Chapter two: Disappointment
POV: Miss Brewer (Jack's mom)
(a couple minutes before)
"Knock knock." I said happily as I pushed open Jack's door with my foot, being that my hands were full. What I walked into was the nucleus of the thing in Jack and my lives that we called 'everyday life' Jack's room was a mess, though he considered it to be 'cleaner than usual'
I was a clean freak, and every little thing bothered me. I saw that his dresser drawers had been shoved carelessly closed, catching his clothes so that they were poking out, causing the drawer to not be able to close all the way. He had draped his dirty clothes on top of the hamper, when I specifically told him every day that I liked it when he put them in the hamper, as it was made for said purpose. He had carelessly taken off his sneakers and they lay at the side of his bed; a tripping hazard if there ever was one. All this was null to me when it was just him in his room, but since he had a guest, I refrained from yelling at him about it.
"Mom, saying 'knock knock' isn't the same as knocking!" Jack cried, jumping up from his spot on the bed beside Kim Crawford. A lovely girl to say the least, dependable, the last person on earth you'd imagine to do something stupid. I laughed. "Take it easy, Jack. I thought you guys might like a snack." I set down a tray of fruit. "Thanks." I pretended to not notice him as he blushed, taking some of the fruit –obviously a failed attempt to hide it- I shook my head, smiling as I left. What had gotten into Jack? I thought about this as I made my way down the stairs. I stopped when I heard words from my son's mouth that caught my attention, "When are we going to tell them?" Tell who? What? Feeling very much like a snitch, I walked back up the stairs, now curious, and hoping, praying really, that the kids hadn't gotten themselves into any kind of trouble.
"Sorry, I'm hungry!" I heard Kim cry, her voice muffled, like she had food in her mouth. I heard Jack laugh softly, then clear his throat. There was an uncomfortable silence, before I heard his prompting 'so…' After a few moments, I heard her cry out. "I don't know!" I heard movement. "What are you doing?" Jack asked. The door was partially open, but only a little bit. I stuck my head in enough that I could see them.
Kim was on Jack's laptop and was typing furiously. I saw Jack slide next to her and cock his head to look at what she was typing. I saw realization light up his face and he nodded. "Ah, here we go." Kim smiled and I saw her tap her finger on the little pad. She began chewing on her thumb nail while both their eyes scanned the page. What on Earth were they reading? "Okay, so we have about another months…" Kim said at last, closing the laptop. "Before I won't be able to hide it anymore."
My mind raced. What were they hiding? I drew my head out of the doorway when I felt it was no longer safe to have it there now that their eyes were no longer focused on the screen. Part of me wanted to believe this was some kind of silly kid-thing, but another part of me couldn't help dreading that they'd done something terrible. What if they'd killed someone? Crap…
"Are you sure you want to wait that long? I mean, your parents aren't going to be enthusiastic as it is for you to have kept this from them for so long…" Jack began. "I'm sorry, I was scared, okay?" Kim cried. "No." She finally said in a rude tone. I heard her sigh and some movement. "I'm still trying to figure out what to tell them." I heard her murmur.
"I know! I can tell them that you raped me!" I heard her cry. My eyes widened. Whaaat? "Really? You're seriously going to do that to me?" I heard jack say. Kim snorted. "Oh, hey mom, dad, Jack raped me." She said in a mock-giddy voice. I rubbed my ears, trying to make myself hear what they were actually having a conversation about. Because my ears had to be deceiving me!
"Kim, you aren't taking this seriously!" I heard Jack accuse. "What makes you think I'm not?" She cried. "I'm suffering from this more than you are!" She told him. "Oh? Are you now? Well, guess who's the one who is going to have to stare awkwardly at the floor as we tell your parents; and then run away screaming as your father cracks his knuckles?" Jack cried.
"Guess who has to go through the pain of childbirth? Huh? Gotcha there!" She cried. My eyes popped, oh dear Lord no… "Would you keep it down? My mom's downstairs." Jack shushed her. That was it. I stepped into the doorway. "No she's not." I told them. They spun around to see me standing in the door, a stern look on my face, my hands on my hips. "Jack, anything you want to tell me about?"
POV: Jack Brewer
(same time where last left off with him)
I literally felt like my heart was going to explode, as I stood there, staring at my mother as she glared at us. "Well? Do you mind telling me what's going on?" She asked. Kim grabbed my arm and started yanking on it, murmuring to me. I glanced at her. What in the world was she saying?
I kept glancing at her and back at my mother. Kim finally released me and I fixed my shirt. "Jack! I'm waiting!" My mother tapped her foot impatiently, crossing her arms. I took a deep breath. "Mom… I began, hating how awkward this was. "Kim, and…I…" I mumbled 'I'. "…Are… going, to…ha-mnnn…UMMM, we…." I bit my lip. She raised her eyebrows.
