Senior Slump Or Comeback Of The Year

One for No and Two For Yes

"When's the last time you ate?" Dr. Jackson asked him after listening to Patrick's version of events.

"This morning."

"Mhmm." She wrote something down in her notes. "And what did you eat?"

"Cereal. Trix."

"Those are for kids you know." She joked. Patrick laughed lightly. Pete didn't.

The boy seemed more nervous than Patrick was as he sat beside him in the wooden chair. His legs were crossed too tightly. His fingers were intertwined. Sitting perfectly still in his lap.

"Oh I also had a pop-tart with it. And a bagel on the way to school. And a cereal bar."

"That's a lot of food for one morning. Maybe your stomach didn't agree with the mixture. That could explain the vomit."

Patrick looked away in embarrassment. She was right. No wonder he was fat. "I usually don't eat that much. I've just been really hungry lately."

"How long have you been feeling nauseous?"

"For about three days. It comes and goes."

"Are there any other symptoms besides the apparent fever?"

"I've just been tired. Like really tired. And that's probably because I can never get a good night's sleep. I'm waking up maybe three times a night to pee. And my stomach has been feeling so weird. My mother says I probably have the stomach flu. She keeps trying to make me soup and crackers but my tastebuds are craving sweets."

Pete noticed that the doctor stopped writing as Patrick was speaking. Her eyes narrowed and one of her perfect eyebrows lifted in challenge. When he was done she tossed the pen on her desk.

"Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?"

"What?"

"Did Alex put you up to this?" She laughed. "He's such an asshole."

"What? Who's Alex? I'm not joking."

"He's sick." Pete glared at her. "And you think it's funny?"

"Wait, you're serious?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Oh my god I'm so sorry." She lifted her pen again. It's just that what you were saying- I mean. All of your symptoms clearly point to- uh." She looked down at her notes and frowned.

"What is it?" Pete demanded.

"Am I dying?"

"No. Honey no. I'm- it's just. I feel so ridiculously even thinking it."

"Thinking what?"

Instead of answering she asked. "Are you sexually active?" Pete looked away and bit his lip. Patrick blushed and stared down at his lap. "Patrick?"

"I uh was. Yeah." He glanced at Pete before looking down again.

Dr. Jackson got the hint. "Recently?"

"A little over two weeks."

She sat back in her chair. "Sweetie, I'm going to suggest something and you're going to think I'm completely insane. But I just have to. It would be the obvious answer if you weren't a uh."

"A what?" Patrick looked at her again. Now not only was he afraid, he was annoyed. Why wouldn't she just tell him what was wrong?

"I think I should speak to you privately, Patrick." She looked at Pete when she said it. Hinting for him to exit the room.

"Fine." He stood reluctantly. "I'll be right outside that door." He told Patrick.

"Okay." He nodded.

They both watched Pete walk slowly out of the room. The door shut quietly behind him. Patrick was almost afraid to hear what the doctor had to say. Still, he turned his head back to face her.

"Patrick, I'm going to have to ask you to take a pregnancy test for me."

"A what?" He choked. "D-Did you say-"

"I said a pregnancy test." She repeated. Expression impassive. "It's just a precaution. I'm not actually expecting it to be positive." She laughed but it was strained.

"Then why do I have to do it?"

"Humor me. Please?"

"Okay. When do I take it?"

"Now." She stood up and rushed towards the file cabinet. Digging through it for only a few seconds before walking the small box over to Patrick. "You can take it in my bathroom." Patrick took the box from her with shaking hands. "Just pee on the stick and wait a few minutes." She smiled that strained smile again.

Patrick's feet felt like lead as he made his way over to the bathroom. He closed and locked the door behind himself.

The instructions on the box were just as simple as the doctor said. And his bladder was in full cooperation. When he was done he closed the toilet top and sat on it. Holding the stick in his hand and staring at the blank spot where the results were supposed to show.

"One line for no. And two for yes." He reminded himself as he waited. "One for no and two for yes."

He barely blinked as he stared down at it. His eyes widening as he watched one pink line slowly appear. He laughed when relief flooded him. As if he were actually expecting it to be positive. He wasn't some teen girl a month after prom. He was a boy! He had a penis! He couldn't get pregnant.

Patrick stood up and looked in the mirror. Again, he laughed. He had the stomach flu. Just like he tried to tell the doctor. Just like he tried to tell Pete. It wasn't as big of a deal as they were making it seem.

"This was so stupid." He dug in his pocket to take out his phone. "Wait until I show Andy what the hell that doctor just made me do."

He snapped a quick picture of the test before throwing it in the bin beside the toilet. He lifted his phone to type in the message and froze. Why the hell were there two lines in the picture? Panicked, his hand darted into the trash. Grabbing the only thing in there. There it was again. Two lines. Where had the second line come from? What did this mean? He knew exactly what it meant.

One for no. Two for yes.