Need you | Miles Fairchild

17 | i think im pregnant.

"Hey sis, what you up to?" Kate asked in her annoyingly chipper voice that always managed to get under my skin.

"Why does it concern you so much? Leave me alone, please," I snapped, glaring at her.

Kate huffed, clearly unimpressed. "Your mood swings are really starting to piss me off," she said, shaking her head as she walked out of the room. The slam of her bedroom door echoed in my ears, and I let out a long, frustrated sigh. I hated feeling so on edge, but lately, everything seemed to get to me, especially her.

I needed space, somewhere I could think and breathe without being interrupted. Without another thought, I grabbed my jacket and headed out for a walk. My destination was the pharmacy; I had a few essentials to pick up, and maybe the walk would help clear my mind. The cool air brushed against my cheeks, but instead of feeling relief, my thoughts only twisted tighter.

When I got inside the store, I grabbed the things I needed—painkillers, vitamins, a few other essentials—and wandered down a random aisle to browse. That's when something on the shelf caught my eye. My stomach fluttered as I picked it up: a pregnancy test. My hand seemed to move on its own, almost like instinct. I shoved it into my basket, heart pounding, and tried to ignore the knot tightening in my chest.

At the counter, the pharmacist scanned my items, and I noticed her expression shift slightly when she saw the test. Her eyes widened just a fraction, enough to make my cheeks heat up.

"Will that be all today?" she asked, her tone blunt yet curious.

"Yeah... um, thanks," I muttered, shoving my money into her hand and hurrying out of the store, gripping the small bag as though it contained the fate of my entire world.

The walk home felt endless. My mind spun: What if the test came back positive? How would Miles react? Would he be angry, confused, scared? And Kate—would she lecture me for being careless? What about Rose? I loved them both, but I couldn't imagine how this would affect them. My thoughts raced, tangled with worry, anticipation, and fear.

When I got home, I immediately noticed that Kate's car was gone, and Rose's bike wasn't outside. That meant I was alone. Relief washed over me. Finally, some privacy. I sighed, clutching the bag as I made my way to the bathroom.

"Finally, a little time by myself," I whispered, closing the door behind me.

I placed the bag on the counter and sat down, staring at the pregnancy test like it held some mysterious power over my life. My hands trembled as I whispered over and over again, "Please don't be pregnant... please don't be pregnant..."

Thirty minutes dragged on like an eternity. I carefully followed the instructions on the box, each motion precise but shaky. My stomach churned, and my heart hammered in my chest. I tried to steady my breathing, but the fear and anticipation were suffocating. Thoughts of Miles' reaction kept flicking through my mind—what if this changed everything between us? And if it wasn't positive, would I feel relieved or just drained from the anxiety?

A soft knock at the door startled me so much I nearly dropped the test.

"Anyone home?!" a familiar voice called.

It was Miles.

My heart jumped into my throat. I hadn't expected him to come over. Panic bubbled up inside me. Should I answer? Hide? What would I even say if he walked in now? The small bag on the counter suddenly felt like a weight, heavy with the uncertainty and fear I had been carrying.

"Um... yeah," I said shakily, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just... just a sec."

I drew in a deep, shaky breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Miles had no idea what was about to happen, and I wasn't sure how I was going to tell him—or even if I should wait until I knew the results. My stomach twisted with anticipation, dread, and a flicker of hope. One way or another, this moment was coming, and I had to face it.