Clara was frustrated as she sat in her father's living room highlighting in her textbook. She glanced at her watch and sighed sitting back into the leather couch as another opportunity to go to the drug store for the pregnancy test had passed her again.
This time it was her dad who just happened to be heading there too and offering her a ride. Clara couldn't risk him finding out so she declined and stayed home while he went. Whether it was school or her dad this was going to be harder than she thought.
"You alright, Clara?" Her dad asked glancing up from his newspaper. "Yeah, I'm fine, why?" She lied forcing a smile going back to her book.
"Well, to be honest I'm worried about you." He said sitting back in his chair.
She sighed. "Yeah, I know. You sent David over to check on me like I was five, again." "Can you blame me? You've been acting so strange lately." He lightly scoffed. Clara shrugged. She couldn't argue with that. "Fair enough but why didn't you just come by yourself?' She asked.
"I was busy besides every time I try to talk to you I can't get a straight answer."
"Sorry," Clara muttered playing with a button on her blue cardigan. "It's just complicated."
"Is everything alright with Matt?" Dean Oswald said almost too casually. "Yes, why?" She arched her eyebrow at his tone. "Nothing, I was just curious." He replied innocently.
She groaned setting her book aside. "Please don't start." "I wasn't starting anything. I just know how distracting he can be sometimes." He replied.
"Actually you don't know him, you refuse to know anything about him." Clara grumbled frustrated. She was starting to regret coming over for a visit. "I'm just concerned about you, sweetheart." He insisted.
Clara rolled her eyes. She really didn't want to hear it. "Yeah, sure." "That's not fair and you know it." Dean Oswald scolded. She scoffed. "Neither is picking on Matt. Which is what you what you always do," Clara shook her head. "You will never accept him, will you?"
"Honey, I know Matt's a nice young man but I think" He started to say but she couldn't take that speech anymore, Clara was done with this conversation. She had to get out of the house even if it meant lying.
"I need to get something from the apartment." She calmly interrupted. "Now?" He said surprised. "Yeah, don't wait up." She sighed. "Alright but we're not done with this conversation, young lady." He scowled.
"I disagree." Clara remarked leaving the house.
Once outside the cool breeze did little to soothe her as she walked across campus. Clara was feeling scared and worried. Nothing would feel alright again until she got that pregnancy test but how was she going to get it without her dad finding out?
She needed somebody to talk to. "I wonder if David's, awake." She wondered. Clara was only a few minutes away from his apartment but it was getting late and it seemed selfish to bother him but she really needed a friend. Unable to think of anywhere else to go Clara sighed and started walking to his place.
Meanwhile David had just gotten done talking to Amy and was about to drift off to sleep when the door knocked. He groaned and groggily got out of bed and walked to the door. "Yeah, I'm coming." He yawned.
He opened the door surprised to see Clara. "Clara?"
"Hi." She smiled politely noticing his plaid pajama bottoms and maroon t-shirt. "Great I woke him up." Clara scolded herself.
"Blimey, what are you doing here," He said surprised. "Listen, if you're looking for Matt he's babysitting at his cousin's tonight."
Clara nodded. "I know I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd visit."
He glanced at his watch. "At 9: 20 P.M?" She lowered her eyes. "I can go." David shook his head. "No, it's okay. I just didn't expect you that's all." Clara noticed his cellphone and worried she had interrupted his time with Amy.
"Oh, I came at a bad time didn't I?" Clara winced pointing at his cellphone. He glanced at his phone smiling sheepishly realizing he was still holding it. "I guess I miss Amy so much I've kind of gotten used to having this thing with me all time." He admitted softly.
Clara cringed at her possible bad timing. "Did I mess up your phone call?" She asked concerned. David smirked slightly. "You're fine; I actually just got done talking to her a few minutes ago," He replied placing it in his pocket. David looked at her curious. "So what's up?"
Clara shook her head. "I just needed a friend." She said softly. He leaned against the door frame. "Oh, did something happen?" She sighed. "Oh, just a typical night at my father's house." David nodded. "Ah, I take it didn't go well?" She scoffed. "Never does."
