Chapter 8 – Unknown Fears
As Maddie kneeled over she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder. She turned her head to see Carey with a half hearted smile on her face. The four people were staring at her with worry, and she couldn't help but feel like a fish in an aquarium. She didn't know what was wrong with her, but all of a sudden she felt nauseas and sick to her stomach. She wondered it if had something to do with what she'd just learned, but in truth it was probably just stress and over active nerves.
"Here sweetheart let me help you into the suite," Carey stated her motherly instincts kicking in.
Maddie looked over toward the twins, closing her eyes as another wave of nausea threatened to relieve her of whatever may be left in her stomach. "I just want to go home."
"Are you sure?" Carey asked. "You don't look so good," she added tenderly. "At least let me give you a ride, I don't think it's a good idea for you to take the bus while you're feeling so ill."
"That would be great," she replied as the older woman took her by the arm. "I think once I get home, I'll be fine."
"I understand," She replied turning toward her boys. "Cody, do me a favor and bring me some ginger ale, a package of saltine crackers and my purse, please?"
"Sure mom," Cody replied disappearing into the suite only to materialize a minute later with the items in hand.
"Thank you honey, I'll be right back."
"Do you need some help?" Kurt asked.
"No I think I can manage," she answered. "But thanks anyway."
"No problem."
Zack and Cody watched with trepidation as their father helped Carey and Maddie onto the elevator. They knew as soon as those doors closed, he would want to know the truth. Cody slid a finger ever so slightly against Zack's hand, silently showing him that he had his full support. Zack rewarded him with a smile.
Yet his eyes still held the worry and apprehension that plagued him. Maddie was alone with their mom and all that ran through his mind was, Is she going to tell her?
The boys were right as soon as the two steel doors closed Kurt turned to face them. He pointed a finger toward the open door of the suite and with an uncharacteristic grunt; they did what was silently asked of them.
"Boys take a seat," Kurt stated as they hurried to do his bidding.
Taking a chair from the kitchen table he sat down across from the couch his son's were seated in. "Now I'm not going to ask twice. I want the truth and I know you will be honest with me." He looked toward his eldest son and added, "So Zack why don't you begin with what just happened?"
"Maddie needed to talk and we did, then she left and we heard a strange sound. We walked out into the lobby and she was throwing up into the plant. That is when you and mom walked off the elevator."
"Zack, what happened before she got sick?" he asked. "What did your conversation with her consist of?"
"Not much, we just talked about the night we broke up."
"Okay let's talk about that too," Kurt stated. "Your mother filled me in, but she didn't know all the facts. Care to explain to me what happened?"
"How did Mom know?"
"That's not important," he replied. "Now I asked you a question, I'd appreciate an answer."
"I'd been dating her for a month, and I realized that she and I could never be more than just friends," Zack stated answering his father's question. "So that night I was going to break up with her."
"But you didn't?" he said. "Why?"
"Things got a bit complicated, and one thing lead to another, and well, it was wrong I know. But we ended up sleeping together," he said. "And by sleeping together I mean we had sex."
"So did you know how she felt before you slept with her?"
"She told me," he replied trying to avert his eyes. "I know it was wrong but one minute we were talking and the next she was sitting in my lap and kissing me. I know it's not an excuse but it affected me and the next thing I knew we were…together."
"Okay so you let your hormones do the talking," he asked. "Did you apologize?"
"I tried; in fact I've been trying for weeks. It isn't working," Zack admitted with some regret.
"I need to ask you this, and you have to be completely truthful with me."
"Okay," Zack replied nodding his head.
"What happened between you and Maddie was completely consensual, is that right?"
Zack jumped up in anger. "Of course it was consensual!" he shouted.
"Dad, He would never try to force himself on anyone," Cody added tugging on his brother's arm, forcing him to regain his seat. "Why would you even ask such a thing?"
"I'm not saying he did Codes, I'm saying that things happen, and sometimes one person feels like they've been taken advantage of. I just want to make sure that this was something they both wanted." Kurt took a breath to clear his throat, "Was it?"
"I wasn't thinking," Zack told him. "I didn't rape her if that's what you mean."
"Whoa, no one mentioned the word rape," he stated reassuring his son that this was not what he was talking about.
"I'm talking about feelings and emotions," he said. "And thinking before you act, sometimes things get a bit clouded when you let your hormones do the talking. So I just want to make sure I have all the facts."
"All the facts," Cody asked. "You sound like this is an interrogation. Is it?"
"Of course not, but I have to be honest, after the email your mother sent me. I needed to hear the truth from you."
"We had sex," Zack stated. "It wasn't what should have happened, but it did. And it was something we both okayed." He continued with sadness. "I knew we'd both regret it in the morning, and I did, believe me I did. So when she woke up I told her the truth and broke up with her. I know it's a case of too little too late but it just happened."
