Author's Note: Hello all. Again my apologies for my lack of updates on my stories. And like I said I'm going to be trying to give y'all daily updates on at least one of my stories per day. I'm currently working on another brain child of mine and I'm still debating whether or not I should post it now, or wait until it's done? What do y'all think? Should I even upload another story? Let me know your thoughts and feedback about the story in a review if y'all don't mind. They help me better myself as a writer and give me inspiration to keep on writing. Hope you all enjoy :)
"Hello!" I snap into the phone. I don't bother checking the caller id because of the ungodly hour. It's still pitch black outside for crying out loud!
"Ray?" I hear a familiar voice question from the other end. Deep in the back of my mind I know who it is, but with the fact that I'm still mostly asleep said information is currently alluding me.
"Who is this? Don't you know it's like four in the morning?" I croak out, clearing my throat to rid myself of the sleep clogging it up.
"It's Sam." I bolt into a sitting position immediately, not failing to notice the hurt in his voice.
"Sammy? I'm sorry bro of course it's you. Like I said it's four in the morning over here, and I'm still half-asleep," I apologize. I rub my forehead with a yawn, trying to keep my eyes from falling shut.
"Yeah. Sorry about that," he chuckles nervously from the other end. "I've been trying to reach you now for about a week."
"What? No you haven't. I have your number programmed in my phone and I haven't gotten anything from you," I tell him in confusion, running a hand through my hair and turning to my alarm clock to see it blaring 4:15 AM.
"That's because I had to change my number," he tells me and I frown.
"Are YOU the one who's been calling me from private for the last week?" I question him in confusion, pulling the phone away from my ear to confirm my theory before he can speak. The caller id says PRIVATE across the screen.
"Yeah. We really need to talk," he tells me seriously and I frown. That certainly sounds ominous.
"Why do I get the feeling that this isn't just a friendly catch up call?" I ask as I slide out of bed and make my way over to Chord's nursery.
"Because unfortunately it's not," he tells me morosely. I just sigh heavily, already having a faint idea of what this is going to be about, and gently shut Chord's door after peeking in to check on him. I slowly make my way downstairs to start a pot of (strong) coffee. It's going to be a long day. "I'm sorry Ray. I really wish it were, but Erica's...well, you know her," he tells me with an uncomfortable and slightly sad chuckle.
"Yeah I know," I mumble out, thinking about my ex of almost two years and ignoring the pain in my chest, while going about setting up the coffee pot. I feel guilty for ruining their relationship. They used to be more then just cousins, they used to be best friends who told each other everything before Erica ended up pregnant. Then she started treating me like shit and Sam told me over and over he wasn't going to stand by silently while I suffered. I know a part of him will always feel guilty for getting us together, but even with all the emotional (and sometimes physical, but literally no one but Sam knows this) abuse I've been through I wouldn't change a thing. I got the best thing that's ever happened to me out of it. I grin at the thought of my other best friend and silently wish I could see him. I haven't spoken to or seen him since Erica went into labor a little over three months ago. "But what's going on now?" I question hesitantly as I take a seat at the breakfast bar, dreading the answer as I watch the coffee pot intently, as if maybe my staring would make the coffee brew quicker.
"She's going crazy man," he tells me quietly and I wait for him to elaborate, keeping my comments on how she's not going crazy but has been living there for quite some time now to myself. "She's lost so much weight, won't talk to anyone, she's been sneaking out to meet up with only God knows who and doing only God knows what. She's skipping school and honestly is probably on the verge of dropping out, which no one can do anything about on account of her being 18 now. Ronald and Mary have been trying everything in their power to get her to open up and talk, to try and fix whatever's been dragging her down," I close my eyes against the threat of tears. I never wanted her to go off the deep end like this. I just knew it would be me going off the deep end if I would've allowed myself to stay in New York and do what she was wanting of me.
"What does all of this have to do with me though Sam," I ask thickly, my voice tight with emotion while trying to ignore the onslaught of memories that threaten to overtake me and drown me in their intensity. Even though I shouldn't I still love her so damn much. I'd never be with her again though. I love myself and my son too much to ever put myself in that position again.
