Songbird ; Fred Weasley

Thirty-one

"Why would you punch some guy?!"
Ronan was annoyed with me, cleaning up my knuckles, because this time, I had scraped my hand pretty bad.

He has a hard jaw, and I wore rings, but that only meant that I also managed to hurt him.

"He was being a sexist prick. First he called me a pretty lady, then he basically told Flynn to control me so he could prove that he wore the pants." I said. "Oh, and he told Flynn and Max that no one wanted to see them kiss. Not only was he sexist, but he was also homophobic, so yes, I fucking punched him."

Ronan shook his head at me, wrapping the cold and wet cloth around my fist.

"Why were you not in your room?" Dad asked as he marched into the kitchen. "You're sick. You shouldn't be going to the mall with Max."

"I'm feeling a lot better." I said. "I needed some coffee and now I'm good. The nausea is gone."

Dad narrowed his eyes at me, slowly shaking his head.

"Your mother won't let it go as easily as I do. You know she worries about you."

"I know." I nodded. "That's why I rarely tell her when my glucose levels are abnormal."

Dad rolled his eyes at me, and I grinned while he walked back out of the kitchen.

"What's happening?" Ronan asked me. "You didn't have the flu if coffee was what made you feel better."

I shrugged.

"Maybe it was simply just nausea. Or some bad bacteria in my stomach. Who knows?"

Definitely bad bacteria in my stomach.

Ronan glanced at my face but he didn't push it further. He stepped away with the cloth, walking to the washroom while I sat on the kitchen island.

I looked down at my fist, my knuckles red and sore, with scratches on my skin.

I slid off the counter, shouting a thank you to Ronan. I walked out of the kitchen just as Max was about to walk in.

"Did you get it?" I asked, and he nodded, grabbing my hand before dragging me upstairs.

Once inside my bedroom, I shut the door, locking it.

Max pulled the box of pregnancy tests out of the inner pocket of his jacket. He handed it to me, and I let out a heavy sigh.

I knew I was pregnant, but for some reason, I needed the clarification that came with taking a teat yourself.

Maybe the doctor was wrong.

She could be wrong.

She had to be wrong.

Max went with me into the bathroom, making sure the doors were all locked while I peed in a small cup that came with the tests.

Then after washing my hands, I stood by the sink where I had my clear cup of pee standing.

"Why is it so yellow?" Max asked, making a face.

"Because I'm dehydrated." I muttered, opening the first rest. I put the test strap into the urine, head it for five seconds, and then put the lid back on.

There was five tests in the box, and once I had dipped them all, I put them flat against the sink.

I threw the urine out in the toilet, flushed and then got rid of the cup in the bin.

Washing my hands, I noticed Max stare at me, and I glanced at him through the mirror.

"What?"

"Are you in denial or something?" He asked me. "You were told by a doctor that you are pregnant but you still made me go and get a box of five pregnancy tests."

I shrugged.

"I need to see it with my own eyes. She may have been wrong."

"I don't think she was wrong, Maves. Your symptoms align with the early weeks of pregnancy."

I didn't answer him, because I knew he was right.

I turned around and leaned back against the sink.

"We should've been more careful." I sighed. "The condom must've ripped one of the times we opened it."

Max frowned. "Please don't tell me you opened the condoms with your teeth. So many people do that without realising it can make the condom rip."

I looked down at the floor, and Max sighed.

"I think I need to have a talk with Fred." He said. "Bro's twenty-two years old and he doesn't know not to use his fucking teeth."

"His other hand was sort of occupied." I said, and I couldn't help but laugh at that, Max laughing along with me.

"Do you actually want an abortion?" He asked me quietly. "I mean, if you do, I'll totally be there with you, but I also know you, Maves. You've always wanted kids one day."

"Exactly, one day, meaning not now." I told him. "I don't know, Max. I have no idea what to do. Fred is twenty-two. He's at an okay age to have his first child, but I'm only eighteen and we've only been dating for a little over a month."

"Okay." Max nodded. "I was just asking because I don't want you making a decision you might regret. As I said; I know you."

I nodded once, glancing at the tests but the minutes weren't up yet.

"It's just... we were irresponsible. Shouldn't you take responsibility of our actions? Or... I don't know."

Max walked over and sat down on the toilet seat.

"No, it's okay. Tell me how you feel about this. Without saying what you think you need to say. I'm right here, Maves. You can tell me everything."

I sighed and shut my eyes.

"I love babies, and I love children." I said, staring at the floor. "I've been waiting for one of my brothers to have children so I could have a baby in my life. Remember when I was sixteen and I was planning everything about the day I'd have children?"

Max laughed and nodded.

"But I'm so scared." I breathed. "Of telling Fred. Of my parents finding out. My brothers finding out. I'm scared of facing this shit."

"I know..."

"And what if this whole thing freaks Fred out to the point he doesn't want anything to do with me anymore? What if he thinks I'm trying to trap him? What if I choose to have an abortion and he doesn't want me to get one? Or what if I choose to keep it and he wants me to get rid of it? There are so many outcomes and I don't like any of them."

Max stood up and walked over to me. He wrapped his arms around me, cradling my head to his chest.

"If you want, we can go talk to someone about the different options." He said, kissing the side of my head. "The good thing about all of this, is that you're eighteen, so they can't tell your parents without your consent."

"Yeah." I breathed against his chest, hugging him closer. "Are the tests done?"

Max ran his fingers through my hair and I looked up at him to see his eyes drop to the tests on the sink.

"Yep." He nodded. "Turn around."

I turned, taking in the two lines on each of the five tests.

"Fuck." I sighed, running my hands over my face.

I punched the sink once before Max wrapped his arms around me, pulling me away from the sink and back into his arms.

"It's okay." He assured me. "You'll get through this."