Chapter 24: Bearer of Bad News
Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks for the faithful reviews for Chapter 23 and I am looking forward to some awesome reviews for this chapter. The other night, I had a dream that, for some reason, everyone around me thought I was pregnant. Maybe I told them? My mom was telling me to call people to tell them about the baby shower and I was just afraid of what would happen if they found out I wasn't pregnant! Maybe that dream helped me write this chapter. Anyway, enjoy and review!
"Why am I so itchy?" Bridgette slipped her fingers underneath the Velcro of her 'belly' and scratched as hard as she could. The back stopped itching so she put her fingers underneath the front and scratched. Then she just became frustrated with the whole thing and ripped if off completely. "That's much better," she said scratching contently all over.
"Bridgette, are you home?" a voice called from the living room.
"Damn," Bridgette whispered as she hurriedly reattached her stomach. "Yea, I'm in here." Jonesy excitedly walked into Bridgette's room.
"Afternoon, Bridge," he said and kissed her on the cheek. "Afternoon, baby," he said and kissed her stomach.
"Why are you so happy?" Bridgette asked quizzically.
"I got a raise," Jonesy put his arms around Bridgette. "Ten dollars and hour."
"That's great." Bridgette said, unenthusiastically. Jonesy picked up on this.
"You, ok?"
"Yea, just tired and so itchy." she began to scratch her sides again.
"Maybe, you should see a doctor about that," Jonesy inquired. "Speaking of which, shouldn't we know if it's a boy or girl yet? You are almost in your next trimester."
"Well," Bridgette was great at thinking on her feet. "The doctors can but, I want it to be a surprise."
"What if I go with you and they just tell me?" He gave Bridgette a puppy-dog look.
"You know you can't keep a secret," Bridgette brushed it off. "Let me go to the bathroom for a minute."
Bridgette went in the bathroom and locked the door. She put her head in her hands and started shaking. Jonesy was still close to her and wanted to be in her life, so why was she unhappy? He was working hard to provide a better life for her and his child. But Bridgette knew she couldn't keep this up forever. She didn't know what to do.
"I don't know how much formula costs!" Michelle yelled to Wyatt.
"Well, we need to know if you're not breastfeeding. You're already pregnant you know your body's never gonna look the same after this. What would be so bad if your boobs drooped a little?" Wyatt questioned Michelle as he looked at a checklist of things his and Michelle's mom made that they would need to take care of.
"I'm sixteen. I still want to look hot in a bikini even if I do have a baby." Michelle protested.
"You would risk our child's health for a bikini?"
"God, you're impossible sometimes. Formula is still food, not poison."
"Whatever, Michelle. It's your body." Wyatt was tired of arguing.
"What's the next thing on the list?" Michelle asked.
"Your mom wrote, 'talk about gymnastics'. Haven't you already quit?"
"Um, yeah, about that..."
"Michelle, are you still going? You could hurt yourself or the baby."
"Well, I didn't," Michelle defended herself. "When I fell off the rope we went to the doctor and everything was fine--oops."
Michelle stopped talking and didn't look up at Wyatt. She already knew a lecture was coming.
"You fell off the rope? Michelle, you can't do these things, anymore. Thank God, our baby is okay but this should be a lesson. Having children is a sacrifice."
"Oh yeah? Well, I don't see you sacrificing anything. I have to sacrifice my stomach, my boobs, and now gymnastics? It's not fair! What are your sacrifices?
"Trust me. There are plenty." Wyatt muttered.
"What are they?" Michelle asked again. Wyatt sighed and didn't say anything for a while.
"My childhood. I can't hang out with my friends anymore. Not the way I used to. I have to work full time in a greasy Burger place and when I get my check I can't spend any of it on myself. I haven't written any good songs lately because I'm too exhausted from work. Not to mention, I have to give up the next eighteen years of my life to take care of the baby!"
"No one says you have to do any of that! If you want to leave, just go."