Kurt looked at his son's sorrowful expression and knew what he was saying was true.
Carey had to pull the car over a few times before they actually got to their destination. Different thoughts went through her mind as she once again held Maddie's hair back while she heaved on the side of the road. She was sure it was probably just nerves, or stress. Maybe even the stomach flu that had been affecting several people in the hotel. But there was another thought in the back of her mind that wouldn't let go.
She recalled how her body reacted to her first few months of pregnancy, while she was carrying the boys. Morning sickness had gripped her badly and wouldn't let up for the first couple of months. Could it be possible that this young girl was being affected the same way?
A few minutes later they were back in the car and on the road. As the same thoughts played in her mind, over and over again, she finally made a decision. "Maddie If I ask you to do something for me, will you?" she asked with pleading eyes.
The young girl stood up a bit straighter in her seat and looked over in question. "What is it?"
"I don't want you to be frightened, but if I were to pull over and purchase a pregnancy test," she asked. "Would you please use it?'
Maddie's heart began to race. She had never thought about that kind of ramification. Although they weren't protected the night they slept together, she hoped it wasn't possible. She could tell Carey could see the fear and panic in her eyes, so she forced herself to relax. She wasn't pregnant, how could she be, she wasn't ready. As she slowly nodded her head, she kept chanting those words over in her mind. It wasn't possible, it wasn't possible, it wasn't possible.
She waited in the car as she watched the older woman walk into the store. She didn't know what to think, or for that matter what she would do if she were pregnant. All her dreams would be left on the way side, shattered hopes. She'd planned it all out, her entire life was mapped. She'd worked so hard to be someone, to do something, and now, she may end up with a life she wasn't sure she wanted, or was ready for.
After all the baby's father didn't even love her. How was she going to get though life as a single parent? Damn it, how could she have been so naïve. She loved him, that's how and now she'll have to deal with this struggle on her own. But then, what if she didn't have too…what if she did have someone beside her?
She didn't realize that Carey had finished and had walked out of the store, until she opened the driver's side door and slipped inside. "Maddie are you okay? You look a bit pale, are you going to be sick again?"
"No I'm fine," she quietly replied as a plan began to form in her mind. "Could we head back to the hotel to do this test? London is out of town for a couple of days and we could use her penthouse. Is that okay?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I really don't want to do this at home," she replied. "With my parents there…I"
"I understand," Carey nodded. "We'll head back to the Tipton. But if this is positive then you will eventually have to talk to them."
"I know, but just not right now."
"Okay, then lets head back," she replied as she pulled the car out of the parking space.
Carey was pacing back and forth inside London's master bedroom. It stood connected to the master bath which was where Maddie stood waiting for the pregnancy test to work its magic. A plus sign would mean a yes, and a negative sign would indicate a no. Her entire life teetering on which small mark appeared inside the little square shaped box facing her.
After placing the stick on the counter and washing her hands she faced her reflection in the mirror. The two or three minutes it took for the mark to appear seemed like the span of a life time. Images of a future with Zack played across her mind and she smiled.
If it turned out she was pregnant he would have to stay with her right? Maybe even one day grow to love her. She'd read that, that was the case in many arranged marriages. Over time the two young people had fallen in love. So why couldn't it happen here, why couldn't she be her own matchmaker? As she continued to daydream, she came to realize being pregnant with Zack Martin's child may not be such a bad thing after all.
The bell on the timer dinged bringing her out of her reverie. Slowly she walked over and picked up the stick, taking a deep breath she gazed at the results. Her heart broke and her eyes filled with tears. Her one chance to be with him was crushed by a negative sign on a piece of plastic.
"Maddie are you alright?" Carey asked through the door. "I heard the timer go off."
She stayed silent for a minute and looked back at the results in her hand. In her heart she knew she couldn't be so dishonest, but in her mind, she had lost all hope. This was her only chance to win back the man she loved and she was going to take it.
"One second, I'll be right there."
She placed the object back in its box. Wrapping it up with a dish rag she put it back in her purse. As soon as she was able to do so, she would discard it down a garbage chute and no one would be the wiser. A slight pang of indecision hit her but she pushed it back and readied herself for the consequences. With a couple of tears still falling down her cheeks she placed her hand on her belly and opened the door.
"Well?" Carey asked holding her breath. "What are the results?"
"I'm pregnant!" Maddie replied as the other woman hugged her not realizing a small smile had appeared on the young girls face.
AN: I think this story maybe getting a bit twisted. Or rather….A LOT twisted. LOL :)
But it will be very interesting to see how this affects the twin's relationship. How far can Maddie go…after all she will eventually have to start showing…won't she?
Please read and review! :)
