In the hospital

My hand tightly clasped around Sawyer's, we headed for the exit when she suddenly stopped as we passed the drugstore. She looked questioningly at me, and I nodded. Nervously, I was running back and forth in front of the store, while my girlfriend disappeared inside. I hoped that none of my family just passed by by accident and saw me. I didn't know how to explain that I was waiting in front of a drugstore. Davis's flippant remark was still in my head, and I hoped it wouldn't become reality. Sawyer left the store and I ran a hand nervously through my hair. "Did you get it?" I asked impatiently and looked around. For a moment I had thought to see my sister. But I must have been wrong, because I couldn't see her anymore. "Let's go," I said, reaching for Sawyer's hand again. It was time to get out of here.

"Are we going to your place?" She asked as we were already in the car. "I really want to do this now," she said and brushed a strand of blond hair behind her ear.

I nodded. "Everyone is in the hospital. We would be completely undisturbed," I said, with a sidelong glance at her. "I think we shouldn't wait any longer."

"No." She shook her head slightly, then stared out the side window.

The rest of the ride was silent, and when we arrived at my home, Sawyer immediately ran up to the bathroom. I followed her slowly, stopping at the door. "Hey!" I shouted through the closed door. "Shall I come in? Do you need any help?"

"No, I'm fine. It only takes a few minutes, according to the package information," she called back.

Sighing, I leaned against the wall next to it and looked at the clock. More than a week had passed since Sawyer had confessed to me that she was overdue, and from day to day the strain on her and on me had grown that our first time hadn't been without consequences. I thought of Davis and Lydia, who had experienced something similar, and couldn't believe that such an event could happen twice in a family. I tapped tentatively on the door. "Sawyer? Everything okay in there? Do you already have a result?"

"Just 5 more minutes. Have some patience," she called through the door.

I started to run back and forth nervously. 5 minutes. A lot of time to mull over our situation, although I've already had enough time to think about what would happen if Sawyer was really pregnant. I thought of my biological father, who was the same age when my mother became pregnant with me. But I already knew one thing. I wouldn't abandon the baby and would do anything to become a good father. Not as Tom, who had given my mother money for an abortion. And I would marry Sawyer and give her and the baby a home. Even if I didn't know yet how to finance it all. My job as Coach of the 'Ravens' wasn't paid well. But somehow we would find a solution. I was just wondering if it would be a boy or a girl when the door opened and Sawyer stepped out. I could see right away that she had been crying. Gently, I hugged her, then took a careful look at the test result.

"Negative," Sawyer said in a low voice, leaning her head against my chest. "I am not pregnant."

I should have been relieved, but instead I felt a strange hollow feeling in my stomach. And when I saw Sawyer's tear-wet eyes, I realized that she felt the same way.

"Do you know that I already imagined what he or she would look like?" She said softly. "When I saw Ben, there was a sudden wish that I wanted all this as well." She looked up at me. "Crazy, right? I should be glad that I'm not pregnant. After all, I'm only 17, go to school and still earn no money."

"Well, to earn money is my job," I said smiling. "I would have taken care of you and our baby."

"There is no baby, Justin," she said softly.

"Yes, I know," I murmured, pulling her closer. "But I promise you, if it happens one day then I will be the most loving and caring father you can imagine," I promised her. For a moment I was a little confused when she burst into tears, because I expected that she would be glad about it. "Hey, don't cry!" I asked, stroking her cheek gently. "I know you're sad, but maybe it's for the best, otherwise we couldn't fly to L.A.", I said calmly.

Surprised, Sawyer lifted her head and looked at me. "L.A.?" She repeated slowly and wiped at her eyes.

"My biological father... Tom... invited me to visit him at the turn of the year," I informed her. "He would also be happy if you came with me, because he would like to meet the woman who stole my heart."

"Who stole your heart," Sawyer repeated, rolling her eyes. "That sounds kind of cheesy."

"It's poetical and the truth. You're the reason why I wanted to go home," I said. "Tom had very different plans for me when I was in L.A.."

"My parents will never allow that." She shook her head unhappily. "I'm still a minor."

"But I'm not." I shrugged casually. "I'm 22. And we could live with Tom in his apartment. That would be two adults who would take care of you," I said grinning. I could tell from her expression that she was torn by my suggestion. "Promise me that you will talk to your parents," I asked her.

She nodded hesitantly. "Yes, I'll talk to them. But I can't promise you anything."

"Your parents are really cool. I mean, that was my impression when I met them the first time," I said. "I'm sure they won't say no."

"You don't really know my parents," Sawyer said, rolling her eyes. "Sometimes they can be very protective. Especially my mom."

"Has she never done anything crazy when she was young?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "I have only known her for 17 years. At least I know that she and my dad have been dating since high school. She didn't have much time and opportunity to do crazy things."

I was about to respond to her remark when I heard the door open and the general hubbub of voices below. "They're back," I whispered to Sawyer and took her hand. I quickly pulled her over to my room, opened the door and pushed her inside.

"Phew, that was close," she said, staring at the test stick in her hand. "Where to now?"

I took a Kleenex and wrapped the test in it and threw it in the trashcan. "I will dispose of that later, but nobody will look for it here."

"That remains our secret."

I nodded. "Nobody will know about it. And in the future, we'll just be more careful." I put my hand around her neck and pulled her closer to me so that our lips touched.

"I'm leaving now," she said softly after we finished the kiss. "I'll talk to my parents later about your suggestion with L.A. and then I'll text you the answer, okay?"

"Okay," I agreed and left the room with her. As we went down the stairs, Izzy crossed our path. Sawyer and I kissed each other goodbye again and then I watched her with mixed feelings as she climbed onto her bike to ride home. I went back upstairs and was surprised to find Izzy in my room. "What are you doing here?"

"Do you have something to hide?" She asked mockingly and looked around.

"What do you want?" I asked impertinently.

"I saw you and Sawyer in the foyer of the hospital," she blurted out. "She was in the drugstore buying something. Was it a pregnancy test?"

My sly little sister, I thought in amazement. Apparently she had the sixth sense. Reluctantly, I nodded. "Yes, it was a pregnancy test," I admitted with a sigh, knowing that Izzy would immediately see through a lie.

"Ha, I knew it," she exclaimed, throwing back her dark curls. "I watched you when Davis made the remark about 'standing here next year'," she said with a grin. "Then I had my confirmation that Sawyer is having a baby too."

"No, you're wrong." I shook my head slightly. "Sawyer is not pregnant."

"She isn't?"

I could almost see how disappointed she was and suddenly had to smile. "One baby is not enough for you, is it?" I teased.

"Well, I really would have been happy for you," she admitted. "Sawyer had that glow in her eyes as she looked at Ben through the glass. I think she would have liked to become a mother."

I didn't comment on her remark because I didn't want her to come up with wrong ideas. But I had to admit that the thought of being a father wasn't so bad. I looked up as Izzy put her hand on my shoulder.

"One day you'll be a great dad," she said softly. "And don't worry. Your secret is safe with me," she added, before she left my room. I waited a moment, thinking about what she had just said and then followed her to meet my parents.