The Thursday after school started, Dylan came over to help me watch Katie. Our conversation turned to the absence of a phone call since Christmas. "Why didn't you call since last Christmas?" I asked. "I didn't have time, With Graduation, school, Marco, and other things that came up. I didn't think you would mind." The last statement made me furious. "MIND? YOU DIDN'T THINK I WOULD MIND? Do you know how worried I was? Dylan, you have a kid. You have to be careful with every little thing you do! I need you to be there for me. But more importantly Katie needs you. She adores you to death! You can't make big mistakes like you use to," I yelled at him. It was amazing how hard Katie slept.

As much as I tried to fight it, my mind went to the memory that haunts me the most.

One night, in the middle of the night I got a phone call from Dylan. He was huddled under some bus stop in the "gay village" and needed me to go pick him up. I said I would and hung up the phone. I pulled on jeans with my big t-shirt. I went downstairs grabbed my purse and my keys. Something about being fifteen, pregnant, and parents that are never around, you get a hardship license. So I climbed into the car, and started to search. Dylan was so worked up about whatever happened, that he couldn't tell me what happened or where he was. It wasn't that big of a problem since I knew the "gay village" as well as he does, since I snuck off to visit my brother a lot.

I found him in a bus stop by some apartments. My senses heightened, for some reason. When I got out of the car, Dylan's head popped up. His face showed that he had been crying. As I helped him up, he grimaced. I raised an eyebrow in concern. He shook it off. Once I got him settled in the car, I asked him, "You want to home or to my house? My parents won't be home till next Tuesday." He just stared out the window with tears still falling down his face. I decided that I would take him to my house. I would call Paige and tell her where he was.

When we got to my house, I had to half carry this big hockey player to my bedroom. After tucking him into bed, I turned to leave. But his voice made me stop. "I went to some gay teen party with Tom," he started as I sat back down on the bed, "We were together for the first hour or so. Then some guy asked he dance. He said yes and went out on the dance floor. I was left sitting at our table sipping a coke. I had noticed a boy maybe three years older than us with blonde hair and sea green eye, from the time we stepped into the party. I noticed he was studying me from the corners of my eyes. About five minutes later he came and asked me to dance. 'Hi, I'm Ben,' he said flashing a white grin, 'Want to dance?' I nodded, "I'm Dylan."

We danced a lot, and he kissed me. I kissed back. Before I knew it we were back at his apartment having sex. My first time with a guy and all I know about him is what his name is. After we were done I asked for his number, I thought we would go out again. He said that his boyfriend was coming home soon and that I needed to get out." Dylan started crying. I held him to my chest and let him cry. "That's not the worse part," he sobbed, "When we did it we forgot to use a -condom?" He said the last statement more as a question than a fact. "Oh Dylan," I sighed.

He continued crying most of the night and I held him all night long. Over the next few weeks, I went everywhere I could with him. I was with him when he told his family about that night and that he needed to go to the doctor. I was there when they told him that to get the best results on a HIV test we would have to wait a few weeks. We fretted together. I was there when he out that he was negative. The thing was after that my dad got a new job in Houston. All the way in the States. I relied on those phone calls to make sure he was ok. He came and visited when I was in the last weeks of my ninth month. He was there to see Katie to be born. I was happy those weeks. Then he had to go home.

I was ashamed that tears still burn in my eyes every time that mind goes back to those memories. He must have saw that I was about to cry because he moved to hold me. "Shh—sweetie look. I'm careful now. I promise. I won't leave you and Katie. I took the test again, I'm clean. Marco did too, he's clean. When we're together we're protected. Don't worry." He put me down. "Look I wish I had time to talk about this more but I got to go study. I have this big test tomorrow. I love you." He said giving me a kiss on the cheek and left.

The next day, I took Kelsey to the park. We were playing catch when the ball sailed over her head. We followed it at a run. It hit some Italian man, who was sitting on a bench reading. He reminded me of someone. I didn't know who. His chocolate brown eyes dance merrily, "Is this yours?" He asked Katie. She stared at him with interest. He turned to me. "Valentino DelRossi." He said his name fast with his Italian accent, so I bearly got his name. Though I was still lose on his last name.

"Kelsey Richards. And this is Katie." I said with what was suppose to be an effortless tone, but came out giggly. I had a crush on this guy.

"Hello Katie. Is this your big sis?" He said keeping his eyes on me. "No," she said laughing, "This is my mommy." A look of confusion crossed his face.

Katie stared at the man and smiled, "You come play with us too." She tugs on his sleeve.

He looks down at her then back at me, "Only if it's okay with your mommy…"

I nod as the three of us head off towards our blanket.

"All my friends call me Leo by the way," Leo said in a friendly way.

