The Fighter

Chapter Seven

Ten days later...

I hold Xzauni (Ex- Zah- Nee) in my arms and rock him back and forth. Singing a lullaby softly, trying to make him go back to sleep. I had chosen the name Xzauni because it's different and to me, it stands out. Honestly it kind of suits him.

"Everything will be alright. Your big sister is here to catch your tears and help you fight your fear. Be a strong fighter little baby, I love you Xzauni." I make up as I go in my head. I try to sing but my voice doesn't sound to good as I make up the lyrics as I sing them. It almost sounds as if I were questioning the words that fell from my mouth.

"Ashtyn, Isabella is wants you downstairs." Mikey says a little to loud as he walks in the nursery. I turn around and glare at him. Xzauni starts crying and I evilly smile at Mikey. I stride towards him and place Xzauni in his arms. Mikey holds him like he doesn't know how and I give him the bottle.

"Sing to him. It helps." I say before exiting the room, leaving the two inside alone. I smile as I walk downstairs into the kitchen.

Isabella stands in the centre of the kitchen, her back turned to me as she leans on the island. I clear my throat and she puts down a coffee mug that she had in her hands. Her eyes are bloodshot, as if she had been crying. I immediately clue in that something isn't right. I walk towards her and I wrap my arms around her frail body. She starts crying softly and I feel her body jump as I hug her. We don't say anything for a long period of time. Isabella takes a breath and wipes off her eyes as she sniffles. I rub her back and looks at her tear stained cheeks. She let's out a laugh and I furrow my eyebrows at her.

"I didn't mean to be so.... Emotional on your shoulder." Isabella says. Her voice shaking and she gives me a small smile. My lips form a thin line and I move my hand to her shoulder.

"Isabella, you don't have to apologize. You needed someone and I'm here for you." I say to her. She smiles and I smile back at her. I wonder why she called me down? I know for a fact that it wasn't to cry on my shoulder. There's something behind those tears that she's not telling me. I need to know so I can help her through it. I don't really know her enough to ask the personal questions, but the past two weeks she's been my best friend. Honestly, I never had a girl best friend before. So I'm not really sure about how this works. I just know that I'll have to be here for her and get to her better.

"What's wrong? Who's jaw do I have to break?" I say sounding a little to serious. Isabella looked at me wide eyed and I let out a laugh. "I was joking. Don't worry. But really, what's wrong?" I add. She smiles and looks at the ground. Letting out a breath again. She looks a little nervous and I can tell that she's to embarrass to tell me. Did she get an STD or something? I mean, I know I'm me but I can take things seriously. Especially if it's Isabella. She has a rough past and she can't tell what's a joke and what's not. Long story short: her father used to molest her. Everyone here has a past. Mikey got three years in jail for killing the man who raped and murdered his mother in front of him. Carter used to be used as a sex toy and people would buy her body. Melissa was caught kissing and sexually interfering with another women, there was nothing wrong with it but her parents were religious and that kind of stuff was a sin. So they starved and abused her in the basement where she lived for almost six years. I, for one, thought that was cruel and sick of what her parents did to her. Carlos's dad saved her and then Carlos was born a few days later. So Melissa and carter knew each other since birth. Melissa is like twelve years older though.

"Darren and I got drunk like a month ago because well, we were celebrating. He just got out of jail and I just happened to be there. We got really drunk and we- we had, uh" she looked at me and I let out a giggle. I nodded my head and told her I get what she meant. She's really embarrassed to talk about things like that and honestly, I'm honoured that she's feeling me this. Her and Darren had sex. Good. She kind of needed it anyway. Maybe that's why she was so happy the other day.

"Yesterday, I checked the calendar because my period was late. I noticed that it was almost two weeks late. So I panicked and went to the pharmacy. Ashtyn, I literally bought two of every pregnancy test there was and took all of them when I got home. Every single one but two of them were positive. The clear blue rest said that I was one month pregnant. Darren was the only one I slept with that month." Her voice started to get shaky and I grabbed her hand, running soothing circles with my thumb. She licked her lips and closed her eyes. "I talked to him that day as he was working on the car. I asked him how he felt about kids, he told me that he didn't mind them and that they seemed like fun. So I asked him if he ever wanted kids, he said No, not me. I'd rather have nieces, nephews, and cousins. So I just changed the subject. Then I came in here and told Mikey to go get you." As she finished her story I was shocked. More surprised but shocked. Isabella pregnant? I mean sure I knew she would kids one day but she's so young and full of life yet. She need to explore more before she actually has the time on her hands to raise a child. I couldn't help but look at her stomach. She's still really small and you can't tell that there's a baby in there yet but in two months, you will be able to see the bump. She holds her hand over her stomach and she softly cries.

"I don't think I can do this. If Darren doesn't want kids then neither do I. I can't do this alone." She cries and I hug her again. I rub her back and I close my eyes. I pity Isabella right now. Darren's going to look after this child wether he likes it or not. I'll make him do it.

"Darren will help you. He'll be there for you, I can promise you that. He's not that kind of guy, Isabella. If you tell him then I know for a fact that he'll change his mind. Tell him the story that you told me. Tell him that he was the only one. And if he don't believe you then fuck him. When the baby is born get a test and show him the results. Carlos won't let Darren leave that easily. Don't worry." I assure her. It seems to work and she smiles wide. She pulls me in for a hug and thanks me like a million times. She kissed my cheeks before thanking me again then leaving the room.

"Ash, downstairs now. We got a lead." Darren says as Isabella leaves the kitchen. We both look at each other and pray that he never heard out conversation. That's no way to find out that your one night stand is having your baby. Hopefully he didn't.