Who We Are (A Zodiac Story)

Flashback: TAURUS (3)

"She's pregnant, Cap!" Taurus shouts, flinging his arms wide in a gesture of exaggerated disbelief. "Pregnant!" he repeats, punctuating the word with the sharp, satisfying swish of a basketball swishing through the hoop on his door.

After Taurus' once-carefree life was turned upside down by the revelation of Bella's unexpected pregnancy, Capricorn was the first to hear about it.

Taurus seizes the ball that had rolled to the side of his bed, his grip tightening around the worn leather as he launches it skyward in the air, only to catch it. "Can you believe that?" he asks, his voice tinged with a desperate need for understanding, his eyes searching Capricorn's face for some semblance of clarity in the midst of this burgeoning crisis.

"You guys were fucking like every day, are you really that surprised?" Capricorn asks, turning a page in his book with a casual flick of his wrist. His gaze meets Taurus' with a pointed directness, his feet crossed beneath him as he leans against the sturdy frame of Taurus' bed.

Taurus scoffs, shaking his head in troubled exasperation. "My parents are going to kill me," he murmurs, the weight of his words dragging his shoulders down, "What should I do?" he asks, his eyes pleading for guidance.

"Tell them," Capricorn replies simply, closing his book with a decisive snap as he rises from his position on the bed.

Taurus groans, falling onto the bed with a theatric flourish. "Anything but that," he laments, the very thought of confronting his parents filling him with a sense of dread.

"You have to tell them, Taur," Capricorn insists, his features etched with a subtle concern that belies his outwardly detached demeanor. "They could help" he explains, his gaze sweeps over the cluttered room, a flicker of disapproval crossing his face as he gathers the scattered articles of clothing, depositing them into a hamper.

Taurus lets out a weary sigh, his eyes rolling skyward in a gesture of exasperation. "Please," he mutters, the word filled with sarcasm, "They can't wait for something like this to happen."

Capricorn's brow furrows as he regards his friend with a contemplative gaze. "Why do you say that?" he asks, his tone laced with a hint of genuine curiosity as he turns his attention to clearing the remnants of leftover food from Taurus' desk.

Taurus taps a finger against his chin in a mockery of deep thought. "Let's see..." he drawls, "Oh, right, they already think I'm lazy, irresponsible, and stupid." He pauses, his brow furrowing and his gaze suddenly sharpening as he turns to Capricorn. "You don't think that's true, right?"

Capricorn's response is a barely concealed snicker, his lips curling into a wry smile as he tosses the discarded food into the trash bin. "Well, I won't disagree," he quips, his tone betraying a hint of mischievous amusement.

"Cap!" Taurus exclaimed, springing up from the bed and launching at Capricorn. The two boys began to wrestle, the air filling with their good-natured laughter. Though Taurus knew he would likely be overpowered, he still found enjoyment in the playful scuffle.

FLASH

As the Bullard family moves about the kitchen, Mrs. Bullard's deft hands expertly plate the steaming portions of steak and mashed potatoes. The soft clinking of dishes and the gentle hum of conversation occupy the space as each member contributes to setting the table for dinner.

The family gathered around the sturdy, oak table, taking their seats as the soft glow of the overhead light caught the highlights in their hair. Taurus fidgeted nervously, rubbing his palms against the soft fabric of his pants - tonight was the night he would reveal Bella's pregnancy.

"Honey, you really outdid yourself," Mr. Bullard declares, his praise accompanied by a gentle kiss upon his wife's cheek as he takes his seat, his gaze sweeping over the spread before him.