Stronger

Chapter Two

It's been about a month since graduation. It has sucked. I haven't left the confines of my house, well room but a girl has to pee and eat. Well here I sat looking at what is going to change my life forever. In my hand was the pink test, a pregnancy test. I peed on the stick and was waiting to see the results. I felt the tears sting my eyes as I looked at the test. I curled up on my bed with a hand were my little baby's home could be. It would take three minutes till I could know but I already know I am. I haven't gained weight but my stomach was trying to expell my guts so that's a dead giveaway, but I hope I'm not. Avery broke up with me because he couldn't take a distance that would be between us. He didn't want me. Why would he care if I was carrying his child? Why would he want it?

He wouldn't. I couldn't do that to him anyway. I couldn't ruin his whole career because I wasn't careful. He has his whole life to live for. I don't think I could take care of a baby by myself, but I would have too because I don't think I could ever give it up or get rid of it. I could never see how someone could get rid of a baby. I could never abort it. It was a living thing, a little baby. An innocent baby who didn't choose to be pushed into this world. It didn't choose to be born. It just would be.

I looked at the test and let a sob out as I saw the answer. It was positive. I was pregnant. I was growing another life inside me. I felt the tears roll down my face as I stared at it. I missed the sound of the front door opening and closing till I saw my mom standing in my door way. "Charlotte Ryan what the hell is in your hands?" She snapped at me. I looked up as she pulled the test out of my hand.

"Give it back, Mom." I snapped at her. She huffed and pulled out her cell phone.

"You get your ass down stairs right now." I slowly got out of bed and went down the stairs slowly. I curled up on the couch with Mom glaring at me till Dad came through the door. He looked at us before sitting down on a chair across from me.

"What's wrong? What's going on?" He asked looking at the two of us. "Why did you pull me out of work? What's the emergency?"

"Why don't you tell him?" Mom snapped coldly at me. Just to say I never really got along with my mom, I was always a Daddy's girl. But she was never like this. I never had the perfect family, but my mom was at least nice to me. I looked at Dad.

"I'm pregnant." I whispered. His face turned hard as he stared at me.

"Isn't this just great. My only daughter is a huge slut." She snapped at me. I looked down at my pajama covered knees. "I want you out by the time I get back from dinner with my girlfriends." She got up and walked out the door without even looking at me. "God If they knew about this." She mumbled to herself. I felt the tears start to trickle down my face slowly. I was nothing but a huge slut to her. I was a huge slut in total. I was falling apart. Nothing was going right. Avery dumped me, my mother doesn't love me, my Dad is going to hate me, but the one thing I am sure of is no matter what, I am keeping this baby. This baby did nothing wrong. It deserved to be loved. And right now I had enough to go around. I felt gentle fingers pulling my chin up so I would look at their owner. Dad wiped away my tears as pressed his lips to my head.

"I'm so sorry Daddy." I cried. He pulled me into a hug and held me tight. "Please don't hate me." I cried at him. "I didn't mean to."

"Shhh it's going to be okay Charlie. I promise it will be okay." He whispered stroking my hair. "It will be alright." I looked up at him my lip wobbling.

"What am I going to do?" I mumbled whipping my eyes roughly on my sleeve. Dad sighed.

"Your mother wouldn't let you stay here." My formed in my eyes again.

"Then where am I going to stay?" He shook his head.

"You can stay with Jacob." I looked at him. Jacob was my older brother who lived away from us working in Wisconsin. It's why I wanted to go to college near him, so I could be near him. I love my brother.

"Why would he want me?" I asked Dad. He stroked my cheek.

"Baby your brother loves you. Go call him." He stood up handing me his phone. "I'll go throw some things into a bag for you." I dialed Jacob's number praying he answered.

"Hey Dad what's up?" I heard his voice say after the fourth ring.

"Hi Jake." I said weakly.

"Hey Char, what's up?" He asked shocked. I bit my lip.

"I was wondering.....you know if I could come live with you for a little bit?" I closed my eyes waiting for his answer.

"Charlotte what is wrong?" He asked me seriously, his happy voice gone.

"You're going to hate me." I cried biting onto my thumb nail.

"Charlotte what is going on?" He asked carefully.

"I'm pregnant." I waited for his answer closing my eyes tightly.

"Mom kicked you out." He wasn't asking. He knew she did. "I'll get the guest room ready."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I'm your brother. I help you out when you need it. Right now, you need it." He cleared his throat. "Call me when you hit the road." I whipped my eyes again.

"Okay." I said quietly. "I love you."

"I love you too, Kid. See you soon." I hung up as Dad came down the stairs. He cocked his head asking the silent question. I nodded as he put my bag down.

"I'll mail you the rest of the things that you can fit in your car. But I'll get all your clothes now. Go shower, I laid out a pair of sweats for you on your bed." I nodded hugging him.

"Thank you for not hating me Daddy." He held me.

"I could never. So go shower."