Present Day
Tia was actually enjoying having the living room to herself tonight. She had MTV on, and was dressed in a T-shirt and sweats, her curly hair tied up in a ponytail, as she carefully painted her nails a flashy silver color she picked up from the mall. Miles and Maizy were already in bed, and her parents were out late having dinner with friends. Tia didn't mind being home alone basically on a Friday night. Some of her friends had invited her to go to the movies, but she knew she needed to babysit. Ever since she had patched things up with her mother the year before, she didn't mind helping out. In fact, ever since that winter she had really learned her lesson, and had dropped the attitude.
In fact, things were going really well for her. Next year she would be a senior, and start applying to colleges. Originally she couldn't wait to get away from here, but now she had struck up a huge passion for photography, actually joining all of the classes and clubs her school had to offer, and had casually mentioned to her parents about maybe going to the University of Chicago and major in advertising, and minor in photography, and their reaction was pure excitement. She figured they were thrilled to see she was starting to become passionate about something. In fact, her father had even turned a portion of the basement into a darkroom for her. Tonight Tia just wanted to veg out and chill. She had gotten pizza with her siblings earlier, using her mother's car, and brought them back home. She found herself getting along with them better now, and they seemed to be acting less like pains. They had watched some TV, before they went upstairs to play for an hour, before she got them ready for bed. Once they were down for the night, she got into comfy clothes, and for the last hour had been watching music videos, while painting her nails. That's when she heard the doorbell. Raising an eyebrow, she glanced at the clock. It was after ten and her parents said they weren't going to be home until after midnight. Getting up, she gently blew on her nails, before hurrying to answer the door before the bell rang again, waking Miles and Maizy upstairs.
Yanking the door open she froze.
Bug stood there with his black cap, his long black peacoat, and jeans. He was clutching onto his baby daughter, who was wrapped up in blankets, but turning bright red from crying.
Bug looked white as a sheet, dark circles beneath his eyes.
He looked terrible.
"Bug?"
Tia said, stunned. She hated to admit it, but everything that had happened to Bug since the night he broke up with her, and her uncle had stuffed him in his trunk, then hit him with a few golf balls, had actually for a brief time made her feel good about the bullet she had dodged. Her uncle was right...he really was a bad person. Some new girl from Arizona had moved to town a month or so after all of this had happened. Her name was Lucy, and her parents had died in a car wreck, and she had moved here to live with her aunt, who she heard had a pretty bad drinking problem. Lucy seemed really cool, even though Tia really didn't talk to her that much besides a few times in the hall, but she saw Bug zero in on her. Once the two started to officially start "going" together, Tia felt even though it was none of her business needed to warn her since it seemed that Bug had a type afterall. Girls who felt like outsiders, and were vulnerable. She tried bringing it up once in the hallway the night before a big party. She felt awkward about it, but walked over and said hi. Lucy, who was a pretty girl with green eyes, and jet black hair looked up while putting her books away. She smiled. Tia was struck by how pretty she was. She had China white skin, and always wore dark clothing and big gold hoop earrings.
"Hi Tia."
She knew people had told her that Bug and her had gone together, but never once did Lucy seem to shoot her any dirty looks, or talk bad about her. In fact, she was actually really sweet. She always remarked whenever Tia had a new scarf or blouse, and seemed to light up the room whenever she walked in. Tia noticed how polite and friendly she was, and had no idea what she was doing with Bug. She wasn't jealous. In fact, she had gone on a few casual dates to the burger shack with this kid Damon from her history class. Tia remembered waiting for any second for Bug to pop out of nowhere, since as of lately it seemed like Lucy and him were attached by the hip. She knew Bug never looked her way, or said a word to her since he was still secretly terrified of Buck finding out, and probably humiliated over what happened that night to him. Looking around, she leaned against one of the lockers.
"Listen, I don't want this to be weird but...I'm sure you've heard I went out with Bug for a while."
Lucy nodded, not even batting an eyelash.
"Yeah this past winter right? Yeah he said you guys went out for a month or so."
"Yeah...well...I don't want you thinking I'm some type of psycho...and I don't want to give you any advice but...things ended really bad between Bug and me. We don't talk about it, but I'm sure some other girls might say the same thing. He's..."
