"Nick can you take Brianna out into the lobby and take everyone else out with you? Besides JC, that is."
"Yeah. No problem man. C’mon guys lets go." Kevin stepped forward and took Brianna from me. They left JC and me alone in Natalie’s hospital room. The doctors had come and taken her body away. It was just the two of us.
When I looked up at JC he had tears in his eye. "JC, how could you? How could you leave her when you knew she carried your baby? I really thought you were above that, man!"
"She told you?"
"Yes she did. Last night. At first I didn’t have any clue. Then she told me and it all made sense. The way neither one of you were really comfortable last night. The way she looked at you and the way you looked at Brianna. It all made sense."
"I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. And when I found out she was pregnant I panicked. I wasn’t ready to start a family. I was only 17. And the group was just taking off in Europe."
"I understand. But you could have at least helped her support Brianna."
"I didn’t even know her name until last night. I don’t know her birthday. I don’t know anything about her. The only thing I know is that she is mine and I have grown to love her over these past two days."
"Well, you know those papers that Jenna gave me?" I took them out of the bag that I had put them in.
"Yeah. What about them?"
"These papers make me Brianna’s legal guardian. I’m responsible for that little girl now." Suddenly the door flew open and in walks a man I’ve never seen before.
"Am I too late?"
"Who the hell are you?" I couldn’t help myself. As I ask this the other guys all run into the room, AJ carrying Brianna.
"I’m Lucas Simison." The others came around to stand behind JC and I. Lucas sees Brianna and walks towards her. She sees him and buries her face in AJ’s shoulder. Justin, Kevin, Joey, Howie, Chris, Nick and Lance all step in front of AJ, who still has a tight hold of Brianna. Jenna stands off to the side, not wanting to get in the way if anything happens. "Who are you guys?"
"Well, I’m Brianna’s guardian." I tell him.
"No, I’m Brianna’s guardian." He pushes past me but JC stands right in front of him.
"Actually those papers that he has," JC started referring to the papers I still had in my hand from showing, him a few minutes before, "make him her legal guardian."
"And who are you?" v "I’m Brianna’s father." All the guys except for Kevin and Nick gasp. But they soon recover and stand their ground.
"Who are they?" Lucas asks, gesturing to the eight guys standing in front of him.
"They are our friends and long time friends of Natalie." AJ still had a hold of Brianna. "What are you doing here?"
"I’m Natalie’s ex-boyfriend. I came as soon as I heard about the accident, I live here in the city. I came to get Brianna."
I couldn’t believe this guy! But before I could say anything, JC spoke up. "Wait a minute! You are her EX-boyfriend? And you think that you are going to barge in here and try to take MY daughter and the little girl that this guy is responsible for her, away? Well, I DON’T THINK SO! You’ve got another thing coming! This man right here is Natalie’s best friend! Oh and the prefix EX does mean something. So I suggest that you make a quick EX-it before I throw you out of this room. I NEVER want to see you within a 1 mile radius of my child again. So LEAVE!" JC was pissed off! (Gee, no. Ya think?)
Lucas looked at JC, looked at Brianna and AJ. He glanced at the rest of the guys and then looked at me before leaving. As soon as he left everyone breaths a sigh of relief. AJ sets Brianna down and she runs over to me and JC. I pick her up and hug her tightly.
"Boo-boo. I don’t like him. He’s mean!"
"Well, we’ll make sure that he doesn’t come back. Right guys? It’s going to be OK."
"Yeah don’t worry about it. I’ll save you!" Nick said in a superman voice. Everyone laughs.
"I love you Boo-boo!" Brianna whispers and throws her arms around my neck.
"I love you too, Brianna." I hug her again.
She pulls her face out of my shoulder and looks at JC. "Love you Tay-C. Thank you for making him go away!" She holds her arms out to him. I hand her to JC and watch as, for the first time, JC hugs his daughter.
"I love you too, Brianna. More than you know." I heard him whisper, barely audible.
