Hy guys, sorry for the long wait but I am pretty busy. There is just one thing I would like to set straight: I am from Germany, I never attended an american high school and all knowledge I actually have about a normal day on said HS is based upon some very short and superficial internet research and the help of a friend who hasn't gone to high school for at least 40 years now. I'm trying my best to make this as realistic as possible (I hope) and constructive critisism is always welcome, and please feel free to help me out if there is something so completely wrong that it's actually bad, but otherwise, please try to bear with me on that one. On that note, if it hasn't been plainly obvious from my previous rambling, english is not my first language and I post without a Beta reader, so all mistakes are mine and mine alone.
Either way, enjoy
Chapter II
Andy is already waiting at Sharon's locker when the two girls arrive hand in hand on monday morning. He's chatting with some boy he knows from his history class, sending angry glances in the general direction Jack and his gang of moron's is hanging out. They know it's childish, but somehow it makes them feel a little better at times.
Andy's normally the first one there, living closest to school, whereas Sharon generally showed up last. She's the only one of them coming to school with a car, giving her only a five minute drive, so she takes a few more minutes in the morning to get out off bed and get ready. This morning Andy is surprised to find them coming towards him together, but he knows, they had spent the weekend together. He greets them both with a hug and a peck on the cheek (it had started as a joke years ago that had turned into tradition), after biding his friend goodbye. It's not like they are an exlusive three-people group when together, but one or two awkward encounters before, they had realized that apart from a polite hello all five of them don't really have anything to talk about. Andy's not friends with them per se, either, but the occasional talk about a flunked test or missed homework, is often thrown in when they pass each other in the hallway.
"Good morning, pretty Ladies" He bows his head a little, putting on his trademark smile. He never had anything against Sharon; they've been attending the same classes since he can remember, but he just never was the guy that had to necessarily go out and make new friends, especially with pretty girls. It either happened or it didn't. Later, after he started hanging out with Jack and had a bunch of friends, the only girls he was interested in, where the ones he had a crush on and who were willing to be his girlfriend – except from Sharon and Andrea. Though if he is brutally honest with himself, he may or may not have actually developed something for his former best friend's girlfriend; he's just not sure what exactly to call it yet. "How was your weekend?" He steps aside, leaning one shoulder against the locker next to Sharon's to make room for her, his other arm slung over Andrea's shoulder casually, jokingly pulling on some blonde strands. Sharon smiles at her best friend swatting away Andy's fingers over and over again. If she didn't know better, they looked and behaved like an old married couple sometimes.
"Exhausting" Andrea lies smoothly, putting on a sigh for good measure. She's grabbed Andy's hand so he would stop playing with her hair. "Two young boys can be a handfull" They decided to say as little as possible about their weekend supposedly sitting Andrea's nephews, therefore it's easier to stick to the thruth. Andy does know most of their family members, so she needs to be careful who's name she drops into the conversation, so she opts for not saying who's kids they have been looking after. For effect, Sharon nods her head a few times in the positive and pulls her face into a grimace for a split second, just long enough for him to notice, as if she is remembering back to the weekend they had. She's not even faking, and Andrea notices, so she pulls Andy's attention back onto her, teasing him a little about his own family while they wait for Sharon to finish up.
When all her things are put away in her locker, Sharon nudges Andy in the shoulder and pries his arm away from the wall. Pulling it around her own shoulder and linking their fingers like Andrea did on his other side, they start to make their way to their first classes (On monday's they all three have to be in the science wing). They dodge a group of freshmen girls that send heated looks at them for blocking most of the way and Sharon just smiles sweetly back at them which aggravates them to no end. She's sure she hears some expletives being muttered she sure as hell did not know when she was starting high school. "When I was their age, I didn't even dare look at the older kids, let alone like that." She's smiling though, doesn't really mind them at all. Why should she, when she never was one to cause actual trouble and by this time next year, she will be out of here. Probably not college, she thinks, which dampens her mood significantly, but she promised herself she will not act weird in front of Andy.
