Shooting Stars

Chapter 43: Pondering Futures

{Ally}

Jonathan and I dip our feet into the warm pool water.

It's still Thursday, July 31.

It's about 10:30 in the evening, and Jonathan and I are the only people home tonight.

My parents were invited over to the Kane's for dinner, and Lilly is out somewhere.

So that leaves Jonathan and I completely alone.

We had eaten dinner outside together, and now we are simply sitting on the ledge of the pool, dipping our feet in the warm water.

It's dark outside.

Crickets are chirping, and the lights in the pool are on, allowing the shimmer from the water to dance all over the outside of the pool, reflecting it's glimmer.

I am not pregnant.

It is one-hundred percent certain.

We found that out this morning at my doctor's appointment.

The relief that washed over me once I heard that was beyond compare.

Jonathan's grip on my hand loosened, and the two of us simply embraced each other, hugging tightly.

I am not going to be a mom anytime soon.

And at this point in my life, that is perfectly fine with me.

According to Dr. Brooks, the reason for my nausea is because I'm about to start my period.

It was so late this time around, simply because of the hormones in my body.

It happens, apparently.

As for the pregnancy test?

That was just a simple mistake. 

There is always that one chance that the pregnancy test gets it wrong, and apparently, for me, it had.

I had called Patrick, as soon as we got home from the clinic.

He sounded like a nervous-wreck on the other line.

I told him the news, and he was immediately relieved. I could physically hear him getting less tense as I told him that it was a false alarm.

He was utterly relieved, as he seemed pretty freaked out about what was happening.

Trust me, Jonathan and I were too.

We both decided that it was best not to tell anyone else, other than Patrick.

"Jonathan, I can't thank-you enough for being there for me these past couple days. Most guys would have gotten scared and just... left." I say, staring straight out into the pool.

"Why the hell would I leave you?" He asks, as I feel his gaze move onto me.

"I don't know." I shrug, laughing.

"It was a huge sigh of relief to find out you weren't pregnant, though." Jonathan admits.

"Yeah." I nod, laughing.

For a few moments, both of us are silent, until I finally speak.

"The pool looks so nice." I say, changing the subject.

"It does." He agrees.

And right then, of course, Jonathan scoops me up and hurls me into the pool.

I should have expected this.

I surface from the water, and see him looking down at me laughing.

"Jonathan!" I cry, trying not to laugh.

He then pulls of his shirt, and jumps in after me.

I'm hit in the face with the splash of water that he created from jumping into the pool.

I close my eyes, and then when I open them, he's looking straight at me, smiling.

"Goof." I say, giggling.

We stand in the shallow end of the pool, so both of us can easily touch the bottom.

And comfortably, at that.

I wrap my legs around his waist, and he supports me by holding my thighs.

"I love you so much. And I know I say this all the time, but Jonathan, I really, really, really love you." I say, closing my eyes.

He puts his forehead against mine.

"I love you too, Ally." He says, quietly.

We stand there, embracing each other for a while.

My clothes are soaking wet, and my hair is as well.

I can feel the extra weight that has been added onto me because of my wet clothing.

As if Jonathan is reading my mind, he sets me down, and then helps pull of my shirt.

My shorts are next.

I'm left in just my under garments, as if I were wearing a bikini.

"That's better," Jonathan smirks, as he eyes me carefully.

"Careful there, Captain Serious. We don't actually want to get pregnant yet." I wink, laughing.

He blushes, and bites his lip.

And for a while after that, it is quiet.

The clear dark sky sits above us, and the moments of this beautiful night can almost be heard.

The dance of the stars above us lingers through the night, and it feels as if the sky possesses galaxies.

Galaxies close to earth, and not as far away as they are in reality.

There is a long pause before Jonathan speaks again.

"Someday we'll have kids," Jonathan says, quietly.

He wraps me up in his arms, tightly.  

I bite my lip and look down at the water, when he speaks again.

"Just not today."