DISCLAIMER: ALL HUSH HUSH CHARACTERS BELONG TO BECCA FITZPATRICK
THIS CHAPTER: THE STORY IS NEARING ITS END SO THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS ARE GOING TO BE PACKED FULL. DON'T FORGET TO READ AND REVIEW! PLZ/TY!
CHAPTER 21
NORA'S POV:
"Nora please." My mom pleaded, stepping further into the room. "Just give me a chance to explain myself."
"You can't just barge into my house like this." Patch's voice rose defensively. "She would have talked to you if she wanted to, clearly she doesn't."
"It's okay Patch." I forced a smile and placed my hand gently on his shoulder. "I think I should at least hear what she has to say."
"Fine." He sighed, but sent a warning glare to my mom. "I'll be right outside the door."
"I know." I gave him a grateful smile as he and Rixon left my mom and I alone in the bedroom. There was an awkward tension in the air so I sat down at the edge of the bed and watched as she took a seat next to me.
"I knew I'd be able to find you here." She finally spoke breaking the uncomfortable silence. "It seems you two are always a package deal, especially these days."
"If you're here to talk to me about Patch you can leave." I replied slightly annoyed. "I left because of what you did, you don't get to complain about where I ended up. I'd rather be here anyways."
"I know, I'm glad he looks out for you the way he does." She sighed and looked down at her hands before turning to face me. "I'm so sorry, Nora. I honestly thought that Harrison was your biological father; it made more sense. I was only with Hank once before I got pregnant and this doesn't change anything. I love you just as much as I always have. Hank was a mistake, but you weren't. I don't regret what happened one bit because if I hadn't had that affair I wouldn't have gotten you. I know that your dad feels the same way. Harrison may be angry, but he took the responsibility of being your father and he did it because he wanted to. He's known for a while and in his process of dealing with it he hurt you, which was wrong, but he loves you so much Nora."
"Does uncle Hank know?" I asked as a lone tear slid down my face.
"Yes, he does." She took my hand and gave me a reassuring squeeze. "I spoke with him last night. Look Nora, Hank has never been a kid person. He has his own set of problems and never wanted them, but Harrison did and he loved you like his own. He may not be your biological father, but he is your dad and he loves you. He's been struggling with his own issues and I know that he hurt you, but maybe after some time goes by you could forgive him. I actually came here to run something by you, and this is your decision so don't feel like I'm pressuring you, but Hank would like to talk. The three of us, just to answer some questions."
"Does he even care?" I asked in disbelief. "Not only did he not give two shits about my existence or the fact that I was his child, but he's been a horrible uncle too. He's made it clear since I was a kid that he wanted nothing to do with me."
"If there's one thing Grey men are notorious for its pushing people away to avoid feeling emotion." She commented dryly. "I don't like it. It's the main reason your father and I are divorcing, but Hank does care. He told me last night that he'd always suspected it, but he also knew that getting involved would hurt you the most, and he didn't want that. It was better for you to grow up in a stable family with someone who wanted children, so he stepped back. It hurt him to see his brother raising his child, and much like your dad his feelings manifested themselves as anger and resentment. I'm not saying it's right or that I approve of it because I don't like what it's done to you, but I need you to know that you were never unwanted by anyone. I think you might benefit from hearing him out."
"Maybe in the near future I'd be willing to do dinner." I replied after a moment of contemplation. "But only if Patch can come."
"Nora, this is a family matter." She frowned and I scowled at her.
"He's been more like family to me than my own ninety percent of the time and I would feel more comfortable having him there." I told her angrily. "It's that or nothing at all."
"Okay." She sighed in defeat. "Do you think you'd be willing to come back home?"
"I'm not ready." I ran my hands through my hair. "I need time. I need a break from that house to get myself together. I still haven't forgiven dad for everything he's put me through, and I can't get over the fact that you would lie about something this important. I don't really trust either of you right now, and that house...it kind of haunts me at the moment."
"While I'm not thrilled with the idea of you staying with Patch I understand." She fiddled with the diamond ring on her finger. "I'd like you to come back home, and I know Travis misses you too. Just don't avoid us for too long, okay? I'm trying really hard to be relaxed about this, but you're still seventeen and this is your boyfriend's house so don't think this can be permanent, Nora. You belong at home with your family."
