That moment when you have to beg yourself to stop crying and tell yourself, "BE STRONG"

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Ella's POV

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"I'm pregnant" I finally burst out. I feel another tear roll down my cheek as I look down at my lap, afraid to look at Max. I could feel Max instantly stiffen beside me.

There is nothing now but sickening silence as Max let this sink in. I knew what she might be thinking. I'm some good for nothing slut. How am I supposed to tell her it's also her twin brother's?

"Are you a hundred percent sure?" She finally spoke, her voice no louder than a whisper and lacking any sort of tone.

"Y-yes. I've taken countless tests. My mom had actually found one of the tests this morning and both my parents practically kicked me out so they could 'clear their heads'. Th-that's why I came here." I said with a wavering voice.

Max nodded, not bothering to look at me quite yet. Her blonde hair was in a messy bun on top of her head as she sat beside me in her blue pj's with white angel wings. I was no better. I was once again caught red handed in my Hello Kitty pj's bottoms with my hair pulled back in a messy braid.

"It's Iggy's right?" She once again startled me with her soft voice lacking any form of emotion. I gulped and nodded feeling the tears begin to prickle my eyes as they threatened to fall.

"I don't believe it's recent despite the fact you two are barely getting close. When?"

"After you're birthday party" I hiccupped. "I went to his room to give him his presents that he had left downstairs. We ended up talking and before I knew it he had me pinned up against the wall as we kissed the living daylights out of each other. I-I'm sorry, Max. I really am"

Max sighed. "So that's why you two were avoiding each other like the plague. I know Iggy like the back of my hand. How bad did he treat you?"

"Max he didn-"

"Ella, how bad did he treat you?" She asked more sternly, shifting to face me, holding an unrecognizable emotion in her eyes.

I broke eye contact and looked at the blue blankets beneath me. "He said what had happened was a mistake and that I should just forget about it and not expect anything. I had gotten depressed because no matter how much I liked him and that I had even given myself to him, I was just another of his toys but-"

"Iggy doesn't play girls, Ella." Max cut me off. I looked up at her with a questioning look.

"What do you mean?"

"As far as I have known Iggy has only been in one relationship, well two if I include you and the reason Brigid had cheated on him in the first place was because he hadn't done anything with him in order for her to- well I can't explain the rest but after everything that happened with Bri and all he hadn't even looked at a girl that way, let alone touch one." Max explained.

She was pretty much telling me I had also been Iggy's first.

"So how did he make it up too you once he realized how much of a douche he was being?"

"It was the day you caught us kissing in your living room in the middle of the night. I don't know why but I had unknowingly arrived too your house, Iggy answered the door and he ended up pouring his heart out too me"

"That doesn't sound like him but Iggy's always been full of surprises. So who knows?"

"So far my parents, you, and I'm sure Fang is suspicious by now considering I had told him about Iggy and me." Max's expression morphed to complete questioning at my last remark.

"I had kind of blurted it out to him that day at the diner when Brigid first arrived and he had taken me home. He's a virgin by the way." I could clearly see the blush make its appearance on Max's cheeks at what I had confessed.

"I- I didn't know that" She said completely flustered. If it weren't for the current situation I might have giggled at her reaction.

"I guess we both learned something new" I sighed. "Max, what am I going to do? I haven't told Iggy because do you honestly think he's going to take it lightly? He's going to be a freaking dad! At eighteen! He still has so much growing up to do and a baby isn't going to help and there's no way I'm getting rid of it! I'm pro-life after all and you probably hate me too. You have every right too because I slept with your brother. I'm sorry, I really am. I-"

"Ella, calm down. I'm not mad at you and I don't hate you. You are still my best friend whom I love and I'm here for you. We just have to take this one step at a time. We can't do this alone though. I'm going to get my mom and-"

"NO!" I instantly shouted shooting straight up to my feet.

"Ella, my mom could help you. She also got pregnant at a young age with Jake. I believe she could help you. Just stay here and I'll go get her. Everything will turn out fine. Slowly but surely" She assured me one last time before she made her way to the door and that's when I noticed Max had also been shaking as she nervously bit her lip.

