Chapter Two
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Marissa
First Francis, the pregnancy test, and then Talia spilling the beans to her brothers? That was not what I wanted her to do. Especially since I slept with Francis at the party weeks ago and then with Van the night of Faith’s Bridal shower. Although, I was pretty sure Van was drunk when we skinny dipped in the hot tub. Wasn’t sure if he really knew it was me or not. He didn’t even call out my name when he climaxed! He called out babe. Babe! Like I was some random chick he just hooked up with and didn’t bother with a name.
The next time I saw Van, he didn’t act differently, so I assume that's exactly what he thought. That he had slept with someone else and not his kids sisters best friend.
And Francis was definitely aware of who I was but I ran off before we could talk. Friends for over ten years and he sleeps with me. Me! Leads me on, gets into my pants, used that awesome mouth- I shook my head. I did not need to go down memory lane with that one. It’s the reason I was in this situation in the first place! And being shocked at Thanksgiving takes the cake. My hair was different, I’d give him that, and I did run away from him after the deed was done. In fact, I had done that with both of them.
I was a whore. Lusting after three men and slumping so low to tangle in the sheets with two? My parents weren’t going to like this. The barely even tolerated what Faith was doing.
“...don’t understand why my brothers would act like that.” Talia murmured as she drove away from town and back toward our college dorm. I was supposed to stay for the rest of the holiday for Faith’s wedding, but now, I just wanted to get back. The whole fight scene hours before embarrassed me. I was sure, by now, everyone was aware... even my parents. “I mean, I get that they're like, your surrogate brothers, but to make that big of a fuss? Kind of overkill.”
When Talia was kicked to her uncles house for a mistake she made, her and I got together and signed up for college in Denton county, but I hadn’t moved up there since recently.
Denton University wasn’t anything to sneeze at but it got us out of our homes and on our way to a degree. Now I was pregnant. And I didn’t know who the father was. My life was changing and I wasn’t sure what to do. Mom and Dad would be furious.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I tensed, pulling it out. Mom flashed on the screen. Damn, she knew already. I debated on whether to answer the phone. Talia quieted and glanced over to me. “Who's calling you?” Without saying anything I showed her my phone, and then put it back down in my lap. “Oh, You gonna answer?”
I shook my head and looked out the window. “I don’t think I'm ready for that kind of confrontation right now.” I sighed, I didn't want one with Talia either. “You know my mom. We really don't get along. I'm the bad child. My sister could do no wrong. But I’m always in trouble. Been doing good for the first few years. Even got through high school and graduated. This is just another one embarrassment to add to the White family shame list. Another disappointment that they want cleaned up. Need to keep the family name all nice and sparkly.”
“So,” Talia went on. “You're not going to answer it.”
The phone quieted. “I’ll talk to them when I have this all sorted out.”
“When you have what sorted out? You’re having a baby.” she stated. “And how could you go and sleep with Francis? I mean, the guy's cute and all, but how can you think of him that way?”
A slight blush rose up my cheeks. “I always thought he was kinda cute.”
“Yeah, I can see that now that he’s older. Plus, he has his own place and a butler. Tie the knot, will ya. Get you some fancy butler to do your bidding. I could see the interest.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Vane much?” She shoved my shoulder and laughed.
“You're too kind. So what you can do about Francis? I mean, obviously he knows. And how did that happen? You’re obviously not on the pill. Why didn’t you use a condom?”
I bit my lip going back to that night. Five weeks ago? Or was it six? I shook my head. I couldn’t remember, but it was the night that Van got offered that job at some zoo in Colorado. I didn't want him to go and was upset. I never thought any of them would move so far away. That the three of them would split up. That I’d miss out trying to get Van to notice me. Francis gave me a shoulder to cry on and things went wild from there. “No,” I told Talia “Things moved so quickly, we didn’t use one.”
She spared me a glance. “I'm sure things went very quick. At least tell me how he was in the sack. Did he have a little dick?”
“No! I don’t know! I didn’t have time to stop and assess his assets. Like I said, it was quick, fast. One moment we were making out, next the deed was done.”
Now that was lie. Yeah, it was like that the first time we had done it. It was fast. The second time, he went slow and used that wonderful mouth on me. And then Van. Now that was horrible. Irresponsible of me. Terrible of me, and maybe, a part of me hoped for this outcome. That I could tether at least one of them to me and not have it all fall apart.
Maybe my mom was right. I gave a heavy sigh. I was immature, selfish, and a troublemaker.
Now, what was I going to do? I had to get it together. Come up with a plan. I had less than nine months to figure out things and... there goes my phone ringing again.
I checked it. This time was dad. No way could I talk to him about the mess I was in.
“Who is it now?” Talia questioned.
“My dad.”
“They’ll just keep calling.”
“I know.”
Talia took my hand. “Hey,” she gave it a squeeze. I looked up and she gave me a brilliant smile. “Don't worry, we'll get through this. I'll help you.”
I shook my head and withdrew my hands. “Tal, I appreciate the offer, but I don't think there is anything you can help me with. This is something that I have to figure out alone.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “You didn't leave me alone when I was going through my rough time. I'm not leaving you alone in this.”
I sighed. That's what I was afraid she was going to say. Because if this was Van's baby, then how would I explain that? And how would she react?
“Let me know when you get tired,” I told her grabbing a pillow from the back. “I’m going to rest up.”
She sighed. “Will do.”
I turned away from her, tucking my pillow against the car door and window, letting my thoughts wander. Could I still continue to go to college under the grant I had? Maybe I could speed up my courses for my associates before the baby was born. Or load up on classes in the summer. But even then, I’d be showing. Online courses next semester could be a possibility. That way I wouldn't be in the classroom and no one would see me. Still, I needed to work my job at the restaurant. Would they ask me to leave if they knew? It would be hard to navigate table with a bump. And of course, the question of who was the daddy. Logically, I slept with Van three weeks ago and with Francis five or six weeks ago? I really need to figure that out.
I could either be barely pregnant or around five weeks pregnant. Either way, it was just a cluster headache.
***
Coming 2019