Chapter 7

Same Thursday After School

The ride home from school is one of the most awkward ones that Spencer and Emily have ever experienced. Even though they know they'll make it through whatever news this afternoon brings, the girls are both extremely nervous. Neither breathes a word as Spencer pulls her car into the small Rosewood Pharmacy parking lot to buy Emily a pregnancy test. The dark-haired girl just sits and waits in the passenger seat, questions racing through her mind. What if I am pregnant? How the hell am I supposed to take care of a baby? Will I be a good mom at only sixteen? What about Danby and the swimming scholarship? Will I be able to get one with a baby? The questions whirled to a stop right there. Emily's breath hitched in her throat. Danby. Swimming. It was her future, her life. Yes, the one thing she'd loved ever since she was little; the water. The very thing that had been her escape in life is now her worst fear. Because of the rape, Emily is horrified of the pool. She doesn't know why, because the incident hadn't happened in the pool…. But, she'd come to the community center to swim when it happened. Maybe that's why I'm afraid of it. Emily thinks to herself.

Whatever the case, the once avid swimmer knows that she may now have a bigger problem on her hands than just her fear of the water. She sighs. I hope the test is negative. Emily thinks, just as Spencer walks back to the car with a small plastic bag in hand. "I bought it, Em." Spencer says, as she slides into the drivers' seat. They're the first words that have been spoken since the girls left the school's student parking lot. Emily can't bring herself to do anything but nod. Spencer senses her girlfriends' agitation and gives Emily's hand a small squeeze. "Hey… baby, remember what I promised you today, okay? Everything will be just fine. Whatever happens, we have each other." Spencer says, pulling Emily in for a soft kiss on the lips. Emily kisses back and relaxes a little, a bit more content for the rest of the ride back to the Hastings' house. Spencer's mom is not due home from work again tonight until about nine, so the couple will have hours to ponder the bad or good news before facing an adult.

When the brunette gets to her house, she grabs the plastic bag and gets out of the car, walking with Emily to the front door. They both walk inside together. "Are you ready, Em?" Spencer asks as she hands Emily the plastic bag. The tan girl nods, nervously. "I guess." Emily says as Spencer hugs her and watches her walk off to the bathroom. Emily easily takes the test out of its' box and follows the instructions on how to use it. When Emily is done she leaves the test on the bathroom counter and walks into the living room with Spencer. The brunette just smiles at her girlfriend and leads Emily to the couch, in an effort to put her at ease. "I'll set the timer on my phone to go off in about five minutes, then we'll go look at the test, okay?" Spencer informs Emily, in the softest tone of voice that she can muster. "Okay." Emily agrees, quietly.

For the next five minutes, the girls sit in an almost agonizing silence, just staring into the distance. Neither of them really want to think of what could be. That's the funny thing about anticipation though, sometimes it feels worse than the actual outcome.

Spencer and Emily both slightly wince when the timer finally sounds. "Do you want me to wait here, babe?" Spencer asks. Emily nods and kisses her girlfriend on the cheek before walking into the bathroom. Spencer falls back onto the couch dramatically, anxiously awaiting the results.

Meanwhile, Emily walks up to the bathroom counter and stares at the test. The color slowly drains from her face as her brain processes what she sees. A pink line stretches across the small screen. Positive. Oh, My God. Emily thinks to herself. As she leans against the wall, the raven-haired girl begins to feel tears forming in her eyes. No. She thinks. I will not cry here. I have to show this to Spencer. So, willing the tears away, Emily walks back into the living room, test in hand. The brunette stands up when she sees Emily, already sensing what the pregnancy test has revealed. A scared, hesitant Emily speaks anyway. "I'm, I'm pregnant, Spence." Emily says, through tears. Spencer immediately takes the test from Emily, putting it on the coffee table. Then, the brunette wraps her arms protectively around her girlfriend. "Come here, beautiful." She says, gently stroking Emily's black hair. "I love you,..." Spencer pauses, dropping her hand to Emily's stomach. "And this baby."

Emily smiles upon hearing the words, and lays her head over Spencer's shoulder. Even though Spencer is there for her, Emily can't help but cry. The brunette moves them both slowly to the couch and holds her girlfriend in her arms as the tears fall. The tan girl cries from fear. She cries from sorrow. She cries for her innocence, that is lost, forevermore. She cries at the memories of her rape. Mostly though, she cries because she knows that from here on out, her life will never be the same.

About an hour later, Emily is almost sure that there are no more tears left to shed. She wipes her red-rimmed eyes and looks up at Spencer. "Babe, I'm scared." Emily says, her voice still shaking. "I know sweetie, I know." Spencer says, in an almost motherly tone. She lightly tilts Emily's chin to meet her gaze, and then speaks. "A very wise girl once told me that it's okay to be afraid." Spencer says. Emily smiles, remembering what'd she'd said the night that her girlfriend 'came out' to her mother. "Will you sleep in my room tonight, Spencer?" Emily asks, not wanting to be alone. The brunette pulls the other girl tighter into her chest. "I'd love to, Em." She answers. Suddenly, Spencer speaks again, gently rubbing the tiny swollen part of Emily's stomach. "This baby is going to be so beautiful… because it's yours." The tan girl giggles a bit and shakes her head. "It's Ours." Emily corrects her, lovingly pressing their lips together.

Life. It's full of many experiences. Some events in our lives occur like a whirlwind, ready to knock us off of our unstable feet. Some things occur like a ray of sunshine through the window, offering bright new hope for the future. Whatever events Spencer and Emily may face, they know that nothing can break their love. As the couple begins to face the ups and downs of teen pregnancy, they know that they'll always be together. Everything will work out fine.