Artist is unknown, please tell me if you know who it is!!!

I kept Playtime close. She eventually began to drift off to sleep, and I couldn't help but awe. She was a lot smaller than I realised, maybe three and a half feet tall at most.

"You're great with kids," Baldi chimed in, tapping his finger on the arm rest. He didn't fidget while I was with him... "I'm actually kind of surprised."

"I love kids," I admitted. And I did. I never knew why but they all just brought a smile to my face. "I've done my fair share of babysitting for extra money too."

Baldi just tilted his head and grinned, watching me reposition the girl in my arms. "Where is she from anyway?"

That question has been burning in the back of my mind ever since I first saw her. She was mysterious and seemed to have no one else and nothing but those clothes and her jumprope. It was saddening. No kid deserved to be in her state.

"Well," he sat up and ushered me to come over and sit with him again. Despite her being asleep, Playtime had no intentions of loosening her grip around me. I sighed and sat back on his lap again, leaning back. "She's been here ever since I can remember. Every single day of school she's here."

He loosely wrapped his arms around me and Playtime and laughed. "It's like a little family."

My face flushed and I used every fiber of my being to restrain myself from whipping around and yelling at him.

"Don't say that," I exclaimed in a hushed manner, embarrassed at the thought. "It's..." I looked down at Playtime sleeping against me. I ended up not finishing my sentence.

Baldi just laughed at me and smiled. I guess he got the reaction he was looking for.

I turned my head and looked up at him. "Tell me more about her."

"Sure. I don't know too much but I know enough. She just showed up in town one day, wandering around with her jumprope. She used to stick to the sidewalks and stores, but then she began to hang around the school. When she got here, she was 4... so that makes her 6 now."

I listened intently, curious to know more about the mysterious child in my arms.

"Apparently she's also half blind, for some reason..." he leaned forward to look at her and then sat back. "Anytime someone cuts her jumprope or she loses it, she always comes back with a new one. No one knows how or why."

"So she's like a ghost or something," I joked, running my finger across a piece of her wiry hair. "Appearing, disappearing, coming from nowhere."

Baldi shrugged and sighed. "We can't get her to leave. But it's fine I guess," he trailed off, "as long as she's taken care of."

An uncomfortable silence filled the room. Playtime was fast asleep, so I got up and gently sat her in one of the free chairs because my arms were getting tired.

I returned to sitting with Baldi, this time in a more comfortable position with my legs hanging over the side.

"So, I've been wanting to ask you something." He looked down at me with a nervous expression. "About... us."

"Me too actually." I laughed, putting my head against his chest. "I guess now we have the time."

He coughed and reached down to take my hand, keeping his voice low. "How do you really feel about me? This?"

My face flushed and I sighed, wrapping my arm around his. "You're great," I started. "Sometimes you do questionable things, but even after that you manage to make me smile. You're literally the highlight of my life."

As I spoke, I stuttered and smiled, as if I was revealing myself to my new crush.

He gripped my hand tighter and my heart fluttered.

"So that means the feeling is mutual." He said quietly.

There wasn't a hint of doubt in his voice. I knew he was being genuine, and it made me light up inside. He cared about me, someone cared. And from now on I was going to make sure he knew that I cared.

I turned my head up and got closer to his, beaming. I felt his hand hold the side of my head, pulling me forward. His lips met mine and my heart melted. I pressed a little harder to deepen it.

We pulled back and touched foreheads.

"I love you, Baldi, so so so much." I whispered, the smile on my face not wearing off.

"I love you more, (Y/N)." He replied with a whisper.

I felt so alive.

~

Eventually, I had to make my way back home again. It ended up being almost 6 PM by the time I got home. We talked and... did other things... for almost 3 hours.

The feeling of adrenaline and burning never left my cheeks or chest. I thought about him the entire walk home, it was impossible not to.

Knock knock. I rapped on the door, my mom immediately answering.

Despite me being on Cloud Nine, she was not happy.

"(Full Name), where the hell have you been this time?! And you can't and won't tell me that you were doing clubs. The school doesn't even have clubs."

My mother spat words at me like pins on cork. It'd take more than that to damper my mood.

"Just enjoying some time with some people that I care about." My answer was honest, but she didn't seem to want to take it.

"You have the responsibility to get back home at the appropriate time," she growled, dragging me into the house and shutting the door. "And you've continuously failed to do so. You can do so much better!" She dramatically threw her arms up in the air to guilt trip me.

I finally started to get a little mad. "Why do you care? You only come to see me to yell at me. I could be anywhere and you wouldn't care, so don't pretend like you actually consider my safety or happiness."

She shook her head and stomped her foot like a child. "I am your parent, you respect me."

Laughing in pure anger and frustration, I ran up the stairs and called a few last words to my "dearest" mother. "I will when you respect me."

A mixture of grunts, mumbles and curses came from the bottom of the stairwell, my name thrown into the blend a few times.

I don't care anymore. I convinced myself. Tomorrow, I'll run away. I'll go home with Baldi. Maybe he'll treat me better.

Running away or sneaking out didn't seem like too bad of an idea. My room welcomed me with my bed and posters hanging from the wall.

Flopping down, I put my hand on my heart and began to imagine. Imagine all of the things I could do if I were free. With him. The thoughts reassured me, and I closed my eyes.

I could have swore I felt his embrace again.

~

Thank you guys for 2k reads wtf?!?!?