Chasing Cars

"So you and Kellin are going to start trying for a baby?" I questioned Vic after he got home from his date. "I thought you wanted to wait until you were married and out of college."

"I know, but I really do want this. After taking care of Ben these four years, I've really really wanted my own child. Now's the time and I can feel it. Besides, I think it's about time Ben gets a cousin." Vic spoke up and I smiled at him.

The next morning I walked towards Ben's classroom and Jack waved at us. I smiled and lead Ben up to where Jack was.

"Morning guys." He told us and Ben replied quickly before rushing over to where Dylan was standing.

"Hey Jack."

"How's Ben?" Jack asked me.

"A lot better."

"That's great."

I looked down at the ground feeling a bit awkward. Jack sighed and then he laughed. I looked up at him confused and he shook his head.

"It's just, we don't know what to say anymore. It's like we're strangers all over again." He laughed and I agreed.

"But we're still strangers." I pointed out and he shrugged.

"We are, but we could be friends. How about we hang out sometime? You know, get to know each other better so we're not strangers." Jack asked me and my eyes widened in shock, my heart thumping rapidly against my chest.

"Sure." I smiled and then we exchanged numbers.

"I'll text you sometime so we can go catch a bite or something."

"Alright."

"Daddy." Ben called and I turned around to see him running towards me.

"What's up kiddo?" I asked him as I lifted him up into my arms.

"I forgot to say goodbye." He pouted and I chuckled, kissing his cheek.

"You did, didn't you?" I teased him and he just wrapped his arms around my neck, hiding his blushing face. I heard Jack laugh quietly and I turned to give him a smile. "Well, aren't you gonna say goodbye?"

"Oh yeah." Ben giggled and lifted his head up to kiss my cheek. "Bye daddy, I love you."

"I love you too kiddo and be good. I'll be here after school." I told him while brushing our noses together which made him giggle.

"I will daddy." Ben smiled at me and I put him down on the ground, watching as he walked inside the classroom.

"I'll see you later Jack."

"Alright, Alex. Have a nice day at school." He told me with a smirk.

"I will dad." I joked and he chuckled.

At school, as I was heading for the front doors, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me against their chest. My eyes widened and I slowly turned to see Trent.

"What the fuck do you want?" I asked him.

"Aww baby, that's no way to treat me." He pouted and tried kissing me, but I just slapped him. "Listen here you little fucker, I've been watching you and that kid of ours. I know you like that teacher and let me tell you that I don't like that at all. So either you stay away from him or face the consequences."

"You can't boss me around, Trent. And stop stalking me you bastard!" I yelled and then stormed inside the building, heart racing at the fear that swept through me. Trent can't be serious. He just can't keep ruining my life.

That weekend Jack and I were headed for dinner. Vic and Kellin were taking care of Ben while Jack and I got to know each other better. I entered the fast food place Jack asked me to meet up at. As I walked over to Jack, I couldn't help but get this feeling that I was being watched.

"Hey." Jack smiled at me as I slid in across the seat from his.

"Hey, sorry I'm a little late, but Ben wouldn't let me go." I told Jack as he handed me my food.

"It's fine and I just got here like four minutes ago anyways." Jack shrugged and we started eating.

"So tell me about yourself, Lexy." Jack told me, taking a sip from his drink.

"Well. I'm twenty, I'm a sophomore at college. I live with my best friend Vic and I'm studying to become a teacher." I told Jack who looked at me mildly shocked.

"You had Ben when you were sixteen? Damn, Lex. I knew you were young, but I just didn't want to think that you'd been a teenager when you had the kid." Jack told me and I shrugged.

"Yeah, I'm just glad that I've had a lot of support though. It was tough. After I had Ben, just two weeks after he was born, I went into a depression and neglected my child for almost two months. I attempted suicide once thinking that that was my way out of raising a child at such a young age and all by myself. My ex, Ben's other dad, left me as soon as he found out I was pregnant. He didn't care and he already had a girlfriend two days after our breakup."

"Gees, Lex. That guy's a douche bag. If I were him and you would've told me that we were having a kid, I'd be fucking happy and jumping off the walls in joy."

"Then I wish you would've been him." I smiled sadly at him. "Now, tell me about yourself."

"Well, I live alone yet I visit my parents a lot. I love kids, which is why I work as a teacher. That's pretty much it. I don't have a very dramatic life."

I just chuckled and we continued on with the rest of our- date? I don't know what to call it.

"Well, Lex, it was great talking to you. I'll see you Monday, new friend." Jack said.

"Yeah, same here." I chuckled and opened my car door. "See you Monday big guy."

As I drove home, I couldn't help but feel that Jack and I made some sort of bond with each other. When I got home, Vic and Ben were watching a movie while eating pizza and I shook my head. These guys are two peas in a pod.

"Daddy!" Ben cheered when he saw me walk into the living room.

"Hey sport." I greeted him and sat down next to him on the couch.

"How'd it go?" Vic asked, taking his eyes away from the screen.

"Great. I feel like I've known him my whole life."

"You guys went that deep huh?"

"You can say that." I smiled and snuggled with Ben on the couch. "Alex, Trent threatened me the other day." I suddenly spoke up.

"What? When? Alex, why didn't you tell us anything?" Vic asked me frantically.

"He just said that he didn't want me near Jack or I'd face the consequences. I don't know what to think, Vic. I want to ignore his stupid threat, but something's telling me to not."

"Yeah, I got the same feeling. I don't know what to tell you, Lex. This whole thing smells fishy."

"You're the fish." Ben told Vic.

I chuckled and ruffled Ben's hair. Trent. Why did he have to come back?