"Okay, thank you anyway..."
Carolyn sighed, regretting the choice to remove her headphones. She caught the end of her mother's conversation down the hall with someone else on her list of everyone in Stoneybrook who might know where Marilyn was. Glowering darkly, she put her headphones back in place and cranked up the music.
But soon her own phone rang. (Rather, the phone she shared with Marilyn that stayed in her room.) She wouldn't have known it if the phone hadn't lit up when it rang, displaying neon colors. She removed her headphones and leaned across her bed, grabbing the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Carolyn. It's Jackie-"
"JACKIE RODOWSKY, WHERE ARE YOU? WHERE'S MARILYN?"
"Carolyn, calm down!" Jackie whispered. "Marilyn's right next to me. She's sleeping so keep your voice down."
"She's... sleeping? Is she okay? What's going on?"
Jackie sighed heavily. "She's fine. We're in the car. We have something important to tell... everyone. Can you call my family and tell them to come over to your house? It's really important." Jackie paused. "Tell them I didn't wreck the car or anything."
Carolyn was silent for a moment. "Alright, I'll do my best to get everyone together. How soon will you be here?"
Jackie shrugged. "I guess in twenty minutes. See you then."
"Okay. See ya." Carolyn hung up and began dialing the Rodowsky's number.
Marilyn stirred again, her eyes fluttering open. For a moment, she lost track of where she was. Had it all been an awful nightmare? She turned over and found herself looking a stone-faced Jackie. It had grown dark by now. The lights from the dashboard cast shadows on Jackie's face.
She cleared her throat. "Was I asleep?"
Jackie nodded. "Yeah, for a long time. Did you sleep well?"
"Mm," Marilyn mumbled, sitting up straighter in her seat. "My head feels kind of fuzzy. I have aspirin in my purse." She paused, looking at her lap. "But I probably shouldn't take it."
"I guess not. We can call Dr. J and ask her." Jackie replied, staring straight ahead. "I'm taking you home now, Mar."
"Home," Marilyn blinked several times. "Oh, no, Mom. Dad." She covered her face with her hands. "Carolyn. Oh, god. What'll I say?"
"We already went through this, Mar." Jackie said softly. "My parents are there, too."
"Oh," Marilyn closed her eyes, remembering how they'd decided to tell both of their families at once. They'd worked out every detail before, but now Marilyn couldn't remember how she'd planned to break the news. She stared out the window for a long time before saying anything else. Finally, she spoke up. "Jackie, I'm scared of them. Of what they'll do."
"I'm scared, too. But it's better we tell them sooner than later."
Marilyn just nodded. After another quiet moment, she thought of something else and spoke up. "After we tell our families, I want to keep it quiet. I just want to act like everything's normal until after graduation. Can we try to do that?" She sounded doubtful, as though she were asking herself, too.
"We can try." He gave her a reassuring smile, even though he had his doubts, too. "I don't think we should tell anyone else yet."
"Yeah." Marilyn meekly replied. The two of them drove in silence until Jackie arrived at the
Arnolds. He parked his car right next to his parents' SUV in the driveway."They're here." Jackie took the key out of ignition. Neither of them budged.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," Marilyn remarked, looking ill. Jackie looked at her in alarm. "No, not that." She almost laughed. "I mean this. But at least this way, we only say it once."
Jackie stops himself short from laughing out loud, opting to give her a genuine grin. "Mar, whatever happens... whatever they do or say... I'll always be here."
Marilyn smiled a real smile. Without saying anything, she leaned in to kiss him. She made it fast, knowing that it wasn't wise to linger for very long. She drew back and smiled one more time to let them both know it was going to be okay.
"We can do this," she said, making the first move towards her door. She got out of the car and Jackie did the same. Then, joining hands again, they trudged towards Marilyn's front door.
Inside the Arnolds' living room, the Rodowskys and Arnolds sat, waiting for Jackie and Marilyn to arrive. A basketball game was on the television, but only Jack Arnold, Peter Rodowsky, and Archie were watching. Carolyn poured a cup of coffee for Mariel Rodowsky, who looked reasonably calm compared to a distressed Linda Arnold.
"Thank you, Carolyn." Mariel smiled and took a sip. "Linda, you really have to calm down. They're both fine."
Linda drummed her fingers beside her coffee cup, which remained untouched. "Mariel, this sort of behavior isn't like Marilyn at all. I don't know what to think."
Mariel sighed and leaned against the recliner. But it's typical of Jackie, isn't it?, she thought to herself.
"As long as the Sunfire isn't totaled, we have nothing to worry about," Peter remarked, eliciting a chuckle from everyone in the room except for Linda. The Rodowsky family had been both astounded and terrified when Jackie succeeded in getting his driver's license two years earlier.
"SCORE!" Archie leapt to his feet, celebrating a free throw. No one looked particularly interested in celebrating with him, however, so he sat back down and closed his mouth. Just then, a car was heard pulling into the driveway.
Time to see him get it, Archie thought, almost eagerly.
Linda bolted out of her chair, pulling the door open. The car was still running, and appeared to be in one piece, but Jackie and Marilyn weren't getting out. Linda tapped her foot impatiently, then shut the door and paced in front of it in the hall. The others exchanged worried looks, watching Linda.
"Archibald, wipe that smirk off your face!" Noticing her youngest son's expression, Mariel swiftly turned and scolded him. Archie frowned and turned his attention back to the game.
