The next two weeks was a blur. Neither mom nor dad would talk to me. If I tried talking to them, they would nod, and continue talking to each other or Austin or Jenny. The first words she said to me after finding out that I was pregnant were "I made an appointment," before turning around and walking away.
"Wait," I said to her, she stopped where she was.
"What?"
"Mom, I'm really sorry, I never meant for this to happen."
"I just don't understand, how everything we've told you, everything that you've learned in church and at school how this could happen. You've always been so responsible. You're 15 years old. You used to tell me everything. Now, I feel like I don't even know you anymore."
"Mom, I'm still the same. I mean… now I'm different. But this didn't just happen overnight. I've been going through this for six months, but you were paying so much attention to Austin and Jenny."
"Savannah, you know that's not true. You're father and I pay equal attention to all you kids."
"Who is my best friend then?" I asked even though I knew she knew the answer.
"Sarah," she said all knowingly
"Who's my favorite band?"
"dc Talk?"
"Not since I was 8. It's Green Day and Good Charlotte. You don't know anything about me. I know you don't want to hear this, but it's true."
We both stood in the hallway. Eventually she started crying. I felt so bad. Why did I have to make her feel so bad? It was my own choice to stop talking to her. It's not like she stopped asking. I was the one who shut down whenever she came by.
"Mom, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it," I said trying to console her. "I know that you don't pay anymore attention to Austin or Jenny. And I'm sorry for every thing that happened."
"I know you are. But this isn't something I ever wanted to you. This is why your father and I wanted you to wait. You never know when something like this could happen. I want you to be open with us, okay, I don't want you to feel like you have to hide anything."
I felt so ashamed, she had no idea that I wasn't even sure who the father of the baby was. I mean, it could be Tim, but I wasn't even sure how pregnant I was. It would be fine if it was Tim; at least we're friends. At least we know more about each other than I know about any of those guys that I hooked up with.
The more I thought about it, the more I hoped and prayed it was him. He was the only one I would trust with this anyway, I'm going to tell him.
"Listen, Savannah," mom said; "I made an appointment for you, tomorrow at 4. I'll be here to take you. I know you probably don't want me to go, but I want to."
"Mom…"
"Have you told Tim yet? Do you want me to tell him? We'll sit him and his mother down, and the three of us can tell him."
"The three of us?" I asked.
"You, me, and your father," she said.
"I thought dad hated me," I said softly.
"He doesn't hate you, Savannah, you're his little girl. He's confused by all this. He doesn't know what to think of it. We both love you, and we'll support whatever decision you make."
"I know that,"
"Have you thought about your choices? Whether you want to keep it or put it up for adoption?"
"No," I said quietly. It was true; I hadn't given it any thought. I needed to talk Tim. I didn't know if I was ready to raise a baby, even with the help of my parents. But I don't know if I could just carry a baby for that long and then just give it up to strangers.
"You have time to decide," she said. "And your father and I, we can help. We could even raise it as our own, nobody would have to know."
"I don't know if I could do that…if I decide to keep it and raise it, I would want it to know that I'm it's mother, not just the overly protective older sister. And besides, no one here would buy that. I'd have to stay in the house all the time."
"Let's just wait, okay? No pressure."
"Alright," I said.
"Remember, tomorrow at 4, you have an appointment, maybe it will clear something's up."
"Okay."
We went our separate ways, me to my room and she to hers. We had an actual conversation, no yelling, no screaming. And now she's saying that they'll support me? I couldn't even tell you what they wanted. Maybe for me to just give it up, and then we can all just forget about it. Or maybe keep it, and let mom and dad raise it to be their own. I don't think I could do that to myself.
