It took him a few seconds to process what she had said. His daughter, his precious, perfect little girl just told him that she was pregnant.
"You're pregnant?" He gulps.
"Yeah," Veronica replies not moving a muscle.
"Care to elaborate?"
"Not really," She answers truthfully as Wallace turns her around. He holds her hand.
"Please do anyway. It isn't Duncan's right?"
"Of course it's not Duncan's. If it were Duncan's don't you think you would have known by now?"
"So?" Keith asks in confusion.
"It's a long story," Veronica comments.
"I have plenty of time,"
"I'm just going to make it a long story short. Wallace came over, somehow we ended up drunk, I don't remember anything til the next morning. He was in my room. Then I realized I was pregnant the end," Veronica rattles off quickly hoping he wouldn't catch half of it.
"The end?" Keith rants.
"Uh huh," Veronica replies nodding her head.
"Try again," Keith demands.
"Look I don't know what happened exactly..."
"You got my daughter pregnant?" Keith rages at Wallace.
"Dad please just calm down," Veronica requests.
"Fine,"
"Look can we skip playing the blame game? None of that matters. Not now, not ever. I'm having a baby with Wallace I'm sorry if I disappointed you, but I'm not sorry that this happened. It's not something I thought would happen especially not under these circumstances, but It did and I'm ok with that," Veronica got out the words that had been planted in her head for such a long time.
"Veronica you are too young to have a baby. You're still a baby,"
"That isn't the point. I'm having a baby regardless of what you think or say. I didn't do this on purpose, and I didn't do it to make you mad. And I'm not a baby,"
"Veronica how are you going to pay for a kid?"
"I don't know," She replies honestly.
"Look Keith I understand you're upset, but would you please try to get over that and try to help us?" Wallace asks.
"My baby is having a baby?"
"Dad I'm not a baby,"
"Veronica I know you're not a baby, but you're my baby,"
"Look I just want you to understand that even though this wasn't planned I refuse to consider it a mistake,"
"Mistake? Veronica of course it's a mistake you haven't even graduated high school yet,"
"So what? In a few days I'll graduate and then that'll be taken care of. I'm an adult I can make my own decisions," Veronica shouts.
"I can see that. And I can see that the decisions you make aren't very good ones,"
"I'm not going to do this. If you can't deal with it I'll leave,"
"Veronica don't leave. I'm not done talking to you yet,"
"What else could you possibly have left to say?"
"Is it too late to..."
"To what? Have an abortion? Are you kidding me? I would never do that. I wouldn't even consider doing. Why would you even suggest that?" Veronica rages.
"I don't want you to have a baby Veronica."
"Look Mr. Mars I understand that you don't want Veronica to have a baby. I know you think that she's too young, but it isn't your decision," Wallace steps in.
"Veronica how pregnant are you?"
"Why does it matter?"
"I just want to know,"
"I'm four months pregnant,"
"Four months? You're joking right?"
"No I'm not," Veronica shakes her head.
"Veronica why don't we leave for a while and let your dad cool down?" Wallace suggests.
"Ok," She agrees.
Wallace gets in the drivers seat, but makes sure Veronica is ok before pulling out.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine,"
"Where do you want to go?" Wallace asks.
"Let's go to your house," She sighs.
"Why?"
"We might as well tell both of our parents in one day. I don't want to wait,"
"Ok," Wallace agrees as he turns on the car.
As they drive to Wallace's house Veronica is filled with thought. She knew her dad wouldn't be happy, but she didn't know he would take it that badly. She wished that she could make it all better. She never wanted to disappoint her dad. And how was she going to tell Wallace's mom. Who knows how she'd react. She really didn't want to have to go through all of that again, but she didn't have a choice. Why couldn't she just wait until the baby was born to tell people. They couldn't yell at her then.
"We're here," Wallace says softly.
"Ok," Veronica says as she gets out of the car.
They walk into Wallace's house. It's quiet. Wallace calls out, "Mom are you home?"
Alicia comes into the kitchen where they're standing.
"What do you need Wallace?" She smiles.
"Uh can we talk to you?"
"Sure,"
"You might want to sit down," Veronica advises.
"Why?" Alicia wonders in horror as she takes a seat at the kitchen table.
"Mom..." Wallace pauses trying to figure out the best way to tell his mother.
"What Wallace?" Alicia asks.
"Uh... nevermind"
"Veronica what is he trying to tell me?" Alicia gesticulates as she looks at Veronica.
"He's trying to tell you that I'm pregnant," Veronica confesses.
"Oh... you are?" Alicia asks trying to figure out how it relates to her, other than Wallace being Veronica's friend.
"Mom I'm trying to tell you that I'm the one that got Veronica pregnant," Wallace sighs with relief.
"That's funny you two," Alicia smiles.
"No it's not mom. I'm serious,"
"Really?"
"Yes really," Wallace confirms as he pulls the picture out of the back pocket of his pants.
"What's this?" Alicia asks as she squints at the picture.
Wallace turns it the other way so it isn't upside down and then replies, "That's my daughter,"
"What? It can't be," Alicia studies Veronica for a second and then resumes speaking, "Veronica doesn't look pregnant. She looks skinnier than normal,"
"It is. I am pregnant. I've been so sick that I've actually lost weight though,"
"How far along are you?"
"She's four months mom,"
"I don't understand all of this I guess. I mean you two are best friends, you're not..."
"I know. It's a long story..."
"Are you going to fill me in on any of it?" Alicia asks.
"I'm ashamed to admit it, but we ended up drunk and that's how it happened. I'm sorry to have to put you through this," Wallace apologizes.
"So you two are having a baby?" Alicia asks more out of shock than anger.
"Yeah," Wallace admits.
Alicia is speechless. The three of them sit there silently waiting for the other to say something. None of them can seem to figure out what to say.
"So did you tell Keith?" Alicia gulps.
"Yeah," Veronica sulks.
"So what did he say?" Alicia wonders.
"He freaked out. I don't think that I can fix it," Veronica reveals on the brink of tears.
"I'll go talk to him," Alicia announces as she heads toward the door.
"Thank you," Veronica vocalizes just above a whisper.
Both Wallace, and Veronica are relieved that Alicia didn't take the same way Keith did. And that Alicia was going to talk to Keith. If anyone could talk some sense into him it was her. Neither Veronica or Wallace could figure out why them of all people were put in this situation. They were supposed to be happy, but they felt defeated. All they wanted was for everything to be ok. They were just kids, and they were having one of their own. They didn't know how they were going to take care of a baby. They didn't know how they were going to provide for her, and give her what she needed. All they knew is that they were in it together. Some how they'd find a way. They just didn't know how. They weren't sure if they'd reach the breaking point before then, but they hoped that it would all work out in the end.