My Brother's Best Friend's Friend (ON HOLD)

Chapter 15

I enter my house, not talking to anyone as I make my way up to my room. It's been a while since I've been home. Ever since the incident with Harry and my dad, I have felt uneasy about coming back. Ethan runs out of his room and into my arms, making me smile as I hold him tightly. I smooth out the back of his shirt as he wraps his arms around my neck as hard as he possibly can. His scent makes me feel calmer and forget about the fight with my dad.

"I've missed you," Ethan says and I smile, holding back the tears I feel rising into my eyes.

"I've missed you too, Ethan." I say in return. Ethan pulls back and presses a kiss to my cheek before running back to his room.

Walking into my room, I see Lauren sitting on my bed. She is on her laptop, biting her lower lip as though she is nervous or something. Lauren looks a bit bigger than the last time I seen her. How many more weeks does she have?

"Hey," I say out loud, managing a smile.

Lauren jumps from the sudden sound and laughs nervously, closing her laptop before meeting my eyes. "Hey, you came back."

"Yeah, well its been a while. Plus, I wanted to ask you for a favor." I say.

"What is it?" Lauren asks.

"I have this art project due in a couple days. I have to draw someone and I was wondering if I can draw you so you can keep it as memories too." I tell her and she looks at me with interest.

"Of my face?"

"No," I reply. "For the picture, I want you to look towards the wall so that your side is facing me. Then I just want you to look down at your stomach and hold it. It will be beautiful, trust me."

"Okay," Lauren smiles.

"Alright, just stand right there and try to stay still." I say and she laughs.

As I draw, I deftly move my wrist along with the pencil and meticulously shade in the spots that need to be shaded darker than others. Lauren's body is the easiest to draw, it's just the side of her head I have problems with. I don't want to make it to dark nor to light so I try my best to shade it between both options as she stands still.

"Can I tell you something?" Lauren asks.

"As long as you don't move," I laugh.

"I've umm... I've been considering adoption for the baby. You know, so someone else can have him or her when it's born." Lauren nervously speaks.

"What? Why?" I stop drawing.

"It's hard, Alex. You have no idea the pain I go through everyday. You have no idea how hard it is to know that The person who got me pregnant isn't going to be there to support me nor our baby." Lauren tears up. "I feel like I won't be able to do this. I won't have help and I'm going to get no where in life because I am only sixteen and I haven't finished school."

"Lauren, you can't say that. You know that my family is going to be there for you no matter what. Even though you aren't my parents child, they aren't going to be like your mom. Please, we are going to be there for you the entire time. You can't just give your child away." I say.

"You don't understand because it has never happened to you before." Lauren replies, tears streaming down her face.

"Lauren," I say, getting up to hug her. Tears stain my shirt as she cries out everything she is feeling. My heart aches, knowing that I might never know what she is going through. I hold her tightly as she continues to cry, her stomach hitting mine because of how big it is.

"I'm sorry," Lauren laughs, referring to her stomach.

"Don't worry about it," I smile and so does she.