The Novelty Called Love

Chapter 11:

The Novelty Called 'Stupidity'

I felt my heart wrench. It was the way that I felt when my puppy had died, when Luke had gone away, when my parents said they wouldn't get me a pony for my eighth birthday.

Was it just me, or was something terribly wrong? Usually, I didn't feel this way unless I was sure about something. I didn't just get feeling's like this. I knew when things were wrong. I could sense when my world was being thrown off balance.

My teacher's voice continued droning on. But the sick feeling wouldn't leave me alone. I still felt like I was going to blow chunks at any moment. Maybe I had caught something from Duncan, or maybe I was just feeling sick due to skipping breakfast.

Sighing, I decided to forget about it. Maybe I was just apprehensive because of my mom, or because of Duncan and how I was starting to feel about him. I tried to push those feelings of worry and butterflies away. I could be so stupid at times.

Better not to be the crazy idiot who worries about nothing.

The Novelty Called Love

Courtney's mom stood in front of my, or rather clutched her stomach in pain. She started grunting, panting, and said, "Duncan," Really quietly. Her whole face flushed red, her eyes rolled up to look at the ceiling.

And then she fainted.

I'm pretty sure I almost died in that moment. Like you know those moments when you have no doubt you're going to die? Well, that was what this was. I was sure to drop dead in a matter of seconds. I waited for some flash of light to come and take me away, because death sounded better than being in this situation.

I stood there, waiting for death. But nothing came.

Well, dammit! Because I knew what that meant- this was real. A collapsed pregnant woman stood in front of me, going through labor. She had fainted. We were alone. And there were no others doctors on this side of the building to help me. I was possible going to be the only one here when she delivered that child. And I had absolutely no experience in that department, no, not one bit.

…What the hell was I supposed to do?

I tried to run out in the hall, but all the doors were locked. I put my hands on my head, pulling back my skin. I'm not sure I knew exactly what was going on, but it was at that moment that my phone started to ring. I don't know why, I guess I was just desperate and stupid and not receiving as much oxygen to the brain as I would have liked. So I answered it.

"Eh, Duncan!" The voice rang through the phone. They sounded excited and uber happy. Pretty much everything I wasn't at the moment. It was very frustrating. I wondered who had the nerve to call me right now.

"Who the hell is this?" I breathed. I hadn't recognized the number.

"It's Ezekiel, eh!" His Canadian accent hit me like a bullet. Of course it was him.

I face palmed myself. Of all the people who would call now…

"How did you get my number?" I asked. Seriously, how had he gotten my number? This dude wasn't exactly my best friend. He had probably gone in the phone book and looked me up or something, which was really, really odd.

"That's not important, buddy!" He said happily. "What are you doing, eh?" He sounded so innocent, and I felt the overwhelming sense to punch the phone at that moment.

"I'm in St. James Hospital, about to hyperventilate." I thought. For some reason, I felt as though my brain was turning to mush. My breathing was accelerating as each moment went by.

"Oh crap, Duncan!" Ezekiel shouted through the phone. I was really going to have to get a new number after this. "Eh, you need to breath! Or maybe you could call that number for emergencies!"

I rubbed my head. "What?"

Ezekiel clicked his tongue. "I think it's like 9-1-9 or something like that."

And that was when I decided that I was the biggest idiot on the planet. How about calling 9-1-1, Duncan? Duh!

Ezekiel started, "Hey-" But I cut him off, my phone shaking in my hands as I tried to call. It was then that my phone went black.

"What?" I said, my eyes going wide. No, no, no, not now, any other time but now!

I felt my heart drop as the words formed on the screen. 'Goodbye!' It said, doing a little tone and dying. I knew I shouldn't I have been texting Alex earlier, wasting my battery!

To tell you the truth, it was the worst moment of my life. I've never been so hurt and scared. I had never wanted my mommy more in my whole entire existence.

I peed my pants a little. And then I screamed.

And then I really started to panic.

Thankfully, Courtney's mom started to come to, still clutching her stomach in pain, looking at me like I was crazy, which, at that point, I probably was. I was literally getting close to throwing up from being in such a crap situation. I mean, this was nothing like getting into juvie for the first time, or when I got caught for that 'Happy Nude Year' stunt. This was even topping the whole 'flooding the school cafeteria' thing, and I was sure nothing could top that!

But yes, this topped it all.

I could always tell when I was in trouble. Except this time, I was scared out of my mind.

Courtney's mom looked to me with anger. "Why the hell aren't you doing anything?" yeah, she was definitely Courtney's mother. The way her brow creased and how her freckles lit up her face made me realize that this lady was scarier than Courtney, more bitchier than Courtney, and there was also the fact that she was going through labor.

So I was screwed, wasn't I?

"My phone is dead, and all the doors are locked!" I said, and I'm pretty sure I went into shock right then as the realization of my words sank in. I was going to have to deliver a child all by myself. I didn't want to! I really, really wasn't ready for this. What if I killed the baby? What if I killed Courtney's mom?

Worse: was I going to have to touch this ladies'… parts?

I almost doubled over at the horrible situation I was in.

She gave me a stupid look. "I have keys, you dumbass!"

My whole face sank. My panic started to recede. It was replaced with the feeling that I remembered having when I realized that purple didn't rhyme with anything and I had been trying to write a poem for English. It was that same feeling I got when I didn't know all the continents of the world in sophomore year.

I am so. Fucking. Stupid.

She tossed me her keys before she started moaning in pain once again. "Get a move on!" I nodded quickly, getting up and opening the door, then coming back to lift her up and guide her to the emergency section of the hospital.

"Hey, why were the doors locked anyway?" I questioned.

She scowled at me, panting. "I wasn't going to have you stealing anything, you ass."

The Novelty Called Love

After the period ended, I sighed, rising from my seat and wondering why I was having such a hard time focusing today. I really needed to clear my head. All this excitement due to my mom and Duncan was getting to me. Get yourself together, Courtney!

At that moment, Alex popped his head in the door, Danielle looking over his shoulder. Both of them had worry written all over their faces.

"What?" I said, looking to them, feeling my stomach drop.

Alex gave me a hard look, and I think I saw Danielle gulp- which scared me. When was Danielle ever scared? He spoke quietly, "I think you need to come with us, Courtney. It's your mom."

Danielle's eyes widened. "And Duncan, too."

A/N: OK, so I'm trying to build this story back up. Thanks to all the people who actually still read this story. :)

Thanks for reading! :D