A/N: Not gonna tie you guys up with this. Get to readin'!
A Few Weeks Later(Into the Third Month)
Sarah and Abigail sat across from each other while waiting for their food to be delivered. They had just come from Sarah's doctors appointment and were now at A Slice of Italy. Abigail eyed Sarah and rummaged around in a shopping bag.
"So...", she started. "I've got a surprise for you when we get home".
A waitress came up to their table and delivered a ham and pineapple pizza with extra sauce. "Anything else I can do for you guys?" the young girl asked.
"Nope. Got it all covered. Thanks", Sarah replied, watching the girl walk away. "So, what were you saying? What surprise?".
Abigail grinned. "Ohhh you'll just have to see for yourself!".
Sarah smiled at her aunt's enthusiasm. Whatever it was, she seemed very excited about it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*************************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When they were finished eating, they exited the building.
"Uhm... We have to go somewhere else. It's not time yet", Abigail checked her wrist watch.
"Time for what?" Sarah replied, staring strangely at Abigail.
"Oh don't you worry about it. But we can't for home for about another two hours. I didn't expect the appointment to end so quickly. How 'bout we go for some coffee? Then after that we could either go catch a movie or go shopping". Sarah nodded her head and the pair got in the car, and headed for the nearest StarBucks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*************************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They pulled into the driveway, and Sarah immediately noticed a dark blue pickup truck, and two young men coming out of the house. "Aunt Abigail? Who are those men?".
"Oh they're sons of a good friend of mine. They were just over here helping me with a few things".
They walked towards Sarah and Abigail just as they were getting out of the car, bags in hand.
"Abigail good you're just in time. We got almost everything ready, but we weren't sure about the paint, so we'll have to come back after you decide on a color", The older looking man took a handkerchief out of his front pocket and wiped his brow.
"Oh that's fine dear don't worry about it. I'll call your mother probably tomorrow to let you know of the color. Now... would you boys like to come with us for the unveiling?".
They youngest one checked his watch. "Sure. I think we've got the extra time to do that".
Abigail smiled. "Well I suppose I should introduce you guys then. Okay boys, this is my beautiful niece Sarah. Sarah, that one", she said pointing to the oldest one, "Is John. And that's Christopher".
John nodded his head in acknowledgement. Christopher smiled at Sarah and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you Sarah. Your aunt explained to us you were living here, and were being homeschooled. So you probably don't know very many people around here, am I right?".
Sarah confirmed it and he continued, "So maybe I could take you out sometime, show you different parts of the town, let you meet some of my friends. Ya know... Get you out of the house. Something to do. Sound good?".
"Oh uh, thanks. That sounds great".
"Here let us get those for you guys". Christopher took the shopping bags from Sarah's hands, and John took the ones from Abgail. "Oh how kind of you!" Abigail trilled.
"Oh um... they go up to my bedroom", Sarah stammered.
Abigail, Christopher and John all shared a secretive little smile, which did not go unnoticed by Sarah.
"Sarah ya know, I've really been meaning to talk to you", Abigail said as they all stopped outside Sarah's bedroom. "Well you see, I've been thinking about it and I've decided, that with you being pregnant and all...", she trailed off.
At the word 'pregnant' Johns and Christophers eyes widened and flew to Sarah's stomach. 'Oh god. Surely Abigail told them I'm pregnant. Are they just now figuring that out? Even if she didn't tell them, isn't it kinda obvious?' Sarah wondered.
She stared at the two boys. "Yes that's right. I'm pregnant. Not just fat", she snapped at them. They tried to hold the grin off their faces, but she could still see the laughter shining in their eyes.
"Well anyways, as I was saying Sarah, with you being pregnant and everything, I've decided you really do need a bigger place. A young mother can't be expected to be crammed into one room with a baby 24/7. A sort of... place of your own".
Sarah's eyes snapped open as she reached forward and threw open the door to her room. "Oh my god..." She muttered quietly. All her stuff... everything but the bed was gone.
"Aunt Abigail! What are you talking about?! I'm only 16! I don't need a place of my own! I don't even have a job and how would I pay rent and what were you thinking? And why are you all smiling like that! None of this is funny!" Sarah panicked. Abigail chuckled at Sarah's distress.
"Boys put the bags down, and everyone follow me please!".
They went where Abigail led them, and a few minutes later they were in a hallway Sarah had never seen before. "Where is this?".
"Oh that this?", Abigail started. "This is just another way to get to the attic.". Soon they were standing infront of a small doorway.