Another promise she made herself was that she will also not let this pregnancy ruin the future she had planned out for herself. She still doesn't know, if she will keep the child after it is born (in the last 36 hours she'd changed her mind on that question about every fifteen minutes), but she knows, that if she does, with a newborn she is not going to attend college right after she's done with High School, but she is determined to work her way through all of it (on her own if neccesary). She's been promised financial and emotional help from Andrea's parents, and even though she doens't like, she'd be gladly accepting it until she can pay them back for everything they'd done for her. And she will attend law school somewhere down the line, becoming everything her parents think she'd just destroyed for herself.
And, at least for the next few days, she will try not to overthink this whole situation too much. Pregnancy tests can be false, too. Yes, she has already told her parents because technically, with the way she had ben feeling, there is no way that test showed a false positive, but the thought alone makes her feel a little less afraid at the moment. The doctor's appointment she hasn't set up yet is the moment she starts freaking out again.
"Tell me about it" Andrea and Andy say almost at them same time, making them laugh, which in turn they are pretty positive annoys another big part of the students occupying the hall. They don't really care here either.
"So, what did you get up to apart from trespassing?" They've reached the staircase that technically isn't wide enough to hold the three of them next to each other and simultaneously let other people pass in the other direction, but they've done this long enough that Andy's arms automatically move backwards so only their joined hands lie on the girls shoulders and Sharon and Andrea move closer together in front of him. He leans his head forward between them, chin resting on their shoulders.
"Oh you know" He shrugs and moves back between the two girls when they reach the landing. "Kidnapping, drug dealing. A typical sunday evening." There's no question that he spent the rest of his weekend studying with Mike and playing some hobby basketball with Julio. That's mostly what he had been doing the last four weeks since he stopped hanging out with Jack constantly – either he was with the girls or Mike and Julio. He'd probably been throwing in soccer practice, too.
"Shame we couln't be there" Sharon smiles, adjusting their joined hands around her shoulder with her head leaning on his. Her voice dripping with sarcasm, but they know it's all in good fun. "Who won?" When Andrea snorts on his other side the girls both receive a mock glare.
It's no secret that Andy is an excelent athlete when it comes to soccer and track (he's good enough to attend college on a sholarship on either one), and he's not bad at basketball either, but he's also no competition for Julio Sanchez. He's the guy who does almost every sport the school has to offer since kindergarden and, much to Andy's annoyance, shines in everything he tries. They have been friends for quite some time, something that didn't change with Jack's influence on him, and he hadn't managed to beat Julio in any sport he had challenged him in yet – though he did come pretty close in one of their soccer tournaments once.
The girls have been supporting the boys on their various competions for years, since Jack used to be on the soccer team, too up until last season, but stuck to debating and film club (Sharon is a sucker for all things horrorfilm and had infected Andrea pretty early in their friendship).
"I'll have you know, that I didn't loose that high this time" Andy proudly states,not really making his situation better but rather have the girls break out in full on laughter.
They reach the corner where they will have to part ways for the day in a few minutes and when they are still laughing at him, he decides to change the subject abruptly.
"So when are we gonna reach the part where you ladies tell me what you actually did over the weekend?" That shuts them up effectively. They never wanted to lie to Andy, but Sharon needs a little more time to deal with things on her own before tellling anyone else. They had kind of hoped he wouldn't find out, but by the look on his face they knew he wasn't just saying random stuff to change the subject. He actually knows.
"Where did you see them?" Andrea doesn't even try to pretend she doesn't know what he's talking about. It couldn't have been anyone else than her parents. Sharon's definitely hadn't gone around and proclaiming her daughter's whereabouts, too afraid she could be telling Andy about the pregnancy.
"Outside the cinema" When he's not detouring on his way to the park to pick up the girls at one of their homes, the most direct path to their favorite ice-cream stand is a shortcut that ends in the local cinema's back alley, just down the street from his destination. He knows that, at least two saturdays a month Andrea's parents visit the movie theater, but since he normally pick the girls up he hasn't crossed paths with them outside yet. So, when he recognized them two days ago, he was of course polite enough to talk to them. "I'm still waiting" He adds, smirking, when he hasn't gotten an answer for a whole minute. He's not really pissed that they lied to him.