"Spit it out, Jack." She told me. I sighed. "Kim and I are having a baby!" I blurted it out, wincing. I opened my eyes when my mother didn't reply after a few seconds. I felt how tense Kim was next to me. I put an arm around her waist to comfort her, and it also seemed to let what I'd said set in.
"Jack! How, how could you?! You do realize you're only fourteen years old?" Mom cried, looking like she was ready to burst into tears. I winced again. "I know, mom, it was a huge mistake, I know." I told her. My mom let out a cry and covered her face. "Mom?" I asked, coming over to her. She pushed me away. "Don't, just, don't" She told me, turning around, back out my door, her head in her hands, pulling at her hair, I shared a glance with Kim. She offered me a helpless shrug. I sighed and chased after her.
"Mom, mom, listen to me!" I cried, trotting at her side. She wasn't listening to me, at all. She was murmuring to herself as she grabbed her car keys. "No! Mom, hold on, just let me-" She slammed the front door in my face. "-explain…" My shoulders drooped. Kim came up behind me and wrapped her arms around me. I grabbed her hands and hugged her arms to my chest. I let my head tilt back and brush the top of hers. "Oh Kim, what are we going to do?"
POV: Miss Brewer (Jack's mom)
(right after leaving)
So many thoughts jumbled through my mind that I wasn't even thinking as I grabbed the keys and went for a drive. I always drove when I was stressed. It helped me to let out my anger through the honks of my horn at people who didn't know how to drive.
Kim was with child. With Jack's child. That night a couple months ago when Kim spent the night, they must have had more fun than I thought…. My mind told me as I turned onto the highway. I looked for a back road I could cruise along. I didn't usually take on the freeway when I was loaded with thoughts as stressing as the ones I carried now.
I turned down a back road and allowed my thoughts to wander. Jack was only fourteen. He was much too young to be a father. And Kim? Oh Kim. She wasn't going to have an easy time of this. Full grown women had their troubles with childbirth. This was going to be especially stressful on her. I sighed.
Jack needed to do the right thing. He needed to ask Kim to be his wife. I recoiled at that thought. He was so young… I shook my head. It didn't matter. He still needed to do the right thing. Kim shouldn't have to suffer for this mistake by being forced to raise her child, their child on her own.
It didn't matter how young they were. If they were old enough to have… shiver, that. They were old enough to get married. I wondered silently if Kim had been to a doctor -probably not- and I wondered how far along she was.
I sighed and did a U-turn. I was ready to go back and talk to Jack. Jack, knowing me very well, would know I had just gone out to clear my head because what he'd said had surprised me.
I parked the car in the driveway and pulled out the key. I sat silently for a moment, composing what I was going to say to them. I needed to be sensitive, but firm, caring, but strict. Very… very strict… I sighed. "Okay." I got out of the car and walked slowly up to the door and went back in.
I heard voices coming from the living room. I stopped in the kitchen for a moment. Not wanting to barge into their privacy, but curious about what they personally thought about this.
"…do you think we should have an abortion?" Kim asked. "No! Kim, I think we should take responsibility for this and… I think it's too late for one anyway… I really don't know much about stuff like that." Came his immediate reply. I was proud of him for not wanting to take the easy way out.
"But Jack, I-I don't think I'm ready for all this…" I heard Kim whimper. I peeked around the corner and saw Jack holding her hands firmly. "Kim, Kimmy. It's okay. We'll get through this." He murmured to her. Kim was sniffing and looked ready to break down in tears. "B-but your mother doesn't approve…" She was a strong girl, it was upsetting to see her like this.
"Of course she doesn't, but can you blame her?" He murmured, rubbing her cheek affectionately with his thumb. "Don't worry; she just took off like that to clear her head… she does that sometimes." He assured her quietly. I chose that moment to walk in. "Mom!" Jack jumped up. "Mom, listen to me, just let me explain." He begged, coming over to me, his eyes pleading.
At the sight of me, poor Kim had let out a tiny squeal and curled up on her side, covering her face with a pillow. Hiding. I clutched my hands delicately in front of me, staring at my son. "Go ahead." I told him softly. He had apparently thought he wouldn't get this far, so it took him a minute.
"Okay mom, I know this looks bad, a-and it kind of is, but, we made a mistake, a-and we're willing to try to fix it." He told me, walking over to Kim and helping her stand. He took the girls hands. She was acting very shy at the moment, hiding her face on Jack's shoulder. He hugged her close to him. It was touching to see how close they wer, but I still was very mad at just how close they'd been.
