I'm really sorry that I can't post more. It takes me a while to write these because my parents don't like me being on my computer for too long, so I don't get a lot of time to write. Thank you for all your support! I really appreciate all the views and I never expected this story to do this well! Don't be afraid to leave a review!
-CL
Maxon's POV
I watch Bella closely, making sure she's ok. "Bella, are you ok?" I ask. Bella nods and gives me a small smile. She told me that she's going through a depressive episode. I focus back on America, now inspecting her. "Are you sure you're ok, Ames?"
"Yes, Maxon. I'm sure," she says, although I don't believe her. She's been jumpy all morning and didn't eat breakfast, even though she loves breakfast. "Don't worry about me."
"But I am worried," I say. It's been six weeks since the whole incident and America has been different since then. Older. More mature. We're eating breakfast in the dining room and none of us are eating the food set before us. Bella had a smoothie earlier this morning, I'm stressed about America, and America, well, she hasn't eaten breakfast for the past week or so. "Ames, you look a little green…"
America jumps out of her chair and runs out of the room. Bella and I jump up and follow her. She runs to the nearest bathroom and shuts the door behind her. I knock on the door, but I realize the door is opened, and not locked like I thought it was. I open the door and I see America hunched over the toilet, heaving. Bella rushes to her side, pulling America's hair out of her face. I stay put, not comfortable with this type of stuff. I stand there, watching. America finishes and sinks to the floor sweating and shaking. Bella stands up and washes her hands at the sink. "Maxon, can you help America get up?"
I rush to America's side and pick her up and I feel her shivering. "Bella, what's the matter with her?" I ask, concerned.
"I don't know for sure, but I have a hunch…America, have you seen Dr. Ashlar lately?"
"Umm..not recently, no," she responds. "Maxon, you can put me down. I'm fine now." I put her down and she loses her footing and almost falls to the ground. She regains her balance right before she falls.
"Ames, when was the last time you ate something?" I ask, moving towards her. She gestures to me that she's fine and I move towards Bella instead.
"I ate last night!" she exclaims, starting to walk towards the door. "I'm fine! I've just been feeling a little sick lately. I probably have that flu that's going around the palace." America stops suddenly and runs back to the toilet, heaving. She finishes and moans.
"Ames, I think you should go see Dr. Ashlar," I say, stepping towards her.
"I don't need to Maxon! I'm fine!" She rushes out of the bathroom, and Bella and I follow her. "I'm fine!" she yells over her shoulder. "Don't worry about me!" She runs into her bedroom and closes the door behind her. Bella opens the door. "Maxon, I think you should stay here. I think this is more of a woman's problem," she says, cupping my face in her hands. "I promise I will update you when we figure out what's wrong with her."
"Alright," I say, kissing her forehead. Bella smiles and walks into the room. I take out my phone and sit on the floor, knowing I'm going to be waiting for a while.
Bella's POV
I walk into America's room, expecting her to be in her bed, but she isn't. "America?" I call out, heading towards her bathroom. I hear America in the bathroom, and I knock on the door. "America? Can I come in? It's just me. Maxon's waiting outside."
I hear America walk to the door and she opens it. "Bella…" I look at her and her eyes are red and swollen. She's pale and shaking. I reach out and support her, scared she's going to faint.
"America, what's wrong?" I ask, making her sit down in the chair next to the mirror. I stay standing, watching America closely.
"Bella…" she says, looking at the counter. I follow her gaze, but I don't see anything unusual. There's a discarded towel, but otherwise, the counter is spotless. "It's a long story."
"I don't have anything else to do today. I have all day to help you," I say, deciding to sit in the chair next to America.
America takes a deep breath. "Ok, so you know how I told you I went to see Dr. Ashlar recently?" she asks, looking at me for confirmation. I nod. "I went to see him about a week ago because I kept on having strange symptoms. I would feel nauseous and I just didn't feel right. I asked him if it could be trauma from the whole…well…experience. He told me it could be trauma, but then he asked me if I was pregnant. I told him no, no way that I'm pregnant. He told me that if I get any more weird symptoms to take a pregnancy test. I took one before you came in here, and it's under that towel." My eyes instantly look at the towel. Now that I look at it more closely, I can see that there is something underneath it. I look back at America and she gets out of the chair. "The test is ready," she says, taking the towel off of the test. She stares at it for a while and she turns to me with tears in her eyes. "Bella…I'm pregnant."
I gasp. "America…" I say, not sure what I'm supposed to say. "Are you ok?"
America sinks to the floor and starts crying. "I'm not sure, to be honest. I'm going to keep the baby. It's just that…" she is overtaken by her sobs and I sit next to her, letting her cry into my shoulder.
"America, I hope you plan on telling Maxon."
"Of course, I'll tell Maxon. If I don't, he'll probably have Dr. Ashlar run every test imaginable to make sure that I'm not sick or something." We both laugh at that, knowing that's exactly what Maxon would do. "Bella, I'm scared."
