A/N: Just so everyone's clear, none of the characters are mine. I have not had a tonne of experience writing so hopefully it is up to everyone's standards. I welcome constructive critism, so feel free to comment. Enjoy!
One Rule Broken: Chapter 1
Kerry is laying in bed trying to process the information she received only 5 days and 9 hours prior to this very moment. Life has been a whirlwind for her lately, things have been happening left, right and centre to throw her world off it's axis. Since her father's death just over three months ago, nothing has been going as planned. Kerry had started out her grieving process by doing things she has now come to regret. Even at the time she knew what she was doing was wrong, but that didn't stop her. If she could do it all over, she would. She would give anything to be out of the position that she is in right now.
She doesn't know how much longer she can keep her secret. All she wants is someone to talk to, someone who won't judge but will give her the love that she needs. Even though her Mom would be perfect for the job she's definitely not ready to talk to her about it yet. It's too big, and she would know soon enough. Looks like Bridget is her only option. As crazy as it might sound, Kerry actually thinks she can trust Bridget with the information she's preparing to give her. She looks at the clock on the table beside Bridget's bed; it reads 1:03 am. She decides that since she's not going to be sleeping anytime soon, maybe now would be a good time to talk with Bridget. She gets out of bed, pulls on a large sweater and walks over to Bridget's bedside to begin the process of waking her. "Bridget, wake up," she says while shaking her sister's sleepy body.
"Go away! It's like two o'clock in the morning!" Bridget replies, still half asleep.
"Please Bridget," Kerry pleads, "I want to talk to you."
"Forget it! Can't you see that I'm sleeping?" she asks.
"Not anymore," Kerry retorts.
"Well, I wish I were sleeping!"
"Bridget!" Kerry cries angrily.
"Fine." Bridget sits up in bed. "What do you want?"
"I want to go for a drive."
"Are you crazy? Mom would kill us!"
"She's asleep. Besides she doesn't have to know."
"Okay."
"Wow that didn't take much persuasion."
"You had me at 'lie'," says Bridget smugly.
"I didn't say we were going to lie!"
"It was implied."
"I didn't even know you knew the meaning of the word implied," Kerry states.
"I looked it up in the dictionary," Bridget says proudly.
"That's a first."
"I know, right?"
"Just come on," Kerry says pulling Bridget out of their room by the hand.
"Wait. I need a sweater."
"Well then, hurry up."
"I'm coming, I'm coming! Gosh, someone's in a rush."
The two girls head quietly out of the house and get into the car with Kerry in the driver's seat. She begins to wonder if she's really ready to talk yet, maybe a couple more days wouldn't hurt. What's the use in procrastinating? She's got Bridget now so she might as well stick to her half thought out plan. She starts to drive, not knowing where she wants to go, her only intention is to get away from home.
"So, where are we going?" Bridget asks.
"I don't know…somewhere," Kerry answers nondescriptly.
"Great, way to be specific," Bridget says. After a short silence she asks, "Why did you want to leave in the first place?"
"I'm not really sure. I guess I feel kind of alone. Mom's always working and Rory, well… he's just weird. Dad was the only person who would really make an effort to figure me out. I don't know I just need someone to talk to."
"Ok, what do you want to talk about?"
"Stuff…"
"Well let's get some coffee first, you like coffee."
"Actually, I'd rather not stop." Kerry knows she shouldn't have coffee and ordering decaf would probably make Bridget suspicious, not that it really matters anyway.
"You don't want coffee?" Bridget asks in shock, "Is there something wrong with you?"
"No, I'm fine. I just don't want any."
"Uh-huh," she's still not convinced.
"Really, I'm ok," Kerry attempts to reassure her sister.
"Fine."
"Good."
They continue to drive in silence, but it's not long before Kerry finds her bladder warning her to find somewhere with a toilet. "I have to go to the bathroom," she tells her sister.
"You're kidding me?"
"No, I have to go really bad."
"You just said you didn't want to stop."
"Well, now I need to pee!"
"There was a bathroom at the coffee place."
"I'm stopping at this gas station."
"Okay, whatever."
Kerry parks at a nearby gas station and gets out of the car leaving Bridget waiting for her in the passenger's seat. She runs inside and tries to hurry. "So, did you have a good pee?" Bridget asks when Kerry enters the car.
"Eww, Bridget!"
"What? You said it first."
"Yes, I had a good pee."
"Ha! See, you said it again!"
"Oh, shut-up," Kerry says before getting a little more sentimental, "Thanks for coming Bridget, this means a lot to me."
"No problem. Me and Kyle used to get up in the middle of the night all the time."
Kerry decides to ignore that comment. "I can talk to you about anything right?" she asks.
"Yeah of course! We're sisters remember?"
There is silence once again as Kerry thinks about how she is going to tell her sister about the news that has haunted her these past few days. She could be totally blunt or she could try to ease into it. Either way, she would have to make her mind up sooner or later. "Bridget, I'm pregnant." She chooses to be blunt.
"What!?!" Bridget asks, taken aback, "How?"
"Bridgie, do we need to have the talk?" Kerry says mockingly.
"No, I mean with who, Kyle?"
"Yup."
"Oh my gosh, when?"
"After Dad died…we only did it once though."
"You're kidding!" Bridget can't seem to grasp what Kerry has just told her. This so isn't like her.
"No, I'm really not," she says looking noticeably ashamed.
"How was it?" Bridget whispers.
"Bridget!!!"
"Right, sorry totally inappropriate."
"You think?"
"I'm not even going to ask where."
"Good!" Kerry says angrily.
"It wasn't on my bed was it?"
"Eww, no!"
"I thought you were acting strange...and those loose clothes so don't suit you."
"Hey, they're comfortable okay!" Kerry says, "Way to make me feel better!"
"Oops, that probably wasn't the best thing to say was it?" she asks as Kerry begins to cry, "Look, I'm sorry, you look fine."
"It's not that," Kerry reassures her through tears, "Dad would be really disappointed in me."
Bridget gives her sister a sympathetic look. "You can't drive while you're crying, pull over and we'll switch places."
"Kay," she manages through sniffles.
Kerry parks on the side of the road but instead of getting out of the car, Bridget pulls Kerry into her arms. Kerry continues to cry hysterically in the comfort of her sister's embrace. She's finally got exactly what she needs, a shoulder to cry on. Bridget just sits there holding her sister, still recovering from the shock of what she had been told. She realizes that she needs to be a source of comfort for her sister who was already the 'Moody Middle Child'. "It's okay," she says and gives her a little squeeze. Kerry just continues to cry.
When Kerry's tears have finally dried up she looks at the clock. "We should probably start driving again."
"Yeah, it's almost 3:00."
"You won't tell Mom, or anyone for that matter?"
"I won't, I promise, but Mom's going to find out eventually."
"I just need to wait until I'm ready."
"My lips are sealed."
"Thanks." Kerry sniffles one last time and smiles at her sister before beginning to drive back home.
