Just as I'm shutting the car door I spot my dad's car rounding the corner. "Oh, shit." Liz looks quickly at me.
"What?" The windows aren't tinted. If he gets close enough he'll be sure to spot me.
"Uh, nothing, just drive." She looks in the direction I am and it clicks. She starts the car and drives down the street like someone just driving through. I sink down in my seat a little as we pass by my dad's car. I look in my mirror to see him pull into the driveway. Almost ten minutes go by before either of us say anything.
"So, here's how I've got this worked out. The school is going to pay for a hotel room for you until you're of legal age to leave the state. This didn't come easy, Gemma. They do not approve of you running away, but I convinced them that if you'd stayed at home, you wouldn't be able to be a part of the program." I nod.
"Thank you, for whatever you said to get them to do this." She nods like it was no big deal. "I'm curious.." She glances over at me, telling me to continue. "How do you know I'm telepathic?" She smiles a little shyly.
"Actually, your friend Jarrod." My eyebrows shoot up.
"What?"
"He, uh, found the program and contacted us. Told us what you can do. We were skeptical at first, since what you can do doesn't follow the normal telepathy pattern, but decided it was worth a shot at finding out more. After all, why would he expose you, and himself, if it wasn't true?" She glances over at me and I look out my window. Jarrod? That can't be true. He wouldn't betray me like that. But.. he had been all for me trying the school out. He doesn't normally cheer for something like that, especially when he knows so little about it. Hang on..
"What do you mean, what I do doesn't follow the normal pattern?" Liz glances at the dash. It's almost 1 PM.
"I'd love to explain it all now, but we simply don't have the time. I promise, though, that I'll answer any and all questions you have after my meeting. Right now I really only have time to get you a hotel room." I nod. That was fine. That'll give me time to research this so called "program" a little more. As much as an out as this was, I wasn't about to jump two feet first into this from the little information I'd been given by a woman I don't know.
A few minutes later she pulls into the parking lot of the hotel. I was kind of disappointed we weren't leaving the city, but hey, if they wanna pay for one of the more expensive hotels, I'm not complaining. This will also give me a chance to talk to Jarrod face-to-face before I leave. I still can't really believe he'd do something like that, but I guess I'll find out.
I follow Liz into the hotel lobby, where she books me a room right down the hall from her own. She collects the key card and hotel information packet and leads me up to the third floor, room 303. I toss my bag on the bed and sit heavily beside it while looking around. It's simple enough. One queen sized bed, a desk with a lamp on it, t.v, closet, bathroom, bedside table also with a lamp, and a mini fridge.
"So this will be your room for the next couple weeks. Until your birthday, anyway. You can leave, but that's at your own risk. Same goes for friends coming here. I expect you'll want to talk to Jarrod. That's fine, so long as you don't give him the room telephone number."
"I've got a cell." She nods and looks around.
"I guess that's it. I wish I could stay and help you settle in, but you probably just want to be alone. I'll call you when the meeting is over so don't stray too far if you leave." I nod.
"Fine with me. I'll probably just hang out and watch t.v. Am I allowed to order room service?" Liz smiles and she readjusts her purse.
"Sure, but don't overdo it. I'll bring back something to eat, since it'll be coming to supper by that time." I nod again and make a show of laying back on the bed and picking up the remote. She shakes her head, looking amused, and shuts the door behind her as she leaves.
As soon as she's gone I toss the remote aside and dig my cell from my pocket. Time to check my texts. Five of them are from Jarrod, two from another friend at school, two from my mom, and one from my dad. I sigh and start with the ones from Becca.
where r u? every1s freakin out. txt bck.
wtf is goin on gem? txt me ASAP!
I decide to read Jarrod's before replying to her.
Do you know what's going on yet?
You're probably not awake yet are you?
Text me as soon as you can okay? Your parents are at the school freaking everyone out.
Garden Hose brought me in for questioning. How detective does that sound? Anyway, I cracked. I told them you spent the night at my house and have no idea where you are. I'm sorry.
Gemma text me back asap. My parents are flipping out.
I sigh. Poor Jarrod. I hadn't meant to bring him into this. I read on to the ones from my mom.
Gemma, please, your dad didn't mean whatever he said. You know how he gets. Come home and we'll fix this okay?
Sophie keeps asking for you. She wants to know when you're coming home.
That one pulls a bit. I feel bad for leaving Sophie with my parents. I brace myself and open the one from my dad. The one I'd received last night.