Christopher reached into his back pocket and handed abigail a key. "So Sarah, let me get this straight. You don't want a place of your own?", she hooked the keychain around her finger and spun it around in circles.
"Yes that's exactly what I'm saying!". Abigail unlocked the door and opened it slowly. "Then I suppose you don't want to even see this". They all stepped into the room. Sarah gasped.
When they stepped into the attic, there were three dividing walls set up to make a small room. The add in walls were done in pink, and there was a crib, a bassinet, a changing table, a rocking chair, shelves with story books on them, and everything else she might need for the baby. "Oh aunt Abigail! You made me a baby room!".
"Yes we did, but that's not all it is. See that spot over there? The opening? Go through it".
Sarah did as her aunt said and pushed aside the pink and purple beaded curtain, stepping into another section of the attic. This was the bigger part of it. It had a new carpet, a couple chairs, a sofa, a coffee table, shelves, and pretty much all the other furniture Sarah had seen while she was up there the last time. There was even a TV sitting on an entertainment center.
"Oh aunt abigail I love it! It's so wonderful! How did you do all of this and what abou- hey wait a minute. Where am I supposed to sleep?". Abigail pointed over to the far side of the wall, and Sarah saw this time it was just one dividing wall set out from it, with more of the beaded curtains to form the fourth wall. They went over and Sarah stepped into what was now her bedroom. They had put a nightstand in, as well as a bed with a canopy made out of sheer black and purple material, a dresser, and a few other things.
"Now Sarah, I don't really want you up here until it's completely finished. As the boys said, they still have to paint, which means that you're gonna have to pick out what colors you want done".
Sarah nodded and ran over to give Abigail a big hug. "Oh thank you so much! I love it. i truly do!". Sarah had tears shining in her eyes. "Oh um... Are you alright?", Christopher asked her. He really hated to see a girl cry.
Sarah laughed. "Yeah I'm okay. I just get so damn emotional these days".
As they were walking out of Sarah's new room, she noticed that all the boxers that were there before were gone, and shoved up against the door that haunted her dreams, was a large, heavy looking bookcase.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*************************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day, Sarah and Abigail were looking at paint samples. "Abby? How'd you do all of that? And what happened to everything else that was up there?"
"Well, I've been thinking of giving you the attic for a few weeks now, and last week I called Deloris and asked her if the boys would mind helping out. So I gave her a blank check for Chris and John to get whatever they'd need, and they bought the stuff and stored it at their mom's house. Then yesterday, I told them I'd keep you out of the house for a few hours while they took care of everything. I had them move all the boxes, and whatever else wasn't going to be used into one of the guest bedrooms.
"It was pretty simple really, the only hard part was keeping you out of the house for a full six hours".
Sarah thought about all her aunt had done for her. There's no way she could ever imagine Karen doing something so kind for her.
She really loved the room.
"Sarah, I have to talk to you about something". Sarah nodded and listened to her aunt.
"I talked to Deloris today, and it would seem that Christopher is quite taken with you". Sarah's eyes widened.
"He's a great young man you know. He's even close to your age! He's only 18 and he would make a very nice friend for you to have". Amusement evident all over Abigails face.
"Abigail you're kidding! He's nice and all but you're not really expecting me to go out and date are you? I'm pregnant!".
Abigail laughed. "Really Sarah? You are? Hm... well would you imagine that. What with your stomach sticking out three feet infront of you, and your swollen ankles, all the mood swings. Hm. I never would have guessed you're pregnant!", She teased. Sarah rolled her eyes.
"I'm not suggesting you go out and have a serious relationship with him, but as I've said before he's a nice young man and is absolutely thrilled about meeting you. If fact, he's be completely overjoyed if you went out to have lunch and then coffee with him tomorrow at about three o'clock".
"He's already got a time picked out? and a date?".
Abigail nodded. "Yes and a place to. You guys will be eating at that chinese place. You know the one? It's new. I think it's called Pacific Ocean. Then after that you guys will go to StarBucks for coffee, then he'll take you to that pretty little park with the pond. Then you guys should be home at about seven o'clock.
"Where of course you and I will be going to a Slice Of Italy for you to tell me all about your... meeting with him. Sounds delightful right?".
Sarah stared at her aunt, shock on her face. "Aunt abigail! You've already planned our first date? How's that possible? And was this your idea or his?".
Abigail looked nervous for a second. "Oh well um, well you see... Ahaha... This is actually pretty funny Sarah. You see what happened was uh, when I talked to his mother today, I had to call him at his apartment to ask him some questions about the paint and he sorta kinda asked me to ask you about it. Then I ah... well you see, this is where it gets funny.
