A/N: This is what I do when I don't feel like doing homework :)
Tomorrow came by pretty quickly. I spent over an hour on the phone with Justin this morning giving him the lay-down for my mother's wedding, but not just the typical details of when we're leaving, what he needs, and whatnot, but of my family history, my relatives, and what to expect from my dysfunctional relatives.
I was in the midst of getting ready when Ross walked in on me. And by getting ready, I meant that I was standing in front of the mirror inspecting my baby bump and how the small lump looks in my navy blue sundress.
"You might want to duck and cover," he informed me as me barged in, "John's here." Ross then followed it up by a quick look over at me, taking in what I was wearing. My dress went a little bit past my knees, and I styled my hair half-up-half-down with the up portion as a curly bun, little make-up, and black Anne Klein sandals. "Woah, where are you going?" the look on Ross's face was one of confusion and surprise.
"Jess and everyone are throwing me a 'congrats' party," I told him as I fixed some of my stray pieces of hair in the mirror.
"You told them?"
"Yeah, yesterday."
"Oh," he relished as he shut the door behind him and moved to my bed, "they're back."
"Yeah."
"You gonna move back home?"he asked with a hint of sadness in his voice. Knowing Ross and his family, I knew none of them wanted me to move back into my Aunts house, or worse, move in with my mother and soon to be step-daddy.
"I don't know," I shrugged in all honesty as I put my last bobby pin in place, "Jess and I had a fight yesterday, and I still haven't told my aunt yet. So maybe when everything falls back into place."
"Okay, well, have fun tonight." He rose from my purple sheeted bed and walked over towards where I was standing, "Where ya going anyways?"
"Thanks," I replied, "And I'm going to Justin Godsey's, he should be here any minute."
I saw a weak smile forcefully grace Ross's features. "Don't worry, I'll cover for you."
I smiled up at my best friend in the entire world. I don't know where I would be without him and his mother of course. At times I really do wish that this child was his, instead of his brothers, because then maybe life would be much more simple; and I know that Ross would make an excellent father, he's got his mother's caring nature in him.
I closed the little distance between us and wrapped my arms around his firm torso. "First I need you to sneak me out of the house, so you-know-who doesn't see," I mumbled into his broad chest.
"No worries," he replied as he hugged me back, "I got your back, girlfrand!"
"Thanks, Ro."
"No prob, Nat," and with that, I felt Ross O'Callaghan lightly press his lips to the top of my head as he held me close.
"You aren't the God of sex." I informed my chauffer for the evening as I entered the passenger seat of the grey Suzuki after Ross and I skillfully snuck out of the house and I ran towards the car like a love struck teenager running off to meet her boyfriend late at night and hoping her parents won't hear or see. But in reality, I was a scared mother-to-be sneaking out of the house so I wouldn't have to face my ex-boyfriend before heading out to a party.
"Alas, unfortunately, I am not," Jobe answered, "I did trade with him though. He had to greet guests because Ryan had to work late."
"So you're my chauffer?"
He lightly chuckled, "For the time being."
As he put the car in drive and I buckled up, I asked what has been in the back of my mind since last evening, "How was Jess?"
Josh shook his head side-to-side, "She calmed down. I think it's all good between the two of you now," he told me honestly in a serious manner. "If I didn't know better, I'd say she was extremely hormonal too," and his joking ways were back, "if you know what I mean," he followed up with a signature wink.
"Oh god, don't joke about things like that. The mental images!" I threw my head back against the headrest and shut my eyes tightly, trying to rid myself of any images trying to be formed in my head.
"Imagine how I felt having to live in a van with those two for months on end!"
I turned to look at the poor soul, "I'm sorry."
"You should be," Josh countered.
"Looks like the party's been happen' for a while," Jobe commented as the two of us entered the already packed apartment.
"Blame Logan," one of Justin's band mates, Tyler, informed us, "He came over early with a shit load of booze that he needed to be 'tested' before he drank it."
I was scanning the crows with my eyes, and they locked onto the tall, super-skinny, and long blonde haired guitarist, "Logan Thayer, you bitch!"
He turned around, obviously nearly wasted and whining, "Whaaaat!"
"You ruined my party!"
