Conditionally Unconditional

I woke up with a start before I realized where I was. My back ached from staying upright for so long. I twisted out of sitting between Charlotte and Ryan. I stood up and started stretching. I pulled my jacket of, as it was chaffing my skin.

It was dark. There was only one window and it was at least a foot above where my hand could reach. I looked over at where Charlotte had moved. She was now curled up in Ryan's arms. They would be really cute together.

I brew out a huge breath, emptying my lungs, only to fill again with oxygen. I sat on the cold ground and put my head between my knees. I jumped and spun around when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I saw it was Jake. "Why would you do that?!" I scream/yelled at him. My heart felt as though it would come out of my chest.

"Come with me." With that he turned and headed towards the stairs. I quickly followed behind him. With one last look at Ryan and Charlotte I headed up the stairs.

After we had gone through the pantry and back out to the kitchen, he led me a different way. We went out to a living room to the right of the kitchen. It had dark green walls and mahogany furniture. We walked to another staircase on the other side of the room. He led me up the stairs and around the corner to another room.

This was a small bedroom. It had cherry colored wood florring, baby blue walls, and a window with frilly white curtains. The full bed in the center was white and fluffy with blue floral designs. In the corner was a desk with a blue lamp on it. "You will be staying here" I turned to face Jake.

"What about Ryan and Charlotte?" I asked. I saw his jaw tighten.

"I will have arrangements made." He said tightly.

"What does that mean" I inquired

"They are being moved to a new location" He said pinching the bridge of his nose. I felt my heart drop. I was going to be here, alone.

"Why would yo-"

"Would you stop asking so many bloody questions!" He yelled at me "Its giving me a headache."

I stepped back in fear. His eyes were terrifying when he was mad. With his red hair, it was like the full effect. "I'm sorry, I-"

"There's something else I need" He cut me off again.

"What?" I quivered nervously. Jake walked over to what I thought was a closet, but was door to an adjoining room. I walked in.

The walls were light pink with red cherries on them, a small bed was placed in the corner, and in the middle of the room sat a little girl. She looked to be about one from her size, as I could only see the back of her.

She turned around startled by the noise. I stared in shock, her eyes were the exact same striking blue as Jake's. She had pale skin, and dark brown hair. "Is she y-"

"No, she's not" Jake spit out.I sat next to her on the floor and picked her up.

"What's her name?" I said as she giggled. I love babies. I always used to babysit my neighbors' kids. That sent a pang into my heart. I miss them, and I wonder if I'll ever go back.

"Camren" I looked at the little girl in my arms.

"Such a cute name for a cute little girl" I said in a baby voice, squeezing her cheeks.

She put her tiny little hands on my face "Ya baba, ya dada"

"awwww" I laughed and she giggled. "I think I'll call you Cammy" I put her on the floor and stood up. "If your not her father than who is? And who is her mother?"

I could see the muscles in his jaw rippling "I don't want to talk about it" And he exited the room curtly.

---

I sat and played with Camren for what seemed like hours. I stood up and turned around when I heard someone entered the room. It was Jake's father "I'm sorry I never got your name"

"Mark, and its time for Camren to go to bed"

"Oh, ya, of course" I stuttered. To say I was nervous in the least. This guy was just really scary.

"Could you give her this bottle and just lay with her until she falls asleep? Her nightclothes are in the bottom drawer" he said pointing to the drawer.

"Ya, sure" I said picking up Camren and putting her on the bed. He left with a nod.

I pulled a small blue sleeper from the dresser and changed her into it. Then I propped the pink pillow up and laid Camren on it. I sat next to her and watched her drink the bottle.

I wondered who her parents were, Jake and Mark were the only two people that I knew here. The person she looked most like was Jake, but then again Jake and Mark were identical. I had no idea where they are taking Ryan and Charlotte, but I hoped that it was somewhere they'd be comfortable.  I was really nervous for them.

I looked back at Camren and saw she was finished drinking and fell asleep cuddling the bottle. I tucked her in and placed the bottle on her dresser. I was about to go into my room when I heard voices.

"Son, we can't keep her here, we have no reason to" I think Mark said

"Dad, she can take care of Camren, she is really good with her" Jake protested

"We can not have a repeat like Charlotte, you understand me?"

"Yes, father" Jake said submissively

"She can stay for a little while, but I don't want you spending excessive amounts of time with her." After that it was silent. I opened the door to my room and saw Jake standing there, eyes cold and hard.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you eavesdropping is rude?"

"Yes...I.I didn't mean to..." I stumbled over my words a little.

"Go in your room and don't come out unless someone fetches you" Jake said and left me speechless.

I turned to the closet to see if there was anything to wear. I pulled out a light pink dress that came to my mid-thigh. It was a spaghetti strap with white lace lining the top and bottom. I changed quickly hangung my clothes up and climbed into bed. I remembered the elastic around my wrist and quickly french braided my hair.

I closed my eyes waiting for sleep to come. But it didn't. I got up and walked to the doors of Camren's room and opened them. I saw that she couldn't sleep either, she was looking at her hands that were suspended in the air. She was waving them around and giggling.

I walked over to the bed and crawled up next to her. "Its time to go to sleep now" I whispered in her ear. She giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck and nuzzled next to me. Just feeling the warmth of her small body next to mine made my heart melt. I closed my eyes and fell asleep with a smile on my face.