03 September 2011

Someone Else's Happy Ending, Chapter 6

Thursday September 4th [16 w 3 d]

I bolt up awake in bed, running to the bathroom so I don't throw up on the floor. I kneel on the floor and my stomach empties in the toilet. Much to my displeasure, I spend the entire morning in the bathroom. As soon as I think I'm well enough to get up another wave of nausea hits me and I throw up again. I get a fellow Ravenclaw girl to tell Draco at breakfast that I won't make it to meet him at lunch.

Sometime later I stagger to bed and lay down, wishing I could just die and get it over with. "Hey Annabel?" A girl taps on the door and pops her head in.

"Uh huh?"

"Draco Malfoy followed some of us back to the common room and won't go away until he sees you. We keep telling him he can't get up here, but he won't go away. Do you think you're well enough to go see him?" I groan and suppress some choice words about Draco Malfoy.

"Yeah, tell him I'll be down there in a few minutes." I groan again and sit slowly, not wanting to throw up again. I've done enough of that this morning. I stand up and hold onto the bedpost to steady myself. When I think I'm good enough to walk I slowly shuffle my feet to the door. I find my way down the stairs to see a group of girls crowded around the common room door. I see a blond head in the midst of them, all telling them to get out of the way. When Draco sees me almost crawling my way to a couch he bursts through them and comes to sit beside me.

"Bell! There you are! None of these people would let me see you." I sit on one of the couches and close my eyes.

"Draco, you know you can't come up the girls stairs anyway."

"Doesn't mean I wouldn't try. Do you think you could make it to the hospital wing?"

"Ugh, no. I don't wanna go anywhere, I just wanna die." I hear him snort.

"Nope, you're not allowed. Come on, I'll carry you there." Hearing this, I open one eye and give him a look.

"I'm a cow. You won't be able to carry me." He ignores my comment and kneels in front of the couch, telling me to get on his back. "A piggy back ride?"

"Sure. How else are you supposed to get there?" I sigh and do as he says, holding on tight as he stands up.

"Whoa, I'm dizzy, hold on. Okay.. you can go." We pass the girls still standing in the doorway and he heads up to the hospital wing. I have to admit, this was a great idea. It would have taken me weeks to get up there on my own. "What time is it?"

"Lunch ended about half an hour ago. You see how long I was waiting to see you! First they said you were sleeping. Then they kept telling me even if you were awake I can't come in." I chuckle, which hurts my stomach.

"Sorry, but you know it's all true." He shakes his head.

"Here we are." He opens the door and walks us in, setting me on a bed close to Madame Promfrey's office. She steps out as Draco sits himself by my feet.

"What seems to be the problem here?"

"I'm pregnant." She casts a quick look at Draco and I almost laugh.

"How far along are you, dear?"

"Just over 16 weeks." She clucks her tongue.

"And you haven't been to see me yet?"

"I was going to come earlier but I've been throwing up all morning. Draco carried me here from my common room." He nods as she looks at him.

"I can give you a potion to help with morning sickness but there's not too much else I can do for you."

"Well, I was wondering if you could tell me what sex the baby is? Or if you could do an ultrasound?" I think for a second. "Are they called ultrasounds here?"

"Oh, of course, dear!" She looks at Draco, clearing wanting to ask if he's the father. I smile and nudge his arm with my foot.

"He can stay, I don't mind." She pulls out a chair for Draco to sit on then pulls a white curtain around the bed. She stands beside me and taps my stomach, muttering some spells I don't understand. A grey screen is projected onto the white curtain. She moves the tip of her wand around.

"Your baby is growing along quite nicely. Moving lots. It's common to start feeling some movement around your 24th week. Would you like to hear the heartbeat?"

"You can do that?" She nods. "Yes, I'd like that very much." She taps my stomach again, muttering another spell. I can't explain how it felt to hear that little heartbeat.

"Very nice. Sounds nice and strong. Would you like to know the gender, dear?" I nod again. She moves her wand around my stomach until she's satisfied. "Well, you know it's never 100% certain until the baby is born, of course. But from what I can tell, you're going to have a little girl." I nod, something I hadn't known I was thinking being suddenly confirmed.

"Thank you, Madame Promfrey. This is wonderful." She only smiles.

"I'll leave you alone to watch, if you like. Let me know when you're done and I'll give you that morning sickness potion." I nod, my eyes not leaving the projection.

"Draco, can you believe that." It comes out as a whisper.

"She looks like you." I laugh, taking his hand and squeezing it. "Richards is a twit." I shake my head.

