Hope y'all like this chapter as well!
The song Megan sings in this chapter is "Tough" by Kelly Pickler.
Chapter 5
"Are you sure you girls will be alright?" Francesca asked as she came out of the kitchen with Taylor on her hip.
"Mom, we're having dinner and drinks at Jonson's and then doing karaoke, I think we'll be okay" Jenna said as she grabbed her clutch.
"And besides the guys will be with us, so don't worry. And you be good for Nannie and Poppa, Miss Taylor" Katie added as she kissed her daughter on the forehead.
"I will mommy, you, Auntie Jen and Auntie Megan look like Barbie" the little girl said with a smile.
"Awe thanks Sweetie" Jenna as she rubbed her niece's back with a giggle.
"Yes, I have the most adorable daughter on the planet, but we should really leave now or we will never get to the party" Katie said with a smile as she shooed everyone out the door with a laugh.
The entire ride to the party, Megan explained why the party was being held at the bar. It was the place where Kourtni and Jake had had their first date three years ago, and it was one of Megan's favorite places. Also Reilly, the guy that owned the bar was a good friend of the group and was even in the wedding as one of Jake's groomsmen.
"Now the food isn't as good as yours, but it's okay" Megan smiled as the car pulled into the parking lot.
"I think I can deal with it. I mean I have eaten Hardison's cooking, so I think I can handle anything" Eliot replied with a smirk.
"Very true considering he mostly lives off of cheese snacks and orange soda" Megan smirked as Eliot pulled out a chair for her to sit down.
When everyone arrived at the bar, hugs were exchanged and everyone sat down to eat.
After the group had finished their food, Megan noticed that things seemed to be tense between Charlie and her boyfriend Julian. She knew for sure when her friend got up and took off towards the rest room with what Megan could only guess were tears in her eyes. When Charlie didn't return after a few minutes, Megan excused herself and walked into the bathroom.
"Charlie? Is everything alright?" Megan asked as she watched her friend wash her face.
"Yeah. Just this small thing." Charlie said shyly even though Megan could tell that something was up.
"You're in the bathroom, crying your heart out. Tell me." Megan commanded. Charlie hesitated. "Now."
"Okay." She grabbed Megan's hand and took her to the back room of the bar where there was a couch and a bed set up for friends of the owner that got too drunk to drive home.
She sat Megan down on the couch and sat next to her.
"Okay. So you know how Julian and I live together?" Megan nodded. "And we're both in college?" She nodded again. "Well, we are having financial problems. With the college loans and rent."
"That's normal. So why aren't you guys talking?" Megan asked confused.
"I want to get a job but he won't let me." Charlie bit her lip. "It's making me mad. I want to help but he won't let me."
"Well Charlie, I really don't know what to-" Megan trailed off as Charlie looked off to space. "Charlie?" She asked. "You ok-"
Charlie jumped up and slammed open the door. Megan ran after her as she ran into the bathroom. Megan raced into the bathroom and when she saw her friend throwing up, she closed the door behind her and held Charlie's hair.
"Oh my god." she realized. "You want to get a job to get money because you're pregnant." Megan whispered as Charlie nodded her head.
"Have you gone to the doctor?" Megan asked curiously as Charlie washed her mouth out.
"Yep, I'm only about six weeks along, and I haven't told Julian yet" Charlie replied.
"I figured that, is the job you're thinking of getting legal or illegal?" Megan asked.
"Well it's just some part time hacking, but the pay is really good" Charlie said softly.
"Char, did you actually tell Julian what the job was?" Megan asked as she hugged her friend.
"No. He won't let me do anything! All he wants me to do is school. He's worried I'll fail college like he did the first year. He made it up though but he won't me do anything. If I tell him about the baby he will just- he will hate me." Charlie whispered the ending.
"Charlie, Julian loves you! I'm sure he will understand, I mean he was a willing participant in all of this, so if he is mad at you, then he is a jerk and he doesn't deserve you" Megan said as she looked at her friend.
"I wish I could believe that Meg, but I just can't tell him" Charlie said sadly.
"Charlie! You need to tell him, he has a right to know" Megan said softly.
"I don't know. I'll think about it. I don't know what to do. We aren't ready for a baby. I just can't give my baby away or kill it. It's my baby." She wrapped her arms around her waist.
"You don't have to do anything to your baby but love it." Megan said holding her friend close to her.
Megan knew that she would be worrying about Charlie for a while, and while she had no idea what would happen, she knew that she would be there for her friend, no matter what.
"Now come on, we better get back to the table before the others come looking for us" Megan said with a smile as the two of them walked back into the main section of the bar.
When Charlie and Megan returned to the table the singing and the partying were well underway, and Megan noticed that Eliot was trying to hold back laughter at Ben's terrible attempt at singing.
"So what was up with Charlie?" he asked as Megan sat down next to him.
"Why do ask?" She countered with a question of her own as she tried to brush off the fact that Eliot was throwing a concerned look Charlie's way.