"Because they've found something that's making her more like herself again," he begins warily and I cringe while my heart starts pounding in my chest like I'm in the middle of a marathon.
"And that is...?" I prompt him slowly, terrified of his answer. He clears his throat and continues hesitantly.
"They ended up hiring a lawyer, and they're trying to find you to sue you for custody of Chord," he starts off slowly before rushing to the end and I sit there in shock, still staring at the coffee pot and waiting on my sluggish mind to fully catch up with the words that were just said.
"What in the- But why? She signed her rights away! She has no grounds to sue when she officially has no rights!" I exclaim indignantly, hopping up from my stool and beginning to pace the kitchen frantically.
"That was my reaction as well when I heard Aunt Mary and my mom talking about it. Let's just say they weren't to thrilled with me once I said my piece. Mom even tried grounding me for a couple weeks, but Dad shot that down quickly, agreeing with everything I had said. That started a pretty big argument that ended when Mary broke down saying she knew that their actions weren't the best, but that she couldn't just stand around and watch her baby waste away. And that when Erica came to her and Ron with something akin to the old spark in her eye talking about hiring a lawyer and finding y'all, that she couldn't bare to turn her down."
"But she has no grounds to stand on Sam!" I almost shout, confused, angry, and nervous. My pacing increases. "She signed away her rights!"
"According to their lawyer she didn't," he grinds out through obviously clenched teeth and I stop in disbelief.
"What do you mean she didn't?! I was standing right there when she signed the damn adoption papers!" This time I do shout. This makes no sense and is completely ridiculous.
"Her lawyer is saying that her rights are still valid because the adoption fell through, because she wasn't signing her rights over to the state. She was signing them away for the in family adoption which fell through thanks to you not signing your own rights over," Sam explains tiredly. He sounds completely annoyed with everything he's telling me.
"But...but why Sammy? She didn't want him. She was perfectly fine to go around acting as if he were nothing more than a nephew. Why now that I have him and am FINALLY happy, after MONTHS of just short of torture from her? Why?" I question, boarding on whining pathetically. I walk over to the cabinets above the coffee pot and grab a mug, pouring myself a cup even though it's still brewing.
"I wish I knew Ray. I know she regrets everything that's happened between you two, it's obvious." I open my mouth to retort but he pushes on, as though sensing my coming negative comment. "And even if it weren't obvious, the fact that she's cried to me every week about how much she regrets it since y'all have disappeared says a lot," he tells me wryly. I just quirk an eyebrow as I doctor up my coffee.
"I thought you said she won't talk to anyone?" I point out suspiciously.
"She won't. The only person she was talking to was me. She was even MY Erica for a few weeks as I tried to talk to her and find out what the hell happened to her, why she turned into the evil bitch she did. But then she started getting frustrated at my lack of information for her about you. Not believing me when I would tell her I hadn't talked to you since Chord's birth and that I don't know where y'all have disappeared too," Sam lets out a watery sigh, pausing to take a deep breath. "That's when things started going downhill. I finally had to change my number and set it to private so no one else in the family would have it but my parents and Stevie. She pretty much started harassing me about y'all, turning back into the person I thought I was helping her break away from. She still tries to tell me about how sorry she is when she sees me, but when I refuse to do what she wants when it comes to you she shuts off and turns into the Wicked Bitch of the West again." I sit back down at the bar, snorting at his Wicked Bitch comment before sipping my coffee and trying to make sense of everything.
"Do they know where I am?" I sigh out, closing my eyes at the magnificent bitter taste.
"Not yet. They've only had this lawyer for a little over a week, and I tried calling you as soon as I found out. They say he's trying to build up a case against you first, checking all the facts, crossing all the t's and dotting all the i's and all that jazz."
"Does she even want to be apart of Chord's life? Or is she just doing this because of a sick and twisted 'if I can't have in my life the way I want him then I'm going to make sure you can't have him either' sort of vendetta?" I ask with a groan, popping my neck and giving my Daddy a tired smile as he ambles slowly into the kitchen, squinting again the harsh lights. He gives me a confused and concerned look as he walks over to the coffee pot, grabbing a mug and pouring himself some coffee. I study him as I wait for Sam to answer.