I couldn't help but to lose myself in his deep brown eyes. I felt like I had known him my whole life. Katie already trusted him enough to play with him. She had a great instinct to judge people just right.

While we were playing he asked Katie, "Does she have a boyfriend?"

"No," she said giggling, "Though Daddy does."

He looked up at me with interest. "Does he now?"

I nodded my confirmation. "Yes, Dylan, my ex, is gay."

We continued playing as we found out more about each other. Leo was nineteen, an Italian native, and went to Toronto University. He was also a great cook and soccer player. I relayed some of my life story back to him. I told him about my brother, Dylan, and my friends back home. As we were getting ready to leave, Leo asked for my number. I gave it to him, smiling as he gave me his.

Later that night, while we were eating dinner, the phone started to ring. When I answered it, it was Leo.

"Hello."

"Hey Kelsey. It's Leo."

"Oh. Hey." I said trying not to sound excited.

"I was wondering if you wanted to go catch a late movie with me, later today…"

My god did I almost start hyperventilating.

"Um… Let me ask my parents. I'll call you back soon. Okay?"

"Sure… I'll be waiting."

I rushed to the table.

"Mom can I go out with this guy Leo, I met today in the park." I asked hoping that by some miracle she said yes.

"Well you can go… But Dylan has to go to."

"Okay. Thanks mom."

I rushed to the phone. I was going to call Dylan, but then I realized that maybe Leo wouldn't be comfortable going out with a gay couple. So, I called him.

"Hello?" came from his side of the phone.

"Hey. It's Kelsey. My mom said I can come but only if Dylan and his boyfriend come too. Is that okay?"

"….. Uh… yeah sure. Why not?"

"Ok. Let me call them to see if they want to and I'll call you back."

"Ok. See ya."

"See ya"

-click-

I hurriedly pressed the buttons to Dylan's cell phone.

"Hello..." he said annoyed.

"Ah... Sweetie did I bust up some cuddly time?"

"Kelsey. What do you want? You sound too much like Paige."

"Should I take that as a compliment?"

"I don't know. Should you?"

"I will. I have a proposition for you. I met this guy in the park and he wants to go to a late movie with me. Mom says I can go, if you go too. You could bring Marco." I said hopefully.

"Let me ask Marco. I'll call you back."

I stared at the phone for ten minutes that seemed like a hundred, willing for it to ring. When it did ring, I answered it a second after it did.

"Hello?"

"Ok. Marco said yes. What are we going to see and where to meet you?"

"Um… Let's see 'White Noise,' the ten o'clock showing. We will meet you in the café. Okay?"

"Yeah. Meet ya there. Love you."

"Love you, too. See ya Dyl."

"See ya, Kels. "

-click-

I quickly redialed Leo's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey. It's Kelsey. Dylan said its ok and he and his boyfriend will meet us at the café. I said we would go see 'White Noise.' Is that okay?"

"Yeah. Sounds good. I'll come pick you up in a few minutes okay?"

"Sure. I live on 203 Beckley Street."

"Ok. Be there soon."

"Bye."

"Bye."

-click-

I ran up the stairs to get ready. It had been a few months since I had my last date. I chose the blue skirt with the pink long sleeve shirt. I was finished getting ready when my mom called up the stairs that Leo was here. When I walked downstairs, Leo kissed my hand.

"Bouna Notte, Bella."

Talking Marco and Dylan, I had already learned that, that meant "Good Evening, Beautiful." I giggled lightly.

"So. You must be Ms. Richards. I am Valentino DelRossi." He said his name fast and you could hear his Italian accent slightly.

Mom just nodded. She was taken a back from his politeness.

"When would you like me to bring your daughter back, madam?"

"By 1 am. Go have fun Kids." She said finally finding her voice.

"We'll be back by then. Don't worry." He said ushering me out the door till his car.

While we were driving to the theater, there was an awkward silence. Leo was asking questions about Dylan. I was trying to answer them but it was too hard. We sat in silence as we rode to the movie theater.

As, Leo and I walked into the café, arm in arm, I saw Dylan and Marco sharing a milkshake. I started to lead him towards their table, but Leo went rigid.

"What's wrong?" I asked worried.

"Is that your ex?" he said pointing to Dylan.

"Yeah. It is. Why?"

He looked at me and said, "What is he doing with my little brother?"


Ok. I'm leaving it at a cliffy till i get three more reveiws. Sorry to Melissa(Anjel919) and ReRe04, but I would like one more reveiwer. I would like to say thanks to Melissa, for all your help and support. To ReRe04, thanks for reading. Keep reading. You will get Marco/Dylan/Katie interaction. Don't worry. Im just trying to get the introductions right now. I plan to have more marco and dylan parenting skills.

So read and review Please.

Till later,

Lucy