Gionna cracked her eyes open on an early Saturday morning in late September, a dull ache in her lower back and feeling a bit nauseous… at first, the 17 year old figured she was still stressed from losing Dominic since she couldn't remember the last time she had been intimate with Dominic... but Gionna guessed it was late last month or earlier this month.
"Damn it… try to remember. It's the third week of September, when were you with him?" Gionna mutters to herself, thinking back and remembering the last time. September 8th, which was seven days before Dominic was killed by Billy Grey. Gionna wished Dominic hadn't left the night he was murdered but he reassured her that he was going to deal with Billy's craziness and then come back, then they would go to the movies like they usually did.
But Dominic never came back… and Gionna was left heartbroken and angry at Billy.
Gionna managed to stand up and readjust her pajamas before remaking her bed and walking to her dresser, grabbing some clothes and setting them out… it wasn't much longer before she couldn't hold it in and ran into her bathroom, crouching down near the toilet and throwing up. That was how Midnight found her and was immediately by Gionna's side, crouching down and rubbing Gionna's back until she stopped.
"Are you coming down with something?" Midnight asks, flushing the toilet and helping Gionna stand up.
"I hope not… last thing I need is to be sick right now." Gionna says after rinsing her mouth out with water.
Midnight helped Gionna back into the room and helped her lie down, Gionna absentmindedly playing with her hair that was tied back in a slightly messy ponytail. She had a feeling it wasn't a cold… and had a feeling Billy was going to be pissed off… but she had to tell someone.
"Midnight… can you go to the drugstore and get a pregnancy test for me?" Gionna asks, Midnight a bit startled but hugged Gionna.
"Whatever happens, it'll work out, little one." Midnight says before leaving. When she returned with the test, Gionna thanked her and took the test into the bathroom.
Gionna's P.O.V, A few minutes later…
I never really like waiting for news, the anticipation is sometimes worse than the news you get… I pace back and forth, waiting for the timer to go off. One blue line is negative, two lines is positive, try to remember that, Gionna!
The timer goes off and I grab the test, looking in the screen… and seeing the two lines I was hoping I wouldn't see. I'm pregnant… and this baby is never going to have the chance to know his or her dad because of what Billy did to Dominic!
"Gionna, you okay in there?" Midnight asks after knocking on the door. I unlock it and open it, showing her the test as tears streamed down my face. Midnight pulls me into a hug, rubbing her hand up and down my back.
I can't bring myself to go through with an abortion, even though I know that's what Billy's gonna try to force me to do. I couldn't imagine giving my baby up for adoption, it would break my heart… this is my baby… my choice. I'm keeping my son or daughter, no matter who tries to force me not to.
Midnight and I let go and I set the test down, deciding to tell my mom when she gets back from visiting my grandmother in Sicily, my grandmother having been sick lately… but as we get older, that happens to us. We all can't live forever.
"I'm gonna call Johnny." Midnight says, me looking at her in alarm. "He's one of our oldest friends, Gionna. He's basically family… and yeah, he's gonna be shocked at first but he'll want to help you." She says before dialing Johnny's number.
"Hey, M. What's up?" Johnny says.
"Gionna's gotten… into some trouble. She needs your help, Johnny." Midnight says, lightly rubbing my shoulder.
"Okay, I'll be over there soon." Johnny says before he and Midnight hang up.
Johnny's P.O.V
Something's wrong, I know it! I swear, if Billy hurt Gionna again, I'm gonna kill him!
It takes a while but I drive from Alderney to Saint Marks and end up at the Cipriani house. I do what I usually do and climb up the fire escape near Gionna's room, Midnight opening the window and letting me in.
The first thing I notice is that Gionna's pale, has been crying heavily and is shaking… she's terrified.
"What happened, kiddo?" I ask. Gionna picks something up off of her table and I see two lines in the display screen… oh, damn… no wonder she's shaking, she's scared I'm gonna yell at her. I pull her into my arms, trying to comfort her. "It's gonna be okay, kiddo." I say as she starts crying again.
Billy's gonna do more than yell at her though… he already killed Dominic, I'd hate to imagine what he's going to do to Gionna and the baby.
"Guys?" Midnight says, me and Gionna letting go. "I'd hate to bring this up but Billy's gonna find out eventually… what do we do when he does?" She says.
"There's no reason he has to know right away… after what he did." Gionna says, walking into her bathroom and throwing the test away before washing her hands and rejoining us.
"Even if he doesn't find out right away, you're gonna start getting the physical signs of pregnancy within a few weeks, Gionna, you're already experiencing morning sickness… but you're right, there's no reason for you to tell him right away, not after what he did." Midnight says.
"And I think you should make a doctor's appointment, just to make sure everything's okay with the baby… but you need to eat something first." I say, lightly rubbing my hand up and down her back before Midnight goes downstairs.
Midnight returned with some dry toast and a cup of herbal tea, Gionna thanking her and eating, me kissing her on her forehead before walking into the hallway with Midnight.
"Billy's gonna fucking lose it, you remember how pissed he was when he found out that they were together, right?!" Midnight whispers.
"Yeah, I remember… which is why none of us are gonna say anything to him just yet. Keep it as quiet as we can for as long as we can." I say.
I'm gonna do whatever it takes to protect Gionna and her baby… Billy's gonna have to realise he can't control her life.