Disclaimer: Blah, I don't own a thing. Blah, I wish I did. Blah, this is starting to get annoying. And another thing, this will be one of the few chapters that have the chapter titles be songs from a recent time era. The song for this chapter is "Clocks" by Coldplay, which I believe is a beautiful song in every way and is fitting for this chapter. Love to all!

Papa Don't Preach

Chapter Eight: Clocks

"Layana?" Mei knocked on my door lightly. "Layana, honey, can I come in?"

"Go away," I turned my head towards the door and muffled my voice. "I'm sleeping."

"Layana Padma, I know you are not sleeping now, I'm coming in whether you like it or not," Mei pushed her body against the locked door and opened it with ease. I couldn't see her but I could tell she had been crying. I felt her drop herself onto my bed and lay right next to me. She wrapped her arms around me and sniffled.

"What's wrong sweetie?" she stroked my hair softly and kissed my cheek. "What happened today?"

"I saw him," I stated blankly.

"Who, sweetie?" Mei pushed herself over me and looked me right in the eye. I couldn't help but tear up. "Sweetie, who'd you see?"

"Craig Manning," my lip quivered and I buried my head into Mei. "He's at my school. I told him everything, Mei, everything that was going on and he seemed to not even care. What a bastard… and I thought I was in love with him, Mei."

"I know you thought you were in love with him, you spent practically your whole summer out with him that year," Mei sucked in her lips. "Then things got up to the next level and you guys decided to go at it."

"Mei!" I screamed, half laughing. Yes, I was used to talking to her about these type of things but when she put it that way I couldn't help but laugh. It sounded so casual. "Don't talk like that!"

"Don't talk like what? Your mother?" Mei popped her head onto my shoulder. "You know, sometimes I forget that you're not only my best friend but my daughter. I should be more of a mom to you but I'm afraid I don't know how."

"Mei," I put my hand on her chin and made her purse her lips, "you are the best mom anyone could ever ask for."

She smiled genuinely and got herself up, "I need to get some groceries for tonight," she wiggled her Jennifer Lopez type butt out of room, but before closing the door she said, "I love you."

I'm going to cry. I don't deserve this. I don't deserve this love from anyone! How can anyone love me the way my parents do, yeah, they gave birth to me but loads of parents can't stand their children. Why do mine seem to fancy me so? It makes me feel guilty for all my problems. Being raised in the perfect family with the perfect house and the perfect life- only they got a fucked up daughter.

Mei came back thirty minutes later when I had relocated myself to the kitchen. She was tired and restless and having someone along to help her unpack the 20 some bag of food and movies. It was Craig.

"Guess who I ran into at the store," Mei smiled, hoping that she might be doing some good bringing the father of her daughter's would be baby home I suppose. "He offered to help bring the groceries home and I asked him to eat with us, if that's ok?"

"Yeah," my throat grew sore and I decided to turn my backside to him and walk slowly up the stairs to my dark and private room. I still feel bad. I think I might have led him on to believe it was all his fault for not being there, for not caring enough to call me. But then again, I never called him as well. We're both assholes.

I threw myself on my bean bag and signed onto the internet, where most of my friends spent all their days gazing upon. No one's on, which is quite strange. Not even my internet fan fiction friends are on. I sighed, signing off and putting on some tunes to calm my nerves. The sound of Chris Martin tinkling notes on his piano and his soft British voice ran through my ears, relaxing every muscle in my body. I laid down, letting my hair go free on my carpet, and onto someone's foot.

Craig stood over me like a guard, looking down as if what I was doing was incredibly humorous.

"What is so funny?" I closed my eyes and dug myself deep into the plush. "What? You want to come here and laugh at me and my stupidity go ahead. Laugh and have your dick ripped from your body."

"I'm not laughing," he silently took a picture of me with his camera, which he had taken so many of me with before. The flash went through my eyelids and in my brain, as did the few more that followed. "You look amazing."

"Wow," I opened my eyes slightly and sat up straight. "You sure know a way to a woman's heart," I remarked, sarcasm dripping from every word.

He sighed and sat down right across from me, trying to meet eye contact which I always seemed to break. "Don't do this to me."

"Do what?" I sounded to him as if nothing was wrong, that I had always had the up-most hatred for him.

"Do… this," he jabbed his hands forward and looked at me, trying to see if I understood. "I'm sorry ok? I just freaked out a bit. I mean, this is big for me 'Ana. This is huge. You have no idea how scared I am of you right now. I feel like the girl I fell in love with is gone and an old bitchy hag as come to take her place."

Tears started to spill over my eyes. I didn't have to say anything. He knew. I reached forward and he took me into his arms.

"It's going to be okay, Layana," he whispered as the song "Clocks" came bursting through the speakers. "It's going to be okay."