Welcome back to this second and last chapter I hope you enjoy!
Ch. 2 New Love, New Life
(ZIG)
"I have your money but it's at home," I tell Vince. Trying to remain calm while I feel the metal of the gun barrel against my skin.
"Let's go then and if you don't have my money you'll be missing a kneecap," Vince tells me.
He walks me out and forces me into his car and drives to the Matlin house. If Mrs. Matlin was home Vince would stay in the car, but she's not home she's at her physical therapy. So he comes inside with me, follows me to my room and watches me get the money from a fake book.
"Here, here's your damn money and now I'm out you understand me? I'm not doing this anymore I'm going to be a dad," I tell him shoving the money at him.
"No shit you got a girl pregnant? Let me guess the blonde stick that lives here?"
"No Bianca," I say with venom in my tone because I'm well aware of their past.
Vince looks at me with a fire in his eyes and then pistol whips me in the back of the head. I drop to the ground, my eyes flutter and then close as everything grows dim and then goes dark all together.
"Zig, Zig wake up!" Maya's panicked voice brings me back. She's standing over me with Miles.
"What time is it?" I question.
"It's still lunch time but I got worried when Tiny said he saw you driving off with his brother," Maya tells me just as Tiny walks in the room with an ice pack.
"Here for your face," he says handing me the ice pack.
"I can't stay in the gang, I'm going to the cops after school. Tiny you shouldn't go home, stay with Grace or something," I say to him as Miles helps me up.
"Come on we'd better get back to school now," Miles speaks up.
We get back to school just before the late bell rings and if anyone asks what happened to my face I just tell them I got into a fight. When class lets out at the end of the day I find Tiny waiting outside the police station.
"What are you doing?" I question.
"Coming to the police station with you, I know more about my brother's gang than anyone. He'll probably hate me but it's better than fearing for my life or yours."
"Thanks but you don't have to do this, he's your family," I reply.
"He's a pretty shitty brother, and anyway there's the family that you are given and the one that you make," Tiny responds putting his arm around my shoulders.
Maya is determined to come with us and Miles offers to drop us off at the police station and stick around to drive us home. So the four of us get back in Miles car and drive to the police station. We tell the officer at the desk why we're here and then Tiny and I are split up into different rooms to give our statements. It takes a couple of hours and Tiny is told not to go home so we take him to Grace's then Miles drops Maya and I off at home.
"I'm going to call Bianca," I tell Maya when we walk in the house and she nods.
"Hey what's up?"
"I just came from the police station. I'm still in the gang and Vince came to see me today, he's getting arrested right now though. I went to the police station with Tiny and we told the cops everything we know. I got immunity for testifying and Tiny isn't going home. I'll have to testify in court and I'm not sure how this will affect my current living situation. I think Maya is discussing that with her parents right now."
"Well there's only a few months left before school is out hopefully the Matlin's will let you keep living there until school is out and then you can move up here."
"Yeah me too, I could always drop out and move there now."
"No finish your year, it's important for you to be in school. I'm proud of you for going to the cops I know how hard that is."
"Yeah it was hard but I don't want him anywhere near you or our child."
(ADAM)
"Morning Adam," Clare smiles at me as she leaves the washroom Thursday morning.
"Morning," I grin back unable to take my eyes from her in her silver pajama bottoms and robe.
I go into the washroom and close the door. I've been living here a month now and somewhere in that time my feelings for Clare developed into more than that of a best friend. In all the time I've known Clare I've never seen her as anything but a best friend. She's always been Eli's girl and I've spent a lot of time with Clare in the time I've known her but now I can't get her off my mind. She's in my dreams and every time she's near me I get butterflies in my stomach. It's always been hard for me to talk to girls and tell them I like them, I have lots friends that are girls but when they know I'm tans they usually don't want any sort of romantic relationship with me. And I know that Clare would never stop being my friend but she's already dating Eli, and she's carrying my brother's child, talk about complicated!
"Dude you're taking forever in there hurry up some of us have to get to work," Eli calls knocking on the door. I realize I've been in here a while just thinking about Clare and how I can't have her and I'm in love with her.
"Sorry," I apologize as I open the washroom door.
"You okay?" Eli inquires squeezing his eyebrows together.