"I can't just go, your dad will kill me."
"Oh, so you're only staying because of my dad?" Michelle yelled and stood up in Wyatt's face.
"No, I'm staying because I have to."
"Oh, now you have to. Get a girl pregnant and now you're obligated to stay with her, is that it?" Wyatt was done with Michelle's angry tone he wanted to give her a piece of his mind.
"You know what, Michelle? You're absolutely right. I don't haveto stay but I do feel obligated. I try and try and nothing is good enough for you. I promise to stay with you and help take care of you and be there in the delivery room holding your hand the whole time and you don't appreciate it. There are times when I want to leave. I just want to get on the bus and sit there till I'm halfway across town then get off and keep running until I don't have to deal with all this pressure. Your cousin, Kira's boyfriend probably didn't run away with her. He was trying to get away so he wouldn't have to deal with those insane hormones anymore. I regret all of this. I wish I could go back in time and never have went in that closet."
"You regret our child?"
"Yes, I regret it. It's the only thing I think about. I'm sixteen in high school! Jen was right. I have no idea if I can go to college now or even if I can afford it. I'm sorry I ruined my life," Wyatt slid to the ground on his hand and knees and covered his face. "And, I'm sorry I got you pregnant."
His face was in his hand now and he struggled not to choke on his tears. He was supposed to be the man who was brave for his girl. But right now, he felt like a little kid again who was lost and couldn't find his mommy.
"I'm sorry, too," Michelle said in tears. "I'm sorry I pulled you into that closet. I should have known better." Michelle slid to the ground as well. Wyatt put his arms around her and they cried together. Their fear of impending parenthood was a normal one and it was a relief for them to finally get everything off their chest.
Never had Nikki been so glad to see her parents. She jumped into their arms and was squeezed with love. She made promises to her parents that she would never get into trouble like that again. When she entered Juvy, Nikki was extremely bitter and refused to interact with others. Her snappy attitude and bitterness didn't get her as far as she'd hoped. One night in the showers, two muscular girls jumped Nikki and banged her head against the shower faucet until her blood made the water turn pink. They had no real reason to hurt Nikki they just didn't like her. The horrifying ordeal forced Nikki to be more open in talking to the counselors during therapy. It also helped her to curb her witty remarks and deal with people she really didn't like with kindness. The first thing she wanted to do upon getting home was to talk to her friends. Before she left, she swore that she hated them and never wanted to speak to them again. But now she just wanted things to go back to normal. Back to how they used to be, but she knew it would never be the same. Jonesy was having a child and that would change everything. But she just wanted to believe that nothing had changed. She held her cell phone for the first time in four months. There were no messages or calls because everyone knew she wouldn't answer them. She went to her Address Book and scrolled down to Jonesy's name. She contemplated for a while if she should call him or not. She hadn't spoken to him in forever and she figured he may have moved on with Bridgette. Nikki closed her phone and put it back in her pocket, not quite ready to go back to the past yet.
Jen's phone rang loudly on her bed but she didn't want to answer. She knew it was still Jude trying to contact her. She knew her feelings for him had grown deeply but she felt like such a fool for breaking his heart. She was afraid to face him. Jonesy walked past her door on the way out.
"Jonesy?" she called to him. He poked his head into her door.
"Tell Jude...I want him back." She said with great hesitation.
"Okay, as soon as I meet up with Nikki." Jonesy was excited and a little nervous.
"I almost forgot, Nikki is back today. Can I come with?"
"Sure, nobody's stopping you."
Jen got up from her bed and went with Jonesy. At least now she could focus on someone else's life but her own for the moment.