"When I'm ready I'll be back." I stood up from the bed.
"Okay." She nodded and stood up with me. "Please don't take too long."
"I'll take as long as I need." I responded curtly as she moved to leave. She kissed me on the cheek and gave me a hug that I only half reciprocated before opening the door and leaving the house without another word.
"Are you okay?" Patch rushed to check on me. "What did she say? Do I need to beat anybody's ass?"
"No, I'm fine." I smiled wrapping my arms around him and nuzzling into his chest. Even when we were kids Patch always felt like home, felt like my safe place. If I ever had a problem, any problem at all, it was nothing that a moment in his arms couldn't fix. It makes me never want to let go.
"What did she have to say?" He asked curiously as he rubbed small circles along my back over my sweater.
"She apologized and told me she loved me." I shrugged pulling away for a second while Rixon excused himself to take a shower. "She also said that my dad feels really guilty, well both of them actually, I guess Hank wanted to meet up so we could talk, but I told her I'd only go if you went with me. Is that okay with you?"
"Of course, I'll go wherever you need me to." He assured me and I smiled gratefully at him.
"I love you." I stood up on my toes to kiss him softly. "I just wanted to tell you."
"I love you too." He smiled and guided me over to the couch. "So what do you want to do? The pizza should be here soon. We can watch a movie; whatever you want."
"I just want life to be easier." I sighed resting my head on his shoulder. "Think you can do that for me?"
"I'll work on it." He smirked and flipped on the TV, I smiled as I nestled my head into the crook of his neck, finding solitude in his arms the way I have millions of times in the past.
"Are you sure about this?" Patch sat on the bathroom counter while I finished taking my morning shower. "You have a solid reason to miss school today and I highly doubt sitting in a class all day is going to make things any easier."
"I'm not skipping school." I told him, raising my voice over the sound of the water. "I'm not going to let this situation with my parents put a hold on my life, besides, what would I do sitting around here all day?"
"This whole responsible Nora Grey thing you've got going on these days is starting to freak me out." He teased when I turned off the water.
"It's called growing up." I grabbed a towel off the rack and wrapped it around me. "It had to happen eventually." I smirked.
"Whatever makes you happy." He smiled and hopped down off the counter. "Hurry up though, wouldn't want to be late, I know how important punctuality is to you!"
"Don't be an ass." I called after him as I turned to comb out my wet hair, there's no hope, there never is, taming this mane is impossible. I dabbed on a little makeup and grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt before we made it out the door in time.
"So I know things are stressful right now, but did you want to go to Vee and Scott's Halloween party tomorrow night?" Patch asked as we drove along the familiar streets of Coldwater Creek. "We don't have to, I don't even really want to, but they want us to go so it's up to you."
"We should at least stop by." I shrugged and rested my head against the cool glass of the window. "I know it's important to Vee, she even offered to get our costumes, but I don't really want to stay very long, especially if Marcie shows up. She's the last thing I need right now."
"Scott promised she wasn't invited." Patch assured me. "He said if she shows up they'd ask her to leave, trust me, no one wants that bitch around."
"I still don't get what her deal is." I sighed. "I mean, if she doesn't like me that's fine not everyone gets along, but with her it's more than that. It feels personal, like I've done something to her, but I haven't. At least not intentionally, and I don't get her sudden interest in you either. She's head cheerleader, isn't she supposed to be into the football players like Dante?"
"Excuse you, but I'm a catch." He waggled his eyebrows making me smirk.
"You know what I mean." I said and he laughed as he nodded back at me when we pulled into the school parking lot.
"Considering her interest in me coincided with us getting together I'm betting she's doing it to get to you." He replied when he killed the ignition. "You know I want nothing to do with her though, she'll give up soon.
"I know and I trust you." I smiled reassuringly at him. "I just don't like the idea of her trying to get her hands on my boyfriend, it's creepy, and gross."
"That's for damn sure." He mumbled as we got out of the car. I spotted a group of cheerleaders standing out by the front of the school and possessively took Patch's hand in mine in case Marcie was watching. It may have been a little petty, but I don't really care. I hate that girl.
Vee was getting books out of her locker when I stopped at mine and she smiled excitedly. I'll never understand how someone has this much energy so early in the morning, especially at school, but that is the mystery of Vee Sky.
"You guys are coming tomorrow, right?" she asked eagerly. "I even found costumes for you!"
