7

It was Saturday morning. I was meeting Jake at his house, in half an hour. Or I was supposed to be anyway. But right now, I had my head stuck down the toilet, and was throwing up the breakfast that I 'd only just forced down my throat. Thank God Charlie was fishing today. He never knew what to with himself when I was ill. "Crap," I wailed. "There goes my weekend." Slowly, so I didn't make myself sick again, I made my way downstairs, to the phone, and dialled the number from memory.

"Hello?"

"Jake" I croaked

"Bella! You okay? You sound kinda different."

"Well, actually, no. I think I'm ill. I'm not going to be able to make it today."

"Oh" I could almost hear his face fall.

"Do you want me to come over to you?" he asked.

"No, I wish you could, but you'll probably just get what I have. And I'll just be sleeping all day."

"Are you sure? I don't mind."

"No Jake. I'll call you when I feel better. Love you."

"Love you too, Bells. Bye"

"Bye"

I heard the click on his end of the phone and then put the receiver back. I took careful steps back to bathroom, taking my seat next to the toilet, and waited for the nausea to hit me. After a few moments, when it was still missing, I sat up. This was odd. For that past few days I'd felt ill in the mornings. I half expected to get ill in the next few days. But now it was over. It didn't make any sense.

Urgh. My head started to ache dully. I stood up and reached for some paracetamol from the bathroom cabinet. As I did, knocked a box of tampons to the floor. As I went to pick them up, I had a moment of realisation. Then panic hit me. Maybe I wasn't being sick because I was ill. What if...? I sat on the floor, and tried to figure out if this could be right. What was the date? The 20th. I counted in my head. And then I counted again. And again. I'd reached 7 counts before I decided that I was sure. I was a week late.

I needed proof. I ran downstairs, grabbed my coat and the keys to my truck and set out for the drug store.

30 seconds. 20. 10. It was time. I picked up the little white stick, and stared at the little blue plus sign. Oh, crap. I put my third and final pregnancy test on the edge of the sink, and held my head in my hands. What was I going to do? I never wanted to be that girl. The one who got knocked up my her boyfriend straight out of high school. I was supposed to be more responsible. I was the one who had to take care of everything, who knew what she was doing. Well, not right now I wasn't.

I needed to talk to someone. I cleared up the bathroom, disposed of all the evidence of my recent revelation and went and switched on the ancient computer in my room. As it whirred to life, I thought about what I could say to Renee. Wasn't this really something you did face to face? But unless I make a ticket to Florida appear out of thin air...? Hang on. I could make a ticket to Florida appear. Cautiously, I wandered over to my wardrobe. For the first time in months I looked at the black bin liner stuffed in the back of my wardrobe. Gingerly, I fished around inside until I found what I was looking for. Would it be wrong to use them? They were a gift, right? It wasn't my fault that the person I was supposed t use them with was no longer around. So I took Jake with me, instead. Big Deal.

I shook my head.

No. I'd go alone. I had to talk to Renee, before anything else. Even before I talked to Jake.

For the rest of the week, I decided to play sick. I was positive that if I went to school, somebody would realise. It couldn't just be my eyes imagining the growing bump of my stomach, surely? I explained to Charlie about the plane tickets and that, if I felt up to it I'd be setting off to see Renee on Friday morning, and be back Sunday night. After a little persuasion, he was fine with the plan. Now all had to do was tell Jacob.

"Hey, Jake" I said as he answered his phone with a grunt.

"Bella! Oh thank god, I've been going crazy with boredom without you. I missed you so much."

"I know, me too."

"So you're finally feeling better?"

"Mostly. But that's not really the reason I called. I just wanted to tell you something."

"Oh, okay. Shoot?"

"Well, I'm going to Florida. To visit Renee. I'll be gone for a couple of days. I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

"Oh." God I hated making him sad. "That's... that's great Bella." he lied, trying to keep his voice upbeat. "How come?"

"Well, I got given plane tickets last year for my birthday from... Phil, and Renee seems kinda down in her emails so, you know, I thought I'd try and cheer her up."

"Sounds good. Tell me I can come see you before you leave?"

I mulled it over for a second. I was terrified he'd notice a change in me. What if he wanted to have sex? What would I tell him? You're being ridiculous, Bella, I thought. And besides, I didn't know if I could wait until Monday afternoon to see Jake again. I missed him so much.

"'Course"

"Good" He laughed. "I'll be there in 10 minutes."