East Side Sunsets

Chapter 12

"What the hell? What's wrong, Jess?"

I said, attempting to cover myself with the bed sheets. Ponyboy just stood there, staring.

"IM PREGNANT! ONE OF THOSE FUCKING BASTARDS GOT ME PREGNANT!!!"

She said to me, falling into my arms. I tried me best to hold her up, but I fell as well as she. Ponyboy ran and tried to help her up, but she wouldn't budge. Eventually, he joined us as we sat on the ground while Jess laid her head in my lap. Boy, was she a drama queen.

"Oh, Lucy, what am I gonna do? How could this happen to me?"

She said, sobbing into the sheet that lay on my lap. I looked at Ponyboy, who was just as confused as I was. I knew this would happen, I mean, she is a prostitute for Christs sake. I slowly started stroking her head, not aware of what else to do.

"It's gonna be okay. Everything is going to be alright. It's just a baby, Jess, nothin too big."

Jess got up and walked back and forth, back and forth. Her pacing was almost giving me anxiety. She finally walked over to Ponyboy.

"Punch me. Punch me square in the stomach. I can't have a baby, and I won't have it."

Pony looked like he was almost about to cry.

"Jess! Stop! He's not going to kill your baby, okay? You got yourself into this mess and you've gotta be strong enough to get yourself out of it too. As hard as it may sound, it's gotta happen."

I said to her. She went marching out the door, leaving our door wide open. Ponyboy still looked shocked. I didn't feel bad for her. She gets paid to be a slut, and sometimes, that has consequences.

I started to feel a bit regretful. I got up, put on my bathrobe, and walked across the hall to her apartment. The door was unlocked, so I just walked in.

She was laying on the ground, naked. She was sobbing, having, what I believed to be, a panic attack. I ran to her side.

"Jess, listen, it's okay. Don't be sad. This is just another rainstorm. Soon, there will be a rainbow of a happy life. Don't worry about it."

I said to her. She decided to turn around to face me. I put a blanket over her, just do I didn't have to look at her naked body.