The New KISS High School

Ch 34: Unexpected (Gene)

Bruce and I were still pretty much tied for the top spot in the bracket after the second day, meaning I was no more willing to talk to him today than I was yesterday, and judging by the fact he hadn't said anything to me, he was feeling the same. I was lying on my bed, contentedly texting Leeta while Eric was, unsurprisingly, cuddled up with Bruce, talking quietly with each other. 

"Damn this stupid unknown number keeps calling me," Eric muttered, reaching over Bruce to hang up on a call for like the fifth time tonight. There was a pause before it buzzed and he looked at it with mild surprise. "Oh look, they finally left a message," he said, putting it on speaker. "Hi, I know you don't know me but my name's Cher, I need you to get me in contact with Gene Simmons. It's very urgent. Have him call me." 

I scowled at the sound of an unfortunately familiar voice. "That bitch. I blocked her for a reason," I said under my breath. "You should maybe call her back? I mean it's gotta be important if she was willing to somehow track down my number to get to you," Eric said. "Don't know why she would. Why anyone would want to talk to Gene is beyond me," Bruce muttered, making Eric roll his eyes. "Alright fine," I said, motioning for him to toss me his phone, dialing her number and putting it on speaker as it rang. "The hell's up, huh? I told you we were done months ago," I snapped as soon as she picked up.

"Where are you?" she asked. "I'm out of town. Why do you want to know?" "Because I wanted to congratulate you on becoming a teen father. Now get your ass back in town and to the hospital and come see your daughter," she snapped. There was a very awkward silence as Bruce and Eric both stared at me while I stared at the phone, starting to feel sick. Without another word, I reached over slowly, as if I was moving in slow motion, before hanging up on the call. 

There was another long pause as the three of us sat in silence before Eric let out a nervous giggle. "Eric this isn't funny," I said quietly. "I'm so sorry, I-I laugh when I panic," he whispered, covering his mouth with his hand. There was more silence as I kept staring at his phone before I rose to my feet. "I'm gonna take a walk," I said. "You'll come back, right?" Bruce asked, hint of worry in his voice, our argument having reached its unspoken end. I nodded, pulling on my shoes. "I'm not gonna kill myself or anything. I just...I'll be back," I mumbled, walking out of the room. 

I didn't exactly realize where I was going, just sort of snapped back to reality when a cold gust of wind hit me. I looked around the alley I was standing in with mild surprise before sitting down, leaning against the bricks and trying not to throw up as I dialed Paul's number. "Hey what's--" "Can you loan me $500?" I asked, cutting him off. "I mean...yeah sure, what the hell for?" "I need money for a paternity test," I mumbled. "You need money for WHAT?!" he cried. "To see if my ex's kid is mine, that's why!" I snapped, starting to tremble. "Who the fuck did you get pregnant?!" "I might not've gotten anyone pregnant! That's-that's the point of the paternity test!" I said. 

"What the hell happened?" he asked after a pause. "So-so Cher...called Eric and asked him to talk to me since I blocked her and she told me to...she told me that I needed to come to the hospital to see my daughter but-but before you say anything! Before you say anything there's a chance it's not mine because she was cheating on me the whole relationship but I mean I can't complain too much since I was too once I found out she was so it might...not...be mine," I said, feeling like I was about to throw up. 

"Did you tell your mom?" he asked after a pause. "And why the hell would I tell her before I knew for certain it was my kid?" I asked in a shaking voice. "True. What hospital is she at? Because if she's at the one your mom works at--" "She won't be, my mom's on NICU rotation and Cher didn't say anything about there being something wrong with the baby," I mumbled, closing my eyes. "Gene if it's actually your--" 

"I don't need you to tell me how screwed I'll be if it's my kid. I am very well aware of that fact, Stan. I just...can you please loan me the money? I'll pay you back as soon as I can, it'll...it'll take me awhile but I promise I will, I just want to know as soon as I can if it's my kid or not." "Yeah, yeah, of course. Let me know when you're back in town and we'll figure this out." "Thanks. I-I'll seriously owe you one," I murmured. "You can repay me by not getting any girls pregnant while you're still in high school," he said, and I let out a weak laugh in spite of myself. "Yeah that's...that's the goal. I gotta go before Coach realizes I walked out of the hotel, I'll call you once I'm back in town." 

"Alright. It'll be fine. We'll make things work, I promise," he said gently. "There's a 50% chance it'll be fine," I mumbled. "Even if it's yours we'll figure something out. If my monthly allowance goes to child support for your kid then so be it. We'll make things work." Blinking back tears, I nodded. "Thanks. Love you man." "Yeah love you too. It'll be fine." "I hope you're right," I said, running a hand through my hair. "I will be." 

After saying goodbye I hung up, dropping my phone and letting out a groan, resting my head on my knees, silently praying that I hadn't just completely ruined my life before it even really got started.