Set Fire

“Look, I get that where you and I come from, trusting others is not exactly easy… or smart most times. But I’m… fuck she’s gonna kill me… by girlfriend and I are expecting a baby, and well… we could use some real life experience. And you sound like you could use a bit of a break.” 

“You want me to allow someone who has no experience in taking care of children, take care of four? That hardly seems like a good idea, no offense.”

Rhys considered the young man’s situation, “Perhaps, you could get a generous scholarship? And a babysitter who has plenty of patience and time on their hands…” 

“I’d still need to finish high school technically, regardless, I don’t quite qualify for scholarships. As for the babysitter thing,There is no one her I would trust my siblings with with, and I wouldn’t want to drag an outsider here.” 

“Everyone in this place comes with baggage, is all.” he said, not wanting to betray much more. Still, he liked the lad, he didn’t want him getting into any trouble. “Have you thought about reenrolling?” 

“So it would seem,” he replied but simply, thinking about everyone he had met so far. “I’d have to get my GED, which costs money. Not to mention, classes for colleges are about three hundred plus, not including the book. All in all, its money i don’t have, and time I don’t have.”

“Amazing. They must take up a lot of your time, am I right?”

“They do, there is never a dull moment. Someone is usually yelling about something, or fighting with someone.”

“Do yourself a favour and avoid the women in this building like the plague.” He smiled smugly, thinking how he got the only good one left. “So… if you’re not working for the  gang anymore, what are you doing for work here?” 

“Sounds like you are coming from experience,” he laughed. “This and that. I’ve put in applications in a few places, but I haven’t heard back from them. It’s what I get from dropping out of school.” 

“You managed to get a chick pregnant 4 times already? Or was it four different chicks?” he asked in disbelief. “Whatever it is you did man, I hope it never happens to me.”

Eli let out a laugh. The man got it wrong. He didn’t get anyone pregnant, no he was always careful when it came to sex. He didn’t need another child right now. Though, he didn’t exactly feel like correcting the man, since now he wasn’t pressing him to have sex. “Its called sex. That’s usually how one gets children.”

“And you’ve been taking care of them by yourself? That must not have been easy.” not that Vivienne cared an awful lot but oh well. “I don’t know if that says more about the previous places you’ve stayed rather then about the other tennants but we will see I guess.”

“I might not be perfect, but it’s better than a foster home.” The thought of being separated from them scared him. If he ever lost them, they would be apart from each other. Discarded into different homes, he didn’t want that. “Well, I’d say if this place is how I imagine it to be, I’d its not a change from where I was. I’d say it’s exactly the same, with different faces.”

“That’s so cute, You got any other siblings, or is it just you and lil Cass?”

“Three others. The youngest is four, soon to be five.”

“Yes, a simple as it get’s. Copying files, sorting them, preparing invoices, receiving orders, the very basics of a secretary job really.” he confirmed with a light sigh. “In general we don’t do a lot of taking computer apart around the office but they don’t even need any coding skills or anything yet, hell they don’t even have to be an IT major to know this stuff. You don’t need a fancy degree to know how to work a mailbox and excel.”

“Sounds like they just bullshitted their way to get the job. I’d give them a few days before letting them go, let they settle. They might just be stressed with everything.” Or something. Honestly, Eli didn’t really know. He was always able to handle stress. If he didn’t, he probably wouldn’t have been able to take care of his family.

“It never is that simple, and this place has a way of making the complex even more complicated. Trust me, I also tried to leave once, but now… here I am. Course there was a woman involved… that usually causes trouble in even a smart man’s mind.” 

“Don’t know if I should call myself lucky or not since I don’t have a woman to tie me. Just kids complaining about moving all the time, which eventually they get over with. ‘Sides, the promise of free ice cream usually helps too.”

“Who’s Cass?“

“My sister. She’s into musicals and all that stuff. Probably the only reason I recognized that you were saying.”

“Sure bud, whatever helps you sleep at night.” he just hummed in response. “You really should set your priorities straight man.”

“My priorities are taking care of four children. Not that I expect you to understand something like that”

“Not to be nosy.” okay maybe she definately intended to be just that. “But you’re making it sound like you’re the one in charge of those kids. You’re not raising them all by yourself are you?” Viv asked. “Well welcome to the Rag, I hope you haven’t had too much of a hard time blending in here. Most people here tend to be a bit- intense.”

“Probably cause I am. My mom kind of split the end of my junior year, and my dad. Well, he was only around to produce offspring.” The bastard would make a run every time someone entered the world. “So I’ve heard. Though it won’t be anything I’m not used to.”

“Because you’re whining like a horny high-schooler that’s why.” Lucien replied simply. “And hell, since when is saying you need to get laid an insult? What’s wrong with wishing sex upon someone?”

“Whining? I asked a question, in which you answered.” he shot back. “It’s not a presume. Though, I’m not exactly interested in sex.”

“I’m sensitive, clever, well-mannered, considerate, passionate, charming, as kind as I’m handsome, and an heir to a throne. I guess you could say that I’m everything maidens could wish for”

“Wasn’t aware we had Prince Charming at the Rag. Cass will be thrilled.”

“Admittedly, I don’t know much about younger siblings but I do know how horrendous puberty tends to make kids.” a soft laugh fell from her lips. “How old are they? Your siblings I mean.” she inquired before extending her hand towards him “I’m Vivienne, but feel free to call me Viv. When did you get here?”

“Yeah, I’m finding that out with the oldest.” Not that Will was a bad kid, just difficult. He just hoped the twins will be easier. “Will is fourteen, the twins are nine, and Emma is four,” he informed, shaking her hand. “”Alright, Viv. About two weeks maybe? Probably three.”