Why me?

Max's POV

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My best friend, Ella is pregnant and my obnoxious bad tempered twin brother, Iggy is the father. Just great.

I feel sick. Even though this isn't happening directly happening to me I know it's going to affect me considering I'm going to be an aunt at eighteen and I'm going to have to help out as well. And though I know perfectly well it was never Ella's attention in the first place to hook up with my brother it still stings. My brother and I used to be so close once and I would have believed either one of them would have told me what had happened.

I felt a panic attack coming in. Breath. In and out. In and out. I've never been in a scenario like this before and me being awful at this is letting it get to me but who wouldn't?

My own twin whom I've been close too since birth and my most trustworthy and nicest best friend together. I had always wanted them to start dating or something and I was happy for both of them but something like that that had occurred almost a month back is huge!

I felt the nasty hole in the pit of my stomach as I slowly and wobbly made my way to the dining room where everyone had just woken up and were sluggishly moving around, taking care of their breakfast needs.

My dad was surprisingly joining us for breakfast apparently as he sat at the table with a newspaper and his usual black coffee. Jake was also sitting at the table as he yawned and looked through his phone while Iggy and my mom made breakfast. Pancakes.

"Morning, sweetie! Breakfast almost ready!" My mother chirped as she saw me with her peripheral vision.

I swallowed. Get a grip, Max! Ella needs you at the moment so suck it up and be a good friend! She has it a million times worse than you! Just breathe. Remember. In, out, in, out.

"Mom" Freak! My voice completely betrays me as I seem to speak in the most broken and helpless voice I could have possibly mustered.

Both Iggy and my mom turn to face me and I could feel l Jake and maybe even my dad's eyes from behind me.

"Is everything alright?" My mom asks as she wipes her hands on a hand towel and makes her way over to me.

"Actually, no" I breathe out in a shaky voice. Someone just slap me already!

"What's wrong?" She asks concerned as she stands in front me. Her dark hair in a perfect bun, showing off her vibrant hazel-green eyes that Jake was lucky enough to receive himself.

"Can I please talk to you?" My eyes darted over to Iggy who was giving me a questioning and confused look. "Alone"

"You're worrying me, Max. Is something wrong? Did something happen? Did you and Nick break up? Maybe it's the opposite and you're asking for birth control!" All the guys coughed at that. "Is it that? Oh sweetie-"

"Mom! No, not even close. It's really urgent though." I interrupted before this conversation could go south and anymore embarrassing.

My mom finally nodded and followed me out down the hall and two the base of the stairs.

"Max, what's wrong? You look so shaken up and spooked, you're worrying me." She said.

"It's my friend, Ella. She's upstairs in my room and I need your help with her." I told her in a hushed tone in case my any of my brothers was eavesdropping.

"What kind of help?" She asked, confused.

I let a breath out. "The same problem you had with Jake" That did the trick and her eyes widened a glint in her eyes as she caught on in what I was trying to say. She nodded and quickly climbed the stairs and made her way to my room.

Ella was exactly where I left her as he hugged her knees, her shoulders trembling but her expression was blank.

"Ella" I spoke up. Her head instantly turns to face me. "I brought my mom." Ella sobbed again and buried her face into her knees.

"I'm such a slut" I could barely make out her words do to it being muffled.

"Ella, honey. You're not a slut" My mom reassured her as she took a seat beside my broken and lost best friend.

"Yes I am! I had sex and now I'm pregnant at seventeen" Ella choked.

"How many times have you had sexual intercourse?" My mother bluntly asked. Ella stopped shaking for a second and looked up at my mom confused.

"Why does-"

"Just answer me"

"Once" Ella admitted.

"Sweetie, that doesn't make you a slut. Unfortunately once is all it takes though. This must be real hard for you." Ella silently nodded and my mother sighed.

"Max, can you please leave Ella and me alone while I talk to her?" My mother asked.

