How We Pay

Chapter Two

I dug through the cabinet and drawers of the bathroom, hoping to God Kate had a pregnancy test in here. I made mess, shoving things aside and pulling them out to throw them on the floor. I finally came across a box familiar to all females. I pulled out the last test and sat on the toilet, praying to God I was just having a bad reaction to the food.

I set it on the counter and waited. I leaned against the open door and bit my thumb nail, watching the lines tick away on the tiny screen. I picked up the box, over and over again, reading how long it was supposed to take. Two Minutes. 

Two minutes my ass. It felt like it had already been twenty.

I turned away, clapping my hands together as I paced the hallway.

"I'm not pregnant. I'm not pregnant. I'm. Not. Pregnant." I chanted it over and over again until I made myself believe it. I took a deep breath and went back to the test sitting on the white counter tops.

Negative.

I sank back, letting out a breath and laughed to myself. I wasn't pregnant. The relief took over me and I felt my heart start to slow, my pulse returning to it's regular rhythm. I pulled the e-cig out from my bra and took a hit, relishing the burn in my throat. 

I wasn't fucking pregnant.

I went to my room, locking the door behind me. Just another habit I had picked up since leaving New York and my murderous groom. I laid in my bed and stared out the open blinds. The lights from the parking lot illuminated my room in a soft glow. I laid there, listening to the beat of my heart until I finally fell back asleep.

When I woke up, I heard movement in the kitchen. I walked out and saw Matt sitting on the couch. Kate was rifling through the fridge pulling out milk and eggs. I sat at the bar and Matt gave me a little wave. He was shirtless on the couch, watching some comedy show.

Kate turned and saw me, giving me a sly grin.

"What?" I asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just wondering who you thought got you pregnant." My heart dropped at her words.

"What?" I asked again, this time the question came out in a bitter breath.

"You left the pregnancy test on the counter." She gave me a brow raised look.

"Oh, shit, sorry." I felt stupid for getting so worked up. Kate and Matt knew me as a semi-normal twenty something girl. One that probably would have a pregnancy scare or two. They didn't know anything about me. I needed to calm down before I started acting as crazy as I felt.

"Don't be, I'm just glad you're not." She turned and started making something on the stove.

"Same." I murmured. I went and sat on the opposite end of the couch. I watched the show, listening to Matt laugh along at some parts. 

"So Kate says you guys are off tonight?" Matt's voice jerked me from my daze. He looked every bit the Kansas boy he was. Short blonde hair, blue eyes, normally in boots, a hat and a flannel. From everything Kate had told me, he treated her like a queen. They had been together since high school and he looked at her like she hung the moon and stars when she wasn't looking. It was sweet. Ignorant to the realities of the world, but still sweet.

"Yup." I looked back from him to the TV. I liked Matt. He was nice and always kind to me, I just wasn't very social these days and hoped I didn't come off like a bitch. I didn't try to be short all the time but felt like I would slip up if I spoke too much.

"My friend's having a party. You should come." I looked back over to him and saw Kate turn and jump.

"Yes! Oh my God! You have to come. Matt has cute friends." Matt gave her a funny look and she laughed, coming over to sit on his lap. She kissed him. "For Heidi, not me, silly."

"Mhm." He hummed, not believing her. They were so happy together. I felt a pang of jealousy rise in my stomach but I shoved it down. It wasn't real. People pretended to be happy together. Everyone lied and as pure as their love looked, I had seen too much to believe it could be so easy. My mother cheated on my father, my father tried to kill me when I was a baby, Stefan kidnapped me and lied to me, Dex was planning to kill me after marrying me.. Yeah, love didn't exactly have a ringing endorsement from me right now.

"Thanks, but I think I'll just stay home. I might see if I can pick up a shift tonight anyways." I told them, trying not to glower at their PDA. Kate gave me a theatrical frown.

"Please? For me? For the cheap ass rent you pay?" I looked at her and opened my mouth. She was trying to guilt me into going. She started smiling, knowing I had no argument to that.

"Are you really pulling that on me right now?" I looked at her with mock hurt.

"She is." Matt said. "So you have to go now." I rolled my eyes and stood.

"As much as I would love to, I really can't." Or, really didn't want to.

"Well too bad. My house, my roof, my rules. You are going young lady. And you're going to have fun whether you like it or not." I groaned, knowing Kate and her persistence. I was going to have to go. Besides, I was leaving soon and had grown fond of her. The more time I spent with her was probably for the best anyways.

"I don't have anything to wear." I made one final hail mary.

"I have tons you can wear!" She shot up and went back to the stove.

I plopped back down and folded my arms like a child pouting. Matt laughed at me.

"She usually gets her way, don't feel bad." I smiled at him but it quickly faded when I remembered what I had seen on the TV last night.

"Wait, can you turn the news on? Did they say anything about that club last night?" Matt thought through my question, realization washing over his face when he remembered what we had all seen on the news. He picked up the remote and changed the channel to the news.

We watched it for almost an hour before they gave an update. Kate sat between us on the couch, cuddled into Matt's side. Our empty plates sat on the coffee table. We all perked up when the people started talking about Rogue.

"Now, back to the tragic story of the Chicago club that went up in flames last night. Officials have confirmed it was an intentional fire set off by a pipe bomb. No suspects have been named, but police have confirmed at least sixty four are dead and nineteen are injured. Most are in critical care at St. Mary's hospital. We will keep you updated as the details are released." We all stared at the TV, in shock. I felt my stomach twist again, the nausea boiling to the surface, but I tried to shove it down. 

"Jesus, that's terrible." Kate whispered. I didn't say anything, just got up and went to lock myself in my room. 

I sat on the floor, back leaning on the bed. I cradled my face, feeling the emotion coming out in hot, wet tears. I knew whoever died, I had known some, if not all of them. They would be people I thought of as family and friends. I hoped to God Scarlet and Jack weren't there. I didn't want anyone to be dead, but couldn't stomach the thought of the two people I was closest to being among the fatalities. Who could have done something like this?

I looked up when a terrible thought came to the fore front of my mind. A thought that I hated myself for having.

Would Stefan do something like that to bring me out of hiding?