"Yeah fine," I nod quickly and go to my room to get dressed.
After a couple of weeks to adjust to being back and spending time with my parents, and far away from Drew or Dallas I returned to school on Monday. Having missed a whole year I have a lot to catch up on but because of special circumstances I was able to test of science and a couple other things. For most subjects I'm doing independent study and independent projects. I'd already done most of the reading list for seniors so I only had a few books to catch up on. I only participated in a couple of classes since the rest was independent study and Drew is not in any of my classes, such as university track math.
"I have an appointment this afternoon you want to come with us?" Clare asks as I sit down at the table.
"Uh I don't want to impose," I reply scratching the back of my head uncomfortably.
"Adam you wouldn't be imposing this is your nephew he's being named after you," Clare comments.
"You know you don't have to name him after me still, you were going to name him that when you thought I was dead," I remark.
"But I like the name Adam and I want to name him Adam. It's a good name, a strong name. I was thinking Adam Elijah," Clare says just as Eli comes down the stairs.
"I love it, both our name sakes it's perfect, Adam Elijah Goldsworthy-Torres," Eli grins kissing Clare's cheek.
"Actually since I'm the Mom I was thinking Adam Elijah Edwards," Clare corrects.
"That sounds good too," he grins.
"So are you coming with us Adam? The appointment's not until four," Clare says.
"Yeah I'll come, if you both want me there," I reply.
"Dude of course you're coming," Eli says.
"We better get to school," Clare comments looking at the clock.
"Doesn't Drew usually take you to the appointments? I mean since he is the dad," I remark as I drive us to school in Jake's old truck.
"He took me to exactly one appointment when we found out the baby's sex and decided on the name Adam. He hasn't been to any since because Becky doesn't like him spending time with me. As if I would ever touch Drew again," she says with disgust.
"Yeah the farther away we are from both of them the better for everyone," I nod. I park at the school and we walk inside, Zig and Tiny are on the steps in the foyer and we sit down with them.
"Still got your protection I see," Clare comments. She means the two cops that are standing outside the school. Since ratting on Vince and his gang Zig and Tiny had become targets for the gang. Most of the gang was in jail until trial but a few members were still out and one had taken a shot at Tiny just the other day. After finding that out Mrs. Matlin kicked Zig out of the house and he was living with Coach Armstrong who took him in after he found out Zig was homeless.
"Yeah but at least the trial is next week so we shouldn't need it after that," Zig comments.
"I hope not they're talking about relocating me," Tiny sighs.
"Bianca's coming down this weekend if you guys want to get together," Zig tells us.
"Yeah that would be good it would be nice to see Bianca again," I smile.
"It would be nice to talk to someone else who's pregnant and not in her thirties," Clare says and the bell rings so we all get up. Clare walks to class and I go to the library for independent study where I stay until lunch when I go get Clare from class.
"You want to eat outside? It's a nice day out," I comment.
"Yeah eating outside sounds good," she grins and links her arm with mine.
"So what happens at these appointments?" I question after we've sat down to eat.
"My doctor asks a bunch of questions and does an ultrasound and that's usually it," she replies.
"I haven't even been to one of these appointments," Eli says joining us at the picnic table and kissing Clare's cheek as he sits on the other side of her.
"Hey what are you doing here?" Clare smiles at her boyfriend.
"I'm on break I can only stay a few minutes but I wanted to come see you," he grins and Clare kisses him. "I wanted to see both of you, make sure Drew wasn't giving either of you any trouble. I'm happy to punch him again just say the word," Eli offers.
"Drew won't even look at me but Becky has no trouble glaring at me. I just find it best not to talk to either of them," I comment picking at my sandwich. Clare gives me a sympathetic smile and puts her arm around me and I smile. "At least I have you guys," I add and Clare grins and kisses my cheek. When her lips touch my cheek it excites my skin, like a ripple effect emanating from the spot where her perfect cherub lips tenderly touched my cheek. A breath hitches in my throat and I don't release the breath until Eli looks at me.
