When He's Gone

Chapter 13: Perfect Timing

I wipe the tears from my cheeks as I carefully fold up the letter and put it back in the wrinkled envelope. Brooklyn has a thing for perfect timing, but little does he know that now is the time I needed to hear from him the most. I slip on one of his old hoodies and take a moment to get myself together, although I know I'm going to fall apart when Renee and Richard come home. I grab my computer and go sit on the couch downstairs. I might as well start working on the mountain of homework I have neglected to do.

A couple of hours later I hear the car pull into the driveway and I completely freeze. "Here goes nothing" I whisper while placing a hand on my stomach, "we're in this together." I take a deep breath and try to act natural as my parents come through the door. They walk in without acknowledging my presence- per usual. They sure as hell won't miss me when I'm gone.

After awhile Richard comes in and sits down beside me on the couch while Renee begins to prepare dinner for them. He starts making small talk and I fake my way through my day at school. Our conversation falls silent and after awhile Renee joins us. I take a deep breath and speak up, "I have something to tell you." They both stare me down and I attempt to prep myself for their aftermath of what is about to happen. "I'm pregnant." After a few silent moments, Richard gets up and leaves the room yelling, I can't make out what he's saying but his tone is enough to scare me. "You have to be kidding me, Alexia. I thought you were better than this" Renee says harshly. I try fighting back tears but I fail. The second they begin to trickle down my cheeks, they yell at me even more.

I get up and go to my room, flop myself on my bed, and stick in my headphones to drown out the chaos downstairs. I put on videos of Brook and I to try and make me feel better, but Richard barges in my room with a beer in his hand. "You better pray that you come up with a plan." I nod my head as Renee comes in the door, "if you're responsible enough to get pregnant you're responsible enough to take care of the baby on your own." She looks at me almost as if she's sorry but I know very well that she's not. I mention I have a plan and Richard replies, "you better be out of this house by the time I get home from work tomorrow." Renee tells Richard to leave me alone and the two of them exit my room talking about how bad of a child I am. I wait for them to get downstairs before leaving my room to take a bath.

When I get into the bathroom, I hear the car pull out of the driveway and I feel as if a million pounds has been lifted off of my shoulders. I sink myself down into the bubbles and lay my head back to relax. As I start drifting off, my phone snaps me awake.

It's Brooklyn.

What did I say about perfect timing?