And the next one :)
I apologize for not adding page breaks in the last chapter, it slipped my mind.
WARNING: This chapter mentions self harm, if you're sensitive to it, I apologize but I deemed it necessary.
Disclaimer: Wee! I remembered to add one :)
They waited three minutes just to be one the safe side.
"Come on Stel, there's no sense in waiting, you're gonna know eventually either way" Shannon gently coaxed.
Stella nodded and slowly reached over to the table and grabbed the small box containing the tests.
She took a deep breath and slowly pulled the first one out of the box. Both Shannon and Stella looked at it at the same time.
"It may not be accurate, Stel. Check the other one, yeah?"
Stella nodded, and pulled out the second test.
It displayed the same result.
Positive.
Stella let out the breath she was holding and sat back deep into the chair, head in her hands. Only then did she let the first tear fall.
Shannon eased closer to her best friend and wrapped her in an awkward hug because of the position they were in.
After a few minutes, Stella dropped her hands from her face.
"Stel, what's up?"
Stella shook her head, "I don't know, I feel numb."
Shannon nodded and prepared herself for the next question, "Do you know who the father is?"
Stella stayed silent.
"Stel?"
"It's…" she stopped, a tear slipping down her face.
"Come on, Stel. Please?"
"It's…Michael, Shan. Michael's the father."
"Are you positive?"
Stella nodded, "He's the only guy I've slept with in the last three years…"
"Wait, what? How many times did you guys…you know?"
Tears were streaming down Stella's face, "On and off, it started after Grace died."
"Aw, Stel, I'm sorry, you really loved him didn't you?"
Stella nodded, "and if I told him, he wouldn't have gotten into Raney's car, and he'd still be here, and we could have this kid together…I miss him Shannon, I miss him so much, I've tried to hide it over the last few weeks, didn't want the guys to think I'm weak, but I can't do it anymore, I just can't."
All the grief she had been hiding came out and Shannon couldn't believe she'd hidden all of it, "Why didn't you come to us? The guys would never think you're weak, Stel, we love you, and we'd do anything we could to help. How did you deal with it all without talking to anyone?"
Stella slowly rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, revealing cuts and scars, tears started falling from Shannon's eyes, "Stella, please, don't do that. Come to one of us, or talk to a professional, you don't need to do that."
Tears continued to fall from both women's eyes, "I can't Shan, I don't talk about stuff, I work, to keep my mind off it, I go an talk to Michael, I only do this" she gestured at her arm, "to feel something, anything. I've been numb since Michael died, I just want to wake up and this is a horrible dream and Michael's still here.
Shannon wrapped Stella in her arms, neither said a word until knock at the door signalled their dinner had arrived. They sat on the couch to eat it, watching a movie.
"Stel…you need to talk to Kerry tomorrow, okay. She needs to know."
"Yeah, I know, if she finds out that I'm pregnant again and I knew and didn't tell her, she'll be pissed."
"Wait, again? Stella?"
"Shit." Stella mentally kicked herself, she forgot that no one except Kerry and Michael knew about that.
Next chapter may be further away, but hopefully soon. It will most likely involve the continuation of the conversation I left it at, and talking to Kerry :)
Please, review! I don't like to beg :)