Sharon leans against the wall next to him, shoulders touching, debating for a moment just telling him. He will find out anyway, even if she'd been considering not telling him at all. But then she sees Jack disappearing into their classromm at the end of the hall and she can't do it. Not yet. Jack maybe an ass in her opinion, but he is still this childs father, and even though she probably doesn't owe him anything, she can't tell his former best friend before him. She dreads that conversation, but still. Instead she takes Andy's hand in her own to pull his full attention onto her, shares a quick look with Andrea and then leans her head back against the wall with a long inhale. He is watching her profile expectantly. "If I promise I will tell you real soon, will you not push for more information right now?"
His mouth opens as if to say something before closing without uttering a word. He had anticipated many things, most of which were teases and jokes, but he hadn't expected that. The way she phrased it, it sounds pretty serious he thinks. And there's no denying, that he wants to know what's going on, preferably yesterday, but he doesn't ask. He knows them, trusts them blindly – with his whole life probably – so he takes another deep breath to swallow the question on his tongue, nods once in the affirmative. "Yea, I can do that" Sharon sees the struggle to keep his curiosity in check and she appreciates that a great deal.
She gives their joined hands a squeeze and leans up to press a lingering kiss against his cheek. "Thank you" She is going to talk to Jack as soon as she has a doctor confirm what she already knows, and then she is going to tell her other best friend. She doesn't really know how yet however.
"Next time, maybe just don't lie to me?" He's still not really mad about it, but if they had told him they want to hang out just the two of them, he would have understood. He is their friend and they spend the majority of their little free time together, but that doesn't mean they have to be with each other constantly. He has Mike and Julio he spends time with when the girls are busy and the girls have themselves – and that had never been a problem. He hopes it won't start becoming one now. By their facial expressions he can see that they are genuinely apologetic though.
"Sorry" They mumble almost at the same time, sheepishly. They should have know this lie was stupid. "You can have our cakes at lunch" Andrea adds with a smile.
"Apology accepted" Andy laughs. He can't think of a single day when either Sharon nor Andrea had eaten their school lunch dessert.
"See you then" The blonde detangles herself from the hold Andy has on her, hugs both of them briefly.
"Have fun" Sharon tugs at their still joined hands, pulling Andy away from the wall he is way too comfortable leaning against. He follows reluctantly. Andrea's answer is a sarcastic laugh and then they part ways to their respective classes.
Andy's arm moves back around Sharon's shoulder without letting go of her fingers and when they enter the classroom like that, Jack heated gaze lands upon them. They had always been close, ever since the day Jack had made friends with Andy and brought him into their little group. He knows, that they are not together – at least not yet - but they can't do what they are doing in a high school full of gossiping teenagers. How would he look when people started spreading the rumors that his girlfriend left him for his best friend?! Andy pulls her a little tighter into his embrace, which she willingly accepts, and stares back at Jack with a barely there smirk on his face. Again, it's incredibly childish and they are supposed to be almost adults, but he likes to rub the fact that Jack had screwed up badly and Andy hadn't in the other boy's face. Before their staring contest could go any further though, the door opened and closed behind their teacher, effectively ending all conversation in the room.
Three hours later, in a class both of them are completely uninterested in, Sharon is drawing random patterns onto her binder while she is pretty sure she can see Andy write down soccer strategics beside her, both knowing Andrea is not faring any better in her class. She lets out an almost audible sigh of relieve when the bell finally releases them to lunch and they are one of the first ones out the door. This time they only meet Andrea in front of the cafeteria and, after getting their lunch and finding some place to sit, the girls wordlessly hand over their pieces of chocolate-ish cake.
"That would mean so much more, if I hadn't been eating your desserts fro the last four years anyway" He jokes, pulling his tray out of Sharon's reach when she pretends to take her piece back. "I didn't say I didn't want it" That smirk again.
Before long they move on to complain about the lessons they had already attended today and complain about the lessons they will still have to attend to. Lunch goes by way too fast after that and when they head off in different directions again, Sharon reminds Andrea again, that they need to wait for her at the entrance after school. She needs to make a detour through the nurse's office, because she forgot something vital there on thursday. Andrea knows that story is made up but for Andy's benefit she plays along.
