"Alright Ms. Cartwright", Dr. Parsons walks back in, moving the curtain to the side as he rolls in an ultrasound machine.
Me and Cappie sit up straight, ready to see what's going to be our future. Being parents together like we'd somehow gotten used to these past few weeks, or going back to the way things were before those tests turned up positive.
"So if you'd like to pull up your gown, and you've already got a blanket here to cover yourself which is perfect", He instructs me as he starts to set up, turning the machine on.
"Yeah of course", I say quickly, nodding, just really wanting to get to the part where he, god willing, finds our baby on the screen. Find him or her in there, doing perfectly fine.
I lay back on the bed, lifting the gown up to let my still pretty flat stomach show. I covered my bottom half with the blanket Cappie had gotten me so the doctor couldn't see my underwear.
"Okay so you know the drill, this'll be a tad cold here", He explains, squirting out some of the ultrasound jelly onto my stomach as I nod nervously.
I take in a deep breath breath in, a shaky deep breath, and then look over to catch Cappie's gaze. I know I'm giving him a terrified look right now and it's making him look into my eyes empathetically and grab onto my left hand.
"Well you definitely don't have a bump yet", Dr. Parsons scoffs slightly, trying to keep things light with us I think.
"Yeah I know", I nod with a slight laugh, even though I'm the most scared I've ever been.
"Alright so we're just going to be trying to find the fetus here… bear with me for a moment I'm just looking around here…", His eyes stay fixed on the screen as do mine and Cappie's even though I have to strain a bit to see from my laying back position.
Dr. Parsons starts to move the transducer around on my lower belly.
"Well your ovaries look fine, your fallopian tubes here look completely normal, now let's take a look at the uterus…", He says as I can feel him moving the transducer to one spot on my lower belly. "Alright here we go… well you two…"
He looks over first to me and then to Cappie, giving us a smile, looking truly happy.
"I'm happy to report you're still indeed pregnant Ms. Cartwright", He nods, looking happy for me.
"I am?", I let out as my voice breaks.
I can feel tears spring to my eyes right away as my face becomes hot. I don't even care right now that my eyes have quickly filled up with tears and spilled out down my cheeks.
"Yes, here's your baby right here", He shows the two of us, turning the ultrasound screen towards us a bit more so we can see better.
I feel Cappie squeeze my hand, putting his other one on top of it so both his hands are holding mine. I look over to him to see his eyes wet as he smiles, looking relieved as I hear him sigh out.
"Oh my gosh it's okay?", I ask again, still crying. "You're sure right?"
"Totally okay. What about we take a listen to the heartbeat? I'm sure that would make you feel even better", Dr. Parsons suggests.
"That would be awesome", I nod up and down, letting out a sob and then using my free hand to wipe my tears.
"Yeah definitely", Cappie adds.
I look over to Cappie to give him a smile, letting the air of out my lungs, finally feeling like I can breathe again.
"Cappie….", I let out to him in a whisper.
I can't even find the words right now to speak. I'm just so relieved and emotional.
"I know", He nods, holding my hand tight again. "I know".
I see one single tear fall from his eye down his cheek as he smiles with his whole face.
I can't help but feel it deep in my stomach then, that feeling I often got for him, where it felt like my whole body was telling me I loved him.
I didn't often see him like this. And not only that but I never really imagined this, him caring so much about having a baby together. I mean at least not at this point in our lives. When I first realized that I could be pregnant I truly had thought that I might be doing this alone for a bit until Cappie got more used to the idea, I just thought this would be the last thing in the world he'd want.
But now here he was, crying with me out of relief because we're still doing this, still having this baby.
A noise shakes me from the thoughts swirling around in my head as I just stare shyly at Cappie.
My new favorite noise ever.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
"There it is, that's your baby's heartbeat. And it's at 160 BPM which is perfectly normal for this far along. So we can surely say that your pregnancy is still right on the right track", Dr. Parsons looks to the two of us, smiling at the way I'm leaning over the side of the bed, holding onto Cappie's hand like it's a lifeline.
"Wow… thank you so much", I nod up and down, letting out another sigh of relief. "You have no idea how great that is to hear. I guess… I guess I just overreacted, I just got scared".
"Of course, that's totally normal, especially in your first pregnancy. Seeing blood can be very worrying. But I would guess that it was the result of one of three things. Either just some late implantation bleeding, or from the extra hormones that are needed during pregnancy which can sometimes cause light spotting, or the possibility that having sex 24 hours ago may have caused it due to your cervix being tender at this stage in your pregnancy. It's possible that it just got bumped without you even realizing and then caused bleeding tonight. Whatever the cause it's certainly not a miscarriage", Dr. Parsons assures us. "Which I'm very happy to give the two of you some good news. You're perfectly fine to go home".
"Thank you so much, seriously", I give him a grateful look.
"Yeah thank you", Cappie chimes in.