Eli stays for a few more minutes taking a little of Clare's lunch and then he has to get back to work. Clare and I both have math after lunch so we walk in together, we also have last period together and the afternoon goes by pretty quickly. Clare and I go to The Dot and begin on our homework until Eli is off work and it's time to leave for Clare's appointment. She checks in at the desk and we sit down until she's called back to a room. A nurse takes her weight and vitals then says the doctor will be in shortly. Eli and I sit in the two chairs that are in the room but there's also a rolling stool in the room I assume is for the doctor.
"Good afternoon Clare and who are these gentleman?" The female doctor asks as she comes in the room.
"This is my boyfriend Eli and that's Adam our best friend and the baby's uncle," Clare tells her.
"Nice to meet you both I'm Dr. Katrina Elfman, alright Clare why don't you lie back and let's get a look at the baby."
Clare lies back and the doctor puts gel on her belly and turns on a machine, then she puts the wand on Clare's belly and then a picture and a little tiny human appear on the screen. Eli and I are just awestruck that this little person is living and growing inside of Clare. I look at Clare and smile, entirely unable to take the grin from my lips or the love from my eyes for either Clare or the beautiful little boy within her. The doctor asks Clare a few questions while she moves the wand around and gets a through look at the baby. When she's done she wipes the gel from Clare's baby and tells her to go to the washroom and leave a urine sample and make another appointment for a month from now, which will be just before prom.
"You want to stop for dinner?" Eli questions.
"Can we get it to go I'm a little tired I want to go home and watch a movie with my guys," Clare says as we begin driving back home.
Helen and Glen are away visiting Jake in Vancouver so there's no one home. We decide to order in instead of stop and Clare picks out a movie she wants to watch. The three of us sit in the sofa and watch the movie with Clare between us. Eli pays for the food when it arrives and we eat.
"I'm going to take a long shower," Clare tells us when the movie is over.
"Enjoy it," Eli says kissing her softly. Clare smiles and goes upstairs and Eli and I start cleaning up. "I see the way you look at her," Eli comments as he begins washing dishes.
"What do you mean?" I question trying play dumb and hoping my best friend isn't about to hit me.
"It's okay I get why you fell in love with her, she's amazing and smart and beautiful. You should tell her how you feel," Eli says.
"But she's already dating you."
"I know but she still deserves to know how you feel and I think she might feel the same way," Eli tells me.
"I know she loves me as a best friend but she's been in love with you since I've known her."
"Just tell her how you feel. Come on I hear her getting out of the shower," Eli asserts taking my arm and pulling me upstairs. Clare comes out of the washroom in her robe and seems slightly startled by the two of us at the top of the stairs. "Adam has something to tell you," Eli informs her taking her hand and pulling us both into her room.
"What is it Adam?" She queries looking at me when the three of us are sitting on her bed.
"I'm in love with you Clare," I blurt out.
Clare bites her lip and looks a little guilty; looking over her shoulder at Eli he simply smiles at her and brushes a curl behind her ear.
"It's okay I know you're in love with Adam too and I know you're in love with me," Eli tells her and she smiles now.
"I knew it from the minute you came back, as soon as I saw you but I was so flooded by emotion, and after all that had happened Drew I didn't think…I am in love with you though," she says and then holding my face gently she leans in closing the gap between us our lips collide. A breath hitches in my throat and my entire body ignites at the feel of her lips on mine. She pulls out of the kiss after a moment and I release a breath and a huge smile, I think it's the most I've smiled since coming home. "I'm in love with both of you," she says looking at Eli with a smile before giving him a soft kiss.
"And we both love you, and I love Adam but I ain't kissing you dude," Eli tells me.
"Thank goodness," I laugh and Eli smirks, "the only lips I want to touch are these perfect ones," I comment gently running my finger over her lips and Clare blushes.
"So you think the three of us can fit in my bed?" Clare questions.
"I doubt it but you should sleep with Eli anyway I'm not ready to share a bed with you yet. You'll remember that physically I'm still a girl," I comment.
"Adam I don't care I know who you are," Clare insists and kisses me again. "At least we have three more days before we tell my parents the three of us are together."
"Well you already told them you were pregnant, telling them two boys are in love with you and you're in love with both of them can't be too hard," Eli comments and we all laugh.
The three of us stay up late talking mostly and when I'm ready to go to bed Clare kisses me goodnight. I fall asleep happy and have a wonderful sleep, we talked about me taking my GED and the three of us getting an apartment in New York next year and that's all I dream about. I wake up happy and eat breakfast with Clare since Eli's already left for work. I drive us to school and we go in to our lockers.
