Love Bites

Chapter 25 - Help!

Charlie's palms went sweaty and sticky as she knocked on Elle's door. She came to talk to her friend, but right know she felt she didn't want to do that. She didn't have the guts.

Charlotte tried not to think what would happen after they have spoken. She didn't let her mind go that far. If that's just a gossip, they will have a drink together and go on living pretending nothing happened. And if she is going to have a baby...That's what made Charlie jittery.

But there was nothing to do and nowhere to hide. Elle's lazy voice invited her to open the door and get in. Charlie hesitated in the doorway for a couple of seconds, then crossed herself for some reason - she wasn't the most religious person so she rarely did that - and took a step forward.

She found Pomeline lying on the bed with her feet comfortably resting on the pillows. The whole room smelled awful. Charlie though it was because it hasn't been cleaned for a while at first, but then noticed a bottle of red polish on the table and figured out she has been painting her nails. New Kids On The Block were blasting out at full volume. Charlie understood that was one of the main reasons they didn't share a room.

- Hey Ellie, am I bothering you? - she asked softly, shuffling her foot. Elle slowly opened her eyes, still lip-synching to the song that she was playing. She smiled weakly and shook her head.

- Come on, what's wrong? - Elle wondered, stretching out her hand so she could feast her eyes on her freshly-polished nails. Charlie awkwardly shifted from one foot to another and decided to take a seat at the edge of the bed. She felt like her voice might hoarsen now even though it seldom did. She cleared her throat.

- Nothing, uh-oh...Everything's alright, I guess, but... well, a little bird told me...are you pregnant, tell me!

- How? - Elle quickly sat up and grabbed Charlie's shoulder. Her eyes were disturbingly aglow. - How the fuck did you find out? Did...did he tell you?

Charlie almost jumped back. She could literally feel her heart in her mouth.

- No, I just...Heard that somewhere...Perhaps Scott told me...

- Don't you fucking lie to me! Nobody knows! - Elle spat out, anxiously crossing her arms on her chest. A frown has eaten her face, and her lips were biten to blood. It was strange how such a pretty face could look so ugly.

- Alright then...Duff broke it to me, - Charlotte mouthed. Her lips were absolutely dry and she was out of breath. - Damn what is wrong? It is not my fucking fault!

Elle didn't scream back, neither did she swear or say something. Charlie turned round so she would face her, but Elle's head was buried in the pillow. Her shoulders were shaking slightly.

- Oh my God, - Charlie whispered, her fingers lifting to her mouth, - dear...don't! I didn't mean to...Don't cry, Ellie! Please!

Soon she was shaking, too, but not because tears were flowing down her face. She was dizzy and scared, but she did her best not to show that and calm Elle down. Her hand was caressing her spine, but it didn't help much.

- So...you...you and your stupid boyfriend fucking eavesdrop...- Elle sobbed, squeezing her pillow. Nail polish was everywhere - she must have smudged the top coat, - and then go and tell me...Come on, say! Say it, Charlie! You think I am...I'm a whore, don't you?

- Shut up, Ellie, stupid! - Charlie yelled as if she was about to start weeping, - just shut up! I would never say anything like that in my damn life! You know how much I love you...You are my best friend, after all. Gosh, but...Are you fine?

- Yeah, - Elle wiped her nose with the back of her hand, smearing mascara all over her face. Tears sparkled in the corner of her eyes and her cheeks had an unhealthy rosy color. - Much better now.

- Glad to know...Feeling okay? I mean, well...

It looked like they would need a box of Cleenex soon. Charlie sat cross-legged and stared attentively at Elle. She didn't look different at all, same slightly messy long hair, same little nose, same narrow waist. Maybe only her face appeared to be a tad swollen, but it was logical since she has been crying.

- No, - Elle fixed her hairstyle and cleaned the smudged make-up. She hated looking anything but good. - I used to throw up every morning, but it's gone now...I assumed it was because I drink too much, you know. Look at me, I'm so ugly! Such a fat cow!

- Nah, you are beautiful, - Charlotte objected, - just like you used to be. You haven't put on a single pound.

- But I am going to! I will be huge and won't fit into my cute old clothes!

- Hey, wait...What are you...Are you like, going to do something about it?

- Do something? Like, kill her?I don't have the fucking money, - Elle shrugged. The flashing in her smile looked suspiciously triumphant. - I am broke, b-r-o-k-e! That guy from Acid didn't pay me a cent, and I am still expecting these fifty bucks from Seventeen to arrive. I hardly have something to buy food!

- That's not a problem, I got some extra at Johnny yesterday, - Charlie remarked. Despite hating her job with all her guts, she couldn't deny it brought her money, and her boss even gave her some cash the day before. - But I guessed...You're only nineteen, after all. Sorry...

- Firstly, I will be twenty when she's born. Secondly, have you ever thought how much does an abortion cost? A freaking fortune! And it would be bad for my health to do it. First pregnancy, see, I'm already enough with my irregular periods!

Charlie took a look at her friend once again. Elle was so horribly thin it was incredibly hard to believe she could have children. Charlie could literally see her bones through the skin. But apparently, it didn't matter. So there were actually three of them in the room. This thought caused a very unpleasant sucking feeling in Charlie's stomach. She could become pregnant, too, despite being so young. Damn, that's just plain weird! Of course, she had never been as discreet and thoughtless as Ellie sometimes could, but still, it was disturbing.

- Also, what if he wants that child?

- Axl? Kidding me? - Charlie goggled. She wiped her sweaty hands. - How can you imagine that? He'a such a baby himself!

- A prick, you wanted to say?

- No, how old is he? Also nineteen?

- I don't know...I think about twenty four?

- For real? He doesn't look his age. He's a kid! And well, not the most patient and loving guy as far as I've understood. And...excuse me, are you sure the baby is his?

- Well, almost, - Ellie's rosy cheeks turned red, - and even if not, so what? Izzy could see her, too. Take her to the park at the weekends...

- Pomeline, are you dumb?! Take her to the park! Come back to earth! I love to dream too, you know, maybe in some imaginary universe I'm tall, big-boobed and married to Henry Rollins, but I do understand in fact I'm Charlie Withers and I am seeing Duff McKagan, which is also not bad at all, must admit...What I wanted to say is that there is no way you are going to get two different guys into your child's life!

- But why? I am going to have a sweet little girl whom I will dress up and do her hair, and they are going to love her to pieces! - Elle tried to say, but she sounded like she wasn't convinced. Charlie frowned.

- I think you are going to get in trouble unless you go and discuss everything with Axl.

- Charlie, - Elle whined, her perfectly plucked brows knitting, - I can't! I don't know what to do...I need help.

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♪ The Beatles - Help!

Author's note: Has anybody seen the movie Help? It's rather funny. :) Read, comment and vote, and also live happily.