"Of course. I would just maybe stay clear of intercourse for a week or so, let things calm down if that was the cause, which we can't be sure if it was. But either way we usually tell women that have spotting to refrain from intercourse or any heavy workouts or anything like that", He explains. "But I wouldn't worry. You can definitely talk to your OB about it at your next appointment though, especially if the spotting keeps going for longer than a week".
Dr. Parsons starts to shut down the ultrasound machine, handing me some tissues to wipe up the gel on my belly.
"Okay, sounds good", I nod, still a little uncomfortable to talk to this man about sex, especially with Cappie sitting right beside me. But I really couldn't complain right now, I was just so happy that the baby was okay.
"Alright. Well you two have a good night. Congratulations on the baby… it sure looks like it's going to have parents that are happy to welcome it into the world", Dr. Parsons smiles as he gives us a wave, opening the curtain.
"Thank you!", me and Cappie speak in unison, truly thankful for this doctor tonight.
Dr. Parsons gives us one last nod and then leaves me and Cappie alone.
"Oh my god Cap", I start to sit up, letting go of his hand so I can properly wipe all the jelly off of my stomach.
I pull the blanket off me, just in my underwear and the gown covering the upper half of my body.
"I know, what a relief", he scoffs slightly, his hand running down my leg comfortingly.
"Thank you…. for coming here with me tonight", I look at him seriously. "Especially… especially after I sort of freaked out earlier tonight and left the KT house like I did…"
"Seriously it's fine Case. Anytime you call me, whether we're together or not, whether you're pregnant or not, I'm gonna be there as quickly as I can", he nods, his expression matching the seriousness of my own.
I can't help but smile a bit now, my heart swelling in my chest.
"Yeah I know", I let out a slight giggle. "I uh… learned that during homecoming last year… with the whole float stuck on the side of the road thing. Even when you were mad at me you still… got there in like 10 minutes".
I look at him genuinely, feeling so much love for him right now.
"Well…", Cappie scoffs, shrugging, I think trying to play it off like it was no big deal. Even though it was. It definitely was to me. "Of course. It's you, so…"
He shrugs again nervously like he doesn't know what to say.
I just give him a smile and then lean in to hug him, feeling him react quickly to me, his arms going around me to pull me in even further to him.
"Well…", Cappie grins at me when we part. "What do you say we get you dressed and then we go home?"
"Yeah", I nod up and down, smiling at him sheepishly. "It would be good to actually get some sleep".
"Yeah I haven't slept yet tonight", Cappie adds with a scoff.
"You haven't?", I question him as I get up off the bed.
"No… I uh… couldn't sleep after you left so I was just up thinking when you called", He explains.
"Oh…", I take this in, nodding and then I turn around from looking at him. "Can you… can you untie this for me Cap? I can't reach it properly."
I change the subject from the fact that he was awake earlier tonight thinking about me and him, thinking about our sort of fight. It wasn't really a fight… more just me being hurt and emotional… and fine, jealous.
"Yeah of course Case", I can hear the smile in his voice as I feel him start to untie the ties at the back, feel his fingertips graze my bare back slightly, making me want to gasp. I can feel goosebumps appear on my skin just at the mere feel of his quick touch over my body. "There we go".
I pull the gown off my body, just standing in my bra and underwear now as I turn around to face him.
"Thanks", I speak softly, giving him a small smile as he passes me my clothes from his lap.
I can feel his gaze looking me up and down, and when I meet his eyes he's grinning at me as I pull my hoodie over my bra, zipping it up. Then I pull my sweatpants on too, and grab my purse from Cappie.
"Okay ready to go?", Cappie smiles, standing up, throwing my gown in the dirty laundry bin.
"Yeah let's go Cap", I can't help but feel happy, even giddy, right now and it was certainly showing on my face.
We walk out together, walking down the halls of this hospital to reach the exit.
"Hey um… I'm sorry I called you and freaked you out and then made us come all the way here for no reason Cappie", I say nervously. "I probably could've just waited it out. I don't know why but I just… I was just really scared so…"
I trail off, turning to give him a shrug as the two of us walk. I'm much shorter next to him just wearing some slip on sneakers I'd thrown on. Usually I wear some sort of heel that gives me a bit of height next to him, but not tonight, tonight I felt especially small next to his tall frame.
He stops walking completely, to just stop and look at me and I watch his expression turn sympathetic.
"Casey…", He shakes his head, pausing for a moment, me having stopped walking too so we both just stand in this deserted hospital hallway. It felt like a ghost-town in here, it was half dark and there was absolutely no one in this area of the hospital. "Seriously, it's no problem. It's way better to be safe than sorry… and I want you to tell me what's going on. Like… if you're bleeding I want to know because… well…"
He shrugs, seeming like he's trying to decide what words to say.
"Well I want to know because things are different now Case, if there's something going on with you it involves me too", He speaks seriously.
"Okay", I let out meekly, nodding up and down, letting myself smile a bit at knowing I wasn't in this alone. Because I remembered sitting on that bench in the quad a few weeks ago after throwing up in my class and realizing I could be pregnant. I had been absolutely petrified… and also pretty sure that I'd be doing a lot of this alone if the tests were positive.