I bit my lip. I just wanted to protect my son. My baby. And now my baby was going to have a baby. And my baby was too young for that kind of responsibility. He looked down at Kim. She nodded. He looked back up at me. "…An, if it makes you happier, we're both willing to give the baby up for adoption after their born." He said quietly, his eyes downcast.
I shook my head, wiping away my tears as I held out my arms and walked towards them, engulfing them in a hug. "Oh, honey. I would never make you do that." I whispered softly, my voice overflowing with emotion. Both teens seemed to relax.
Jack started talking again after I released them. "We've been talking, and, we know we're kind of young. But we want to raise the kid, and give them a good life. We don't want them to suffer because of our mistakes." He stared at the floor.
"Brave words for one so young." I said, my voice wavering. "Kim, sweetie?" The frightened girl looked up at me, her eyes red. "Do you mind if I talk with Jack for a minute, alone?" I asked. She looked up at Jack and he nodded. She peeled her fingers from being interlocked with his and slowly walked away, glancing back at him, before going up the stairs to Jack's room.
I turned to Jack and motioned for him to sit down. I sat across from him. He looked me in the eye, though it looked like he had to put a lot of effort into it, which I thought was very mature of him. "Jack, sweetie." I began. "You know that poor girl is going through a lot right now." He hung his head at this. "And you know what the right thing to do is, don't you?" he looked up at me, looking like he had an idea, but wasn't sure.
"You need to ask her to marry you." I told him. He stared at me. "Bu-" I cut him off. "Now Jack, before you go saying something about being too young, I want you to hear this, you're not too young to be married if you're not too young to do things in bed you shouldn't." I told him. His face turned bright red, and I knew I'd embarrassed him, but he needed to hear what was on my mind.
He glanced over at where Kim had disappeared up the stairs. "Right now?" He asked, looking back at me. "No, give her a little while to get over this, a couple weeks maybe. Give her time to straighten this out with her parents, and then ask." I told him. "What if she says no?" He asked. I shrugged. "Then you would have at least tried to do the right thing." I told him.
"Okay." He finally said. I offered him the strongest smile I could muster. He sighed. "I'm going to walk Kim home. We have a lot to discuss with her parents…" He puffed out his cheeks and stared blankly ahead for a moment, as if fast-forwarding in his mind to the awkward conversation ahead of him. "Okay." He sighed again and stood.
"Do you want me to come with you over to the Crawford's?" I asked. He stared at me for a moment, as if considering, then shook his head. "No, I think Kim and I need to deal with this on our own." He told me. I nodded, understanding. If I were there, the Crawford's might think I was forcing Jack to come clean.
"Kim?" He called, walking over to the stairs. "Yeah?" The still-sniveling girl appeared at the top of the stairs. "Come on, I'll walk you home."
POV: Jack Brewer
(when they get to Kim's House)
Kim and I had talked the entire time we walked to Kim's house. We had enough time to go over what we were going to tell her parents. No matter how many times we went over it, nothing could have prepared us for that moment.
"You ready for this?" I asked quietly as we stood on the doorstep. "Not really." She admitted. I put my arm around her. "Come on." I told her. She unlocked the door and we stepped in. We walked into a mess. Kim's little sister was playing on the floor, with practically every toy from her room out. "Jack!" She squeaked, gleefully throwing herself at me.
"Hey!" I laughed picking up the twelve-year-old. She giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist, hugging me. She very sweetly planted a kiss on my cheek. "Olivia!" Kim laughed, rolling her eyes. "Sorry Jack." I shrugged. "She does this every time, I'm fine with it." I told her. "Kim?" Kim's mother's head popped around the corner.
"Hey mom." Kim walked into the kitchen. I stayed in the living room with Olivia. "Look, I got a new doll!" She cried, excitedly showing me a little baby doll. "Wow." I said with baby-talk enthusiasm. "That's awesome." She grinned ear-to-ear, flipping her hair and fluttering her thick eyelashes. I laughed. Kim and her mother came out of the kitchen. Her mother was drying her hands. "Hey Jack!" She smiled at me. "Hey miss Crawford."
"Kim says you guys want to have a talk with me and her dad?" She asked, question in her voice as she sat down. I nodded. Kim picked up her little sister from my lap and grabbed a few of her toys. "Come on, Livi, why don't you go play in your room." She told her.
"No! I want to stay here with Jack." She protested. "Then why don't you play in my room?" She suggested. Olivia considered this, since Kim never let the mischievous girl play in her room. "Okay." She finally agreed, squirming out of Kim's grasp to grab some of her favorite toys and scamper off. "Oh, and I'm too old for you to pick me up anymore, Kim!" She screamed from down the hall before the door slammed. Kim rolled her eyes. I laughed and shook my head.