Nikki's house hadn't changed at all since they'd been there last. The blood and glass had been cleaned up of course. But it looked just as it used to when they would come over on Saturday's and drag Nikki out of her bed to go and play XBox. The physical reminders of what happened that night were long gone, but memories were more difficult to wash away. The moment that Nikki saw Jonesy she looked at his scar. It was thinner and less noticeable than it had been at first but this was the first time Nikki was seeing it without a bandage. The enraged memory of hitting Jonesy was not what she thought of when she saw it. She only remembered his nerve-racking scream and the way his face spattered blood everywhere. She knew that eventually Jonesy would forgive her but, seeing the scar and feeling the memory, she would never forgive herself. Nikki stayed silent until Jonesy and Jen came up to embrace her.
"Oh, Nikki, we're so glad you're home!" Jen said first while she hugged Nikki.
"Yea, we missed you like crazy!" Jonesy added. Nothing felt real for Nikki yet. She also wanted to see all her friends again.
"Let's go to the mall and see the rest of the gang, shall we?" The trio headed to the mall hoping for some normalcy there.
"They said there's no medical reason for your itching?" Talia asked looking at the red, swollen dots on Bridgette's stomach.
"That's what they said. I thought maybe I was allergic to the fabric in that thing," she pointed to the fake belly sitting on Talia's couch.
"But turns out it's psychological."
"Like guilt, maybe?" Talia pressed which made Bridgette uncomfortable.
"I don't know," Bridgette said irately. "It's just...he's looking forward to this whole thing and I don't know what I'll do when he, and everyone, expects a baby. It'll crush him if he finds out but I don't think I can keep it up much longer. He kisses my stomach now and he wants to know the sex of the baby. When's the best time to tell someone bad news?" Bridgette was looking for some support from her best friend.
"Yesterday," was her simple and realistic answer. "Bridge, you dug yourself a pretty big whole with this one. Maybe if you come clean now he won't be as upset. I mean, it's better if you tell him about it now than him finding out later." Bridgette thought for a moment.
"You're right, Tal. If I tell him now it might not be as bad. But I still don't wanna do it."
"Yep. Welcome to Adulthood, Bridge."
Caitlin, Jude, and Wyatt were just as happy to see Nikki as their friends but were still in shock at the fact that she was there. Jonesy tried to start a conversation.
"So, how have you been, Nik?"
"What kind of question is that?" Nikki snapped at him caught off guard.
"Nothing. I just...What if we talk about what we've been up to. I, for one, am Employee of The Month at Copy This."
"Wow," Nikki said genuinely impressed. "I think Hell's about to freeze over. But, seriously, that's great."
"Yea, and I got a raise." Caitlin chimed in.
"I got...um, new lip gloss?" Jen didn't want to upset Nikki by telling her that she and Jude broke up.
"I'm in a skateboarding contest next Friday." Jude added.
"You guys have really been busy." Nikki said, uninterested. Everyone stood in silence for a few moments. Wyatt decided to break the tension.
"Well, I gotta get to work, see ya." Wyatt caught up to Michelle who was already on her way there. When the couple turned a corner, Nikki commented on something surprising.
"Is it just me, or is Michelle looking a little bigger these days?" The gang just stared while Nikki continued.
"It looks like she's gained at least twenty pounds since last time I saw her. Maybe someone should say something. I mean, just because you work at a fast food restaurant, doesn't mean you have to eat there everyday." No one said anything for while. They had completely forgotten that Nikki didn't know Michelle was pregnant. And since she only saw her from the back, she looked kinda fat. The gang all looked toward Jen to unveil the secret, because none of them could keep a straight face long enough to tell her.
"Nikki, Michelle's gained weight because...babies need extra room to move around and--"
"Oh my God, are you kidding me? First Bridgette, now Michelle. Can't anyone keep it in their pants?" Nikki almost laughed as she said it.
"Yea, that's what I said, which reminds me, Jude, can we talk?" Jen finally felt brave enough to humble herself to Jude. She was really sorry that she had to break his heart, but in their time apart, thanks to Jonesy, she was able to get over her issues and was no longer plagued with nightmares and panic attacks. Jen also really missed Jude and knew he missed her.