"And besides", Cappie shrugs, a grin coming over his face, looking like himself again. His usual smirking expression that made me give in to him since I met him when I was 18. "The way I see it we just got an opportunity to see and hear it again and that's always fun so… I think it was worth it".
The way he's smiling and staring straight into my eyes right now makes me feel like butterflies are alive in my belly. Makes me feel giddy and happy and shy all at the same time.
"Yeah I guess you're right Cap", I grin sheepishly. "It is fun to see it again since we won't for a couple weeks at my next OB appointment".
"Exactly", Cappie nods and then we continue to walk down the hall.
As we walk to the exit of the hospital I feel Cappie's hand intertwine with mine as he walks beside me. At first it surprises me a bit and I look over to him, looking up to his face to see him smiling. Then I just go back to walking with him, feeling a sheepish grin make its way onto my face as I focus on his hand holding mine.
It was almost 5am and when we finally reach an area of the hospital where we can see out I realize that it's still fairly dark and looked like it was raining.
"Okay wait here Casey, I'll go get the car and come pick you up", Cappie tells me once we're at the revolving doors that lead out of the hospital and to the parking lot and parking garage.
"Okay thanks", I nod up and down, feeling grateful that he was here with me tonight.
He gives me one last grin, one last flash of his mischievous blue eyes, before he's out into the early morning.
I sit down in one of the chairs by the door to wait for him. I can't help but look down at my belly. Sure I didn't really look any different. But I felt different, way different than earlier this semester. Because everything had changed. Everything. I'd definitely realized that tonight more than ever. Because for the first time since I found out I was pregnant me and Cappie were actually realizing that we weren't just tolerating my pregnancy. No, we were actually sort of happy about it.
It had crept up on me so slowly that I hadn't even fully realized how much I now cared about this baby. But if tonight had showed me anything it's that I did. I really really did.
And now I knew Cappie felt the same way.
I was certainly leaving this hospital much happier than I had entered it tonight.
We stand in my room in ZBZ now, me about to get into my bed.
"You'll stay here with me right?", I look at Cappie, eyes wide as I can feel the look I'm giving right now is fully pleading him to not leave.
I didn't want to be separated from him right now. I didn't care if it made me look desperate or clingy… I just didn't want him to go, more than anything. Even though I was drunk I remember feeling like this the night we slept together on homecoming, like if he had left afterwards I literally felt like I was going to cry. Which was obviously unusual for me, since I was typically pretty independent, and it wasn't even like I lived completely on my own. But something that night… maybe finally getting to be with him in that way again, I just didn't want it to end, I wanted to hold onto it for as long as possible because I knew things would have to go back to the way they were in the morning. That it had to be a one time thing.
But obviously that night is what has led to us spending a ton more nights together, because of getting pregnant.
"Yeah for sure, I was planning to stay here just to make sure nothing bad happened, like you don't start bleeding more heavily or anything", He explains with a slight shrug. "Not that that'll happen though, don't worry. I uh… I can sleep on the windows seat bench here, or on the floor? Or even downstairs on the couch if you'd feel more comfortable with that?"
"Cap…", I giggle with a shake of my head, acting like he's being crazy… because he sort of is. But deep down I know it's just because he's unsure about what the hell is going on between us which is… fair. "Seriously? Just sleep in the bed with me okay?"
He looks over to me to meet my eyes, like he's searching through mine, like he's wondering where the hell we stand now but doesn't dare ask right now.
"Please?", I move closer to him, speaking softly, feeling like I'm sort of pleading with him as I take his one hand into both of mine and slowly pull him towards my bed.
He was wearing jeans and a leather jacket, a grey shirt underneath peeking out. His jacket had raindrops on it still from walking to get his car in the rain. His hair was a little damp too. His look was surely a stark contrast to the pink nightgown he'd watched me change into as soon as we'd gotten home from the hospital. And my hair had kept dry because he'd picked me up from the hospital pickup and dropoff area, gotten out of his car and opened the door for me to get in.
"Okay", He nods up and down and I watch a smile slowly grow on his lips, lighting up the whole expression on his face. "Sure, I'll always say yes to getting into a bed with you Case".
His face is back to his joking smirk now, something that actually soothed me right now. Merely because it was so Cappie, so familiar to me.
The two of us laugh a bit at his comment, me shaking my head at him with a playful roll of my eyes as I pull back the covers to get into my bed.
Luckily when I'd woken up spotting it hadn't really went through to my sheets much at all. I'd change them tomorrow still.
Cappie's taking his jacket off on the other side of my room as I get comfy in my bed, happy to be home.
"I can't believe we came in and didn't even wake Rebecca up", I giggle. "That girl really sleeps like the dead".
"Yeah", Cappie laughs, starting to take his jeans off now. "Well I think she'll be really happy to hear that the baby's okay when we tell her in the morning".