Miss Crawford had disappeared. "Hun? Jack's here, he and Kim say they want to talk to us?" I heard her call. Kim came over and sat next to me. She gave me a nervous glance. I took her hands. "It's gonna be okay." I told her quietly. She nodded, biting her lip. Mister and miss Crawford appeared around the bend.
"Okay, what is it you'd like to say?" Miss Crawford asked after they'd sat down across from us. Now that it was finally time, I found myself stuck for words. I nudged Kim with my elbow, letting her know it was her turn to break the news, after all they were her parents. "M-mom, dad…" She began. They looked at us with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Kim cleared her throat. "W-we have something to tell you." She was groping for my hand. I took her hand in both of mine. That seemed to give her more strength. "Jack and I, made a mistake, and we wanted to tell you before… too much time went by." She told them. Her dad looked ready to kill something, his eyes were narrowed. Thank God her mom looked calm.
"Go ahead and tell us, sweetie." She prompted. Kim nodded, taking a deep breath. "Jack, and I, are… going to have a baby." The shock on her mother's face very quickly turned into upset. I glanced at her father. He was glaring at me with clenched fists. I shrank back. "Now, daddy! Before you get mad at jack, it wasn't his fault! It was-" I interrupted her, not wanting her to get in any more trouble than was necessary, not wanting her to tell them she had started the whole thing that night by taking her shirt off…. "Both of our faults equally, sir." I told him.
He continued to stare at me frostily. I swallowed hard. This wasn't going to end well. "Jack, I'd like to talk to you alone, for a minute." Mister Crawford said coolly. I nodded, standing up. He led me into the kitchen. I stared awkwardly at him. He leaned back against the counter and stared a hole in me. I blinked, clearing my throat.
"Jack." He started, his voice impressively controlled. "I had always thought you were a boy that could be trusted. I always saw other teens and would always think that they would do something like this, but I never dreamed you, of all people would take advantage of my daughter like this." His voice wavered from the calm, collected murmur to a soft growl.
I swallowed again, struggling to maintain eye contact. "Sir, it was a mistake, and I'm very sorry it happened. We both are." I said, gesturing with a jerk of my head toward the living room. "But no matter how much I wish we could take it back, we can't. Kim and I are prepared to do the right thing and try to fix this."
He crossed his arms. "Oh really? And what would 'the right thing' be, in your mind?" He asked, obviously thinking I had no idea. "I'm going to ask her to marry me, and I'm going to help her raise our child." I told him, looking him in the eye. He looked surprised. He blinked. "My mother made a point, that if we weren't too young make a mistake as big as this, we're certainly not too young to make it right. And in her eyes, and mine, that is the way to do it." I told him.
He stared at me, then nodded slowly. "Alright. As much as I am against this, I'm pleased to see you are ready to do the right thing." He told me. "Thank you sir." I said meekly. He nodded and pat me on the shoulder and walked me back into the living room.
Kim snatched my hand and gave me a questioning look. I mouthed, 'I'll tell you later' and she nodded. "I'm proud of you both for telling us, but why didn't you tell us sooner?" Miss Crawford asked fretfully. "How far along?" Mister Crawford asked. "About six months." Kim replied. I glanced at her. Indeed, she wasn't wearing a tight shirt, it was baggy to hide the signs she was no doubt showing.
Mister Crawford shook his head, sighing. "You two are in big trouble." He told us. "And I mean big, you young lady, are getting your hide tanned, as soon as your special delivery shows their face." He told her, the fainted gleam of a tease in his eyes. I could help but smile. "You think I'm kidding? HA, no." He leaned back, crossing his arms, his right ankle resting on his left knee.
I sighed, staring at Kim's hand in mine. I glanced up at her parents, who continued staring at us. The silence had gone far beyond awkward by now. Finally, I felt the need to break it. "I better be getting home." I told them, standing. They nodded.
Kim's father walked me to the door. "I'm glad you're not mad, sir." I told him as he stood in the doorway and I stood on the front porch. He shook his head. "Not mad, just disappointed." He told me, closing the door. I stared at the door for a moment. I hadn't made him mad, I had done something worse. I'd disappointed him. He used to have respect for me and now, he'd lost all of that respect. I had once treasured Kim's father as a sort of father figure in my life, because I had none. And now, having disappointed him, I felt terrible.
I sighed and turned, walking heavily down the steps and to the road. My thoughts were as heavy as my legs as I plodded home. I glanced back at Kim's house once more before it was out of my sight. "We can fix this, Kim."
(A/N: i hope you liked, please review, with names and genders! I want to know what you think the baby should be! I'm going to be putting a poll up on my page about it, please participate!