Play Along With It

Test

~Tiffany~

After Norman and Sean showed me how to dispose of bodies, Norman and Sean led me back to the bar. Just as we were on the edge of the trees, I saw the rest of the gang members leaving the bar and heading towards a few black, heavy built cars. The leader seemed pretty pissed, and was on his phone. Either he had a cancelled hook up, or the henchmen went answering. I moved to stand closer to Norman, slightly nervous about the boss. He rubbed my arm, keeping an eye on the boss.

"We'll be fine." He muttered, pulling me into his side. We waited until the gang was in their cars, and then until they drove away. Sean timidly stepped out of the woods, and glanced down the road. He nodded once, and Norman led me out of the shelter of the woods. I glanced down the road, and saw nothing. "You did good, hon." Norman stated, smiling down at me.

"Thanks." I mumbled. I wasn't going to lie, helping kill people was definitely going to take some getting used to.

"Feeling ok? The first time is always the hardest." Sean stated, leading us back to the bar.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I muttered.

"You sure? You wanna go home?" Norm asked, pausing beside his bike.

"I'm fine. Let's get beer and celebrate my first mission!" I declared, smiling. I wanted some beer! Oh wait, I shouldn't...

"Alright. Let's get going then." Norman said, leading me into the bar. I bit my lip, having a bad feeling about this. I wanted beer, but I couldn't. I shouldn't. After all, earlier this morning, I found out something.

"See ya, Norman." I called, heading out the door. Norman had declined sex yesterday. But there was one thing that I couldn't forget. He had commented that my boobs were larger. And thinking back to it, ranch and pickles sounded strange. Yes I liked pickles alone, and ranch on my salad, but together? I had an idea, but I wanted to make sure.

I took my bike to the gas station Reggie worked at, and parked it out front. I had to lie to Norman that I was heading out to get some food, and I would, but I'd also get a test. I was only hoping Reggie had some tests. I headed inside, and I was greeted with a ring. I saw Reggie at the counter, watching football on a tiny TV with some antenna on the top. He glanced at me, and turned the TV down. "Hey Tiffany! What's up?" He asked.

"Do you have a women's hygienic section?" I asked.

"Sure. At the back. Why do ya need to go back there?" He asked.

"No reason you need to know." I muttered, heading to the back. I browsed the shelves, until I found a pregnancy test. I swallowed, and timidly took it off the shelf. I put it under my arm, and went to the junk food section. I really wanted chocolate covered pretzels and Cheetos, so that's what I grabbed. Then I grabbed some candy bars, chips, dip, beer, and some frozen pizzas. I headed back to the counter, and set all the items on the counter, including the pregnancy test. Reggie rung up the items, but paused at the test.

"So you an' Norm? Does he know you're gettin' one of these?" He asked, ringing it up.

"No. I want to know before I tell him." If I ever tell him. I remembered very well that Norman said he didn't want kids. I swallowed nervously and shifted.

"Alright. Think he'll like the news if ya are?" He asked.

"God I hope so." I mumbled, looking away.

"If ya wan', ya can take it here. So if ya aren't, he don't find the box." Reggie offered.

"Really Reggie?" I asked, feeling like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. "Thank you so much!"

"No problem." He said, smiling at me with his toothless mouth. I took the test and hustled to the bathroom, shutting and locking it. I sat down on the toilet and took the test out of the box. I stuck it under me and waited, sucking in a sharp breath while I thought.

If I am pregnant, will Norman be ok with it? What about Sean? Oh god, what if they hate kids? Maybe Norman doesn't like me enough for kids? Or what if Sean kicks me out, and Norman doesn't stop him? I mean, Sean seems to like me. Maybe Norman will be so scared of losing me that he'll let me stay, or maybe he'll force me to get an abortion. Or maybe make me give it up for adoption.

None of these thoughts were positive. I didn't want an abortion, I wanted kids eventually. And adoption just sounded cruel. We had a steady house, didn't pay taxes since we made our own energy and water. It would have to grow knowing that Norman and I didn't want it.

I finally pulled the test out, and sucked in a sharp breath. It was the two pink lines.

I threw it away quickly, and looked down at my tummy. "Oh god...oh my god..." I mumbled, covering my mouth. "No...no no no no..."

I quickly got up, washed my hands, and left the bathroom. I grabbed another test, and a blue slushy. I paid, a and Reggie gave me a pitiful look. I ignored it and headed to the bathroom.

~~~

Three tests and four slushy's later, and the tests were all positive. I sat crying on the toilet, wondering how the hell I was going to tell Norman.

I walked inside the bar, and Norman led us to an empty booth. I sat down smiling, but on the inside, I knew that if I didn't order beer, Norman would be suspicious and know something was up. Then I'd have to tell him. I had even said that I wanted beer earlier! I should've just agreed to let him go home and get dinner ready.

"Hey, you ok Tiffany?" He asked, resting a hand on my thigh. "You're being all jumpy."

"Yeah I'm fine. Just nervous." I mumbled. I wasn't lying at all either.

"I know. It's terrifying the first time, but it'll grow with you." He murmured. Oh yeah. Something will definitely grow with me. I was half hoping that Reggie had told Norman, and Norman was referring to the baby growing inside me. But I knew if that was the case, he wouldn't have let me do that with the gangsters.

"Hey, a round of your finest Bud Light over here!" Sean ordered. I swallowed nervously as the waitress came around with three mugs of amber liquid. Sean and Norman instantly took theirs, while I timidly took mine. I took one sip, and instantly felt sick to my stomach. I glanced at the two men, watching as they downed them. I smiled, and put the rim against my mouth, letting any into my mouth. I watched as Norman and Sean got more and more drunk, while I kept rubbing my tummy. Is one sip too much? Will it die now? I didn't want that. But maybe Norman would.