"Honestly? I'm not sure. I want to say it's because she realizes all the mistakes she's made and wants to right her wrongs, but..." he hesitates and I pick up where he left off, watching my father for his reaction to my words.
"But if she really wanted to make things right she would be trying to get into contact with me to talk about things, NOT get a lawyer to try and sue me for custody!" I growl out, noticing Daddy go rigid and alert as the words leave my mouth. He whips his head over to stare at me in disbelief and I drop my eyes, focusing on Sam's words.
"My thoughts exactly. She knows I know how to get a hold of you, and instead of handling things with me the correct way and asking me to get a hold of you, she wants to demand things and throw a fit when it doesn't happen."
"This is just...wow," I mumble out, shaking my head and taking huge gulp of coffee, reveling in the burn as it travels down my throat. I then drop my head to the bar with a loud groan.
"I know. It's all kinds of fucked up," Sam agrees, sighing in what sounds like frustration. "They plan on moving to where ever you are, you know?" he tells me after a few minutes of tense silence.
"Of course they do," I grit out. Just when things are finally starting to look up, here comes Erica to fuck it up like usual. "It makes sense that they'll want to be close."
"I'm sorry Ray. I really am," he tells me, voice laced heavily with guilt and begging me to understand the truth behind his words.
"It's ok Sammy," I mutter out with a tired sigh. "It's really not your fault. You never told me to sleep with her."
"No but if it weren't for me introducing y'all then you would have never had to go through all this-this...this bullshit dude. I love Erica to death, but she's not the same girl I grew up with. I don't know what in the hell happened to her, but no one deserves the shit she's put you through man. Especially you! You're to great of a guy," he rants, getting more and more worked up as he goes.
"Sam! Calm down. It really isn't your fault. If anything I should be thanking you," I tell him with a slight laugh. He scoffs and I can tell he's fixing to go on another rant so I cut him off. "Seriously man. If you wouldn't have introduced me to her I wouldn't have gotten the best thing to ever happen to me. Although the events surrounding my son aren't the greatest, I wouldn't change anything on the off chance that I wouldn't end up with my boy," I tell him with a gentle smile. Even during a rough time my son can still bring a smile to my face.
"I guess," I hear Sam say uncertainly. I'm fixing to admonish him for not believing me but I catch the look Daddy's sending me, along with the crossed arms and tapping left foot, and change direction.
"Look Sam I've gotta go. Daddy's with me and heard part of our conversation and now I have some explaining to do. Email me your number so we can talk later," I tell him quickly, and at his confirmation I say a rushed goodbye and hang up, looking over to my father with a tired smile. "It's a great morning," I mumble out sarcastically as Daddy sits beside me and places a comforting arm around my shoulders.
"Who pissed in your cereal this morning?" Noah questions me by way of greeting as he plops down on my left side in the choir room. We're the first two in here for the early morning meeting.
"What are you doing here so early?" I deflect his question with one of my own, turning to eye my best friend suspiciously. "We didn't have football practice this morning, so I know it's not because of that."
"What? I can't be early for Glee?" he questions me defensively, shifting in his seat and silently groaning. He's in pain.
"You haven't been to sleep have you Noah? You were at your fight club," I tell him, disapproval dripping from my voice.
"Ya caught me mom," he tells me sarcastically, holding his hands out in front of him. I slap his stomach causing him to curl in on himself in pain. "Prick," he mumbles out. I laugh. Football practice is going to be hell for him later. Serves him right. Although fight club does sound kind of nice right now. But then of course it wouldn't bode well for me in court if I were to get caught and have that on my record. "And there's the 'someone pissed in my cornflakes' look again," Noah tells me, giving me a pointed look.
"It's a long story Noah," I tell him, shifting in my seat uncomfortably. People should start filing in any minute for Glee and I don't want my business out there like that. Hell I'm still trying to process everything myself.
"We've got time," he says, stretching out lazily in his chair and looking at his bare wrist as if looking at a watch.
"Do we though?" I ask him, nodding pointedly towards the door where a peppy Kurt and an exhausted looking Mercedes are trudging through.
"Fine. You're telling me later though," he tells me firmly, no room for argument in his tone.