They met near the fountain, the place where they first admitted they were in love. Jen sat on the bench in front of the fountain while Jude faced her. Jude tried very hard not to look too excited, he figured that they were getting back together, because Jonesy told him, but he didn't want to make it too easy for Jen.
" First off, Jude, I'm so sorry for what I did. I should have just told you what was going on with me instead of dumping you like that. I was freaking out over the whole 'Bridgette' thing and you kept calling me a hero and I--well, I panicked. I won't let that happen again. If I have issues, we'll resolve them together, okay?"
"Okay," was all Jude really needed to say. His ear-to-ear grin described all the rest of his feelings. "So, we're cool?" Jen asked kind of incredulous that he had forgiven her so easily.
"Of course, bra." He pulled Jen close to him and did what he had been wanting to do for the past few weeks. When their lips parted, Jude put his face in her hair and whispered, "I love you, Jen," into her chestnut hair. They stood their for a few moments enjoying ways to make up after a fight that were more special than the physical could ever be.
Later on at the Garcia-Masterson household, the gang decided to have a little get-together for Nikki. It was a bit smaller than the one for Johnathan's family just to make sure everyone was comfortable. Bridgette and Nikki sat on opposite sides of the room, of course, and Jonesy had to practically travel across the universe to speak to both of them. While he was sitting with Nikki, and music was blasting too loud for anyone to really hear their conversation, Nikki asked the million-dollar question that Jonesy had been dreading.
"Are you with her or me? At Johnathan's party you wanted me back and I said, 'yes'. But, now, after I've been gone for so long, did you get back together with her?" Jonesy didn't know ow to answer the question. He had been spending so much time with Bridgette because of the baby but he wasn't sure if that meant they were back together. But, as crazy as it sounded, he had forgiven Nikki for everything she did to him and wanted to still be with her, but he wasn't sure how it would work out if he had to deal with Bridgette on a regular basis.
"I do love you, Nikki. I just don't know how this whole, 'baby' thiing has changed your mind about us."
"It hasn't really. I know it'll be awkward since Bridgette hates my guts and everything but I want to make this work. I love you, too, Jonesy. Child or not."
On the other side of the room, Bridgette was getting crazily itchy again. She had to make a break for it before Jonesy came back to talk to her. She bolted out of her chair up to his now quiet and empty room and ripped off the nuisance once again. She was in such a hurry, she didn't bother to close the door all the way.
"So, have you picked out names for the baby yet?" Nikki inquired.
"Well, for a boy, definitely Jonesy Jr. and a girl Joanna Christine Garcia Roberts or Roberts Garcia. I don't know which one yet."
"Of course, Mr. Macho Man has to name them after himself." Nikki criticized.
"Oh, yea? Well, what would you have in mind?" Jonesy asked.
"For a girl, Katherine Melanie Garcia and a boy Kenneth Antonio Garcia."
"Katherine? What is this, the 17th century?" Jonesy teased. Before Nikki could come up with a clever response, Caitlin interjected about the music.
"Do you have any more CD's Jonesy? If I have to hear Turn My Swag On one more time I'm going to shoot someone."
"Sure. I think I have Dawgtoy upstairs." Jonesy rose to get it but Nikki stopped him. " It's okay, I'll go get it." she offered.
"But it's your party. You should be relaxing." Jonesy explained.
"No, it's fine. I know where you keep your Cd's and it's mine anyway." Nikki, unlike Jonesy, had noticed when Bridgette went upstairs and she didn't like the possibility of them being alone together. Nikki quickly ran up the stairs and casually pushed the door open, knowing full well that she would find Bridgette there. But she wasn't prepared for what she actually saw.
"Nikki?" Bridgette screamed in surprise.
"Oh my God..."
Author's Note: I'm evil, aren't I? Review and I will write as soon as I can. It's more possible for me to write sooner cus I have a laptop now! : )