He was now standing in front of me, "Psh I made the party better."
"Noooo."
"I'm sorry!" he threw his arms around me in an attempt at a comforting hug. "Would me getting naked make things better!" he asked in all seriousness.
"I don't know. Strip!" I commanded jokingly. Logan unwrapped himself from me and started to unbutton his skinny jeans, since his button-up shirt was already wide open. "I wasn't serious!" I covered my face as I was laughing and turning pink with embarrassment.
"Oh…" Was his response as he pulled the fly back up and re-did the button.
"He's almost hammered; you know his clothes are coming off sometime," A familiar voice reminded me from behind.
I turned around to face the beautiful blue eyes, perfect hair, and polished looks of the one and only Ryan K. Steele. "Hey, Ry."
"Congratulations, Natalie," He congratulated me with a hug and a quick kiss to the cheek. "I'm sorry about the prick though."
"It's okay, I'm starting to come to terms with all this and I'm fine," I smiled, "I'm moving on." As I said that I couldn't help thinking about the other host, whom I haven't seen yet even with my quick scans of the apartment.
Ryan smiled a perfect smile, "That's good to hear."
"Speaking of moving on, where's Jess?" I asked.
"I think her and Stephen went somewhere, I'd give them a few more minutes," like Jobe did earlier, he winked at the insinuation, "Stephen doesn't last that long."
I laughed. "Well in that case, where's Justin?"
"Uhh," he scratched his head thinking of possible places where he's roommate could be hiding, "the balcony maybe? Or the kitchen" he offered as possible and unsure answers.
"Okay, I'll catch you later," I told him as I departed to those places in order to find Godsey, my date for the evening.
"Go get'em lover girl!" Ryan called loudly behind me. As I walked away all I could do was shake my head at him and try to contain the smile that forced to spread across my face.
I first checked the kitchen, and just like Ryan suggested, Justin was in there playing a round of the usual beer pong.
"Hey," I greeted him after he landed the ball into one of the red Solo cups.
"Natalie, hey," he turned his back on the game to notice my entrance.
One of the guys on the other team, which I didn't know, said, "Jay, we gonna finish this round or what?"
Justin looked at me with conflicted and wanting eyes, "Gimme a minute?" he asked me.
"Sure, I'll just go find Jess or John or someone."
I spent the next twenty minutes floating around and lightly talking with people that I knew, and being introduced to some new faces. They all congratulated me and asked the typical questions of "how are you", "when are you due", and if I wanted a boy or a girl. When I had enough of trying to awkwardly socialize with nearly wasted people, I decided to sit on the balcony porch and gaze up at the stars.
"I'm sorry." I turned to where he was closing the sliding door and looked at him questioningly. "I promised I'd stay sober with you. Sorry." He apologized, coming to take a seat on the bench with me.
"No, it's fine," I told him, "I said to not let me and my being with child spoil anyone's fun."
"But this is like your little 'welcome home/congrats' bash," he countered, "We shouldn't be doing this." It was true. This was my little party that [i]they[/i] were throwing [i]me[/i], traditionally, they should be catering to my every wish. But, no. That would be stupid. You cannot throw a party and invite or having anyone from Arizona there and [i]not[/i] have alcohol. That just doesn't happen. And I got to admit, alcohol tastes better in Arizona.
I shrugged, still looking out into the distance, "It doesn't matter to me."
"It's a good thing," he started to say randomly as he draped his arm across the back of the bench; "With him out of the picture I can take care of you and the baby."
At first I didn't understand what the hell he was talking about. [i]Him? Baby? Out of the picture?[i] But then I put two-and-two together. "Justin, you don't have to do that. Jenny's probably going to set up some child support thing for us. It's not a big deal, really." I tried to reassure him. The last thing I'd want was for him, a guy with a bright future ahead of him, to get caught out with stupid, ole' me and some kid that isn't even his at such a young age.
"But I want to." He said it so softly that I could have sworn I wasn't meant to hear that. But just to make sure I turned my head to look at him with a confused expression. His copper orbs met my own dull ones, and he whispered just loud enough so I could hear, "I want to be there for you and junior."
And at that moment, Justin Godsey pressed his tender lips against my own.
