Don't Dwell in the Past

I got to my apartment building. I got out of my silver jaguar (yes, I have a jaguar) and locked the doors. I walked up the four flights of stairs and then to number 426. I unlocked the door with my key and walked in.

"I'm home!" I called out. No one answered in reply. I began to panic. "Hello?"

Then I heard music playing from one of the bedrooms down the hall. I walked down the hall and looked in the bedroom. The babysitter and Autumn and Aaron were dancing to some music. I think it was Bowling for Soup. Yeah, it was. It was one of their songs called Almost. I like that song.

"Chandler?" I asked. She turned around and then turned crimson.

She immediately turned the music down. "Sorry," she said. Autumn and Aaron were jumping on the bed still singing to the song.

"No, its okay. I was just worried when no one answered," I said. I turned around to go change into some pajamas.

I just threw on some velour shorts and a baggy t-shirt. I walked back in the room where the kids were still listening and dancing to the music. Chandler was a real sweetheart. She was sixteen and was really good with my kids. I gave her fifty dollars. She only babysat three hours, but she was a sixteen year old girl who probably enjoyed shopping. So I gave her some extra money. Besides, its not like I really need all that anyway.

"Thanks, Jess," she said.

I smiled. "Hey Chan, you think you could babysit tomorrow night too?" I asked her.

She turned around and said, "I was supposed to hang out with my boyfriend, but I guess I could cancel," she said.

I shook my head. "Hey, you can invite your boyfriend over here. Just if your gonna make out or something, make sure the kids are in bed or out of the room. Okay?"

She turned red again and nodded, "Oh, thanks Jess!" she said, "you're the best!"

"Thanks, you need a ride home?"

She shook her head, "No, my boyfriend's picking me up. He'll be here in a bit."

She started for the door, but I stopped her. "Can't he come up and get you? Its late and I don't want you out there at this time, okay Chan?"

She rolled her eyes, "Fine."

"Chan, I remember when I was teenager. I had a boyfriend too," I said, but then I stopped.

Chan looked curious, "Really? What was he like?"

"Um, well, he was really hot. Here, I'll show you a picture of him," I said, going toward my secret box. It had a bunch of junk in it, including pictures of him and all of the children I had found.

I rummaged through the box and found a photo of Rob and me with a bunch of his friends at Chick's.

"That's him?" she asked in utter disbelief, "he's hot!"

"Yeah," I said, "but he did something horrible."

"He got you pregnant?" She asked, truly intrigued.

"Um, yeah, but that wasn't what was horrible. That I could deal with, but what he did was just plain wrong." I said before I thought about it. Oops, shouldn't have said that.

"Really? What did he do?" she asked.

"Uh," I said but then the doorbell rang.

"Oh, that's my boyfriend. You wanna meet him?"

"Uh, sure. Listen, about the things I just told you. I've never told anyone those before. Please don't tell anyone."

"Sure, my lips are sealed," she said, doing the little 'zipper' gesture.

"Thanks," I said going to get the door.

I opened the door to reveal a tall, blond haired, blue eyed boy. He looked about seventeen or so. "Hey," I said.

"Hi," he said, looking past me and at Chandler, "you comin?"

"Yeah," she said, "but first," she picked up her purse, "I'd like to introduce you to Jess. She is the mother of the kids I've been caring for."

"Oh?" he said. I guess he didn't think I was a mother. I mean I'm only 22. I'm not that old.

"Yes, Jack, this is Jess, Jess this is Jack," she said introducing both of us.

"Its nice to meet you Jess," he said.

I smiled. "You too." I turned to Chandler. "Well, see ya tomorrow Chan," I said, "and you too Jack."

He looked confused for a minute but then Chandler told him about the little arrangement.

Then they left, leaving me all alone, once again.

I went back into the other room to put Aaron and Autumn to bed. They were so adorable. When I went into the room, they were already passed out on the bed. So I tucked them in and turned out the light.

Then I called Steph and told her I found a babysitter.

After, I went into my room and looked at the pictures in my box.

I remember when I was sixteen. I thought I was all high and mighty. I was sixteen and stupid, that's what I was. How could I have thought Rob cared about me? How could I have been so stupid? How could I have been so naive? Why the hell is my life so screwed up!

Disclaimer: The 1-800-where-r-you characters belong the the lovely Meg Cabot.