17

Chapter Eleven

I have feel the gel on my stomach because I decided closing my eyes would be the best decision for me. The gel is an abnormally cold feeling on my stomach and my eyes start to water. Chase squeezes my hand and scoots a bit closer to me. The nurse finally gets done and I reluctantly open my eyes back up. "You're gaining weight?" she asks me. I nod a little bit. "Alright" she says, punches something in the computer, and starts waving this little wand thing over my stomach. I glare at her then look at the wand thing. "Okay so this is your baby" she stops waving the wand and turns a screen towards Chase and I. Chases eyes widen a little bit when she points to the little baby growing inside me. "Oh my..." I whisper and look down at my lightly raised stomach, but quickly look back up again. I take big deep breathes. "You two want pictures right?" she asks. Chase nods urgently, he seems at a loss for words. The nurse looks to me and I nod. "Alright, I'll go get those for you and then we can talk some more" she says and walks out the door. Chase grabs a small dishcloth on the table next to him and starts to rub it over my stomach taking the gel off gradually. "You okay?" he asks me. "Yeah I'm okay. Just cold" I answer with a small shiver. He finally gets all the gel off and pulls my shirt down again. Chase sighs and leans back on the plastic chair he's been on for a while. The nurse walks back in with a few papers and pamphlets in her hand. "Okay, so here are a few of your pictures.." she says handing them to me. I take them gently and look through them all. Then something happens that hasn't ever happened genuinly after my dad left. I smile. Smile for myself and smile because I am truely happy. These pictures make my heart flutter and make butterflies in my stomach. I look over at Chase and he looks genuinly happy, like me. "So, how old are you both?" the nurse asks. "I'm 17, since January" I say. "18 since November" Chase says simply. "Were you two together when you did it? Like a couple?" she asks. "No...It was a drunken mistake" I say quietly and Chases grip on my hand tightens. "But you two are close now, I see?" "Yeah. Real close" Chase answers for me with a wide smile. "So, sweetie" the nurse says addressing me. "You're going through a lot now I presume. A whole bunch of emotions. But I just want to tell you it doesn't get much better and gets harder and worse. Especially at your age" she explains. I try to take it all in, but its hard for me. I just nod furiously and stare off into space. "You bud, you need to take good care of her and try not to put stress or pressure on here. Watch her eating and sleeping habits. You should except some nausea, vomiting and low appetite if you haven't already. Considering she's at about week 8. If anythig unusual happens I want you to call me, my number is under, Dr. Ridley, in the phamplets" she explains and Chase listens intently. "Okay. Thank you so much. Can we schedule the next appointment?" Chase asks. "Of course. I would like to see you in 6 more weeks so in June would be best" she says. "Do you have any openings for June 12th?" Chase asks. "Yep, would you like 9 A.M or 3 P.M?" "3" I answer instead of Chase. "Alright. Then you two can take these phamplets and be on your way. Take care of yourselves" she says leaving us alone. Chase helps me off the high bed/chair thing and holds me close. "You okay?" he asks. I start to nod, but then I start to sob quietly into his shirt. "I c-c-an't" I stutter in between my hiccups. "Shhh, love, I'm so sorry. You'll be okay. I'm right here. I'll always be right here. I'm never going to leave. Never."

Chase drives us home silently because I fall asleep. He wakes me as he stops the car and I sleepily climb out of the car. We walk inside and set everything down on the counter. Chase stops me and hugs me gently running his arm up and down my achy back. That's when we here a low voice say, "Hey, Bud." I whirl around and see a tall man with slicked back, black hair. His arms are open and he seems to be waiting for a hug. "Uhm..dad. Hi. What are you doing here?" Chase stutters while the man, who I now know as his father, walks towards him. "I just came to see about my boy. How you been, son?" he asks while putting his large hand on Chases shoulder. "Fine, dad. I've been fine" Chase mumbles reluctantly. "I'm glad to hear that. Who's this?" he asks gesturing towards me. I probably look like a mess with my tangled hair, mascara and tear stained cheeks, puffy red eyes, and baggy clothes. "This is Kennedy" Chase introduces me. Chases father sticks his hand out, "Good to meet you Kennedy, I'm Chases dad but you can just call me Brad if you want." I shyly grab his hand and he gives it a firm shake. "You gonna keep this one?" Brad asks Chase. "Yeah. Of course dad" Chase answers immediately. "You better. I don't really want anymore mothers coming over and practically killing me for what my son has done to their daughter" he explains. Chase looks down shamefully, "I'm trying to change dad." Brad looks down at Chase with disappointment in his eyes. "I hope so Chase.."

Chase runs to his bedroom after a very long lecture with his father. His father also explained that he would be going to London on business trip for his company. This means that now would be the best time to tell him of our condition. We don't want him to me being huge or Chase holding a baby while answering the door.

I fly up the stairs trying to catch up with Chase who ran upstairs after the lecture. I could see the anxiety in his eyes when I finally caught up to him. "Kennedy I'm so sorry. I didn't know he was going to come here and and..." he trails off. I can see the frustration and anger in his face. He looks to be on the verge of tears. I know I need to be the way he is with me. Soft, caring, gentle, sympathetic and kind. I bring myself closer to him. "Chase...love..it's okay. I'm okay" I whisper mumble. He looks up at me with soft innocent eyes. They're so irresistible. So intriguing. Mesmerizing in their own ways. "Really?" he finally asks. "Yeah, we just need to tell your dad what's going on..." I get quieter at the end. He nods timidly and looks at me with his soft brown eyes. "You'll be okay?" he asks. "Yeah, if you talk for us" I mumble. "Of course I will, I mean it is my fault" he says looking back at the floor. "No. Not entirely. Please, don't blame yourself" I plead. "Yeah, okay" Chase brushes me off. I can tell he doesn't want to talk about it. I grab his warm hand and wrap it around my cold one. "I'm going to go wash up a little bit" I mutter. He just nods blankly. I feel bad for him. What has his father done to him?