More Lies

"Aren't you going to get that?" Angela asked, nodding her head towards the ringing phone.

Shawn kissed her.

"I'm serious, Shawn," she said, laughing.

Shawn kissed her once more, and hurried to catch the last ring.

"Hello?" he asked.

"Shawn, this is Stacey."

"Umm..." Shawn stumbled. "Why are you calling?"

There was a dead silence on the other end.

"Hello?" Shawn repeated, although at that second he heard a small sob. "What is it?"

"I'm pregnant."

"Oh, God," Shawn whispered into the phone. His heart was beating violently against his chest. He wouldn't be surprised if Angela heard it.

Shawn looked over at her.

"Is everything all right, Shawn?" Angela asked.

Shawn nodded, and put the phone back to his ear.

"Are you sure?" he asked Stacey.

"Yes," she answered, still crying. "I took a test, I went to the doctor. It was positive. I'm having your baby, Shawn."

Shawn's head began to spin. This couldn't be happening. He was eighteen. He couldn't be a father.

"I really need you here," Stacey pleaded, her voice clearing up.

"I'm sorry, but I can't," he said, and before she could say anything else, he added, "I'll have to call you back later."

Angela walked over to him, and hugged him around the waist as he hung up the phone. "What was that about?" she asked.

Another lie. "My cousin died. I have to go to his funeral this week."

Angela released her grip and looked up at Shawn. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Were you two close?"

Shawn nodded. "We were once, but we stopped talking a few years ago." A little slice of truth always made a lie seem more reasonable. "I'm sorry, Angela, but I'm not feeling very well. Mind if I rest a bit?"

"Not at all. Topanga's probably worried about me, anyway." She reached up, pecked him on the cheek, and left.

He grabbed the phone, and closed his bedroom door.

"Cory," he said into the speaker, "You need to come over."