"But-"

"Max, please." She said a little more sternly, shutting me up. I gulped and sullenly nodded as I gave my best friend one last look before I went out to join the rest of my family. My bastard of a somewhat loving father, a cocky step-brother with an ego the size of Jupiter, and a caring yet short tempered of a twin brother whom apparently is the reason of this current fiasco.

"Everything alright?" Iggy asked me the moment I reentered the dining room where everyone was currently enjoying breakfast. I couldn't really look at him at the moment without having the urge of either hugging him for future support or slapping the freak out of him so I remained silent instead and keeping a steady gaze at the large fancy clock on the wall which currently read that it was nine thirty in the morning. How long has that clock been there?

"Where's mom? I thought you were talking to her?" Jake asked face stuffed with pancakes.

"Jake, no eating with your mouth full" My father scolded him and I knew Jake must have rolled his eyes for my dad muttered something about teenagers having no manners these days under his breath.

"I needed her assistance, that's all" I managed to say in an empty tone.

"Why? What's the matter?" Iggy asked.

I shrugged. I was about to say nothing that concerns you but considering he's a major part of it I said something else. "Girl problems." That shut them up.

I wasn't feeling hungry so I decided to just hang out at the basement/music studio and called Fang.

"Hello?" Fang's deep voice spoke through the phone. He sounded like he had just woken up and I have to admit Fang's morning voice is pretty sexy.

"Hey, Fang"

"Max?" He asked obviously confused as to why I was calling him at this hour.

"No, this is Lissa calling for a booty call. So what do you say, Fang? My place?"

"Sure, totally. Just don't let my girlfriend find out." Fang played along.

"I'm not one to kiss and tell. Just rub it into everyone's faces is all"

Fang chuckled before clearing his throat. I heard some sheets being ruffled so I assumed he was barely getting out of bed. "So what brings you to call? Would have thought you'd be hung over or something from last night."

"I didn't drink that much. At least I don't think I did but I'm fine." I assured him. I took a seat in one of the small couches but as soon as my body felt the soft cushion I lay down and relaxed. This felt nice.

"Glad to hear. So what brings you to call?" He repeated as I heard some clattering from the other end of the call.

"What I can't just call my boyfriend because I want to talk to him?" I questioned.

"Guess not. You never just randomly call. Text yeah. Call no." That's true.

"I've been having a pretty hectic moment. Almost had a panic attack." I admitted. I heard the rattling sound suddenly stop as Fang's breathing hitched.

"Are you serious? Are you okay? What happened? Do I have to kick somebody's ass?" I giggled at the last part.

"I'm fine now since I started talking to you and no ass kicking is necessary. Well maybe Iggy's. Yeah, Iggy needs it." I conformed.

"What'd he do this time?" Fang asked.

"Did you know about Iggy and Ella hooking up?" Ella had told me she'd told him. I wanted to make sure. Fang went quiet.

"I'm sorry I hadn't told you. Ella really didn't want me to tell you and I couldn't just go behind her back and do it. She said she'd eventually tell you"

I snorted. "Yeah she told me. Too bad she only did it because she needed my support."

"What support?"

"It isn't my place to tell." I sighed. Fang once again remained silent and I panicked a little hoping he wasn't upset that I couldn't tell him or that I didn't trust him.

"She's pregnant isn't she?" His sudden bluntness caught me off guard.

"How…" I trailed off.

"Just put two and two together" I could almost see his smirk which oddly made me smile a little.

"Yeah" I breathed out and a comfortable silence fell between us. There was nothing but his soft breathing and all I truly wanted to do at the moment was just curl up against him as I ran my fingers through his long silky hair.

"Is it true you're a virgin?" I without thinking blurted out. I must have caught him off guard because he began to choke and awkwardly cough.

"Where-" He said in an abnormal high voice and he instantly recovered and cleared his throat. I raised my eyebrows in amusement despite the fact he couldn't see me. "Where'd you hear that?"

"From things. So is it true?" I don't know if I'm supposed to be shocked or I should have known. I mean, Fang is highly attractive and has girls eye raping him all the time just waiting to pounce on him. I would have thought he'd given in at least once. But then again that didn't sound like Fang. He also didn't necessarily socialize much before I moved here.