He grins at me as I can't help but feel my heart beat fast in my chest as he pulls his grey longsleeve shirt over his head now to leave him in just his boxers, his bare chest visible now.
"Seriously, she cares a lot more about you than you think Case", Cappie scoffs, looking at me. "More than she'd ever admit".
"I know", I smile. "I can't believe it but she's actually… one of my best friends now. And she cares about me and you… we've sort of been there for her the past two years when no one else has. You know, you sticking up for her, me threatening to leave the sorority if Tegan kicked her out back in junior year".
"Well you've been a really good big sister to her Case", Cappie smiles, setting his clothes and boots down neatly on my window seat.
This was already sort of giving me flashbacks to that night on homecoming when this whole thing had started. Except this time there would definitely be no sex… per the doctor's very awkward orders.
"You've been a good big sister to basically everyone here at ZBZ", He smiles at me genuinely as he lifts back the covers on what was now his side of the bed. "It's uh… it's how I know you'll be a really good mom Case".
"Aw…", I can't help but feel it deep down in my stomach, the sweetness of this, the butterflies flying around in my belly. "Thanks Cap".
He gets comfortable beside me, the two of us laying beside each other now.
This certainly isn't how I thought this night would end when I'd left him standing in his room at KT earlier tonight, sort of mad at him. Even though we'd had such a good day together seeing that girl he'd hooked up with sort of ruined it for me.
"I um… I know we didn't talk about it earlier because we were just worried about the baby, but I'm really sorry about earlier Cap", I look over to him, turning on my side a bit.
"Yeah… that's why I uh… didn't know whether to get in your bed with you. I just… didn't know where we stood after… earlier tonight at the party…", Cappie speaks a little awkwardly, something he usually wasn't. "I didn't know if you'd want me to".
"No", I say immediately, frowning a bit as I move closer to him to try to let him know I wasn't mad at him. "When I got home tonight, and especially after talking to Rusty and Rebecca, I realized that you didn't do anything wrong. I mean it was like… 3 years ago, when we weren't even together. And I obviously know… your past… so I shouldn't be that surprised anyway".
I explain to him as he takes this in.
"I was going to come over right away in the morning and tell you that I overreacted and try to apologize. So… I'm sorry. I think it's just…", I sigh and then pause for a moment, trying to search for the right words to say. "I think I just am hormonal right now and… and involved with you again now, not that I wasn't for the past few months in my head at least, but now we're… hanging out all the time like… like boyfriend and girlfriend, so I just got jealous because I'm a little more sensitive than usual".
I ramble out the words and then take a breath, having forgotten to breathe as I explain this to him.
"It's okay Casey, seriously", Cappie moves closer to me too, making me smile, knowing he's not mad at me. "I get it and I'm really sorry that happened last night, especially after we spent such an amazing 48 hours together. I just felt like I completely ruined everything like usual. Like I'd never be able to prove to you that I've grown up… that I can actually be a good dad for the baby and you".
He looks to me so seriously, so genuinely, right now and it reminds me how much I love this side of him. The side barely anyone got to see. Where he was totally and completely honest, honest and wise and smart. Because he was all of those things even if he often covered it up with his frat guy exterior.
"You didn't ruin anything", I say softly, giving him a slightly sad look. "I'm sorry I made you feel like that. I know that you can't change what you did 3 years ago. And… I know you wouldn't do it now… with how things are between us".
"Exactly, I would never cheat on you Case. When it happened… you had just started dating Evan and it hurt so bad, it literally made me crazy. So… I basically tried to get over it by hooking up with any girl with a pulse so… that's all I can really say to try to explain it", He sighs.
"You don't have to explain…. I know how hard it was for you sophomore year, I know how much I hurt you. And… I got to feel a taste of it last night… being really jealous. Probably because I'm kind of high strung right now with the stress of everything… and hormonal because of the baby", I scoff, feeling kind of embarrassed for admitting that.
"Mmm", Cappie starts to grin then. "I know it's probably bad but… I kind of like seeing jealous you Case".
I give him a glare then, and then laugh.
"Fine Cap… if I have to spell it out for you…", I groan. "I don't want to even think about you with other girls, okay? It… it makes me feel sick, like I want to throw up".
"And not just because of morning sickness?", Cappie jokes.
"No not just because of my morning sickness", I giggle. "I…. you're the father of my baby now Cappie, and… and you're you… and you've always felt like… mine I guess."
"Well…", Cappie smiles and gives me his usual look of mischief, pulling me over to him gently so my head is laying against his chest. "You don't have anything to worry about, seriously, you should know that one hundred percent Case. I have no reason to be with anyone else. And I know I have a tendency to…"
He trails off, searching for the right words I think.
"Have casual sex with whatever bimbo is around?", I give him a look, finishing his sentence. "Sorry, bimbos, plural version. I almost forgot there were two at once".
I give him another playful glare as I look up at him.
"Right", Cappie cringes, giving me an awkward look. "I know… I know that I have a reputation and I know that I can't change my past. But my future… my future has always lied with you".