David smirked tilting his head back. "Welcome to my world." Clara smiled slightly. "Is it okay if I come in?" "Sure," He replied allowing her inside. "Like something to drink?"
"Water if you got it." She said realizing it was warm. "Blimey, it's hot in here." She frowned sitting on the couch. David came with two bottles of cold drinks. "Yeah, air conditioner's busted all over the complex." He handed her one then sat in a chair across from the couch.
"Charming." She muttered removing her cardigan. She was glad that she was wearing a cool pink shirt underneath.
"Sorry, guess I should've warned ya'," He replied opening his soda. "So what happened?" Clara sipped some of her water and frowned. "I'm not sure. At first we were we talking about him worrying about me then somehow it turned into a discussion about Matt."
"I take it wasn't pleasant." He remarked. She just gave him a look.
He smirked swallowing some soda. "Have you even attempted to tell your dad that you might be pregnant, yet?" Clara shook her head. "I can't he'll freak."
David nodded tapping the side of his bottle. "Yeah, he probably will." "Thanks." She grunted. "Would you rather I lie?" He replied. "I don't know." Clara muttered. David studied her a minute before speaking. "Let me ask you this have you gotten the pregnancy test, yet?" She scoffed drinking her water. "Are you kidding, with him breathing down my neck all the time?"
He sighed. "Well, nice to know you've got a handle on things," David sarcastically commented. "What are you going to do?"
Clara shrugged. "I don't know. I was thinking maybe you could buy it for me." She said carefully. David almost choked on his drink. "What?" "I'll give you the money." She offered.
"Clara, are you insane? You seriously want me to do it?" He said sitting up. She sighed. "I know I'm asking a lot" She started to say. "That's putting it mildly!" He interjected. "But I don't know what else to do. I can't risk Matt doing it, I can't do it." She protested. "So you want to throw me under the bus, right?" David remarked.
"Alright, bring a friend if you're worried about somebody noticing," She scoffed. "I'm not trying to make your life miserable!"
He briefly removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I know that but I can't keep covering for you like this." Clara was aware of how much she had been leaning on him lately which made this even more difficult.
"I don't like it anymore than you do but wouldn't ask if I didn't need the help." She begged softly and ashamed.
After a few minutes he sighed. "Alright, I'll do it but I'm using my own money and promise me that you and Matt will deal with your father on your own and leave me out of it." Clara nodded. "Fair enough."
David muttered under his breath finishing the last of his soda and glanced at the clock. "It's getting late. I'm turning in," He stood from his chair. "Do you need me to call a cab?" She thought for a second. She really didn't want to go home. "Can I crash here on the couch, tonight?" Clara asked.
He stretched. "Well, if you don't mind sleeping in a sauna." She smirked. "Better than facing my dad."
He shrugged and yawned. "Sure do whatever you like." Clara smiled grateful as she removed her shoes.
"If you get hot you're welcome to open a window." He replied leaving the living room. "Thanks." Clara said quietly.
David then noticed her staring and delicately touching her stomach and he paused. "It'll be okay." She swallowed glancing away. "But what happens if I am and dad cuts off or kicks me out of his life or something…and I" Her voice broke. She couldn't finish her sentence.
He sighed and sat beside her. "Clara if you are pregnant Matt and I have agreed that if Dean Oswald tries anything then you're staying here," Clara slowly glanced at him teary eyed. "And Amy and I have talked and we'll do whatever we can to help you raise this child," He squeezed her hand. "You're not alone." David assured her.
Clara sniffed fighting back tears. She was so grateful but she also felt guilty for bringing Amy and now David into her mess. She didn't deserve either of them. She wiped an escaped tear. "What is it, Clara?" He said concerned.
She sighed heavily. "I-it's just you-you're the closest thing to a brother I'll ever get and I-I..." All the emotions and fears she had been holding inside came pouring out as she wept. "I'm just so sorry for everything!" Clara let out a sob as the tears streamed down her face. He wrapped his arm around her and held her close letting her cry.