"I... sortakindatoldhimyou'dbethrilledtogowithhimandforhimtopickyouuptomorrowatthree",She finished the last part in a rush.
"What did you say? repeat that last part?".
Abigail took a sip of her tea. "I said... Isortakindatoldhimyou'dbethrilledtogooutwithhimandforhimtopi-".
"Abigail!", Sarah whined. "Repeat it. And slowly!".
Abigail sighed. "Oh alright alright. I sorta kinda told him you'd be thrilled to go out with him and for him to pick you up tomorrow at three. Happy now?" Abigail asked, sticking her tongue out.
Sarah groaned. "Abigail! You set up a date for me?! A date?!".
Abigail nodded her head sheepishly. "Well Sarah you should go out and have some fun! Especially with the baby on the way, you just won't have the time to do much after she's here!".
Sarah saw how important this was to her aunt and nodded her head. "Okay okay. Fine I'll go with him. But it has to be made very clear to him that this is NOT a date!".
Abigail grinned. "Oh Sarah that's perfectly alright! Now... hmm. Follow me!".
Sarah stood up and walked behind her aunt. "Where are we going now?".
Abigail smiled and clapped her hands. "Why to pick you out something to wear of course!".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*************************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Abigail I'm not wearing that! It's practically indecent! And besides, I'm pregnant. Pregnant people aren't supposed to wear things like that". Abigail held the outfit out to Sarah insistantly.
"Look Abigail how about this. We agree on my outfit this time, and after the baby is born, if, I repeat IF, I go out with Chris again, not only can you buy me a new outfit of your choosing, I'll also let you do my hair and makeup. Deal?".
Abigail squealed like she was the teenager, and not the other way around.
"Deal! When you go out with Chris the first time after that baby's born, I get to play barbie doll with you!", Abigail turned around quickly and hightailed it out of the attic.
"Abigail! Abby come back here! That's not what I said! are you listening to me? I said if. IF I go out with him again! If Abby IF!", Sarah hollered, chasing after her aunt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*************************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Really? you actually had fun?", Abigail asked Sarah.
They were once again at a Slice of Italy, right after Sarah's date.
"Yeah," Sarah replied. "I did. I actually did. I didn't think I would. That chinese place is completely amazing and they had a new flavor of iced coffee at Starbucks. We should go back there after we eat so you can try it. It's chocolate peppermint. Really great.
"But anyways, then we went to that park and you were right. It really is pretty. And he was very nice the entire time. I made it clear to him right off the bat that all I wanted was friendship and he was completely fine with that! In fact, we're even going out again".
Abigail took a sip of her drink. "Hm... chocolate peppermint huh? Sounds good. We'll go over after we leave here. Now... Oh my gosh Sarah I'm so excited for you! Now you say all you want is friendship for now... BUT maybe later on down the road you'll want more!".
Sarah shook her head and stared at her hands sadly. "I don't think so aunt Abigail. I have a baby on the way. The baby of the man I love very much. I honestly don't think I'll ever get over him".
Abigail patted Sarahs hand comfortingly. "Sarah, listen to me. That man loved you very much. I can already tell that. But I just have this feeling that you guys can't be together, and I don't think he'd want you to waste your life pining for him".
A tear leaked down Sarahs face. "Abby you're talking like he'd dead or something. I'm not really sure what to do about him. I know we can't be together. I'm not even sure where he is right now".
"Sarah, ya know I just realized you've never even told me his name. You don't have to sweetie. I understand even uttering a name sometime, can be so hard it hurts. Sometimes talking can help though, and if you'd like to talk, I'm always here to listen. Now how 'bout he go get that coffee?".
Sarah wiped her eyes and smiled. "Sounds good. Lets go do that".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*************************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They sat at the park drinking their coffee and eating chocolate chip muffins they had purchased from StarBucks. "Wow. This coffee really is good! I think I'll get it next time too". Abigail took a long drink out of the plastic cup.
Sarah stared up at the stars. "Aunt Abigail? Ya know, I think I wanna talk now. Is that okay?".
Abigail smiled and listened to Sarah. "I met him when I was 15. I only met him that one time, but he had been in my dreams for ages. He might as well have been my dreams themselves. He was perfect. After I met him that one time, I couldn't get him off of my mind. I was miserable without him. Then one day just a few months ago, he showed up again. That's the last time I saw him, but ever since that time, I never doubted his love for me".
"Was he older than you Sarah? Tell me what kind of person he is".