"Fine," I relent, catching his eyes, "But you're telling me why in the hell you're going to fight club," I tell him seriously, frowning at the light bruise that's now beginning to take shape around his left eye and the one forming on the right side of his jaw. He just tenses up and then nods slightly. We wait in silence for another five or so minutes as the rest of the group slowly filters in, the three Cheerios the last to arrive.
"Morning babe," Santana greets as she sits down on my right, Brittany next to her and Quinn next to Britt. She gives me a good morning kiss, which I deepen as she tries to pull away. I snake my hand into her hair, messing up her perfect pony in the process, before shoving my tongue in her mouth and dominating hers with my own. I her a loud groan and smirk into the kiss, pulling her closer and biting on her lower lip. She moans loudly again before we break apart at someone clearing their throat loudly. I take in Santana's dumbstruck but dreamy expression, Gorgeous, and grin before looking to the front and seeing an awkward and slightly blushing Mr. Shuester. I just smirk and throw my arm around Santana, pulling her tighly into my side and resting my head on top of her's as she rests her head on my shoulder.
"Good morning guys!" Mr. Shue greets us cheerily after clearing his throat again. He's greeted by multiple unenthusiastic murmurs. "Come on! I know it's early but this is going to be a pretty interesting meeting guys, and I think you all are going to really like what I have to tell you," he tells us excitedly, clapping his hands together and bouncing on the balls of his feet. I see several people sit up straighter out of the corner of my eye in interest. "I was on the phone all afternoon yesterday talking to multiple people on the city council. Apparently the Mayor went to Reginals last year and saw you all perform. He liked y'all so much that he wants y'all to perform at this years City Holiday Fundraiser!" he tell us, throwing his arms up in excitement with a face splitting grin.
"Seriously?!" Kurt questions excitedly, causing a sea of murmurs to break out throughout room.
"Absolutely Kurt. And! The Mayor also has extended the invitation for you all to sing the National Anthem at the opening games for the Lima Locos next month," he tells us, practically vibrating in excitement. Excited murmurs break out throughout the whole room now, everyone talking to everyone about these new and exciting events to come. I try and get excited, I really do, but the only thing I can even remotely think about whenever I try and think about the future ahead is the impending court cases and drama looming over me.
"Are you ok?" Santana turns to me and questions, worry in her eyes and written across her face.
"Honestly?" I ask and she gives me a look that screams 'well no shit'. I chuckle sadly and shake my head no. "Not really. I was awoken this morning with some very unsettling news." She continues to stare at me expectantly and I sigh. "Like I told Noah it's a long and complicated story, but I promise I'll explain everything later after practice," I whisper into her ear, kissing it as I pull away and squeezing her into a quick hug.
"Ok guys, you've got about thirty minutes before the bell rings. We can either take the extra time to start brain storming songs to sing for the fundraiser, or I can let you go now and we can think on it until tomorrow afternoon at practice," Mr. Shue tells us. Everyone starts talking about tomorrow as they start standing and grabbing their bags. Artie and Tina are the first two out of the room, Artie wheeling Tina away and leaving her laughs to fade out behind them. I silently stand up, grabbing both mine and Santana's bags, before wrapping my arm back around her shoulders and leading her towards the auditorium.
"Seriously Ray what's wrong," she questions as we take a seat on the edge of the stage. Ignore her, cupping her cheek with my right hand and pulling her into a heated kiss and melting into the security that Santana seems to bring me. It's odd, feeling this sense of security for someone I've only known for almost a month. Hell it took me months to get comfortable enough with Erica to ask her out, and then another couple months to get comfortable with opening up to her. With Santana though I feel as if I can tell her anything. I push all thoughts of my son's mother from my mind, reveling in the moans and mewls I'm able to pull from Santana by just kissing her, and just enjoy being with the girl I'm slowly but most definitely falling for. And I'll be damned before I let Erica ruin this for me. She's not getting my son and she's not going to make me mess up what seems to be the next best thing in my life apart from my son.
Ok. So. I'm not that well versed in law. I know a little bit, but I'm no expert. I also have no clue if any of what I said is actually true, but for the basis of this story we're going to pretend it is. Again thanks for reading and PLEASE drop a quick review below.