Breathe Hope in Me

"Yeah, she fine. Hasn't cried much, ate a nice lunch, now, she's taking a nap."

"Thanks," I say. "I appreciate it, so much!"

"It's nothing, Drea! I'd do anything for you!" Nicole told me.

"Thank you, Nikki. Hey, I've got to go, I've got another call."

"Okay. Bye, Drea."

I hung up and answered the other line, "Hello?"

"Andrea?"

"Yeah? What's wrong Brian?"

"It's Jimmy...." I could hear the hurt in his voice.

"Brian, what do you mean?!"

"He's, uh, Drea, he's gone.. He's dead."

"What the hell are you talking about? I talked to him like three hours ago."

"Leana just found him."

"Please, Brian, tell me you're joking." I said as my voice cracked.

"I wish I could."

"Can we meet up?"

"Yeah, sure. Where?"

"Santa Clarita?"

"Santa Clarita? So that's where you've been?"

"Nah, actually Santa Barbara. But let's meet at the coffee shop."

"I'll be there. See you soon."

We said our goodbyes and I hung up, I grabbed my purse and clocked out before calling Nicole.

"Nikki, will you get Ellie ready?"

"Yeah, sure. Why? What's up?"

"I have to go back to Huntington."

"For?"

"My brother, Jimmy, his girlfriend just found him dead and so on."

I got into my car and revved the engine and sped down the road. The phone still pressed to my ear.

"Yeah, I'll get her ready."

"Thanks." I hung up and turned the radio up.

I pulled into the drive way of Nicole's place and ran to the front steps. I pushed the door open and saw Nicole packing up Ellie's bag.

"Will you come?" I ask.

She nods and smiles.

We walk to the car and get in, I speed down the street and get on to the high way before looking over at Nicole, who seems like she's ready to cry.

"You okay, Nikki?"

"I'm fine." She lied.

I nodded and drove down the street, I stopped in front of the cafe and fixed my makeup. Nikki got out and grabbed Ellie, the two of us walked into the cafe and sat at a table near the door. Ellie was wrapped in her light blue blanket asleep in my arms. After 27 minutes of sipping on an iced tea and the silence that filled the room, Brian walked in the door. He looked at me, confused and sat across from me.

"I'm Brian," He introduced himself to Nikki.

"Oh, I know who you are." She smiled.

"I thought you would." He smirked.

"I'm Nicole." She blushed, slightly. "You can call me Nikki though.."

"Whose kid? Yours?" He asked and looked at Nicole.

"Mine." I said.

"Johnny's?"

I nodded.

"Does he know?"

"Nope." I said, I popped my 'p' because I knew that irritated Brian.

He glared at me but looked down. "Can I hold it?"

"It? It is a girl. And she has a name." I told him.

"And her name is?"

"Janelle. Ellie, for short."

"May I hold her? Pleeease Drea!"

I got up and handed her to him. He cradled her perfectly, held her head just right and everything.

He looked at me and smiled, half heartedly. I sighed, ran my fingers through my long black hair and looked at him.

"Do my parents know? What about Spencer? Who told Spencer?"

"Matt. And yes, they know. Matt is over there."

"I want to see Val." I said.

He pulled out his phone and slid it across the table, I grabbed it and went through his contacts.

"What do you want, Brian?"

"Val, it's uh it's me.. Can I stop by..?"

"Yeah." She said.

I looked at Brian and Ellie began to wake up. He looked down at her, scared and got up to hand her to me.

"Let's go to Matt's."

We got up and walked to the car. I put Ellie into her seat and look over to Brian. He and Nikki are talking and I smirk.

"Cmon, we got places to be. Brian, call everyone, and tell them to meet at Matt's. And tell them not to bring their pets.. Same for you." I glared at him.

"Pets? I don't have a pet anymore?"

"Don't fuckin' lie to me, Gates. Jimmy and I talked about your pet earlier."

He bowed his head in defeat and said, "Okay. I wasn't planning on bringing her anyway. I'll call everyone." He hugged me and Nicole and drove away.

Nicole and I got into the car and I drove behind him.

"He has a girlfriend." I told her.

"I thought so." She frowned.

*At Matt's*

Val was playing with Ellie, Brian, Matt and Nicole were talking, casually. I was sitting there watching Val and Janelle. I smiled at them and got up. I walked upstairs and into the kitchen. The door front door opened and I peaked my head around the corner. "Mrs. Shadows?" Zack called.

I ran up to him and jumped on his back. "It's Brittney, Bitch." I said, as I laughed.

"Dreeeea! Hiii!"

"Hey, Baker." I hugged him properly and we walked down to the den.

"Hey, Mr and Mrs. Shadows.. Gates.. and Gates' lady friend?"

"No, my lady friend. Nicole, Zack. Zack, Nicole." I said.

"Val, let me see her." Zack said and stretched out to take Ellie.

He picked her up and smiled, "She's so damn cute!" He cooed.

"She came out of me, of course she's cute."

"Same ol' Drea." Matt chuckled.

"What's that mean?"

"You're a cocky little bitch." Brian said to me.

"I'm not a bitch." I whined.

"Brian, call her a bitch again and I'll stab you." Val said.

"See, Val doesn't think I'm a bitch." I grinned.

The door opened again and my stomach dropped. I swallowed hard as Johnny walked down the stairs. He smiled at everyone and hugged them, he introduced himself to Nicole and stopped at me, he frowned but hugged me anyway. Ellie began to cry and Zack jumped up.

"She needs to be changed." I said.

"I got it!" Zack said.

"You sure?"

"Yes. I'm her Uncle, I'll help." He smiled. He picked her up from her car seat and grabbed her diaper bag before going up the stairs.

"Can I talk to you?" I asked Johnny.

"I've gotta get smokes. Wanna come?"

I looked at Val and Nikki. "I got her." Val said.

"Go." Nicole told me.

"Thanks guys."

Johnny and I walked to his car and got in.

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