What Sharon really hopes to find when she enterst he nurse's office after school is Jen. Her boyfriend used to be friends with Jack two years ago and so she and Sharon had become good friends, too. Jen and Tyler graduated last year and since he's pretty busy with college the boys have lost touch completely relatively soon after that. Jen attends medical school and in her free time volunteers at her old high school as a nurse and since Jack won't find out about her consition from Tyler, Sharon decided Jen is her best shot at getting some advice on how to find the right doctor and what to expect. She knows the other girl is generally volunteering mondays and she's in luck when she spots Jen putting away the last of her stuff.
"You're still not in contact with Jack anymore, right?" She only realizes she blurted out the question without so much as a hello, after she already said it. "Sorry. Hi Jen" She then adds, putting on her best smile that almost always works in her favor.
"Sharon, hey. What are you doing here?" It's rare seeing Sharon anywhere near here, because she was just never sick. "No, after what he did to you, I threatened Tyler I'd leave him if he ever spoke to him again" It's a joke, but the thruth behind it registers in Sharon and her features relax visibly.
"I need you advice" She clasps and unclasps her hands in front of her body nervously until Jen walks over, takes them in her own and pushes her down into a chair. The intense questioning gaze directed at her promts her to go on. "I'm pregnant" It's nothing more than a whisper, an exhale but it's enough.
"Are you sure? Have you seen a doctor yet?" Her first instinct had been to blurt out 'Oh my god' but that wouldn't help. So she tries being professional. If, much later, there will be a little human being to spoil rotten, she can gush over that fact then.
"No, that's where I need your help" She's not getting any further when she is interrupted by the other girl.
"My mom's got a last minute cancellation on wednesday at 5." Qualifications are everything for a spot in medical school, and so, the school isn't the only place Jen's volunteering in her free time. Her mother's doctor's office being another one. Still, Sharon didn't come here because she was looking for an easy way to get a doctor's appointment. She was hoping for a recommendation or an advice on what to look for and maybe ask a question or two about what this first visit will be like.
"No, Jen, that's not..."
"I know, but you will still be taking it"
Really, she should have known that. There is no way she will be getting recommended a different ob/gyn when she's asking the daughter of one. "Thank you" She's silent for a minute and studies her hands in her lap, gathering her thoughts. She knows what she wants to ask, but she doesn't have the word to form the question, yet. A long exhale, she lifts her eyes back up. "This probably sounds silly, but I'm scared." Another pause, that doesn't last as long as she had intended it to, when she sees Jen start to say something. She isn't finished yet. "Not about the pregnancy...well, yes, that, too... but I mean the appointment"
"That's not silly, honey" A squeeze to Sharon's hands encourages her to look right at Jen. "You don't know what to expect, of course that's scary. But you have nothing to worry about. You will mainly just answer questions about your health, chronical diseas in your family and such, then there'll probaly be some tests but nothing you have to be scared of. And, of course, you get the chance to ask your questions and get your concerns out off the way"
"Do my parents have to be there?" She's afraid the answer will be yes. There's no way her parents will do this. She's relieved when the answer she receives is a shake of the head and a clear "No".
There are a lot of other things she would like to ask or talk about, but a glanze at her watch shows her that she has to hurry – for someone who just wants to pick up something she'd lost she has spent quite a long time in the office already. Her friends are still waiting for her and there is only so much Andrea can do before Andy's curiosity gets the better of him and he comes looking for her. She's saved from maing a decision however, when Jen looks at her apologetic and tells her she needs to hurry out, but that Sharon's always welcome to call or drop by when she has questions or problems. She thanks her again, hugging the other girl and then she's off in search for her friends.
She finds them enjoying the sun on the front steps, sitting side by side, the blonde's head once again resting on Andy's shoulder. She steps up to them silently, blocking the sun form reaching them.
"So that's what you get up to when I'm not around" Indicating their intimate posture accusingly. She's hardly able to contain her smile.
"Oh please" Andrea cracks one eye open, squints up at her friend. "As if you're not all over him when I'm not here" The smile still threatens to come forth she notices. "Come to think of it, aren't we doing this when the other one's around, too?" It's so innocent that this time Sharon can't hold in the smile anymore.
"Not my fault I'm irresistable" That earns him two laughs and a shove on each shoulder.
"Come on Romeo, I need my daily fix of hot chocolate"