Chapter 17
Aria POV
Five Weeks Pregnant...
She still couldn't believe she was pregnant as she studied her naked body in the mirror, turning front and then sideways. She took note of the slight changes to her body. She was glad she wasn't showing early. She didn't know if she liked the changes happening to her body.
She hadn't gained any weight, but her face was swollen. A person couldn't tell unless they were standing in front of her. Her boobs were still sore, but they were more rounder and fuller, the areolas around her nipples darker. She placed her hands on her belly, it was still flat, not showing the bump yet. Her fingers caressed her stomach, not coming to terms that a baby was in there.
Her waist had expanded, but it wasn't noticeable. Aria's hips were curvy, her body frame a little fuller than normal. She didn't want to be pregnant. She didn't blame Ezra, she could never blame him. She had wanted him, and he had wanted her.
She had been reckless for the first time in her life, but she wouldn't regret sleeping with Ezra. She wanted him there with her, to experience this with her, but she didn't want to trap him. She couldn't make him take responsibility. She hadn't set out to trap him. She hadn't planned a pregnancy.
Aria wished she could turn back the clock and redo her choices, to take extra precautions. She'd never thought to take birth control because she wasn't having sex. Nobody had wanted her until Ezra came along. She had wanted to be with him desperately, to know what it felt like to be with guy who wanted her. She hadn't thought about the consequences.
She would never take back her first time, being with a guy who gave her the most pleasure imaginable. It gave her chills just thinking about all the times she'd let Ezra take her. It had been so long since she had last seen him. He was still not answering her phone calls, or text messages. She didn't know what to do, or how else to get in touch with him.
She didn't want to think of Ezra not wanting her. It hurt that he was treating her like she didn't exist, but she knew what kind of person he was before she got involved with him. She knew he wasn't an easy person to love, but she loved him anyway. She could never stop loving him. She would never turn her back on him, no matter how he pushed her away.
Aria put on a white T-shirt, gray sweatpants, and a pair thick white tube socks. It was becoming a habit, but she found it comfortable. She got onto her bed and leaned back against the headboard, her hands hugging her belly as her fingers stroked light circles onto it. She wasn't experiencing much morning sickness lately, but she still vomited on occasions. Her appetite had even returned, as she craved a lot of burgers and fries, pickles, and lemon juice.
She didn't want this baby inside her, but she had to start accepting it. She didn't know anything about babies, but she knew a little from what her doctor had told her during her visits. She knew at the moment part of the brain and spinal cord had begun to form, the heart started to form and the ear and legs buds appeared, that it was now an embryo, and was about 1/25 of inch long. She wasn't happy about her pregnancy, but she wasn't willing to sink into depression. It wouldn't help her situation at the moment.
Her mother had been there for her every step of the way, holding her hand and being a shoulder for Aria to cry on. She couldn't love her mother more than she already did. She still didn't judge her, or questioned Aria about the identity of the father. She had asked her mother not to tell Scott, not wanting him mentioning it to Ezra. She hadn't even told her friends, not wanting them to judge her.
Aria didn't think she would tell anybody else until she started showing and couldn't hide it anymore. She looked up at her ceiling as she bit her peach colored lip, wishing it was all just one big mistake, that she wasn't really pregnant. She could feel the tears prickling her eyes, but she didn't dare cry. She sucked in a deep breath, giving herself time to calm down. She wiped the tears that spilt over and poured down her cheeks as she sucked in another breath, a hand fisting her dark shoulder length hair.
She pulled herself together when Staci knocked on her door and came in, carrying a takeout bag from Pete's Burger Shack, and a large chocolate milkshake. She sat up and took the large white bag, taking out the food in it as her stomach murmured happily. Staci sat on the edge of bed as she smiled at a gleeful Aria. Aria's mouth salivated at the greasy doubled cheese burger with onions and tomatoes, large box of French fires, and fat dill pickle. Aria ignored Staci's laughter as she attacked the food with greedy hands.
So, what's been keeping you closed-off?" Staci asked as she watched Aria bite into the cheeseburger as though she was starving. Staci couldn't help laughing again. "You haven't returned any of my calls".
Aria felt bad about that. Out of all her friends, she trusted Staci the most. She and Aria were a lot alike.
"I'm sorry, Staci," Aria apologized as she put down the burger. She could see how much her distance had hurt her friend. "There's just so much going on in my life".
Staci smiled sympathetically.
"I have time," Staci said as she got comfortable on the bed, taking three of Aria's fries. "Just start from the beginning".
Aria knew if she had to tell one of her friends, then it would be Staci. She knew Staci wouldn't judge her. She already felt bad enough. She bit her pickle to gain liquid courage, munching thoughtfully as she thought of what to say.
"I'm pregnant, Aria said with a tight smile, rubbing on her stomach as Staci gave an unsurprised look. "Why don't you look surprised?"
"I could tell by your face, and your body has changed also," Staci said as she continued peering closely at her friend. "How far along are you?"
Aria forgot Staci had a lot of pregnancies in her family, especially the ones pertaining to her aunts.
"I thought it wasn't all that noticeable," Aria said, feeling self-conscious of her appearance. "I'm five weeks pregnant".
"It's not, but I have had my fair share of pregnant women in the family," Staci said, her pale blue eyes alit. "I'm assuming this wasn't planned".
