Alyssa's PoV

He was beautiful. I almost forgot my manners as I stared, taking every feature of his face in. Suddenly remembering where I was, I blinked and moved my eyes away from him, letting out a short huff in anger at myself. Come on, this is your sons first day of school, not some kissing booth, pull yourself together woman.

"What class is he in?" Luke was quick to ask, trying to cover the awkward feeling we both had.

"Red class." I answered and to my surprise, both Luke and Kira smiled.

"Me too Daddy! Cody is in my class." She beamed, pointing at my son with a newfound excitement. Cody looked up at me happily.

"There we go! You've made a friend already. I told you it was easy." Luke soothed his daughter, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Mum, can Kira come to see our house after school?" Kids never held back in asking what they wanted and both Luke and I suddenly looked at each other wide eyed. How do we answer without upsetting them? Sure I could agree, it's not like I don't want him to have friends, but inviting someone round after being in a queue with them for two minutes. I'm not sure.

"Well, they might be busy sweetheart. But Kira can most definitely come round one day as long as her dad is okay with it." Once again I glanced over to Luke who nodded at his daughter.

"How about Friday?" He asked and both kids nodded, jumping up and down with excitement. It was heartwarming to see my son so happy, making a change from the constant letdown he was used to.

"Sure thing." I smiled as the queue moved forwards, finally letting us into the school. I tried to act casual, my arm draped round Cody whilst my mind was screaming to hold onto him for dear life. I needed to let him grow up but at the same time I still wished he was my baby. He was becoming independent, not wanting to hang out with me as much any more. Maybe I needed to let him instead of weighing him down. I watched as Luke and Kira headed to the gate into the classroom. He whispered something to her and she gave him a big hug, practically squeezing the life out of him before she ran into the garden area, stopping half way to call Cody over.

"Come on Cody, this way!" Cody grinned up at me as I quickly hugged him and kissed him on the head, watching him run into the garden to meet Kira and head in together. Well, at least that made that a little easier.
I stood to the side as I watched, making sure he went into the room before I turned and sped off, not wanting to think too much before I began to cry.

"Hey, Alyssa?" I stopped in my tracks and spun round to see Luke jogging after me, he smiled gratefully as he slowed to a stop beside me.

"What's up?" I asked carefully.

"I wanted to get your number." He said bluntly, causing us both to straighten where we stood. "I mean... because- for Friday." The confidence had disappeared as he stuttered the end of his sentence. I smiled as I pulled my phone out at the same time he did his. I gave him my number without hesitation and awaited his call so that I had his. I quickly saved it in my phone and put it back in my pocket.

"Have a good day." I said as I nodded, heading off to work hoping they weren't going to shout at me for how late I was.

***
Work were okay with it this time, but had sternly told me it wasn't allowed to happen again. I didn't quite understand how that would be possible bearing in mind they knew I had to drop Cody off before I made my way in. Either way, I worked as late as I physically could before I shot out of the office, grabbing the bus down to the school as I clutched my phone in my hand. I had two minutes to get there before they charged me for my lateness.
I practically flew off the bus and ran down to the school, arriving in the playground just moments before the clock ticked over past that minute. Phew. I'd made it.
Standing in the playground with the teacher were both Kira and Cody, Kira looking sullen as she realised it wasn't her dad who was coming into the school. I headed up to them and smiled as I hugged Cody.

"Where's your dad, Kira?" I quizzed but she shrugged, her eyeline to the ground.

"Don't know." She replied half heartedly like she'd been let down. With a frown I looked up at the teacher who shrugged in response too. I quickly dialled Luke's number. After two rings he picked it up.

"Oh thank God." He rushed. "I'm running late to the school, they're going to charge me aren't they?" He sounded flustered like he'd been caught off guard and panicked. I sighed.

"It's fine, I've got it." I put the phone to my chest as I turned to the teacher. "Can I take Kira too? Her dad is on the phone if you want to speak to him?" She nodded and I passed the phone over. After a couple of seconds, she gave it back to me and nodded.

"Have a lovely evening you two. See you tomorrow!" The teacher waved us off as I held the phone back to my ear.

"I've got Kira. Take your time, don't rush. You can pick her up when you are ready." He sighed with relief, and I could practically feel the tension leave him.

"Thank you so much. I owe you one. I just need to grab something on the way home and I'll come and get her. Can you text me your address?"

"Sure, no problem." I said as we quickly said our goodbyes. I put my phone in my pocket and held both kids hands as we walked back to our flat. Opening the door, Kira and Cody rushed in excitedly. Kira ran in and out of every room making sure to take it all in, pointing out things that were similar - or dissimilar- to her house. I could tell it was exciting to her but also, she held back on saying some things that she really wanted to ask, as if she'd been told she couldn't say them before.

"Where are your stairs?" Kira asked Cody. Of course we didn't have an upstairs, but she must have lived in a house.

"We don't have stairs in our house. Only outside to get in." He explained.

"Oh." She said, seemingly disappointed. She couldn't help it, four year olds didn't have a filter but as always, it hit me hard. He'd been in school one day and our financial situation had already been disapproved of. Was it only downhill from here?