Somewhere on Autumn Woods Drive
By Rikku Minouke
Disclaimer: I don't own YYH, but I can say that a lot of people would be happy if I did
AN: hey guys, two things
ONE: I've been working shanky shifts at work and haven't had much time to sleep. But this is my first day back on a normal schedule, so I'm playing a catch up now. Normally I write a few chapters a head so when things like this happen, I can still update every day. This last work week however proved to kick my ass. I ran out of chapters. But before I head to work today, I brought my laptop to perkins and am gonna write until I have to leave for work. Let's see if I can make it up to you guys.
TWO: this chapter goes out to FIRESTORM1991. I love hearing how my story connects with you guys. It seriously makes a bad day better. This story is important to me and my goal is to make it important to others. I love that there are so many that can feel like they can connect with the characters and it's almost real for them. No joke, review like that push me to keep going, it's inspiring really.
Chapter thirty eight
It's amazing to think about pregnancy brain as an actual symptom. I have always been the forgetful type of person but sometimes I got to the extreme when I was with child. Koenma once told me that he found the work phone in the freezer when he opened the following day. Kurama said that he'd find all my tips in the washing machine, still in my tip bag.
I stood next to the open door of my white Taurus with my hands supporting the small of my back. When I sighed, the white puff followed. "I thought it was supposed to get warmer."
Grunting from the driver seat, my father messed with my keys. Turning in the ignition we listed to my car sputter before dying. "It did get warmer. For two days we were above freezing."
"Yeah, but it's the middle of March," I grumbled. "High school kids are preparing for spring break."
"Botan, you've lived in this state your whole life," he said, barely sparing me a glance. "Spring is never here until at least April. In the last five years, we haven't even had a spring." Shrugging, I decided not respond to that. "Why are you asking about spring?" He stopped messing with the ignition to look over at me. "Did you put ethanol gas in your tank already?"
Shuffling my sore feet I didn't look at him. "I thought it was going to warm up."
He heaved a big sigh before shaking his head and scooting out of the seat to stand in front of me. "Then there's nothing wrong with your car, Botan. Just something wrong with you. Your gas is frozen."
My lips pressed together tighter. Why did I listen to my mom about asking my dad for help, again?
"Wait until the snows gone to put ethanol in your car," he shook his head and grumbled to himself for a moment. "You could have just told me that from the beginning and I wouldn't have messed around with the starter."
"I didn't realize that that was the issue," I said quietly taking the keys he handed to me. "What am I supposed to do with my car"
"When it warms up, see if Kurama will let you park in the underground garage until you fill up with regular gas," he told me. "But you'll have to wait for a warm day to start your car. Keep trying to periodically. It'll start eventually."
"Ok," I nodded biting my bottom lip.
"I'll drive you to work, but I won't pick you up tonight," he said with tension in his voice. "Let's go. I want to get home while the sun is still up."
Nodding, I followed him to his white 1970 international truck. I pulled the doors open and slowly pulled myself up to the green seats. "Is this safe to be in while I'm pregnant?"
"What do you mean?" my dad's forehead scrunched together as he threw himself into the driver side. "I've had this truck forever. Your mother rode in it when she was pregnant and you're not completely fucked up."
I felt it was best not to respond as I searched for the bench seat belt. Pulling it over my lap, I slide the bulky lock together and braced my arms on either side of my body. He started the truck and the smell of the gas hit me harder than I remember it doing as a child. Thankfully it was a short drive to work otherwise I would have rather called a cab. The truck bounced me up and down with every move and every time he shifted the gear stick I felt like the truck just might die before we got there.
My heart beat slowed down from the million mile an hour race in my chest the moment I could see the coffee shop. Breathing a few times to calm my nerves, I tried to patiently wait for my dad to come to a complete stop before struggling to unbuckle the seat belt and throwing the old metal door open. Slowly, I pushed legs in front of me while I slid out of the cab of the truck.
"How are you getting home tonight?" my dad asked. "You aren't going to call that roommate of yours are you?"
"I thought you liked Kurama?" I asked turning around to grab my bag. The only person my dad has ever liked was the one person no one should, but that was something we kept under the table.
He paused for a moment before responding. My hand held the door of the truck open waiting for him to speak. "I just don't like you living with a boy you hardly know when you're in this … position."
Tensing up, I pressed my lips together again. He made me so on edge all the time. Obviously my mother hadn't told him that Kurama and I had started dating. "Don't worry about it so much. Kurama is a good man."
"Be careful," my dad said and I raised my eyebrows.
"Who are you and what have you done with my father?" I asked tilting my head to the side.
"What the hell are you talking about?" he pressed his back into the seat.
"Nothing," I shook my head. "I have to get to work dad. Thanks for helping me out today. I'll call Yusuke to pick me up later."
He gave me an odd look. "That's one boy I've never liked. He's going nowhere. You shouldn't be around him. He'll just drag you and the baby down with him. I'd rather you call your mom to come get you than him."
"Bye dad," I shut the door and turned around trying to control anger.