I smile up at him now, feeling happy, happy and calm laying here with him.
"You and the baby obviously", Cappie clarifies. "Who I'm really glad we got to see again".
"Yeah even if it was a pointless 4 hour hospital visit", I laugh. "But you're right… it was worth it I guess, to hear it's heartbeat again and see it there on the screen. It made me realize that…. maybe I'm not so upset about things anymore Cap".
"Me neither", He speaks softly, squeezing me into him.
I smile against his chest as we lay here for awhile.
It was raining outside softly, dark and gloomy out there. I could hear it coming down against the roof of the ZBZ house.
"Case?"
"Yeah?", I ask, looking up now at him.
"I'm really glad that you're still pregnant", Cappie says, looking serious. "If I haven't… made that clear. I'm really happy that things turned out okay tonight".
"Me too", I can't help but grin shyly at him now, still after all this time of knowing each other able to feel a little flustered with his words to me. "Which is… crazy maybe, I don't know. But I can't help how I feel. I'm just really relieved and… happy".
"Me too", Cappie nods, smiling.
He brings his hand out then to touch against my stomach as best he can with me laying here against him.
"You should get some sleep Case", Cappie looks at me sweetly. "You need it if you're gonna keep healthy… keep both you guys healthy".
"Okay Dr. Cappie", I scoff and roll my eyes slightly, making him laugh. "You should sleep too".
He nods, grinning at me. We both get as comfy as possible, his arms still around me as we start to fall asleep together, the sounds of the rain and his breathing lulling me off into a deep sleep.
"I just can't believe that you didn't wake me up when you got home to tell me everything was okay!", Rebecca huffs angrily as me and her weave around each other in the ZBZ kitchen, her making her fancy coffee and me grabbing two plates with some of Dale's blueberry muffins.
"Well I thought you'd be mad if I did Becs!", I roll my eyes. "No offence but you're not exactly the most chill about stuff like that! I accidentally woke you up once last year and I thought you were going to kill me!"
I give her a look, hands on my hips.
"Well I wouldn't kill you now", Rebecca points out, taking a sip of her latte she always liked to make in the morning. "Not now that you're knocked up, I'm not a monster".
She gives me a joking look as I roll my eyes at her playfully.
"You guys I'm honestly thinking about moving in here", I hear Cappie's voice as he walks into the kitchen, dressed in his jeans and grey longsleeve shirt from last night. "It's clean, the washrooms don't have mould in them… or worse. Plus there's no lingering vomit smell, no guys sleeping on the porch… and… are those blueberry muffins? It's like I'm in heaven!"
Cappie grins his usual smirk at us as I giggle at him.
"Yeah well enjoy it while you can Cap", Rebecca snides at him jokingly. "Since I'm only turning a blind eye and giving you presidential pardon to be here because I feel bad for Casey and her pathetic life right now. Not to mention she told me she currently can't hookup with you anyways. So no gross pregnant girl sex next to my room, thank god".
"Rebecca!", I turn to her, annoyed. "I told you that… in confidence".
"Oh", Rebecca shrugs as if she literally couldn't care less. "Sorry".
"Well whatever the reason, thank you for letting me be here President Logan", Cappie laughs. "I'll be out of your hair soon… But maybe not without a couple of these muffins stuffed in my pockets for guys back home".
"Yeah Dale's annoying and gets too involved with thinking he's one of the sisters but…", Rebecca sighs. "He sure does know his way around the kitchen, so he's worth keeping around".
"Yeah where is Dale anyway? He's the only one of us who'd actually be able to pull together a decent Thanksgiving dinner", Cappie asks, me passing him a plate with a muffin.
"How would I know?", Rebecca shrugs. "I don't keep track of the help".
Me and Cappie look to each other then to share a look, laughing internally about Rebecca's usual... pleasant demeanour.
"Well I heard from Rusty that the two of them are pretty busy with schoolwork so Dale ended up staying here and not going home to Arkansas", I shrug, picking off bites of a muffin to eat.
"Well… there's another one of us losers who are stuck here then", Rebecca groans, putting her head back dramatically as she does.
"Hey, we're not losers", Cappie laughs.
"Yeah says the guy that has never gone home for a holiday…. ever?", Rebecca puts her hands on her hips.
"That's partially because I have no home right now Rebecca", Cappie scoffs. "My moms off on a retreat in California and my dads in Dallas… doing a 25 year old he met on Eharmony".
Cappie cringes at the thought of that.
"Not to mention both my parents typically protest Thanksgiving anyway… because they're hardcore vegetarians", Cappie shrugs, eating his blueberry muffin too.
"Wow… I just now realized that the two of you are practically homeless", Rebecca gasps jokingly, this obviously amusing as she gestures between me and Cap. "You're like one of those advertisements they used to show us in high school to scare us into not having sex… because you'd end up pregnant, broke, homeless, alone, and eventually hooked on drugs".
"Oh c'mon Rebecca", I roll my eyes at her. "We're… not homeless. And we're not completely broke or going to get addicted to drugs! Also we're not teenagers".