"Let's not talk about him right now." We sit and watch her move around in my belly. After some time Madame Promfrey comes back with the potion. She stops the projection and I drink it. It tastes horrible but I feel much better. Well enough to go down to dinner.

"That should do you for tomorrow morning. Come back tomorrow and I'll have another potion ready for you. Take it in the morning with your breakfast and you should be fine for the day." I ask her a few more questions and then leave the hospital wing. I decide to skip dinner, instead going to my common room. Draco asks to come with me but I tell him no and I'll see him tomorrow.

I walk through the common room, ignoring questions from my classmates, going right up to bed. Maybe this is gonna turn out all right after all.

Mind Over Matter, Chapter 10

"Happy birthday!"

"Awe, thanks guys."

"How does it feel, being a responsible adult now?" I raise an eyebrow at Becca.

"Who said I'm responsible?" She grins and gives me a hug. I glance over at Jarrod, who's sitting on my hotel bed, sulking. I don't know exactly what happened. Things were fine until they weren't. I have no clue what he's thinking and he hasn't been around long enough for me to jump in his head. Today is the first day he's came by in 3 days. Luckily, Becca's been by whenever she's been able to, or I'd have certainly gone crazy.

"I have something for you, Gemma." I look over at Liz. She's holding an envelope. "It's not much, but it's your birthday." I take it from her and slide my finger along the seal. Out comes a one way ticket to North Carolina.

"Nothing? Are you kidding me? This is what I've been waiting two weeks for! Thank you, Liz!" She smiles.

"I was hoping you'd like it."

"Like, ha." I look more closely at the ticket and my grin fades. "I don't leave for another 3 days?" Liz' smile also fades a little.

"Actually, that's something I was hoping to talk to you about, but it's kind of private, so it can wait until after." I raise an eyebrow but don't prod further. Becca looks at her watch and frowns.

"Shit, I've gotta go, actually. Sorry."

"Naw, it's okay. I'm actually kinda tired anyway." Bec hugs me, gives me an envelope and leaves. Jarrod gets up from his place on my bed.

"I should go too. I've got a test to study for." I don't say anything. Two can play at that game. He grabs his jacket. "Guess I'll see you around."

"Guess so." He shakes his head and leaves the hotel room. I sigh and sit down, opening Becca's envelope. I count three times to make sure it's right. "There's over $300 in here." Liz's eyes open wide. "Hey Gem. Sorry, it's not much, but it's not everyday your best friend turns 18. Have fun in North Carolina and please stay in touch! Don't do anything I wouldn't do! Love you girl. Bec." I look up at Liz and shake my head. Only Becca would give someone $300 and call it nothing. "So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" She sits on the only chair in the room and leans forward on her elbows.

"Have you heard of Jackson Forte?"

"Sure, he's been on the new a couple times. What about him?"

"Well, police caught him in Colorado and it's been discovered that he has an ability."

"So.. He's going to the school, too?" Liz shifts in her chair. I know enough about her to know that she's uncomfortable.

"That's up to you." I just stare at her.

"Why?"

"Because.. Well.. I don't know how else to say it other than simply; He's been asking for you." I'm kind of dumbstruck.

"What?"

"We don't know. The only thing he'll say is "I want to meet Gemma Slate. Until that happens, you guys get nothing". Well, not exactly like that, but you know."

"But.. Why me?"

"I don't know. Do you know him?" I shake my head. I think of the pictures I'd seen on the news.

"No. I think I would have recognized him."

"The next step is up to you. If you don't mind meeting him, that can be set up. He'll be secured and there will be guards if anything happens."

"But why is this all up to me?"

"You've heard the stories about him, right?" I nod. I hadn't listened in much detail to the stories about him, but I do know that he's killed two people and is on the run. Was, since they caught him. "If he wasn't asking for you, you both could live at the school with very little problems. But, since he's asking specifically for you, and given his record, it's up to you whether or not you want him there. We don't know why or how he knows of you, only that he does, and we don't want to put you in danger." I nod.

"This is all kind of overwhelming, I guess." Liz nods and stands.

"I'm sorry to have to spring this on you so suddenly, but there was really no easy way to tell you." I nod and stand. Liza grabs her coat and heads toward the door.

"It's all right. Thanks for telling me. See you tomorrow." She leaves and I wander back over to the bed, sitting on it heavily. Some 18th birthday this turned out to be. I snort and flop down on my back, suddenly, mentally exhausted.

