Chapter Thirty-Four

Nudge and I had stood in shock looking down at the pregnancy tests. We knew there was a possibility one of us could be pregnant but it still came as a shock to see those tests with two lines proving it. For a moment I forgot who's test was who's and had a moment of dread thinking the three tests with the two lines were mine, but then Nudge began to cry and I remembered mine were on the side closest to the tap- the one lined ones.

I texted Fang quickly to tell him to give Nudge and I an hour before he and Iggy came back. Then, I ran and locked our apartment door and turned my mobile phone off, then Nudges, and pulled the land line phone cord out, then went back and sat down next to Nudge on the cold tiled floor of the bathroom.

We didn't talk for the first ten minutes we just sat there next to each other our arms brushing every now and then when either of us moved.

This is the moment I have mentioned before, and unlike then, now is the time to talk about it. Nudge and Iggy were nineteen years old when Nudge got pregnant. Nudge and I have talked a lot of that day. Of how we went to the supermarket both with the thought of getting a pregnancy test in our heads and both afraid and unsure of how to tell the other, to find out we were in the same boat, and taking the tests together, to realise one of us was pregnant and one of us was not. We had done everything together up until then, and we had so many plans of our futures together. We had talked of having a double wedding when we were twenty-five. And we talked of having children at the same time so they could grow up together. But who makes plans when they are sixteen about stuff like that and actually see them become reality?

Nudge needed to decide what to do. So we started with the obvious. Nudge needed to tell Iggy, and sooner then later. I offered to cancel on the boys but Nudge said she wanted to tell Iggy that night.

When the boys came home Nudge was going to take Iggy to her room to tell him, and I was going to go to mine and tell Fang, but we still had half an hour until then.

That was as far as the planning went for us, because it wasn't up to Nudge and I any more, now it was up to Nudge and Iggy. I wondered what was to happen, if she would continue living with me. But I didn't ask. I knew it wasn't the right time to think about that. To think about how I fit in.

We just sat in mostly silence. Every now and then Nudge would ask me something and I'd answer best I could, trying to be strong and sensible.

"Should I call my parents?"

"Maybe have in your head what you and Iggy are going to do before you call them. Keep the baby or not, where your going to live, money, school, their not going to be thrilled, they're going to respond better if you have a plan, but of course you'll talk that through with them when the time comes."

"Who's going to tell Ella and the twins?"

"Do you want me too?"

"Yes. I can't face anyone."

When the hour was up the boys came back and because they didn't know what was happening they grew worried and were banging on our front door. Nudge and I exchanged a look. I hoped with all my might mine said. 'Don't worry, everything will be alright. Be strong. I'm here for you.' I know. That's a lot for a single look to say, but I think she got it because she smiled as best she could, nodded her head, wiped her tears away and stood up. I gave her a tight hug. Then stood back and studied her face and when I saw she was going to be okay, I took a deep breath then went to the front door. And Nudge made her way to her room. Once I was at the door I checked to see she was in her room before opening it and facing Iggy and Fang.

I was nervous to tell Fang that I did a test, even if it did come back negative. And when I did tell him, he let out a sigh of relief, which stupidly, I was hurt by. I mean, we were way too young and I had never thought about having a kid at that age before the scare, but still I had mixed feelings. But I put those silly thoughts aside and focused on Nudge.

Fang and I sat waiting in my room as Nudge told Iggy the news. We could hear crying and a little shouting, then total silence. My heart raced, and my hands were clammy. I didn't know what was going on in there as I sat on my bed with Fang. All I knew was it went beyond having a baby so young.

"Gosh, I can't keep a baby alive!" Nudge says looking panicked. "You know that. I killed my Ginny-pig by forgetting to feed it! And I had the fish for a day! And the kitten I only had for a week before it ran away!" The four of us are sitting on my bed. Iggy and Nudge came in about half an hour ago, both red eyed and in a total panic.

Nudge looks between Fang and Iggy with a look of horror when Fang says. "And not to mention the bird. What was it a Buggy?"

"Never mention the Buggy!" Nudge says desperately, picking up one of my pillows and hiding her face in it.

"Why in the world did you turn on the ceiling fan?" I ask remembering the day... unfortunately. It was before school in grade six. Fang and I had slept over at Nudge's house; she had gotten the bird a couple weeks earlier. Melanie had let the three of us stay home that day.

"Guys! Not helping." Iggy says looking in Fang and my direction with narrowed eyes.

"Every thing is going to be okay." I say trying to lighten the mood.

"That's easy for you to say." Nudge moves the pillow away from her face and throws it across the room. It hits the opposite wall and knocks a frames photograph of Fang, Nudge and I off the wall.

"Oh. Sorry. I wasn't aiming for that." She says looking at me.

"Don't worry about it."

"But good aim." Fang says smiling. "You just so happened to hit the baby photo."

"Hmm." Nudge makes a noise and smiles herself.

"Every thing is going to be okay." I repeat, mainly for myself this time.

"But you're not having a child Max." Nudge exclaims.

"But she could have been the one. We didn't know if it was you or Max. And I'm sorry, I really am, but it's you Nudge. So we need to be calm and figure this out. If it was us we know you two would be supporting us, so you know we're here for you."

"Yes but you guys are twenty. We're nineteen. Teen!" Nudge says.

"What difference does that make?" Fang asks. "You'll be twenty once the baby comes."

"Oh yeah, good. That's not as bad. We'll be having a baby in our early twenties." Nudge says some of the panic leaving her face.

"'Very' early twenties." Iggy adds.

"When do you think we should tell our parents?" Nudge asks Iggy.

He looks pained and takes a minute to answer. "We should tell yours tonight. We can tackle mine tomorrow."

Nudge nods. "Okay."

"We'll leave you two too it." I say standing up. Fang follows.

"Good luck." He says and pats Iggy on the back then leans over and kisses Nudges forehead.

And so the fun begins.

Thanks for letting me know your thought on the last chapter. Even though I already had in my head what was to come, I like to know what you think, because I was doubting if I should make Nudge pregnant and make it Max in stead. But I hope most people are happy in the way things turned out. This is Max's story so the pregnancy wont take over, for those of you who are worried.