"You're going to be an amazing mother, America," I say, hugging her. "You don't need to worry. I'll help you through this."
"Thanks, Bella," America says, standing up. "I think I should do another test just in case it was a false positive."
"Good idea. I'll wait outside of the bathroom," I say, standing up and walking towards the door. I smile at America before I close the bathroom door behind me. I sit in a chaise that's in the room and I take out my phone. I wait five minutes, but America still hasn't called me back into the bathroom. I tuck my phone in my dress pocket and I knock on the bathroom door. "America, are you ok in there?" I ask, turning the door handle. I push open the door and I see America laying on the floor. "America!" I say, rushing towards her. I kneel next to her. "America?"
She opens her eyes and gives me a small smile. "I really am pregnant," she says, closing her eyes.
"America! Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm just a little weak… I haven't eaten anything for a few days."
"I thought you said you ate dinner last night!"
"Well, I didn't want to worry Maxon. I haven't eaten for three days."
"What?! Why?!"
"I've been too nauseous to even think about food."
"Can you get up?" I ask, standing up.
"I don't know…" she says, pushing herself to a sitting position. "I think so…" She gets to a standing position and slowly walks towards me. I reach out and grab her, letting her put her weight on me.
"Do you want anything to eat, America?"
"Maybe some fries and strawberry tarts?"
I smile, knowing that strawberry tarts are her favorite food. "Of course. Let's just get you in your bed." We walk to America's bed and she sits down on it. "I'm going to order that food for you," I say, walking to the door. "Do you want me to bring Maxon in here when I come back?"
"You might as well or otherwise he might break down the door," she says, laughing. I laugh and smile at her.
"I'll be right back," I say, walking out of the room and closing the door behind me. Maxon looks up from his phone and pounces on me.
"Is Ames alright?" he asks, grabbing me by my shoulders. I shrink back, his touch too close to Father's when he's mad at me. "Are you alright?" I nod, but I'm lost in my memories. Father hitting Mother. Father backing me into a corner. Father yelling curse words at me. Father hurting me, slapping me, hitting me with his belt. Father-
"-you ok?" I hear Maxon ask. He shakes me gently, drawing me away from my memories. "Bella?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I say, although I tear up. I try not to cry, but the tears are running down my cheeks. "Damn depression!" I say, hitting the wall and sinking to the ground, sobbing. "Why? Why?!" I rock myself back and forth, trying to comfort myself. I look up and remember Maxon's there. I become embarrassed, blushing. I stand up and wipe the tears from my eyes. "I'm sorry, Maxon. I'm so sorry." I run down the hall and head towards the kitchen, going to order America's food.
"Bella!" I hear Maxon yell. I hear his footsteps behind me, but I keep running to the kitchen. I dash into the kitchen and stop.
I find the cook and tell her America's order. "Of course, Lady Bella. I'll send it up to her room as soon as it's ready."
"Thank you," I say, smiling at her. I rush out of the kitchen and run straight into a hard, chiseled chest. "Damn it," I whisper under my breath. I grit my teeth and look into Maxon's face. "Let's not talk here," I say, walking up the stairs. Maxon grabs my hand and follows me. We get to the top of the staircase and I turn to face him. "Maxon, I'm sorry for acting like that. I didn't-I usually-"
"Oh, my dear," he says, pulling me into an embrace. "You don't have to be sorry for anything."
"But…I…broke down in the middle of the hallway!" I say, burying my face into his chest. His cologne calms me. "Maxon, I've had breakdowns like that before, but never in public. That's only ever happened in the shower or my bedroom. It's part of my depression. I usually have a breakdown every month or so."
"Bella, I had no idea," he says, kissing the crown of my head. I smile and look at him.
"I hope I'll be able to open up about my mental health with you often," I say.
"Of course, you can," Maxon says. "You need someone to talk to."
"Thanks, Maxon. Oh, we should probably get back to America. She needs to tell you something." He starts walking towards America's room and I run to keep up. "Slow down, Maxon!" I say, trying not to trip on my dress. "Max-" I say, but then I trip and fall to the floor and hit my head. I groan and hold my head in my hands. I hear Maxon's footsteps stop and I hear him take in a sharp intake of breath.
"Bella!" I lift my head out of my hands and see Maxon running over to me.
"I'm fine," I say, standing up. My head hurts, but it's not too bad. "I've had worse head injuries." He reaches me and inspects me.
"You sure?"
"Yes. Let's go," I say, already walking to America's room. We make it to her room and I knock on the door. "America, can we come in?"
"Yes!" her answer was muffled by the door. Maxon and I enter the room and see America on the bed, eating the food that was ordered.
"I'm glad you're eating, Ames," Maxon says. "You look better already."
"About that…Maxon…don't freak out about this ok?"
"Ames…what is it?" I start to feel dizzy, and I sit down in the chair next to the bed. I must've hit my head hard. My head is starting to hurt more and more.
"Maxon…I'm pregnant." The next thing I know is I'm on the floor. I hit my head on the floor again and I am only aware of the blackness.
