Dead Baby Kickball

Chapter Three

   A few weeks later, I walzed into work, holding an iced coffee for me, and one for Cal. "Hey, Em? You feeling okay?" He ased, raising an eyebrow and grabbing the coffee from me. "Eh. I dunno, I've been a tad under the weater... Why?"

"Oh no reason... You just look kinda pale." He said before putting the coffe cup to his lips and softly tilting it back. I noded gently. "Oh... Well, I'm going to go finish up the article on Devin Worhal." I said, turning out of his office and walking back to my own cubicle. I took a sip of my iced coffee as I sat down, my stomach churning into a knot.

   Faye approached me cubicle, knee high combat boots and black trench coat. "Hey, Girlie. What's up?" she asked, setting her bag on the ground next to her cubicle, neighboring mine. I smiled slightly, the feeling in my stomach growing stronger. "Eh. Not much. I think I'm getting sick from stress..." I complained, pushing my bangs from my face. Faye made a saddened face, her mocha colored lips pulling themselves into a frown. "I'm terribly sorry, dear." She consoled before sitting down at her desk, behind the drab grey wall of her cubicle.

   "Emily!" Cal stormed up behind me. Everyone's head turned suddenly at him. "Yes, Cal?" I turned my whole body at an angle where we could speak face to face. "Em, I just remembered something!"

"That you're madly in love with me, the father of my children, and owe me $124 in child support?"

"..No, something much better!"

"Oh?" I took another sip of coffee, and my stomach did another flop. Shit... I really wasn't feeling good... "You're Cyn Rocha's daughter!"

"Wow, Cal, You only just NOW remembered that? Really?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to hold down the heat in my throat that was rising. "Yes, because I never cared that you were a rockstar's daughter before. But since it's the tenth anniversary of his death here in about a week, I would love to have you featured." I attepmted to smile warmly, but the pain radiating from my stomach, and into my throat, caused a grimace. "Em... You okay?" Cal asked, raising an eyebrow.

  "I... I would love to-" My answer was cut short by my hunching over, grabbing the nearest trash can, and vommiting into it. I heard a few murmers from around the office, a few people gagging, and Faye exlaiming. "Ooooh...." followed by a short hiss. I felt Cal's warm hand gently place myself on my back. "Em... You should probably go home..."

  I shook my head softly and spit the last remaning bit of vomit into the can. "My car was stolen, remember? I had to take the bus this morning... I don't have a ride." I scrunched my nose and sat up, wiping my mouth. Cal was looking at me woriedly. "I'll give you a ride home.. Come on, Hun." He started to gather my things, careful to avoid the trash can beside my desk. He handed me my jacket and my bag, as soon as I took them, he reached into his pocket and grabbed a small cluster of keys on a key-ring.

   As we headed out to his blue mustang, I made a face to myself. "Em, what'cha thinking about?"

"Nothing... Just stuff." I replied, adjusting my purse higher up onto my shoulder, my voice echoing down the cold and empty parking garage, made of drab grey concrete. I sighed softly, thinking back to the last time I got sick. I didn't get sick easily. Ever. At all. "Hey, Em?"

"Hm?" My head snapped over to Cal as I slipped quickly back into reality. "You would tell me if something was wrong, right?" He asked, unlocking his door and stepping in. I nodded slowly as I opened my own door and sat down inside. "Of course... You're one of my closest friends, Cal..." I tried to force a small smile. He nodded a bit. "And you're one of mine, Em." He started the car and drove at a reasonably slow speed, so as not to upset my stomach.

 I leaned my forehead against the cooler glass window and closed my eyes gently. My stomach was beginning to feel a bit better, slowly, but it was still a tad upset. I felt Cal's eyes on me, probably to make sure I was alright. "Hey, Em, do you feel alright?" he asked. "Dude, I just puked, of course I don't feel alri-"

"No, I mean emotionally." I opened my eyes and turned to look at him. "Why does that matter? I mean, yeah, I'm fine, but what does it matter?"

