Chapter Twenty One

Friday afternoon in math class, Aria tried to concentrate on the quadratic equation Mr Simms was explaining on the board. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn't keep her mind from wondering off to more important things. She had a doctor's appointment after school and was really nervous. It was over three weeks ago since she found out about the pregnancy and she had finally made up her mind about what to do. It wasn't an easy decision to make but after spending nights weighing the pros and cons of having a baby Aria decided abortion was the best option. She was only seventeen, lived with her dad, had no independent income and just wasn't ready to be a mother. Even though she felt horrible about her decision to have an abortion for a while she knew it was the most sensible thing to do and was overall the best option.

She could do it secretly at a clinic in Bakerdale, a small town an hour outside of Rosewood. Aria didn't know the directions so she was going to take the train instead of driving herself. Emily and Spencer didn't know about the baby, although Spencer was pretty pissed off about her and Jason, she eventually cooled down and they were on good terms again. And Hanna, well she said she wouldn't judge her no matter what choice she made.

The shrill bell rang and school was over. Out in the courtyard Spencer called Aria over to join her at the lunch table. She was sitting behind a pile of books and looked super stressed. Aria clenched her bag and walked over to Spencer. '' What's up?''

Spencer ran her hand though her hair and breathed out a heavy sigh. '' Hey, do you want to hang out for a while? I'm waiting Andrew and he's taking forever''

Aria nodded and sat down. '' So what's with all the books?''

'' My teacher suggested I get a tutor. Can you believe that? A tutor?'' She sounded really disgusted.

'' What has the world come to?'' Aria joked.

Spencer smiled but then grew serious. '' So, can we please talk about Jason?''

Aria immediately became uncomfortable. '' Spence, we talked about this already.''

'' Not really. I asked questions and you nervously skim over it, I just need to know what happened?''

'' Why? I told you it was just a drunk mistake. I know you feel like I should have told you but it really wasn't a big deal.'' Aria rolled up her jacket sleeve and checked her watch. '' I have to go. I have an appointment.''

'' An appointment? Are you okay?''

'' Yeah, it's the dentist, I need a root canal or something bye.''

An hour later Aria watched as the doctor strolled into the room. She was in her fifties and had dark reddish brown hair. '' Right Aria. I'm Dr Granger. So what can I do for you today? I hear you're here for an abortion.'' She checked the file in her hand.

'' Yes''

'' Well I have to ask you a few routine question first.'' She sat down on the chair and took out a pen. After about five minutes of some very personal question the doctor told Aria to lie back on the chair so she could do an ultra sound, just to make sure she was indeed pregnant. She squirted some very cold gel on Aria's stomach and began the ultrasound. '' Okay, Aria you said you had sex around valentine's day, the scan shows you are six to seven weeks pregnant.''

Aria looked over at the black and white screen; she couldn't really see anything besides dark navy nothing. But according to the doctor there was a heartbeat. ''There's a heartbeat? I can't really heart'', Aria said softly, she was quiet shocked, she didn't know there would be a heartbeat so early on.

The doctor nodded. '' Yes, just listen for a minute, you might be able to hear it.''

Aria stayed quiet and listened to the hollow, underwater sounding heartbeat. '' That's the heartbeat?'' The doctor nodded and smiled sadly, she was friendly but you could tell she was silently judging Aria. Kind of the wrong profession to be in if you were judgemental. Aria continued to listen and kept her eyes glued to the screen. '' That's really amazing.''

A few minutes later the doctor finished up. She told Aria to take a seat in her office so they could discuss her options. That made Aria feel extremely nervous, she kind of wanted the whole thing to be over and done with without the chit chat. The door swung open and the doctor waddled in, she was kind of fat but had nice style. She had taken off her white lab coat so you could see her black dress. '' So, Aria, I don't mean to offend you...'', she spoke, she looked a little uncomfortable bringing it up, '' but back in the examination room you seemed pretty excited and moved when you heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time. Are you sure you're still on board with this?''

Aria squeezed her knuckled and dug her nails deep into her thighs. '' I'm not sure. Coming here today was definitely going to go ahead with it, now I'm not so sure. I'm beginning realize it's actually turning into a human and it's really freaking me out.''

'' You know that's pretty common around here.'' Dr Granger bit the top of her pen; they were the expensive pens that cost twenty five dollars each just because of the brand name. Aria's aunt Linda bought her a navy one as a present for her thirteenth birthday. '' They come in here seeing abortion as an easy solution, just a simple procedure that's over quickly and then they can go back to normal lives. But when they hear the heartbeat it really hits then that this is real and that they are actually carrying a child.''

Aria cringed as the mental image of her with a giant basketball bump protruding out of her clothes flashed through her mind. Aria never told anyone but pregnant women kind of grossed her out, they were just so swollen and puffy and they looked like they were about to pop. Aria didn't want to be like that but she really didn't know what she wanted anymore.

'' So what is your current situation? Is the father in the picture? Do you have friends and family to help you raise the baby if you do decide to keep it?''

'' Yeah, I have friends but they're all going to be going off to college in the fall and I can't just ask them to drop everything to help me. My family will flip out, And the father… well I know that he'll be there for the baby if I decide to keep it but I'm not sure I want to have a baby if it won't have a proper family.''

Dr Granger closed her notebook and sat back in her chair. '' Look, obviously you are having some conflicting thoughts about the whole situation. I think we should leave it at this today and you should go home and make some more time to think. We can make another appointment if you decide to go through with it.''

'' How long is too late.''

'' Twenty two week, but if you're going to go through with it ,the sooner we do it the best. Okay?''

'' Okay?''

The next day at school Aria went over to her locker and opened it, reached in to grab her history book and to her horror, a baby doll covered in fake blood fell out and landed on the floor. '' Momma. Momma. Why do you hate me? Momma.'' It's electronic voice creeped Aria out and it's eyes were gouged out. Aria quickly swooped down and threw it back into her locker. The hallways were almost empty, hopefully nobody saw. On the floor was a small yellow sticky note. Aria picked it up.

Awe, does pretty little Aria not feel like playing house with the big bad brother? Well too bad honey. There is a man hunt for Alison's killer. Everybody hates a murderer, don't they? Well look in the mirror darling because you are one.

_A

Okay well thanks for reading. Please review. The next chapter Jason finds out. How do you think he'll react?