HeartBeat

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Chase

"Oh Jen." Jessica's voice is shaky, as she steps closer, near her cousin and I. Her eyes fill with water, and she bites her lip.

"What are you doing here?"

Jennifer slowly untangles herself from me and turns around.

She sniffs. "What the hell do you mean. Nana died, and you, what, ran off and came to party. I'm here, because I want to be with my boyfriend."

I flinch. Taking a step back. My teeth grit, as I stop myself from saying something insensitive while she's grieving.

"Oh Jess." Nila gasps, covering her mouth. Her eyes sorrow filled as she turns to her best friend.

Jessica waves her off, and sighs.

She seemingly gathers herself as she looks at her cousin with stern eyes.

"That's not the way I wanted them to find out Jen." She turns to Nila." I didn't want to spoil the celebration. The way I saw it, was that with a life that ended, one was formed. I didn't want to put a damper on that. With mourning." Her voice breaks.

"Oh honey." Nila rushes over to Jess and incase her in a tight hug. Jess bites her lips, and it begins to quiver.

"Your allowed to cry sweety, grieve. I'm here, you haven't ruined anything. You know you can always come to me. It's okay Jess." I watch as Jess's face crumbles, no longer the chipper, preppy bright, that normally encompassed her face.

Gio, Liam, and Jaden watch the girls, Jaden's face tight with emotion.

I feel a hand grasp my own, watery eyes look at me, with sadness, that stabbed at my heart.

"No. No." Jessica moves back, wiping at her eyes.

"I did my crying two days ago when I found out. But Nan always said that she didn't want anyone to mourn her for too long, and she'll haunt us if we stay crying and sad. She always said to find joy in the day, and you've given me that joy Niles. I'm going to be an aunt!" Nila chuckles her eyes red, and tears flowing down her cheeks freely.

"Oh my god Nila! Your pregnant?" Jen's eyes widen in realization. She releases my hand and swipe at her eyes and cheeks. Rushing over, with a smile, she gives Nila a hug, accidently shoving Jessica away.

"Congrats babe!" Her eyes brightening at the news. I sigh in relief. I had always hated seeing her cry. Any crying person really, tended to tug on my heart strings, but when it came to Jennifer, I had always felt like my inside were being crushed, and somehow, I was the reason for her tears. It meant I failed at being a good boyfriend, a good man.

I clench my jaw, trying to dislodge the depressing feelings trying to take hold of me. There was enough sadness in the room. I didn't need to add to it. That would be selfish.

"So, tell me everything. How far along are you. Should you even be standing. Oh my god. Sit." Jennifer drags Nila to the couch.

"Wait Jen, I'm still a bit wet-"

"Its fine. You shouldn't be on your feet. I can't believe you're the first of us to get pregnant. But really, I'm hardly surprised. You and Gio are so in love, I assumed that love would one day, somehow, magically manifest into a person."

Jennifer rambles, and I can't stop the soft smile that grows on my face.

Like Jessica, Jen, often went on a tangent of rambles. Unlike her cousin, though, Jennifer was less curious, ditzy questions and more statements, and demands, with a level of surety and confidence many lacked. Whenever she spoke, she demanded that you listen., and often enough, you did.