Letting Go (Harry Styles AU)

Chapter 44: Family Again

A.N: So it's been a while...a really long while. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to finish this book so here we go. There are probably going to be around 10 chapters left.

Also, I know it's supposed to be Harry's POV next, but that would have just been a fluff camp chapter so I'm breaking my own rules and giving her another one. See you next week. 

Natalie

Taking a deep breath, I nearly choked. Good grief. They must have poured an entire bottle of rubbing alcohol on this table. I nearly made a comment about the need for febreeze, but I kept my mouth shut. I wasn't going to be the one to break the silence. I was going to keep staring at the ceiling as if the white tiles were the most interesting thing in the world.

An eternity later, the door opened. I glanced at Dr. Morris's face for a split second and saw everything I needed to see. There was no point in sitting up so I just laid flat on my back as he placed the x-rays on the wall. I already knew what he was going to say.

"You were right Ben." He murmured, readjusting his glasses on his nose. "This is one of the most advanced cases I've ever seen."

I snorted. Please. He's a family doctor in Starkville. I'm probably the only case of hip dysplasia he's ever seen.

Ben shot me a look and continued listening intently as Dr. Morris explained what was going on in my x-ray. I zoned out again, letting my left leg swing back and forth on the side of the table. My hip is screwed. I need a replacement. Then I'll need lots of physical therapy. Blah, blah, blah. I've heard this all before. Couldn't we just go back to camp now? It was the last four weeks I would be able to live in Chickasaw. I wanted to spend time with the kids and enjoy it.

Then I'll volunteer to be in pain for six weeks. Whoo.

"Natalie, have you ever thought about having children?"

I jerked my head to the side. "Excuse me?"

He cleared his throat and glanced at Ben. "Well, you do realize that hip dysplasia is genetic, particularly in females."

I sat up, staring at the balding man in disbelief. There's no way he was doing this right now. "And?" I edged.

He shrugged. "I just wanted to make sure you know the risks. This is a disease that can very well affect your children. You might want to think about that before you..."

"Before I what?" I asked vehemently. "Before I get knocked up at nineteen?"

"Natalie!" Ben yelled.

"It's quite all right Ben." Dr. Morris mused with an anxious smile. "I didn't mean anything by it Natalie. This is a small town you know and I've heard that you have a boyfriend. It's my job, as your doctor, to educate you on any potential risks."

My mouth gaped open. Everyone knew that if you didn't leave Starkville after high school, there was a good chance that you would get pregnant young and settle down. Like any small town, if you stayed past a certain point, the odds were that you'd end up here forever. I had seen it happen dozens of times. And now, people were assuming it would happen to me.

I clamped my mouth shut and took a deep breath through my nose. I didn't usually get angry with caregivers, particularly ones that I've known my entire life. But, no one, NO ONE, had the right to tell me whether or not I should have kids. And no one had the right to tell me I was going to get pregnant just because I was hanging out with a tattooed boy. I glanced over at Ben, wondering if he was going to come to my defense anytime soon. He wasn't. In fact, he was silently telling me not to make a big deal out of this.

I gritted my teeth. "I appreciate your concern Dr. Morris, but I do not have a boyfriend and I do not plan on having kids any time soon."

Not that it's any of your damn business anyway.