I put my hands on my hips as I give her a glare, knowing she's just joking around in her… own special Rebecca way.
"Well you're going to have to leave here eventually", Rebecca says. "Because we can't have a house mother who can barely tie her shoes… I mean face it, eventually you're gonna get huge Casey. And you'll have to leave Kappa Tau too if you actually manage to graduate next month Cap".
"Well for your information Rebecca…", Cappie laughs. "We're gonna look at places soon so that we can move in when we come back in the New Year".
Rebecca looks amused now, like she's going to have fun with this. She raises her eyebrows at us playfully.
"So… that means a place together or separate places?", She puts her elbows on the counter, grinning as she looks ready to hear the gossip on me and Cap.
I give her a playful roll of me eyes.
"Together Rebecca", I keep my hands on my hips. "You know since we're gonna coparent together and babies are notoriously difficult through the night so… we should be in the same vicinity at least".
I shrug like it's no big deal.
"The same vicinity… meaning in the same bed…. meaning naked in the same bed?", Rebecca grins as she pops a raspberry into her mouth.
"Rebecca… line crossed okay?", I take my own turn to groan and roll my head back dramatically now. "It's me and Cappie's business. But... it'll be separate bedrooms if you really must know".
"Yeah we're gonna look at two bedroom apartments", Cap nods.
"So you're going to deprive your newborn baby of a nursery because you can't work your issues out?", Rebecca fake frowns, playing around with us in her usual tone that I've come to know well.
"Rebecca", I groan, dragging out her name in annoyance.
Luckily my phone starts to ring, giving me an out from this conversation.
"Whoever this is thank you for saving me", I joke and pull my phone out of my back pocket, looking down to see 'Rusty' in big letters on my phone as it vibrates in my hand.
"Oh hey Rus!", I answer it happily.
"Casey, thank god, you haven't been replying to any of my texts! And then I texted Cappie to see if he was with you and he didn't reply either! I thought I better call to make sure you're not dead", Rusty scoffs.
"Nope not dead…", I laugh. "Just really tired. I'm sorry we didn't reply Rus, we had a really crazy night. I uh… ended up in the ER, it's a long story but everything's fine with me and the baby. Cappie came with me".
"Oh my god, seriously?!", Rusty immediately sounds a little panicked. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well…", I shrug. "It was like 2am and I didn't want to wake you up and I had Cappie there with me so… I didn't even tell Ash yet. I was just so freaked out I couldn't even think about telling anyone. I had… started bleeding a bit".
I explain, feeling awkward talking about this with my little brother.
"But turns out everything's fine, they did an ultrasound to make sure and she's totally fine", I smile.
"Wait... she?", Rusty continues his streak of sounding shocked.
Cappie stands in front of me, his face going confused now too, brow furrowing as he looks at me to meet my eyes.
"Oh sorry, I don't know why that just slipped out, we still don't know the gender", I shake my head. "I guess it just came out because when I think about it I just kind of picture it as a girl".
"Oh okay", Rusty nods. "Yeah I thought it was too early to find out at this point".
I can't help but smirk a little bit, thinking about how into my pregnancy Rusty actually was. He really did listen to everything I told him about it, kept track. Which showed me he really cared about this whole thing, he was pretty excited to be an uncle I think even though he knew this wasn't planned.
"Yeah it is", I nod. "But after the holidays we can find out".
"Cool well I've actually been texting you this morning because I wanted to tell you that me and Dale are making a Thanksgiving dinner tonight! And we wanted to invite you. And Cappie too of course, I've been texting him too", Rusty explains.
"Aw that's nice", I smile. "Well we'll see, we're really tired because we only slept like 3 hours and I feel pretty nauseas right now but if I feel okay I think we could definitely come over. Thanks Rus".
"Cool, I'm inviting the KT guys that are left here in Cyprus too, so they'll be there", Rusty adds.
"So I'll be the only girl?", I scoff.
"Well…", Rusty laughs. "If you're right about the baby then technically you won't be the only girl there".
"Very funny", I shake my head with a laugh. "Anyway, I'll text you Rus. See you later!"
"Okay bye, I'm really happy you guys are okay!", He sounds genuinely happy for me.
"Thanks, I am too", I sigh out, still feeling really relieved today.
"Okay bye Case!"
"Bye!"
I hang up the phone and then look to Cappie.
"So Rusty invited us to Thanksgiving dinner with him and Dale tonight", I smile.
"Oh awesome", Cappie grins.
"Great, just great. You guys are gonna go to your stupid brother and Dale's place tonight and I'm just gonna be stuck here all alone! This sucks! I was supposed to spend this weekend with Evan", Rebecca complains.
"Crap, sorry Rebecca… I'm sure they won't mind if you come with! Just come with us!", I offer.
"Uninvited?!", Rebecca acts like I've just suggested kicking a puppy. "How pathetic do you think I am?"
"Well… this is only a suggestion, but maybe if you didn't, y'know, call Rusty and Dale losers…", Cappie shrugs as his sentence trails off.