"What kind of costumes?" I asked skeptically.
"I figured you could do a 60's thing so I went by the thrift store looking for something to complete my costume and found the perfect stuff for you guys." She told us with a cheerful glint in her eyes.
"Like I'm going to trust you to dress me." Patch scoffed crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the side of the lockers.
"I may not be great at a lot of things, but when it comes to fashion you can trust me." She raised an eyebrow at my boyfriend who rolled his eyes in response.
"She has a point." I told him. "If you don't like it we'll find something else."
"Fine, I'll wear Barbie's stupid costume if it'll make you happy." He smirked at me and I smiled gratefully.
"You're just being nice to me because you feel bad about everything that's going on." I teased him as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"No, I'm being nice to you because I love you." He smirked back and placed a chaste kiss to my lips before leading me with our hands interlaced to physics.
PATCH'S POV:
"I'm not wearing leather pants, Nora." I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror Friday evening and cringed. Vee's Halloween costumes for Nora and I had to be a joke, well mine did at least. Nora had on a short purple dress and white knee-high boots that accentuated her long legs; she looked freaking amazing. I on the other hand, looked ridiculous. "You know I don't generally do Halloween costumes and while I agreed to dress up this year I never agreed to this!"
"Oh come on." She pouted as she walked up to me and wrapped her arms around me from behind. "You look hot, I swear!"
"I always look hot." I gave her a lewd smirk as I turned to face her. "I say we stay here, and then you can admire me in the privacy of my bedroom, I won't even put clothes on, which is way hotter than this ridiculous outfit."
"Vee will kill us if we miss it." She smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Who cares about Blondie?" I scoffed dramatically.
"I don't want to deal with her lecturing me." She sighed and ran her fingers through the curls on the back of my neck looking down at the floor. She looked like something was taxing her, but I couldn't tell what it was. She'd been dealing with her family drama all this week, but it seemed like something else was on her mind now too.
"Hey, are you okay?" I tilted her chin up.
"I'm fine." She nodded and forced a smile as her soft gray eyes connected with mine. "You really do look good in those pants." She smirked, running one of her hands down my chest and I grinned back at her devilishly.
"You know." I whispered in her ear before trailing kisses along her neck. "It is a party, which means we can be fashionably late if we want."
"Mhm, this is true." She gasped arching her body closer to mine. "We can definitely be late." She told me with lust in her eyes and I grinned devilishly. I hadn't expected her to cave so easily.
I ran my hands down her body, toying with the hem of her dress and pushed it up slowly, relishing the feeling of her smooth skin under my palms. When I reached the curve of her ass and felt the bare skin I groaned, looking down at the tiny scrap of lace barely covering her, God does my girlfriend have the best lingerie collection ever. I was rock hard almost instantly.
Nora grew impatient, stretching her arms up so I could take her dress completely off before attacking my shirt and pushing it over my head instantly.
"Someone's eager." I teased nipping at her cleavage, she giggled reaching between us to push my pants down, smirking when she saw my lack of boxers.
"Commando?" She raised an amused eyebrow at me.
"Have you noticed how fucking tight these pants are?" I asked as I stepped out of them and kicked them aside.
"Oh trust me baby, I noticed." She grinned pushing her panties down, reaching towards me so I could lift her up, she instantly wrapped her long sun-kissed legs around my hips. Our lips connected, tongues intertwining, I could hardly control myself.
"God, you are killing me." I groaned as I reached around to unclasp her bra and throw it somewhere else in the bathroom before I pushed her against the wall for leverage, sliding inside in one delicious movement that had us both gasping and moaning in pleasure.
"Oh Patch, harder!" She gasped rolling her hips sharply forward as the heels of her boots dug into my ass. I complied plunging deeper and quicker, watching as she threw her head back, crying out loudly until we exploded together.
Her body was still rippling around me when we stopped moving and I leaned forward to press a few kisses against her neck and shoulders before slowly setting her down on her feet.
"I wish we could just stay here." I whispered kissing my way up to her lips.
"I know." She sighed wistfully. "We won't stay there long, just enough to please Vee. She worked really hard planning it and I would feel bad not showing up at all."
"Fine, let's go appease the annoying blonde." I smirked playfully as I bent down to retrieve our clothes from the floor.
