The Babysitter

Chapter 17: Never again

Chapter 17: (Aubrey's POV)- Never Again

Xavier and I were just chilling in his room. We had eaten dinner and Catherine had called to let us

know that she won't be coming home tonight since she's staying at a friend's house which was officer

Clarke but I didn't say it out loud just in case Xavier didn't figure it out and didn't want to know.

We were just lounging around in his room, changing sitting positions and locations every so often.

Currently, I was sitting cross-legged on the bed, leaning against the headboard while he was right next

to me as we both stared up at the ceiling.

I had a question on my mind since I had spoken with Peter and it was constantly nagging at me so I

hesitantly asked it. "Parker."

He hummed in response.

"Do you think Kylie genuinely likes you?" I felt his eyes on me, suggesting he had turned to face me.

"No, I don't. Why are you asking?" he questioned in confusion.

"I talked to Peter," I told him nervously. "Before you say anything else just hear me out. He uh- he was

asking me why I come here every day. And uh- he was trying to prove that Kylie has an obsession and

feelings for you, to break up with her. What if she does? What if he wants to break up with her because

she doesn't like him?" I tried explaining to the best of my ability.

"What if he wants to break up with her to hurt you again?" he suggested.

My eyebrows knitted together as I turned to face him. "Why would he do that?" I questioned in

confusion.

"Because it's easy for him," he shrugged, going back to staring at the ceiling.

"Are you implying that I'm easy to hurt?" I asked calmly. I wasn't offended just utterly confused.

"For him? Yes, because you still have feelings for him, even the slightest count," he turned to face me

again.

"I don't have feelings for him, even in the slightest," I reasoned.

He let out a sigh, "If you didn't, then you wouldn't have spoken to him," he pointed out.

I clicked my tongue in frustration. "I spoke to him because he blocked my way and I couldn't get away,"

I argued.

"Carthy, if he really wants to break up with her, then he needs to do it for the right reasons. Using me as

an excuse and you as a way to get that excuse isn't right," he explained logically. "Carthy, are you sure

you still don't have feelings for him?" he questioned hesitantly.

"Of course I'm sure. I made that mistake once, never again," I sighed before letting my hair down from

the bun I threw it up in earlier.

"You're gonna make the same mistake again," he spoke contradicting my words. "With someone better.

For good this time," he finished with a smirk.

I wonder who that's gonna be.

"Maybe someday," I laughed. "When I find someone." I played with my hair tie.

"I predict..." he began, making me turn my head to face him with amusement and a small smile tugging

at my lips. "You'll find someone by the end of the summer," he stated with a smirk.

"Don't I get any hints as to who that might be?" I pouted pleadingly while he smiled.

"Nope. No hints. No clues. Nothing that might give it away," he whispered while leaning in.

I forgot how to breathe at that moment. The air got caught up in my throat and butterflies erupted in my

stomach. For some reason, my initial thought was that he was gonna kiss me, and for some reason, I

didn't mind if that happened. But of course, my senses kicked in and I slowly and gently pushed him

away.

"Don't try and pull any of your stunts with me," I said teasingly.

"I'd never pull a stunt with you. For some reason, I'd never toy with you."

My eyebrows perked up.

"I'd never mess around with you the way I would with other girls," he mumbled while sitting straight,

leaning his head against the headboard again.

"Why?" I whispered. I knew it could make me sound like I wanted to mess around with him and quite

desperate but he knew me better than to think that, so I knew his answer would clarify my doubts.

"I don't know." He shook his head, turning his gaze to meet mine. "I usually hurt girls by doing that and-

" he stopped abruptly. "I just can't imagine hurting you."

This is the first time he's being so open with me, about himself. Yeah, we've talked about his family

issues and his behavior but his words never strike him to be vulnerable. Today, he sounds just that,

vulnerable.

"You don't deserve it," he stated.

"You don't deserve to beat yourself up over one-night stands either." I nudged his shoulder with mine.

"As long as you let them know what they're getting into, it's not your fault." I shook my head, looking at

him in the eyes. "It's not theirs for liking you either. Look at you, Parker." I nudged his shoulder again,

making him crack a smile. "I mean seriously, god!" I exaggerated, making him blush and stifle a laugh.

"Is it just me or is it getting hot in here?" I fanned my face before fanning his, making him burst into a

full-blown laugh.

Usually, I would laugh with him, not this time.

This time, I smiled and admired him. His laugh, the way his lips formed into his smile, the way he tilted

his head down, hiding his blushing face, the way he hid his face in his hands.

"Someone seriously needs to turn the A/C on, where's the thermostat?" I threw the blanket off of me,

about to get out of bed, and playfully turn the A/C on but he grabbed my wrist, pulling me back down

onto the bed.

"I didn't know you had such a huge crush on me, Carthy. And I wasn't aware of how much of a

shameless flirt you were. Even more than me!" he teased me.

It was my turn to blush and laugh. "Please, Parker. No one is as big a flirt as you," I spoke through my

laughter. Both of our laughter eventually dulled down, before coming to a stop. We both sighed

simultaneously.

"Thank you," he smiled at me. That smile, I swear to god.

"Any time," I smiled back. "You're not sleepy yet are you?" I questioned.

He shook his head gently.

"Backyard?" I arched an eyebrow at him.

He chuckled.

"I'll race you." I elbowed his ribs softly.

"I'll give you a head start," he nodded.

I threw the blanket off of me before sprinting down the stairs and into the backyard.

As I was about to reach the end of the stairs, I looked back to see Xavier running out and sliding down

the railing, landing straight in my way, wrapping his arms around my waist, lifting me off the ground.

"Try getting there now!" he teased while spinning me around.

"That's not fair!" I whined while pouting as he put me down, gently setting me down on my feet.

He set me down but his arms didn't leave my waist as he looked down at me, grinning. "Three..." He let

me go.

"Two..."

I sprinted.

"One..."

I grabbed onto the swing, sitting on it swiftly as he came and stood in front of me, grabbing onto the

ropes, pulling it up and close to himself, bringing us eye to eye.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say we were flirting. Wait. Were we? No, there's no way. There's no way,

not a chance. We were friends, right? Well, we weren't even really friends, I was his babysitter, that's

about it.

I happen to enjoy his company and I guess he happens to enjoy mine.

"We're flirting, Carthy. Hard," he laughed slightly but awkwardly. It was cute. Really cute.

"You are. I'm not," I argued before tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear and then placing my

hand back onto the ropes that I was gripping onto.

He could let the swing go anytime, and I had to grab on to make sure I don't fall when he does let it go.

"Is that so?" he smirked while I hummed and nodded in response. He smirked cockily before letting the

swing go, just like I thought he would, before sitting on the other one.

"Carthy?"

I hummed in response.

"Do you see yourself ever liking me?" he questioned while turning to face me.

I continued looking straight ahead, feeling his gaze burning into my face. "It's possible," I answered

vaguely, because how else am I supposed to tell him that I already do?

Yes, you heard that right. I like Xavier.

Shit!