"What?"
"A creep."
Lucy laughed, before shaking her head and grabbed her bookbag, and swinging it over one shoulder.
"He is."
"No, I'm serious. He kicked me to the curb when I wouldn't sleep with him. He's done it before. The night he broke up with me I know for a fact he had another girl in bed with him. I know you're sorta new to town, and you seem really nice. I know Devon is having that party tonight and I..."
Lucy cut him off, shaking her head.
"Sorry Tia, but I know what people have said. I know you guys broke up, and I'm sorry. It's just...Bug's had a lot happen to him, and if you got to know him..."
"A lot has happened to him? His parents are rich. He's just feeding you lines. I know he seems really sweet now but..."
Lucy shook her head before shutting the locker.
"Sorry Tia. I like him. I'm sorry if he wasn't good to you, but he's great with me."
Tia opened her mouth to say something, when Bug appeared from the crowds hurrying down the hallways, and didn't notice Tia at first. He slipped behind her, putting his arms around her waist, and playfully giving Lucy's neck a nibble, something he used to do with her. He lifted her slightly off the ground, nuzzling against her neck, when he noticed Tia standing there. All color left his face, before he dropped his eyes.
"Come on babe."
He turned, and gently pulled her arm to follow him. Lucy laughed half stumbling, before looking at Tia.
"Sorry Tia. I'll talk to you soon."
With that she watched them vanish, and that night at Devon's party was the night Bug got accused of raping Lucy.
Tia herself wasn't at that party, but plenty of her friends were. There was tons of drinking and drugs, the usual. All she knew was that Bug had convinced Lucy to go upstairs with him, and less than an hour later, Lucy hurried down the stairs, makeup running, holding onto her jacket that Bug had given her, crying and running out. Bug came chasing after her zipping up his jeans, yelling after her. Tia heard his stupid yellow car peeled out, and that following Monday both weren't at school. Instead...some people saw the cops outside of Bug's house. Lucy never came back to school. Rumors were flying, but when Bug returned to school the following week, he refused to talk about it. Everyone wanted to know where Lucy was? Both had been inseparable since they started dating, and he shrugged it off saying she was sick or something. When people kept asking he snapped at them to mind their own damned business. When they asked if they had a fight, or why police were at his house he would just ingore them or mumble under his breath for them to fuck off. Finally it was Devon, who's parents informed him that he needed to head down to the police station to make a statement over what had happened since he had held the party. It appeared that Bug had taken advantage of Lucy who was in fact a virgin. Apparently, he hadn't taken no for an answer, and things had gotten rough. Tia remembered how angry he got the night he broke up with her. He hadn't laid a hand on her though...not ever.
Instead, he just cussed her out, calling her a little ice princess and tease before telling her to get Hell out. Details of this story weren't adding up, but she didn't put it past him. Devon said that since Bug's father was a fancy lawyer, there was talk that it was going to be settled out of court, since Lucy's drunk of an aunt just really wanted money and didn't care about Lucy at all. Everyone figured she was going to a new school while this was getting tied up. Then the bombshell was dropped. Tia wasn't exactly sure where she heard her, but it was a few months later. Bug hadn't gone out with anyone else since then, and everyone was whispering about how he was on probation. He had been to a few parties, even a few that Tia was at, but he usually was seen sitting back with a dirty look on his face nursing a beer. Nobody had the guts to ask him, until finally it got out that Lucy was back in Arizona with her grandmother. It appeared that Bug had gotten her pregnant. Talk was all over the place, but poor Kenny Mitchel made the fatal mistake of asking Bug about it that summer, resulting in Bug nearly breaking Kenny's nose with a punch at one of the parties by the lake. Tia back then was happy this was happening to Bug. He was finally getting what he deserved for treating her, and all those other girls like shit. Rumors were different from all over, but the same thing kept being said that Lucy was staying with her grandmother where she was going to have the baby, and Bug's parents were paying the aunt off big time not to press charges.
A court date would be coming up, and apparently it would be after when the baby was born. Tia was more open with her mother now, and one night while the two went shopping, they talked about what happened. Tia didn't go into vivid detail about that night with Bug, but reassured her that Bug had only called her names when she didn't feel comfortable going any further with him.