When we were both dressed and presentable I grabbed my keys, leading Nora out of the bedroom and into the living room where Rixon and Lexi were sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn.
"You guys are all dressed up." Lexi commented as she took in our outfits.
"Halloween party." Nora explained and Lexi nodded.
"We're having a horror movie marathon." Rixon grinned. "By the way, the next time you guys decide to have disgustingly loud sex, remember you're not the only ones home."
"It's my house." I scowled at him. "And BTW, there will be no funny business with you two tonight. I'm too young to be an uncle."
"I hate you." Rixon glared at me and I smirked. Paybacks a bitch.
"You guys are late." Vee scolded us as we walked into the Parnell's house later that evening. The party was in full swing and everyone was dressed up in stupid costumes, they looked absurd, but then again, so did I. I swear to God the things I do for love...
"Sorry, we got a little distracted." Nora smiled anxiously as her cheeks flushed scarlet red and I smirked proudly.
"Well come on, there are drinks in the kitchen." Vee dragged us excitedly through the house. She had on a flapper dress and the second I saw Scott I literally laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes. He had on a bright pink suit, Vee's doing of course, but he looked like an idiot.
"Why are you laughing?" Vee asked angrily as Scott's face turned beat red. "We're Gatsby and Daisy!"
"He's wearing a pink suit." I chuckled and watched as Nora bit her lip trying to stifle her own laughter. "Wait wait I gotta get a photo of this." I laughed pulling my phone out and snapping a photo of him as he glared maniacally at me.
"Okay, now you're just being mean." Nora raised an eyebrow at me and I nodded putting my phone away as I moved to grab a couple of beers.
"You're the one wearing the leather pants, dude." Scott scoffed and I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Hey, I look hot." I defended myself. "Nora agrees, she couldn't keep her hands to herself. Why do you think we were so late?"
"Patch!" Nora shouted slapping me in the arm harshly.
"You really need to learn about the concept of too much information." Vee frowned and I gave her my best mock innocent look.
"I think I'm gonna need something stronger than this." Nora muttered setting down the beer I got her and grabbing a cup off the counter. I watched as she poured a bottle of vodka in the cup and added a little soda to balance the taste.
"How are you babe?" Vee asked under her breath as she moved to stand next to my girlfriend.
"I'm fine." Nora smiled at Vee, but I knew she was lying. She's doing better, but she's a hell of a long ways from fine.
"Come on, let's go see who's got the sluttiest costume." I smiled encouragingly at her and she nodded grabbing her cup and snuggling into my side as I wrapped my arm around her and led her out of the kitchen.
"Thank you." She whispered once we made it out of the kitchen. "I'm not really in the mood to talk about it and Vee is a little pushy."
"I know, I could tell by the 'save me' expression on your face." I smirked pushing her against the wall in the corner. "Did I mention how hot you look in this dress?" I whispered into her ear before nibbling along the column of her neck.
"You might have mentioned it earlier." She gasped as my mouth moved along her collarbone, she wove her fingers through my hair to pull my mouth to hers before connecting them. I ran my hands along the side of her body over the fabric of her dress and over the curve of her delectable behind, purring at the memory of her lacy red thong.
"How much longer do we have to stay?" I asked between kisses.
"We can leave in an hour." She mumbled against my mouth and I nodded tightening my grip on her ass making her moan. "You are not making this very easy." She huffed and I grinned against her lips.
"That's kind of the point." I murmured taking her drink from her hand and setting it down on a nearby table before continuing my assault on her mouth. When our tongues intertwined she whimpered and I pressed my hardness against her leg.
"Maybe we should go out to the jeep." She groaned and I nodded holding her tighter.
"Nora!" Vee called running towards us and I growled at the interruption.
"Not now Barbie." I hissed turning around to glare at her.
"You can maul Nora later, I need to talk to her." Vee frowned walking towards us. "Marcie is here."
"So tell her to leave." I scowled raising an eyebrow at her. "Tah dah, problem solved!"
"I did, but she won't listen." Vee crossed her arms over her chest and I sighed. "She's going around telling people about Nora's dad, or dads. Everyone knows now!"
"She's what?!" Nora took a step forward. "How could she possibly know?"
"You couldn't keep your mouth closed could you Blondie?" I snapped.