"I saw her head back there and then you followed, I'm guessing it wasn't good news" he said softly.
"Um I can't tell you. I would but it's not my place to say anything" Megan replied as the next song was chosen and more people got up to sing.
"So Megan, are we going to get you up there to sing or what?" Riley Jonson asked as he grabbed Megan another drink from the bar.
"You would have to get me really drunk Riley, you know that" Megan smirked at her friend.
"Eliot, this girl has one heck of a voice, and an amazing body to match, you my friend are a lucky man" Riley said with a laugh.
"Okay Riley, that is why you are my favorite bartender, you are very good for my ego" Megan smirked.
"I'm not saying anything that isn't true Beautiful" Riley smiled.
"Come on Everyone! Let's get Megan drunk so she can sing something for us" Riley shouted over the music.
After fending off constant begging from all of her friends and sisters, Megan finally gave in, and chose a song. She smiled when she heard the opening beat of the song and began to sing.
Eliot's Pov
I watched as Megan walked up to the stage that had been set up in the bar, and she smiled as the opening of the song began to play.
I wanted lace,
I wanted pearls
To be a princess like the other girls
But life came hard to my front door
And I grew up tryin' to even up the score
Tough
I ain't never been nothin' but tough
All my edges have always been rough
But Jesus loves me anyway oh, back off
There ain't nothin' wrong with a woman who got a little backbone
Just wait till you taste her kind of love
You want a shy little thing
A pretty little high-heeled thing
You're gonna cry if I don't polish up
Tough
I smiled slightly as I watched Megan sing. She looked really comfortable on stage; it was almost like she belonged there. I watched as her friends and sisters looked in awe of how talented she was, and I couldn't blame them. Hell even I was in awe of how talented Megan was. This girl was definitely the complete package, and if it kept up I knew that I was going to be in trouble in more ways than one.
Normal Pov
After Megan finished singing, she returned to her seat next to Eliot while everyone else took a turn.
The evening was filled with good food, great friends, and wonderful entertainment. Then it was time for Megan to read a letter that she'd gotten from someone very important.
"Okay everyone, I have something that I wanted to say to the bride and groom" Megan said with a smile as she got everyone's attention.
"I got a letter from a very important person the other day, and he wanted me to share it with you tonight" Megan said as she pulled something out of her purse and began to read.
"Dear Jake and Kourtni, I can't believe after three years of being together you guys finally set a date, and I won't be here to see it. I know that you two are perfect for each other, and when I see or in my case hear about people like the two of you I know love exists. I hope you have a lifetime of love, laughter, and friendship. Oh and Jake since I won't be able to give to this in person, I guess Megan will have to give it to you instead. Take care of her…well both of them, can't leave Kourtni out. – Tony" Megan looked up from the piece of paper with a smile.
"Now if y'all follow me outside, you will get to see the she that Tony was talking about, but Jake, you um might need these" Megan continued with a smirk as she tossed a set of keys at him.
When Jake realized what the keys were too he looked at Megan in shock.
"Are these what I think they are?" he asked.
"I don't know Jake, why don't you go out and see" Megan returned with a knowing smirk.
Jake hugged Megan and ran outside with the others following close behind.
"Oh My God! This is Tony's car, this is his Impala!" Jake exclaimed.
"Yep, he sent me a message about it, and Riley helped me get it here, it's been washed and everything. I know he would love to have been here to see your face" Megan smiled.
"Thank you so much! I can't believe this, why me?" Jake asked as he hugged Megan.
"I guess Tony thought that it would be a good wedding present, now go take your new toy for a spin" Megan replied with a laugh.
After Kourtni and Jake left in the Impala, the rest of the group decided that they were going to leave as well since they all had to be up early the next morning.
When Megan, Eliot, Jeff, and her sisters arrived back at the Mancini house, Katie and Jenna were already asleep and had to be carried inside by Jeff and Eliot. Megan checked the house and made sure that everyone safe in bed before returning to the room she was sharing with Eliot, where she found him sitting up in bed looking at a picture of Megan and Tony that had been taken about eight years ago. Megan knew that he probably had some questions, but she wanted to avoid it for a little while longer, so she quickly grabbed her pajamas and headed towards the bathroom to change.
"So why did he really want you to give the car to Jake?" Eliot when she returned from the bathroom ready for bed a short time later.
"I don't know, I mean he never would have parted with that car for anything, it was a car that my dad bought the year before he died and they were going to restore it together. Tony spent so much time with that car it was crazy" Megan said as she sat on the bed.
"You think he's giving up on ever having his name cleared?" Eliot asked.
"I don't know, but if we're ever going to have a chance to go after Rodriguez, we need to do it soon!" Megan said as she reached to turn of the light.
"We'll get Rodriguez Megan, I promise" Eliot said softly.
"I hope you're right Eliot, because I'm really not sure of anything anymore" Megan whispered before she drifted off to sleep in the dark.
