Mads: “I love you too. Please just promise me you’ll talk to me before you do anything big like that again.”
Jaden: “I will absolutely never do something like that without talking to you ever again.”
Mads: “I’m always going to be on your side, baby. I just need to know we’re on the same side.”
It really amazed you watching the two of them resolve something so sweetly that an hour before you were sure would tear them apart. You looked over at the couch where Nessa still sat bobbing her knee up and down nervously.
You: “Nessa, what can I do to help?”
Nessa: “I don’t know. I can’t do this but especially not with Josh knowing.”
Chase: “Not to be insensitive, but have you thought about all of your options?”
Jaden: “Do you really think I’d have done what I did if she hadn’t run out of options?”
You: “Do you really have any contact with him anymore?”
Nessa: “Not since after the dance when this all started. He makes remarks in the hall but I blocked him from being able to call or text so that’s all there is.”
Chase: “You need to tell him if for no other reason than so he can help pay for everything from here on out. Babies aren’t cheap and he owes you that much.”
Nessa: “He’s so awful to me. The thought of spending the rest of my life tied to him? Oh God!! I can’t!!!!”
She broke down into hysterical tears and you moved to pull her into a tight hug. You knew exactly how she felt. Part of the reason you never let him push you to go all the way was because your first time meant something and the thought of Josh being tied to that memory was horrifying. Jaden kneeled down in front of her and cupped her hands together safely inside of his: “Hey… hey… shhhhh… Ness, listen to me. I am going to do whatever I can to help you. I meant that.”
You: “Without you pretending to be the father, it won’t be long before Josh figures out that it could be his.”
Mads: *stepping forward* “What if he didn’t…”
Nessa: “No, they are right. He will figure it out the second Jaden changes his story.”
Mads: “No, I mean what if Jaden kept going along with it?”
Everyone turned and looked at Mads in shock, but no one's face was more confused than Jaden’s.
Jaden: “Baby, what are you talking about?”
Mads: “You said you’d do anything to protect her, right? Did you mean that?”
Jaden: “Of course I did but I’m not willing to hurt you in the process.”
Nessa: “Mads, I love your heart for what it’s trying to fix but he’s right. You don’t have to do this.”
Mads: “Everyone out. We need to talk alone.”
Everyone but Jaden started piling out of the room when Mads announced: “No, not you. I meant Nessa. I need to talk to Nessa alone.”
Everyone sat in the kitchen too nervous trying to figure out what the girls could possibly be talking about in the other room to be able to carry on conversations with each other. After what felt like hours, Nessa’s heels clicked against the kitchen tile breaking the tense silence.
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Mads: “We have a plan.”
Jaden: “Wha- What are you talking about?”
Nessa: “Mads has suggested an idea but I want you to know that it is completely okay if you aren’t okay with it. Just say the word and we go back to the truth… promise?”
Jaden gulped down his nerves and listened as Mads detailed an absolutely insanely perfect plan: “We only have a little over 3 weeks until graduation. Jaden can keep pretending until after graduation…”
Jaden: “Mads, no. I can’t do that to you.”
You: “Yeah, people talk in high school and after graduation we are done but you still have 3 more years.”
Mads: “Before Nessa is far enough along to have to start dealing with things publically Josh will have gone off to college and all his friends will have graduated and done the same so he won’t ever know.”
You: “Everyone will think Ness lied about the father to ruin you guys.”
Mads: “What’s worse, people thinking you’re a homewrecker which technically having a baby with the guy you helped cheat on my sister already makes you or Josh being involved.”
Chase: “Guys, I don’t know. Like it’s none of my business, obviously, but what happens in a few years when reality humbles this kid and then your kid is growing up not knowing someone who might end up being a good dad.”
Nessa: “Or worse… having no dad… like me.”
Jaden: “That won’t happen. I will be in that kid's life forever and you know that. He won’t even miss having a dad because Uncle J will have his back.”
You: “Hey, it might be a her. But seriously, Nessa you will have all of us.”
Everyone gathered around for a hug as Nessa finally felt a weight lift off of her. After, everyone headed down to the basement to play video games and listen to music before your parents got home. Jaden stopped Mads at the top of the stairs.
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Jaden: “Promise me this won’t come between us.”
Mads: “Just don’t ever lie to me. That’s all I ask. If we’re in it together I can handle anything.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her forehead: “I’m gonna marry you someday, Mads.”
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