"That poor girl..."
Her mother said, remarking that Bug's family was scum for trying to pay off Lucy's family, who were probably going to put the baby up for adoption anyways, and have Bug continue living his life carefree even though he was a rapist. Still, maybe Lucy moving away, getting away from Bug, and giving the baby to a family who would give it a good life might be a good chance for her to restart. Tia just felt lucky it hadn't happened to her.
Then...Tia heard that Lucy died.
It appeared she died having the baby, which seemed so strange to Tia, even though her mother said sometimes it happened. Tia couldn't exactly get straight details, but Candy, one of her friends, had a step-mother who was close friends' with Bug's mother from the country club. It was a scandal of course, but it seemed that Lucy had hemorrhaged, and died on the delivery table. She had a girl. Lucy's aunt struck, and struck quickly. Tia wasn't sure from what Candy said if the original plan was adoption, but everything stopped, and it seemed as though Bug's dad couldn't get him even out of this. The deal was, Lucy's aunt would be given an unclosed sum as long as she signed some paperwork, not talking about what happened...basically spreading word that Bug was a rapist. Tia figured this was more for Bug's parents than for him.
The second was that the baby would be brought back to Chicago, and be forced to be raised by Bug's family. That they weren't allowed to put the baby up for adoption. It all sounded pretty far-fetched, but that's what Candy said. That Lucy's aunt had actually gotten one of those fancy lawyers from the city, and threatened to go public if they refused. Less than a few weeks later, Bug was out of school for almost two weeks straight. This was the kicker. Tia originally thought that yet again Bug would get off scot free. His family was rich, and would throw money at everything. Bug would never have to take care of this kid...nannies would, and he would continue being a scumbag, while Lucy laid in a coffin somewhere in Arizona. It all seemed so depressing, until Candy came to school snapping her gum, with new gossip. As punishment for putting them through this, and risking their good name, Bug's parents were holding him for once fully responsible. The arrangement would be that during school hours a nanny would in fact be taking care of the baby, on weeknights, and weekends, the baby was fully Bug's responsibility. They said they would allow him to live with them, but if he tried skipping out on caring for his child, or tried taking off on them, he would be cut off officially, and reported that he abandoned his child. Tia thought she was in the Twilight Zone. Bug showed up to school one morning, looking absolutely terrible. His friends quickly learned not to ask about it. In fact, twice people forgot and twice people walked away with blood noses. Tia saw him marching to the office more than once, and Candy said that his dad flipped real bad on him the last time, telling him if he got kicked out of school, he would have to get a job, and then he would kick Bug and the baby out. Tia couldn't even imagine Bug with a baby. He didn't even have any pets! But it was true, and for the last month or so nobody had seen Bug out at all. At school he barely talked to anyone, and mostly sat in the back of class with his head down. A few times Tia happened to glance over and saw him sleeping. She knew everyday everyone out front, and down in the cafeteria was talking about him. He usually skipped lunch to stand outside with a few people and smoke cigarettes. When he did pass by a crowd, everyone would hush up and whisper about him. It seemed as if life had finally caught up with Bug. But now, seeing him standing on her front porch, in the middle of the night, in the freezing cold, with a screaming infant, made her instantly feel bad for all of those nights, talking and laughing about him with her friends over the phone. Seeing him stand there, suddenly any anger she had for him that she had been holding onto since last year, seemed to vanish. Bug looked terrible. He had lost weight, his hair was a mess, and he actually looked terrified. His Adam's apple bobbled up and down, as his lip quivered.
"Tia...I'm sorry it's so late...it's just my parents are away for the weekend, and Isabella is at her daughter's wedding and...she feels really hot, and she won't stop crying. I was gonna go to the hospital but..."
Tia at first wanted to spit in his direction and slam the door in his face. Shout that his rapist ass deserved this, and to take his stupid baby to the hospital, before asking him if those few pumps were really worth it? Instead, looking at him clutching the screaming infant against his chest, his eyes filling with tears scared, she couldn't bring herself to do it, even if she had tried to tell herself she was doing it in honor of Lucy.
"Come in quick, it's freezing."