If I don't hear back from you within 12 hours I'm freezing your account, cutting off your phone, and notifying the police and the school. Everyone will be searching for you and I'll be damned if you leave this city.
I snort. Well, news to him, I already took everything out of my savings and my cell phone is under my name, so he can't close it if he tries. The police are going to be a problem though. I'll just have to hole up here until my birthday. I open a new text window and send the following text to Jarrod;
We have some talking to do.
08 August 2011
Someone Else's Happy Ending, Chapter 1
Wednesday July 23rd [10 w 2 d]
I shake my head, refusing to believe what I'm seeing. This is not acceptable. I'm way, way...way to young for this. I stare down at the little white stick, looking at the small pink +. I grab my cell and dial Phoebe's number, my best friend from the age of 4. Pick up, pick up, pick up... "Hello?"
"Phoebe! I need to talk to you. Can you come over?" I hear muffled conversation through the line.
"Sure, I can be right over. Are you okay?" I feel the tears start to spill over.
"No, I don't know. Please, just get here."
"Okay honey, Gabe's coming with me. I'll be there as soon as I can." I hang up without saying goodbye, tossing the phone on my bed. I can't sit still so I pace around my room. I can't believe this. This can't be happening. Why didn't he use a condom? I'm going to kill him. He's dead. Oh my God, I'm too young for this. I'm really going to kill him.
My thoughts are interrupted by a presence at the door. "Nathan! How many times have I told you to stop creeping up on me like that?" My oldest brother shrugs.
"Sorry, Bell." As he gets a good look at me concerns flutters through his face. "You okay? You look like you're gonna be sick." I laugh in my head. If only you knew.
"No, I'm fine. I'm just waiting for Phoeb's to get here." He looks skeptical but doesn't push the subject.
"Oh my God, Bell! Where are you!" I hear the front door slam shut and Phoebe bound up the stairs. Nate gets out of the way just in time as she bursts in and shuts the door behind her. "Spill. You sounded so pathetic on the phone."
"Where's Gabe?" She waves her hand absently.
"I left him downstairs with your brothers. You're avoiding me. You called me for a reason. What's going on?" I smile inwardly, knowing I called the right person. Tears threatening to start falling, I simply point to my bed side table. She walks over to it and picks up the white stick, confusion and then realization crossing her features. She walks over to me and takes me in her arms. My tears finally fall as she gives me a comforting hug.
"What am I going to do!" It comes out completely inaudible because I'm crying too hard.
"Shhh...don't worry, honey. We'll figure this out. Do you know how far along you are?" I shake my head. That hadn't actually even come to mind. "Okay, don't you worry! We'll call someone, we'll do something. We'll figure this out!" There's a quiet knock at the door and Gabe's voice floats through.
"Hey girls, am I allowed in?" Phoebe looks at me and I nod slowly.
"Just, um, let me wash up." She hands me the stick she'd been holding. I look at it with distaste and drop it in the wastebasket as I walk by. I shut the bathroom door behind me and turn on the tap. I can hear Phoebe talking to Gabe through the closed door. No doubt she's filling him in. I splash water on my face and take a look at myself in the mirror. God, I look terrible.
"Hey, you okay in there?" I quickly turn off the water and dry off my face, opening the door to see a worried Phoebe.
"Yeah, I'm okay." She clicks her tongue. She only does that when she knows someone is lying. "Okay, so I'm not as okay as I say I am."
"We're here for you, sweetie. We'll get through this." I look over at Gabe sitting on my bed and he nods. He and Phoeb's met five years ago when he moved into town. Both of them were lonely, what with me being away at Hogwarts and him not knowing anyone, so they became friends out of need. They started dating two years ago and have been going strong ever since. I'm jealous, but no one knows it. "Hey, are you listening?" I snap back to see both of them staring at me.
"No, what?"
"I was just asking you when your last period was?" I glance at Gabe, who looks very uncomfortable. I don't blame him. I don't wanna talk about it and it's my period.
"I don't know, I don't remember." Just then my mom pokes her head in my room.
"Oh hey guys, you staying for supper?"
"I was actually thinking of staying at Phoeb's house tonight." Phoebe nods and my mom smiles.
"Don't stay up too late. Bell you've been so tired lately. I hope you're not sick." I smile thinly.
"Naw, just studying for the new year, you know." She smiles as if my answer solves everything. I catch myself thinking 'If only you knew' for the second time today.
