Accidents Happen

16. Morning

'Listen.' He said suddenly. It took a moment but I realised what he meant. We'd been talking for hours.

'Birds.' I whispered. Bird song filled the air outside. I peered up through the skylight. Sunrise was looming. We sat and listened for a few minutes. I couldn't remember the last time I'd just sat and listened. I caught Dans eye and smiled. With such a busy life, I wondered if he'd been thinking the same.

'I better get some sleep, I'm meant to be going to Manchester to the To Kill A King gig.'

'How come?'

'They need a merch guy. I figured I'd help out.'

'Would it be ok if I came too?'

'I erm, I guess so, yeah.' I hadn't meant to sound so unsure. His question had thrown me a little.

'I haven't seen Ralph for ages and I've got a few days off.'

'But what do we say to them? Us turning up together would be weird.'

'They're gonna find out at some point. It would be nice to hang out with you while I'm off, too.'

'Yeah. Cool. Well, I'm leaving around nine.' I stood up from the table. I wasn't so sure about people finding out yet. Wasn't it too early? What if something went wrong? Wasn't it bad luck? And wouldn't it lead to some pretty awkward questions?

I decided to shower quickly. And soon discovered Dan was the proud owner of the best shower in the world. It was just the right temperature and flow. I could've stayed in it for hours. But I needed a nap. I wrapped a towel around me and ran across the hall to my room. I set an alarm on my phone, lay down on my bed and closed my eyes for a moment.

Then suddenly my alarm was going off. I snoozed it four times before checking the time. It was quater to nine and my hair had dried at odd angles around my head. I scraped it back into a messy ponytail, quickly got dresssed into some jeans and a blue blouse shirt, threw on some make up and a pair of tatty trainers. I then threw up in the bathroom with a moment to spare before running downstairs.

Dan was stood waiting to go, dressed in black skinny jeans, a black wolf tee and black converse. I stopped myself asking who's funeral it was.

'I get the feeling you're late for lots of stuff.' He teased.

'Didn't mean to sleep so long.' I picked up my keys from the ledge beside the front door.

'You ok to drive?' He checked.

'Yeah, I'm good. We'll stop for coffee-' Then I recalled that I was pregnant and no longer allowed, or had the stomach for, coffee. 'Yeah you drive.' I put down my keys. That saved petrol money too.

'This is exciting. Our first road trip.' Dan grinned as we got into the car.

'You're a loser.' I teased him. It only caused his smile to widen. I think this was going to be a very fun relationship we were about to embark on. We already felt comfortable enough to wind each other up.

We spent the jounrey playing 'Red Mini'. Dan claimed to have invented it, but I had heard of it before. Each time we saw a red car we called it and gained a point. But if we saw a red Mini Cooper, we got to punch the other person. And because I wasn't driving and therefore not concentrating on the road, I got my fair share of punches in against him. Or maybe he didn't want to punch a pregnant woman. It certainly led to a lot of laughter during the four hour drive. We could've done it in three if we didn't need to stop every half an hour for me to either pee or vomit.

'Pretty bad morning sickness then?' Dan asked as I got back into the car for the third time on the hard shoulder of the motorway.

'I wouldn't really say morning sickness, more like, every hour of the day sickness.' Some days I was fine. Others were worse. I was getting used to it by then, knowing what foods to avoid and drinking plenty of water. I'd lost half a stone in weight but that was probably more to do with not being able to afford to eat.

'Whens your appointment with the midwife?'

'Friday at 2pm. Are you around?'

'Flying to America for a week Friday night, but I'll come with you before I go. We should ask if there's anything you can do to stop being sick.'

'You don't have to you know?'

'What?'

'Come with me. It's fine.'

'I want to.' He took his eyes off the road for a moment to look at me. 'I told you, I'm in this 100%.'

'Ok.' I smiled.

*****

I knew the venue well. I'd been up and down the country with the boys a few times and we'd been here a lot. I saw their van parked up behind the building, being unloaded.

I was just shutting my door when Ben came out the back of the building. I saw him clock Dan and he smiled. He came up and hugged me, whispering in my ear;

'Does he know I know?' I nodded. And then he turned and shook Dans hand. 'Hows it going man? This is a nice surprise.'

'Yeah, got a few days off, thought I'd come hang with you lot.'

'Ralph's inside.'

'Does he know about...?' I chimed in. I hated this. Wondering who knew what.

'No, I haven't said a word.' Ben assured us.

'Right, I better go tell him.' Dan smiled. Though I was still against telling people yet. But didn't he have the right? My best friend knew. Maybe Dan needed someone to talk to as well.

'Want me to come?' I asked.

'Nah. I need to do this man to man.' He laughed and disappeared into the darkness of the building. Ben draped an arm around me and we wandered around the car park.

'Whats going on then?'

'Well, I moved in yesterday. Scott kicked me out, as I guessed.'

'Wow.'

'What else did we expect?' I shrugged.

'Hows Dan being?'

'He's so excited. He's already planning what colors to paint the walls in the spare room.'

'You don't seem so...'

'I am. I'm excited.' I said with a smile, which probably wasn't convincing enough for Ben. 'But it's dangerous. With my heart and everything, I'm not even twelve weeks yet and he's telling people. What if something goes wrong?'

'It won't.'

'I'm terrified Ben.'

'I know. But everything's going to be fine. You've got us. Have you spoken to your parents?'

'That'll be a fun phonecall. Hi Mom, I'm alive, but I'm pregnant.'

'They'll just be glad you're ok.'

'Yeah, having a baby out of wedlock. They'll love that.'

'Don't worry too much.' He squeezed my shoulder and we went into the venue.