She motioned for him to come in, hoping the baby wouldn't wake the kids upstairs. Bug walked in frightened, before Tia waved him towards the kitchen so they could close the doors. Bug followed quickly, and once inside the kitchen, Tia closed the doors, before walking over and looking at the baby.
"Have you taken her temp yet?"
"No, she wouldn't lay on her belly. She just keeps screaming at the top of her lungs, but she's burning up."
Tia used the back of her hand, and felt the screaming infant's bright red face, and knew instantly she was running a fever. Just as overwhelmed and confused as he was. The screaming of her cries seemed to be getting louder and louder. She nervously wrung her hands together.
"Um, have you tried feeding her? Maybe changing her?"
Bug shot her a look.
"I did all of that, nothing is working."
Tia took a second before nodding.
"I'm going to call my mother. She left the number to the resturant she's at. She'll know what to do."
Bug suddenly raised his eyebrows.
"Um, maybe I outta just go to the hospital..."
"Don't be stupid, just stay here..."
Tia left the kitchen, shutting the door, and feeling thankful that the door muffled the cries, and with the TV going in the other room you could barely hear it. Sighing, she got herself together, before going into the livingroom and grabbing the phone and piece of paper her mom had left the number in case of emergency with. Taking a deep breath, she dialed, unable to believe she was even helping him. With her luck the baby probably just needed to be burped or something stupid, and she was risking getting in trouble doing this. How funny it was that she was the first house he stopped at when he needed help. Last year when he was raping and making this problem for himself, he wasn't thinking about her. No, big ole' Bug had everything in control. She forced those thoughts away, before dialing.
"Carl's, how may I help you."
"Hi, could you get Cindy Russell on the phone please, this is her daughter."
"Of course, I'll page her right now."
Tia waited for what seemed like forever, until she heard her mother's voice.
"Tia? What's wrong?"
"Everything is fine mom. Miles and Maizy are in bed. I...need you to come home."
"Honey, what's wrong?"
Tia paused for a second, hating she had to say this.
"Bug came by. I guess his parents are out of town and the nanny is someplace else and his baby is really sick."
"Tia! I don't want you alone in the house with him! Kick him out!"
"Mom, the baby is screaming her head off, she feels really warm."
"Well that's too bad. Tell him to take her to the hospital. That's what parents do!"
Tia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Mom. Please. She's just a baby. I don't care about him...she feels really warm."
Tia heard her mother sigh for a second, before speaking again.
"Your father is in the middle of a pretty important business deal. He can't leave, but I'll make up some excuse and take a cab. Just know young lady he better not make this a habit. Remember how he treated you, and that poor girl."
Before Tia could say anything, the phone was disconnected, and Tia was left holding the phone shaking her head. She was going to kill Bug if she got in trouble for this. Taking a deep breath, she hung up the phone before going back to the kitchen.
"Listen Bu..."
Before she could finish, she froze midway through the door, when she saw Bug standing in the kitchen rubbing the screaming baby's back. Tia couldn't believe it, but Bug was crying. Tears streamed down his face, as he shut his eyes and pleaded with the baby.
"Please...please calm down...shhhhhh, sleep baby sleep...shhhhh...please be okay..."
Tia closed the door behind her, causing Bug to open his eyes, surprised, before he blinked and slightly turned away, using his free hand to roughly rub his eyes.
"Should I go?"
"No, my dad is stuck in a meeting, but my mom is getting a cab, she'll be here soon."
Bug sighed, looking partly relieved, all the while gently continuing to rub the baby's back and pace.
"She pissed?"
"She's not thrilled, but it's whatever."
Bug then locked eyes with her, still glassy and red from crying.
"Thanks Tia."
Tia froze, feeling unsettled since this was the first time Bug had ever spoken to her like this. She knew right then and there this wasn't some act. He really was scared. Tia, feeling uncomfortable, shook her head, before she gently rubbed the baby's back.
"So? She got a name?"
Bug blinked away, trying to hide his tears. He cleaned his throat, before nodding.
"Um...yeah...Lady."
Tia stood there, before she couldn't help it, and burst out laughing.
"Lady?"
Bug shot her another look.