Sarah thought about it for awhile. "Yes. He was older. Much older I'd imagine. I've only met him twice, but he's forever been in my dreams, my mind, my heart, and my soul. He's what makes me complete and whole. He's so wonderful. He loved me unconditionally. He even continued to love me after the first time we met, when I had acted like a spoiled, selfish child.
"He'd place the sky within my eyes. He'd place the moon within my heart. He'd paint me mornings of gold. He'd spin my valentine evenings. He'd leave his love between the stars. He'd be there for me... as the world falls down".
By the time Sarah was finished speaking, tears were streaming down both her and Abigails face.
"I really can't imagine life without him. He's so wonderful. After everything I did, he still loves me. I turned his world upside down, I starved and near exhausted him. Everything he did, he did for ME. My eyes could be so cruel, just as he can be so cruel. Though he did believe in me. Live without the sunlight, love without my heartbeat... He can't live within me".
(A/N: Yes, I DO realize how corny that all was, but I like it there and so does Brandy, and Chelie. And if other people don't, then too bad).
"Aunt Abigail... After the first time I met him, I was scared I'd never see him again. At the same time, i was afraid i WOULD see him again. Now that I've finally seen him again though, I'll never be scared of seeing him.
"I keep hoping, and wishing to see him again, but something inside of me is telling me I won't. One of my biggest fears has come true, and I'll never see him again".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*************************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One Week Later
Sarah pulled a red baggy off the shoulder sweater on over her tight black tank top. She put her hair up into a messy bun, and tucker her necklace into her shirt.
"Abigail?", She called out. "I'm going over to Chris's. I should be home by nine or ten o'clock okay? He's picking me up right now!". A few seconds later, Abigail came into Sarah's room.
"So... hanging out with Chris again huh? That's what... the fifth time this week?".
Sarah nodded. "Abby don't even think that again okay? I told you before. He's just a really good friend".
Abigail smiled. "I know that honey. I also know that you've made it very clear no one else can ever take up any of the room in your heart. But, I AM your aunt ya know. What's the point in having me around if I can't tease you?".
Sarah laughed and followed her aunt downstairs. "Well that was Chris honking just now, So I should get going". Sarah hurried out the door and walked as fast as she could to Chris's car.
She got in and turned to him. "Chris? Where's the truck at?".
He laughed at her confusion. "Sarah that's my brothers truck. This one is mine, but for a few days he needed the jeep, so I used his truck. Now I get my jeep back".
"So, where are we going tonight?". Chris stopped at a red light and looked over at her.
"Well I thought maybe we could go back to that chinese place then back to my apartment for a movie. Whatcha think?".
"Yeah Chris. That sounds gre- OOMPH!", Sarah pressed one hand to her stomach, and grabbed onto the seat with her other hand.
"You okay?" Chris asked, worried.
"Yeah I'm okay. Boy this kid as one hell of a kick! Gimme your hand a second". Chris timidly handed Sarah his hand. She placed in on her stomach and chuckled when his eyes widened in amazement. "Pretty cool huh?" she asked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*************************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarah and Chris sat on the couch together, watching the movie credits. "Sarah? We've been hanging out a lot lately. Is your aunt okay with this?".
"Mhm. She's fine with it. Me and Abby have talked about this quite a bit actually, and she know's we're just friends. At first she was kinda hoping we'd be more than that, but I made it clear it's just friendship to her", She mumbled around a mouthful of popcorn.
Chris stood up and stretched. "Well that's good. Wouldn't want her to get the wrong idea. Hey Sar, need another soda?".
She nodded yes looked at the clock. She still had about a hour before she had to be home.
"Chris?", che called. "Hey I don't have to be home for awhile yet and I'm bored!". He came back into the room carrying two cans of soda.
"So", he teased. "Whaddya want me to do about it?". Sarah took the can of soda. "Well uh... entertain me duh! C'mon. Lets go somewhere".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*************************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oooh! Oh Chris! Right there! Right there! Stop the car!", Sarah pointed to a 24 hour drug store.
"Why what's wrong?!", Chris asked, hearing the panic in her voice. Sarah blinked innocenlt at him. "Wrong? Nothing. They have a really good candy selection and I want chocolate. Now pull over!".
They wandered through the store, Sarah handing Chris more and more to add to her growing collection of junk food.
"Oh! I need these!", She exclaimed, handing him a package of gummi bears. When they got to the check out the woman bagged everything up and told them their total.
"Eh Sar? Who's paying for all this?", Chris sweat dropped.
Sarah smiled sweetly at him. "You are of course!".
A/N: Well guys. Only one more chapter to go, and I promise you it's a long one. Also remember... Reviews= Happy Brandy... Happy Chelie... Happy Kimi!