29 August 2011

Someone Else's Happy Ending, Chapter 5

Wednesday September 3rd [16 w 2 d]

Two days later and I still haven't seen Keelan. He wasn't at the welcome feast and hasn't been to any classes. There's rumour going around the house saying he died or is in critical condition at St Mungo's. I was starting to believe it until he plunked down beside me in the common room as I was studying.

"Holy, Keelan! Where have you been!" I jump on his lap and give him a hug. I'd missed him.

"Hi Bell. Sorry, my grandma died on Thursday and the headmaster let me stay home for her funeral."

"I'm so sorry! I wish I had known."

"Don't worry." I give him a kiss and hug him again. I really had missed him.

"I've um, got something to tell you later, after dinner."

"Sure, let's go down, I'm starving."

***

"So Bell, what's on your mind?" Dinner's been over for an hour and I keep stalling. I'm afraid of what his reaction will be.

"Well, a couple things."

"Uh huhhh, wanna tell me?"

"Yes and no. Do you promise to remain calm and not freak out?"

"Promise. Now you gotta tell me." I stand up in front of him, wringing my hands together.

"Okay, um well, I'm kinda sorta.. pregnant." There's a long pause from him and I can tell he's not taking it well. "Say something, please."

"I don't think there's anything to say. You're getting rid of it, right?" I stare at him in disbelief.

"No, I'm keeping it."

"We're to young for this, Bell. You can't keep it." I can feel my temper rising by the second.

"I've already decided what I'm doing, Keelan. You don't have a say in it." He stands up.

"Okay, then don't expect me to stick around." With that he turns around and walks out of the common room. I just stare after him, not believing it. After a second I run after him, catching up to him down the hall.

"Keelan! Come on. You can't just walk out like that. This is your baby, too." He rounds on me.

"No Annabel, this is not our baby. This is your baby. I refuse to be a part of it. Who knows if it's even mine anyway." My temper finally breaks.

"How dare you, Keelan. You know as well as anybody in this damn school how much I love you. If you don't want to be here then go. You're no longer allowed near me or my baby." I slap him just for effect and then stalk away. I decide to take a walk, not caring where I end up.

***

A while later I stop and look around, trying to figure out where I am. I recognize the Potions classroom and am surprised at how far I got. I just then realize how tired and sore I am so I slide down the wall, hugging my legs to my chest. I rest my head on my knees and let my tears fall freely down my face. I hear footsteps but don't care who it is.

"Well well, who do we have here. A student out after hours?" I groan and roll my eyes. Great, just what I need right now.

"Go away Draco. I'm not in the mood." Draco and I have had this "test of wits", if you will, going on since our 3rd year. We're not sure who's winning since we don't keep track. Well, I don't anyway. Not too sure about him. Somewhere in the midst of it all we became friends. Hearing the tone in my voice, Draco walks closer and squats down beside me.

"What's wrong, Bella?" He's the only person I let call me that. My dad used to call me Bella.

"You don't wanna know." He sits down beside me and slinks his arm around my back.

"Sure I do. Why would I ask if I don't care?" I sigh.

"Keelan left me. I told him.. something he wasn't prepared for and he walked out." Despite the act he lets people see, Draco's actually a great listener and a pretty good friend. To me at least.

"Stupid git. Want me to get Crabbe and Goyle on him?" I laugh despite my horrible mood.

"No, don't do that. I was expecting it but was hoping for something else. I guess being his best friend for six years meant nothing to him." Draco pulls me closer and I rest my head on his shoulder, close to tears again.

"Oh love, don't cry. What did you tell him?" Some tears spill over.

"I'm pregnant, Draco." It comes out in a whisper. There's no answer from him. I can tell he's furious at Keelan for leaving me. He's probably already plotting some kind of something against him. And right now, I really couldn't care less about what he does to him. "I'm going to see Madame Promfrey tomorrow. Would you come with me?"

"Of course. Anything. Want to skip classes tomorrow and take the day off?" I chuckle and shake my head.

"You know what my answer is, Draco. I don't skip.

"Just thought I'd try." He hugs me closer. "When's your spare?"

"Right before lunch. What do you have?"

"My spare is then too. I'll meet you right after break in the great hall?" I nod. We sit for a little while longer before I can't stay awake anymore. We say our goodbyes and I head up to Ravenclaw Tower, not bothering to undress before I flop into bed.

Mind Over Matter, Chapter 9

It's Day Four of my hotel room imprisonment, and Jarrod was right, I'm going crazy. I forgot my phone charger at home, so my cell is dead. I only get 20 channels on the t.v and there aren't any books in this room. I'm beginning to get my nights and days mixed up. It would almost be worth it to go outside. Almost. But I don't want to give Jarrod that satisfaction.

