Listen To Your Heart ~ Book One.

Girl Talk

"I love them. They're cute and adorable. They make me laugh and they love sucking on my fingernails."

"And suppose David gets you pregnant? What then? Can't exactly hide a baby bump, can you?"

"I... we...haven't discussed that...yet."

"Okay...and how exactly do you think people's reaction to the two of you together might be? How does your family feel about the two of you?"

"They're...not exactly jumping for joy."

"You see what I'm trying to tell you? It's like the two of you are throwing caution to the wind. I know I haven't much say as to what happens between you two, but I'm very protective of David. He's been one of my true friends, and I don't want to see either of you cause the other unnecessary heartbreak."

"You think just because I'm eighteen, that I don't know what love is? I've been in love, and I've had my heart broken. David cares about me. I can see it in his eyes."

"Yes, he does care about you. I can tell by the way he looks at you...but let me ask you this. How much about David, do you truly know?"

"Not much. Hoping to learn more about him someday. We care a lot about one another, isn't that enough?"

"That's a question only you and him can answer together."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"David...has issues with me hanging around other guys...but what bothers me the most is...he said something about life is full of sacrifices. He's been making them most of his life, so why stop now. Any idea what he meant by that?"

"Yes. His stepfather passed away in 2011...heart disease. His oldest sister from cancer...2012. His stepmother from health-related issues...2014."

"Doesn't he have any other family?"

"If you want to call them that...yea. Two older stepsiblings, a stepbrother and stepsister...and one younger step-sibling, a sister."

"Don't they get along?"

"After his stepfather passed away, the family kind of leaned on David and his older sister for financial and emotional support. When his older sister passed away, the family leaned heavily on him. He gave up his dream of being a musician. He worked twelve, sometimes sixteen-hour days. Six or seven days a week, every week. After his stepmother passed away...well...let's just say the family showed their true colors then."

"What do you mean?"

"The family house was left to his step-brother. Who wasted no time selling the house and moving to Hawaii. Leaving David with no place to live. His two stepsisters leaned on him even more, after his brother left. He finally couldn't take it anymore. Moved to Philly to start over. He's been pretty much on his own ever since. Well...he does get along with his youngest stepsister...sometimes."

(Billie shudders.)"Holy shit."

"Yea, that's one way of putting it, and on top of that... ex-girlfriend bounced some checks that she stole from him. He got forced into financial debt because of her stunt, while she laughed it up in Florida. Until she was caught."

"Why didn't he talk about this to me or my therapist?"

"Wait...what therapist?"

"My therapist. She asked David and I questions about our...relationship."

"I'm guessing that didn't go well."

"No...it didn't. He told my therapist that he handles his own problems. Guess I'm beginning to understand why now."