"Yeah, Lady. What?"
"Come on...Lady...Bug..."
It took him a second before Bug rolled his eyes.
"My real name isn't Bug you know that."
Tia rolled her eyes.
"Oh sorry...forgive me Burton."
Bug made a face, before Tia sighed, shaking her head looking at the back of the screaming baby.
"What a fucking mess you've gotten yourself into."
Bug sighed, shaking his head.
"Tia, listen..."
"I don't wanna hear it. We'll see what my mom says then you're out. Next time your kid is sick, find somebody else to help."
Bug didn't say a word, which Tia was surprised at, making her party feel sorry for being so cold. Still, she had to keep reminding herself this wasn't the charming "Bug" that had fooled her originally and Lucy. This guy was a monster, and the only reason she was doing this was because of the baby, not because she felt bad. Hating how awkward things were, and the sound of just the baby's screams, she made a face, and touched the baby's back.
"Did you think of her name or..."
"Yeah I did."
"Oh. How did you...think of it? Lady I mean?"
Bug shrugged.
"I don't know...I like that Styx song I guess."
Tia nodded, before suddenly she heard the front door, and was relieved. Her mother nearly burst through the door, still wearing her coat, and holding her purse. Bug and Tia froze, before Bug gulped.
"Um...Mrs. Russell..."
Before he could say anything, her mother waved at Tia.
"Get the thermometer and vaseline upstairs, not from the main bathroom but under the sink you'll find it."
Tia nodded and hurried out of the kitchen, before Mrs. Russell walked over.
"Come here sweetie..."
Bug carefully handed her over.
"She was fine when I came home from school today. Then around eight she wouldn't take her bottle. I changed her, burped her, tried walking with her. I even got her in her carseat since Isabella told me sometimes babies soothe out if you drive them, but nothing worked. Then the crying got louder...I pulled over and she was red hot."
Mrs. Russell gently held the baby. bobbing her up and down against her, rubbing her back.
"Shhhhhh..."
She said to the baby, as Bug stood back, eyes glassy and overwhelmed. Tia returned shortly after, as her mother laid out the blankets onto the kitchen table. Bug nervously chewed his nails looking like a total wreck.
"I can't take her temp she won't lay still..."
Her mother ignored him, before carefully undoing the baby's onesie.
"This isn't enough for her to have on if it's this cold."
"I had the blankets..."
"The blankets aren't enough!"
Her mother snapped. With that she undid the baby's clean diaper, before asking Tia for the thermometer and vaseline. Tia did so, but knew what she was doing and decided to not look. Too many years watching her mother do this with her siblings had set her for life. She instead turned and looked at Bug who looked like he was about to have a heart attack when the baby screamed even louder. Her mother stayed perfectly calm, gently rubbing the baby's back.
"Shhhhh..."
She then turned and looked at Bug.
"I don't suppose you have a bottle with you?"
Bug actually nodded, and reached into the pocket of his jacket.
"Yeah, but she won't..."
"Dump out the milk and clean it out with warm water, then fill it half way with warm water, test it on your wrist. Tia, grab the baby aspirin from my purse, just one. Crush it up on the counter with a spoon, and mix it up in the water."
Tia nodded, as Bug was already working at the sink. Within a minute the bottle was ready, Tia and Bug working together silently, before Bug took the bottle over. Her mother had taken out the thermometer waving it and checking the temp.
"She's got a fever but we can get it down."
She then re-dressed the baby quickly, before carefully handing her over to Bug.
"Sit down, and give her this bottle. She'll try to fight you on this, but keep your hand steady. We'll check her temp in another twenty minutes, She'll start settling down."
Bug sat down at the kitchen table, as he cradled the baby in his arms. Tia watched as her mother helped him position her head better to support it, before he took the bottle. The baby screamed, before Bug tilted the bottle, and after a few tries, finally took it. About ten minutes went by, before finally Bug got her to finish it, without trying to move her head. As this happened Tia watched from afar. Once it was finished, he looked up unsure at Tia's mother, before she took her. The baby wasn't crying anymore, and her color seemed to be back to normal. Still, she undressed her again, checking the temp.
"97.9 She's fine."