After what seemed like ages, the door finally opened, revealing Jackie and Marilyn. Linda practically blocked them into the hall. Hands on her hips, lips pursed, she was an intimidating sight.
"Come in," was all she said.
Jackie and Marilyn exchanged a glance with each other and stepped together inside the house. Linda stepped aside, allowing them to get by. Marilyn met Carolyn's eyes and in that moment, Carolyn was almost certain that she already knew what was going on. She braced herself against the back of the couch.
Mariel remained sitting on the couch, next to her husband. Both of them instantly recognized Jackie's worried face. When Jackie met their eyes, they gave him a soft smile. Mariel reached out for her husband's hand, both of them not knowing what to expect.
Archie couldn't resist. "You get arrested?" He grinned until Mariel shot him another deadly look.
Marilyn looked down, muttering. "I wish."
Mariel tried not to let out a sigh of relief at Marilyn's answer. "Jackie, what happened and why did you call us all here?" She asked in a soothing voice.
Jackie froze. Marilyn couldn't imagine him saying it. She knew that was her job. Taking a deep breath, she took one last look at their faces. She wanted to remember them before they knew. She first turned to her mother, who was still standing up.
"Mom, this is... I think you should sit down."
Linda narrowed her eyes. She sat down on the edge of the couch and crossed her arms. "Marilyn, I've spent the whole day worrying about you. What do you have to tell us?"
"We didn't mean to make you worry," Marilyn began. She could barely keep her voice steady. "I-I had to go to the doctor. I had to go to the doctor... b-becauseI'mpregnant."
As soon as she'd said it, Jackie quickly cast his eyes to the ground, not wanting to see their reaction.
Silence. Dead, stunned silence. Then a small cry of anguish came from Linda, who reacted as though Marilyn had hit her. Marilyn stepped backwards, her jaw trembling. She couldn't look at her father and sister. She stared at the ground and blurted out the first thing she could think of. "I'm so sorry."
Mariel stared blankly ahead at Marilyn's announcement, confirming one her worst fears as a parent. She buried her face in her hands while her husband tried to comfort her. She took in deep breaths and faced Jackie, who was still staring at the ground and blinking back tears.
"It's going to be okay." Mariel spoke softly and gently.
At the same time, Linda blurted out. "How could you let this happen?" Jack sat beside his wife, holding her hand. He didn't meet anyone else's eyes.
Marilyn looked back and forth between the Rodowskys and her parents. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I-I'm sorry. I..."
Clearing her throat, Carolyn gave a weak attempt at speaking in her sister's defense. "Hey, mom, it'll be okay..."
"It's not going to be okay!" Linda snapped back. "Her entire life is ruined!"
Marilyn felt like she'd been slapped. Worse. "I'm sorry!" She screamed it this time. She turned and ran up the stairs, crying hard. Carolyn stared at her mother for a moment before she turned away and headed up the stairs after her sister.
Not eager to be left alone for this, Jackie turned follow Marilyn upstairs, but before doing so, looked back at Linda, who was glaring at him.
"How do you know her life is ruined?" He frowned. "She really needs some support right now." With that, he ran up the stairs.
Archie surveyed the room. "See ya." In a flash, he followed Jackie.
Jackie entered Marilyn's bedroom, where Marilyn was crying on her bed. Carolyn sat by her, stroking her hair. Jackie stood at the doorway for a few moments, not knowing if he should interrupt the scene. Carolyn looked up and gave him a small smile.
Jackie smiled back, feeling incredibly relieved that Carolyn was here. Unfortunately, Archie was right on his heels. He joined Jackie in the doorway.
"Are you gonna have the kid?" Archie blurted out. Marilyn sobbed at that. Jackie gave a slight nod, silently begging Archie not to say anything stupid. Being fourteen, Archie was quite good at saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
Carolyn had a question, too, but she asked it more gently than Archie. "Mar, did you find out how far along you are?"
Marilyn nodded, otherwise remaining very still. "Six weeks," she replied, numbly. "That's what we figured out with Dr. Johanssen after she told us. It makes me due in January."
Everyone was quiet until Archie broke the silence. "Wow. Jackie is going to be a dad."
"We don't know that yet, Arch." Jackie replied softly, glancing at Marilyn.
"I'm sure this baby will make another couple very happy," Carolyn added, trying to be helpful.
Marilyn winced. "We don't know that yet, either, Car."
Footsteps were heard coming up the stairs. Carolyn, Jackie and Archie turned their heads to see who was arriving at the doorway. Marilyn just sunk her head deeper in her pillow.
Soon, Mariel entered the room with her husband right behind her. They stood quietly at the doorway, glancing at Marilyn and Jackie.
"Hi, Mom. Dad." Jackie spoke quietly.
The Arnolds stepped in behind them. Marilyn dared to look up at them, her eyes red and puffy from nearly an entire day of crying.
Without a word, Linda approached her bedside. She, too, had been crying, but she looked much calmer. Marilyn breathed a sigh of relief when her mother stooped down to hug her. Linda pulled Carolyn in, hugging them both.
Jackie felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see his father looking back at him. The smile on Peter's face was tight and forced - but it was there. And that made all the difference. Another hand rested on his other shoulder. He looked to see Mariel, her eyes glistening, but reassuring and calm. He looked back at the twins and their mother again. Now Jack had moved near his family, placing a hand on Marilyn's shoulder.
If it can stay like this, Jackie thought. We'll make it.