"I'll see you at lunch," Clare smiles giving me a tender kiss. She turns around and nearly bumps into my brother who's staring at us. "Please move," she hisses at Drew and he steps out of the way.
"Did Eli leave her or something?" Drew questions.
"No she's in love with both of us. Now get out of my way I want nothing to do you."
(CLARE)
"Finally we're done with high school," I grin getting my robe on.
"I took the GED I don't think I should be graduating with the rest of you," Adam says putting his robe on.
"Of course you should Adam you went through a lot and you worked really hard," I assert.
"I'm proud of both of you," Eli says kissing me and hugging Adam.
"So am I," Mom smiles snapping a picture of Adam and I in our gowns and then one of us with Eli.
The three of us have been in a three-way relationship for almost two months now. When my parents returned we had Adam's parents come over for dinner and we told them all together. It went far better than we thought it would, they were shocked and didn't entirely understand the whole dynamic of the relationship. Still they had decided that after all the three of us had been through we knew what we wanted. Plus Mom had thought I might die last summer and Adam's parents did think he was dead for several months so if we wanted to be in a polyamorous relationship they were just happy that we were alive. Telling Eli's parents was easy they were happy that we were all happy and that was the end of it. The whole school knew now, the teachers were the most shocked but we were all eighteen and most of them seemed to be contributing it to the fact that we were all in shock after Adam's return from the dead. Zig supported us, so did Jenna, Alli and even Dallas seemed happy for us. Becky went a little tirade about how it was wrong but it worked in our favor as it seemed to lose her what little friends she had. We'd be seeing both her and Drew today but hopefully this was the last we'd see of her ever again. I knew we'd probably see Drew again after all he was still Adam's brother but we were also leaving for New York in a few days so hopefully we wouldn't see Drew for a long time after today.
We'd already found an apartment, we had some financial help from the parents and we had student loans and grants. We got a studio loft apartment and about two weeks ago I had finally convinced Adam to sleep in the bed with me. Since my small bed wasn't large enough to fit the three of us the boys were currently trading off sleeping in my bed. In our new apartment though we'd have a queen and the three of us would sleep in it.
When Mom is done snapping pictures we leave together in her car for the school and the graduation ceremony. The first people we see upon arriving is Bianca and Zig kissing on the steps. The trial for Vince and his other gang members took three weeks; it wasn't a jury trial so it was expedited. With Tiny's testimony which included several shootings and murders committed by the gang, and Zig testifying to drug selling and other illegal actions the entire gang was sentenced to prison for various lengths of time. The shortest sentence was five years before any chance of parole. Just to be safe Tiny had been relocated under witness protection, it had been offered to Zig but his testimony was less damning and he only wanted to be with Bianca.
"Aww you two are sweet, much cuter together than you and Drew," I comment and they break apart.
"We just came from my prenatal and found out we're having a boy," Bianca grins.
"Awesome Adam Elijah will have a little friend," Adam grins.
"Yes he will, whenever we manage to visit anyway," Bianca replies.
"You grads had better get inside they're getting ready," Zig tells us so I grab Adam's hand and walk in.
Adam has to line up in front of Drew since it's alphabetical so I kiss him and get into my spot. The ceremony is like any other graduation ceremony and when it's over we get off stage to be with family and friends. Audra and Omar come over to hug Adam and tell them how proud they are, they hug me and Eli too. My mom and Audra snap a lot of pictures and then they let us go, there's a BBQ/party on the football field and that's where we all go. Eli, Adam and I grab some food and sit on the top of the bleachers with Bianca and Zig.
"So how's life in Waterloo?" Eli asks Zig. School was officially over last week but our graduation ceremony was today. As soon as school was out Zig went to Waterloo to be with Bianca and they had found a small apartment.
"Waterloo is okay but I'm happy to be with Bianca," Zig grins and she kisses him.
"You should come see us in New York sometime," I tell them.
"Awesome I love New York, maybe at the end of the summer while I can still move," Bianca comments.
"What do you suppose is going on over there?" Eli comments nodding toward a corner of the yard where Drew and Becky are arguing.