"I swear on my life I didn't tell anyone." She replied defensively. "I didn't even tell Scott! I don't know how she knows, but I promise it wasn't from me."
"This is a nightmare." Nora muttered resting her face in her hands as people began to stare.
"Okay, that's it, we're leaving." I said harshly and Nora nodded. "Angel, you go wait in the jeep while I handle the bitch." I handed her my keys, she paused for a moment before giving in and taking them. Vee walked out with her and I scanned the room until I found Marcie in the corner with Dante Lockheart and a few other seniors.
"Patch." She grinned when I walked up to her.
"Are you really so desperate for attention that you'd go after my girlfriend and her family just because you're a cold-hearted manipulative bitch?!" I sneered loudly, drawing attention from the rest of the room. "Get it through your head, I hate you! You're fucking horrible and I don't want anything to do with you. Stay away from my girlfriend and stay the hell away from me."
"Excuse me?" She snarled angrily. "I don't know what you're talking about, but if I'm really as bad as you say I am you wouldn't have slept with me."
"I can assure you it will go down as the biggest regret of my life." I cringed and shook my head. "You were easy and you were there, but the sex was shit, you're horrible in and out of bed and I can't stand you. Stay the fuck away from Nora, and stop putting your nose in her family's business."
"You can't just-"
"Oh, but I can do anything I want." I interrupted her holding my hand up. "You don't go after Nora unless you're prepared to deal with me, got that?" I pointed an angry finger at her and she frowned before nodding slowly. I turned on my heel and stormed out of the house. Vee was standing near the front door, her eyes wide when she saw me.
"She's crying, not just crying, full on bawling." She told me dramatically. "She was fine until we got to the jeep and I was sitting with her, then she just broke down out of nowhere, I didn't know what to do!"
"She's had a bad week." I responded as I walked towards my car.
"No, she doesn't ever cry this hard Patch, this is bad." Vee trailed after me worriedly.
"I'll take care of it Barbie." I told her, softening my tone when I noticed the look on her face.
"I know you will, I'm just really worried about her." She sighed and ran her hand through her minky blonde hair. "She's been through so much and I think there's something else happening too, something she hasn't told us. Call me if I can do something to help."
"Okay." I smiled and she nodded before we parted ways and I found Nora sitting in the passenger seat of the jeep. "I didn't think Marcie got to you this much." I said softly, resting a hand on her knee. I'd seen Nora cry hundreds of times, but never like this.
"It's not only that." She whimpered wiping away at her eyes in a way that made my gut ache. I hated seeing her cry.
"Okay, well what is it?" I asked gently, running my hand over her forehead to brush aside a few loose curls that had fallen from her ponytail.
"I'm late, Patch." Her lower lip trembled.
"Late for what?" I asked confused.
"No, I'm late." She stressed the last word. "As in I should be having a visit from Mother Nature right now."
"Wait..." I furrowed my eyebrows as I let the words sink in. "So you're saying you're pregnant?"
"I'm saying I think I could be." She told me as a whole new wave of tears fell down her face. "I'm never late! I'm feeling kinda hormonal and when I woke up this morning I felt really nauseous, and I've been incredibly horny lately, which I'm sure you had to have noticed. I didn't think anything of it, but I just did the math and I realized I was late and then I though more about it and realized all the signs."
I nodded mutely as I raked a hand through my hair. Pregnant? God. I couldn't be a dad. I could barely take care of myself, much less a baby. I'd love to have kids with Nora, but not when we're both still in high school. And oh God, her mom would kill me!
"I'm so sorry." She sobbed burying her face in her hands and my heart broke even more. "Oh God! I was drinking tonight! If I'm pregnant I could have damaged our baby! Oh God Patch, this is so bad, I can't be a mom!"
"Hey." I tugged her hands guiding her over the center console so she'd sit sideways on my lap and I pulled her in close to me. "You don't have to be sorry. We'll figure this out. We'll go to the store and buy some tests to see if this is real, I'm sure it's just a false alarm. You take your birth control religiously and you even take it at the exact same time every single day. You haven't actually thrown up, and you've been insanely stressed lately. With everything going on this is most likely a false alarm."
"I'm scared." She squeezed my hand tightly.
"I know, me too." I admitted brushing her cheek lightly. "But I promise everything will be okay."
Uh oh...big cliffie! What do you think? Is Patch right or is Nora pregnant?
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