Bug let out a deep breath of relief it almost sounded like a cry. Tia's mother dressed her, before she placed her back in Bug's arms, and wrapped her up with the blankets.
"90% of the time baby aspirin, one tablet will help. I would have her doctor make sure she's up to date with all of her shots, and make sure she doesn't have colic. Also dress your daughter better for this weather. You're a father now and should know better, unless you want a child with health issues."
She handed him the bottle of baby aspirin. Bug nodded, still looking very exhausted, and scared.
"Is she...really okay?"
"If she isn't, do the grown thing and take her to the doctor."
Bug nodded, before her mother sighed, and looked at the baby, softly petting her head.
"You need to get her hats and caps to wear in this weather, cover her up with the blankets, and have your heat on high for the ride home. I would make a doctor's appointment in the morning for her. Babies take a lot of attention and care."
Bug nodded lowering his eyes.
"Thank you Mrs. Russell."
Tia's mother eyed her, before she shook her head.
"Well, you wanna thank me. Don't bring your problems to my home or my daughter again."
Tia saw the defeated look in Bug's eyes, before he nodded. Turning, she looked at Tia.
"I'm going upstairs for bed."
"Thanks mom."
She nodded, before shooting one last nasty look at Bug before leaving and slamming the kitchen door behind her. Bug sighed before looking over at Tia.
"Sorry if I got you in trouble."
Tia shurgged.
"You heard her. She's pissed at you."
Bug nodded sadly, before she saw him reach for the bottle while trying to hold the baby against his chest, who appeared to be falling asleep. Tia rolled her eyes.
"Let me help you..."
She walked over, taking the bottle and handing it to Bug. He locked eyes with her again before softly saying...
"Thanks Tia."
He wasn't the cocky little prick last year screaming he was sorry from her uncle's trunk. No, he actually looked like a scared little boy way over his head right now.
"Give me your keys, I'll pre-start the car and turn the heat on. Just wait by the door, I'll come back once it's warmed up enough."
"Okay, thanks."
He then saw that his hands were full, and he rolled his eyes, shaking his head, about to place the bottle back down, when Tia shook her head.
"Which pocket?"
"Front left one of my jeans. Sorry."
If this was any other time, Tia would have suspected this was just his little trick in getting her to put her hands down the front of his pants. Leaning over, she felt the keys, and pulled them out, trying not to get too close to him. She noticed he saw some spit-up stains on his clothes. Taking the keys, happy to keep her distance, she pulled away and quickly left the kitchen, and went out the front door into the cold. A few minutes later, the car started. She saw the carseat in the back, and knew he was probably going to need help getting the baby in. After that he was on his own. She only prayed her mother would understand the only reason she helped him was because of the baby...not him. She ran back inside and saw Bug gently pacing around again, the baby still asleep as he whispered to her. "Shhhhhh..." She saw him lean down and kiss the baby's head from beneath the blankets, before she cleared her throat. "Um, the car is all started. Let me help you get her strapped in..." Bug followed her out, before she held the front seat forward, as he leaned in, and placed the baby in the seat. She let out a tin cry, before falling back asleep. Bug worked very slowly as if he was disarming a bomb, before he tucked the blankets around her, and stood up. Tia took a few steps back, before he sighed, his breath coming out in clouds. "Thanks Tia. I know I didn't have any right coming here. Please thank your mother again for me." Sitting behind the wheel, he looked up at Tia before she crossed her arms.
"Guess your friends' list sorta dries up once everyone knows you're a rapist jerk." She didn't mean to say this, but it still came out. Bug nodded, looking at the wheel, before he glanced up at her.
"That's what everyone is saying huh? That I raped Lucy. That's all anyone thinks."
"Well, it's the truth after all."
Bug looked up at Tia.
"I know I was a jerk...but don't believe everything you hear."
Tia rolled her eyes.
"Oh yeah? What's that supposed to mean?"
Bug looked up at Tia, his eyes dead serious.
"It means I didn't rape Lucy."
Tia stood back not saying anything, before Bug shook his head. "Thanks again Tia. Sorry." With that he closed the door to his car, and slowly backed out the driveway. All the while, Tia stood in the freezing cold, watching his tail lights disappear in the darkness.