"My guess an epic breakup for some stupid reason or other, I bet Drew did something stupid," Bianca replies.
"Or Becky was a self-righteous bitch and Drew finally realized it," I comment.
We watch them fight for a few moments and then get bored. Bianca gets up to use the washroom and Eli gets up to get more food along with Zig.
"Adam can we talk?" Drew begs climbing up the bleachers to the two of us. "Please Adam you're still my brother and I can't let you move to New York without us talking," Drew pleads.
"You should talk to him Adam, you of all people know that life is too short," I tell him.
"I'll be right back," Adam says and gives me loving kiss and then he follows his brother down the bleachers.
I watch them go down to the grass and walk to the corner of the bleachers. Then I stand and turn around looking at the school for the last time. A lot has gone on here the last four years, some good and some bad, some things I wish I could take back and some memories I'll hold onto forever.
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Becky screams at me suddenly and when I turn to look at her she slaps me across the face as hard as she can. "You purposely got yourself pregnant to hold onto him and keep him from loving me," she spits at me.
"You're insane, I had sex with Drew because I thought I was in love with him he had no interest in you at the time. I think you never really liked Drew, I think you were just trying to hold onto a part of Adam but I ended up with the better Torres brother. Your whole family is nuts and the fact that you consider yourselves pious Christians frightens me now stay away from me," I hiss back at her and turn to walk down the bleachers and find Eli.
"Don't walk away from me you slut," Becky shrieks and grabs my arm trying to spin me back to her.
"Let go of me," I demand spinning back around just as I see Eli, Zig and Bianca running up the bleachers to us.
As I spin around I push Becky away from me and it's so much force that she not only lets go of me she falls back. The next few seconds seem to lay in slow motion, she falls back, her head hits the metal and there's a bone chilling snapping sound and Becky's eyes close as I gasp. Eli is with me now and I turn to him as he wraps his arm around me. More people run up the bleachers and I feel Adam holding me too.
"Winnie call an ambulance and get her parents," Coach Armstrong orders.
"I think we should go home now," Eli says and I nod.
We all go down the bleachers and back to my house, the three of us, my parents, Audra and Omar, Zig and Bianca and even Drew. The parents stay in the house and the rest of us go out to the backyard.
"I pushed her to let go of me I didn't mean for her to fall," I say with a shaky breath as the moment replays in my mind.
"It's okay Clare we know," Eli assures me taking my hand and Adam takes my other hand.
"She was angry because I broke up with her. Things have been bad between us since she found out you were pregnant and then things got worse when Adam was back and it's been getting worse and worse. I should have broken up with her a long time ago. I knew she was angry but I didn't think she'd confront you."
Drew continues to apologize, to all of us really, he says he misses his brother and he wants his brother back in his life. He knows he doesn't really deserve to be a part of baby Adam's life but he's hoping he can be. We forgive Drew at least partially but he knows he has a lot to make up for. The police come by to get statements but I lose it when I find out Becky died from a broken neck. There were multiple witnesses who told them it was an accident and Becky grabbed me so I pushed her to get her away and the death is ruled an accident. I don't remember much of the rest of the day or that night but we all cried some and I was in shock. I couldn't stand Becky, I loathed her but I never wanted her to die and accident or not I hand a hand in her death and now I have to live with that. Zig and Bianca leave at some point to drive to Waterloo. Drew and his parents also go home at some point and I fall asleep with Drew and Adam on the sofa.
"Morning how do you feel?" Eli asks when I wake up.
"I'm sad that Becky died because of her anger and that I was involved in the death of another. I'm excited to start our life together in New York," I reply and kiss him gently then wake Adam with a soft kiss.
"Morning, are you ready for an eight hour drive to New York?" Adam yawns.
"I am as long as I have you two. We should get up and changed, my parents will be up soon and your family will be over to say goodbye," I remark.
"I think," Eli says standing up and taking me in his arms, "when we reach Manhattan we should find a chapel and the three of us should get married."
Eli and Adam both smile and then get on their knees in front of me, "Clare will you marry me?"
"Yes I will marry you both that would make me extremely happy," I grin and they both stand smiling wide. I kiss Eli and then Adam passionately and excited for our new life in New York as a family.