Ruthless

Chapter 23

Shailene Point of View

I get into my hotel room in Germany late. 10:47pm. That flight from Copenhagen took longer than expected. Theo and I took different flights, but I know that he wasn't too long behind me.

The hotel room is beautiful. Simple, elegant. Just for me.

I check the refrigerator and see that it's fully stocked, which makes me happy.

I run to the bathroom to turn the boiler on so the water can start heating for my shower, and I throw my suitcase onto my bed. Then I go into the kitchen to start cooking my pasta.

I don't have time to make a sauce, or the energy, so I decide to heat up a ready made one instead.

It cooks quickly and soon I have a steaming plate ready for my consumption.

*ding ding*

I check my phone to see that my friend Roxy text me back. She's familiar with the New York medical field, so I asked her to send me the info of a good doctor. I'm not entirely sure what's going on with my body and to be honest, I'm too scared to take another pregnancy test.

I bought another one on my way to the hotel just in case I changed my mind, and it's currently laying wrapped in a blue plastic bag inside my suitcase thrown on the bed. Only, in case I change my mind.

I read Roxy's text again.

Dr. Emily Campbell

OB/GYN

Strainheart Medical Centre

Manhattan, New York

01 468597356

I look at the clock on the wall. 11:03.

Roxy said they stay open late. I dial the number and wait for someone to pick up.

After four rings, someone finally does. "Strainheart Medical Centre, this is Ruth speaking, how can I help?"

I sigh loudly. Annoyed. You have to be fucking kidding me!

"Hello?" she says again.

I clear my throat. "Yeah, hi. Umm.. basically, I need to see Dr. Campbell. Urgently. When's the nearest date available?"

I hear clicking, probably on a keyboard. "Lets see...how does April 2nd sound?"

Are you fucking joking? April? I don't know what's wrong with me, for all I know I could be dead by April 2nd!

There's a knock on my hotel door. "Not, great. I was hoping for something sooner." I say as I walk to the front door. I look through the peephole. It's Theo. And his suitcase. He must have come straight from the airport.

I open the door and smile. I wave my hand to signal for him to come in and he does. I walk back into the kitchen and lean my elbow on the marble counter top. Theo lays on the sofa and watches me through the archway.

"Well," Ruth says. "You have to realise, Dr. Campbell is very good at what she does and is very high in demand. I mean if you were pregnant.. That's a different story."

I stand up straight. "Well..If I was pre-" I glance to see Theo still watching me. "If I was, could I get in sooner?"

There's clicking again. Damn keyboard deciding my fate. "Yep, definitely. But are you?"

I ponder for a second. What do I do? Do I say I'm pregnant, and get in quickly but then face the embarrassment of it most likely not being true, or do I wait till April?

You know what, fuck it. I don't know what's wrong with me. I might not make it to April.

"Hello? Ma'am you still there?"

"Yeah, Im here."

So..are you pregnant or not?" Ruth asks again.

I take a deep breath. "Yeah, I am. So when can you get me in?"

"Umm...March..sixt..seventeenth. That okay?"

I grin widely." Yeah that's perfect thank you!" The day after the premiere.

I'm about to hang up when she yells "Wait! You didn't give me a name to put into the system."

Awh shit. I can't give her my real name. If I do, she'll run to the press and then, Wam Bam Thank you ma'am, everyone is gonna know I'm pregnant. When I might not even be.

"Umm.. Gem..ma Kear..ney." I slap my forehead in annoyance. Kearney, really? It was the first name that came to mind. Maybe because I still feel guilty for that kiss. And now Theo's staring at me probably wondering why I'm saying his girlfriends surname.

"Okay Mrs. Kearney, Dr.Campbell will see you on March seventeenth. You'll receive a text message with the time within the next few days. Goodnight" She hangs up.

I put the phone down on the counter and sit at the kitchen table. Theo gets up off the couch and sits down across from me. "There's beer in the fridge if you want some." I say.

He shakes his head. "Nah, I'm good. I wanna do this with a clear head." he says referring to the conversation we're about to have.

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Last time drinking didn't go so well..."

"Yeah.." he agrees.

We sit in awkward silence. Him staring at the table, me eating my pasta.

Eventually he speaks up. "Who's Gemma Kearney?"

I smile sadly. "I knew you'd bring it up. I had to give a fake name to the doctor. Everyone pretty much knows Shailene Woodley."

He nods. "Why are you calling the doct-"

I interrupt him. "Yeah, look, can you wash up for me? I'm gonna go shower."

"But you're not even finished.." he says. He's right, the plate is still full. I didn't even eat half of it.

"Yeah, I know but just..please?" I don't wait for a response. I head straight for the bathroom.

I strip quickly and hop in the shower. It calms me down a little. I feel dizzy as if I'm about to pass out.

It only occurs to me now that I don't have a towel. Damn it. I turn off the faucet and call out "Theo!"

"What?" he yells back.

"Can you bring me a towel? They're in my suitcase!"

I hear him laugh."You want me to see you naked?"

I grin. "No! Just bring me a towel."

I stand there waiting for a good five minutes. "Theo? THEO? For gogs sake just bring me the towel!"

Nothing. No answer and still no towel.

I start muttering angrily. I quickly put on my old clothes and stomp out of the bathroom pissed off.

"All I asked for was a-" I stop in my tracks when I see him sitting on my bed. I gasp and my mouth falls open. "Shit," I mutter.

He turns to look at me and holds up the white box. He took it out of the blue plastic bag.

"Shai, why do have a pregnancy test?"