Rebecca turns to give him a full on death glare.
"I'm just saying", Cappie puts his hands up like he's under arrest as he laughs slightly.
"This is the worst Thanksgiving ever, even worse than last year!", Rebecca groans.
"Well… if it's any consolation Becs, Evan's spending it totally alone too I'm pretty sure… Ash heard that he's just holing up in his law dorm… completely alone", I tell her.
"I'm sorry but I can't really manage to feel very bad for him, I feel like… he made his bed", Cap shrugs.
"Ditto", Rebecca nods, still looking upset. "Evan Chambers will never have me again, never. If you're stupid enough to mess things up with me once, Rebecca Logan doesn't give second chances".
"Good for you, I told you last semester getting involved with him was a bad idea", Cappie nods in agreement.
"Oh c'mon guys", I offer. "It's not like me and Evan are even on speaking terms… and he did sort of cheat on me, manipulate me… then insinuate that I got into CRU Law by sleeping my way in, called me an idiot for getting pregnant…"
I trail off then as I rethink what I was even going to say in the first place.
"Yeah I don't really know where you're going with this Case", Cappie scoffs.
"Yeah I guess I don't either", I sigh. "All I'm saying is that, yes, he's a major jerk sometimes. But… I gave him a second chance and decided to be his friend and he was a decent friend until recently. And he was actually a decent boyfriend to you until recently too Becs".
"Well…", Rebecca thinks to herself and then nods, sort of agreeing I think. "We did have a really good summer together… And I did train him to do exactly what I like during sex, which is a major investment since it takes awhile if you remember Cap".
"Ew!", I complain, giving Rebecca a death glare now. "Rebecca, seriously?"
"Right sorry, it's just we've shared two guys at this point Casey, I thought we were at the point where we could talk openly about this stuff! I guess I'm still figuring out how exactly to… have girlfriends", Rebecca gives me an awkward look.
"Well rule number one would probably be not to talk about hooking up with someone's…", I look to Cappie then, the two of us making eye contact for a moment, I think him waiting for me to use some sort of word to define what he currently was to me. "Someone's father of their baby!"
I settle on that.
"Right, sorry", Rebecca nods, cringing a bit. "I won't mention it again. But… you do get what I'm talking about with Evan right? How you really have to like guide him or else he just completely-"
"Ew I don't want to hear this either!", I put my hands over my ears, laughing a bit.
"I do", Cappie smirks, throwing some berries into his mouth, this obviously completely amusing to him.
"Sorry", Rebecca purses her lips. "I didn't know Evan was off limits to talk about too".
"He's not, but I don't want to hear about your sex life!", I argue with a slight laugh.
"Okay whatever, that's usually what me and Ashleigh talk about so I'll have to just wait till she comes back", Rebecca rolls her eyes. "You know you're pretty prudish for someone who just got pregnant at 22!"
I cross my arms now as I give Rebecca a dirty look.
"Well... that was sort of my fault", Cappie puts up his hand awkwardly but Rebecca just ignores him.
"I guess I'll just stay here at ZBZ tonight… all alone… order a pizza and think of ways to get back at Evan. My current favorites are keying his stupid car since it's his only remaining nice possession… or telling everyone he gave me chlamydia", Rebecca grins evilly.
"Why not both?", Cappie grins.
I hit his arm slightly to scold him.
"Hey! For all we know he really does have chlamydia and we're just doing the women of CRU a public service", Cappie jokes.
"Exactly", Rebecca agrees.
"What about… the best revenge is to be happy?", I give Rebecca a shrug, trying to smile at her.
"Oh c'mon", Rebecca dramatically rolls her eyes at me. "Who are you, Oprah?"
Rebecca straightens out her blouse and then something seems to don on her.
"You know most girls around here Cap… you could spread the word about Evan's fake STD for me! You've probably had practice having to go around and tell girls that they may have caught something", Rebecca can't help but laugh a bit, referring to Cappie's habit of sleeping around.
"Hey I'll have you know that I have never had an STD", Cappie puts his hand up with a laugh. "Nor do I currently have one. And… it's not like I'm going to because I'm not… sleeping around now".
"Aw how sweet", Rebecca plays sarcastically. "You knocked Casey up and now suddenly you've abandoned your manwhore ways. The romcom writes itself".
"Yeah something like that", Cap scoffs.
"Becs I know you're upset because this weekend is really… depressing for you", I start. "But don't do anything you can't take back okay? Why not just take the high road and come to Thanksgiving dinner with us?"
I give her a smile, still a little unsure why I'm being so nice to her but… she did sort of grow on you over time. And technically I was her big sister even if that started out on a bad note two years ago.
"Ugh fine", Rebecca groans, rolling her eyes. "Not that they'll be any decent guys there to look at… since they're KT guys".
"Hey! I take great offence to that", Cappie laughs. "And you hooked up with Beaver last semester, he'll be there. But he is completely smitten with Katherine now so…"
"Ugh! Does everyone have to be stupidly in love?!", Rebecca throws a dish towel down onto the counter that she'd been using to obsessively scrub at the already clean countertop.
