one day

“why do teenage girls need to complain so much? can’t a kid scream in peace?”

“are they screaming in peace, though? they make far too much noise for it to be considered peaceful for them.”

“unfortunately, that’s just little kids for you. i’m not much of a fan but yeah, i don’t know why parents insist on bringing their children to coffee shops.”

“Was it a actual walking kid or a baby? ‘Cause if it was a baby, I think they sort of need to.”

“Like an actual kid - they were running around too. So irritating.”

“bethany, we’ve gone through this. follow our rules and then we can discuss that.”

“no need to be so suffocating though, is there?”

“why not take your coffee to go? although i don’t understand parents who let their children scream”

“no, they were written by professionals. don’t be so negative about everything.” ben rolled his eyes, sometimes having enough of her negative attitude. “if you’re happier on your own… i hope you know that life isn’t all that cheap. as if we’re still alive by the time you’re ninety. but maybe that’s what you’re waiting for.”

“there’s a number of people that i regret trusting. but i guess it taught me a lot.”

“i think there’s a lot of problems with the foster care system. but i’m not even going to start going into that.”

“about two hours.”

“well, what’s the point in ditching school to do something that they would approve of?”

“no, i read it in one of the books.” ben shrugged, having read so many baby books when it became clear that him and taylor were going to adopt a newborn. “what’s with your urge to move out so fast? i thought we managed to give you a nice home.”

“those books were probably written by obsessive parents who think every gurgle from their baby is a sign that they’re a prodigy,” bethany retorted, dismissively. she shook her head at his comment, choosing to show the response she felt he was trying to illicit. “i’m allowed to move out soon enough. i’m hardly going to live here until i’m ninety.”

“stop sneaking out and then we can talk about not checking up on you.”

“i’m not a baby. you don’t have to be constantly keeping tabs on me.”

“as long as you at least come and say hi to me and dad so we know sort of who you’re with.” taylor sighed softly, “just work with us okay? we’re trying here. we’re really trying.”

“mhm, sure thing,” she replied, somewhat shrugging it all off. “trying to what? i’m not a baby - i don’t need checking up on.”

“i think he might know more than you think. he probably remembers faces.” ben wasn’t sure if that was true but it’s what he liked to think. or maybe babies were more familiar with voices. “you know he’s going to look up to you at some point.”

“i think you might just be trying to fool yourself, dad,” beth shook her head as she re-entered the room with a bottle of water. “by the time he’s old enough to do that i’ll be moved out ”

justin: so

justin: be there.

beth: i'll be there.