"Okay, you girls have fun. Bell, remember you've got a dentist appointment tomorrow at 12." I nod, although I completely forgot. I make a mental note to write things down more often. She pops back out and shuts the door behind her. Phoebe suddenly springs to life, jumping around my room.
"Oh God Bell. What are you gonna tell your mom? What are you gonna tell your brothers?"
"Bee, I don't think you freaking out is helping her any." Thank you, Gabe.
"You're right. You're totally right. Oh my God. Okay, pull yourself together! We're going to go to my house and call the clinic that's across town." She starts going through my dresser, throwing things on to my bed or putting them back in the drawers. She fidgets and talks to herself when she's nervous. I don't know how Gabe can stand her when she gets like this.
After she packs me up for what looks like a month, we head to her house. I'm glad she only lives three blocks over. I can feel my energy draining quickly. I make another mental note to invest in a motorized scooter.
"Okay, so Bell? You listening? I'm gonna look up the number and we'll call right away. I can talk to them if you want. You can just sit there and you won't have to do a thing." I zone her out as she rambles on and on. We finally get to her house and she recruits Gabe to haul my luggage down to the basement. It was converted into her room a couple years ago when her parents announced they were having another baby. She'd been the only child for 14 years so it came as a big shock to everyone.
"Anyone home?" Nothing. "Perfect. Where's the phone book.." She looks around for the phone book as I flop down on the living room couch. Her endless energy is exhausting. "Oh! Found it!" She plops down at my feet with the heavy book and her cell. She dials and is put on hold for 10 minutes. 'This is ridiculous! When are they going to - Hello! Yes, I'm fine thanks. Yes, I need to schedule a pregnancy test. As soon as possible, if you don't mind. No. I got a positive this morning on a home test. I have no idea when it was. Uh huh." She cups the receiver with her hand. "All they've got is tomorrow morning at 9 and then they're booked for two weeks." I groan but nod. Yuck, 9 AM. "Sure, that's fine. Annabel Leed. September 1st. 16. Yep, you too. Bye now." She snaps her cell shut and drops it on her lap. "People!"
"Well hun, I've got to go. My sister's soccer practise starts in an hour and I'm supposed to driver her."
"Okay, I'll call you tomorrow." Gabe gives her a kiss then leaves the room, shutting the front door behind him. Phoebe looks at me, concern showing on her face.
"I'll be fine. Let's see what they have to say tomorrow." Phoebe shrugs and shakes her head, giving my leg a pat. Yep, we'll see tomorrow..
I shake my head, refusing to believe what I'm seeing. This is not acceptable. I'm way, way...way to young for this. I stare down at the little white stick, looking at the small pink +. I grab my cell and dial Phoebe's number, my best friend from the age of 4. Pick up, pick up, pick up... "Hello?"
"Phoebe! I need to talk to you. Can you come over?" I hear muffled conversation through the line.
"Sure, I can be right over. Are you okay?" I feel the tears start to spill over.
"No, I don't know. Please, just get here."
"Okay honey, Gabe's coming with me. I'll be there as soon as I can." I hang up without saying goodbye, tossing the phone on my bed. I can't sit still so I pace around my room. I can't believe this. This can't be happening. Why didn't he use a condom? I'm going to kill him. He's dead. Oh my God, I'm too young for this. I'm really going to kill him.
My thoughts are interrupted by a presence at the door. "Nathan! How many times have I told you to stop creeping up on me like that?" My oldest brother shrugs.
"Sorry, Bell." As he gets a good look at me concerns flutters through his face. "You okay? You look like you're gonna be sick." I laugh in my head. If only you knew.
"No, I'm fine. I'm just waiting for Phoeb's to get here." He looks skeptical but doesn't push the subject.
"Oh my God, Bell! Where are you!" I hear the front door slam shut and Phoebe bound up the stairs. Nate gets out of the way just in time as she bursts in and shuts the door behind her. "Spill. You sounded so pathetic on the phone."
"Where's Gabe?" She waves her hand absently.
"I left him downstairs with your brothers. You're avoiding me. You called me for a reason. What's going on?" I smile inwardly, knowing I called the right person. Tears threatening to start falling, I simply point to my bed side table. She walks over to it and picks up the white stick, confusion and then realization crossing her features. She walks over to me and takes me in her arms. My tears finally fall as she gives me a comforting hug.
"What am I going to do!" It comes out completely inaudible because I'm crying too hard.
