More Than This

He wraps me in his arms and leads me outside, whispering comforting words.

He opens the door of his car for me and I get in.

Once he’s settled in the drivers seat, he puts the key in the ignition, but doesn’t make a move to start it.

Moments of silence pass.

Then he faces me, “You’re pregnant?”

“I don’t know.” It’s barely a whisper.

“So you haven’t taken the test yet?”

“No.” I start to cry. “Please, Logan. You can’t tell anybody about this. No one. Especially Jake, please.”

“Mikayla, I wouldn’t. It’s not my story to tell.” He tries to smile but it doesn’t follow through.

The car is quiet apart from my sobs.

“My dad’s a doctor, I can take you to him, just to be sure. It’s all confidential. It’s the law or some shit. No-one will know. I promise”

I nod my head once and look out the window, as he starts the car and reverses out of the spot.

***

I didn’t even think about it, not for a second. Until we were at the pharmacy yesterday and Julie was asking me about the different tampon options. How could I be so stupid? I was two weeks late and I didn’t even notice. James and I were actively active the weeks leading up to ‘prom night’. I was on the pill and I was meticulous about it. Nothing scared me more than the thought of being a teen mom. The pill is only 99% accurate. Fuck. What the fuck am I going to do.

***

Dr. Matthews is the complete opposite of Logan. He’s gentle and soft spoken, with a tiny build, slight combover and glasses.

Apparently he’s heard from Logan about the situation with my family, I see the sympathy in his eyes, and I know it’s genuine.

One urine sample and a few tests later, and I’m actually able to breath again.

They took a blood test just to triple check, but all signs point to negative.

Apparently, my body just kind of flaked out on me.

Dr. Matthews says skipping cycles or being late is common when the body is under a lot of stress or trauma.

Thank. Fuck.

Once I’ve thanked Dr. Matthews, we get back in Logan's car. It’s then I realize how long I’ve been gone and I need to pick up Julie from her friends house. Her friend is on the other side of town from where I left the car so Logan offers to pick her up, then drive back to collect Mandy’s car.

“Thanks so much for this, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. I would normally have Megan in times like this. It’s just…” I trail off.

“You spoken to her yet?”

“Nope, not a single word.”

***

Turns out Logan's house is around the corner from Julie's friend, so he’s going to stop by to pick up his gear. He has plans to meet Jake at the cages soon.

“Hey Julie?” Logan says, eyeing her through the rear view mirror of his Mercedes convertible, top down. “Knock Knock?”

Julie giggles. “Who’s there?”

“Wooden”

“Wooden who?”

“Wooden you like to know”

Julie cracks up. It’s one of those jokes that’s so dumb it’s hilarious. Like, ‘why did the kid fall off the swing? Because he had no arms!’

We’re all laughing like idiots when we pull into Logan's driveway, a familiar truck is already there.

I look to Logan wide eyed.

His hands go up in surrender. “I didn’t say a word. Swear it.”

We look to the truck and see Jake step out.

His fists balled at his side.

Jaw tense.

Eyes filled with rage.

He’s pissed.

Beyond pissed.

“You girls stay here, okay?” Logan says, before hopping out of the car.

***

*Jake*

I’m sitting in my truck about to text Kayla to meet me at the cages, I miss the shit out of her.

I hear a car pull up and people laughing, I turn to look and see Logan, Kayla and Julie.

What in the actual fuck.

I hop out of the truck, and it takes everything I have to not run up to this asshole and punch him. I could give a shit about my hand. It’s the last fucking thing I care about.

Logan’s walking closer to me, hands up in surrender. “What ever the fuck you’re thinking right now, Quit. It’s not what you think, not even fucking close.”

“Then fucking start talking, asshole.” I shove him hard on the chest and he falls back a few steps.

I hear Julie squeal in the car, but I don’t give a shit.

“Explain to me why the fuck you’re playing family with my girl and my sister?”

“I can’t,” he says, shaking his head and looking down.

“What the fuck do you mean you can’t?” I’m in his face now, bending down so he’ll look me in the eye when he tells me he’s been screwing the girl I’m in love with.

In love with. Shit.

“I can’t dude, it’s not for me to say.”

“What the fuck does that even mean?”

I push him again, harder this time.

“Quit fucking pushing me asshole! I’m two seconds from pushing the fuck back.”

Rage consumes me. I’m so fucking pissed I don’t even know what to think. How the fuck can they do this to me? And around Julie?

“Julie, wait!” I hear Kayla yell, and see Julie ru

“Get in the fucking truck, NOW!” I yell at them.

Julie sobs harder. Kayla carries her over to the truck.

“Quit yelling at her, she’s scared.” Kayla yells back.

“I don’t give a shit, just get her in the goddamn truck!” I scream at them.

“NO!” Julie squeals. “I don’t want to go anywhere with you, you’re an asshole.”

She’s never spoken to me like this before, but I’ve never acted this way in front of her. In fact, I’ve never acted this way at all.

I breath in and out a few times, eyes closed, trying to calm down. When I open them, I see Kayla crying, holding Julie in her arms, whispering soothing words in her ear.

“I’m sorry, Ju-ju. Just please get in the truck.”

“We get it, we’re going,” Kayla says.

She looks to Logan for a second and tries to convey a message through her eyes.

What the fuck ever.

I’m done with this shit.

Chapter 26

*Jake*

Julie cries the whole way home, it’s the only sound in the truck the entire ride.

When we get home, Kayla has to carry Julie into the house and up to her room.

I go to my room and slam the door shut. It slams so hard, frames in the hallway fall and hit the floor.

I hear Mom at the bottom of the stairs, “What the hell…?”

Minutes pass before my bedroom door opens, something flies in the air and hits me square in the head. I pick it up. It’s Kayla’s phone.

I look up at her. “You better call your best friend and apologize for being an asshole, then you better go see Julie and start making it up to her big time because that little girl is a mess, and you’re the asshole that did that to her.”

She’s fuming. I’ve never seen her this angry, not even when she caught James and Megan. Fuck.