SEHE; Chapter 2

Wednesday July 23 [10w 2d]

"But Bell.."

"No buts. Mom said 9:30 and it's almost 10. Time for bed." My brothers groan but do as they're told. I watch as they file into their room and then shut the door behind them. After I'm sure they're going to stay there, I amble down the hall to my own room. Phoebe is on the phone with Gabe, her boyfriend.

They met almost five years ago when Gabe moved to our little town. I was away at Hogwarts and he was new, so they became friends out of need. They started dating two years ago. I stop in the hall outside my door to give her some privacy. "Yeah. Yes, I'll call you tomorrow. Love you. Bye."

I walk into my room and sit at the end of my bed. "So you want me to come with you?"

"Naw, I thought I'd ask the homeless guy that hangs out at the park." Phoebe grins.

"I hear he's friendly. I'm sure you'll have a great time." I laugh.

"Of course you're coming with me, you wanker."

"When are you going to tell Tweedle Dum?" I sigh and lean against the wall.

"I don't know. This isn't exactly something you tell someone in a letter. Especially the father. It needs to be in person, but he's on holidays the entire summer." She nods.

"Do you think it would be possible to go to him?" I shake my head.

"Unlikely. Do you remember how my mom freaked when I asked to just go to his house? There's no way she's going to let me go to America."

"I suppose so. When are you going to tell her?"

"No bloody idea. With her starting her business and how much trouble Jordy is getting into lately, I don't want to add to that. I'm the golden child, remember?" I roll my eyes. Nate was never a bad kid, but was never a great one. He got into trouble here or there but nothing huge. Jordan, on the other hand, has a steady trouble making record. And then there's me.

"You can't let Jord's trouble decide this for you."

"No, I know that. I just need to figure out a good time to tell her. She's going to shit."

"I do believe you're correct." I yawn and stretch. "Well I'll be there for you every step of the way, you know that."

"I do. And I am forever in your debt."

"That's right, Leed. You owe me." I wink.

"Bed time for me. I'm bushed." I head to the bathroom to complete my nightly routine. As I'm changing into pj's I stop and turn sideways to the mirror. I smooth my hands over my stomach while inspecting my abdomen for any changes. None so far. I'm not disgustingly skinny, but I am on the thinner side. Maybe some baby weight would do me some good.

I enter my bedroom and shut the door behind me. I flop onto my bed beside Phoebe. "Don't mind if I read, do you?" I shake my head.

"I think I could fall asleep standing up. I'll see you in the morning." I fall asleep to the sound of pages turning.

+++

Thursday July 24 [10w 3d]

"Annabel?" I stand up and the clinic nurse smiles at me. "Come on back with me, dear." Phoebe and I follow the nurse down a hallway and into a room with no windows. I hop onto the exam bed and Phoebe sits on one of the chairs. The nurse looks at her clipboard before looking at me. "Well the test was positive, but you already suspected that. Are you wanting to talk about your options?" I shake my head.

"No, I know I'm keeping it." The nurse, whose name tag says Susan, smiles at me.

"Wonderful. I can give you some information and set you up with a doctor. I can even get you set up for an ultrasound to date the pregnancy." She plucks a couple leaflets off a big wall full of papers and hands them to me. "Hang on while I get you an appointment." She leaves the room and Phoebe turns to me.

"Christ, she's bubbly." I chuckle while looking at one of the papers. Healthy Weight Gain in Pregnancy.

"Gross." The door opens and in breezes Susan.

"Okay Annabel, I have an appointment for you. It's next week August the first at 10 AM. Instructions are on the sheet here. I've also sent a referral to an OB-GYN and they'll call you. Is there anything else I can do for you, hon?"

"I guess you've got it all covered. Thank you." Susan smiles at me.

"No problem, dear. Take care of yourself." I hope off the exam bed and follow Phoebe out of the room. I stuff the papers in my bag while we make our way outside.

"What would you like to do now?"

"Nap. I'm exhausted." Phoebe laughs.

"So you don't mind if I go meet Gabe? I told him we'd hang out today."

"You go have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." She laughs again then gives me a sideways hug.

"I'll call you later. Love you, Bellie."

"You too." I watch her walk down the street for a second before turning in the opposite direction toward my own house.

As I open the door I'm bombarded with the sounds of Jordan and my mom yelling at each other. I make my way quickly through the kitchen and up to my room and shut the door behind me. This happens often enough so it isn't entirely a surprise to come home to. What is a surprise is seeing Nate sitting on my bed. What he's holding is another matter altogether. It's the box my test came in.

"You aren't going to lie to me if I ask what this test said, are you?" I sigh and sit on my desk chair.

"No. It was positive." He looks down at the box.

"I wasn't snooping. Jordan came home drunk last night and has a hangover. I came in to get the Aspirin and found this on your desk. Damnit.. why didn't I throw it away?.

"I'm not mad. Can we keep this between us for now?" He nods slowly.

"Mom needs to know, Bell."

"I know. And I'll tell her. I just need to find the right time."

"I don't think there is a right time around here." There's a pause where I know he's thinking of something to say. "If Keelan hurts you I'm going to kill him." I smile in spite of myself.

"Don't worry. We haven't talked about kids but it was never off the table. It's just happening sooner than I would have liked."

"A lot sooner, Bell. You're 16 for Christ sake. What were you thinking?" I hang my head and look at my feet. I can feel tears welling behind my eyes.

"I don't know, Nate. It was a stupid decision and I wish I could take it back." I hear him sigh deeply and get off the bed. He kneels beside my chair and gives me a hug. I accept it gratefully.

"It's done now and there's no taking it back. I'm your brother and I love you and I'm here to support you. Even if it means going up against mom." A small laugh escapes me.

"That I would love to see."

"Nate! You got those pain killers yet?!" Nate stands up and grabs the bottle off my desk.

"Duty calls. We can talk more later, okay?" I nod and watch him leave my room, shutting the door behind him. Before the nap I promised myself, I tear up the box and stuff it to the bottom of my garbage can. I don't need anyone else finding out.