"Shhh...don't worry, honey. We'll figure this out. Do you know how far along you are?" I shake my head. That hadn't actually even come to mind. "Okay, don't you worry! We'll call someone, we'll do something. We'll figure this out!" There's a quiet knock at the door and Gabe's voice floats through.
"Hey girls, am I allowed in?" Phoebe looks at me and I nod slowly.
"Just, um, let me wash up." She hands me the stick she'd been holding. I look at it with distaste and drop it in the wastebasket as I walk by. I shut the bathroom door behind me and turn on the tap. I can hear Phoebe talking to Gabe through the closed door. No doubt she's filling him in. I splash water on my face and take a look at myself in the mirror. God, I look terrible.
"Hey, you okay in there?" I quickly turn off the water and dry off my face, opening the door to see a worried Phoebe.
"Yeah, I'm okay." She clicks her tongue. She only does that when she knows someone is lying. "Okay, so I'm not as okay as I say I am."
"We're here for you, sweetie. We'll get through this." I look over at Gabe sitting on my bed and he nods. He and Phoeb's met five years ago when he moved into town. Both of them were lonely, what with me being away at Hogwarts and him not knowing anyone, so they became friends out of need. They started dating two years ago and have been going strong ever since. I'm jealous, but no one knows it. "Hey, are you listening?" I snap back to see both of them staring at me.
"No, what?"
"I was just asking you when your last period was?" I glance at Gabe, who looks very uncomfortable. I don't blame him. I don't wanna talk about it and it's my period.
"I don't know, I don't remember." Just then my mom pokes her head in my room.
"Oh hey guys, you staying for supper?"
"I was actually thinking of staying at Phoeb's house tonight." Phoebe nods and my mom smiles.
"Don't stay up too late. Bell you've been so tired lately. I hope you're not sick." I smile thinly.
"Naw, just studying for the new year, you know." She smiles as if my answer solves everything. I catch myself thinking 'If only you knew' for the second time today.
"Okay, you girls have fun. Bell, remember you've got a dentist appointment tomorrow at 12." I nod, although I completely forgot. I make a mental note to write things down more often. She pops back out and shuts the door behind her. Phoebe suddenly springs to life, jumping around my room.
"Oh God Bell. What are you gonna tell your mom? What are you gonna tell your brothers?"
"Bee, I don't think you freaking out is helping her any." Thank you, Gabe.
"You're right. You're totally right. Oh my God. Okay, pull yourself together! We're going to go to my house and call the clinic that's across town." She starts going through my dresser, throwing things on to my bed or putting them back in the drawers. She fidgets and talks to herself when she's nervous. I don't know how Gabe can stand her when she gets like this.
After she packs me up for what looks like a month, we head to her house. I'm glad she only lives three blocks over. I can feel my energy draining quickly. I make another mental note to invest in a motorized scooter.
"Okay, so Bell? You listening? I'm gonna look up the number and we'll call right away. I can talk to them if you want. You can just sit there and you won't have to do a thing." I zone her out as she rambles on and on. We finally get to her house and she recruits Gabe to haul my luggage down to the basement. It was converted into her room a couple years ago when her parents announced they were having another baby. She'd been the only child for 14 years so it came as a big shock to everyone.
"Anyone home?" Nothing. "Perfect. Where's the phone book.." She looks around for the phone book as I flop down on the living room couch. Her endless energy is exhausting. "Oh! Found it!" She plops down at my feet with the heavy book and her cell. She dials and is put on hold for 10 minutes. 'This is ridiculous! When are they going to - Hello! Yes, I'm fine thanks. Yes, I need to schedule a pregnancy test. As soon as possible, if you don't mind. No. I got a positive this morning on a home test. I have no idea when it was. Uh huh." She cups the receiver with her hand. "All they've got is tomorrow morning at 9 and then they're booked for two weeks." I groan but nod. Yuck, 9 AM. "Sure, that's fine. Annabel Leed. September 1st. 16. Yep, you too. Bye now." She snaps her cell shut and drops it on her lap. "People!"
"Well hun, I've got to go. My sister's soccer practise starts in an hour and I'm supposed to driver her."
"Okay, I'll call you tomorrow." Gabe gives her a kiss then leaves the room, shutting the front door behind him. Phoebe looks at me, concern showing on her face.
"I'll be fine. Let's see what they have to say tomorrow." Phoebe shrugs and shakes her head, giving my leg a pat. Yep, we'll see tomorrow..
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