"Hey not everyone is", I offer up, feeling bad for her right now, not usually seeing her in this state. "I… I didn't realize that you really cared about Evan this much".
"I guess… I didn't completely realize it either", Rebecca sighs and then turns around to face us, seeing our surprised faces. "What?! Me having feelings isn't so insane, is it?"
She puts her hands on her hips.
"No, it's not", I say immediately, trying to keep her from freaking out at us. "You are human".
Me and Cappie laugh slightly.
"Even though he's… a little bit terrible sometimes that's kind of what I liked about him, what we have in common", Rebecca shrugs. "He was definitely my best boyfriend in terms of actually understanding me…"
"Aw, it's like The Joker and Lex Luthor finding love", Cappie puckers his lip out sarcastically.
"Well Becs, I know you're mad but… maybe you should tell him what you just told us", I shrug, giving her a smile. "I think he'd probably like to hear it".
"I don't know Casey, I'll see", she sighs. "Anyways I'm going down to the student center to donate like we did last year, it'll be pretty tiring so… I'll see if I have enough energy to still stop by Rusty and Dale's tonight".
"Tiring?", I scoff. "Rebecca last year you just wrote a cheque... Are you actually going to volunteer in the Cyprus soup kitchen this time?"
"God no", Rebecca says like it's an absolutely insane notion.
Me and Cappie can't help but look to each other, sharing a look as we stifle in laughs.
"It'll only be tiring because after delivering the cheque I'll be going to get a much needed mani pedi, so I'll be gone all afternoon", She sighs.
I watch Rebecca get her purse ready and then sling it over her shoulder.
"Well… see ya", She fixes her hair and then looks me up and down. "And if you're going to a dinner tonight you should probably wear something a little cuter than that… I mean, being pregnant is not an excuse to dress like a bag lady Casey".
"Uh…", I laugh, unable to even take Rebecca seriously or really know how to respond. "Thanks Rebecca, I'll get right on that".
"No problem", She grins at me like she's done me a favour and then moves her eyes over to look Cappie up and down. "And your clothes look like you ran over them with your car Cap".
Her face turns into a look of disgust.
"Well… I am wearing the same clothes as yesterday and I got stuck walking in the rain in them so…", Cappie starts and then seems to decide to just give in to her so she'll maybe leave. "But you're right Rebecca, I will… find new clothes for tonight".
"Good, you're welcome!", She nods with a grin, giving us a wave as she walks out of the kitchen.
"Did I thank her?", Cappie turns to whisper to me. "I'm pretty sure I didn't..."
"No but don't say anything or else she won't leave", I whisper back with a giggle.
"Right", Cappie smirks as the two of us laugh.
Once we hear the door slam we both sigh out in relief.
"Well… there's something I've actually always wanted to do in this house that I've never done Cap", I give him a smile. "And now this is going to probably be my last month or so living here I have to take advantage of being here all alone while I can".
"Well I hate to break it to you but we already did that in this house", Cappie smiles devilishly and then reaches out to let his fingers graze over my still pretty flat belly. "That's how this happened".
"No, it's more something I want to do in the bathroom upstairs, and then maybe the living room", I can't help but giggle at him.
"That would be super fun, believe me, I'm like totally and completely in for that idea… But in case you forgot we're not supposed to do anything of the naughty variety Case so-", Cappie smirks at me.
"I'm not talking about sex!", I laugh at him as I roll my eyes. "I'm talking about finally being able to take a shower for longer than ten minutes, eating Rebecca's secret stash of cheesaritos, blaring music and have a spa day while laying on the couch".
"Oh…", Cappie takes this in. "Cool, well I could definitely be up to help you take part in that".
He licks his lips as he looks me over with a smirk.
"Okay cool", I can't help but still giggle at the way he's looking at me.
"But we could totally revisit the sex on the living room couch thing right? Since we're okay now after last night?", He grins like a devil.
"Cappie!", I laugh. "By the time we can sleep together again all the girls will be back… but when we get our own place…"
I lean into him now, giving him a slightly seductive look with my eyes.
"Then we can absolutely have sex on our apartment couch", I whisper against his lips even though there's no one in this huge house right now to hear us.
"Mmm", He nods up and down, biting down on his lips. "That's definitely something to hope for".
I can't help but think about him saying that to me back in August when we'd had a real conversation for the first time in months, when he'd crawled up the trellis and into my room to apologize to me. And then when I'd told him I was staying here but that it was only a 'maybe' on us actually trying to be together again, he'd said it. That at least it was something to hope for.
Well… things had definitely changed since then.
Especially since… even if he didn't know it, even if I was just keeping it to myself for now, I really did want to try again with him. In my mind we already were.
And not just because of the baby.
Author's Note:
Stay tuned for the next chapter because Thanksgiving dinner is going to bring LOTS of fun and unexpected stuff with the characters!