"When people get really depressed, they get sick. I just wanna make sure you're alright." He took his eyes off of the road for a second to smile at me,  the corner of his eyes crinkling up a small bit like they normally did, and then he turned back to face the long black pavement seeminly running beneath his car. 

I sighed softly and pushed a button on the radio to turn it on. "This year has had the WORST Baby boom in the last seventy years, ladies and gentlemen. So this here little station is advising you to use protection. After all, guys, condoms are cheaper than child support!" I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms tightly against my chest. Psh.... Babies.... Who needs 'em? I mean, I was ALWAYS careful! Not that I did... er... "The Deed" often. but I always took the proper precautions. 

I tried thinking back to the last time I'd had sex unprotected. Then it hit me.  I sat up quickly and my eyes opened up wide. Worry gripped tightly onto my stomach, not wanting to let go, and I turned to face my best friend who was driving the car. "C-Cal?" I said, stumbling over my words. "Sup, Buttercup?"

"Can... Can we go to the drugstore?"

"Sure. Medical marijuanna helps with stomach aches like a charm. Great idea, Em!" I burrowed my eyebrows and tilted my head. "What? No, I mean like pharmacy kind of drugstore..."

"Oh... Forget what I said then." Cal replied, turning quickly into the parking lot of a Stop and Shop. "What do you need here, anyway?" He asked, parking the car and unbuckling his seatbelt. I quickly unfastned mine and jumped out of the car. "Pregnancy test." I muttered.  

  His eyes widened at me. "Em... Who did you.." I took a deep breath and let it out as a heavy sigh. "Blake Tracey..." 

"B-Blake Tracey?! Like... The rock star you interveiwed?!"

"...Possibly." I started walking quickly into the store, but was stopped by Cal grabbing my wrist carefully. "Em! You know I don't allow that in the company guidelines..."

"I know! I was drunk and I've had a fan-girl crush on hims since the beginning of High school and AGH!" I took my hand back and frowned. "I just... I need to get shit straight, okay?  If you want, I can take the bus home." Cal looked at my and tilted his head. "Em, you're my best friend... I'm not going to make you do this alone. Well, I mean, you'll be alone in the bathroom when you take it but... Y'know... Menatlly... I'll be there for you. God, I sound like a creep..." Cal said, hanging his head sadly. I smiled softly and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, pulling him into a hug. 

...

"Name that bitch after me!" Alexus growled happily outside the bathroom door. "Shut the fuck up, what if it's a boy?!" Penelope shot back. "Then name it Alex! Duh!" The two continued to bicker outside the thin door and I held the stick in my hands. "Both of you shut up, I'm freaking out here!" 

"Why, what does it say?!" Alexus called through the door, giving it a small knock. After that, it grew eerily silent as they awaited my reply. I sighed and looked down. Yep. Plain as day, two little pink lines.  "Shit..." I muttered under my breath. I stood up off of the toilet and walked out, holding up the test. "LEMME SEE!" Penelope yelled, grabbing it from me before Alexus could. "Oh shit.. What are you gonna do?" 

"Wait, is she...?"

"No, Penelope,  I asked what she's going to do for shits and giggles."

"Be more specific, I don't kno-"

Guys!" I yelled, interrupting the two. They turned and looked at me. "Guys, stop arguing. I'm freaking out, here..." Penelope nodded and pulled me into a hug. "Dear, I'm there for you... I promise." I bit at the inside of my lip and wrapped my arms around her, leaning into the embrace. "Are you... Going to... You know..."

"Nah... You know I wouldn't be able to live with the guilt."

"Hey... Come on, let's listen to the radio..." Penelope let go of me and made her way to the small box on the far side of the garage, which we doubled as a Band Practice room. "Speaking of Out to Sea, the frontman, Blake Tracey, was arrested on account of Public Nudity, driving under the influence, and trying to make out with the arresting officer. All in the same night... this man is my hero!" 

Oh, your hero? I thought bitterly, Heh... He used to be mine, too.