Invisible

Chapter 3-Glass

He pushed the heavy oak door, slinking through it. The whole place looked rather solemn and forbidding. The nurse at the desk had stopped him, but once he gave them Emma's name she let him pass. Even gave him directions to the newborn room, where he could look through the window.

He closed his eyes when he reached the window, almost unwilling to look. He pulled his eyes apart, with force equal to the jaws of life, and looked inside the room, searching. She was there. Wrapped in a pink blanket, with a little pink cap on it. He frowned. Maybe the teddy bear he'd given Emma for her was still in the room, maybe they hadn't put it in with her yet.

Little hairs stuck out from under the fuzzy pink cap. Brown, like his. She was sleeping, wasn't even crying. God she was beautiful. Forgetting about the glass, Jay reached forward slightly, but as his palm felt the window pane, he stopped, letting it rest gently atop it.

He couldn't even touch her. A hand came down on top of his, "What are you doing here?" Manny asked cruelly. "I just," Jay started, looking from Manny to the baby, "What's her name?" he asked finally.

Biting her lip, she felt pity for him. "Lindsey," Manny whispered, glancing around. Jay nodded, choking back his tears. Manny sighed.

"Look, Jay, Emma's sleeping. And if Spike or Snake come out and see you," Manny started. Jay nodded, "I know." He swallowed hard, wrenching his eyes away from the window.

With that, Jay Hogart woke up. He glanced around the musty living room. Pathetic. The only time he'd seen his daughter, he'd snuck in to see her. And now karma was punishing him, by replaying that memory in his dreams, on repeat.

He swallowed hard, reaching for the abandoned pack of cigarettes on the table beside the ash tray. He flipped it open, sighing. "Damn," he whispered. He was out of cigarettes. Sighing, he glanced to the quarter that lay lonely on the floor.

After crawling around for nearly two hours, he'd managed to scrape up just enough change for a pack of cigarettes. Jamming it into his pocket, he headed for the door. Shutting it, a flash of yellow caught his eye.

Ripping it off his door as he read it, he groaned. An Eviction notice. He should have guessed. He hadn't paid rent in two months.

He glanced down the hall at the sound of slammed door. His landlord, Mayella. He sighed. Obviously, there'd be no persuading her this month. He opened the door to his apartment after a moment, glancing about it. There was a stove, a refrigerator, a couch, an old TV,and some of his clothes. Probably a few dishes and whatever was in the bathroom. He frowned. Heading to the bedroom, he grabbed the last black garbage bag, meant for a five gallon can, and proceeded to stuff what clothes he could into it. Carrying a hoodie in his arms, the contents of the bag consisted of three t shirts, two pairs of jeans, and two pairs of boxers. He couldn't find a match for any of the socks, so he had shoved a few in.

He had three weeks to get out, but today was as good as ever, he figured, slinging the black garbage bag over his shoulder. Maybe he'd live in his car.

Out the complex he went, headed back to the dot. It wasn't a long walk, but god seemed to want it to be difficult. Each of his friends entered his mind for several moments. Well, friends, acquaintances. People he knew at least.

Tracker. Off to jail after he'd been caught with more stolen goods.

Manny. At least she was loyal to Emma. Emma needed a friend. Manny was alright. As far as he knew, Manny got signed to an acting agency, but still lived with Emma. Starving artists law.

Sean. Sean moved back with his parents after he'd been caught cheating on Emma. He blamed Jay, for the events leading to Emma catching him, so they weren't friends anymore.

Spinner. Spinner was seeing some girl a few hours away. He was usually out there, and worked at the dot occasionally. Funny, the girl he was dating lived in Sean's town. That's probably why he and Jay didn't speak anymore.

Darcy. Hazel. Jimmy. Ashley. Marco. Paige. Alex. Liberty. Toby. Fuck, even JT. JT was gone though.

Jay sighed, throwing the bag of clothes into his car.

"What are you doing?" Mia asked, as she stood outside the dot, holding Bellas hand. . She cocked her head at him.

Mia. Jay sighed. Recently, Mia was one of the only people who didn't seem to hate him. Maybe she'd used up all that hate last time she was mad at him. They had reconciled after JT died though. Things were alright, but they didn't talk often.

"Moving in to my new place, you like?" he joked, gesturing to his car. Mia frowned. "Do you need a place to stay?" she asked. She glanced to Bella, who was currently occupied with a grasshopper next to the sidewalk. She was almost done with Kindergarten now.

Jay sighed. He did. JT would be rolling in his grave though. He frowned, as a thought crossed his mind. He could help Mia out with Bella, until he found a job. Maybe Emma might let him see Lindsey, if she saw he did okay with Bella. He knew Mia and Emma talked.

Conscious getting the better of him though, he swallowed hard, "JT," he shook his head.

Mia sighed, rolling her eyes, "Is gone. Thank you for reminding me. How many years has it been now?"

Jay nodded, admitting his wrong. "I don't have a job," he said finally. Mia nodded, "I can talk to some people. I work days, well Bella's at school. I pay a sitter for the three hours until I get home from work. You can watch her until I get home from work. It'd pay for your half of the rent."

Jay sighed, "Mia why are you doing this?" he asked reluctantly.

Mia shrugged, "Honestly Jay, I don't know. Maybe it's the mother in me, but we don't hate each other, and you need a place to stay."

Jay sighed, shaking his head. "I won't free load forever, I'll start looking for a job. And I won't stay long," he said reluctantly. He felt like he was taking advantage of Mia. He couldn't turn down a place to stay though.

Mia nodded.