Speaking of Jarrod; it's kind of weird right now. He's been over everyday to visit and we've kissed some more, but we don't talk about it. I've never been one of those "talk it out after the fact" kind of girls, but Jarrod's been my best friend since grade 3, and these emotions are coming at me from left field. Every time I try to ask he shuts down until I change the subject.

I sigh and look at the clock. It's almost 6 and he's due to be here any time now. Instead of just sitting around I decide to take a shower. While getting undressed I think I'm probably the cleanest person in Carson City right now. I've had a shower a day and sometimes a bath later on after Jarrod goes home. I don't normally like baths, but that's how bored I've been.

To ensure that I don't go anywhere, I gave Jarrod my key card. I could probably just get another at the front desk, but I can't really be bothered. While I'm rinsing off I hear Jarrod enter the hotel room. I shut the water off and wrap a towel around myself, making sure it's fastened tightly under my arm. I open the bathroom door and peek into the main room. Jarrod's sitting on the bed. He looks over at me and smiles so I smile back.

"I'll be just a few." He nods and picks up the remote. I shut the door and towel the condensation off the mirror. I stare at myself for a few minutes. Newly dyed black hair, which surprisingly goes well with my tanned complexion. Crystal blue eyes and a spattering of freckles over my nose. I've always hated those freckles because I think they make me look like I'm 12.

On impulse, I undo the towel and let it drop to the floor so I'm standing there in my birthday suit. I turn and look at myself in the full length mirror. I've never much cared about what I look like. I'm slender, but not disgustingly so. I'm short, standing at a might five foot nothing. I think my feet are too big, but everyone else disagrees. I have a small boobs and almost no butt. I've been told anything more than a handful is a waste, but it makes me wonder why guys are always drooling over women with huge chests.

I shrug and pick the towel back up, drying myself off and then putting on my cleanest set of clothes. I emerge from the bathroom to find Jarrod in the exact same spot, except now he's sleeping. I smile slightly and jump on the bed beside him. It wakes him up with a start. I jump on his stomach and try to pin his arms down, but he's a foot taller than I am and probably outweighs me by 75 lbs, so quite shortly after I'm being pinned to the bed and Jarrod's laying over me, his face mere inches from mine.

"Give?" I smile.

"Hardly. I'm not even trying." He laughs and shakes his head. I try to get my knees up between us but he's much too heavy.

"How about now?" I sigh, pretending to admit defeat. I wriggle free the second he lets his grip go and land on the floor on the left side of the bed. He stands across from me, on the right side. We wrestle around a bit more before I collapse on the bed out of breath. Jarrod lays beside me and takes my hand. It's a sweet gesture so I smile.

"You let me win." He smiles.

"Nah. You're just too tough for me." I snicker and position myself so that I'm laying in front of him. He slinks his hand over my waist and rests it on my stomach. We're quiet for a few minutes before I hear something odd.

"Were you just sniffing my hair?" I can feel him smile against the back of my head.

"It smells good." I make a face he can't see.

"No it doesn't. It smells like the hotel's sample bottles." I feel him shrug.

"Smells good to me."

"I need to go shopping. I really can't stand to wear these clothes anymore, I need shampoo. Plus a new charger for my phone."

"Oh, that reminds me, I bought you one."

"One what?"

"A charger for your phone." I smile.

"Thanks. It'd be much easier to sit around here all day if I had someone to text to. Bec is probably going insane."

"I told her as much as I could, but you know her." I nod. Becca doesn't know about my "ability" so I couldn't really tell her why I left home. All she knows is that I got into a fight and I'm hiding out somewhere until I turn 18. Which is in exactly 7 days.

"So do you think we could hold off on the bet so I can get a few things?" Jarrod thinks this over and finally agrees.

"Do you wanna go now or tomorrow?"

"I dunno. I'm starving and we could order supper, but I really want a big greasy burger with onion rings."

"Such a lady." I turn around and grin at him.

"You know it." Instead of turning away from him, I turn my body so I'm facing him. He pulls me in so our bodies are as close together as you can get. With clothes on anyway. But I'm not thinking about that. I don't want to ruin anything when I'm leaving in a week. I like what we have going on right now, and I want it to stay this way. But I guess it wouldn't hurt to wonder. "Let's order in and go out tomorrow." Jarrod smiles.

"Sounds like a plan to me."