"Yes, Maxxie. I'm a virgin. Happy?" He said and I could tell he was quite embarrassed and shy about it and this time I couldn't hold back a giggle.

"Aww, big bad Fangles is still a little pure innocent boy." I teased. I didn't even mind that he'd called me Maxxie. Honestly I was quite relieved to hear this. I won't have to live up to any other girl before me. In that way at least.

"Like you're any better." He huffed. When I remained silent I felt him go uneasy. "Right? I mean I assume at least." He stammered.

"Well…" I trailed off.

"Oh, that's fine I guess. It's none of my business or anything what you've done with others" I could hear thick disappointment drip through his tone and I felt my heart quicken at the thought that Fang didn't like the idea of me being sexually involved with another guy.

"I'm just messing with you, Fang. I'm also happily a virgin." I assure him.

"Really?" He said in disbelief as if this was the greatest news he'd ever heard.

"Yes, really."

"Well, good."

"Good"

Silence.

"Did we seriously just have that conversation?" He finally asked.

"Yup." I said, popping the "p".

"Thought so…" He trailed off.

This was odd for both of us. We'd never talked about this before and though it wasn't that I felt uncomfortable about talking to Fang about this, it was just odd. Something I just wasn't used too. But I did enjoy being open to Fang even with something as this.

"Max!" I heard Jake shout my name.

I covered the phone before yelling "what".

"Mom wants you!"

I sighed. Time to face reality once again.

"I have to go" I sulked.

"I know though this isn't directly your problem, it does affect you incredibly Max. Just hang on and be there for her. And him" Another one of Fang's wise words of wisdom.

"Remind me later that I owe you a big ole kiss" Fang chuckled at my words.

"Can't wait"

I ended up once again in my room. Ella looked a lot more relaxed and less shaken up though her eyes still screamed fear.

"I-I can't" Ella stuttered.

"Ella. He needs to know." My mom said as she rubbed Ella's back.

"I know but what if he gets mad again. What if he just dumps me and wants nothing to do with me?" This wasn't the optimistic and bubbly Ella I knew and loved.

"We can only hope for the best and like it or not he's going to live up to his actions and its consequences." My mom said.

After a while Ella finally took a deep breath and nodded. She met my eyes telling me it was time.

Time to tell Igneous Michael Ride he's about to become a teenage dad.

I'm extremely sorry about the long wait! Believe me when I say I've been working on this every night but this is quite a turning point and I needed to get it right though I'm not quite proud on how this turned out but oh well.

So yah, she's pregnant. Who would've guessed? Oh yeah, all of you guys! Haha.

So guess whose birthday it is?! This girl! Yay! June 22nd baby! I honestly didn't do anything today. I ate cake and was left alone all day on my birthday. Went to the park with my friends whom one of them even forgot my birthday. Then it stormed. It's still really windy and ugly outside.

STORY TIME! I JUST HAVE TO TELL YOU GUYS THIS.

So this happened yesterday. I did celebrate my birthday yesterday instead of today due to my parents unable to do anything for me today. My best friend and I (the one who actually remembered) went to see The Fault in Our Stars.

So the movie was pretty touching and sad and not to spoil for those who haven't read the book or seen the movie. The parts that were the saddest, you know that scene in Amsterdam, the church, and the end, almost everyone was either sniffling or full blown bawling their eyes out in the theaters but me being me guess what I did? I laughed.

Not just giggling. I was full blown hunched over and laughing so hard as I tried to keep it in. My best friend kept smacking me and telling to stop either grinning like an idiot or laughing. I couldn't help it! I honestly don't know why I laughed. It just happened.

The movie was truly touching and sad but it seemed I just wanted to laugh. And no it wasn't like I don't want to cry so I'll laugh instead. No, I was all laughing in amusement and I was all bubbly I scared even myself.

After that my best friend's boyfriend kept calling me sick and sadistic. I have to agree with him.

Question of the Chapter: Ever had an experience like mine where instead of reacting either happy, sad, scared, etc. like everyone else did, you reacted the opposite? Please don't tell me I'm the only one.

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P.S. I lost the game