"It wasn't," Aria said as ate the remainder of her pickle. "I just lost myself".
"It's natural to not think clearly in the heat of the moment," Staci said perceptively. "I'm one of those people. It's just shows you're still human and make mistakes".
"That's just it. I didn't just lose myself, though," Aria wanted Staci to understand where she was coming from. "It's like I can't think when we're in the same room together".
"You scared yourself," Staci said what Aria had been thinking. "You acted irresponsible for the first time in your life, but Aria, that happens to the best of us".
"Does it?" Aria questioned, not knowing anymore. "I've never had to think about birth control, or condoms, or any other type of protection before".
"Yes Aria, it does," Staci assured her. "And of course you never thought of those things. You hadn't found the right guy yet".
"At first, I thought it was unreal," Aria didn't know her voice had become soft, almost a whisper as she expressed herself openly. "I didn't know a guy would ever be interested in me".
"It was a shock to you," Staci finished Aria's words again. "The chemistry was that strong, huh?"
"It was," Aria took the chocolate milkshake out of Staci's hands, sipping it slowly. "Very. I just wanted him, and he wanted me".
"Sounds like you're in love with him," Staci said knowingly as her pale eyes searched Aria's. "Who is this mystery guy?"
Aria was afraid to say Ezra's name, but she wanted Staci to know. She deserved to know. She didn't want to keep quiet anymore. She couldn't tell her mother, but she could tell a friend.
"Is it that obvious?" Aria asked as she smiled, her fingers gripped the cup. "And it's Ezra, but please don't judge me or him".
Staci's blue eyes widened in shock as her mouth opened and nothing came out. Aria could see her process everything in her head before she spoke. Aria prepared herself for the worse. She knew it was a lot to take in. She gave Staci time to adjust to the revelation.
"As in your step-brother, is that who you're talking about? He's name's Ezra, right? " Staci asked, trying to grasp the situation. "How did that happen?"
"We didn't plan it, it just sort of happened," Aria defended herself. "We had an instant attraction to one another the first time we met".
"I'm not going to judge you, but wow!" Staci spoke louder than necessary, still feeling stunned. "Was that why you wouldn't talk about him?"
"I thought he hated me at first, but that was just how he was," Aria wanted Staci to know the full story. "And yes, there was lot of tension between us at that time. By then we had already shared a kiss".
"I'm guessing your mother and his father don't know, "Staci stated as she took the milkshake out Aria's hand and drank some. "What is he like?"
"I'm afraid to tell them. I asked my mom not to tell Scott I'm pregnant," Aria said as she fingered her French fries. "He's a hard person to love, but I do. He has a lot of problems he needs to work through, to get to the point of opening up completely".
"I don't blame you for not saying anything to them yet. I mean that's going to be a hard pill for them to swallow when it comes to accepting you guys," Staci said as though she didn't want to be in Aria's shoes. "I'm not going to ask about his problems, but I think you can get through to him".
Aria hoped she was right.
"I think my mom is kind of disappointed in me, and I don't blame her if she is," Aria had been afraid to voice that. "And I think she's hurt I didn't come to her sooner".
"I don't think so," Staci said, before leaning over to hug her. "I know for a fact your mother loves you".
Aria didn't want to let go as she hugged Staci back tight. She didn't want to believe she had broken her mother's trust, but she knew she had. She used to tell her mother everything, when had she started keeping secrets? She knew her mother was still in her corner, but she didn't want to go through this pregnancy without Ezra.
"Oh, I hope you're right," Aria said as she pulled back and wiped unknown tears away. Staci helped her in her goal, brushing the fallen tears away. "I just love her so much".
"It'll be alright," Staci confirmed as she rubbed Aria's leftover tears and hugged her again. "Does Ezra know about the baby? Have you talked to him?"
"He doesn't know I'm pregnant," Aria couldn't keep the pain from her voice. "I tried calling him, and texting, but he's not answering".
"You have to tell him," Staci insisted. "Did you guys get into an argument?"
"You don't have to worry. I'm going to tell him. He deserves to know," Aria was more determined than ever to get in touch with Ezra. "No, not an argument, but he got into trouble with the law. He wanted me to leave Long Beach and come back to Rosewood without him".
"He should be here with you, helping you though this," Staci said angrily, her pale blue eyes livid. Aria wished she could be angry over Ezra's avoidance of her, but she couldn't. She knew he was going through something's. "Do you want me to try and call him?"
"He has his own issues, I don't want to add to them," Aria didn't want to force Ezra into anything he wasn't ready for. "No, I have to be the one to call him. I don't want him to think I'm trying to trap him".
"Still, he needs to be here," Staci's anger dissipated at seeing how much it upset Aria. "If he really knows you, then he wouldn't think that".
Aria felt much better after talking with Staci. She didn't know why she hadn't told her sooner. She knew she had made the right decision by telling her. She still didn't know if she would tell her other friends. She knew they wouldn't be as understanding as Staci.
There, another chapter for all my loyal readers. You guys are the reason why I love writing for this story. I wanted Aria to tell a friend, and I thought Staci was the right choice as I wrote this chapter with her in mind. What did you guys think? Please review and let me know! I always look forward to all your comments.