One Night

Chapter 2: The Next Morning

XO POV

The next morning I woke up with blinding light in my eyes. I rubbed my face with my hands and slowly opened my eyes. As I looked around, an alarming feeling set in the pits of my stomach. All I knew that this was not my apartment. I finally looked over to the other side of the bed and saw Ronny from last night fast asleep.

No, no, no, no. I did not sleep with a practical stranger and spend the night in his apartment alone. I thought to myself frantically as I looked around the room trying to find my jacket and shoes.

I quickly found my things and ran out the door, hearing a distant, "Wait Xo!" I couldn't turn back, I just kept out the door until I caught a taxi.

RONNY POV

I woke up the next morning after a long shift next to Xo. I was pretty surprised last night when she actually flirted back with me and I was even more surprised when we rode home in a taxi together and started making out.

I had opened the door and welcomed her in. We sat down on the kiss where we continued kissing, our tongues carefully swirling together. She ran her fingers through my hair softly tugging it. I rubbed my hand against the small of her back. We then stood back up and headed to my bedroom, where things deepened.

That's how I woke up next to her. I never did this before, but I couldn't help it with her. Xo was different than any girl I had ever met, and something about her pulled me in. I was prepared to make her breakfast and take her home like a gentleman, but she soon scurried out of the apartment, and must have not heard my call. Before I could catch up to her she was gone just like that. I knew it was going to be a while before I got that smile out of my brain.

XO POV

I arrived home about ten minutes later, slowly trudging up the stairs. As I opened the door, I found Stacey on the couch watching t.v. and eating. "Hey" She mumbled, her mouth full. 

"Hey" I replied back a bit forcefully. 

"Woah.. Rough night? Bad sex?" Stacey teased.

 I flung my bag down, "Stacey!" I exclaimed and she looked up at me with surprise. "Why did you let me go home with that guy?" I asked her. 

"Ronny." She interrupted.

 I shot her a look, "That's besides the point! I never go home with guys, especially random ones! What if he killed me or gave me an STD?" I asked her rhetorically and she just chuckled. 

 "C'mon Xo. We were with you, Fi, Urs, and I all checked him out. Plus you both were getting along really well." Stacey assured me. 

I rolled my eyes but gave in, "Fine, fine." I surrendered.

I then headed to my room to get changed into some new clothes. When I got out, Stacey was on her laptop working. "Wanna go out again tonight?" Stacey asked as I opened up the fridge to get a soda. 

"Where?" I asked suspiciously. 

"The Bar again?" She suggested, and I immediately sent her a look.

 "No." I replied. 

"Fine." She said with a sing songy sigh.

BREAK

The next morning I headed off to work, an advertising agency downtown. I was officially one of the main advertisers ever since the project I work on six months ago turned into a million dollar campaign. I headed into my small office and quickly logged onto my computer. I opened up my email and found a recent one from my boss.

____________________________________________________________________________________

From: HurleyJCrestaAdv

Subject: New Deal

Message: We have a new client that has requested us for a multi-ad project. This company wants things hush hush right now, so I won't name names. However I will be holding a meeting in Conference Room B at 9 o'clock in two weeks, so please be there.

Sincerely,

James Hurley, Chief Advertising Director, Cresta Advertising.

I quickly responded that I would be there and got back to my other emails.

*TWO WEEKS LATER*

I woke up the day before the meeting and I felt a little nauseous. I shook it off and just figured it was a 24 hour bug. I slipped on a blouse and one of my favorite pencil skirts. I slid it on like normal, when I got a little stuck by my butt. I shimmied a bit and was in the clear until I tried to zip up the skirt. I felt bloated and decided I would stop budging with the skirt and put on a pair of jeans I had.

When I entered the kitchen, the strong smell of eggs hit my nose like an alarm. I pinched my nose and asked, "What are you cooking?" I felt a little queasy and covered my nose up with my blouse. 

"I'm making eggs benedict. You want some?" She asked, looking up from the food. 

I shook my head, "No, it smells revolting. I'm just gonna head to work." I replied, grabbing my bag and heading out.

I started to feel less nauseous as the day went on and noticed that instead of being revolted by food smells, I suddenly found my mouth watering at the sight of a sandwich a coworker was eating in the break room. Because of my nausea from the eggs, I forgot to pack a lunch, so I headed downstairs and ran across the street to pick up some lunch.

After work I felt completely fine, if anything, a bit bloated. However I shrugged it off and went to bed early, as the big advertising meeting was tomorrow.

The next morning I woke up and felt nauseous all over again. Today I just figured it was nerves and headed out like normal. I was too nervous to eat so I headed right into work. I wore one of my nicest suits and headed straight to the conference room, a thick pad of paper and pen right in my hands.

The other workers soon filed in, and my boss came in last. "Morning everyone." Mr. Hurley greeted jovially, and everyone replied a greeting in unison.

The meeting was going along slowly when my nausea was starting to overcome me. I suddenly felt the urge to vomit, and sharply stood up. My plan was to jog out, but I only made it as far as the potted plant behind me. I slowly threw up until I felt completely empty, yet nausea was still in me. The room was silent, and everyone was staring. "Ms. Triesta?" Mr. Hurley questioned. 

I felt my face flush, "I am so sorry Mr. Hurley. I don't know what came over me." I apologized quickly, I was completely mortified.

 Mr. Hurley shifted uncomfortably, "It's fine, why don't you just take the rest of the day off." He suggested, but in a tone that meant it as an order.

I walked to my car and headed home. When I got back into our apartment, I heard Stacey ask surprisedly, "Xo? What are you doing home?" I walked into her room and plopped down on her bed. 

"Well I was feeling nauseous, and during the big meeting, I vomited all over the potted plant in the conference room." I explained, embarrassment washing over me again.

 She looked at me sympathetically, "Oh Xo, I'm sorry. Are you feeling okay now?" She asked concerned. 

I nodded, "I'm a little nauseous but I'm fine." 

Stacey looked as if thinking about something, "Xo..' she started slowly. 

I looked up at her, "Yeah?" 

 "You don't think you're pregnant do you?" She more stated. I looked at her like she was crazy, but before I could respond, she cut in, "Xo just think about it. You have been nauseous, vomiting, nervous, moodyish, and you just had sex a couple of weeks ago." She stated the facts carefully, "When was your last period?" She asked. 

I thought about it for a minute, and the next thing that came out of my mouth was "Oh shit!"