The Stillburrow Crush

"Leave me alone," he said, closing his eyes. I came to stare down at him. "Did they fire you?"

"Yes!" he yelled.

"Why?"

He spit out a contemptuous laugh. "Why do you think, brat? How much brainpower does it take to come up with that 187

The Stillburrow Crush

by Linda Kage

answer? Abby's mom is John Getty's little sister. And John was my boss. Why would he keep me around after all this?" I sat down beside him. "Is she pregnant or not?" Marty opened his eyes and they once again focused on the ceiling. His jaw moved and his Adam's apple slid up and then down as he swallowed.

"I guess not," he finally said.

I lay down then, next to him, and stared up at the ceiling as well. "So it's over between you two, huh?" Marty gave another short laugh when he said, "Yeah."

"You're just going to stay in your room and get drunk, then?"

"It's the best plan I've thought up yet."

"I wouldn't take the sissy's way out if I were you," I said, propping my knees up and resting the soles of my shoes on his mattress.

Marty turned his head to glare at me. "Well, you're not me. Now get off my bed."

I didn't move except to let my knees sway back and forth.

"What happened?"

Marty sighed. "Nothing. Why'd you get suspended?"

"Because Egghead thought I told everyone in school his daughter was pregnant." Because it'd been a few hours since that actual event occurred, I was able to speak of it clearly, almost as if I was proud of the fact.

Marty's eyes narrowed on me. "Did you?" I slugged him in the arm. "No, you idiot. I did not. Why would I spread something like that? Even though I did think it 188

The Stillburrow Crush

by Linda Kage

was true until Egghead called me into his office and very distinctly clarified the facts of the situation." Marty sat up so quickly he about had me rolling off the side of the bed because of the sudden shift in weight on the mattress. He stared down at me, shocked. "He told you?" I frowned. "Told me what?"

Marty instantly looked away. "Nothing." I sat up then too. "What?"

Marty shook his head. "Never mind." He glanced at me.

"Why didn't you just tell him you didn't start the rumors?" My jaw dropped. "I did! The man wouldn't listen to a word I said. Let me tell you, he was mad!"

"So?" Marty set his feet on the floor and stared at the wall in front of him.

"So," I repeated. I frowned as I watched Marty hold his stomach and start to rock back and forth. Then I shook my head and tried to continue with my story. "So he was mad enough to charge at me."

"He what?" Marty looked at me sharply.

"He told me to get out of his office, but I was trying to explain my i

"That son of a..." Marty surged to his feet and started toward the door, swaying as he went.

I ran after him and grabbed his arm. I had to dig my feet into the floor to stop him. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going to kill him."

"Marty!"

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The Stillburrow Crush

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His hand was on the doorknob and he yanked it open. I kicked the door shut with my foot and jumped in front of it, blocking his path. My brother had murder in his eyes. I'd never seen him like this before. It scared me.

"Stop it," I said. "What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?" He pointed a finger at his chest and stared at me like he couldn't believe I didn't understand.

"That man took away the only girl I ever cared about. He got me fired from my job. He killed my baby. And now he's threatening my sister. How much more do you expect me to take?"

I gasped. The news knocked the breath out of me. If I hadn't been leaning against the door, I would have had to grab it for support. Suddenly, I felt lightheaded. I guess Marty was dizzy too, because he wilted right there onto the floor in front of me and cradled his face in his hands. I moved my hand over my stomach where my guts were twisting into knots. "What are you talking about, Marty?" His speech was muffled in his hands as he moaned the words but I heard him clearly. "She was pregnant," he said. "I swear to God she was pregnant."

My knees gave out then. I knelt down in front of him and touched his shoulder. "You're not saying what I think you're saying, are you?"

He looked up at me and his eyes were rimmed in red. He sniffed. "I saw the two lines on the test. I...saw...them." He took my hands and squeezed. "There was a baby, Carrie. Two lines meant she was pregnant."

I shook my head.

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But Marty nodded. "I went to her house right after I told Mom and Dad. She said her dad wanted to take her to a doctor in Paulbrook the next morning, to make sure it was true. But we'd already taken one of those home pregnancy things. We already knew she was pregnant." He blew out a shaky breath. "I said OK, though, and I left her alone. I saw her and her dad leave the next morning when they drove by the house. It was nighttime before they got back." He swallowed and for a moment he couldn't talk. I couldn't believe him. It just wasn't something that happened to someone from Stillburrow. I mean, Mr. and Mrs. Eggrow dedicated their lives to children. Why would they...I shook my head. It wasn't possible.

Marty wiped at his eyes. "When I went to see her that night, she said there wasn't a baby after all and we should call things off." He rocked back and forth, staring at something on the wall. "About as soon as I got home, John called. He told me not to bother coming into work the next morning."

My brother winced as if he was going through the whole experience all over again. His shoulders shook and I did the only thing I could think to do. I hugged him. He buried his face in my shoulder and let loose. His sobs racked through both of us.

"I loved her," he said. "I really did. I thought we were going to get married and buy a house across from the park. I thought we were going to have a family. And I could start up my own business. Just like Dad."

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And Abby would've been perfectly miserable, just like Mom. She'd pretend she had this perfect life and this happy little family, when all she wanted was something better.

"They didn't even ask me," he said. I shook my head. "Maybe there never was a baby."

"There was."

"There wasn't," I snapped. "Marty look at me." I waited until he lifted his head. He puffed out a breath and then set his jaw. "It was all a mistake," I told him. "That first test was a dud. There was never a baby."

He wouldn't say it. He swallowed again and looked like he was about to burst. I grasped his hand. "Say it, please. It doesn't matter what really happened. If you're right, then it's already too late. There's nothing you can do about it. And if you're wrong, then you're lying about her, and Principal Eggrow will accuse you of defamation too, except you won't get a suspension but jail time. So tell me there never was a baby. You have to believe this, OK?"

Marty rested his cheek against the wall and closed his eyes. "There was never a baby," he whispered. A tear trickled down his cheek and it was the last that fell. He opened his eyes and sat up, letting out a shaky breath. "I must've been mistaken."