I still do not own Secret Life of the American Teenager.
Thanks again for all the comments! I will update as fast as I can. Trying to juggle school and writing can be a challenge, but it is sure one I am up for! I know how frustrating it can be to read a chapter and then not have another one to read after it! So I am going to try to post a bunch of chapters together on the same day.
Chapter 3 Observant or Nosey?
"Amy, you have to tell him!" Grace reprimanded. "He has a right to know."
Grace could see Amy was on the verge of tears and she sighed. "I'm sorry. You don't need to be overwhelmed right now," Grace shrugged. "I just don't want to see you hurt him. It definitely wouldn't make you feel any better. Why do you want him to go off to college anyway?"
"I don't want him to leave," Amy explained. "I just don't want him to stay just because I'm pregnant. I want him to want to stay for me. I want him to stay because he loves me. Not love me because he has to stay," tears were streaming down her cheeks. "I want him to be happy."
Grace took the chair next to Amy's bed, and put a comforting hand on Amy's shoulder. "He already loves you, Amy. You guys started going out not just for John, but for each other. You moved in because that was the responsible thing to do. And, if he didn't love you, you would've moved out by now." Grace tilted her head, "Amy, you can't do this to him. To yourself. He deserves to know. And if you won't tell him, I will."
Amy nodded hesitantly. "I will tell him. But, let me just wait a month. Only a month. That's all I'm asking."
"Why? Why not just get it over with?" Grace furrowed her delicate brows.
"I need a month to find a job," Amy said. "I need to prove to Ricky that I can do this on my own. So when I do tell him, and if he does stay, he can still go to college. I don't want him to give up college completely. I don't want him to work full time."
"You're not working full time either!" Grace exclaimed. "You have school!"
"Next year is senior year. I only have to take a few classes and then the rest of the day I can work," Amy said with a laugh. Then, obviously in thought, she squinted at Grace. "How did you find out about my, uhm, state?"
"Some nurses were talking about. Apparently, by breaking your arm, you lessened the forced of the airbag and saved the baby's life. Didn't your doctor tell you?"
Amy's hand landed on her stomach and she smiled. "Really?"
"Really," Grace said with a crazy smile. She lightened her features. "You're a really great mom, Amy. You can handle another kid." Her tone then melted down to a warning. "But, don't make yourself do it alone."
Amy nodded. "Grace," her eyes were somewhere else. "Did you see who hit me?"
Grace swallowed hard and shook her head. "No. I wish I had." The repulsive taste filled her mouth yet again, but she swallowed back the urge to spit out the truth.
"Oh," Amy said quietly. "I just thought," she shook her head. "Nevermind. It's ridiculous. I was probably just caught up in the moment."
"Why?" Grace asked. "Did you see who it was?" If only Amy did, then Grace wouldn't have to lie anymore. The truth would be out there and all would be well again. As well as it could be, considering…
"I thought I saw," Amy dismissed the idea before voicing it. "No I didn't."
Ricky, rubbed the wrinkles from his forehead, and held the phone closer to his ear. "How long will it take?" He asked wearily. "But, I need it by graduation. That's only three days away!" He waited and waited for the response he wanted. "Fine. As soon as possible. Thank you for all your help." He snapped his phone shut and turned around to face a very wide eyed Grace.
"How much did you hear?" he asked, narrowing his eyes on her.
"Enough to know you are very vague on the phone," she replied, disappointed.
Ricky chuckled and went to move past Grace, but she stopped him. Both hands on his shoulders this time and looking him straight in the eye just as med camp had taught her. "Ricky, how are you?"
He rolled his eyes. Not again. It took three full months for her to stop greeting people that way, and he wasn't prepared to be asked this question so commonly again. "Fine until someone crossed the personal space line," he said shrugging her off. "Grace, you're a great person. And you have no idea how much it means to me, that you were the one who made the call to 911, that saved Amy's life. But, you really need to learn personal space. Your eavesdropping might get you into trouble one day."
In that moment, the hospital doors opened and two unexpected people walked through them, straight towards Grace and Ricky.
Adrian and Ben's hands were swaying inbetween them, but never once touching. They walked at the same pace, but never once turned to look at the other. When they reached Grace and Ricky, they both stopped at the same time as well, but kept their distance.
Adrian couldn't help but remember the last time she was in this hospital. The first and last place she had ever seen her baby. Her Mercy. Adrian bit her lip to keep in the hysterics.
"How is she?" Ben prompted, pulling Adrian back to the present.
"She's fine," Ricky answered. "She was pretty beat up when they brought her in, but she is doing good now. The doctor said I can take her home in a few hours."
She's fine. Absolutely fine. Healing. Alive. Adrian repeated in her head. Convincing herself everything would be okay. However, Adrian herself being fine was another question entirely. She couldn't help but ask, "And does she remember anything?"
Ricky shook his head. "She only remembers-," he paused. "A little bit before getting into the car. Nothing else."
Adrian breathed out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Grace doesn't even remember the accident completely, and she watched it happen," Ricky said.
"Grace was there?" Ben asked. "You saw it happen?"
Adrian looked at her small blond friend and noticed the empty look she was holding. "Grace?" Adrian asked tapping her on the shoulder.
Grace flinched. "Sorry, I uhm, have to go."
"Well, I guess that just proves how unobservant she can be," Ben laughed.
Adrian watched as Grace left the hospital. She wanted to be a doctor. She didn't miss a thing. Adrian swallowed hard. She knew something.