Bittersweet Homecoming

Last-Minute Change of Decision

A/N: Okay, I made a mistake, and nobody corrected me. . . But I think most of you didn't realize it, so it's not a big deal. In the first chapter, I said Hailey was six months pregnant, but let's just pretend I said three months pregnant. I'm too lazy to change it. Here's the chapter. . .

Seth drummed his fingers on the steering wheel in his car while waiting for the stoplight to turn green. He looked over at Marissa, who was leaning her head out the window. Summer had opted to not come along for their trip to Planned Parenthood.

Seth sighed at Marissa's obvious reluctance to look at him. Aborting a baby wasn't easy. In his heart, Seth knew that Marissa didn't want to abort their baby. He was actually surprised that Marissa had volunteered. He couldn't bring himself to tell her that she didn't need to do it. Everything with him and Summer was going perfect again.

Seth parked in a nice spot near the entrance of the clinic.

Without a word, Marissa unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car.

Seth followed lead.

Marissa opened the door and a bell jingled cheerfully above her head. She couldn't believe that a year ago, Theresa was here, facing the same decision as she was. In the end, Theresa kept the baby. Marissa wasn't that sure she wanted to go through. She gave Seth and Summer her word. There was no road back.

Seth signed in for her.

Marissa sat in one of the hard chairs. She grabbed a pamphlet on the process of abortion, absent-mindingly reading it. Seth sat next to her, tapping his Vans in impatience and nervousness.

The bell jingled again.

Marissa looked up to see a woman with two twin babies. They were about six months old. The woman said something to the front desk clerk and then sat down two seats away from her. She positioned the stroller in front of her.

Marissa threw the pamphlet at Seth and got up. She walked in front of the babies. They were so cute and one of them giggled while the other waved its fist. Marissa played with the baby that was sitting on the right. The baby grabbed Marissa's finger and tried to eat it.

The mother glanced down at Marissa and smiled. "You'll make a great mother."

"Ms. Cooper?" A doctor with a clipboard called out.

Seth watched Marissa interact with the baby. He held up his hand to the doctor as a sign for her to wait.

Marissa let go of the baby and gave a kiss to each of them on their cheeks. She looked at them before turning and running out the door.

Seth was immediately off his seat and after her.

Seth could see her fleeting figure with her brown hair swaying in the wind down the boardwalk. He ran to catch her, from years skateboarding, Seth had developed good leg muscles. Pretty soon he caught up to her. He grabbed her arm and spun her around.

Marissa faced him, hair whipping.

Seth noticed tears on her face. Another one fell at that instant.

"Seth. . ." Marissa whispered. "I can't do this. . . I can't do it." She buried her head in Seth's shirt.

Seth just stood there, not knowing how to react.

When Marissa's body stopped shaking, and she started to calm down, she lifted her head. "Those babies. I couldn't do it. I want to have this kid. I take back everything I said. I want a family. You, me, Sav, this kid."

Seth was speechless.

"She did what?!?" Summer screamed as she spun around to face Seth.

Seth just nodded.

Summer paced around. "Oh my god. No, this can't be happening. Oh my god."

Seth just stood there helplessly.

Summer just ran and hugged Seth.

"What a bitch!" Summer screamed.

Seth just tried to calm her down by rubbing her back.

"I wish everything could go back to normal. You know, you and me." Summer sobbed.

"Let's just pretend that for tonight, none of this nightmare has happened. It's just high school and we're carefree." Seth said.

Summer looked at him unconvincingly.

Seth grabbed her and started kissing her.

Summer grabbed Seth's shirt and they fell on the bed together.

Hailey and Marissa sat in front of the TV, pigging out on chocolate, popcorn and action films.

They were watching Kill Bill Volume 1 because Marissa wanted to get some anger out. So she channeled her frustrated through Lucy Liu's and Uma Thurman's big Japanese swords which were currently decapitating many.

"I hate being pregnant." Hailey muttered.

"Hear, Hear." Marissa said after another big bite of marshmallows.

"Are you going to tell your dad that you're pregnant?" Hailey asked. She glanced at Marissa to see her reaction.

Marissa vehemently shook her head. "I don't want my dad to know that I'm pregnant with Seth's child."

"What?!?" Jimmy Cooper yelled as he entered the room.

Behind him, Sandy, Kirsten, Julie and Caleb followed with astonished looks on their faces.

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