently prayed, give me some sort of sign that everything will be okay.

"Watch out!" A young male voice yelled. Eleanor stopped and (thanks to soccer perfecting her reflexes) jumped back before a runaway mail cart hit her. She winced at the sound of the loud crash that the cart running into the wall created. She immediately began cleaning up the mess before she was joined by the owner of the cart. "Sorry about that." He said, his breathing labored from the trot over to the mail disaster.

"It's alright; no one got hurt." She giggled. Her eyes widened. That almost sounded like-

"Oh, my God," The boy breathed. Eleanor was very reluctant to look up. She knew that voice and she didn't want to confirm her thoughts. "Ellie?"

She took a peek at the blonde hair, blue-eyed boy before her and immediately frowned. "Hi, Tristan,"

Alvin blinked as another spoonful of oatmeal hit him in the face. Brooke giggled and stuck the spoon in her mouth. "Brookie, you're supposed to put the spoon in your mouth while your oatmeal is still on it." He instructed taking the spoon from her mouth and scooping up another spoonful of oatmeal. He offered it to her and she countered his tender with a blank, uninterested stare.

"Come on, Brookie, it's delicious." He stuck the oatmeal into his own mouth and immediately regretted it. His face went from that of a desperate father to disgusted. He began gagging on the awful taste of the bland, gooey oats.

"Hey," Eleanor solemnly walked through the door. She spotted Alvin by the sink rinsing his mouth out with the hose and Brooke laughing and clapping from her high chair, covered in oatmeal. Her eyes shifted from one to the other as a small smirk spread across her lips. "Do I even want to know?" She asked leaning on the counter.

Alvin spat out the remaining water in his mouth before finally facing her. "I was trying to feed her, but she doesn't like me."

Eleanor giggled. "Don't be silly, Alvin." She lifted Brooke from her chair and placed her on her hip. "Brooke loves you; she just not might be in the mood for oatmeal." She began gently wiping the oatmeal from her baby's face with a damp rag.

Alvin tilted his head and studied Eleanor's expression. She had her lip poked out slightly and her eyes were dull and showed thought. He had been best friends with her long enough to know that face. It showed an inner conflict and anxiety. "Ellie are you okay?" He asked gently.

"Huh?" She looked up from the child in her arms. Alvin raised his brow at her odd behavior. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine." She told him but her distraught look that followed told him otherwise.

He sighed and joined her by the counter. "Ellie, we've been best friends for almost ten years, and you still can't tell me when something is bothering you?" He asked looking hurt (this time he truly was).

"Alvin, it's not that." She let out a breath and looked down at her pride and joy as she began to nod off. "I-I ran into someone today." She mumbled.

Alvin blinked and waited for her to elaborate. "Who?" He asked when she didn't continue.

Eleanor hesitated to answer. "Tristan," She quickly turned around the corner and headed for Brooke's nursery before Alvin could scream or have any sort of reaction.

To her surprise Alvin didn't follow her into the nursery. She was able to put Brooke down for a nap and tip-toe out of the room before she saw him again, leaning against the wall across the narrow path that separated her room from Brooke's. "What did he want?" He spat, not making eye contact with her.

Eleanor shut the door behind her and gestured for him to follow her to the living room. They sat on the couch and Eleanor took in a breath, preparing to tell him what happened. "I ran into him at the office." She started. "It turns out that the boss is his father and he runs the mail room before and after school and on weekends."

Alvin sat with narrowed eyes looking uninterested but annoyed that Eleanor even spoke with him. "So, was there any relevance to this conversation or were you two just chatting?" His jealousy and anger dripped from every word.

"Well," She tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "While I was yelling at him for what he did, he started apologizing…"

Oh, no.

"…He told me that he was wrong for what he did…"

Oh, no.

"…and that he'd do anything to make it up to me."

It's a miracle that I'm not puking from the smell of all that crap! Though this is how he felt he remained silent and his appearance remained stoic. "Alvin, Tristan said he would pull some strings with his dad to help me get the secretary job." she smiled a little.

Alvin's eyes narrowed again. "So, you're going to let him help you?" He mumbled.

"I don't know," She shrugged. "We're talking about a guy that walked out on me and his unborn child but he's also…"

"…The guy you're still in love with." He finished for her, his voice low and livid.

Eleanor's eyes widened as she caught on to his tone. "I'm sorry, Alvin." She said placing a friendly hand on his knee. "We don't have to talk about this anymore." She told him.

Alvin sighed and stood. "It's alright." He forced a smile. "I have school anyway." He paused and grabbed his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder. "Are we still on for lunch?" He asked.

Eleanor smiled and nodded. They said their goodbyes and Alvin left. His faux smile faded without delay as the door came to a close. Over the past months I've had to adjust to my best friend having a baby, living on my own, and loving someone who doesn't love me back, he thought. I thought when that happened everything would be fine. Their past escapades did not compare to the adventure Alvin knew was to come. With the idea of the future events playing through his head, he couldn't help but utter "I did not see this coming."

Okay readers- and SameAsTheNext- are you happy? I'm writing a sequel. Remember to give me (us) ideas about the story. Tell us what you want to happen and you might see it. We could use all the ideas in the world.

REVIEW!