To Believe In Promises (Tumbling Down trilogy - DM fanfic)

Plus A Secret (Ch.2)

So I've been getting sick all this time. The tiredness, irritability, cramp-like pains...

I stand up and wipe my mouth, flushing the toilet. I leave the stall, wash my hands, and go to get more water.

My stomach still feels a bit off, but I go back to Studio A.

Gianna: Are you okay? You look...pale.
Me: I'm fine. Where were we?
Gianna: Mackenzie, go home. You don't look right.
Me: I'm fine, I swear. Just tired.
Gianna: Seriously. Go home. It's okay.

There's never any argument to an instructor sending you home. I nod, collecting my things, and head home.

The night air feels good against my skin. It's not too hot or cold, but the wind hits my hair and dries some sweat on my forehead.

I walk inside and shower, realizing something as I undress: I had cramps but my period never came. It's at least a week late now.

That's not good.

Oh my god. I look at myself in the mirror.

Irritability.
Cramps.
Tiredness.
No period.

No. It can't be. We used protection.

I gently touch my palm to my stomach.

Oh god.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Mom: Kenz, wake up.
Me: No! I don't feel good.
Mom: What do you mean?
Me: My stomach. I threw up last night.
Mom: Threw up?!
Me: Yeah. At dance. Gianna sent me home.
Mom: Okay. I'll call you in.

She runs her fingers through my sweaty hair and leaves me to sleep again.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Abby: It's okay Mackenzie. You can do your solo next weekend.
Me: But I feel alright, I just-
Abby: I don't need you getting worse just so you can go to a competition. I want you to stay home. Rest up.
Me: Fine.
Abby: Okay.

I hang up the phone and curl under my blankets again.

Hannah is in a junior college this year, so she's not too far from home. Once Mom leaves for the day, I text Hannah. "Hey, I need you to get me something. Don't question me. I don't want to be questioned."

She texts me back a couple minutes later: "...what?"

It takes me fifteen seconds to write the text. It takes me nearly 15 minutes to get the guts to send it. "A pregnancy test."

~*~*~*~*~*~

I hold the phone to my ear, shakily. I can barely talk through my tears.

Hannah: Mackenzie, you can't be serious.
Me: I am. I'll pay you back for it. But I need one.
Hannah: I have another class in fifteen minutes. I can be over with it by 3.
Me: Okay.

I wait anxiously for Hannah to arrive, hoping nobody comes home.

When she gets here, I open the door. She looks at me and I burst out in tears.

She hugs me tightly and tells me to go inside.

~*~*~*~*~*~

A minute for the results. Just a minute.

60 seconds between life and death.

Or life and two lives...

Me and Hannah stand without looking, waiting. That's when I hear the front door open. Mom.

Hannah: What do we do?
Me: Uhhh...my room. Closet.

We rush into my room. Hannah takes the stuff and I jump in bed. Mom enters a couple seconds later.